What do you guys think?

[visualchaosfx]

http://home.nc.rr.com/jrhavrilla/jrh_ebook.htm

You think its right to charge $40 for an ebook on how to build a fokker cockpit when you can join a simpit building site such as mycockpit.com or maybe chat with some folks on here or any other site and get the info for free?

I think his simpit looks really cool and a lot of time and effort went into it but, in my opinion, I don't think its right to even charge for the information, but thats just my opinion.

Your thoughts?

EDIT: DANG IT!! Can someone move this into the "Other Sites" section? Yes I had brain fart when I posted this lol

[Fly2e]

Actually, let's move it to the Home-build section as that is what this is really about.

[beaky]

I don't think it's wrong... some people may prefer to get all the info they need on a particular type of 'pit in one place, instead of looking all over the Web.

And why not ask for compensation for one's work? Just because some people are happy to share this sort of information for free doesn't make it wrong to charge for it.

Besides, anyone who can afford to construct a 'pit like that can usually scrape up another $40..

[SilverFox441]

I would have happily paid somebody $40 for that level of work... especially if what he says about scalability is true!

[bok269]

Thats what great about capitalism; You can charge whatever you want for anything.  The consumers control whethere it is right or wrong by purchasing it or not.

As for the cockpit; looks pretty cool.  wish i had that much money to pour into that thing.   My concern is, what happens if you want to fly a different aircraft?  Obviously you can just swith planes in the game, but hten youve spent all that money to fly a 747 from a Fokker cockpit.

[JBaymore]

Besides, anyone who can afford to construct a 'pit like that can usually scrape up another $40..

Or maybe another $4000.00

[JBaymore]

[quote]Thats what great about capitalism; You can charge whatever you want for anything.

[beaky]

That issue is one that any pit builder has to consider very carefully before beginning down the Primrose Path.  That is one reason to build a more generic type simpit.... it easuily serves more than one aircraft.  A side benefit..... it is usually cheaper to build than an exact replica.

It's cheaper, all right... and more useful (to me, at least- half the fun of sims is flying a variety of aircraft).
But it ain't easier... with a replica, everything's been designed already... not that I'm complaining- I like designing.

[AnGeL_MaKeR]

The link posted above now shows a 404 error. :-?

This link http://home.nc.rr.com/jrhavrilla/index.htm says he removed the site and the book due to....   :-?

I think he's just a tad frustrated, eh?

[beaky]

The link posted above now shows a 404 error. :-?

This link http://home.nc.rr.com/jrhavrilla/index.htm says he removed the site and the book due to....   :-?

I think he's just a tad frustrated, eh?

It is a tough market to break into, considering that A: most pit-builders enjoy figuring things out for themselves and B: there's tons and tons of free plans and how-tos out there.

[gokhotit]

[quote]It's cheaper, all right... and more useful (to me, at least- half the fun of sims is flying a variety of aircraft).
But it ain't easier... with a replica, everything's been designed already... not that I'm complaining- I like designing.

[visualchaosfx]

I'd like for building replica's to be cheap instead of expensive. Not trying to disrespect the simpit building community or anything but I thought I would build my MIP out of cardboard.

Yeah I know. Stupid idea lol.

[beaky]

I'd like for building replica's to be cheap instead of expensive. Not trying to disrespect the simpit building community or anything but I thought I would build my MIP out of cardboard.

Yeah I know. Stupid idea lol.

Well, there's cardboard and then there's cardboard... if you built-up layers of cardboard by gluing them together, you could make something pretty strong. But then again, unless you're buying fancy plywood, sheet goods are not that expensive (luan or thin MDF is around $10/sheet). You'd be better off with that... although some kind of cardboard might work for the exterior shell- parts that are not structural.

In general, though, a precise replica gets expensive because you can't compromise on the shape or construction of anything... it could be that it can be done cheap, but it's very, very time-consuming to scratch-build exact replicas of, say, a jet airliner flight deck. People spend ages making  panels and stuff like that... even non-working stuff can get pretty complicated and use a lot of materials.

[JBaymore]

The shell for my enclosed pit was a very tiny fraction of the cost of it so far.  It is the electronics that add up fast.  Mine is built out of MDF and plywood and 2x 3's and other dimansional stock.  All scerwed together.

visualchaosfx, spend some time looking at the cost of all the electronics hardware you'll likely need before you start so that you don't get a rude awakening.  Even a "cheap" pit ain't "cheap".

best,

..........john

[visualchaosfx]

I was looking through the stuff that flight deck solutions has for the 747. There stuff looks nice. Just wish they drop the price down on them.