GA Nav / Radio Panel build...help needed

[DazKay]

Hi all,

I'd like to build my own nav / comm panel similar to what Saitek offer. Does anyone know of a reasonably priced / simple to build kit?

Thanks
Daz.

[AK Mongo]

Not sure that reasonably priced(although that is very subjective) and simple to build (also subjective now that I think about it) are possible to have together.

For what they do, some of the commercial options (saitek, goflight) are pretty cost effective. Neither are very realistic looking, but both are plug and play and wont break the bank (especially if you don't mind used from Ebay). Opencockpits sells a kit for a multiradio http://www.opencockpits.com/catalog/multiradio-kit-p-39.html?cPath=22_64
But the kit is 93 Eur. Looks like a bit of soldering too. It might be a false economy to think you are saving much unless the building is the fun part for you.

Reid

[Louie Mendez]

Hi all,

I'd like to build my own nav / comm panel similar to what Saitek offer. Does anyone know of a reasonably priced / simple to build kit?

Thanks
Daz.
I have a kit available I don't have all of the components yet but so far this is what I have. KX-155 dual rotary knobs, faceplate, lens, active/sby button, test and ident knobs.
http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/kx155.gif
http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN2583.jpg
http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN2584.jpg
http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN2521.jpg

[Louie Mendez]

Almost there.
http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN2669.jpg

[Louie Mendez]

Just an update
http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN2723.jpg
http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN2693.jpg
http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN2691.jpg

[Tom_G_2010]

Just an update

Louie, any further progress? Similar to DazKay I am looking at various options for my avionics stack and my MIP.

I have not decided on the make up of my avionics stack yet with regard to conventional radio vs. GPS options but either way need some fabrication optons.

I also notices a pic of a traditional Cessna MIP on your site with analog gauges. I was wondering if those where mechanical gauges or is that a set of monitors with an overlay. Reason for asking is that I've been trying to solve for the fit of monitors behind an actual C172 panel and haven't found the right set of monitor sizes yet.

Thanks in advance for any updates and info.
Tom G.

[Louie Mendez]

Hey Tom, I have all of the parts for these radios. Soon as I'm done with a couple of custom projects, I'll jump back and finish off the KX155.

When you decide what you want just let me know. I have more than enough tools to make an aircraft carrier.


The traditional MIP on my site are analog gauges, but I have been messing around with my son's project using monitors and came up with this.

orange= monitor
blue=panel overlay
green=yoke
http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/panel.jpg
http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN2983.jpg

The hole for the yoke support will be dropped about 3/4 of an inch. It will still give you the illusion that the yoke shaft is stabbing thru the monitor.

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN3031.jpg

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/Craigs%20Living%20room/DSCN3064.jpg

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/Craigs%20Living%20room/DSCN3065.jpg

[flyinjake]

Hello Louie,

I am keeping an eye on your products as I will need some items shortly for my GA build. Especially interested in your radio kits.

The gauges shown on the monitors fsx or an aftermarket set?

Jake

[Louie Mendez]

Hey Jake,

The gauges are FSX but I'm planning to use RXP's GA set in the future.

Louie

[Tom_G_2010]

Hey Tom, I have all of the parts for these radios. Soon as I'm done with a couple of custom projects, I'll jump back and finish off the KX155.

When you decide what you want just let me know. I have more than enough tools to make an aircraft carrier.


The traditional MIP on my site are analog gauges, but I have been messing around with my son's project using monitors and came up with this.

orange= monitor
blue=panel overlay
green=yoke
http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/panel.jpg


The hole for the yoke support will be dropped about 3/4 of an inch. It will still give you the illusion that the yoke shaft is stabbing thru the monitor.

Louie,

Thanks I'll be in touch soon for a couple small parts and maybe after that for face plates for the avionics stack. My biggest challenge is that I am building my sim in an actual 172 fuselage so I have the yoke shaft sticking up into the area I need to place monitors. As such I need two or three small monitors that will form either an L or a U over the yoke shaft. Finding small monitors is not so much the challenge as is finding the specific sizes I need to line up with the actual instrument locations and still clear the yoke shaft and the curve of the upper portion of the MIP.

After I get past that design issue I will also be looking to build out the avionics stack. For this I am looking at mounting a small wide screen monitor sideways in the avionics bay and placing a face plate mask over it that looks like a Garmin 530 bezel on top with a few conventional pieces(2nd radio,maybe DME, ADF, Auto Pilot) below that. And, of course all the needed buttons and rotaries ...

I'm good to go on making circuit cards and doing most of the fab, but machining faceplates is beyond my skill set. Have you done any Garmin faceplates before? Can you post some more detailed pics of the avionics faceplate you have done?

Thanks!
Tom G.

[Louie Mendez]

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN3017.jpg

This one is custom, my friend didn't want a screen cutout to it.
http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN3183_zpsf229684d.jpg

[Louie Mendez]

This is a military radio I have rebuilt as part of my collection. Mostly Spec-Ops dudes(e.g. USAF Combat Controller, ODA, SFOD, Frogmen) or MOS 25D/19D use this thing.
I purchased the case on ebay and made my own faceplate and buttons from scratch. Not a simpit item, but just to show anything is possible :D.

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN2990.jpg

[Louie Mendez]

Back lightable GNS knobs.

I need to cnc my finger nails soon lol.

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN3299_zps02ba4103.jpg

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN3289_zpsc7f54e66.jpg

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN3274_zpseb6c759a.jpg



http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/northbaypic/DSCN3271_zps49fc670a.jpg

[flyinjake]

Louie,

Glad to see you are building GA style equipment. Wish I had more time to work on my panel as it appears others do.

Jake

[Steve1970]

NC165 from emuteq - Emulation Technology (http://www.emuteq.com)

[Tom_G_2010]

NC165 from emuteq - Emulation Technology (http://www.emuteq.com)

They make some nice stuff, but one small shortcoming is that don't sell it in kit form. I will buy fully assembled items when no alternative exists, but prefer kit form. With the exception of surface mount components (which can be a real pain to hand solder) I would prefer to save the money and invest the time in doing my own assembly.

A couple examples, I'm having trouble sourcing a couple small monitors to fit inside the avionics bay on in my 172 fuselage

1. For my Radios, DME, AP, etc. I would prefer a kit of parts for the faceplate and buttons so I can install my own switches and 7 segment LED's behind them. Or, if I can find a wide screen monitor that will fill the full avionics bay when installed on its side, I may be looking for a kit of parts to do the full stack as a monitor overlay.

2. Same for my GPS, I will only be looking for a prefab'd GPS if I can't find the monitor I want. But, if I do go prefab'd they are the front runner. However, if I get the monitor I need I would prefer to buy from someone who will sell the faceplate, buttons, etc. as a kit of parts.

I'm not putting down Emuteq, in fact I think they are one of the better vendors in the SIM world with good quality hardware, reasonable pricing, and a solid reputation. I just prefer to invest time more than money right now so I can save the cash for some of the stuff I can't build myself.

[737NUT]

Would you be interested in this set-up?

7165

[AK Mongo]

Rob,

Are you getting rid of that? If so, can we get more details?
Reid

[737NUT]

Rob,

Are you getting rid of that? If so, can we get more details?
Reid
As the saying goes, everything is for sale for the right price, except the family. lol All the gauges are functional except the VOR gauges. They can be real easy, just need to purchase more servo's. All are real gauges that have been converted by Singer or myself. The Garmin 530 is an Emuteq unit, all the post lamps work and are on a dimmer. It uses SIOC and servo's turning pot's to send the signal to drive the gauges.
Rob