HelloI am all new to building things for my simulator, but I think that I'm ready to make a slow start. I would like, over the next couples of years, to build up a King Air B200 cockpit, but there are always the money question - which makes the ground for the slow moving policy :-). I therefore do plan to build in phases, where the first would be the radiostacks. This leads me to the first question:Does anybody knows if it is possible to find Collins equipment for the radiostack? I would rather not compromise my project from the beginning with using Bendix King Silver Line.....My plan was then to build the lower part of the MIP, so I could get all the contacts to work. Which hardware should I use making the connection to the computer? I have read about EPIC, but it seems like many users are rather tired of the programming part. What could be used instead?? An old kayboard and some changed references in FS??I do hope that somebody would help me getting this project under way!Kind RegardsBrian

>Does anybody knows if it is possible to find Collins equipment>for the radiostack? I would rather not compromise my project>from the beginning with using Bendix King Silver Line.....Well, ask yourself: WHY you want this sim? If you want to make your flying more realistic and "immersive" and want to eliminate the keyboard and mouse, the brand or exact looks of your avionics do not really matter that much. All of the general aviation avionics work more or less the same and do the same things.If you want to have a replica of a king air, where the look of the thing is more important than the functionality, then it might matter. Depends on you and what your goal is. Besides, there are king airs with Bendix radios as well, even though the one modelled in FS2004 has a Collins set.This for example: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/019347/L/Most of the general aviation planes are "unique" - during the lifetime of the plane, a lot of equipment gets upgraded, replaced or just removed and added, so there really is no "correct" setup :)//Tuomas

I recently completed the overhead for my Boeing 727 project and I'm using the Hagstrom LP24 for the interface as well as a program called Key2Mouse.I'm not a programming genius, nor do I have the time or patients to learn to do it. Using this encoder is easier to get by with in an analog cockpit. I'm not sure what hurdles I would have run into had I chose to model a newer aircraft.At any rate, I too am using and will be using additional Collins radios for the pedestal and I have a Collins ADF and a Gables HF in the overhead. I've not quite decided yet how to interface these. They are mechanical analog radio heads as will be the Nav/Com's when I eventually start the pedestal.There are several sources of front panels for these radios, but I may have to go to digital dispays for the radios in the pedestal. That shouldn't be too much of a realism problem as many B727's were upgraded to newer style radios before their retirement. I will more than likely be buying commercially available plug and play radios but re-installing the electronics into a Collins chassis/faceplate combination.

Thank you for the posts.As for the first thing, I would really like to use the Collins stack if at all possible - the reason is simply that I like the looks. They seems more 'real' to me than the Bendix does. I know that GA have some really personally looks, which I will use in a number of ways :-) But my endgoal is to have a deasent replica of a quite old B200. Therefore would I also like to go for analog flight instruments insted of digital.>Boeing722: >They are mechanical analog radio heads as will be the Nav/Com's when I >eventually start the pedestal.>There are several sources of front panels for these radios, but I may >have to go to digital dispays for the radios in the pedestal.What are those sources? Where to get it? Could you please state some links :-)And Michael - Do you have a homepage where it is possible to se the development in your project? I'm especially keen to se your Collins! :-jumpy Brian

E-bay is the source. In particular a seller that goes by swift46, located in eastern Tennesee. He has a lot of Boeing parts, especially radio equipment. A lot of this might be too old for your aircraft though, but it fits right in for a mid-'70's B727.Hopefully the images show up. The overhead is completed now and what you don't see in the image is the Gables HF head. The black radio head is the Collins ADF.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/124931.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/124932.txt

Nice Overhead Michael!Well now I am being a bit stupid, but can I actually use for an exampel a real ADF like this??http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/COLLINS-CTL...itemZ4569021924Would it take a lot of skills to change that ADF to work with FS9, or does it work when connected through Hagstrom?Brian

With the Hagstrom you will need the rotary encoder board and you might have to change the switches. I wouldn't know until I opened it and poked around a bit with a meter. It looks like a much easier mod than the mechanical older Collins units.I'm not at all sure about my ADF or the rest of the planned radios either. I have been inside the ADF head, and it's a nightmare of gears and multiple contact switches with very little room in the chassis. The mechanical radios might be a bit much to modify for FS use and maintain authenticity. I'm sure with enough experimentation and diligence that one could be made to work, but I try to avoid that level of frustration if possible as I'd like to enjoy this hobby and not turn it into a chore, which leads to burn-out.That's why, as I stated in my previous post, I may go with the newer electronic style radios and use aftermarket electronics for the pedestal.

I found my radios!http://members.chello.nl/p.leerentveld/down at the bottom of the page. They haven't released them yet, but they looks good.Brian