jtesta01
08-06-2015, 10:17 PM
I haven't posted here much but I have certainly lurked enough for inspiration. Thank you to all who have provided info about your builds!
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10471&stc=1&d=1438911543
I based my design loosely on a C172 as that is what I fly most IRL. I don't have access to a CNC or anything but wanted something affordable yet professional looking. My panel is made from marker board sold at Lowes. It goes by the name "Mark-R-Board Wainscot". It's only about 1/8" thick, doesn't have a wood finish to it so it can almost pass for metal.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10472&stc=1&d=1438912113
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10473&stc=1&d=1438912138
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10478&stc=1&d=1438913506
The instrument bezels are made from 2 sizes of plastic cups. It took me a while of measuring every cup in 2 stores to find the perfect size. I must have looked crazy with a ruler measuring cups. The larger cups are about 3" diameter and the smaller are about 2 1/8". I measured the depth of the panel itself plus the depth of the rotary encoders and then made a paper template that I could wrap around each cut to draw a line of where to cut the top off so they are all cut exact. They are spray painted black with Krylon flat black. The paint didn't seem to want to sick so good so it took a lot of really finely misted coats.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10474&stc=1&d=1438912524
For the 2 rectangular instruments (compass and trim indicator) I actually used black foam weather striping on the inside of the panel between the mark-r-board and LCD and on the outside I used an adhesive black vinyl sticker cut to size to give it the appearance of a bezel. To cut the vinyl precise I drew on the computer an printed it on paper and overlaid that while cutting it out.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10475&stc=1&d=1438913011
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10476&stc=1&d=1438913144
My primary display is an ultra widescreen monitor. I decided to go this route because I figured it would be less taxing on the video card while still offering a fairly wide view although not as wide as 3 monitors. Combined with track ir it works good.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10477&stc=1&d=1438913240
To make the panel, I very carefully cut the shape with a jigsaw and used a 3" hole saw drill bit and a 2 1/8" drill bit for the instrument cutouts. You have to be very careful with this stuff because it is very thin and brittle. But once you have it all put together and screwed to a frame, it is strong enough.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10479&stc=1&d=1438913675
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10480&stc=1&d=1438913685
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10471&stc=1&d=1438911543
I based my design loosely on a C172 as that is what I fly most IRL. I don't have access to a CNC or anything but wanted something affordable yet professional looking. My panel is made from marker board sold at Lowes. It goes by the name "Mark-R-Board Wainscot". It's only about 1/8" thick, doesn't have a wood finish to it so it can almost pass for metal.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10472&stc=1&d=1438912113
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10473&stc=1&d=1438912138
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10478&stc=1&d=1438913506
The instrument bezels are made from 2 sizes of plastic cups. It took me a while of measuring every cup in 2 stores to find the perfect size. I must have looked crazy with a ruler measuring cups. The larger cups are about 3" diameter and the smaller are about 2 1/8". I measured the depth of the panel itself plus the depth of the rotary encoders and then made a paper template that I could wrap around each cut to draw a line of where to cut the top off so they are all cut exact. They are spray painted black with Krylon flat black. The paint didn't seem to want to sick so good so it took a lot of really finely misted coats.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10474&stc=1&d=1438912524
For the 2 rectangular instruments (compass and trim indicator) I actually used black foam weather striping on the inside of the panel between the mark-r-board and LCD and on the outside I used an adhesive black vinyl sticker cut to size to give it the appearance of a bezel. To cut the vinyl precise I drew on the computer an printed it on paper and overlaid that while cutting it out.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10475&stc=1&d=1438913011
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10476&stc=1&d=1438913144
My primary display is an ultra widescreen monitor. I decided to go this route because I figured it would be less taxing on the video card while still offering a fairly wide view although not as wide as 3 monitors. Combined with track ir it works good.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10477&stc=1&d=1438913240
To make the panel, I very carefully cut the shape with a jigsaw and used a 3" hole saw drill bit and a 2 1/8" drill bit for the instrument cutouts. You have to be very careful with this stuff because it is very thin and brittle. But once you have it all put together and screwed to a frame, it is strong enough.
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10479&stc=1&d=1438913675
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10480&stc=1&d=1438913685