First Tiny Bit Of Hardware Built

[BTilson]

It's not much at all, but it's something, and I made it, so I'm pretty proud. It currently doesn't actually do anything, since I haven't been able to purchase any IO hardware yet, but I shall soon. Probably going to start with a Hagstrom KE72. This thing here is basically just a panel to test switch functions with. An experimentation panel, I suppose. I will be making another in the near future that is a bank of momentary pushbuttons.

Not much to it really. An 8x10 piece of plexiglass, 35 1/4" holes drilled with my drill press, 35 toggles switches and some black spray paint.

Here are a few images.






As I said, not much, but it's my first piece of ANYTHING related to simpit hardware, so I'm happy. Not sure exactly about the odd alignment on the back views. I guess just slight inconsistency in the construction of the switches. They all flip pretty much identically on the front. *shrug*

[JBaymore]

BTilson,

CONGRATULATIONS............ you have now stepped off the edge of the abbys.... and there is NO turning back.

That is REALLY nice clean looking work.

[BTilson]

Yeah I am really looking forward to the day when I make something happen in the sim with a switch or button. I just hope to be able to order some IO hardware soon. Things can get a bit tight around my home sometimes. I've got a 3 year old son and another child on the way. Wife is currently just shy of 4 months pregnant. So, needless to say, not much "extra" money (or time, haha) gets to be spent on frivilous silly things like my dream of building a flight simulator. She's pretty accomodating though, and generally tolerates my excessive nerdiness pretty well.

Thanks for the compliments, by the way. I'm about 4 years behind you right now I think, but I've officially been bitten by the bug, so expect to see more from me in the future! Next thing up will likely be the same test panel concept but with momentary pushbuttons.

Cheers!

-Brooks

[machineman9]

will be good when it does something  ;)

all you need now are those embossed sticky labels you can get, and somewhere to attach all those switches... then you will have much more 'real' control over settings in your aircraft.


good luck! hope it turns into something special- unlike my projects