Cockpit

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   I./JG777

     Welcome to my cockpit page. Here you will find a few pictures and comments on my home built cockpit for IL-2 and other flight-sims. The cockpit is a work in progress. - Burnin

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     Here are the beginnings of the "Secret Project" as I liked to call it back then. I started with the seat and I chose

     to use regular plywood to construct the cockpit.

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      Here you will see the basic "Tub" of the cockpit. The sides of the cockpit provide most of the support for the

      seat and eventually the monitor shelf which I call the "Hood".

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     The "Wings" were next. This is where I can put the throttle and even a joystick. I added more support to the

     seat which I did not recline enough and would have to be fixed. I left space behind the seat for rear speakers.

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     Next I added the "Basement" which will house the rudder pedals.  To get a sense of scale I snapped a picture of

     me sitting in it.

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    The hood came next which I supported with 2x4 studs and I lengthened the tub to enclose the basement. The

    hood had to be reinforced with 2x2 studs to support the weight of a big CRT monitor.

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    I added shelf behind the seat to allow for rear speakers and surround sound. I drilled two holes on either side

    of the head rest. I custom made a bracket to hold the keyboard. I call it the "Dashboard". You can also see my

    elongated joystick that I modified. Although it looked cool, it did not function very well.

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     I stained the entire cockpit with a dark wood stain. I felt this was much easier then painting it. I also added

     a layer of varnish to make it water-proof, cola-proof and beer-proof. I also built an enclosure for a Frensel lens,

     which magnifies a 19" monitor to a size of about 24". However, It blurs text to a degree that I found  

     unacceptable and annoying. Additionally, I installed a mount for my TrackIR unit.

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     Here is how it looked with my original joystick setup which I later discarded. You can also see the little shelf I

     made for the throttle which allows a trackball mouse to be used at the same time.

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     My original idea for a seat cushion to work with the elongated stick. The cushion itself was not very comfortable

     and I decided to not use the long stick which would allow for simpler cushion. You can see I selected the Saitek

     X-45 as my controller of choice which I painted black. I managed to keep the Thrustmaster Elite Rudder Pedals,

     but they too will be replaced.

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     This picture shows the shelf I built for the actual computer. I originally had the CPU in the basement, but it was  

     hard to reach. Now CPU maintenance is much easier. My new, simpler seat cushions are now installed and I went  

     ahead and reclined the seat to a more comfortable position.

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     Here is a good picture of the seat cushion and my X-45. As you can see I discarded the Frensel lens and started

     to install the speakers. I originally put the subwoofer on a shelf below the monitor which I call the "Cupboard".

     Unfortunately, the subwoofer's big magnet caused corruption of the monitor. I ended up moving the subwoofer to

     the basement by the rudder pedals.

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     A good picture of the setup including the reinforcing beam that helps keep the joystick steady. You can also see 

     the location of the small controller for my USB headset. In the other picture you can see my new bigger 22" 

     monitor and my new CPU.

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     After a couple months of hard work the cockpit has become operational and I use it to fly IL-2:FB on a daily     

     basis. The next step for the cockpit is to include an enclosure that would cover the entire cockpit and block out

     all ambient light for the TrackIR and contain the noise of the games I play.

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     I have postponed the enclosure for the time being because I moved the cockpit into the house. This makes it

     easier to block out ambient light. I still plan on making the enclosure, but it is not as urgent now.

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     I decided it was time to add a Yoke to the mix. This will let me drive as well as fly. Now I can fly Bombers,

     Fighters, Civilian planes and drive NASCAR. Also, take note of the new TrackIR2 on top of the monitor and I

     switched to CH Product Rudder Pedals. Stay Tuned for more in the future...