Simviation Forum - Inexpensive generic flight deck or cockpit

Feb 6^th, 2008 at 1:00pm

Stormin Steve Offline
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I'm a bit of an entreprenuer and I had an idea I would like to bounce off of ya.

If I made a lightweight, modular, sturdy, generic flight deck or cockpit and kept it around..say.. $200 or so (painted but not including shipping) do you think anyone would buy it?

I'm talking airline or fighter style frame and skin. Then you could just set up your own monitor, put in your own controls and your own seat. I would, of course, offer those things for sale as well for one stop shopping convienience, but just somthing for people who want the cockpit feel without a HUGE blow to thier wallet or perhaps that guy who just doesnt know where to start or HOW to build one.

I would love feedback. Thanks guys!

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Reply #1 - Feb 6^th, 2008 at 5:56pm

beaky Offline
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Building my own, but thanks. Wink

I've considered this myself, ands it seems there is sort of a market for bare-bones generic stuff... although I don't know how lucrative it might be, I've never seen anything like that for less than $300, so you may be on to something.
If you're going to also sell controllers you will have some very stiff competition... CH, Saitek, you know... Wink

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Reply #2 - Feb 6^th, 2008 at 6:24pm

JSpahn Offline
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Personally I think a setup with some gauges, either on an lcd panel or analog, with some important controls for about 500 bucks or so would be positioned nicely to those who want a cockpit setup.

200 bucks seems like some plywood in the shape of a cockpit which quick pit has already done and which doesn't interest me in the least. Without any control over the sim what good is it.

Just my 2 cents.

If you really want my money come up with a complete MCP for about 200 bucks, or a complete software suite for 737 style gauges or the Garmin 530 GPS which can run on a network. The list goes on and on and on..........
But some plywood Roll Eyes

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Reply #3 - Feb 6^th, 2008 at 6:33pm

Stormin Steve Offline
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So you think if I had some working gauges, controls, or screen it would be worth a little more to you?

I would put CH or saitek controls in it. Maybe work with a vendor if somebody wants to pay for HIGH END controlers. I'm good to build somthing for cheap where you use your own stuff all the way up to more high end simulators. The important things to me is selling a quality product for the absolute lowest price. Not a Walmart type of thing, but more along the lines of..say.. Costco...

By the way, I DON'T believe in plywood. Cheesy

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Reply #4 - Feb 6^th, 2008 at 6:43pm

JSpahn Offline
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Sure a GA setup with a radio stack would be nice. Nothing is really there in the market for the hobbyist.

To be honest now I think about it there may be room in the market for a bare cockpit but it would need to accept gauges, displays and controls.

In addition it should have some instructions or a guide on how to integrate your controls and instruments into the cockpit, full of diagrams and pictures.

Finally it also should include a list of suppliers for say LCD panels, interface cards, switches etc etc.......

My point is don't just offer the cockpit but give the cockpit builder a foundation for which they can build upon.

Another 2 cents Wink

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Reply #5 - Feb 6^th, 2008 at 8:47pm

Stormin Steve Offline
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you get into that level of things, you've defeated the point. Inexpensive. lol

However, you did catch my point with the whole "somthing they can build on. That's what I was going for. I want people to make it thier own. I would provide the start all the way to a complete kit. Progressivly more expensive, but a good start.

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Reply #6 - Feb 6^th, 2008 at 9:06pm

JSpahn Offline
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Wait I thought of "something to build on" hey I want a royalty check.

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Reply #7 - Feb 6^th, 2008 at 10:01pm

Stormin Steve Offline
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right. lets see if I even get a check! LOL

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Reply #8 - Feb 6^th, 2008 at 10:13pm

JSpahn Offline
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Im a bit of an entrepreneur myself and I understand your interest. I have been blogging about my flight sim project and the response has been good so far.

Im great understanding software & hardware but as rotty pointed out Im not much of a carpenter Grin

I think if you came up with a nice frame(and not a glorified desk) you may have a market for your product. Something that can accommodate various cockpit layouts Wink

Including mine

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Reply #9 - Feb 6^th, 2008 at 11:18pm

Stormin Steve Offline
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Well, the basic designs i'm going to work is a large plane, fighter, and helo. I've got lines on all kinds of stuff.

I will most likley base the large aircraft on a 707 or a 737, fighter on the F-16/18 and help on the OH-6 or MAYBE a blackhawk. We'll see what's more popular or asked for.

Since it'll be a small and somewhat slow process at first, I need to stay with only a few designs. From there, I can branch out based on feedback.

I'll be hoenst though, I dont know much about how to make real panels work with a USB port and tie it all in, etc.

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Reply #10 - Feb 7^th, 2008 at 12:58am

SilverFox441 Offline
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I had given a great deal of thought to the idea you have... but selling plans rather than kits.

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1112264495/0#0

I think you'll find that this is the product you really want to offer for sale... it has lots to offer the marketplace. Modular is the basic requirement... folks may not want all the pieces now or be able to afford them all at once.

We can discuss royalty cheques later.

Steve (Silver Fox) Daly

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Reply #11 - Feb 9^th, 2008 at 2:59pm

Stormin Steve Offline
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Not keen on the kits.... but thanks for the idea.

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Reply #12 - Feb 10^th, 2008 at 12:02am

SilverFox441 Offline
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You don't really have any choice on the kit issue. If you try to ship modules assembled you increase the possibility of damage, pay freight penalties for bulk as well as weight and eliminate some module sizes from being shipped by other than common carrier instead of courier/package services. Now we get to add in warehousing and packaging costs... and you still haven't addressed assembly costs at your end.

You might get sales at the price point that would result from shipping completed modules... but don't be surprised if immediately after your first sale someone starts selling kits to radically undercut your prices.

Steve (Silver Fox) Daly

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Reply #13 - Feb 12^th, 2008 at 1:44pm

Stormin Steve Offline
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well, it will be copywrited and patented, so if somebody puts out a kit of my product, expect legal action rapidly.

The product I am designing could be shipped. the $200 price tag is for the frame and skin using thier hardware and game of choice. I'll offer sims ranging from that to $25k fully built with motion. Already in the works.

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