video of my setup

[Tim Krajcar]

Good idea, Adam, I'll give that a go. Seems nice and inexpensive and I already have hardware control for many of the most common adjustments (radios, etc).

[Vincent Meier]

You can control the instrument panel by installing a simple touchpad, most likely to the top right hand of the panel above the monitor. Then you can adjust your horizon, radar range, ECAM settings, etc. The only time I need a keyboard for the instrument panel PC is if I need to edit some panels, but during flight operations the touchpad works just fine by itself.

Like these:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... QgodJiEAsQ

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... A&dur=1578

What a great idea....consider one ordered for the SimAvio computer.
EDIT: and it is on it's way!!

Thanks heaps for the idea

[Daddy O]

I cannibalized a keyboard with a 1"x1" touchpad and installed it on mine. You barely see it, but easy to use. A few luxury cars have the touchpad mounted on the center console.

Your rig looks nice. Can you adjust the stiffness of the Precision Flight yoke?

[Vincent Meier]

I cannibalized a keyboard with a 1"x1" touchpad and installed it on mine. You barely see it, but easy to use. A few luxury cars have the touchpad mounted on the center console.

Your rig looks nice. Can you adjust the stiffness of the Precision Flight yoke?

Daddy-O,
I am uncertain by what you mean by stiffness?
I can tell you that there is no physical adjustment and I do know internally that the spring of the yoke is made possible by a highly technical piece of equipment...a bungy cord!!

I am sure that you could possibly set some parameters in X-Plane ( or whatever sim you use), to make your aircraft react smoother in relation to the yoke.

All that said, the yoke is a fine piece of craftsmanship and I personally find it silky smooth!!

[arb65912]

Hi Vince , first of all, outstanding setup, I am jealous. My setup right now is very simple, Saitek radio, , throttle quadrant yoke and pedals, second monitor for references ( VA log, Skyvector, PE, etc., etc.) and Ipad.
In the future, I want to build a system like yours but the progress will depend on many things.
First of all, my wife and me need to move to a 2 bedroom apartment so I can use one bedroom to pursue my "flying" and build the rig.
That might happen in a year or so.
There are some things that I would like to do without waiting so long.
I would like to set up 3 monitors just for the X-Plane and still have 4th one for the purposes I have mentioned above.
Since my graphic card allows me to setup 2 monitors , I expect that I would be able to run 3 monitors for X-Plane only instead of one , leaving the other monitor as it is.
The problem is that I am totally lost as far as multiple monitor setup.
I know , there is many sources but I am not sure what to look for.

Would you mind to give me some starting point in that area ( links)? I want to start learning before buying stuff.

Another thing I am interested in is the ergonomics of your design, is there any way you could share the basic dimensions of your rig and the description of instruments you are using.
It is A LOT there for me based on what I saw watching the video ( I will watch it again , probably couple more times) but unfortunately, I do not recognize what I am looking at.

Vince, I realize that I might ask for too much of your time and I perfectly understand if you can not provide me with the information I asked but if you could just post some links here to get me started, I would be very happy.

Of course, I would ask my all other PE friends for the input on the subject.

Thank you very much for the patience with my Polish English.

Cheers, AJ

[Vincent Meier]

Hi Vince , first of all, outstanding setup, I am jealous. My setup right now is very simple, Saitek radio, , throttle quadrant yoke and pedals, second monitor for references ( VA log, Skyvector, PE, etc., etc.) and Ipad.
In the future, I want to build a system like yours but the progress will depend on many things.
First of all, my wife and me need to move to a 2 bedroom apartment so I can use one bedroom to pursue my "flying" and build the rig.
That might happen in a year or so.
There are some things that I would like to do without waiting so long.
I would like to set up 3 monitors just for the X-Plane and still have 4th one for the purposes I have mentioned above.
Since my graphic card allows me to setup 2 monitors , I expect that I would be able to run 3 monitors for X-Plane only instead of one , leaving the other monitor as it is.
The problem is that I am totally lost as far as multiple monitor setup.
I know , there is many sources but I am not sure what to look for.

Would you mind to give me some starting point in that area ( links)? I want to start learning before buying stuff.

Another thing I am interested in is the ergonomics of your design, is there any way you could share the basic dimensions of your rig and the description of instruments you are using.
It is A LOT there for me based on what I saw watching the video ( I will watch it again , probably couple more times) but unfortunately, I do not recognize what I am looking at.

Vince, I realize that I might ask for too much of your time and I perfectly understand if you can not provide me with the information I asked but if you could just post some links here to get me started, I would be very happy.

Of course, I would ask my all other PE friends for the input on the subject.

Thank you very much for the patience with my Polish English.

Cheers, AJ

AJ,
Your Polish/English is fine.
I will be more than happy to give you as much information as I can. I am at work for today, but when I get home I will put something together.
For now, if you want to see some of the build and how I put it together, go to www.vinceandvalerie.com, click on the simulator design page text to get you to my simulator link.
I also have some AutoCAd drawings that I could send you if you can view them somehow. They are fairly elementary, but they are dimensioned and there is front views and side and top views

[arb65912]

Hi Vince, NOW you got me all excited. Thank you for kind words about my Polish English, it needs a lot of work but I saw worse.
I am also at work now but am definitely looking forward to start my design for the future simulator.
I will watch your video at my lunch brake.
ACAD drawings sound great, I am a mechanical engineer and I use SolidWorks on every day basis and AutoCad as needed for layout so that will be perfect.
3 views is all I need.
Of course, I understand that building the simulator is a long process and that is perfectly fine with me but at least I can start designing my dream setup.
I also hope that you would not mind me asking a question or two here and there.

Thank you again. Cheers, AJ

[Anthony Santanastaso]

Great job, Vincent! I have started to create a desktop simulator myself, but I'm afriad it pales in comparison to yours! I have the three monitors for my primary display, and another couple of monitors for my instrument panel. I would like to create a nice overlay like you have so as to surround the instrument panel monitors and make it look more realistic. I, too, really like GoFlight and have several of their instruments.

I have recently begun working ATC on the network, so I look forward to seeing you on the scope!

[Vincent Meier]

Great job, Vincent! I have started to create a desktop simulator myself, but I'm afriad it pales in comparison to yours! I have the three monitors for my primary display, and another couple of monitors for my instrument panel. I would like to create a nice overlay like you have so as to surround the instrument panel monitors and make it look more realistic. I, too, really like GoFlight and have several of their instruments.

I have recently begun working ATC on the network, so I look forward to seeing you on the scope!

Thanks for the compliments Anthony. It is good to see another controller in the fold!
I got lucky with the overlay, I knew a guy that has a CNC machine and he made them from the AutoCad drawings that I made up.
I am no expert, but if there are any questions you have about the Goflight stuff or how I did something, just ask away!!

[Vincent Meier]

Hi Vince, NOW you got me all excited. Thank you for kind words about my Polish English, it needs a lot of work but I saw worse.
I am also at work now but am definitely looking forward to start my design for the future simulator.
I will watch your video at my lunch brake.
ACAD drawings sound great, I am a mechanical engineer and I use SolidWorks on every day basis and AutoCad as needed for layout so that will be perfect.
3 views is all I need.
Of course, I understand that building the simulator is a long process and that is perfectly fine with me but at least I can start designing my dream setup.
I also hope that you would not mind me asking a question or two here and there.

Thank you again. Cheers, AJ

AJ,
As I said, the drawings are VERY elementary. They are only done in model space with a few layers. No titleblocks, Paper space, etc. This was for my own purposes and not for work, so I went a little sloppy.
I just want you to know I could have done a better drafting job if I put my mind to it!