GLB Overhead Project

Hi,
Thought id start a thread on my ovehead project.
Ok as the title I went for the
GLB Overhead.
Cost = £832.98 Forward,aft and electronics
Shipping = £23.00 benifit of being in the uk
Delivery time = Just under 12 weeks

The purchasing process was made painless and I was kept informed all
the way by gez.

A rather small box appeared on my doorstep last week and well i was expecting
something much bigger,i didnt realise i would recieve 34 individal panels,I was expecting it to be all in one pre built,but wheres the fun in that though:roll:

Its like christmas all over again, unpacking and taking over the dining table with all
the panels laid out and my first impressions are, OMG this is gonna take me months:???:

The panels are made from acrylic and then sprayed with a two pack enamel paint
boeing grey and look fantastic.

Today i made a frame and mounted all the panels (pics to follow),none of the panels
are pre drilled for the dzus so be prepared for a lot of drilling,I drilled some probably where they are not meant to be but I dont mind,im not aiming for 100 percent perfection within my sim but close to it;),anyway it looks brilliant.:)

The panels are ready to be backlit and holding the overhead upto my window
really shows how good they will look with light behind them.

My first purchase with GLB and i will definately be coming back.

Pics of my progress so far,

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...t/IMG_4663.jpg

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...t/IMG_4664.jpg

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...t/IMG_4668.jpg

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...t/IMG_4671.jpg

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...t/IMG_4674.jpg

Regards

Steve

Looks good Steve! Keep us posted on your project! Do you have a website for your sim?

Best,

Matt

Looks great Steve, that'll keep you quite for a while!

I'm hoping to recieve my overhead next week. Can't wait.

Sean

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by my737sim

Looks good Steve! Keep us posted on your project! Do you have a website for your sim?

Best,

Matt

---

I dont have a website but i guess i could look into one,any ideas,recomendations on where to start
one for free.

steve

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sean Nixon

Looks great Steve, that'll keep you quite for a while!

I'm hoping to recieve my overhead next week. Can't wait.

Sean

---

It certainly will sean lol
Look forward to your progress too.

steve

Hi.

You can build a free website by using this online web builder. It has very professional looking pages for you to modify and add your own touch to it.

http://www.wix.com/

Cheers,

Alex

Stage 2 = The Electronics,

Heres what I recieved,
50 x on/off/on togggle switches
15 x on/off/on momentary spring return to centre toggle switches
8 x black pushbuttons
13 x switch guards (8 x red & 5 black) This is to be corrected by glb in due course to 8 x black & 3 red,not sure what other two are for.
5 x potentiometers
2 x rotary encoders
150 x yellow led (not yet counted lol)
1 x bag of resistors
10 x white leds (not yet checked)
18 x knobs (Two different shades recieved but glb will exchange for one colour in due course)
11 x rotarys 30deg 12 position (should be 45deg 8 position?) Replaced by GLB

Heres my dilema,
I am unsure where all switches etc should be placed and need your help,
I have posted two pics below which show where i think switch guards (3 x black missing),rotary switches,pushbuttons,
potentiometers and rotary encoders would go.
Please advise if i have these correct, then i will move on to the toggle switches.

Thanks for your help and time people,it will be very much appreciated.

Note-Rotarys have the boeing knobs on for identification.

pic 1
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...t/IMG_4679.jpg

pic 2
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...t/IMG_4678.jpg


regards

Steve

Check out my Construction / Overhead section on my website.

This should get you started :)

http://www.my737sim.com/2010/04/20/s...erhead-panels/

Matt

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by my737sim

Check out my Construction / Overhead section on my website.

This should get you started :)

http://www.my737sim.com/2010/04/20/s...erhead-panels/


Matt

---

Thanks Matt,

What are the circuit breakers? Potentiometers or rotarys.
What are cont cab,fwd cab,aft cab and cont cab? potentiometers.

Getting there with your vid,
Seem to be 6 x on/off/on momentreys extra at the minute
8 x on/off/on short (these are used for on/off toggle too)

Thanks for your help

steve

Hi Steve

Check out the following pics, you'll note there are slight differences between models, but it should get you going...

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Boein...BBJ/0424032/L/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Virgi...7BX/0501338/L/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/EasyJ...73V/0451264/L/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Scand...683/0735774/L/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/WestJ...7CT/0845646/L/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Ryana...8AS/0968212/L/

Sean

Where are the circuit breakers on the overhead?

Yes, the CONT, FWD & AFT CAB are potentiometers.

The AIR TEMP (top right of FWD OHD) should be a 45 degree rotary, not a POT.

The AUTO/ALT/MAN on the pressurisation panel should be a 30 degree rotary not a POT.

The MAINT position on the electrical panel should have a black momentary switch on it.

If I spot any more I'll get back. It's time for GLEE! :roll:

Thanks sean,

Ok I think im almost there now, Just a question on the apu switch,
I only have on/off/on OR on/off/on momentery toggle switches.
Will either of these do the apu or can you tell me wher to get the one required from.

updated pic 1
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...t/IMG_4683.jpg

updated pic 2
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...t/IMG_4684.jpg

Thanks again men

Steve

APU is on/off/mon (momentary on the start side)

Matt

From the switches you have, the ON-OFF-ON would be better suited for the APU switch. If you used the momentary, then it would always be in the on position, which I don't think would be realistic.

You could get an ON-OFF-(ON) switch (the brackets mean momentary position). This would mimic the real switch better, the START position being momentary.

Out of interest, what hardware and software are you hooking the overhead up to?

Sean

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sean Nixon

From the switches you have, the ON-OFF-ON would be better suited for the APU switch. If you used the momentary, then it would always be in the on position, which I don't think would be realistic.

You could get an ON-OFF-(ON) switch (the brackets mean momentary position). This would mimic the real switch better, the START position being momentary.

Out of interest, what hardware and software are you hooking the overhead up to?

Sean

---

Thanks again guys,

I will look into getting the correct switch,any recomendations for uk suppliers.

I was going to use the phidgits led64 for annunciators.
http://www.active-robots.com/product...text-lcd.shtml
Along with leo bu0836x cards for switches.
Software i am still using pmdg 737ng fs9, fsx out soon:roll:
Thats the plan anyway

steve

Try Maplins, RS Components or your local electronics shop, if you have one. They all have over the counter service.

Online, you'll definately get them at somewhere like Farnells, but there'll be loads of others.

Thanks sean,
Maplins up the road will try there at weekend.
GLB Flight Products sending replacement switches TOP SERVICE AS USUAL:D
Regards

Steve

My overhead turned up this morning. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sean Nixon

My overhead turned up this morning. :D

---

Guess whos gonna be a busy boy this weekend then;)

Steve

Have you considered the FlightDeckSolutions InterfaceIT boards?

Maybe a slicker solution for similar outlay. It depends if you are planning on eventually illuminating every annunciator, eg. the phidget board supports 64 LED's but there are over 100 on the FWD and AFT overhead. If you need to buy two of these boards then you are well on your way to the cost of a SYS1X panel which has 256 outputs (will actually support 512 LED's if you use two per annunciator).

It has 128 inputs so you wouldn't need any other input cards.

And it comes with pretty slick looking windows based configuration software.

Just a thought, it's what I'm planning to use.

Sean

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sean Nixon

Have you considered the FlightDeckSolutions InterfaceIT boards?

Maybe a slicker solution for similar outlay. It depends if you are planning on eventually illuminating every annunciator, eg. the phidget board supports 64 LED's but there are over 100 on the FWD and AFT overhead. If you need to buy two of these boards then you are well on your way to the cost of a SYS1X panel which has 256 outputs (will actually support 512 LED's if you use two per annunciator).

It has 128 inputs so you wouldn't need any other input cards.

And it comes with pretty slick looking windows based configuration software.

Just a thought, it's what I'm planning to use.

Sean

---

Sold:D

Hows your overhead?

I have a day off tommorow,the aim is install landing gear lever,trip to maplins and get all switches in.

steve

Keep us posted on your project steve , looking good.

Hi steve
just a headsup on 4 toggle switches used for the landing lights, I dont know what switches you have but if you could use ones where the shaft of the switch does not twist, then if you were to get proper light toggles for the 737 they would not spin, if you get me. I came across this problem with mine & had to change the switch. Just a thought for ya
Cheers
Rich.
Keep us posted on your progress.

I came across this problem when I fitted a set of landing light covers to some standard switches. My solution was to cut a small strip of plastic and glue it across the shafts of two of the switches (on both sets of two). It means that two switches are turned on together but they don't rotate and I've seen a similar setup in a real 737 so I'm happy. :)

Cheers
Joe.

yep good solution joe
I found that if you can find the paddle toggle switch ,these dont twist, i then used the bench grinder to make them fit ,
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...z4K-HRgKWj0nAw
Hope this helps
Cheers
Rich

Thanks for the heads up:)

Regards

Steve

Hows the overhead coming along steve , would love to see a pic of it installed & lit up.

Cheers
Rich.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by riche543

Hows the overhead coming along steve , would love to see a pic of it installed & lit up.

Cheers
Rich.

---

Gonna be a month or so before its all lit up im afraid,off on hols soon so money is all tied up in the wifes purse:roll:

Today i started to install all the switches and am about half way through.:D
I hope by next weekend to have all switches in place and will then look at how im gonna fix it into my sim.

Regards

Steve

Update.
Ok all the switches,rotarys are in,more details on those later and my experiences.

Today i thought i would get the overhead up and do it in a way that is easily removable,
The pics will explain better than me,had to mount higher than i wanted but later in year when i
add the fo side i will lower and and move it across to the left,for now its fine.

The Frame
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...6/IMAG0037.jpg
Overhead Mounted
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...6/IMAG0038.jpg
Top View
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...6/IMAG0043.jpg
Still the front to do
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...6/IMAG0044.jpg
A Regular Light bulb test installed behind overhead to test backlighting (This worked much better than i thought)
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...6/IMAG0046.jpg

Thanks for looking

Steve

Hi, Great progress mate!

Its really coming along now, I can vouch for Gez's panels as I have a few of his MIP panels!

Keep us posted buddy!

Alex

A few more pics,the overhead now fits nicely and is easily removed.
As for the height i mentioned in a previous post, i am going to raise the floor
in the pit as this is easier than messing with the roof section,
man its hot in here now,looks like an air con unit is needed too lol

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...1305483893.jpg

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...6/IMAG0054.jpg

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...6/IMAG0048.jpg

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...6/IMAG0059.jpg

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/u...6/IMAG0058.jpg

Regards

steve

It's looking great now Steve, I like the roof and the front 'windows'.

Hi there i have just placed my order with GLB Flight Products for the overhead so i will be embarking on the same venture as you,how are you getting on with the assembly,i would be grateful if you could keep updating your progress so that hopefully i will be able to assemble mine easier,thanks for posting so far,cheers Colin ps just seen your latest pics

Hi Collybat,

I havnt updated as I have done no more than is already posted:o
I am awaiting some toggle switch covers from GLB before i do an update,
for the actual wiring,interfacing this is on hold at the moment while i decide where to take the sim
next,ie fsx,prosim, etc
I also have as we all do a massive to do list:) for other parts in my sim plus the wifes list as well.
Hopefully things will begin again soon,
Regards
STEVE

Well its been a year now since i got my overhead and probably been on here too.
I now run iflypro fsx.
ifly2fsuipc

Yesterday the overhead was all wired and lit up,fds board doing most and one buo836x board doing some switches.
Problem...The buo836x board on any switch turns the leds off for ram doors open and auto fail and seems to generally
mess with the air con panel.

Awaiting hopefully some answers off ifly or anyone else who can help me,then i will post pics etc.

@ Glb i need a dome light panel for my aft overhead.can you help?

regards

steve