Starting Over

[Michael Carter]

Henry,

I too used to be a model railroader. Great hobby there- I cannot believe how expensive THAT hobby has become. I discovered Train Simulator by Auranz a few years ago- I think I liked that a bit better 'cause you could build a layout as big as anything, and then get in the train and go somewhere, kind of like RC aircraft vs. Flight Sim. At least in flight sim, you can 'go somewhere' instead of in circles. Of course, I cant resist going into a model RR shop now and again just to see how far the hobby has come since I left it probably 20 years ago.

At any rate, sounds like a good time to rebuild (AKA downsize) the model railroad or get rid of it all together for the 'pit! )

I was into that too over 20 years ago. I sure do miss it, but I'm so far behind I wouldn't know where to start up again. I hear they have computers controlling trains now.

I had a 5x9 layout, all flat bed with a max of two train running with no switching needed. It sure was a lot of fun back then.

I may get back into it after I retire. The 727 takes all of my time, money, and passion now.

[andarlite]

That really some cool stuff Henry. I didn't realize the newer airliners used such an angle on the MIP. I see so few from that perspective I never realized this.

The 727 MIP is only 12 degrees from vertical.

Can't wait to see it with he MIP in place. Keep up the great work.

Thanks Mike.

Unless I have my information wrong, the angle of the 767 MIP is 18 degrees from vertical. The good thing is that my MIP mount can easily be adjusted if I'm wrong.

Regards,
Henry

[andarlite]

Hi All

Just scored myself a Triplehead2go (digital version) from ebay . With the great deal that I got and the fact that the CDN $ is now stronger than the U.S. $ and since I don't have to pay certain taxes, saved myself a bundle compared if I had purchased it locally.

I guess the next purchase is going to be another 22 inch LCD.

Regards,
Henry

[Tomlin]

Congrats Henry!

[andarlite]

Here's a couple of updated photo's.

Some more work completed on the pedestal and throttle:



Here's one with new TH2G and 2 22" LCD's:




Regards,
Henry

[David Rogers]

I feel sick with jealousy at those displays!

I use TH2GO with 3 x 19" regular 4:3s and that is pretty awesome but those 22 inchers are just the business!

Duly added to Phase 3 of my project objectives

[andarlite]

1. Bid and won Hagstrom KE72 and 2 breakout box on Ebay (Friday).
2. Arrives on Monday from Hong Kong (wow, talk about fast shipping).
3. No software or cables included.
4. e-Mail with seller and Hagstrom about missing software.
5. Procrastinate on buying cables.
6. Thursday, get e-mail from both seller and Hagstrom with software (2 versions, one is for XP)
7. Friday, on way to work, stop off and purchase male-male PS2 cable.
8. In evening, attempt to plug in PS2 cable..... arrrrg, got a male-female by mistake.
9. Saturday morning, go to computer store and purchase male-male PS2 cable, this time making sure it is male-male.
10. Get home, plug everything in, and the main keyboard still works.
11. Connect switch to breakout box, program it as Parking Brake, run KE72load.exe for XP, and get asked for which COM port to use. What the, I thought it was suppose to load macro throught PS2 port????
12. Google and find out that XP blocks keyboard port which explains why there is a version of software for XP that uses COM port.
13. Search house for serial cable...... no luck, quit for the night in disgust.
14. Sunday , suddenly remember wife's computer has Win 2000..... connect everything up to her computer, run other version of KE72load.exe (in DOS window). Get message that 'Can't find KE72".
15. Google and find out that must boot into DOS, cannot run from DOS window.
16. Search house for old DOS floppy.... success this time.
17. Run back to computer.....arrrrg, there's no floppy drive. Quit for the night in disgust.
18. Monday morning, check computer and KE72 and determine male-male 9 pin serial cable is needed.
19. Ask wife to pick up serial cable.
20. In evening, attempt to plug in serial cable.....arrrrrg, the computer needs female connector (duh!!!!).
21. Run out to nearby Staples and pay double the price of what computer store would charge for 9 pin male-female serial cable.
22. Get home, plug everying in and run KE72load.exe and SUCCESS, macro loads.
23. Pull on parking brake switch, nothing happens......... oops, wire came loose during back and forth to wife's computer.
24. Connect wire and push on parking brake switch, nothing happens....... oops, connected wire to IN09 instead of IN01.
25. Connect to IN01. Pull on parking brake switch, SUCCESS.
26. Decide to celebrate by doing a flight, ........hmmmm, let's see why BSW is always flying to LOWI, set up IFR flight to go to LOWI from LOWW.... WOW, what beautiful scenery and what a challenging landing..... I love it.

Regards,
Henry

[mlscotti]

Ok.. time to ask one of many questions. How do you separate the MIP controls on separate screens, from the view monitor, as i have seen on multiple cockpits. I realize Project Magenta provides a glass cockpit, but that's a bit expensive for me right now. Is there any other way?

[David Rogers]

There aren't many solutions for that right now. (That's why they're so expensive!)

Options are:-

- Project Magenta (Boing and Airbus)....
- AST (www.airsimtech.com) (Airbus only)
- FSexpand (a lot cheaper but based on standard FS commands (so things like only V/S on the autopilot ).

Other option is to use a single powerful PC, and utilize as many monitors as possible (things like Triplehead2go, which gives 3 monitor outputs from a single video output).

[Michael Carter]

Glad you had a good flight to Innsbruck. Did you use the SBG2A?

I fly that route for Austrian as a codeshare so often I have the procedure (headings, altitudes, frequencies) memorized.

Try the KPT1Z Special Performance departure from 08 if you are feeling especially confident. Max speed 154 KIAS, 25 degrees of bank required until at least INN, and then up to 250KIAS.

No using the FMC!