Gen 1: mid 2013
Starting with the basics
I started with just the basic setup - a single display and an old MS Sidewinder joystick, and running it on my main computer. It was fun just getting in the air and getting used to things, but I wanted more...
Yoke it up
Needed a yoke and rudder pedals to get anywhere close to simulating a real plane. Based on reading lots of reviews and commentary, I settled on the Saitek yoke and pedals, chose the "Cessna" model.
- Saitek Cessna Yoke (and throttle quadrant) see http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/cessnayoke.html
- Saitek Cessna Rudder Pedals, see http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/cessnapedals.html
- Saitek TPM
- Saitek Radio and AP
The pictures below are several months along in the process and represent versions 1, 2 and 3. I added a 2nd display, a bunch more Saitek parts like the trim wheel, two radio panels, and TPM (throttle / prop / mix) control. Picture 1 / Version 1 was just cobbled together on a table and making stuff work together. Rest of pictures are versions 2 and 3, making all the stuff look something like a Cessna 172 cockpit. The seat? Ask my wife where the other seat in her Honda van went (yes, it will go back into the van as needed - but it's a nice seat and I really like it versus the folding chair!).
On to SIM Generation 2
Starting with the basics
I started with just the basic setup - a single display and an old MS Sidewinder joystick, and running it on my main computer. It was fun just getting in the air and getting used to things, but I wanted more...
Yoke it up
Needed a yoke and rudder pedals to get anywhere close to simulating a real plane. Based on reading lots of reviews and commentary, I settled on the Saitek yoke and pedals, chose the "Cessna" model.
- Saitek Cessna Yoke (and throttle quadrant) see http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/cessnayoke.html
- Saitek Cessna Rudder Pedals, see http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/cessnapedals.html
- Saitek TPM
- Saitek Radio and AP
The pictures below are several months along in the process and represent versions 1, 2 and 3. I added a 2nd display, a bunch more Saitek parts like the trim wheel, two radio panels, and TPM (throttle / prop / mix) control. Picture 1 / Version 1 was just cobbled together on a table and making stuff work together. Rest of pictures are versions 2 and 3, making all the stuff look something like a Cessna 172 cockpit. The seat? Ask my wife where the other seat in her Honda van went (yes, it will go back into the van as needed - but it's a nice seat and I really like it versus the folding chair!).
On to SIM Generation 2
Construction techniques
I toyed with using wood and metal for the 'dash', but I just have hand tools and that's not enough for such work.
Instead, I took a MUCH easier approach that looked pretty good! I used 1/4" foam board from a craft store - easy to cut with a razor knife and stick together with a hot glue gun. There's wooden framing behind the foam to provide support, but everything is mainly held together by the stock Saitek clamps on Yoke, TPM, and trim wheel to an old, cheap 'computer desk'.
The small 15" display came from Goodwill for $5.00! (Love Goodwill, never know what you'll find there). I took the back off the LCD display and removed it's stand, then mounted the display to the top of the Saitek Yoke with a piece of scrap tin - drilling holes in the tin to line up with the displays previous stand holes and screws on top of Saitek Yoke.
The 'piping' around edge of dash? That's just 2" pipe insulation foam from hardware store and it had sticky tape on the split part already, just stuck right on.
So, for not much money and pretty easy construction, ended up with a fairly decent looking Cessna 172 simulator.
Problems: Compared to a real Cessna 172 there were quite a few things that needed fixing. My dash was angled for example. And the controls? Yikes, the trim wheel and TPM were way too high compared to real thing. And, there's no ignition switch, master switch, avionics or light switches. More work to do...
Cessna 172 Cockpit layout
So, what is the layout of a real Cessna 172? I couldn't find one on the Internet, so I measured it! Took my tape measure to flight class and laid out the basics of a 1975 Cessna C172N. Small graphic below, but a full size PDF on the Documents page, or double click the graphic below.