MCP Plans

[JSpahn]

Hello,

   Im wondering if yous guys know of any plans for building a MCP?

[SilverFox441]

For what aircraft or aircraft type?

[JSpahn]

I want to mimic a 737 MCP but my pit is going to be generic. Is there major differences between them? Also will a home made mcp work with freeFD? I have to admit Im pretty new to all this and may be a bit too ambitious. Im learning ILS approaches right now and I think an MCP with a tactile interface would work much better.

[SilverFox441]

A design of a "loosely" based MCP that is sort of generic 737...

http://www.hanskrohn.com/start.htm

There can be major differences between MCP styles... functionaly they all have certain basic functional similarities though.

GoFlight has picture of their two commercial MCP devices and you can easily see both the size and complexity differences:

http://www.goflightinc.com/order/produc ... ucts_id=41
http://www.goflightinc.com/order/produc ... ucts_id=80


I would suggest that you might be getting a little ahead of yourself here. You need to design your 'pit based on available room, funds, style preferences and a load of other factors. If you are going generic you may not have room for a full 737 style MCP. Design the physical 'pit first and then see if your style leaves room for the hardware you want/need. The final design will be a synthesis of your style/hardware requirements. Easier for the guys doing a real plane in that way... the design is finalized already, they just have to duplicate it.

My simpit is going to be generic, and based on this: http://www.simprojects.nl/Simpit%20description.htm

Obviously, that design leaves me no room for a full 737 style MCP, I'll be going with a smaller style like the smaller GoFlight unit.

At this point I would recommend using FsXPand from Flyware rather than FreeFD. FreeFD seems to have been abandoned, while FsXPand is still being actively developed. Using FSUIPC you can run almost all styles of MCPs from commercial or homebuilt hardware. There are a couple of add-ons that pose problems because of how they expanded FS norms, but for the most part you are safe with anything that can be understood by FSUIPC.

http://cockpitsolutions.com/flyware/

Hope that helps.

[JSpahn]

Im tinkering with FSXpand right now and yep its a pretty cool. I could setup the autopilot in fsxpand using this: http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/joystick/index.html  

Do you think that would work OK to start? I guess I would need to also use the Nav & PFD from fsxpand too. I could always upgrade to the commercial MCP listed above later. Seems like it would be more cost effective to just buy one.

The pit is gonna be a single seater but a bit larger then the one you listed, I have dedicated a nice space in the basement. So the 737 MCP should fit nice.


I have already invested quite a bit, 4 12.1 inch monitors, 2 10 inch touchscreen computers here:http://cgi.ebay.com/Ramline-Tablet-PC-Laptop-Computer-Touchscreen-GPS-xplor_W0QQitemZ330111201573QQihZ014QQcategoryZ39980QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
X52 flight system, 60" sony grand wega lcd projection tv (she said OK), 4 multi-brand mid tower computers(total of 6 with the touchscreens), and a great resource for electronics:
http://www.allelectronics.com/index.html


Im nutts, once I set my mind on something I tend to go overboard.

[SilverFox441]

Do you have any drawings, sketches of your 'pit yet?

[JBaymore]

(she said OK)

You are one of the lucky ones!


best,

....................john


PS:

[JBaymore]

masternerd,

Here's a shot from a prior thread that shows my glareshield configuration utilizing a home-made NAV/ GPS - FD on /off -Autopilot on/off panel (interface via hagstrom KE-72 card),

[JSpahn]

Yeah tons of planning has already gone into this project so far, Im pretty certain there is going to be some mistakes, but all in all I think Ill get it. I like the go-flight MCP and the price isn't too bad, maybe it will make its way in.


Its kinda hard to visualize the monitors on the far right and left, they are gonna be tilted around 30 deg and also rotated 90 so they fit into the space better. The center monitor is going to be the touchscreen, which is gonna centralize most of the controls. Generic, and a bit of a fantasy or futuristic design. There should be a good amount of space for switches knobs and such. What Im going to do is design the pit for future upgrades. Certain panels will be mounted & blank and the sim will rely mostly on the touchscreen to start off. That way I can build on panel at a time when funds pop-up.

The structure is going to be supported by a PVC frame and MDF mounted to the PVC, should be pretty solid if done right. Some of the wires will run thru the pvc and access panels will be cut at certain points for future upgrades and repairs. The seat is going to sit on a mdf base and a small sub woofer behind all that.


I got tons of semi scale drawings and the image above is representative of what I think I'm going with, but that could change when I start.

I have a pretty  strong background in electronics, being a field service rep in the medical field, and computers in general have been a hobby since I had my first 8088.  

Now to ebay to look for a nice leather power seat! Just kidding.

[JBaymore]

Now to ebay to look for a nice leather power seat! Just kidding.

masternerd,

Why are you kidding?  That would be awesome!  ;)

best,

....................john

[SilverFox441]

Couldn't help myself from tinkering... like John says, planning is a big part of the fun.

I re-arranged the various displays to better match a commercial arrangement. I also designated space (1) where various controls like a multi engine throttle (or flap/gear handle... that type of thing) would go. Spot (2) is where there's room for some GA type controls if you like that type of bird and want that functionality. Spot (3) is where things like the MCP can be installed.

The touchscreen is now situated in a spot where a modern fighter frequently has it's moving map display. Using touchbuddy and some of the available GPS software this can be duplicated.

What do you think?

Steve.

[JSpahn]

I like it, #1 would be a very functional location since thats where my throttle is gonna be. The GPS was something I wanted to integrate  I also wanted to put in a weather radar, I was thinking some a/b vga switches could take care of that.


Hey John the power seat is gonna make its way in somehow, but I think Im going to a junk yard to avoid shipping!!

Thanks again guys

[JBaymore]

Hey John the power seat is gonna make its way in somehow, but I think Im going to a junk yard to avoid shipping!!

John,

Get yourself a honkin' HUGE 12V DC power supply to run THAT puppy!  ;)

I have an A/B vga switch installed so that the captains right MFD can be connected to two different computer outputs (or screens from a single machine).  Might change that to a four position one....to make the possibilities greater.  BUT in my case... with panel masks..... the screens on the various machines will have to line up exactly with the gauge cutouts on ALL of the screens.  Difficult task.

best,

........................john

[JBaymore]

John,

Maybe think about emlarging the profile of the glareshield area so that you can install stuff up there.  Plus that overhang gives a real sense of 3 dimensionality to the MIP area .... and really makes it feel real.

The Goflight units can fit up there nicely.  The GF-MCP is 4" high.... so that might be a good dimension for you... that is what I used.  Some of the Goflight stuff is only 2" high .... another option if you don't want to put the MCP up there.

best,

..................john

[JSpahn]

John,

 I like the way you integrated the glare shield, me thinks that would be a good idea for my sim. I also like the overlays on the monitors, I think Im gonna do that for the standby instruments to make them more realistic. When the guys at fsXpand come out with the newer style instruments the standby should look even better.

 I also like the idea of the closet, but I don't think my design will work with that, 60" TV is huge. Initially I was going with 3 19" monitors using triplehead2go. But the bottom line was too inflated to justify doing it.

  With the 60" I want to make sure the perspective is perfect, I want the screen to sit 6 inches or so below the glare shield but all that needs to get worked out once the pit is built somewhat.

  Check out my hardware below.