Items Arrived

Many of the items that I had ordered in past few weeks have arrived today.

Multi Monitor Stand (Package opened)

All Packages Opened

Multi Monitor Stand (Assembled)

Looks may be deceptive, but this beast weighs in at atleast 20 Kilos. 

It needs all that weight for stability

Cougar MFD Panels

I should have ordered another set. 

Matrox TH2G (Box)

Matrox TH2G (Box Opened)

The box comes with one DVI cable (very small length), One VGA cable (unnecessary for me) and one USB cable (for power)

BBI-32 & BU0836X Boards from Leo Bodnar

Today was a Sunday, so spent a lot of time in market survey. Checked out specifications of various types of wood available around. 

The Aluminum sheets I need for making my panels are not available in local market. Will need to order them in advance.

Am also making a list of tools I will need for all the wood work and panel cutting that is planned in the coming weeks.

I was feeling kinda guilty for not keeping my pit-box ready when all the items arrived. In hindsight, it turned out to be a good decision. The size (and weight) of the triple monitor stand will require me to make substantial changes to the design of cockpit (especially the part of pit that goes in front of instrument panel).

Also occured to me, that I forgot to order the extra monitors I will need. Have sent out queries to a few vendors around here for 2 X 23" monitors and 1 X 24" monitor. 

My existing monitor is a Samsung Syncmaster P2350 (23"). That limits my decision for expansion monitors to 2 X 23" only.

The 24" monitor will be used to drive my L/R DDIs, EFD and MPCD. Plan to use a 10" Touch Screen Monitor to drive the UFCP.

Plan to finish ordering the monitors in next few days. 

Will finalize the precise dimensions of the cockpit tub after all these monitors arrive.

DDI Monitor Musing's!!!!

In my post here, I had hinted at the dilemma I had faced in choosing my DDI's. Eventually, (on a hunch) I had decided in favour of using Cougar DDIs.

Cougar DDI's are originally made for the F-16 (Viper) pit and are not a perfect fit for the Super-bug (F/A-15E).

There was an interesting discussion with Texasal and Tripod on VRS forums on this subject. Most of my notes below are resultant of insights provided by these gentlemen.

Internal dimensions of the Cougar MFDs are109mm (4.29")H x 109mm (4.29")W.

H = Height, W = Width (not thickness)

The 8" LCD panels (4:3 aspect ratio) measure 161mm (6.34")H x 122mm (4.80")W.

16:9 aspect ratio monitors are not recommended.

On 8" monitors some of the monitor real estate will be wasted.
On 7" monitors, I will miss out on vertical monitor space.

If I choose to make a dimensioned copy of the real F/A18E bezel, it will measure 127mm (5.0")H x 127mm (5.0") W for L/R DDIs and MPCD (approx) will measure 156mm (6.14")H x 156mm (6.14")H. 

The 8" monitors could be used (just about) if I later choose to make the real bezel myself (only for L/R DDI and not for MPCD).

A very useful "Panel Calculator Web Tool" is available here. Thank you Tripod for 'discovering' this one for us.

Pete Dowson's FSUIPC

I'm surprised I haven't spoken about this before.

No extension of FSX is possible without a registered copy of FSUIPC by Pete Dowson.

I had been using the unregistered version of FSUIPC for all these years and it did a good job. But, to be able to interface my in-cockpit switches with in-FSX airplane switches, I will need a registered version of FSUIPC.

Just purchased one.

A lot of stuff that I have ordered in last few weeks, should begin arriving in coming days.

Exciting times ahead.

Cougar DDIs

Earlier in the build, I had decided to build all three Digital Display Indicators (DDIs) myself. Each DDI requires 20 push button switches (back lit) and additional switches for On/Off, brightness and contrast settings. Between L/R DDIs and the MPCD, I was looking at wiring more than 60 switches and additional sheet metal work to fabricate the structure itself.

Have since revisited that decision, chickened out, and have now ordered ThrustMaster (TM) MFD Pack.

Have purchased the items off Amazon (UK) and expect them to reach me in about a months time. 

Connecting it all Up

I had considered three options to wire up my pit.

• Use X-Keys Matrix Boards
• Use USB pulse generator boards from Desktop Aviator
• Use Leo Bodnar's boards.

I have decided to use Leo Bodnar's boards. 

During initial stages, I had planned to use three BU0836X controllers. But, this was when I had decided to build the DDI's myself (The two DDIs and MPCD itself will require 60 switches).

I have since revisited this decision and have decided to purchase Thrustmaster Cougar MFD Pack. So, have ordered one each of BU0836X controller and BBI-32 Button Box Interface. Since, this is an international order, I expect it to take about 3-4 weeks for the item to eventually reach me.

BU0836X Controller

BBI-32 Button Box Interface

While I wait for these items to ship, I plan to start work on designing the pit panels with wood/sheet metal. 

Display Setup

The 'display' arrangement I decide for my pit is one of the most significant 'build decision' due to following reasons:-

• About all parts that go on to augment this part of the 'pit' will make a 'significant' contribution to the overall cost of the pit.
• Not all parts of the 'display system' are easily available in India. May have to source quite a few parts through import, thus adding to costs and time delays.

Have given a lot of thought to the type & kind of display setup I need for my pit. 

This is what I was working with:-

• There are three DDIs (LDDI, RDDI, UFCP and the MPCD) on the Rhino. So, I need four 8"/10" monitors for these displays. 
• Additionally, I need atleast one monitor for my primary 'outside cockpit' display. I would also like to have atleast one more monitor to run additional add-on's like TS3, Plan G e.t.c.
• I'm presently running my FSX off two Samsung monitors (23" and 20").  
• As far as possible, I would like to use my existing monitors with the new pit arrangement.

Following options are available to drive multiple displays:-

• Add multiple display cards. (my present setup runs of a MSI nVidia GeForce GTX 260 card. This card is no longer available in market).
• Use these cards in SLI/Crossfire.
• Use ATI Eyefinity.
• Use nVidia Surround.
• Use Matrox TripleHead2Go card for multiple displays.

For the time being have settled for the following:-

Triple Monitor Stand for Primary VC Display

I was keener for a four monitor stand, but these stands are available either in three, four or six monitor setups. I have settled for a three monitor setup. Shall order this stand this week and hope for it to arrive in the coming couple of weeks.

TripleHead2Go Digital Edition

For a long time, I have vacillated between using ATI's Eyefinity setup and TH2G. I have finally decided to go TH2G way for two reasons:-

• I have always been an nVidia person. Eyefinity would have required me to buy an compatible ATI card. The older 2GB 7840 is no longer available in Indian market. Wasn't sure if the newer cards would work well with my existing nVidia GTX 260. 
• TH2G will only consume ONE display port out of my card. So, I can invest in a relatively easier to get card for driving my DDI displays.

Google guided me to two companies in India who would be willing to import this item for me. I wasn't particularly impressed while speaking to the support persons of these companies. 

It's a given that I'm going to use Matrox adaptor to drive my VC display. How I buy it from USA/UK and ship it to India is an issue I am working on?

Moving Slowly

The past few weeks have been a bit busy at work., leaving very little 'own time' to pursue my pit building. 

What little time I have had, I used it to further research components I need to collect for my pit.

Have researched various options to source single throw and double throw switches with in the country. I have found a few sources. Will post more info if and when I strike gold. 

Have also found atleast one vendor who supplies rotary encoders in India. Unfortunately, he is a wholesaler and is not willing to supply the small quantities I'm interested in (less than 10 rotary encoders).

The critical 'inside cockpit' items that I still miss are:-

1.  The landing gear operating lever.
2.  Hook operating lever, and the,
3.  Flaps operating lever.

I am thinking, I will probably fabricate them either using wood or sheet metal. Haven't taken a final decision yet. Let's see how things pan out?