Desktop Flight Simulator Panel

been a while

2009-01-08T19:49:00.001-08:00

I got frustrated by FSX being unable to keep my settings on instrument panel size , flight controls and window arrangement.

So I have been taking a break from the cockpit, playing IL2 1946 instead :)

another monitor!

2008-09-11T19:41:00.000-07:00

Since I couldn't fix zonescreen, even installing their own virtual display driver, I bought a damaged LCD off Ebay. It has some blemishes/black areas but other than that they say it works fine. Since it's going to be the left side window, such damage is acceptable.

Once this gets here, it's time to do some serious flying.

zonescreen does not play well with FSX

2008-09-10T18:54:00.001-07:00

I was able to use zonescreen to simulate a 4th monitor.

I have an ATI 9550 with only one monitor connected to it.

What I did is I went into the ati catalyst software and forced it to detect a TV connected to the second port of the ATI 9550. I only have one real monitor connected to that card.

then I was able to enable that monitor in display/control panel. And then I used zonescreen, with the laptop as a client.

But trying to use it with zonescreen resulting in zonescreen, then FSX crashing.

So I geuss it's either the maxivista software or an used monitor from ebay. The difference in price is negligible if you are willing to go with a cheap LCD or CRT.

this sucks monkey gonads!

2008-08-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

After I got all the keys configured with a macro I wrote myself, and added them to the standard.xml file, everything worked fine except that I was missing the fuel pump toggle. After I tried to add that, FSX always resets the keys to defaults. Even after removing it, it still does it.
I'll have to go through the keyboard section of the controls line by line :P

In other news, I am trying to hook up an old laptop as a fourth monitor, for outside views, using the ZoneScreen software.

coming together

2008-08-05T18:33:00.000-07:00

The keyboard panel has been labeled, now only the keys need to be assigned. And believe it or not, that's the easy part, because I wrote an Excel macro that generates XM strings for the controls.xml FSX configuration file. booya!
It will be posted on the site soon. No FSUIPC for me, no siree...cause it's not free....

big update coming soon.

geting FSX

2008-04-06T17:24:00.000-07:00

I finally bought FSX, from Ebay. Unfortunately I realized that I bought the standard edition ,which does not have the SDK. I really wanted to do some developing. Oh well, I can buy the Deluxe later.
I just hope my computer can handle FSX. Maybe some upgrades are in order :)

New Pics Up!

2008-02-17T13:42:00.000-08:00

Check out the flight controls section.

Getting there

2008-02-15T08:17:00.000-08:00

Rudder pedals are in da' house, and I've put labels on the indicator lights.
Since I am using the Nostromo Speedpad for a range of controls, I still need the screen to show the state of the toggle switches. But I replaced the switches gauge with green rectangles that light up when the toggle is 'up'. Thus they show up through holes in the panel, where I placed labels to remember which goes where. Even if it does not look like anything I have seen, at least it looks gadgetty enough :)

New stuff!

2008-02-05T09:24:00.000-08:00

Again, it's been a while!

Check out the construction page for updates.

I have new flight controls as well: Saitek X52 with throttle and X35 with throttle, and I just bought CH rudder pedals. Can't wait to have them:)

This setup works well for both Flight Simulator and IL2, cause I like my planes in the cross-hairs as well.

been a while!

2007-08-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted any updates but that doesn't mean I haven't done any work on the sim!

The Nostromo speedpad is finally configured. It takes the toggle switche commonly found in light aircraft, elevator trim (on the wheel), and ignition switch simulated by the D-pad.
I scored a Saitek X36-X35T joystick throttle combination at goodwill for $6.
It works fine but it is the gameport version and I can't yet get full functionality through my Radioshack USB adapter.
I don't use the old yoke anymore as it sticks too much. I will post some pictures soon hopefully.

Rudder 'peddles' V2

2007-07-16T05:33:00.000-07:00

Ok, I learned my lesson.

Never skimp on flight controls. My simming has gone way down in the past two months as you see from the lack of updates. Granted, I was busy with other things, but one of the factors was the shittiness of my flight controls.

The yoke sticks like glue and the $2 pedals are uncomfortable to use.
Can't do much about the yoke except lube it every time I use it, but I had been rolling around an idea to greatly improve the home-made pedals.

I did that this weekend in about half an hour using stuff I had around the house. Pictures upcoming, but first I want to test it a bit. It is a lot more comfy to use that its predecessor, but maybe there's more room for improvement. Keep you posted.

Monday Update

2007-05-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

Well, finally, over the weekend I posted pics of the home-made rudder 'peddles'.
Check them out in the 'controls' section.

Meanwhile I am working on assigning commands to the vertical keyboard and the Speedpad. The Speedpad is mounted on the computer case, unmodified save for having removed the round adjustable wrist pad.
It will control trim, ignition and the usual Cessna switches and pictures are needed, yes I know :P

a test flight!

2007-04-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

I had a short test flight on Friday. Just a couple of patterns around DAB.
The yoke was still rough but I hope with more lube it will smooth enough for flying.
The rudder 'pedals' (darn, I have to put those in the site, they're a riot) are very sensitive (you'll know why soon)
But I am getting used to the setup and made some decent landings even without a lot of controls yet installed.

well finally

2007-04-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

managed to get com 1,nav 1 and nav2 configured. 1 radio should be enough. I'll post my .cfg file when I get all the command sin.

Friday Update

2007-03-16T20:19:00.000-07:00

So lately I have been reassigning radio commands to the side keyboard, in such a way as to make it resemble a real radio panel in terms of button arrangement. Flight Simulator has many commands that do not appear in the menu, but can be coded through the .cfg file. Go to www.schiratti.com for a list.
Assigning keys for all the functions of the radio stack via ASCII codes takes a long time...this will keep me busy for a while!

Yoke again

2007-03-09T12:38:00.000-08:00

More progress

Bought INOX lube and used it on the yoke, seems to be moving smoother but I didn't get the chance to test it in flight.

Rearranged the Cessna instrument panel in the configuration more suitable for covering with a panel.

Next step is to reassign keys on the panel keyboard.

Site Update!

2007-02-28T05:33:00.000-08:00

I updated the construction section and the flight controls section with pics of the panel on the desk and the yoke, now clamped to the desk.

Yoke

2007-02-27T07:01:00.000-08:00

The yoke has finally been clamped to the desk. Hope to have pictures soon. It sticks a lot. I bough some silicone based lube and used it on the shaft (sounds so dirty), but it still sticks in certain combinations of pitch and roll. I will try to let it seep in more before I wipe it off. I put levers over the knobs that control throttle and rudder (rudder pot has been assigned to control mixture). The levers need to be light in order to stay in the assigned setting, so I can't put any handles at the top. Still, it's better than knobs. I use the levers in IL2 as well, but it doesn't let me invert the throttle so it works in reverse. Bummer.

Friday!

2007-02-23T13:11:00.000-08:00

This week I received the yoke and the monitor cable. So the setup is in essence functional. I placed it on the desk and I put the big 19inch lcd monitor on top of the computer case. This will be the main external view. It's sitting kind of high but it saves a lot of space!
The yoke -cheapie, from a manufacturer that has long ceased to exist - is an old clunker that has controls for both rudder and throttle, in the form of knobs on the side. The rudder control has been assigned to the mixture, since it rotates in the same plane as the throttle. I already have some ideas for a simple way to mount levers over the knobs. I'll probably do that tonight and post pictures over the weekend. The yoke came with suction cups to mount it on a flat surface, but they cannot hold it in place when pulling towards you. I will make a better clamping system tonight, if I have time.
So this is the status...yeah!

Pictures!

2007-02-18T10:55:00.003-08:00

Go to the construction page. Just posted pictures of the panel so far.

Keyboard

2007-02-16T20:06:00.000-08:00

Mini USB Keyboard was mounted to the side of the case, sideways. changed some of the screws holding it together with longer ones to be able to attach brackets which in turn would mount to the computer case.
Took pictures. Pictures upcoming :)

And now....

2007-02-14T07:19:00.001-08:00

Well I managed to install the 12" LCD inside the computer case, using some hardware store brackets and a lot of Erector set beams and hardware.
Now I have to mount the keyboard to the right side of the case. Then make the front panel, the facade with instrument holes and a keyboard overlay.
I plan to use buttons which will go over the keys, without taking the keyboard apart. I will remap the FS keyboard functions to group related commands.

V 2.0 Desktop Panel Considerations

2007-02-13T08:26:00.000-08:00

Based on the limited space available and an upcoming move, I have decided to make this setup as small and portable as possible. Basically just a monitor and a keyboard.Then I changed my mind and decided to make it a little bigger, adding one more bay for radio modules which I might purchase eventually.
I started buying the hardware, Aluminum angles and brackets. I realized that in order to make the frame of the setup strong enough to comfortably support the monitor, I needed some beefing. I gutted an old computer and kept only the outer frame, which turned out to have the exact dimensions needed to enclose the 12” monitor which would be the MIP. It also has a lot of holes ideally suited for mounting components inside and outside.
Then I thought, why not eliminate the outer frame completely… so the original idea of using a keyboard for all the needed buttons resurfaced.
And this is where we are right now…I admit this is the simple way out, but it would take less time and I don’t have much of that. The monitor will be inside the enclosure, the keyboard on the right, and a removable panel will cover the whole thing to make it look like a GA instrument panel.

First Post!

2007-01-19T18:06:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone.
This blog will document the construction of a cheap, simple and portable instrument panel to be used with MSFS and other sims.
This will be my second 'cockpit'. The first one can be seen here: