WWII period cockpit (Part I)

[JBaymore]

I like how they call it a "low cost solution"... for a defense contractor maybe, but not the average guy!!

For a lot of the simpit builders that are using stuff like the real noses of aircraft........ that IS a low cost item!

[Andrew17]

Just a couple of pictures of how rudder pedals are made: some scrapped Al alloy piece mounted as a pantograph for the movement and two rubber wheels to transfer the movement to the potentiometer.
The potentiometer is connected to a joystick male connector and it's translated into a USB connector for the PC by means of a commercial device.

Pneumatic instruments (altimeter, climb/pitch speed, anemometer through pitot tube, etc.). I've mounted an old monitor to use it for their visualisation in the center of the instrument panel.

Program in use. Well CFS3 has really a good grphic, but I have tha idea that, even if setted at max realism, is not so close to what piloting such a warbird is like as the IL2 series. In particular FB+PF are my favourite.

CFS2, anyway is the one that goes the best on my PC, and the one that offers the major number of freeware downloads on the web.  

Therefore CFS2 and IL2 are my main sw.

Never heard of Shockware's BoB: where can I find it?

Bye!
Andrew.

[chuckcrc]

Hi Andrew

nice looking pedals you have there.

You should be ok for getting s/ware to extract gauge data etc for the sims you want to fly, CFS2 and IL2 in your pit.

For CFS2 you can buy FSUIPC which will allow a lot of different products out there to interface into the sim. Note there will be some reduced FSUIPC functionality in CFS2 as compared to FS2004.

I will try and find the link where I found the s/ware for the IL2 game for gauge data-- it may only be a beta version but if it works heh!!

The Battle of Britain 2 game is available from Shockwave Productions. They have an online store and a very good support forum. The makers of the game are very responsive to their customers.
Check it out here http://shockwaveproductions.com/

cheers
chuck

[chuckcrc]

Hi Andrew

I think I found that link about the software to extract the gauge data from IL2. It looks like you can run this over a lan setup and have the gauges displayed on a second pc/monitor.

check it out.
http://forums.ubi.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/23110283/m/4001089673

cheers
chuck

[Andrew17]

Hi, Chuck,

it's really atomic!!!!!!
What to say? Thanks again! I did not know that with IL2+PF was possible to display all those instruments...Considering that before reading your post my idea was to use a graphic card that manages two monitors and translate thw few instrument that can be seen in the standard "ctrl+F1" view into the lower cockpit inner monitor......it's really a step forward!!!!!!!

I think I have similar stone age ideas also for switches and levers.......undercarriage lever ("G" button) for example. I was thinking of a normally open button, mechanically realised by a wheel style lever, to be connected to the PC through cannibalising a keyboard chip and connecting two cables for the G to it. What's your opinion? Any comment is welcome.

Let me change subject (not very far do not worry) for a while, but just an idea: why not dividing homebuild cockpit forum into propeller (WWII for ex.) and modern (jet) planes? It's just and idea, and, maybe, a bad one, but just to regroup boys with the same interest.

I've been told "time, please!"; have to go.

Bye!!!!
A.

[chuckcrc]

Hi Andrew

That device link software looks good, and those soft gauges look fantastic-- ( there are Me109 gauges as well as the Spit now available) all you would need to build is a face panel to go in front of your monitor and have the cutouts so they match the layout of the plane you are flying.

(curse CFS3 for not being able to extract data)

I think you can even save the position changes of the gauges. This would mean you could have different gauge/positon combinations for different aircraft.
You could design a system of removable face panels that you would slide into their holders in front of the instrument monitor. This would give more flexibility for your simpit and would look great.



Anyhow lets get onto the subject of your interface for all the switches and levers.
Are you going to buy a USB type control unit or are you going to try and do this with a hacked keyboard only and just use old stripped down joysticks for the analog control(ie prop pitch etc)?

I originally had a stripped down joystick that I used for the throttle quadrant. This worked fine.(cfs2 can have 16 joysticks -don't know about IL2 )
All of my switches,levers (gear & trim panels) all worked into a hacked keyboard.
Now the main problem (curse) of hacked keyboards are that you can only use momentary switches.

[Andrew17]

Hello Chuck,

and hello everybody of the forum!

After a period of hard work and some holiday I'm back.

Had the chance to think about your suggestions, and I'm moving towards the "removable face panel" (for analogic instruments); in fact for what concerns the keyboard vs. USB controller I thought about several possibilities to to realise mechanically the interfaces to momentary switches that give the idea of toggling but you were right, it's really hard. I'd be oriented in the USB controller direction, but actually I do not know how it works in detail, can you please give me an idea of it?

Then, on the beach, under the burning sun, I'd another idea: what about a book?
Apart from a wonderful (I've seen a sample chapter and it seemed a very nice work) publication on how to build aicraft instruments, available on the web, I didn't find any books about this activity. I think a database of solutions (plan by plan or blueprint by blueprint) could become an interesting tool. It's just an idea. Any comment is welcome.

Hope to have time to post some new pics of the "Silver Can".

Bye!!!
Andrew.

[chuckcrc]

Hi Andrew
hope you had a nice holiday.

To get the info on USB controllers have a look at this link.

http://www.betainnovations.com/
The Plasma Lite was getting a software upgrade that allowed for toggle switches to interface directly to it with no other hardware.

There is a usb controller home made kit called the "mjoy"  I don't have the link at the moment and there is another over at Ubizoo forum-- made by Leo Ionbar (I think??) but I think that needs a diode matrix.

Anyhow have a look at the Beta Innovations stuff and see what you think.

The choice gets down to cost and how handy you are with a soldering iron.

About the book idea -- I'm not sure -- as there is so many ways you can build this stuff. This is what this forum is about -- getting ideas from everyone and then selecting the one that works for you.

cheers
chuck

[Andrew17]

Hi everybody!!!!

Hopefully in a couple of days I'll manage to attach a pic of how the Fresnell lens is behaving. I got surprised of the 3D effect you have looking through that device; really amazing!

Another interesting experience is about a webcam used as a track IR. I've seen it, during last simnight, working into my best friend's "Commander Flash" cockpit.
With only a few pounds/euros/dollars, the result is impressive; the cockopit then really surrounds you!

I spent some time thinking about the switches' interface and I reached the conclusion that Chuck is completely right for what concerns the USB controller: it's the best solution towards a realistic use of toggle switch.  Now is a question of budget......

An important question: if I had some interesting file (drawings/dimentions/ref. docs/etc.) to share, is there any place to upload it to?

Bye!
Andrew.

[Andrew17]

Just a shot out of a dry run with CFS1; I'll repeat the experiment with IL2 and attach a pic of it too.

Bye everybody!!!
A.

[Andrew17]

Here's the link to the software, I mentioned a couple of replies ago, that permits to use the webcam as a track for looking around in the cockpit turning the head with a led:

http://www.freelook.org/

I think it's a fine solution for portable sim equipment or for small room available situations.

USB controller. Chuck, I've the intention to buy one, but in order to chose the best solution I'll draw a couple of sketches of the panel so that to list all the switches needed. I'll show you the option I'm thinking about, through some drawings. Your experience is an hispiration! By the way, how's your Mustang?

Bye!
A.

[JBaymore]

Andrew,

Looked at one of the videos.... wow..... pretty interesting.

I'm trying to visualize how this would "feel" in a simpit environment.  Not sure I'd want the outside visual display moving the viewpoint around as I turned my head.

I'd appreciate your thoughts about how to use this in a pit.

But for someone just flying with single or multiple monitors and the 2-d or virtual cockpit..... looks like a real "winner" to me.

best,

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

[Andrew17]

John,

I do agree with you; in fact my choice for the visualisation is based on the fresnel lens that magnify the LCD display.

I think that the track with the webcam is an interesting option for mobile solutions or for small room arrangements; for ex. with a laptop it gives the idea of the cockpit; but nothing else; a reproduction of a flight deck environment is another thing.
Multiple monitor, or better, a projector is the best solution.

As soon as available I'll post some pics of the "Silver Can" with virtual panel.

Bye!
A.

[Padser]

a usb controller ...  made by Leo Ionbar (I think??) but I think that needs a diode matrix.

Hiya,

The chap's name is Leo Bodnar and you can find his joystick controller here: http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/joystick/

It's a snip at

[Andrew17]

Hi, Pads,

did not have much time to dedicate to the Silver Can those days with soldering, designing and testing, but I had the chance to think it over. First of all I gave a look at your cockpit box. It's great!!!! Also the lettering, even if not CAD aligned as you said, it really gives the atmosphere of WWII fighters. It's what i'm trying to realise on the sides of the instrument panel.
Do you have any tech detail of it (schematic drawing layout, sketches, etc.) of it?
With the precious prompts of two grat Simmers  :D(Chuckcrc and Wing Commander Flash) I'm trying to realise it through a USB controller (I've started with the idea of Keyb Hacking, but it's not a very efficient idea; maybe simple, but not efficient.. :-/).
As soon as the layout of the function is done I'll add a pic of it.

Have to go: scramble called by the Real Boss.

Bye!!
A.