Building a home cockpit

[andrej]

Dear all,

I have an opportunity to purchase overhead panels, side panels from several decommissioned planes and some other parts. It is not definitely full cockpit and several parts are missing (MPC, radio, squawk box, printer, yokes, seats, pedals, displays, CDUs). I am very intrigued by the offer.

However, question does arise. I am not very well versed in the networking and have very basic knowledge how such panels are linked to PSX. I understand that they are linked via interface. That's pretty much it. However, I am very eager to learn and building home cockpit using PSX is a long term goal/dream.

I am torn 50-50 to go for it, but I need few days to reasonably think about it. On one hand, it is a quite substantial investment, on other I fear that a lot of real panels will not be available for a long time. After all, this is a limited good (scarce supply).

Question for all of you guys that have an experience with this, can person with little networking knowledge go for it and build it?

Thanks for any help and guidance!

Cheers,

[Gary Oliver]

Andrej,

Having been through the same over the past 3 years I can honestly say its been so much fun.

A little power point of my build here..

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ipkvmw1us3xdw20/Building%20A%20747-400.pptx?dl=0

We have interfaced using a combination of Open Cockpits, Sim Stack (highly recommended), FDS InterfaceIT, and Teensy boards (Arduino).

Having been through many different ways I would suggest going SimStack.

Hopefully some others will chime on the details but hopefully the powerpoint will help show you one way of doing it.

Cheers
G

[andrej]

Dear Gary,

thanks for your reply. I have downloaded the presentation already as it is great inspiration. Quick question, so besides the real World panels/sections, and the SimStack interface utilities ARINC 429, you are pretty much good to go (in a very simplified way).

Also, another question. It is even possible to build auto-throttle system? One of the items that are part of the package are throttles (they do work - move), but they don't have the A/T system.

Thanks a lot.

Cheers,

[andrej]

Hey Gary,

I presume that you are extremely busy, but would it be possible to send you some basic information in an email? I would like to know an opinion of person with experience in this area.

Thanks,

[Gary Oliver]

Andrej,

Yes the A/T is possible... Mark made a mounting for a commerical off the shelf motor which drives the original gear box.

No worries with the email

its g o l i v e r 1 9 8 4 at gmail.com

[andrej]

Hi Gary,

thank you for this opportunity. I have send you some information. If everything goes well, I may need some guidance with building the autothrottle.

Cheers,

[the mad hatter]

I was once like you fixed on just one thing in your case the auto tq ..Gary makes it sound simple it's not.. you have reversers to think about ..interlockers etc etc if you want all this stuff its best buy a deck ... unless you are exceptionally mechanically minded nothing is really plug and play ... here is what appears a simple question what ..who's software are you going to use for up down left right ?  not raining on your parade it's a road I have been down ☺..as to boards I have no fds or sim stack .. I use OC mainly and custom

[Gary Oliver]

Sorry to disagree mad hatter... you certainly don't need the full deck to make a throttle quad work properly.

[the mad hatter]

I agree

[farrokh747]

hi

you have reversers to think about ..interlockers etc etc if you want all this stuff its best buy a deck

I dont believe reversers and interlocks are part of the AT system.....

If you have bought an original 744 Throttle Quadrant, you already have everything you need to get the AT going - The "system" itself is inside PSX, the user just needs to swap the original motor with one of his/her choice, and have your interface run it - of course, all this requires some amount of mech skills, and possibly some coding, but its certainly do-able -

There are many well supported options for interface, as noted elsewhere on this forum - if you want a plug and play solution, FDS offers a 744 TQ, ready to go.....

cheers!

fc

[andrej]

I was once like you fixed on just one thing in your case the auto tq ..Gary makes it sound simple it's not.. you have reversers to think about ..interlockers etc etc if you want all this stuff its best buy a deck ... unless you are exceptionally mechanically minded nothing is really plug and play ... here is what appears a simple question what ..who's software are you going to use for up down left right ?  not raining on your parade it's a road I have been down ☺..as to boards I have no fds or sim stack .. I use OC mainly and custom

Hey Mad Hatter,

thank you for your response. First and foremost, at the present moment, I am evaluating all the options but I am leaning towards going for it. I am not fixated on auto tq itself, but wonder if it is worth to purchase tq without the auto-motors or if you suggest other options. Maybe it seems that I am fixated on one item, but that is not the case.

My long term goal is to have 'replica' such as Gary has or you have. This is a very long term project, but I have been advised that one needs to start somewhere. I would like to have a lot of real parts and substitute others from the FDS and other providers (yokes, seats, MPC, RCPs, pedals)

It is true that at the present moment, I have little to no building skills and my networking abilities are also basic. However, I have experience in the IT field, have custom build several PCs and have interest in mechanic. Purely buying and plugging parts are not challenging enough and the reward will be minimal. Maybe I am too optimistic or you may say that I am cocky, but to me, nothing is impossible. Sorry.

From my participation and observation of this community, I believe that support and willingness to help/share solutions are key factors, what make it great. I want to continue with this effort.

What do you mean by: "who's software are you going to use for up down left right". It will be fixed base sim, hence I presume it can be connected either via network or USB (if I opt for plug and play solution).

Nonetheless, thanks for your opinion.

Cheers,

[Mark]

I am not fixated on auto tq itself, but wonder if it is worth to purchase tq without the auto-motors or if you suggest other options. Maybe it seems that I am fixated on one item, but that is not the case.

If you can get the throttle quadrant (& possibly pedestal with no panels) then that's a huge bonus.

Related parts in TQ you don't really need:
- Autothrottle motor
(3 phase motor - not as easy as other motor types, sim can replace this with DC motor or closed loop hybrid stepper which are easier to drive from your own electronics. If you can get the AT motor 'for free' then it can be useful to use the splined shaft from it.)
- Any LVDT transducers (e.g. throttle position)
(Again - not as easy as other transducers, sim can replace this with string potentiometers that can go into an analog input card. If you get this 'for free' then it's not impossible to get a signal if you're good with electronics.)

[Hessel Oosten]

Here an annotated example of code for driving the TQ with DC motors and OpenCockpits cards:

http://www.mutleyshangar.com/reviews/jack/dcm/dcm.htm

H.

[andrej]

If you can get the throttle quadrant (& possibly pedestal with no panels) then that's a huge bonus.

Thanks Mark. That should be part of the package.

Here an annotated example of code for driving the TQ with DC motors and OpenCockpits cards:

http://www.mutleyshangar.com/reviews/jack/dcm/dcm.htm

H.

Thank you very much Hessel. This is very interesting and informative read.

Cheers,