I'm looking for B737 radio's to fit my pedestal. Should I build myself or go shopping around. CPflight has radio's, but they are not convincing. Flight Illusion launched their radio sets and they look real nice. Is it going to be cheaper to build them myself, and look as good. Where can I find laser etched front plates? Doe anyone have an idea of the cost if I build 6 radio's? cheersMark

Mark,Did you see the new FDS 737 radios? www.flightdecksolutions.comThey were part of the new product announcements and are USB plug and play, fully backlit etc etc.CheersChris

Thanks for the link. They look nice as well, although I could only see one picture. There are no pictures of the working model. Are those for sale yet. Th price is steep as well, If I calculate 5 radio's I have to pay 1495 USD with FDS, 1224 with Flight Illusion and probably less if I build myself.The problem is I have no experience with these things. Starting from scratch would be timeconsuming and probably as expensive as the manufactorsgreetzSimcrazy

Sorry, don't know about the lead times. Probably best to ask on that forum.In terms of buying them vs making your own, that depends on your own ability, resources, how quickly you want them and the quality you need them to be.The rotary encoders and 7 seg LEDs aren't particularly expensive, but when you add to that the panels, backlighting (if you want it), and the actual physical interface you'll find that cost and timescale rise very quickly, and the quality will probably not be as good. For some people it's the building and problem solving that matters though - each to their own.I'm constantly impressed with the 'stuff' that homebuilders are able to make themselves, but rarely do I see homebuild stuff that I'd be happy to place in my own sim.CheersChris

Just an opinion, I think it is better on the long run to buy even if it is a bit more expensive than to do yourself, simply cause you will have support and a warranty so in hte Long Run might be a bit cheaper!Regards,Roberto

Well, "better" depends on several things really.Building rarely is cost effective if you end up building a CNC machine, purchasing a wide array of powertools and materials, etc, or having a bunch of aluminium panels milled for you."Cockpit building" as a hobby, just like experimental aircraft building, is very rewarding to those who are interested in the building itself. It is very likely a lot cheaper to buy a nice used Cessna than to build a RV or a Lancair or to restore a nice Piper Cub. It's rarely about cost, but about the love of building itself. The feeling of accomplishment when one takes a $40 game, a PC and a pile of electronics and plywood. Add sweat, blood and tears and you might get a pretty impressive simulator. I am pretty sure the same feeling is present when doing the first flight on the airplane you built with your own hands.If you are interested in building, please welcome to learn and share ideas with us. If you are not, and rather just ponder about cost efficiency, just get the prebuilt modules you find most convincing and enjoy the manufacturer's support services etc.//T

You forgot to mention the grey hair that seems to result.Simonaka Porcupinewww.desktopflying.co.ukVery slowely putting together a generic twin desktop unit.

>You forgot to mention the grey hair that seems to result.Nah, it needs to be fun. Hence, if building is not "the thing" for you, buy finished stuff :)//T

Simon,You are mistaken! Grey hair comes from having teenage daughters. Building flight sim projects relaxes one and helps one retain what hair is left after parenting, grey though it may be.Mikewww.mikesflightdeck.com

As usual Mike you are correct. I do find it very satisifying to build myself, almost to the point the designing, building and troubleshooting is in danger of being more rewarding than the flying.The main difference between building a sim and having a teenage daughter is the fact that I can usually get the sim to do what it should after a while trying!Simonwww.desktopflying.co.ukVery slowely putting together a generic twin desktop unit.What else is a man to do when Airfix just does not cut it anymore?

Too true! :-) Mikewww.mikesflightdeck.com

>The main difference between building a sim and having a>teenage daughter is the fact that I can usually get the sim to>do what it should after a while trying!And home cockpits do not start dating with other home cockpits :)>What else is a man to do when Airfix just does not cut it>anymore?If medical conditions allow it, getting a glider pilot license or a PPL is actually not that bad of an idea either.. :) The gas prices are getting higher, but then again, it's not entirely impossible price-wise if one has a fulltime job. //Tuomas

>Just an opinion, I think it is better on the long run to buy>even if it is a bit more expensive than to do yourself, simply>cause you will have support and a warranty so in hte Long Run>might be a bit cheaper!Don't agree. If you build it yourself you have life time support!Take for instance the Aerosoft MCP747, what do you do when such a piece of equipment breaks down...? Aerosoft is no longer in the business of producing MCP's, and if they were I bet they would say you better buy a new one because shipping it to Down Under and back is too costly, not too mention the cost of labour.Cheers,Nicowww.nicokaan.nl

True. That reminds me of a comment I made a while ago. This 'hobby' of ours is / will be big business - so lots of people with good intentions (and unfortunately one or two without) will say they are about to make the best thing since.... errr.... since Kitty Hawk.After they realise the difference in costs and time demands between making a good prototype and actually making real production stuff with all the overheads, enquiries, time wasters and probably their other full time job, they suddenly realise it's quite hard work.That's why, unless I have NO other choice, I will not buy an expensive, likely to need support / additions / further investment product from a company that hasn't been around for at least 12 months, probably longer. Not because some of them don't make good stuff, but because there have been too many 'companies' appearing on the 'horizon' (tongue in cheek there) and then disappearing into thin air (on full thottle I might add).With regard to the last home built comment, a good home built solution will provide you with life time support, but a bad home built solution might provide you with a lifetime OF support!!!The good thing about the Aerosoft MCPs is they seem to be getting more money second hand on Ebay than they cost in the first place!CheersChris>>Don't agree. If you build it yourself you have life time>support!>>Take for instance the Aerosoft MCP747, what do you do when>such a piece of equipment breaks down...? >Aerosoft is no longer in the business of producing MCP's, and>if they were I bet they would say you better buy a new one>because shipping it to Down Under and back is too costly, not>too mention the cost of labour.>>Cheers,>>Nico>www.nicokaan.nl>