34 replies to this topic

[repete]

Hey all

Some recent updates/current status:



And currently fitting a Saitek X52 Flight Control System. I would have liked a Logitec G940 so I could control everything from the Logitec software, but these are hard to find, and often expensive:




Original post:

So awesome to see so many different people posting their simpits. I think it really says something for how exciting MWO has got Mechwarrior fans.

So particularly inspired by the elegant simplicity of Turbo Corsair's simpit, with some additional thoughts from Propnut's efforts, and totally stunned by this simpit, I decided I couldn't continue to play from my plain ol' desk.

Not really having access to much in the way of an organised toolshed (Disorganised is another matter), my basic requirements were:

• Inexpensive
  
• Simple (As in not too much time/effort to construct as I'm rather busy)
  
• Fit-for-purpose

Because of this, I think one of the best things about this plan is that anyone, regardless of skill or budget (With some relativity) could make this up.


So the plan to meet those was the following design:



Budget is roughly NZ$200 (Given exchange rates and everything, just think US$200).

So picked the the materials this weekend and got to work:

Raw materials:

75 mm x 40 mm timber for the frame


GIB for the walls:


Left wall constructed:


Right wall constructed:


First glance of the future enclosed space:


Rear with doorway:


Font:


Walls (Temporarily) assembled, front view:


Walls (Temporarily) assembled, rear/side view:


Walls (Temporarily) assembled, front/side view:


...So next steps:

• Measure up and construct the roof
  
• Measure up and construct the internal shelving
  
• Measure up the seat fitting

The seat will roll on coasters on a track, and the door will afix to the rear of the seat, both similar to Turbo Corstair's work.

Edited by repete, 26 June 2013 - 03:20 PM.

[Nacon]

Hope you remember to make it easy to disassemble, so you could move it to more permanent location each time people complained about noisy game time.

Keep up the good work.

[repete]

Nacon, on 15 September 2012 - 05:57 PM, said:

Hope you remember to make it easy to disassemble...

For the most part, disassembly is as simply as unscrewing the stays which hold the roof and walls in place. As for complaints about noise, it's in the games room, so no worries there. :-)

[Propnut]

Repete, keep the updates coming. Looking forward to your progress.

[repete]

Today's updates:

Roof:


Interior:


Castors and box for chair:


Chair on castors:


Chair in simpit:


...Tomorrow will (If time allows) consist of rails for chair and internal shelving.

[repete]

*whew*. Interiors are fiddly. Two night's work don't look like much progress, but here goes:

Prepping left self:


And right shelf:


Confirming seat fits:


Measuring up to enclose shelves:


Lip on shelving:


Enclosed shelving cut:


Preparing joystick central column:


Column assembled:


Internal shelving and joystick column assembled:


...Way past bed time. Four hours sleep again for me.

[repete]

Alright. Other than the interior (Paint, trim, mounting monitors, etc), she's pretty much done:

Seat + door:


Track for the seat:


Seat on track:


Door closed:


I'll probably do some of the basics so I can take her for a run, but other than that I'm gonna take a break since I've sacrificed time with family and sleep to get this done in the past week.

Edited by repete, 21 September 2012 - 01:27 AM.

[MyCatTequila]

great work, lovin the seat!

[Corleym]

hey this is really cool and good work, im looking forward to the interior build. Good luck with your project!

[repete]

Two coats of paint:


Cardboard tubes for 'rollbars' (Free from spools of material at fabric store - Bonus):


Making fittings for 'rollbars':


Measuring up the 'rollbars':


Zoomed out on 'rollbars':


All 'rollbars' measured and fitted:

[Foust]

Nice work. I'm liking the "roll bars" I might steal that idea.

I think yours is the first center stick design I've seen in the mechpits.

[Urban UK]

coming on really nice, great idea those roll bars

[repete]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Getting there. Can't believe how fiddly and time consuming the interior and the painting is.

Painting the roll bars:


Roll bars in place:


So next on the list...Get the screens mounted. Some surprises to come there.

[Propnut]

The roll bars are a nice touch

[repete]

The battle continues. Certainly more work than I estimated. Getting close though.

I'd tried pricing up *****, switches, dials, LEDs, etc. to whip up a control panel. Based on what I'm wanting to make, the estimated price for that would be around $100. Stuff that. Scrounging around and getting some stuff from mates, my end cost was $10 ($8 for the Xmas lights and $2 for the pill boxes). The aircraft instruments are junk from a mate who works at an aircraft maintenance company.

Parts for overhead control panel:


Lining pill boxes with aluminium foil to make LED indicators using Xmas lights:


Testing the lights:


DIY monitor mounts (Stuff spending $30 each!)


Working on the control panel:


Monitor layout (Peripheral monitors not mounted yet):


Left view:


Right view:

[CyBerkut]

That's coming along nicely! I like the pill box idea.

[repete]

A couple of day's worth of work...The control panel has been annoying. Cutting and cutting and cutting, and painting and painting...

Sunroof:


Ready to paint the control panel:


Back of the control panel. Fitted and wired up:


Front of the control panel:


Inside view:


Control panel close-up:


Almost there...

[Urban UK]

looking great mate, loving the control panel

I think I would of fitted one big screen in the front though, that fits up to the roll bars
then maybe lots of little screen (tablets?) dotted all over like in the picture you posted of the hunchback cockpit

coming on nice!

[repete]

99% done. Just a few things to add/tidy...

Centre view (TeamSpeak - Game - Map):


Right side (Pilot biometrics):


Left side (Forums):

[Propnut]

Nicely done repete! Love the monitor space.