Guppy's Simpit

[matbog]

HelloTechRoss. Here is my mk10 seat: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/651bbe75522eb6957c47998f/w/a4ff1af7b7ae08a8b38845eb/e/211dffce42f007e2d6d6a370

This is not fusion 360 but it is also free.

 

Oh, and it is stil WIP...

Edited August 28, 2018 by matbog

[TechRoss]

HelloTechRoss. Here is my mk10 seat: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/651bbe75522eb6957c47998f/w/a4ff1af7b7ae08a8b38845eb/e/211dffce42f007e2d6d6a370

This is not fusion 360 but it is also free.

 

Oh, and it is stil WIP...

 

Fantastic, thanks so much. Can't wait to get home now and take a look. :thumbup:

[matbog]

:) Your welcome!

[Guppy]

Hey All -

 

I wanted to provide a few updates to the simpit.

1) I got the TM TPR Pedals - THEY ARE AMAZING

2) I got VPC's T-50 Throttle - AMAZING

3) Updates to the outer panels

4) Glare Shield

5) Custom panels

 

(For the photos down below that appear to be sideways, just click them to expand and they'll have the correct orientation)

 

1) Here at the TPRs, as you can imagine it's hard to get a good shot of them since they're hidden:

 

2) Previously I reached out to VPC to get dimensions, it was a tight fit but it fits PERFECTLY! I love the functionality:

 

3) A lot of my time has been weathering the side panels to make them feel authentic. I REALLY like how they've turned out. My scale modeling airbrush has been a trusty tool in all of this:

 

4) In many of my previous pictures, in this thread, I've been using a painted black foam board glare shield. This was to provide a working concept that I could eventually take measurements from. If you look at the two pictures I posted above you'll notice a full sheet of painted black aluminum. This is perfect because it hides all of my connections going into my simpit AND specifically the displays.

 

5) Unfortunately I don't have pictures of the custom toggle switch/button panels, yet. I have everything I need to get started minus the pieces of aluminum that will provide the mounting mechanism for these button boxes. They will provide me with the following:

- 6x infinite rotating rotaries: for coms switches, light dials, etc.

- 4x 6 button mode switches: F-18 jettison selector switch, RDR, nav dials, etc.

- 15 push buttons

- 10 two-way momentary toggle switches

- 6 on-on toggle switches

Behind the throttle I've planned for this for quite some time, but I wanted to get the throttle first so I could figure out what I would need. You'll see the cutout behind the throttle. Additionally, to the bottom right corner I recently added another cutout, this is where the second box will go:

In total, between all of the buttons/switches I plan plus what the Throttle offers I'll have the following that I plan to use:

- 9x infinite rotating rotaries: for coms switches, light dials, etc.

- 4x 6 button mode switches: F-18 jettison selector switch, RDR, nav dials, etc.

- 21 push buttons

- 13 two-way momentary toggle switches

- 8 on-on toggle switches

Lots of buttons! I like the idea of the mode switch as a shift button for additional programmable buttons on the throttle, but I'd rather have dedicated switches all over the pit! Hopefully I can show additional progress on this.

 

I still need to build an ejection seat, but I think that might be a 2019 project - I kinda of want to fly vs. test!

 

Finally, I've included a few pictures of my setup running DCS, some have the old foam board glare shield and my old TMWH throttle but I suspect you wouldn't have noticed!

 

That's it! I hope you enjoyed! (I feel like I'm actually in a cockpit!)

Edited October 4, 2018 by Guppy

[wilbur81]

VERY cool! Good work. :thumbup:

[TechRoss]

Flippin awesome. What are you using for a UFC?

[Guppy]

Flippin awesome. What are you using for a UFC?

 

I'm using this, ultimately a similar screen as those that people use to export MFDs from the game, except it has a touchscreen overlay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HDMI-VGA-2AV-LCD-Contorller-Board-8-EJ080NA-05A-AT080TN52-800x600-Touch-Screen-/202060476954?hash=item2f0bbe321a

 

I use Ikarus to build custom UFC interfaces. I went the glass-pit route vs. a physical UFC because I can literally build and customize it for any aircraft, which makes it super flexible (but time consuming. More detail here:

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=179525

[TechRoss]

I'm using this, ultimately a similar screen as those that people use to export MFDs from the game, except it has a touchscreen overlay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HDMI-VGA-2AV-LCD-Contorller-Board-8-EJ080NA-05A-AT080TN52-800x600-Touch-Screen-/202060476954?hash=item2f0bbe321a

 

I use Ikarus to build custom UFC interfaces. I went the glass-pit route vs. a physical UFC because I can literally build and customize it for any aircraft, which makes it super flexible (but time consuming. More detail here:

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=179525

 

Very cool. I have wanted to look at Ikarus, but a 900 page thread is a bit scary.

 

The more I look into it, the more apparent it becomes that I am going to have to start looking for additional 'small' screens. Wanted to go analog as much as possible, but building time takes away to much flying time.

 

Keep up the great work, real inspiration to us on the fence sim builders.

[Guppy]

Very cool. I have wanted to look at Ikarus, but a 900 page thread is a bit scary.

 

The more I look into it, the more apparent it becomes that I am going to have to start looking for additional 'small' screens. Wanted to go analog as much as possible, but building time takes away to much flying time.

 

Keep up the great work, real inspiration to us on the fence sim builders.

 

If it helps any, my skill was zero before any of this occurred. I took a shop class in middle school. About 20 years ago. Learned basic 3d CAD design with Fusion 360.

 

Ikarus seems very difficult at first, it's not. It's really, really easy to use just very time consuming. I suggest getting an equivalent to Photo Shop - I use Affinity Photo (far cheaper and arguably better in cases). This allows you to make the custom buttons and such.

 

It's a long endeavor that is for sure, but climbing into it... OHHHHH MAN!

[Guppy]

She's completed with the exception of adding the Virpil WarBRD base, but it nothing y'all would notice I don't think.

 

I added a total of 2 button panels. 1 is on the left side behind the throttle and the second is where my right elbow is. In addition, I added 6 toggles to the front console. Two of those are locking where I need to pull the actuator in order to move the switch; these operate the gear and hook - they are very satisfying to use. I hope you enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TechRoss]

Cat looks rather upset there is a helmet in his chair!!!

 

Looking awesome Guppy, really great work.

[dFlow]

as i said before, this is the best looking - and cleanest - workplace / simpit i've ever seen ;)

 

really impressive, don't you want to build one for me too ? :music_whistling:

[rainyday]

Awesome and inspirational simpit!

 

I browsed thru your thread - but saw no mention about the size of your main screen, what size is it and do you feel like you have wide enough field of view?

 

Im currently running 3 screen setup which I love (my main screen is 32" 16:9 which I feel is too narrow on its own - despite TrackIr) - but I'm starting my own cockpit build and I feel having 3 big screens can be bit too cumbersome. Just contemplating whether I could replace them with one bigger/wider screen without losing too much. I know I can't get as wide - but maybe there would be a sweet spot.

[Marcq]

Nicely done :beer:

 

Marc..

[Guppy]

Awesome and inspirational simpit!

 

I browsed thru your thread - but saw no mention about the size of your main screen, what size is it and do you feel like you have wide enough field of view?

 

Thank you!

 

My main screen is this: ASUS ROG Swift PG348Q 34" 21:9 3440x1440 IPS 100Hz G-SYNC. It feels plenty to me since I no longer need to look in-game at instruments or click switches, as the vast majority of switches I need are mapped to my simpit. Additionally, with having to power those additional 6 monitors, the software and everything else - it's quite the system hog. I would not want to sacrifice in-game graphics for additional screens.

Edited October 23, 2018 by Guppy

[bloop]

This is spectacular, well done!

I had a bit of a look at ikarus but it seemed quite complicated! Have you checked Helios? It can produce really nice looking displays and can be run on a remote computer (which can free up your display ports on your DCS machine)

Would you have the cockpit plans available? this is really close to what I am looking to build!

Damien

[Guppy]

This is spectacular, well done!

I had a bit of a look at ikarus but it seemed quite complicated! Have you checked Helios? It can produce really nice looking displays and can be run on a remote computer (which can free up your display ports on your DCS machine)

Would you have the cockpit plans available? this is really close to what I am looking to build!

Damien

 

Ikarus is far easier to use than Helios, in my opinion, it just requires some getting used to. It can also run on a remote computer, too. I have 2x 1080Tis so I'm good on ports. They both do similar functions - I just think Ikarus is more organized and modernized.

 

I have all of the panels required to build laid out for cutting. I'm working on a way to distribute it for a small price for the hundreds of design hours of effort I put into it - probably ~$50usd. Is this something you would be interested in?

[TechRoss]

Ikarus is far easier to use than Helios, in my opinion, it just requires some getting used to. It can also run on a remote computer, too. ?

 

This is interesting. So we could run Ikarus on a laptop next to our Sim PC?

[Guppy]

I decided I needed a bit of color so I added some yellow/white caution panels to the front console for the Gear/Flaps (white) and the Hook (yellow).

 

I also stenciled in some white lines on my own homemade panels. Nothing crazy but something to make it blend in a bit more.

 

 

[boomer12784]

I noticed you updated the glare shield. How'd you do it? It looks good.

[Guppy]

I noticed you updated the glare shield. How'd you do it? It looks good.

 

Thanks! I used a 1/16" aluminum sheet. I first used painted foam board to determine the general shape and size that I wanted and took measurements. After that I drew out the shape in Fusion 360, added some mounting screw holes and submitted the DXF file to be fabricated. The same company that fabricated it also rolled it into the shape I needed. I think all said and done it cost me $150. I drew the shape out in MSPaint:music_whistling:, but it worked for them.

 

The rolling was not as precise, but I just needed it in the general shape to let the tension of the screws do the work. I added some edge guards around the sides... you can get them for super cheap on amazon, basically black silicone that clips onto the edges of metal.

[Guppy]

For those who have not seen it yet... here's my updated room.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

[goslin23]

Wow, very nice. And clean!

[Spectre-63]

Guppy -

 

 

 

I'm just getting started down this (EXTREMELY) slippery slope =)

 

 

If you had it do over again, would you stick with individual monitors for each MFD, or go with a single 24" touch screen? I worry about the framerate hit for 3x1024 screens for the MPDs and one for the UFC, especially when my primary monitor is a 4K? I'm running on an i5-7600K and an NVidia 1080ti

 

 

Thx!

[Spectre-63]

Another question: how are you supporting all the displays? Am I counting right that you have 8 in the pit itself?