New Cockpit Builder

[Tripacer]

Hello everyone,
I joined this forum a bit over six months ago or so. I am recently retired and have been busy building a simulated cockpit. My goal it to make a realistic reproduction of the airplane I learned to fly in many years ago; a 1960 Piper Tripacer. I have been cutting and welding metal since last Christmas. Here is a link to the beginnings of a website that will chronical my work.
http://my.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&groupid=385472&ck=

I am almost finished with the welding part and can move to interfacing and instrument electronics. I have been leaning to Mike Powell's designs because they provide the most flexibility in building & simulating what you need.
I have built up a computer with Nvidia GeForce 8800GT video and am running FSX. Getting the data into and out of the simulation is the next major hurdle. Stay tuned.
Tripacer Builder

[Michael Carter]

Welcome to the forum.

Another flyer and I used to go for $100 hamburgers and $100 breakfast's in his Tri-Pacer out of St. Charles, Mo. Nice, easily handling aeroplane.

Good luck with your build.

[Bob Reed]

Welcome and keep those pictures coming! There are a number (and growing) of GA sims being built.

[BlackWidow]

Welcome aboard.

The fusleage looks great. What do you plan on using for the skin?

[Tripacer]

Thanks for the comments,
When I get the metal work done and painted, I will upholster the interior like the real aircraft. You can see me sitting on the seats covered in newspaper so they won't get dirty. I will have side panels and an overhead. No windows at this time so that airc can circulate. As time and effort allow I will put video projectors above the cockpit and project on a curved screen driving them through a Matrox TripleHead2Go.
The outside will be covered in fabric, like the original. I am planning to us Stits products attached to the outside stringers, shrunk, and painted. Cockpit is only 49" long so it won't use alot of fabric or paint.
I am pushing hard to get the welding done, I worked through hurricane Gustav all day today.
Tripacer.