Hi I'm a new member and I thought I would post some pics of my Mustang sim that I have been building. I'm still wiring it up but hope to take it on a test flight soon.
Contact me if you want any details
cheers

I plan to do a GA 1 or 2 engine 2 seater.  I am planning a modular construction so that parts can be changed depending on the aircraft flown.

It is currently in the wistful daydreaming stage but should be a reality within 24-36 months - I'm taking the long view.

Chuck, That is bloody brilliant!  I hadn't conceived of making it look like the moddled A/C from the outside.

Good luck with it!

Will

Hi John
seems I still can't get the images to laod correctly. What am I doing wrong
regards
chuck

PS. when all else fails - read the instructions-- fixed pics

Chuck,

WOW!  Great pix and great looking pit.  You bet there is interest in this.  Any kind of simpit is of interest here.

I fixed the URL you gave in the message a bit above to make is clickable.  When you post something using the little "insertion buttons"...... it should go between the "tags".   I just moved what you had listed to between the two (URL)  -  (/URL) tags (not using the real square brackets there  .

Are a lot of the control unit boxes made out of metal?  The forming sure looks like it.

I think one detail that you use nicely that makes the realism go up is all those exposed screw heads holding things together.

Any chance at some point you could use a paint program and do some text annotation editing and show what each control and button on a given "box" is for?

The box with all the buttons on the pilot's right hand side....... is that for a lot of the general "sim commands"....or is it mainly aircraft related?

Where did you get the trim wheel?

And thanks for the info on the pedals.  I'll go there and have a look.

best,

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

OH MY GOD THAT IS BEUTIFUL!!!

Just curiuos how long did it take to build?

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
GREAT WORK AND PLEASE KEEP US UP TO SPEED WITH YOUR PROJECT!
WE WANT TO SEE THAT THING FIRED UP!!

DAVE

That is a nice tub. My question is, will you stay with that J/S or go HOTAS?

great work so far

Hi Chomp Rock
I originally wanted to build a Spitfire Simpit because everyone always dreams of flying something like that.  But I couldn't work out a way of forming up the   canopy without getting some expensive moulds made. If you have a way to do this cheaply please let me know.
Problems with forming the canopy is the reason I built a P51B, as I could form up the canopy frame out of 3mm strips of aluminium and then bend these around wooden formers that I made. I used 3 sections of 3mm aluminium with the 3mm lexan fitted to the middle section and then rivit all three sections together.

Well good luck with you Spit simpit it will be great to see some one else building a WW2 pit. If you have any questions please mail me.

regards
chuck
 

HOLY FARGLESNOT! THAT IS BEAUTIFUL!

I may think about doing that preety soon!

Hi Ckur
thanks for your comments , I designed the pit to look like a P51B type cockpit, if that looks similar to an  Corsair  I wouldn't know as I haven't any books on that aircraft type.
The engine start process iIuse in the pit at the moment is a "momentary ON "lever switch that operates the "E" key command thru a relay and a bashed keyboard that I bought for $2.00 AUD from a salvage yard.
What I have planned is to construct a fully working Magneto switch modelled on the Mustang and then have a seperate start push button cover by a protective flip up cover as per the real thing. I plan to use a grey code rotary encoder (as per the trim control ccts - will post seperate topic on this one day!)
Now in CFS2 the "Set Magneto" command has nothing assigned to it. However the Magneto function will work the same as it does in CFS1. That is in CFS1 the key command for "set Mags" is "M". Once you select this the sim software allows you to increase the selection or decrease by using the "="(increase) or "-" decrease)and you have to push the "=" key four times to start the engine ie =(1) is mag1, =2 is mag2, =3 both mags ,=4start engine. In CFS2 the "M" key is for tactical map toggle so just assign an unused key and it should work. The same goes for cowl flaps etc I have assigned unused keys to make these work with my bashed keyboard. One observation I have made is that the sim uses the "=" and "-" sign for generic increase/decrease functions and it seems to be on a time period for how long these functions will remain active for the "M" magneto command function. It seems to time out after a period so it can be used for other functions ie Time compression , zoom in zoom out etc and if you want to set the mags again you have to hit the "M'key again.
I hope this explains it ok and I haven 't confused people with my ramblings.
Keep the questions coming I'm only to glad to help people if I can, these simpits are tricky devils! 
cheers
chuck

Hi Ckur
the dimensions of the simpit are 1630mm long, 1440mm high and 740mm wide at the base. The width tapers to 650mm wide at the opening of the canopy. I had the chance to check these dimensions against a real P51D Mustang that is resident at my local light aircraft airport and the simpit is pretty close on the width etc to the real thing. You know for the cost of this simpit I could have gone for a 30mins fly in that Mustang ! It has dual controls and part of the deal is you get to fly the thing!! Don't know if the pilot would let you pull any "split S " turns thou!!
Maybe some day I get a chance to fly in it !!
Are you building a simpit ? What type etc ??
cheers
chuck

Chuck,
The P-51B looks great. You and I are on the same flight path. I am building a P-51B sim similar to yours but with a Malcolm hood, but I have a ways to go. You did a great job.
Take care,
Gordon

Hey Guys,

Just ran across you post and was excited to see someone else building a WW2 pit (everyone seems to be building jets).  I am currently building a (somewhat generic) WW2 US Navy fighter pit.  I decided to do my own design since it was easier than trying to accurately copy a specific historic aircraft.  I will try to get some photos posted soon.

Fate

Professor Fate
always good to hear from someone else who is building a ww2 pit as there aren't too many out there.
Feel free to ask any questions because thats what this forum is about , sharing of information and ideas.
Good luck with your project and I hope to see some pics soon.
cheers
chuck

Professor Fate
if you are having trouble with the photo size there is a good photo edit software on this site called Infraview which is what I used and it works a treat. You can get your image size down to below 100k but with still good resolution. Most of my pics were high res at 500k when they were taken but using the program I've got them down to about 70k but the res is still good.
Go for it.
cheers
chuck

I have wet my pants in awe.

A.

Great project Chuck!

Im starting my own build of a P51-D simpit now and have done som research. I will try to build as many of the controls myself, stick, throttle trim settings and include real working gauges. I think I'll keep my old CH rudder pedals for a while.

Me and a friend is currently designing electronics to interface the gauges. I found some car gauges at a cheap vendor here in Norway, most of these gauges are just voltmeters so they are easy to interface. That'll work for all my single pointer instruments. Also managed to salvage some step motors from printers that I'll use for the rest of the instrumentation.

For the stick, throttle, trim and flaps settings I'm going with this great and free joystick controller design:

http://www.mindaugas.com/projects/MJoy16/

It  provides:
USB interface
8 10bit digital axis
64 push buttons
16 toggle switches
4 rotaries

I'll probably use two of these boards for my setup.

Thought some of this might be of interest.

I also have a question for you

I've got a lot of photographs of the cockpit, controls and instruments but I just can't seem to get any of the dimensions for them, since you've already built a lot of them I wondered if you could provide some of them,
in particular interest as of now is the "throttle box" lenght of arms and knobs on the throttle and the size of the trim wheels, flap lever and seating.

Any other interior measurements you've got would also be greatly appreciated also.

I'll probably set up a web site with pictures of my progress as I get something done....

Please excuse my bad English.

-SAto