Spit-Pit for HMD and DCS

Thanks for the support, guys. Keeps the interest up.

I second the idea of a poll or graph. Might to useful for newbies to see who's building what, and whos brains to pick accordingly?

Anyway, just a wee update. Here are my take on the spitfire's very distinctive rudder pedals. Made from a t-handled seed dibber, scrap ply, those aluminium carpet thingies, and paint. :)

Still got to mount the bar between them and interface them, but progress is progress!

That is so impressive Cripple. I just love those old analog gauges. Are they originals or replicas? How are you interfacing them with DCS? Could you talk a little more on building this part of your cockpit.

 

John

Sorry. Meant to reply sooner. They are a mix of old semi-period 40s/50s gauges, and "clocked" versions of the more difficult to obtain ones - such as the fuel gauge.

They are non-interfaced "dumb" gauages, and pretty much expensive window-dressing as I'm planning to use the Rift headset to generate an entirely simulated cockpit. I was originally gonna use a poster of the instrument panel, but it seemed a rather cheap-n-nasty move given the effort put in elsewhere. So I went for more work on the panel, which I am justifying as being for those cockpit familiarisation drills (aka "sitting in the cockpit having a cuppa before work"... I can't be the only one who does that!) and a certain degree of kudos points from the non-sim crowd who pop their heads in to it. It should also hopefully reduce the VR-disorientation from taking the headset on/off.

Wow that looks awesome fella and well done.

Another wee update. Pottering along with the controls and side panels. Here's a wee WIP pic (the bolts are where the trim wheels will be). Maybe you can spot my source of purloined mild steel? :P

The square holes are a bit of a bugger to cut out. There's only so much I can do with my snips, then it's back to filing. I'm using a fairly heavy grade of steel too as the (period) switches have a lovely heavy feel to them - not so much a "click" as a "cl-UNK"! Can't wait to interface them in to the sim... :)

Good News! I have the "Spitfire Room" back in commission and she's back in situ (see pics). I've also wired up the switches on the dash and the main switch bank (which is complete - see pics). Happy face! :D

(Oh, and I managed to get the flaps control working. That was fun... screwed a mini push-switch in to the rear, then whittled down a bit of down until it was the right length to push the switch when the lever was flipped down. Lots of fiddly work, but really satisfying now it works.)

Nice work. Front panel looks awesome with all the gauges

Good News! I have the "Spitfire Room" back in commission and she's back in situ (see pics). I've also wired up the switches on the dash and the main switch bank (which is complete - see pics). Happy face! :D

 

(Oh, and I managed to get the flaps control working. That was fun... screwed a mini push-switch in to the rear, then whittled down a bit of down until it was the right length to push the switch when the lever was flipped down. Lots of fiddly work, but really satisfying now it works.)

Incredible :) awesome job

Criple,

Take a look in this Spit control column... gimbal.

http://forum.warthunder.ru/index.php?/topic/147338-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%83%D1%88%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BB-%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8F-%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%84%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%80/&page=1

How funny is that avatar!!! Love the ass kicking machine!

:)

Thanks for the link and feedback, people. :)

Sooooooo, another wee update. Here's a pic of the lower port side of the cockpit after the test switch bank (see pic) was installed. It was certainly "interesting" to fabricate up, but seems to look the part. Oh, and the "map box" is just one of those metal post boxes painted green.... Easy.

I've also had a chance to play about with the DK2, CV1, Vive, and Gear VR at the local VR tech demo. The CV1 and Vive are much of a muchness really, with the CV1 edging ahead in the comfort stakes (the Vive feels slightly more nose-heavy). The CV1 is significantly lighter and more comfortable than the DK2, while both the CV1 and the Vive seem to have better lenses in them. It's hard to describe, but it seems easier for your eyes to adjust to having the horizon a ball-hair from your nose on the CV1/Vive, particularly compared to the Gear VR. Personally, I found the CV1 lighter and less intrusive than wearing a diving mask, and didn't notice any perceptible loss of peripheral vision. As for the graphical defects... pass - I was too busy concentrating on what was happening around me! Three hours of having fun with a huge grin on my face. Can't wait to get a headset. :D

Holy crap!

I see I'm not the only one waiting for DCS: Spitfire ;-)

That's a seriously cool pit!

Anyone else just a wee bit delighted that DCS: Spitfire is finally out? :D

Anyway, apologies for the lack of updates. It's all bit rather bitty work. A wee bit here, a bit there... So, what have I got to share then? The last of the test buttons, the oxygen regulator (reamed out a radiator key to fit over a potentiometer - works well), and a quick shot of my workbench. Still finishing off the trim wheels, and I've reinforced the brake lever with a strip of metal glued to the reverse and smoothed over with green stuff. Oh, and there's the "close-enough" fuel cock I've repurposed. Think I've broken the back of the throttle quadrant project too - pics to follow when I'm further along.

It's all coming along very nicely cripple. But will it be ready by December 16th?

Not far off completion (but Cliffs of Dover)

The bucket seat is from Sqn Ldr Skippers (Robert Shaw) Hurricane from the Battle of Britain.

Cripple,

Keep working, the Spit IX are coming. :)

BTW - For people searching info about Spit "Spades":

adult photo sharing

This guide was sold (at least in the past) by "Air Ministry" user in http://forum.keypublishing.com/

"BBC" fire button safety lock:

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4316212/Re:_Spitfire_Spade_Grip#Post4316212

Hey cripple. Any progress made on the spit pit, or are you too caught up on flying the mkIX at the moment lol

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