737-800 Build in Oslo

Hi there simmers!
It's about time I present my project on mycockpit.org. I have a post at the norwegian flightsim.no forum, but that won't reach you folks ;)
I had a version 1.0 of a 737 cockpit, but from last september I decided to "go large".

From my v.1.0 project I had already taken the decision to use FlightDeckSoftware as my cockpitsoftware.
My first main buy was a MIP and I finally ended up buying a cockpitsonic DUAL seat trainer, FTD. It was only two weeks old, but the former owner had cancelled his project before receiving the MIP, so it was to consider as new.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...it/mip_001.jpg

Next up I got a good deal on a more or less complete pedestal equipped with CPFlight radios and cockpitsonic panels.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...t/14102009.jpg

From the first project I already had a CPFlight MCP and EFIS.

I jumped on a introduce price on a complete overhead panel set from www.simworld.pl. The quality is absolutely great.
Earlier this year I bought a OH frame from an old *REAL* aircraft, but have only started the work to set it up. It's one of the goals for the winter.
Electronics, mastercards ++ for the OH is Opencockpits with interface-cards from www.simcockpitshop.de.
Here is a few shots while testplacing the panels in the rig i made for the process:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...9052010144.jpg
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http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...4052010195.jpg
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http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...4052010189.jpg
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http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...4052010191.jpg

To get a room to place the sim I needed to tare down some walls and making a new kitchen, new walls etc. but it was OK. I needed a new kitchen anyway.
The room is quite small, but i thought I could make a decent sim on 1,90mX2,70m. It requires a few special solutions, but I think it's just about enough.

A flightdeck needs a flightdeck door, and lucky me got one from Nottingham, UK.
I had made the dooropening to the Simroom quite narrow and a little extra space was needed to get the MIP in there without taking it apart.
So what once looked like this:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...3032010087.jpg

Became with a bil of plaser ++ to this:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...1042010114.jpg

That again with a little help from this:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...t/DSC00014.jpg

..And some aluprofiles, became this:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...1052010124.jpg

I needed some kind of platform to place the sim on to be able to give room for mechanics for yoke and pedals under the floor, so I built it in 3 modules. Measurements has nothing to do with *REAL* measurements, but to my little cave.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...it/base123.jpg

The setup now runs 4 computers, but a fifth is on standby. Dont know what i will use it for, but I guess it will put to work sooner or later.
I have used a old kitchen cabinet for the 4 desktop PCs that run the software. We all hate the cable spaghetti, so I made a little box on the side of the cabinet and the same om the base behind the MIP.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...1042010108.jpg

I got some plans for the dual-pedal setup and started the work before the summer, but vacation put it to a hold. I'll pick it up again in the fall.
Pedals were bought from Jacarta, Indonesia:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...1052010219.jpg

TQ was ordered from Revolution-simproducts last fall, and finally came yesterday.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...t/02082010.jpg
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http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...2082010002.jpg

I have also made a solution with mirrored projection that works well for now, but haven't taken pics of this part. Will do it tonight maybe... but TQ first.
The sim is taking shape, and with the new TQ in place I really look forward to the next flight. I will hopefully start to set up the TQ tonight, but I'm not sure it's a one night job.

So far it looks something like this:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...2082010003.jpg
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...2082010004.jpg


More to come...

oh mother :o you are well on your way now Nax,
this is looking very sweet. well done and look forward to hearing more on your progress...
regards from wales ...

ian

blimey charlie, your doing well! You must be dedicated to not only fork out all that cash in one go but to rip down walls and replace your kitchen just for a sim! now THATS what i call dedication, i envy you :p

Regards,

Jordan

That´s a big deal for a start! Congratulations, nax. Did you experience difficulties integrating Flightdeck-software with your hardware components from cockpitsonic?
Your flightdeck entry is a marvel. I am looking forward to see your progress.
BTW, isn´t it a shame they closed Fornebu? I very much appreciated the approach from the south with a large left turn over Oslo.

Cheers
Chris

choffmann: I have FMC and one of the EFIS from OCand now also two OC cards in the TQ.
First i bought was the FMC.With the suplied script from flightdecksoftware I only had to alter one of the keys in the SIOC script then it worked perfect.
Next out was the EFIS and that one works just by choosing the autoinstall in a OC program called Ssetup (yes, two s's in the begining)
The problem came when i merged the scripts. I fudged it up really bad, then the summer showed up. This is clearly my lousy SIOC skills and not the hardwares fault.

I have to read up on SIOC. I understand that this piece of software can do a lot of nice things for us builders, even though all i do with it for the time beeing is screwing things up.

A few pics from tonights testing and configuration of the TQ.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...7082010028.jpg
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http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...7082010020.jpg

About the mirrored projection, it looks something like this.Projector mounted over the projected pic on the wall:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...7082010030.jpg
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Via a mirror set to corect angle
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...7082010031.jpg


Result seen above.

The 4 machines for system simulation in the *IKEA kitchen rack*:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...7082010025.jpg

More testing needed

Nax...

outstanding work!

Warren

Looks very nice. Btw you wrote:

"Pedals were bought from Jacarta, Indonesia"

Was it kind of aircraft graveyard?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by B763

"Pedals were bought from Jacarta, Indonesia"

Was it kind of aircraft graveyard?

---

Contact fly_ab here on mycockpit:
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/member.php/437-Fly_AB

MIP light test:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...9082010050.jpg

...if only there was a way to get those cockpitsonic sixpacks to speak togheter with FlightDeckSoftware.

Wow!!! I love this photo!!!

It´s nice to drive a 737 cabriolet in the summer time,.....
Just kidding.
You did a marvelous job, Nax.

Cool cockpit!

Cheers

Bas
KLM077

Thanx thanx guys!
I have made a sketch of my system setup. Have altered it many times, but this is how it looks like today:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...FDSsetup-5.jpg

Looking AWESOME, Nax!!! I'm starting to look at your work for inspiration and ideas! =) Besides the fact that I have shown your pics to my oldest son and wife, in an attempt to lobby for a very "nice Christmas present" from them soon! HAHAHA

Do you have a link to that throttle's website?
What OS are you using?

Hi E
TQ is from http://www.revolution-simproducts.com/

Regarding system, I'm using WIN7 on the FS computer and XP-SP3 on the smaller ones for system simulation.
Good idea to start lobbying for x-mas by now:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nax228

Hi E
TQ is from http://www.revolution-simproducts.com/

Regarding system, I'm using WIN7 on the FS computer and XP-SP3 on the smaller ones for system simulation.
Good idea to start lobbying for x-mas by now:D

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Hi Nax,

Hmmmm I guess there are no problems with networking amongst different OSs? My main FS PC already has FSX installed, so I guess I can go with XP on my other PCs, since they don't have the horsepower as my main PC.

No problem hooking up a network with different OSs.
About horsepower in PC: Check out my new CPU from Boeing :D
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...t/BoeingPC.jpg

LMAO hahaha

Great Job Nax... you did a great start ;)

I am few steps behind... DST from cockpitsonic too, making a research right now for a full pedestal, 2 seats and possibly a TQ... will have news soon :D

Keep on posting !!!!

Big boys want big toys. Last delivery was simply to big for my mailbox:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...eit/IPECO2.jpg

Soon to be installed in the cockpit:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...eit/IPECO1.jpg

There was some mixup in shipment and rails was not in the package. Looking into fabricating a set and I think thats possible to achieve.

Congrats, Nax228, for that big catch! They look as new! Very, very nice.

Outstanding nax! Can you do me a quick favor. Can you measure the width, height and length of the metal base of the seats? I have a pair of car seats coming in on Saturday and I need to fabricate the base where the seats will sit on. Thanks! Oh, and enjoy your new acquisition, they look fabulous!

Well, it's a quite complicated structure if I'm to measure all the parts, but the footprint of the base measure 34,5 x 43,5 cm.
The height is adjustable, so no need to measure that one, but make it so the eyeposition is about right. You are supposed to look straight down the glareshield and over your yoke to see the whole PFD/ND.
If your cockpit measure up correct, this should give you a 15 deg downward and 18 deg upward view troughout the window... approx

Good luck transforming your carseats.

Thanks for the info, Nax!!! Really appreciate it. BTW, here is a shot of the seats I was able to obtain. These will be delivered on Saturday and I really like the way they look.

Attachment 4192

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nax228

Big boys want big toys. Last delivery was simply to big for my mailbox

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Great delivery Nax !!!!!!!!

Can you please tell us about the seats ?

Where did you buy them from ?

Possible details, etc ?

Thanks

Nick

Well, whats there to tall about some seats? hehe
They're in very good shape and all functions seems to work.
No really, I don't know what to tell about them. wierd question, but thats OK.

I bought them from desert-air in California.

There is something missing in the cockpit... It got this airbus feeling sitting without a solid column in front of me.
Started last winter to weld a construction for dual yoke setup, but it got to wide and project was given forward to a friend with a few extra centimeters with on MIP.
So now it was time to do something serious about the lack of controlyokes and I was happy to find a deal on two complete yokes with column that had not been cut, only dismantled from a aircraft. Capt+f/o of course.
Package being sent from Chicago to Oslo today I guess, so it will be about a week or so before FedEx gives me a call.
Looking forward to get these babies home. I know it will take some hours in the metalshop to get them ready to use, but it will be a joy.
Got the plans sketched up, but need to see and measure them *IRL* to get all details right.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...tveit/col1.jpg

base detail:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...col1detail.jpg

Hehehehe

Nice going Nax ;)

8-)

I added some light yesterday. Installed 3 dimmers for LED and started first testing for flood-, Main Panel- and backlighting.
Besides the backlighting, the others I was so pleased with that they will be left in present state. Pics maybe won't show it as good, but the result was very satisfying.
I will order the next 3 dimmers today and continue on F/O side and pedestal. OH is still in a few hundred pieces.

I took the pics in a pitch black room, only the LED i installed.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...0102010140.jpg
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http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...0102010135.jpg

This last one is from the backlighting. I have to experiment some more with these.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...0102010137.jpg

More toys arrived today. Ill get back with more when building this linked setup starts.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...9102010171.jpg
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http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...9102010172.jpg
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http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...9102010173.jpg
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http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...9102010174.jpg
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http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...9102010175.jpg
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http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...9102010176.jpg

Nice... Nax, that is awesome!

They're gonna' be awsome anyway ;) As I see it, the adaption to FSX will be no problem. Looking sooo forward to start the work.

Wowwwww that's fantastic !!!!

Keep us posted ;)

Nice, if you have a plan, great. If you're looking for ideas, options, pitfalls or some info on control loading, give a holler.

Been there, done it....

Holy cr**!! That setup needs a explanation.
Do you have a post or a website with some pics and in writing what you've done?

I have now had a good look at the mechanics on one of the yokes, and a plan is slowly starting to form, but in my head it looks "kinda' different" from what you show here.
I guess you have added some cool features with all those chains ++ so please let me know what you have done here.

Excelent parts and job!! Congrats!!

Okay, I can do that.

There is no website, but give me a few days to round up some pics and I'll explain the setup as well as the control loading. We did this a few years back and will have to dig around to find more pics.

JW

as per the request from nax, here is some more info on the setup
Attachment 4364

Here is a pic of the captain's side with the floor boards removed. One constraint was to keep the floor height to a minimum. so we have about 10" (25.4cm) to work with from the slab to the cabin floor. Another constraint was the height of the lever arm to the actuator, but we'll cover that later when discussing the control loading and autopilot

Attachment 4365

This is a closeup of the connection with the top of the cradle support removed

We machined a toothed piece, the silver colored disc, to mate with the column and it acts as the load bearing part that fits into the cradle. You need the pressure C clamp to draw the pieces together. A large hollow tube was welded to the piece and a similar arrangement was done on the copilot's side to interconnect the columns. You need to be careful here to make certain each piece is correctly welded as to rotational position, otherwise your columns will be misaligned in the vertical. Easiest way to do that, simply attach the machined parts to each of the columns, insert the tube in each end, lay the assembly on the shop floor, brace as desired, and weld away. :-)

Attachment 4366

This is the rotary pot to provide column position. It is a high precision pot (20K) and requires 3 rotations for full scale. Would have preferred a complete rotary connection to the tube to provide a linear scale end-to-end. Using the lever arm was a compromise and works reasonably well. The largest non-linearity occurs with the column full aft. If you ever get there this is the least of your problems ;-)

The pot is connected to a high res a2d converter that provides 12 bits of accuracy and provides 100,000 samples per second for up to eight channels. The gearing ratio to the pot provides a column resolution of 0.02 degrees per bit. Why 12 bits and the high sampling rate?? You'll need that when it comes time for designing and operating the PID controller to do control loading as well as moving the controls in response to A/P commands....

Next report will cover the roll axis, this is a bit more complicated.... stay tuned

JW

Hola!
Long time since last update, but I have done this and that since last time.
Lately I've been working more om the backlighting. The problem with pulsating LEDs was caused by a poor power source. I have picked up a PC power unit (145W) to run all diodes and the lower EICAS screen that also run on 12V.
To google the leds I have used for MIP and pedestal, go to ebay and search for "Warm White 5M 500CM 3528 SMD LED Strip Light 300 leds". Bought my second roll today and payed 1,25$.
Here is a few pics on how I hooked up the pedestal.

The LED have tape/glue thet stick quite well. I have used some foam thingy that came with my RevSim TQ, and cut those so they fit inbetwen the walls inside pedestal.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...4112010216.jpg

Wires coming out of the back on some panels. Ledstrips won't move.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...4112010217.jpg

When all panels iscovered, it looks somethinglike this:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...4112010218.jpg

I also hooked up the backlight power for the TQ at the end of the last LED strip, sonow the TQ is dimable as well. Really needed that last thing, cuz the LEDs in the TQ was to bright only hooked up to the power.
The last pic doesnt show it by far as well as it looks, but take my word. Besides some leaks betwen panels it looks really great.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e5...4112010220.jpg