xplanematt
07-29-2012, 06:22 PM
Posted this a couple other places, thought you folks might like to see it. I have not posted a lot on this forum, so this should give you an idea of what sort of cockpit I'm working on. It's intended to handle a number of different aircraft from light twins up to biz jets. I've been working on it for about two years now.
My first Gables nav/com control head is installed into the sim now, has lighting, and is interfaced to X-Plane on the NAV side. I also have my redesigned panel in place, along with a couple new real aircraft instruments. I've also got my Cessna 337 throttle quadrant fully installed and functional, all I have left is to write software to switch props (or thrust reversers, as applicable) to feather/reverse mode when pulling the prop levers back behind their gated position. I gotta say this throttle works REALLY WELL! Very firm, smooth, positive operation. Beats any PC hardware I've used, and that includes PFC equipment. There is just nothing like the real thing!
Pics:
Instrument panel almost completed, before going into the sim:
http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream
Potentiometer bracket for the throttle quadant:
http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream
(Each of these pots is linked to the control arms on the throttle levers via music wire and nylon clevises from RC aircraft.)
Applying the new paint to my panels:
http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream
This one is a bit dark, but shows the main panels, throttle quadrant, and navcom1 installed, the latter showing its lights on!
http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream
The front/inside of the sim is getting rather crowded:
http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream
....but surprisingly, it's relatively easy to keep track of. I'm trying to be careful about labeling things and doing good cable management.
Looks like we have an aspiring pilot in the family!
http://www.flickr.co...in/photostream/
:)
I've also made significant progress on the installation of the weather radar display, and the radar's main computer. No pics yet, now I'm waiting on some tiny allen wrenches to arrive so I can remove the unused switches/pots from my Bendix radar display control panel and install it back into the unit itself.
Matt
My first Gables nav/com control head is installed into the sim now, has lighting, and is interfaced to X-Plane on the NAV side. I also have my redesigned panel in place, along with a couple new real aircraft instruments. I've also got my Cessna 337 throttle quadrant fully installed and functional, all I have left is to write software to switch props (or thrust reversers, as applicable) to feather/reverse mode when pulling the prop levers back behind their gated position. I gotta say this throttle works REALLY WELL! Very firm, smooth, positive operation. Beats any PC hardware I've used, and that includes PFC equipment. There is just nothing like the real thing!
Pics:
Instrument panel almost completed, before going into the sim:
http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream
Potentiometer bracket for the throttle quadant:
http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream
(Each of these pots is linked to the control arms on the throttle levers via music wire and nylon clevises from RC aircraft.)
Applying the new paint to my panels:
http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream
This one is a bit dark, but shows the main panels, throttle quadrant, and navcom1 installed, the latter showing its lights on!
http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream
The front/inside of the sim is getting rather crowded:
http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream
....but surprisingly, it's relatively easy to keep track of. I'm trying to be careful about labeling things and doing good cable management.
Looks like we have an aspiring pilot in the family!
http://www.flickr.co...in/photostream/
:)
I've also made significant progress on the installation of the weather radar display, and the radar's main computer. No pics yet, now I'm waiting on some tiny allen wrenches to arrive so I can remove the unused switches/pots from my Bendix radar display control panel and install it back into the unit itself.
Matt