Show Us Your GA Pit!

[jtesta01]

Based on a C172. The MIP is actually made of a marker board panel board which is quite thin and easy to work with with regular tools. The bezels are actually just plastic cups with the tops cut out and spray painted black. They are just deep enough to allow the depth of the mip material + depth of rotary encoders mounted by the instruments. The panel slopes slightly backwards to help with the viewing angle otherwise the tops of the instruments would be too deep to see and would be covered up by the tops of the cups. The MIP is about 17.5" tall and it slopes back about 3" over the 17.5".

[Shawn]

Very nice work, I love the idea of sloping the MIP backwards slightly to improve the line of sight on the gauges. You can't notice it overall but I'm guessing it helps nicely with the viewing angle. I will be storing yet another great idea hopefully for future use.

Shawn

[jtesta01]

Thanks Shawn! The slope really isn't noticeable and it made making the glareshield a bit easier since all I had to do was cut out rectangular pieces since the panel itself was sloped. If anyone wants all the specifics of my project, go here http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/showthread.php?t=29724

[bj1140]

Hi what is the phone based GPS moving map your using?

[MultiQ]

This is my GA budget simulator cockpit based on the Cessna 172N. I use it for many different aircraft such as the Piper 28, Piper 38, Cessna 172SP and Mooney M20.

Instrumentation software is Airmanager and Panelbuilder. Looking to do some hardware upgrades next year. Saitek radio panels and Goflight pedals are one the top of the list.

[memorgan]

Wow, am just about to start making something like this myself too. I'm a bit stumped with what to use as bezels for the instruments, I was thinking of using plastic funnels cut don. Do yuo have any hints or tips you could pass on please?

[MultiQ]

I used used plastic mugs of the right size, cut them and then glued them with PVA glue into the holes I have drilled.

[memorgan]

Thanks, looks like I'm on the right track then. Hope mine looks something like yours by the time I finish it.

[SimSupervisor]

Wow, am just about to start making something like this myself too. I'm a bit stumped with what to use as bezels for the instruments, I was thinking of using plastic funnels cut don. Do yuo have any hints or tips you could pass on please?

I contacted a used aircraft parts store in Florida, and they shipped me actual (unusable) instruments. Just need to mention you want them to look good. Total cost wasn't dramatic and I have actual bezels and glass that fits.

OK that might not be best if you use a monitor, but I like the challenge of interfacing them, and the end result is great.

[memorgan]

Food for thought. I think though that the interfacing would be beyond my very limited skills, but worth looking into I think. Thanks.