I will buy the main panel of 737 from open cockpits or will cut it by myself at the first beginning.
At the end I decided to shape it by myself. Here is some details about the building.
>> Cutting MIP Panels& Monitor Support Panels
>> Supports for FMC location
>> Glareshield Details
>> Bazels
>> Gauges of MIP
>> MCP & EFIS Integration
>> Integration of USP Expension Cards
>> Throttle Quadrant
>> Yoke Column
>> Landing Gear Lever
Cutting MIP & Monitor Support Panels:
After having different size of wooden panels, I started cutting the shell by referring the pages of markuspilot.com and skynet.be
- For the support of MCP and monitors, I prepared 4 panels of the length 995mm.
- And I cut the panels with 15° angle of both sides
- Finally I have 4 wooden panels with the right angle for MIP mounting:
In this part I used the references from skynet.be pages. And prepared two panels with 30° slopes and 250mm in length.
reference from http://www.737ngproject.be/mip.htm
After cutting the MIP Panels by the help of real size photos, I open the holes (the white areas in the picture) for the monitors and landing gear lever.
The plastic covers of monitors have been removed to make them fit in panels.
And all mounted in frames.
Before painting the panels and fixing other instruments, it seems like:
After some more works on panels and swithches on the MIP, here is the result:
The boing type of buttons will be ordered, and some detailed works will be done on the panels. For the moment it is as I expected for the MIP Version 1.
Glareshield Details
I used a contreplaque and cut it as following the measurements from Markus pages. Instead of painting, I used a black textile coat which gives a warm sense and better for anti-reflect. You could have an idea about the construction in the below picture.
BAZELS
I finished almost all of the bazels of MIP. Here are some photos and details about the constructions:
I used 6mm. MDF to cut it off using the real size templates to trace the area of the bazels. 6 mm. MDF is really suitable since it is not so thick and easy to cut and work with. I spent a half day to cut all, but if you have good gadgets like a CNC it will be much easier and precise in cutting & shaping.
photos comming very soon...
Here they are;
For this bazel PFD, having 0,5 cm from each side, I cut the inner edges with an angle of 45°. That gives a 3D look to those instruments.
A photo after boing blue painting :
MIP gauges realisation
I already explained a bit in my Home page how to imitate of a BreakPress gauge.
Detailed descriptions coming soon...
MCP & EFIS Integration
Detailed descriptions coming soon...
For the first thing, I can say that with the standard configuration files, EFIS not working. But many functionalities are working with AUTOCONFIG from opencockpits (FSX with FUSIPC). And then still it has to be made some modifications for other offsets not working such as "disangaged switch" on MCP. I foud it from another configuration file and copy/paste into the configuration file to make it work.
Here is a small demo:
Concerning opencockpits devices; I defined my MCP and EFIS in sioc.ini file referencing the codes below:
1 = USBStepper
2 = USBKeys
3 = USBServos
5 = USBRelays
6 = USBDCMotor
9 = MCP
10 = USBOutputs
11 = EFIS
a line defined for my MCP like:
MASTER=0,9,1,70
(reffering: card 0, device 9, used 1, IDdevice 70)
And then sioc.ssi file must be generated by the sioc compiler. All are working well with FUSIPC in FSX.
But during the launch of sioc, do not forget to choose "FSimulator X using FSUIPC" and then launch sioc.
As I mentioned before I used a fake EFIS on the 1st officer side by putting a real size photo. Here is the real size photo for those who want to use it.
After pasting the real size photo on the box, 1st officer EFIS is looked similar the captain side. Below a view can be seen for the last state of the cockpit.
The EICAS screen is not seen since I did not activate the second PC. With this way at least I have a complete MCP+EFIS construction.
Integration of USP Expension Cards:
In fact there few things to do for integrating the cards.
- declaration the USP expension in sioc.ini file
- declaration variables for Parking Break I/O in your sioc config file.
(in my case, I use input#1 on Input card and output#11 on Output card. // *****************************************************************************
// * Config_SIOC ver 4.01 - By Manolo Vélez - www.opencockpits.com
// *****************************************************************************
// * FileName : ootr.txt
Var 0400, Value 0 // Inicialización / Var init
Var 0001, Link FSUIPC_INOUT, Offset $0BC8, Length 2 // reading state of the parking brake
Var 0002, Link IOCARD_SW, Input 1 // reading state of the switch
{
IF V0002 = 1
{
V0001 = 32767
V0003 = 1
}
ELSE
{
V0001 = 0
V0003 = 0
}
}
Var 0003, Link IOCARD_OUT, Output 11
// End of file ootr.txt
That's all for one switch. But we have more than 100 variables to be declared :)
In test program of opencockpits, when we activate the input#1 (which is a parking switch in our case), the output#11(indicator as LED) lights. And after testing all I/O ports, we continue with the programming in SIOC.
Seats:
As I mentioned before, luckily I found two old car seats. After cleaning them in deep, put them in my garage till I buy a boing style textile coat. I will coat them and some works to do on the backside of the seats.
For coating the seats, I found the boing style textile coat and no excuse not to start the work!
Yes, finally I could coat at least the Captain Seat. I used hot silicone gun to glue the textile onto the seat. Here is how it looks like;
The photo above shows two way throttle structure.
While looking on the shelves of curtain products in a supermarket, I saw this piece which are really suits for my throttle arm.
control pedals diagram
http://www.simprojects.nl/throttle_quadrant_with_electric_trim.htm
http://www.737ngproject.be/throttle.htm
http://users.skynet.be
And I will give the Yoke column construction details soon...
Well, for the moment to have the movement returns of the column I used elastic cords. It was hard to adjust the right force and angles on the column, but i managed and i found it acceptable for a stable fly. I will explain it by supporting with some photos.
30/08/2012
As I stated above it was hard to adjust the right force and angles on the column by elastic cords and i got rid of that method.
After I found the 100n gas struts, I changed the construction of the column just the same like the schema below. The only difference that I made was to use rotational pot instead of a linear one.
Even I managed to build the struts in the same manner, The result was not so good. The movement back to initial position of the column was not as requested. I am working to find the right angle and the best position for the struts.
And the position of the yoke and the seats will be as indicated in this picture.
again the source of this picture is http://www.737ngproject.be/throttle.htm
Landing Gear Lever:
The dimensions will be as follow:
LG Panel: 6 x 35 cm
Handle: 95mm or 3 3/4 " length; 20mm or 3/4" diameter
Wheel: 40mm or 1 1/2" diameter; 15mm or 5/8" width
http://www.symul.tatuin.com.pl/strona/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
Visuals
http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/content.php?1981-How-ToFly-In-3D-With-Red-Blue-Glasses
- 1 x 15 inch monitor for MIP (middle)
- 1 x 20 inch monitor for FMC and navigation part
In test program of opencockpits, when we activate the input#1 (which is a parking switch in our case), the output#11(indicator as LED) lights. And after testing all I/O ports, we continue with the programming in SIOC.
Seats:
As I mentioned before, luckily I found two old car seats. After cleaning them in deep, put them in my garage till I buy a boing style textile coat. I will coat them and some works to do on the backside of the seats.
For coating the seats, I found the boing style textile coat and no excuse not to start the work!
Yes, finally I could coat at least the Captain Seat. I used hot silicone gun to glue the textile onto the seat. Here is how it looks like;
the height of the seat seal was about 45 cm from the floor.
Electronics:
Clocks:
refer to document >> Chronometers.pdf
Throttle Quadrant:
Basically I follow the plans of
http://www.737ngproject.be/throttle.htm
And prepared 11 wooden supports for flaps, throttles and trims.
http://www.737ngproject.be/throttle.htm
And prepared 11 wooden supports for flaps, throttles and trims.
While looking on the shelves of curtain products in a supermarket, I saw this piece which are really suits for my throttle arm.
With some adaptation, here is how it is looking:
best and easy instructions from
http://www.flightsim.com/main/howto/throt.htmcontrol pedals diagram
http://www.simprojects.nl/throttle_quadrant_with_electric_trim.htm
http://www.737ngproject.be/throttle.htm
http://users.skynet.be
Yoke Column:
At the first beginning, i decided to use saitek yoke.
http://saitek.com
After verifying different solutions, I decided to do it by myself. It will be an exact copy of a real by using two potansiometers for axes. Explanations will be coming soon
The most realistic appearence and the easy way is from:
http://users.skynet.be/jcordon/cockpit/YokeGal.htm
First, I used a pine wood to cut it. But I must say that not satisfied like MDF panels. Most probably I will cut it from MDF panel. This video gives some idea of the first beginning of the whole construction and test.
http://saitek.com
After verifying different solutions, I decided to do it by myself. It will be an exact copy of a real by using two potansiometers for axes. Explanations will be coming soon
The most realistic appearence and the easy way is from:
http://users.skynet.be/jcordon/cockpit/YokeGal.htm
First, I used a pine wood to cut it. But I must say that not satisfied like MDF panels. Most probably I will cut it from MDF panel. This video gives some idea of the first beginning of the whole construction and test.
And I will give the Yoke column construction details soon...
Well, for the moment to have the movement returns of the column I used elastic cords. It was hard to adjust the right force and angles on the column, but i managed and i found it acceptable for a stable fly. I will explain it by supporting with some photos.
30/08/2012
As I stated above it was hard to adjust the right force and angles on the column by elastic cords and i got rid of that method.
After I found the 100n gas struts, I changed the construction of the column just the same like the schema below. The only difference that I made was to use rotational pot instead of a linear one.
Even I managed to build the struts in the same manner, The result was not so good. The movement back to initial position of the column was not as requested. I am working to find the right angle and the best position for the struts.
And the position of the yoke and the seats will be as indicated in this picture.
again the source of this picture is http://www.737ngproject.be/throttle.htm
Landing Gear Lever:
The dimensions will be as follow:
LG Panel: 6 x 35 cm
Handle: 95mm or 3 3/4 " length; 20mm or 3/4" diameter
Wheel: 40mm or 1 1/2" diameter; 15mm or 5/8" width
Panels & Bezels
www.opencockpits.comhttp://www.symul.tatuin.com.pl/strona/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
Visuals
Adjusting Instruments View among different monitors:
http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/content.php?2118-How-ToPimp-My-737-Panelhttp://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/content.php?1981-How-ToFly-In-3D-With-Red-Blue-Glasses
Materials to be used:
- 2 x 19 inch monitors for MIP (sides)- 1 x 15 inch monitor for MIP (middle)
- 1 x 20 inch monitor for FMC and navigation part
- 2 graphic cards for the instrument views and panoramic straight ahead projector view
- splitter VGA for the pilot and first officer instruments views
- Universal 12 bit usb controller
http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/
- 737 MCP from opencockpits
- 737 EFIS from opencockpits
- 737 Rudder trim indicators from opencockpits
- servo motors card from opencockpits
- gauges from opencockpits
- Overhead panel ( planning to do it by myself )
- Throttle ( planning to do it by myself )
- 2 cockpit seats (found - 2 auto seats with headprotects)
Brief Cost Calculation:
- splitter VGA for the pilot and first officer instruments views
- Universal 12 bit usb controller
http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/
- 737 MCP from opencockpits
- 737 EFIS from opencockpits
- 737 Rudder trim indicators from opencockpits
- servo motors card from opencockpits
- gauges from opencockpits
- Overhead panel ( planning to do it by myself )
- Throttle ( planning to do it by myself )
- 2 cockpit seats (found - 2 auto seats with headprotects)
Brief Cost Calculation:
