need some advice

[flight man]

i want to build a 737ng cockpit but i dont now where to start

i seen on peoples vids on youtube that the overhead panel is conected to the mip and other light but i dont now how i would do that or do i have to buy the overhead panel and mip ??

[metamarty]

Well, step one is always planning.

Make a list for yourself of things you are good at. "Cockpit building" is very broad. You can buy all panels and just plug them in or you can buy wood or metal and create everything yourself and everything in between.

If you cannot handle wood or metal, don't go buying wood; buy either complete frames or entire cockpit panels. If you're scared of soldering irons, don't buy panels kits, but buy complete panels that require no soldering.

If your heart lies with tinkering with switches and adding all kinds of extra functionality, buy opencockpits or sismo panels and do your own scripting. If you're scared of programming, buy hardware that does not require any scripting.

To sum it up, make a list of what you like about simulators (building, working with wood/metal, soldering, maybe only flying?) and make a list of your skills and post them here. People can then give you advice about what kind of hardware to buy.

[Mike.Powell]

i want to build a 737ng cockpit but i dont now where to start...

http://www.mikesflightdeck.com/getti.../starting.html

[flight man]

thanks mate

[vidarf]

Start with the MIP. Read websites and this forum, do your own research. Expect this to be MUCH more expensive than you imagined (but do not let that stop you!!!).

And the MOST important advice: if you want as real as it gets, the price tag will be as real as it gets too. Save money, get lesser realism. Weigh that against the pleasure of building.

For instance: I just purchased some "steam gauges", aka. clock-like instruments, for my overhead. I chose Opencockpits since they are half the price of flight illusion. They does not look as good, but I saved around $ 1000. I can live with that.

If you can't fly it while you're building it, wait. I started with the overhead. BIG mistake. Start with the MIP.