Biggles2010
06-19-2015, 03:44 PM
I'm not exactly new here, because I've been using this site as a valuable source of advice and information for some years, but with only the occasional posting.
I was actually prompted to write this by reading the recent post from Embraer170 about his simulator, because my own sim is built around the Embraer 195 and in my view the E-Jets have many characteristics suited to a home cockpit, which don't seem to have been generally recognised.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10322&stc=1
I began simming with the launch of FS95, then continued with all subsequent versions of FS, and also tried Falcon 4, which was remarkable for its time.
I hesitate to think how much I've spent over the years on building new computers, and still finding them unable to cope with the demands of each new generation of software.
About eight years ago I built my first generic home cockpit, using FSX with a mixture of VR Insight and Saitek hardware, with various modifications. I used the level D 767 and Coolsky MD80, and a vga projector for the outside view. The main frustration was the lengthy setting up time for each flight, due to the impossibility of saving panel states in FSX when using multiple monitors.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10323&stc=1
Overall the effect was reasonable, but not what I was looking for. My background was in military flying, and while a home cockpit can never be like a real aeroplane, I wanted something that at least created the atmosphere of a real simulator. Then I came across a reference on this site to the B737 sim that Ian Sissons had built, and saw what was possible. I already had some handicraft skills and I learnt so much from his fantastic website at 737ng.co.uk. Although Ian has now sold his sim, the website is still operating and I recommend any new sim builders to study the mass of useful information it contains.
In the meantime P3D arrived, and I decided to build a new simulator. Because I am restricted for space I can't incorporate the right side of the cockpit, but I still wanted the overhead panel, and as much realism as possible. I looked for a suitable aircraft to use as the base and soon discovered that most glass cockpit types only had virtual cockpits, or panels and gauges which could not be controlled by hardware at all, or where it was only possible with considerable programming skills. The exception was the Feelthere E-Jets v2 Embraer E175 and E195. So after some trials, that is what I went for, with a few simple alterations to the MIP layout to make it more suitable for single handed operation.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10324&stc=1
Outside view is from 47inch HD Television behind acrylic window. The view is much better when sitting in the sim than it looks here.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10325&stc=1
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10326&stc=1
CDU is touchscreen. It doesn't show very well here with photo flash, but is clear in normal use.
The original E170/E190 version for FS2004 had a few bugs and I have seen negative comments written by people who have obviously never tried the later version. E-Jets v2 is substantially improved, and makes an excellent base for a home cockpit. It was designed for FSX, but works perfectly well in P3D v1 and version 2.2 which I am currently using. I am surprised it is not more widely used. It does mean making your own panels and controls, but many people do this anyway for their Boeing or Airbus sims.
Most systems are simulated, and pretty nearly every button and switch works, and can be assigned through FSUIPC. All mouse clicks can be identified by mouse macro and allocated to hardware. There is a fully working and programmable CDU and every function of the Flight Guidance Panel works. Moreover, if the controls are set up correctly, the flying characterics are realistic, within the limits of P3D, both for fully automated flight and when hand flying. Finally, and most important with 4 monitors in use, when I set up a flight and save it, I can reload that flight with all panels in place and working.
As this post is getting rather long, I'll try to put together some of the construction pictures and notes as a seperate post, but I need to edit a mass of photos first.
jbee
I was actually prompted to write this by reading the recent post from Embraer170 about his simulator, because my own sim is built around the Embraer 195 and in my view the E-Jets have many characteristics suited to a home cockpit, which don't seem to have been generally recognised.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10322&stc=1
I began simming with the launch of FS95, then continued with all subsequent versions of FS, and also tried Falcon 4, which was remarkable for its time.
I hesitate to think how much I've spent over the years on building new computers, and still finding them unable to cope with the demands of each new generation of software.
About eight years ago I built my first generic home cockpit, using FSX with a mixture of VR Insight and Saitek hardware, with various modifications. I used the level D 767 and Coolsky MD80, and a vga projector for the outside view. The main frustration was the lengthy setting up time for each flight, due to the impossibility of saving panel states in FSX when using multiple monitors.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10323&stc=1
Overall the effect was reasonable, but not what I was looking for. My background was in military flying, and while a home cockpit can never be like a real aeroplane, I wanted something that at least created the atmosphere of a real simulator. Then I came across a reference on this site to the B737 sim that Ian Sissons had built, and saw what was possible. I already had some handicraft skills and I learnt so much from his fantastic website at 737ng.co.uk. Although Ian has now sold his sim, the website is still operating and I recommend any new sim builders to study the mass of useful information it contains.
In the meantime P3D arrived, and I decided to build a new simulator. Because I am restricted for space I can't incorporate the right side of the cockpit, but I still wanted the overhead panel, and as much realism as possible. I looked for a suitable aircraft to use as the base and soon discovered that most glass cockpit types only had virtual cockpits, or panels and gauges which could not be controlled by hardware at all, or where it was only possible with considerable programming skills. The exception was the Feelthere E-Jets v2 Embraer E175 and E195. So after some trials, that is what I went for, with a few simple alterations to the MIP layout to make it more suitable for single handed operation.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10324&stc=1
Outside view is from 47inch HD Television behind acrylic window. The view is much better when sitting in the sim than it looks here.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10325&stc=1
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10326&stc=1
CDU is touchscreen. It doesn't show very well here with photo flash, but is clear in normal use.
The original E170/E190 version for FS2004 had a few bugs and I have seen negative comments written by people who have obviously never tried the later version. E-Jets v2 is substantially improved, and makes an excellent base for a home cockpit. It was designed for FSX, but works perfectly well in P3D v1 and version 2.2 which I am currently using. I am surprised it is not more widely used. It does mean making your own panels and controls, but many people do this anyway for their Boeing or Airbus sims.
Most systems are simulated, and pretty nearly every button and switch works, and can be assigned through FSUIPC. All mouse clicks can be identified by mouse macro and allocated to hardware. There is a fully working and programmable CDU and every function of the Flight Guidance Panel works. Moreover, if the controls are set up correctly, the flying characterics are realistic, within the limits of P3D, both for fully automated flight and when hand flying. Finally, and most important with 4 monitors in use, when I set up a flight and save it, I can reload that flight with all panels in place and working.
As this post is getting rather long, I'll try to put together some of the construction pictures and notes as a seperate post, but I need to edit a mass of photos first.
jbee