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[Marty]

But you cared enough to post!  lmao

[Tickford]

Not nearly as much as you, clearly. I find your replies entertaining.

[Dutchie]

Guys i have a racing seat and would like to put my rear speakers on some sort of bracket or something that i can place them so they are close to my ears. something like this

http://pcmaniacs.com.au/images/v8-1.jpg

Has anyone got something like that and if so did you buy it or make it? If anyone has any pics that would be cool too.

Cheers

Do you really want the speakers so close to your ears?
When i first started building my cockpit i used a cheap fold out garden table from bunnings, using the table top as a base, and used one of the pivoting legs to fit the rear speakers to it.
It's primative, but the speakers are in the right position to work with the front 3 speakers and the base box under the seat.

[mixfloors]

I think that set up is illegal Noel, isnt it considered a moveable aerodynamic device......

[mojododo]

i do believe that i can see some illegal "flex" in that front wing!

[edward57]

My Unusual cockpit build

So in April 2011, the journey started..
A full size 2 person 737-800 Flight Simulator!

As with any project like this.. it pays to start with a good book!.. BOEING_737_MEASUREMENTS.pdf

From here I drew up some basic plans, decided on the contruction material (MDF) and started cutting!

I purchased some basic necessary items..  1xFMC, the MCP and 1xEfis unit so i could make the panel fit the items.





next was the layout of the screens, I had a picture printed in full size of the 737-800 panel, stripped down some old LCD monitors and layed them out to make sure it was all going to fit.



Starting with the base of the panel..




My orginal concept was to use 3 pieces for the main panel, so that servicing of the screens would be easier



But this did not work, and I had to rethink how to do it...  in the meantime.. construction continued of the FMC stands



and they were inserted into the main panel unit, also the MCP cavity was created.




A single piece panel was decided on, and I started to test fit the screens and FMC..  at this time a second FMC and EFIS unit were purchased.




The main panel was nearing completion with all the cutouts for the guages and landing gear lever etc (and a base coat of colour..






Now moved inside the house, it was time to start the wiring!




The intitial video system was installed (3x42in LCD TVs), avionics by Prosim737 were tested and the sim could be flown but only with the joystick (seen on top of the panel)




At this point I ordered and recieved (some weeks later) an overhead kit.




well it took nearly 12 months to build the overhead.. and get it fitted.



New simulator computers were built and rack mounted (top one-FSX, middle one-Avionics, bottom one-Instructor Station)



Avionics were tested with the FMCs



and with one yoke installed, a basic throttle contrl and an office chair.. the sim was usable..  at this point the overhead frame was installed, but the overhead was not mounted.



My guages arrived for the overhead (from Opencockpits.com) all servo driven and working from FSX and prosim.



At this point I decided to change the video system.  The video card was upgraded to an ATI7970 overclocked running 3xscreen eyeinfinity, it took some time to decide on a projection method, tossing between projectors or TVs..  As I was short on space, and could not gaurantee the quality of projectors even short throw ones and the fact with projectors (because of the necessary dark environment) you have to backlight the panel, which had not been allowed for in its design, I went with the TVs..

so through a local store Christmas special I picked up 3x LG 55in LED TVs for $900ea. (and they did all fit in a nissan Pathfinder!)



Overhead installed, new TVs installed, 2nd yoke mounted, real 737 cockpit seats installed (found in the nost unlikely place! - a country town called Mildura - 5hrs drive from Adelaide, Australia - listed on EBAY!)



Pedestal built (and now fully working!) with all radios, Wx radar, still waiting for my Throttle quadrant to arrive.. mid-late Feb expected



Overhead (Forward and Aft) fitted, all gauges, electrical panel and IRS all working!



So here we are in Febuary 2013..  nearly 2 years construction, waiting for the throttle quadrant.. but in the meantime I will continue now with the shell.. firstly the windows, then the sides back level with the aft overhead and a curtain around the back for ease of access and space savings.. but all that is for part 2.. as i am still in the planning phase!..  so what started as a simple 737-800 panel, has turned into a boheameth!..

Be warned!..  starting such a project is addictive!

A video of the sim in use... (with old TVs)..

Hand Flown approach into St Maartens (FSX) in my 737-800 Simulator

Then the new Throttle arrived and it was fitted


New video.. (with new visuals and Lockeed Martins Prepar3D Flight Simulator Software)

Seatle to Southern Alaska in the Sim

Specs to date:
Computer 1 - Prepar3D, Opus real weather injection, REX O/drive cloud and ground textures
Computer 2 - All main Flight instrument displays
Computer 3 - Prosim737 Avionics, Autopilot modules and hardware interfaces
Computer 4 - Instructor station, cockpit audio (announcements, warnings etc)

[Gavin Chatt]

Now thats what I've been waiting for Ed, great work and to see where you started with your Red Car "lol" to this fantastic sim.

[edward57]

dont pick on the "red car".. it is still in use and used nearly every day by a 12yo boy on his playstation!.. (now on it's thrid owner!)

couldnt edit the original post...  just hung!  (twice)..
here is a video of the start procedure for the sim.. from cold and dark to departure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7ZgrSHpYys

[Gavin Chatt]

dont pick on the "red car".. it is still in use and used nearly every day by a 12yo boy on his playstation!.. (now on it's thrid owner!)

Wow 

[Simon351]

very cool Ed 

[Picard]

 

Holy macaroni 

[Gavin Chatt]

Really like these

6http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmlXxjLEsAU


http://www.vesaro.com/

[Mr Pink]

WOW Ed thats some serious flight sim you got going on there. Well done. Do you have any ATC chat with all that as well? Do i dare ask what ball park $$ that its put you into with that setup? Very jealous. How is the prepar3d software?

[edward57]

WOW Ed thats some serious flight sim you got going on there. Well done. Do you have any ATC chat with all that as well? Do i dare ask what ball park $$ that its put you into with that setup? Very jealous. How is the prepar3d software?

We use VATSIM for ATC, both pilots have headsets and are capable of talking to and managing ATC.  All the radios in the pedestal (including the transponder) work as in real life and with VATSIM.

As for $$, lost count..  but roughly..  $15K for the sim without computers.
Main computer $6K (just for the box)..  (yep you read that right!)..  I7-990X, 24GB DDR3 2000 RAM, 2X540GB SSD6G, 2X ATI7970 3G graphics..etc etc etc
$2700 for the TVs.. 55"LED LG($900ea X 3)
+ 3 other computers at not so much money..  small I7 and I5s.. maybe $2K for the lot.

As for Prepar3D.. it is what FSX should have been!..  it is based on M$ ESP simulator (the professional version of FSX) and has been fixed by Lockheed Martin.  Support is ongoing with 4 patches so far, the simconnect module was completely re-written and now works flawlessly.  Graphics have been made capable of 2cm textures!..  that's "pebbles on the side of runways" stuff!.. but you need much bigger computers than mine to do that (think this Lockheed Martin!)..
all for $49US dollars!.. Scenery is as default FSX, some addons now come with Prepar3D capability (FTX is P3D ready now) and install directly, others we use masking software so the addon thinks it is an FSX installation.  There is no real weather option (but it does support scenarios), so you need external weather injection, I use Opus and the default cloud textures are crap.. so I use REX OverDrive.  P3D will work with PMDG planes, just don't ask for support!, they will revoke your licence for breaching the User Licence (this has been experienced by me...!).. I received this by email when I asked for support.. right before my licence was revoked and the aircraft would not install into FSX or P3D.

"We do not currently provide the market with any products for use in Prepar3D. We specifically prohibit the use of our products with Prepar3D for liability protection and we aggressively protect our products from such use. P3D is not a consumer platform, it is designed for use in the corporate training simulation market and while we will eventually release versions of our products for use with Prepar3D it would be considered a breach of the license agreement to use these entertainment simulation products on a commercial platform such as Prepar3D."

One word of warning..  many addons installed into P3D are illegal by the word of the law.  P3D says "Not to be used for Home Entertainment, it is a training Tool".. (as per some agreement with M$ so they could keep selling FSX.  But most of your addons state..  "To be used for Home Entertainment Only".. doesn't stop them installing, but does make them illegal (not officially licensed) when installed into P3D.

[Mr Pink]

Sounds all very interesting mate and sounds like you know your stuff. I got into FSX for a bit and use FTX, REX overdrive and a bunch of other ATC sounds and airport stuff to try and bring FSX to life but only having the 1 computer clearly isn't enough to just handle the environment scenery to my liking nor was i able to ever get the CH flight yoke/controller setup properly (i think one of the sensors was stuffed) so i haven't touched it for a long time, instead i just went to one of those flight experience simulators (which you have re created perfectly).

I get all the legal stuff but since we are all at home to me that falls under the "To be used for Home Entertainment Only"

Again well done mate i hope it brings you hrs of sim fun