Building a Simulator Cockpit - Part 1

[elaverdure]

What Sim software are you using?

[wv838]

@elaverdure X-Plane

[therobo456]

could you make a home cockpit for fsx

[wv838]

@therobo456 Yup, no problem. Peter Dowson's excellent FSUIPC and the WideFS software give you access to enough of the sim's internal variables to do pretty much anything you need.

[therobo456]

@wv838  WHERE DO I GET THE EQUIPMENT SORRY FOR SPEELING ERROR VERY TIRED

[emilowich96]

Wow, nice vid. ;D would you please help me installing x-panel. I can't figure out where to get it? thanks! :D

[wv838]

@westernkiller281 The flight-modelling in X-Plane is far, far superior to FSX. Version 10 of X-Plane will be out soon and by all accounts, the 'eye candy' has finally overtaken FSX too. You should definitely check it out.

[Stickman698]

@wv838 It's great to find another X-Mate :P

[Puggy8D]

Wow.

Most people just piece together cockpits from Saitek pieces and such, you've put so much effort into this thing, it's crazy.

Amazing work.

Cheers - James.

[masterman3178]

what a garbaled mess right now all over the place but will look sweet when its done good job and good luck. Have one myself took forever but its so nice.

[jmfireboy]

pretty cool but looks like a mess

[DigitalAvionics]

@jmfireboy Heh! Every project does until you get all the parts into one place. The more complex the project, the messier it appears.

[venusvsmars209]

do you have to buy that stuff

[DigitalAvionics]

@venusvsmars209 Buy what - specifically ?

[LaughsWontHurt]

Hey, what joystick do you have?

[wv838]

@LaughsWontHurt I use a couple of Saitek X36's for test work, the cockpit uses a custom built setup since it uses real yokes.

[737flyguy]

where do you get xpanel from? does it use widefs? or fsuipc?

[wv838]

@737flyguy X-Panel will be public soon and will work with X-Plane, MSFS (with FSUIPC) and probably Flightgear too. The delay is due to a complete re-write using ANSI-C and openGL so that it wil work on Mac's and under Linux too.

[SSKtobbe]

@wv838 Have this program been realised? Im building a RJ100 know, and I need to find out how to show the instruments on a second computer. (Im using FS2004)

[wv838]

@SSKtobbe The X-Panel app is still in development but coming along very well indeed. Initial release will be for X-Plane with MSFS (via FSUIPC) soon after that.

If you've any technical info re the RJ100 instruments - I would love to add them to X-Panel.

[SSKtobbe]

@wv838 What for technical info is that you want? Because im in contact with a Swedish airliner called 'Malmö Aviation' (a friend of my is working as pilot there), and I will get that information that I need. I got a tight budget, and planning what I need to buy for this project (im going to make inputcard for my own in hope to save money, and later I will go for junkyard to find parts). So, one more question. Will this be freeware or payware? Matter what, I will get this program! (payware;buy)

[wv838]

@SSKtobbe If you've got pictures of the instruments you require (especially glass instruments), and/or technical info to go with them - that would be incredibly useful.

I have the manuals for the SPZ instruments used in the J41 and will be adding those to X-Panel.

[BilnaatxProductions]

Were did can you download x-panel?

Please somewan react because than can i finish my home cockpit.

[SSKtobbe]

I dont understand, why use 2 computers for your instruments and not 1 with two monitors?

[wv838]

@SSKtobbe Simple - the computers are doing a lot more than just displaying the instruments, There's a lot of other hardware interfaced to them too.

[BilnaatxProductions]

Very nice!

I'm building myself an Home Cockpit, also with X-Panel. My question is can you choose yourself what instruments it shows?

Greets Vincent

[wv838]

@BilnaatxProductions  Yes, X-Panel allows you to pick the instruments you want and lay out the panel as you need it.

[windogmassey1]

Great work, where did you get the hardware?

Thanks

Alex

[wv838]

@windogmassey1 We'd had the yokes/pedals/seats etc sat around at work for years. They originally came from a Hawker 125.

[windogmassey1]

@wv838 ah right, i was referring to the overhead panel, and the caws.

Thanks

Alex

[wv838]

@windogmassey1 Oh, sorry! All the panels (including the CAWS) are all scratch-built.

[windogmassey1]

@wv838 they look professional nice work

[Rowan849]

How do you get x-plane to output data for the announciater panel?

[wv838]

@Rowan849 I wrote a custom plugin for X-Plane to output all the sim data I need across the LAN, and to accept commands for the sim from other computers on the network.

[GLOBALHAWKsimpit]

Great !!! now it's time to build the cockpit and place all electronics in a real plane layout. And hire a beautiful crew member. 8)))

[tiemji]

This is amazing, can you tell me please how much did you sepend to have all of this? Thanks

[wv838]

@tiemji The major cost is in the computers. The interfacing is relatively cheap these days - and I write all my own code too which helps!