Virtual Cockpit

[OverDhill]

When rebuilding my pit after the flood (and having my touchscreen die) I decided on adding a second monitor to my system and get rid of the server/client setup. I did it to make things easier when deciding to jump on to fly (not having to boot a second machine and run all the apps to tie things together) as well as to be able to use the VirtualCockpit app for Cliffs of Dover.

 

I have to give two thumbs up for VC as it runs great on my i7 with the EVGA 660 superclocked graphics card.

 

If your looking for extracted gauges for Cliffs then check this thread out

 

http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3887

 

I especially like the ones that tom.doniphon has shared. They scale very nicely to the resolution on my 19" second monitor

 

 

Now on to the next phase of my rebuild.

[OverDhill]

Some nice gauges by tom.doniphon

 

[gec]

the picture u posted is from some android device. do you know witch software is that?

[OverDhill]

No it was a screenshot taken from my VC setup on a second monitor off my i7/ Nvidia 660 Superclocked graphics card. VirtualCockpit runs on Windows. There are some using an app to span a second monitor over to a tablet from what I have read. Read through the thread I posted and there are lots of gauge sets to download and play with (there is a test mode built into VC to play around without being in Cliffs). I just happen to like the ones tom.doniphon has shared.

 

http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3887

 

Spitfire and Hurricane

 

http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=9534&d=1399716327

 

 

Luftwaffe Virtual Cockpit Collection

 

http://www.mediafire.com/download/h687qu23ooivuo2/LWVirtualCockpits.zip

[OverDhill]

Well here is my new pit so far. The center screen and button panel cockpit frame is complete. I am waiting on some switches I ordered (back ordered) and then I will start mounting them. I will have over 60 buttons as well as a few special red and yellow ones. I have worked out a way to use my wife's Silhouette Cameo to make templates to lay over the buttons so I can change the labels based on which sim I am using (1946, COD or Freespace 2, ect). First I need to sit down and figure out the button label arrangements.

I also have to finish my Warthog extension.

Here is IL-2 1946 with UDPSpeed gauges.



Here is IL-2 Cliffs of Dover running VirtualCockpit gauges
 

[OverDhill]

These are the buttons I am going to be using and the two USB cards

 

 

 

 

 

[Jabo]

are those illuminated buttons ODH? and do they latch or not?

[OverDhill]

The rectangle ones are illuminated buttons and they are only momentary. The rotary is also just momentary twist side to side. They should work well for most sims. They have a nice tactile feel. Something that was missing with a touchscreen in the mist of a battle.

[Jabo]

Hmm, you might struggle with the illuminated buttons on the bodnar - there's only a tiny voltage for each of those connectors and I found that illuminated buttons affected the voltage drop too much, but I was using latched buttons not momentary so...

[OverDhill]

Actually they are 12 volt and will be on a separate power supply and will be used for illumination since they are momentary. The contacts are totally separate from the lights so will not interfere with the board.

[Jabo]

So do they only illuminate when you press the button?

[OverDhill]

No I will have them illuminated all the time (at least that is the plan). Not much sense in illuminating a momentary button when pushed.

[Painless]

Seriously impressed ODH ! A little green with envy here lol

Painless.

[OverDhill]

Well it is me that is envious of all of the flying skills you guys have. I have committed to try and spend more time this winter and get better (barring anymore health issues). For me half the fun has been to build this. Keeps my skills from getting totally rusty.

It will look a lot better when the buttons are mounted on the black plexiglass. I ordered a metric step drill to try and prevent chipping it with all the holes I have to make.

[BadAim]

That's impressive, mate. I hope to get to setting up a button panel and some trim wheels with the bodnar board this fall/ winter, and maybe even complete my cockpit too!

[OverDhill]

Well these step drill bits are nice for drilling plexiglass. Make an easy and clean job with no risk of splitting the plexiglass

 

I ordered the metric set as the switches I have all have metric mounting hole sizes. I have one panel drill and switches mounted. Will take a picture when I get the other one done. Then its on to wiring the cards.

[OverDhill]

Here are the button panels with the buttons, switches and pots mounted. Also a blank template which will be labeled with my Brother PT-P700. The templates were cut using my wife's Silhouette Cameo. All I need to do is wire the cards for each panel.
 

[Jabo]

Good grief - now THAT'S a nice sim pit! Good work ODH!

[DD_Arthur]

Wow!  It reminds me of the bridge of the Starship Enterprise!

[OverDhill]

With the button templates I can quickly change the labels.  I plan on using this for everything from racing to Star Citizen when its out.

[Gothkrieger]

Very nice.

[OverDhill]

Well I finally have most of my repairs done to my basement after that 500 year flooding we had. I am getting set to wire my panels now that my wire has come. In the mean time I have been working on the layout for the templates. I will start with IL-2 1946

 

Any comments of suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Here is the draft templates so far

 

 

Left side

 

 

 

 

Right side

 

[Crash]

Wings fold and bailout might need covers to prevent accidental use

[OverDhill]

Well I am going to see if I can implement where you will have to hold it down for a certain length of time before it pressed the key using Xpadder.

[OverDhill]

Well the next phase of my project is complete. I have all the lights on the buttons wired and both the GP-Wiz40 and BU0836X cards all wired up and tested. I have a few things left on the backside to complete then I can mount the panels. Once that is done I will work on the Xpadder profiles and the template labels.