Hi, I have now decided firmly that a home cockpit is a must for me! However that decision has also raised a number of questions. So to start slowly, is there any starter kit one can acquire? I am thinking in terms of the necessary items such as interface cards to put in the computer etc. I was originally thinking of making a throttle, but I think it would require quite a well equipped machine shop to do it properly. Therefore I am now thinking about making a radio panel. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.Lev

I just comment that throttle. Nothing else, because i use DIY FSBus system. In FSBus you have to build everything yourself. Like etch PCB's and solder components for working electronics.But. For throttles you just need some basic toold to make them. I have seen many good quality throttles made from plastics, wood and so on. Just with normal household tools. Saws, knives and so on.- J

Hi Lev,there are may ways of beginning a cockpit project - but what we all want are fast results !So what i would do is start building *small* parts which are able to work on their own.I agree with you that the throttle is the most difficult mechanical part to build if you have no mechanical experience.Other parts might be easier - the yokes, the pedals or the MCP unit - all these parts can be used stand allond with your FS2002/4 setup and you can use them quickly.Which plane are you planning to build ? There are may ideas and plans around...cheersMathias

Hi Lev and welcome !I agree with Mathias, you have first to decide what kind of aircraft you want to have and then start with easy to build and work parts.Before one year i was looking to make a Boeing 767-400 cockpit, but soon i realized that i didn't have enough room-space for the cokpit so i decided to make something more ergonomic for my hobby according my free space.Also i found that with B767-400 i was not able to land in many airports in Greek islands and that was a limitation for many-many flights. In other hand i wanted a Jet aircraft and not a regional turboprop, so i decided to "buy" a brand new B737NG :-)About the constuctions now, it depends from your experience and if you can prepare and test them before in a Cad program to avoid manual tests and hard work :-(My first construction was the Gear Lever and i had only the Corel Draw hor help for 2D and that was terrible. I spend more than 3 weeks to make it, changing many things and now i finished it is not something special, just it works. The true is that maybe in the future i will change it again according jmi's cad files.Good luck!!Eddie ArmaosAthens-Greece

Hi, I have actually been thinking something similar to you, Eddie. I have also set my eyes and heart on a 737NG. I think the primary reasons for choosing this bird is that I am mostly interested in take-offs and landings, not so much the long cruise flights. I also think that throttles, although very nice to have and definitely a must at some point, will have to wait. As I have seen a few others state on this forum, a radio panel can take away most of the point and click of FS increasing the realism extremely. So, I think a radio panel will be the first addition to the home cockpit. But for that, I guess I need some diagrams, circuits, rotary encoders etc. Any help would be appreciated :-waveBoazEKCH

Hi,yes starting with radios is a great idea - and not very complicated.You can either get yourself some ready made panels or make them yourself.For the electronics i would use the FSBUS system. You need the FSBUS COM board as a main interface to your computer. To this you connect the FS Display board 3C which drives up to 6 displays - which is exactly what you need.Later you can connect a FSBUS keycontroller for the rotarys and additional switches.To this system you can later daisy chain your MCP, the EFIS etc.But take it easy and build ONE PROJECT at a time - you will learn a lot of new skills while building - if you do not get along - just post here for help or send a private mail.Mathias

Hi Mathias, Thanks for the reply. Some additional questions: I seem to remember that people at some time used to talk about an EPIC card. Is that still being used? If so, which is better? Where would one find the electronic diagrams needed to wire everything up? Thanks for the advice -- a radio panel for a 737NG it is!:-waveBoaz

Hi,yes, the EPIC does still exist - BUT - it is VERY expensive (i think its something about 900 US$) and quite complicated to program - you have to develop quite a bit of software by yourself.The FSBUS system is a freeware solution specially designed for the FS200x - so it does all you want.If you are firm in electronics you can build it yourself - its not really difficult - or buy the ready built boards.Once you have on 7 segment display running (and thats quite simple) you will understand the system and the wiring scheme.Of course its a VERY long way until the 737 is completely wired :)But doing it in small steps makes things easier.Tell me if i can be of farther assistance.byeMathias

Hi Mathias, Tried to email you -- but obviously unsuccessfull. I was wondering where one would be able to buy the boards?ThanksBoaz