06-01-2023, 10:09 PM
Work on the cockpit continues.
I printed, installed and configured the Sidekick. It worked great! Added some nice realism to the experience.
A couple of shots of it in place.
![[Image: Sidekick_1.jpg]](https://www.sonjas-hangar.us/Images/Sidekick_1.jpg)
![[Image: Sidekick_2.jpg]](https://www.sonjas-hangar.us/Images/Sidekick_2.jpg)
THOUGH, I've "evolved" from the Sidekick.
Went "hog-wild" on this one! :mrgreen:
![[Image: Full_Console_Sonja_DA62.jpg]](https://www.sonjas-hangar.us/Images/Full_Console_Sonja_DA62.jpg)
It is "loosely" based on the DA62 cockpit. The "throttle" levers in the picture are the Fuel X-Feed/Cut-Off levers found in the DA62. The Bravo of course provides the actual throttle. Currently the Cut-Off levers are being controlled by the "mixture" levers on the Bravo until I print and assemble the lower part of the console.
Right now the top two sections are printed. The main Power Switch panel is assembled, programmed and works great!
The rocker switches were scavenged from the Saitek/Logitech panels. The AP Panel died, so it was sitting in the "trash pile". I was on Amazon looking for rocker switches and encoders when the idea came to me to just reuse what was in the Saiteks.
Once I pulled them apart I could see why so many folks have issues with them being seen, working and just crapping out. The main wiring was about as thin as fishing line. The common ground was more like a "drool line" of solder. Like they just spot soldered to the terminals, drug along to the next, spot soldered and so on. Kind of cheap if you ask me.
I cleaned up the switches and soldered in some nice heavier gauge jumper wires. Fortunately there was so much solder on the terminals I was just able to "reuse" what was there and connect my wires. Which was nice since I can't really solder to save my life! Some heat-shrink tubing around all my connections and we were in business.
The Power Panel uses an Arduino Nano programmed with MobiFLight to give me functions inside FS2020.
![[Image: Eveloved_Panel_1.jpg]](https://www.sonjas-hangar.us/Images/Eveloved_Panel_1.jpg)
![[Image: Eveloved_Panel_2.jpg]](https://www.sonjas-hangar.us/Images/Eveloved_Panel_2.jpg)
![[Image: Eveloved_Panel_3.jpg]](https://www.sonjas-hangar.us/Images/Eveloved_Panel_3.jpg)
On the Power Panel I have (from L to R):
Rockers: (from the old Saiteks)
Toggles: (New from Amazon)
Push Buttons : (New from Amazon)
Above the starters are three LEDs (New from Amazon)
The center red LED comes on when the parking brake is engaged. When I was testing the initial setup I saw that the parking brake LED was coming on as I used the toe brakes to taxi. That gave me the idea to use additional LEDs to light up when the toe brakes are applied. In FS2020 there are variables for the left and right brake positions. With a bit of PreCondition code the Parking Brake lights up when engaged and stays off while you taxi, but the orange toe brake LEDs light up as each toe brake is applied.
Kinda neat if ya ask me! :mrgreen:
The Gamin GTN750 is currently sitting off to the side drying. Once dry and assembled it will display the GTN750 with a pop-gauge" using JDs PMSGTN750 on Others Mod from FlightSim.to. This mod adds a GTN750 to most of the default Aircraft regardless of it having the panel by default.
I am using a 7 Inch IPS LCD Touch Screen Display powered by a micro USB and HDMI cable off the second Nvidia RTX3090.
I'll update the pictures once it is dry and assembled.
The rest of the console is yet to be printed. The Garmin GCU475 (or rather a look alike) was completely modeled from scratch using a reference photo found on Google. Everything will be 3D printed except the electronic components. FlightSimMaker has a turn-key version in development. I modeled my own from a reference photo to the one found on MyPilotStore. This panel will be a work in progress along with the main G1000 suite. a lot of printing, soldering and programming for those!
The cut-off levers will be 3D printed as well. You can see where I got the inspiration for the Power Panel. I MAY reuse the old Saitek USB Throttle Quadrant, but it too is kind of cheap and flimsy feeling. Not solid like the Bravo. If I print it myself I can really get the feel and response that I desire.
I almost forgot about the last minute Parking Brake addition. This was 3D printed and uses a toggle from one of the old sacrificial Saitek panels. Works like a charm!
Additional parts and items used in the build so far:
Arduino Nano V3.0 ATmega328P Microcontroller
ELEGOO 120pcs Multicolored Dupont Wire 40pin Male to Female, 40pin Male to Male, 40pin Female to Female Breadboard Jumper Ribbon Cables Kit
Yosoo Health Gear Light Emitting Diode Holder, 50pcs
EDGELEC 100pcs 220 ohm Resistors
Mobiflight to program the panel functions.
Air Manager v4 to display the Garmin instruments on secondary displays
MSFS PopOut Manager to "auto pop" the Garmins onto the desired screens.
Right now the G1000 instruments are just pop outs using overlays provided by Air Manger with touch and mouse function. These are displayed on a couple of ELECROW 10.1 Inch 1920X1080p IPS Touchscreen Monitors attached via a USB to HDMI adapter. I'll most likely upgrade to the 4 HDMI version as things get more "advanced".
Things are rocking right along. It will take time to print, procure parts, assemble and program the G1000 suite. I did begin to print some physical steam gauges, but the quality and smoothness just wasn't what I desired versus using an 8 inch 480 x 1920 LCD to display the gauges using Air Manger or Scott Vincent's Instrument Panel from github. Of course covering the LCD with printed bezels. I will most likely put the steam gauge LCD in place of the current Saitek COM panel. I'm thinking of building/modeling a nicer looking more compact COM panel using MobiFlight to provide functions. Even though I do have the Audio Panel from the G1000 suite, I like the idea of having a larger dedicated frequency readouts in addition to the G100. (My old eyes will like that much better!)
By placing the steam gauges above the Saitek FIPS, I can utilize the rotary knob on the Altimeter to adjust baro pressure. The other two FIPS will display RPM and Fuel for the Engines. This probably goes without saying, I'll eventually end up ditching the FIPS and building some nice 4" square LCDs with much better resolution and capabilities. Besides, the FIPs are always losing connection between reboots. I usually have to reach around and unplug one or more so SPAD.next will recognize them. A real pain in the keister. A usb hub with individual power switches helps with having to reach around back, now I just reach up and toggle the power for the FIPS and restart SPAD.
I purchased a few FIP gauges from the FIP Gauges site.. They have a nice selection of good quality gauges for about 5 to 7 Euros a piece. The RPM, Altimeterand VSIgauges are quite nice. There is quite a nice selectionto choose from. Buuuut, I can see the money flying from wallet now. One reason why I'd like to replace the FIPs with regular LCD panels.
I will continue to post updates here and on my Sim site (https://www.sonjas-hangar.us). On that site I will go into more detail of the builds, software and programming. I'll add some videos and nice hi-res photos too. (Psssst: Tom, why is the forum width locked??? You can only post 600 pixel wide photos!) Hehe, granted, that restrictions does make the forum flow better without oversized photos. But phpbb should handle the sizing automatically. Been a while since I've installed/configed phpbb though.
May your landings equal your take offs and keep your stick on the ice!
I printed, installed and configured the Sidekick. It worked great! Added some nice realism to the experience.
A couple of shots of it in place.
THOUGH, I've "evolved" from the Sidekick.
Went "hog-wild" on this one! :mrgreen:
It is "loosely" based on the DA62 cockpit. The "throttle" levers in the picture are the Fuel X-Feed/Cut-Off levers found in the DA62. The Bravo of course provides the actual throttle. Currently the Cut-Off levers are being controlled by the "mixture" levers on the Bravo until I print and assemble the lower part of the console.
Right now the top two sections are printed. The main Power Switch panel is assembled, programmed and works great!
The rocker switches were scavenged from the Saitek/Logitech panels. The AP Panel died, so it was sitting in the "trash pile". I was on Amazon looking for rocker switches and encoders when the idea came to me to just reuse what was in the Saiteks.
Once I pulled them apart I could see why so many folks have issues with them being seen, working and just crapping out. The main wiring was about as thin as fishing line. The common ground was more like a "drool line" of solder. Like they just spot soldered to the terminals, drug along to the next, spot soldered and so on. Kind of cheap if you ask me.
I cleaned up the switches and soldered in some nice heavier gauge jumper wires. Fortunately there was so much solder on the terminals I was just able to "reuse" what was there and connect my wires. Which was nice since I can't really solder to save my life! Some heat-shrink tubing around all my connections and we were in business.
The Power Panel uses an Arduino Nano programmed with MobiFLight to give me functions inside FS2020.
On the Power Panel I have (from L to R):
Rockers: (from the old Saiteks)
- Master Batteries (Master Elec)
Fuel Pumps (L and R)
Master Avionics
Pitot Heat
Toggles: (New from Amazon)
- Left Alternator
LH Engine Master
RH Engine Master
Right Alternator
Push Buttons : (New from Amazon)
- LH Engine Starter
RH Engine Starter
Above the starters are three LEDs (New from Amazon)
- Left Toe Brake (Orange)
Parking Brake (Red)
Right Toe Brake (Orange)
The center red LED comes on when the parking brake is engaged. When I was testing the initial setup I saw that the parking brake LED was coming on as I used the toe brakes to taxi. That gave me the idea to use additional LEDs to light up when the toe brakes are applied. In FS2020 there are variables for the left and right brake positions. With a bit of PreCondition code the Parking Brake lights up when engaged and stays off while you taxi, but the orange toe brake LEDs light up as each toe brake is applied.
Kinda neat if ya ask me! :mrgreen:
The Gamin GTN750 is currently sitting off to the side drying. Once dry and assembled it will display the GTN750 with a pop-gauge" using JDs PMSGTN750 on Others Mod from FlightSim.to. This mod adds a GTN750 to most of the default Aircraft regardless of it having the panel by default.
I am using a 7 Inch IPS LCD Touch Screen Display powered by a micro USB and HDMI cable off the second Nvidia RTX3090.
I'll update the pictures once it is dry and assembled.
The rest of the console is yet to be printed. The Garmin GCU475 (or rather a look alike) was completely modeled from scratch using a reference photo found on Google. Everything will be 3D printed except the electronic components. FlightSimMaker has a turn-key version in development. I modeled my own from a reference photo to the one found on MyPilotStore. This panel will be a work in progress along with the main G1000 suite. a lot of printing, soldering and programming for those!
The cut-off levers will be 3D printed as well. You can see where I got the inspiration for the Power Panel. I MAY reuse the old Saitek USB Throttle Quadrant, but it too is kind of cheap and flimsy feeling. Not solid like the Bravo. If I print it myself I can really get the feel and response that I desire.
I almost forgot about the last minute Parking Brake addition. This was 3D printed and uses a toggle from one of the old sacrificial Saitek panels. Works like a charm!
Additional parts and items used in the build so far:
Arduino Nano V3.0 ATmega328P Microcontroller
ELEGOO 120pcs Multicolored Dupont Wire 40pin Male to Female, 40pin Male to Male, 40pin Female to Female Breadboard Jumper Ribbon Cables Kit
Yosoo Health Gear Light Emitting Diode Holder, 50pcs
EDGELEC 100pcs 220 ohm Resistors
Mobiflight to program the panel functions.
Air Manager v4 to display the Garmin instruments on secondary displays
MSFS PopOut Manager to "auto pop" the Garmins onto the desired screens.
Right now the G1000 instruments are just pop outs using overlays provided by Air Manger with touch and mouse function. These are displayed on a couple of ELECROW 10.1 Inch 1920X1080p IPS Touchscreen Monitors attached via a USB to HDMI adapter. I'll most likely upgrade to the 4 HDMI version as things get more "advanced".
Things are rocking right along. It will take time to print, procure parts, assemble and program the G1000 suite. I did begin to print some physical steam gauges, but the quality and smoothness just wasn't what I desired versus using an 8 inch 480 x 1920 LCD to display the gauges using Air Manger or Scott Vincent's Instrument Panel from github. Of course covering the LCD with printed bezels. I will most likely put the steam gauge LCD in place of the current Saitek COM panel. I'm thinking of building/modeling a nicer looking more compact COM panel using MobiFlight to provide functions. Even though I do have the Audio Panel from the G1000 suite, I like the idea of having a larger dedicated frequency readouts in addition to the G100. (My old eyes will like that much better!)
By placing the steam gauges above the Saitek FIPS, I can utilize the rotary knob on the Altimeter to adjust baro pressure. The other two FIPS will display RPM and Fuel for the Engines. This probably goes without saying, I'll eventually end up ditching the FIPS and building some nice 4" square LCDs with much better resolution and capabilities. Besides, the FIPs are always losing connection between reboots. I usually have to reach around and unplug one or more so SPAD.next will recognize them. A real pain in the keister. A usb hub with individual power switches helps with having to reach around back, now I just reach up and toggle the power for the FIPS and restart SPAD.
I purchased a few FIP gauges from the FIP Gauges site.. They have a nice selection of good quality gauges for about 5 to 7 Euros a piece. The RPM, Altimeterand VSIgauges are quite nice. There is quite a nice selectionto choose from. Buuuut, I can see the money flying from wallet now. One reason why I'd like to replace the FIPs with regular LCD panels.
I will continue to post updates here and on my Sim site (https://www.sonjas-hangar.us). On that site I will go into more detail of the builds, software and programming. I'll add some videos and nice hi-res photos too. (Psssst: Tom, why is the forum width locked??? You can only post 600 pixel wide photos!) Hehe, granted, that restrictions does make the forum flow better without oversized photos. But phpbb should handle the sizing automatically. Been a while since I've installed/configed phpbb though.
May your landings equal your take offs and keep your stick on the ice!
