Research and Testing

It started with research into electronics and programming to interface analogue switches with FSX.

There are many solutions out there and my research found that there were many different methods to solve a problem.

Here are a couple of short videos I made during my research to give you an idea of where I'm going.

First - simple electroniques - making LEDs flash

The second short video shows hardware interfacing with FSX to simply make the landing gear go up and down.  Having learnt how to do that helps to demonstrate the rest should be possible...fingers crossed

Marking Out and Laying the Base

After identifying a space for my project (a spare downstairs room), I marked out on the carpet the radius for the semi-circular screen  - I'm working on 1.5m radius with a view to using two short throw Dell projectors that at this distance can project to a screen width of just under 2.4m.  The idea is to use two 2.4x1.2m 3mm sheets of MDF to create the screen - bends beautifully and is quite light.

I then started building the base and marked the centre line - keeping an eye on the centre line, both on the base and as you build up in 3D is crucial to ensure that everything is balanced and central.

I've built the base on spring with a view to using a Butt Kicker to provide that sense of motion - ie turbulence and the rumble on the runway and taxiing etc. I've used 6 springs from old computer chairs.  These are heavy duty and certainly support my weight and  the weight of the structure pluse passenger.

The Butt Kicker

The great thing about this project is that it is involves using a wide variety of different skills.  To start with there is the wood working, but also in order to embed precision into the project, I've use Google SketchUp to produce a detailed drawing from which I can get accurate measurements.  This was particularly important with the curves of the 'fuselage'.

The drawings then helped with the cutting and building of the fuselage sections.

From here on its been a case of carefully measuring and cutting to build the structure up to something that looks like a flight deck....as I said earlier it's going to be loosely based on the BAe 146.  The seats I basically got free  (old car seats that I got for a box of 'good will' stubbies - good deal).

As mentioned earlier, making sure you keep and eye on where the centre line is, is vital.  It takes a bit of ingenuity (and a plumb line) to keep track of it as you work your way up :-)

 Here I've started work on putting in where the cockpit windows will go - and I'm using full sized cardboard cut outs to show the position of all the various panels.

The carpentry work is almost done now and I've started using 3mm MDF to close in the frame.  The next stage will be to paint the inside.