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Computer Hardware & Software Forum >> HomeBuild Cockpits >> Cockpit Construction Continued (Part 20)
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Message started by JBaymore on Jul 6th, 2005 at 8:28pm

Title: Cockpit Construction Continued (Part 20)
Post by JBaymore on Jul 6th, 2005 at 8:28pm
Installing the Gear Lever

Got a little behind in posting what has been happening .  Catching things up a bit closer here to where the cockpit is at this time........

In photos #1 and #2 you can see the 1/4" MDF panel facing that will cover the front of the gear switch.  The design drawing is to the left of the wood.  This panel utilizes three of the Flight Deck Solutions annunciators for the gear position indicators at the top.  Each will have a green and a red LED in it.  There will be an "over-ride" buttom at the lower right.  And of course the printed details about speeds will be added.











In photo #3 below I have installed the gear control lever (construction shown in "Part 19") in the MIP right hand bay.  Four screws thru simple holes in the aluminum frame hold it in place on a 1/2" MDF spacer board.  The unit above it is the monitor switch ( 1 monitor - 2 computers) that will allow me to change the display on one of the captain's VDT's.






In photo #4 below, the MIP facing is in place and the gear panel is installed.  When the panel was installed, a sheet of closed cell foam with a slit for the gear handle was added between the gear panel facing and the MIP facing.  This is a nice "detail" that adds a finished touch to the installation.

The black knob above the gear handle will change the right hand captain's VDT from the ND display to the EICAS display.






Photo #5 below pretty much shows the MIP area as it sits today.  The bulk of the gross layout is now done on this area.  

If you look closely you can see the MIP lights attached on the bottom of the glareshield.  They are wired (12VDC) to the cockpit lighting switch panel located on the lower left of the MIP.  They are spaced so as to not throw a glare on the VDT's.  The one on the extreme left is angled toward the left so as to illuminate the angled panel area that will sit over there.

The glareshield area is pretty much populated with what it gets.  It just needs to all be wired up.  The last lighting detail there will be the panel lights for the Glareshield... which will likely be electroluminecent due to space constraints.





Getting Rid of "The Box"

One of the best ways to make a cockpit seem like a real plane is to get rid of the "square box" aspect of things.  So in the two photos below you can see the start of taking all the right angles off the basic construction and the left framing side of the main windscreen.  The panels are 1/4" MDF using "Struts" of 1/2" MDF to form the angles.  Holes for wiring are deilled in the backing struts.  The white stuff in the last photo is spackle.

If you look closely, you can also see the left front speaker of the 6 speaker 5.1 surround sound system.









More as it develops.



best,

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

Title: Re: Cockpit Construction Continued (Part 20)
Post by jrpilot on Jul 6th, 2005 at 8:36pm
Looks great, but since I have not been following, which aircraft are you constructing?

Title: Re: Cockpit Construction Continued (Part 20)
Post by JBaymore on Jul 6th, 2005 at 8:40pm
jrpilot,


Thanks.

It is a "generic" four engine commercial jet..... left seat only.  It is based (systems wise) pretty closely on the BAe 146-200....... which is what I fly about 90 percent of the time.

best,

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

Title: Re: Cockpit Construction Continued (Part 20)
Post by ThePianoMan on Jul 7th, 2005 at 10:31am
Lookin good John! :)
Can't WAIT to see the finished product! 8) 8)

Title: Re: Cockpit Construction Continued (Part 20)
Post by ThePianoMan on Jul 7th, 2005 at 10:34am
Oh and BTW, nice choice of aircraft! I have a friend who flys those for a living! 8)

Title: Re: Cockpit Construction Continued (Part 20)
Post by JBaymore on Jul 7th, 2005 at 4:51pm
PianoMan,

Thanks.  I can't wait either  ;D.

If I could have afforded it... I would have sompletely recreated the 1460200 cockpit.  I LOVE that aircraft.  But anytime you undertake an exact duplication.... you are talking BIG BUCKS.  The rocker switches for the overhead alone for the BAe would have bankrupted me.

I use the Jon Murchison one with the panels from Matthias Liebrecht.   It is available at the Aircraft Repaints New Zealand website.  IMHO this combination easily rivals most payware.

The version 3 BAe panel has just about all the real systems functional...... plane comes cold and adark by default and will just not start unless you do it "right".  And if you are not connected to ground power and are on the batteries... you have abouit 20 minutres to get the engines running  ;).

best,

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

Title: Re: Cockpit Construction Continued (Part 20)
Post by Drumlineramos on Jul 8th, 2005 at 3:11pm
wow, lookin good so far, that looked like a mix of 777 and something else (cant remember the a/c)

will your gear lever have 2 (UP-DOWN) or 3 (UP-OFF-DOWN)?

oh man, cant wait, your gonna have the biggest SimV meet ever when it's finished, lol.

Title: Re: Cockpit Construction Continued (Part 20)
Post by JBaymore on Jul 8th, 2005 at 11:04pm
Drumlineramos,

For the time being it will be up / down... but I put in the detent for the "off" position too.

best,

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

Title: Re: Cockpit Construction Continued (Part 20)
Post by JBaymore on Jul 11th, 2005 at 12:12pm
On to Part 21

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