Hey all, This is mostly just so people can offer casual advice as i go but i do have a few important questions.Myself and a friend are going to start building what can resemble for the most part an A-6 Intruder/EA-6B Prowler pit.ProwlerIntruderIt will be just heavily and as much as possible based on these as we want to do other things like have 3 people in the cockpit as ill explain, but we want to end up calling it a Protruder :(We're into sim games like ArmA and Silent Hunter but this is our first stint over to flight sims besides IL2, but it was only a matter of time.We've watched videos of A-6 Intruders in Xplane and a couple of other older sims, and assume they are at proper sim level as far as adding all the switches and having them do something goes (?), but that isnt too important as we'll fly other planes obviously.To cut it short its to be based on an Intruder just so we can sit beside eachother and not have to be seated infront and back like in say a F-14, we also aim for it to be an enclosed box like a real pro simulator. (Will post the google sketchup image so far once have added a few things)Now i also mentioned the Prowler variant, and heavily emphasise based on as we also want to have a 3rd (cant afford 4 like a real Prowler) seat right behind us facing sideways at a right angle to us like the empty seat closest on the right below (ignore the rear seat to the left)Just so we can fit an extra guy in even though it isnt realistic, also advice on a sim with a healthy multiplayer community for flying planes that can carry 3 or 4 guys and have them all busy doing something in the one plane (like a Prowler) would be helpful too as were as i said quite new to the community as a whole so maybe a game like this doesnt support that type of play yet for it to be worth while.Looking to use Fresnel lenses but i hear they can blur the game a bit too much, other ideas included using the Vusix goggles ive seen and putting them in a helmet with Track IR, but again heard resolution would be a problem and negate even having a cockpit?We think its quite an expensive thing to do but what is the sort of cost to make your sim move with the planes movements like some of the videos ive seen?

Like that but like 2 side by side and enclosed with more elevation to allow for the width.Thats most likely something we'll leave behind but thought id ask anyway as the cheapest known way is probably a huge price tag with similar man hours.The only other thing id ask is if anyone has a link to an A-6/EA-6B Blueprint of what all the gages, dials, switches and buttons on the cockpit actually do, as we'd like to set all of them out where they would really be?Thank you for any advice and will as said post the google sketchup so far when we've finished the front area at least.

Hi, sounds like quite an undertaking there. You would have to find an add-on that has all the functions of a Prowler or an Intruder modelled to keep two, let alone three, people busy. For FSX, if that's what you'll use, there's a Prowler from Razbam for sale. It says fully clickable virtual cockpit, but I doubt that it's functions are all modelled to a level we've come to know from DCS A-10 and KA-50. If you're into the on-line aerial combat thing, I think the DCS community has something to offer.For the visual aspect I think you should go for a triple monitor solution, but your third, sideways facing guy may still have very little to look at unless he cranes his neck all the time.Good luck with your build!Bjorn

Hi, sounds like quite an undertaking there. You would have to find an add-on that has all the functions of a Prowler or an Intruder modelled to keep two, let alone three, people busy. For FSX, if that's what you'll use, there's a Prowler from Razbam for sale. It says fully clickable virtual cockpit, but I doubt that it's functions are all modelled to a level we've come to know from DCS A-10 and KA-50.

We chose an Intruder/Prowler just so we could sit beside eachother and even if we play a game that isnt that particular aircraft we dont mind, its just more sociable and aircraft for the most part all share similar needs like gear, flaps, lights etc etc and it should have that. But having said that we still hope to find a sim at some point that has an A-6 and a multiplayer option for it.Meantime even ArmA has vehicles similar like the SU-34 and the way we play has need for navigation and bombardier. Take this video-

While the pilot ducks and weaves the gunner is fireing those missiles and maintaining lock while navigating, and we play like this alot.

If you're into the on-line aerial combat thing, I think the DCS community has something to offer.

Yes we're very interested in Black Shark, and have ways we can divide the cockpit so it then becomes 2 aircraft essentialy. As said what the black shark has im sure the Intruder has similar like engine startup switches to gear, it just maybe wont match "where" on our real pit.

For the visual aspect I think you should go for a triple monitor solution, but your third, sideways facing guy may still have very little to look at unless he cranes his neck all the time.

This rough pic is to show our monitor setup for the front.The left three, 19", 19" Wide, and 20" Wide are my friends monitors on his PC, the right three on my PC (same sizes) are my monitors (Im led to believe its best to have the same make of monitor or the colour and brightness is a problem? Also will the differing sizes matter, or are monitors still the same height for the most part except widescreen?) The guy in the back will have his own PC and setup and maybe just one screen. (he'll survive =) )The only thing that may be weird is as said when we use our free look independantly, both sides will shoot off in different directions,but for the most part when flying it will look great and we can share the monitor views. (Did that make sense?)We've looked at some expensive programs that work with FSX and enable you to detach guages etc to extra monitors (which is what we hope to use for the dials and guages) but hope other ways to do this are moded or come about. Like i said, very fluid as to what games we use this in, hopefully one will come along soon that allows for all of it, maybe DCS?Thanks for posting up your info it is very important and appreciated.Will

You're most welcome, Will. Let me remind you of the Acer T230 touch screen, I use it to drag undocked 2D panels onto for more realistic start up procedures. And as I have recently installed A-10 I'll drag the MFCDs etc. onto it using a program, and I can' t remember what it's called right now. I'll look it up. Now that screen would give you some versatiliy for a cockpit if a real clickable panel is out of reach technically.BEdit: Helios! It's called.With ragards to screen differences, even with the same make and model you can't be certain to have exactly matching colours, that's the case with my three Samsung's. But for the different sized monitors I'd expect some uneven aspect. Will you be using TripleHead2Go?

You're most welcome, Will. Let me remind you of the Acer T230 touch screen, I use it to drag undocked 2D panels onto for more realistic start up procedures. And as I have recently installed A-10 I'll drag the MFCDs etc. onto it using a program, and I can' t remember what it's called right now. I'll look it up. Now that screen would give you some versatiliy for a cockpit if a real clickable panel is out of reach technically.BEdit: Helios! It's called.With ragards to screen differences, even with the same make and model you can't be certain to have exactly matching colours, that's the case with my three Samsung's. But for the different sized monitors I'd expect some uneven aspect. Will you be using TripleHead2Go?

Yeah the monitors worried me, me friend said they are the same height though, which is all that matters really, differing widths is fine. But as i understand it monitor sizes differ diagonally so as a whole its either bigger or smaller. So would it be best to just use 17" and use fresnel lenses? I just worry about how much the lenses will blur the graphics.I think we'll just go for real switches, makes it more fun as far as the touchscreen goes, (and cheaper?) my friend said he found a radio linked USB box that you can radio activate the switches with by putting the transmitter under the switch and it tells the USB box what switchs it was.Will definitely be using Tripplehead2go., seems the only viable option.Briefly, there isnt any laymans way of making your whole simpit move with your movements is there? I know roger dodger aviation on youtube had a rudamentary way, but i think that would be a great touch if it moved, even slightly, but i assume it always takes alot of money and effort to create even the basic motion abilities for a simpit?

The lenses would probably distort the image. Not cheap would be a projector or two, but would give you a real world feel when looking out the Mickey Mouse eyed windshields of your "Protruder" (like that name :( )The touch screen is quite cheap concidering the amount of buttons you'd save, but real buttons have more fun (didn't Rod Steward do a song about that? :( )To have a platform holding two or three people move at any significant angles would probably require some strong hydraulics and you'd need some programming to translate stick movement to that system. Perhaps an auto shop where they pimp cars could help you along? Otherwise the Buttkicker could lend some realism to the whole thing.B

The lenses would probably distort the image. Not cheap would be a projector or two, but would give you a real world feel when looking out the Mickey Mouse eyed windshields of your "Protruder" (like that name :( )

Ive been looking at projectors, would a few like this do? http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item2a0f3fe4ceOr do they need to be proper high end models? (Im not sure of the differences, when i look i see this one seems to have decent resolutions)

The touch screen is quite cheap concidering the amount of buttons you'd save, but real buttons have more fun (didn't Rod Steward do a song about that? :( )

Heha, i believe so, and yeah the switches and buttons are definitely part of the fun, we want to sit down in the enclosed cockpit and have all the dials, guages, switches and screens lit up infront of us

To have a platform holding two or three people move at any significant angles would probably require some strong hydraulics and you'd need some programming to translate stick movement to that system. Perhaps an auto shop where they pimp cars could help you along? Otherwise the Buttkicker could lend some realism to the whole thing.

Yeah we were looking at everything, we looked at X-rocker chairs, and putting subwoofers under the seat but they would be too noisy for the neighbours, but if there were "rumble pad" style vibration attachments we could fit that vibrate without using noise, like a PS3 controller wed be into that?I saw these, and i assume they are heavily expensive? 10k or probably more, at least double?http://www.msesimula...&id=5&Itemid=22As far as having switches communicate with the game/keyboard strokes, we figured using a few of these-http://www.desktopaviator.com/Products/Model_2120/index.htm But whats a buttkicker??Cheers!

http://www.amazon.com/Buttkicker-BK-GR-Gamer/dp/B000AOTLP6/ref=sr_1_4/102-1506815-7129728?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1180643347&sr=1-4 Vibrations may still be noisy for neighbours.Use whatever projectors your budget will hold. You could ask in the tech section under monitors etc. I'd recommend a proper home theatre white screen, it's a bit reflective and will lend the picture clarity. A plain white wall probably won't cut it.The motion platform seems to run on electrical motors that probably run all the time, figure that's noisy, but the specs may clarify that.B

http://www.amazon.co...80643347&sr=1-4 Vibrations may still be noisy for neighbours

Should be fine if we pad it enough, ill look into that thanks.

Use whatever projectors your budget will hold. You could ask in the tech section under monitors etc. I'd recommend a proper home theatre white screen, it's a bit reflective and will lend the picture clarity. A plain white wall probably won't cut it.

Hmmm, may look into this then and post there, as those projectors are well within budget.

The motion platform seems to run on electrical motors that probably run all the time, figure that's noisy, but the specs may clarify that.

Watched a youtube video of it, its not too loud at all, i was wondering on cost as it isnt listed anywhere, as i said though, no doubt quite high?Will

Everything begins- at the beginning.Ejection handle made out of an old bike lock.The stick is a- to be fair quite cheap one we had sitting about made by Genius that we extended the shaft on.But has great functionality, landing AH-6's on a penny, however as you may see I think its a bit lop sided (or so it looks as its my friends pics and i just noticed now), but can always put it in another more tighter joystick base like a Logitech extreme 3d pro we have lying around, otherwise that looks the most like the Intruder stick, was looking at a TopGun stick just to detatch the handleBut read its quite small and more for kids, plus ive decently large hands.p.s we're either going for full on projectors or 3 20" widescreens each, so the diagram sketch i did is still good, but just as a layout.

Hope to see some pics. of the process. Great idea with the ejection handle :( B