Guys,Take a look at their sites FreeFD --> http://freefd.homeunix.com/DakenSkys --> http://www.dakenskys.com/few stepdown sim builders, few fourms such Avsim, FDS, and others builders fourm becomes very quiet...what worries me is... are we one of the endangered species now? Or is that summer get us too busy?

I think summer slows the hobby down, but there is no question that at least some of the forums are slower than usual. I think I read that health problems have impacted Dakerskys. Don't know what the story is with FreeFD.Personally, I get almost nothing accomplished during the summer. Kids are home, honey-do projects abound, etc.Mikewww.mikesflightdeck.com

>Guys,>>Take a look at their sites >>FreeFD --> http://freefd.homeunix.com/>DakenSkys --> http://www.dakenskys.com/>>few stepdown sim builders, few fourms such Avsim, FDS, and>others builders fourm becomes very quiet...what worries me>is... are we one of the endangered species now? Or is that>summer get us too busy?Actually interest is on the rise, at least here.In this hobby it's very easy to get a LOT of publicity very fast, because this forum is very popular - post something here and everyone buzzes about it.Also, many people tend to get the idea, that if they have a nice hobby, making it into a simulator parts manufacturing business is easy - even with zero experience in manufacturing, sales or any other business area. It's not a big surprise most of them never really get further than the big idea. Yet it gets a LOT of publicity since our community is very well connected. So you get these "Wow! Ultra-realistic [ insert desirable simulator part here ] for [ popular simulated aircraft ] for less than [ half the price of manufacturers actually delivering stuff ]" news that naturally are super-exciting.And people of course get excited, announce things early, and then get hit by the inevitable bumps down the road to the finished product.. or cannot meet their originally imagined price.. And we call them greedy b4stards afterwards.. ;^)//Tuomas

DakenSkies doesn't even load for me anymore.I had hopes of maybe doing business with them, but as Tigert said, people with dreams and ambitions aren't always able deliver on those dreams for one reason or another.

Or, few simmers need to be under sun after they have been inside the house for so many month building their birds.This is what I hate... Aren't hobby supposed to be fun, getting everyone to see other hard stunning work and perhaps share some Idea, advices for others who may be interested? I can understand for those who wants to sell products because they felt they should earn it, That's not a problem... I would agree with any manufacturer or sellers who well spend on their plan, products, or tools in order to build for them, and keep promising to purchasers that they would get what they want, goal and etc. Disagrees with sellers or manufactuers who sees the advantage, come into our world> sell their products> earn money

Well, I didnt say they are greedy folks. I said we're easy to call them that.I think it's only natural: I have spent quite a bit of effort and some money too on research - trying to find the right tools, ideas, methods etc to make a good panel, control stick etc. Once I figure out the good approach, it's only natural to try to get some of that back AND at the same time trying to share the smart solution with others.But unfortunately it's not just as easy as that. Making something yourself is a whole different thing than having something manufactured for you, in small series. That costs a crapload of money in the end, and it's almost certain it wont work out right away. Delays. More cost than you thought. So you end up wasting more time than you wanted, while not actually being able to offer anything for a reasonable price - even though you managed to build one yourself for cheap.It's a paradox, if I start talking about manufacturing something for sale, someone hit me with a log on my head so I go back to my senses, please :-) //T

Yup... All we have to do is try to get or build our birds at the best as we can get it to fly. Also we want to keep a tight-knit community here, otherwise... we would never know what's new ahead of us :)

I agree with you. It's an all too common paradox, something that a surprising number of people simply don't understand. Perhaps it's something you just have to experience personally before it sinks in.My "real" background is R&D electrical engineering, but I slipped over to the dark side for a bit. One of my dark responsibilities was calculating, projecting and justifying cost recovery rates for an internal IT company supporting a multi-national corp.Even "seasoned" managers who should have known better simply didn't believe what it cost. And that was without profit! (Internal cost centers were expected simply to break even.)So it's not at all surprising that a hobbyist trying to turn pro would be unable to develop a well thought out and fiscally rigorous business plan.Another aspect is that it is also not surprising that a hobbbyist who has never given any thought to the realities of starting and running a business would see prices from such a start up as outrageously high.Mikewww.mikesflightdeck.com

Heheh.Well I have never really posted in this forum before, but I am going to consider myself VERY lucky to even make a go-flight cockpit for my home sim. I dunno. I am about to try to enter college. I looked at tuition costs for even just A/P Mechanic and I fear I have blown that dream due to my credit decisions in the past.But at least I can major in Computer Science and have a little bit of hope at making at an home hobby for myself to dream of the career I always wanted.These forums do seem to have died off, but I am sure it is just Summer in the case of the AVSIM area. I have been really hectic myself. Though I never post I am always reading. Hoping I get a tip I havent thought of for the cockpit I plan to build.

of the two you mentioned, atleast Dakenskys seem to be coming back strong this time around. Take a look at their website, if you haven't recently..-srini

I have just clicked on the link for Dakenskys at the start of this thread, not only did it load fine, they appear to be shipping some 737 grey stuff. I might just have to get the credit card out for one of those beautiful looking grey MCPs. First I'll have to have a word with the FPO, (flying permission officer)!The Porcupineaka Simon Webbwww.desktopflying.co.ukVery slowely putting together a generic twin desktop unit.

The hobby always slowys down each year for a breif period. Maybe it's a coincidence that everybody ends up with "real world" obligations for a short period.I just spoke with Ken... Looks like he's on fire. The new products look really good! Of course, I'm begging for him to make some 777 stuff that looks so good :-)I JUST finished my move a few days ago, so I'll upload some pics of my sim at my new pad soon!Roberthttp://www.777simulator.com

Hey Robert, I could see you are on fire too :). Looking forward to see new pics of your sim.