Flight simulator cockpit

[geneb]

2198

This is my "personal" flight simulator cockpit based on a plan set that I sell. With the exception of the skin (1/8" hardboard) all the parts were cut on my PRT Alpha.

I have to thank you guys for mentioning the Critter Gun in a thread elsewhere. I've hunted for years and spent hundreds of dollars on fancy paint throwers and the Critter is the only one I've been happy with. At $33 from Amazon, it was a screaming deal. I used it to apply the sanding sealer on the MDF as well as the primer and final coats - all un-thinned latex paint.

[khalid]

Gene Buckle
.. very nice cockpit.. I want to know more about your simulator..will you use projectors to project the simulation on the cockpit windows and screen/?
Also can you tell us what aircraft cockpit is it?

[geneb]

Thanks Khalid. The cockpit is based on some scanned blueprints of an Me-109E4 that I've got.

The visuals will be generated by three home-built projectors based on Dell 15" LCD panels mounted on overhead projectors - this should give about 140 degrees or so of forward view. The screens will be roughly 10' or so wide and 8' high. I haven't decided if I'm going to use curved front surface mirrors and curves screens or not.

You can see more pictures of the cockpit at http://www.simpits.org/geneb. If you want, you can download the assembly manual from here: http://www.geneb.org/pitkit

ttyl!

g.

[khalid]

Gene.. You will use Overhead projector and LCD combination...Wait.. I seen a video on converting LCD screen into a Projector by dismantling LCD screen and keeping it on Slide Projector!!!...

Okay, this will be really a Fun Project... Are you going to introduce Motion (all 6 axis) in your Flight simulator?

Please Keep posting...

[geneb]

No. A motion base is a pretty complex thing and really hard to get right. It's not practical for "fighter" type aircraft because you have to have your video sources and screens attached to the same platform as the simulator cab.

g.

[myxpykalix]

I know some of the game controller flight sticks have motion feedback (shaking) that might help a little with the realism.

[dana_swift]

Here is a site that has a rube-goldberg version of a home flight simulator:

http://130.94.182.150/flightsm.htm

Interesting site.. check out the other stuff on there.

D

[geneb]

When it comes to DIY motion bases, this guy is the gold standard:

http://buggies.builtforfun.co.uk/Sim/platform2.html

The "joyrider" is frankly, a joke.


Even the USAF doesn't bother with motion bases when dealing with fighter simulators. They're used as task trainers with good visuals. Motion bases are primarily used with commercial transport aircraft simulators like the Boeing and Airbus lines. The USAF does have motion-enabled sims for their transport aircraft as well.

Simulators that use motion bases must carry their scene generators on the sim cab itself by using collimated displays.