As I work on my "simpit" I was entertaining the idea of using Saiteks little individual gauges. But that would mean between 6-8 of them to represent the main gauges and a cost of $1000+. Not the best bang for the buck in my opinion.So I have seen others using display screens just for gauges and then I could swap from steam gauges to tubeliners in a snap depending on my aircraft. And a lot better price I would think. But I need something small -1. - Ideally it would be ascreen of approximately 11" x 6-7" 2. - Could something like an Ipad or an E-reader work as a secondary display?Anybody using something like?thx,Clutch

If you have an old PC, you can get Project Magenta IFR and run that on that old PC and link that pc to your FSX PC. This way you are not using a Video out from your FSX PC nor any processing powerhttp://www.projectmagenta.com/ifr_softwareclick on Product on the top menu then click on GA IFR PanelE-mail them for pricing. While you wait for them to reply download a demo version and try it out. It works 100% but for a short duration. Enough time to get the feel of it, IF it shuts down, start that thing up again for the same duration. Make sure it runs efficiently before committing.I used to own this.Manny

Thx for that suggestions Manny. We'll take a look. So they don't post their pricing? What did you pay for home use? You say you used to own it. Do you not use it anymore?FYI - Interesting, I just did a simple test of dragging a couple of gauges off an aircraft I was flying onto a 2nd display. The FPS dropped dramatically. But when I switched to full screen on FSX view I could still see the gauges on the 2nd display (where normally all goes black when in full sceen mode), BUT my FPS jumped back up to full speed (for me that is 30FPS). Not sure if that is normal or why?

Hi Clutch.I stopped using it cause I went for a Flight Iluusion hardware gauges for the 8 pack. I know.. its an expensive solution. But I did seriously consider continuing with the PM gauges and then placing a metal (1mm) sheet painted matte black with round cutouts for the gauges and placing it on top the monitor running Project majenta IFR panel.If I remember right.. I paid $100. It should be no more than $200. Just e-mail them and get a more accurate answer.You can use any old PC from the 90s even to run this. Even your lap top should be fine... but I like the idea of a completely seperate monitor with a metal plate and cutouts. The project majenta gives you like 4 or 5 IFR panels.. One of them is for such a purpose.You can even very easily build a cutout metal sheet using this free app and order online.http://www.frontpane...CFQITfAodNhSnhwIF you are going this route, let me know. I have a cutout already done. But thats for my real hardware gauges. You can use that and then resize the gauge holes to fit the size of the PM gauges depending on the size of the monitor you are going to use.You can start of just the monitor (of a different PC) running PM Gauges to start with. But eventually move to the metal plate option. IMO, the metal plate over the monitor (with painted rivets/screws on the corner of each of the gauge holes) would really give you the optical illusion of using real hardware gauges. I once saw a sale of such a thing in Europe somewhere.. they were selling a solution with a monitor, a plate over the the gauges. Except they also provided the OBS turn knobs as well. It was costing $1500 or so. But you can do it yourself for the cheap..except without the turn knobs on the metal plate. If you know what I mean.

Great feedback Manny, really appreciate it. Think PM is a little a more at this stage than I want to spend (can't even phathom Flight Illusion, ha!), since I want three sets - Boeing, Airbus and a GA set to switch among. Man, must be one sweet cockpit you have. Since the display will be small (probably 10.1" diagnally), I only have room for maybe a "six-pack" of gauges or the two primary displays for either an Airbus or Boeing. Really like the idea of creating a template overlay, would also help keep down the brightness of the screen especially at night.I have a quad core laptop that I use as a follow map, Plan-G, etc., so that would work good to run these gauges. Take it they use something like SimConnect? PM probably has some priority software I would imagine. I have even heard there is some freeware software out there like PM (granted, probably not nearly as good), but would be a nice way to "break in" to this display type format. Found a nice forum called mycockpit.org that seems very active. Will start researching there on software alternatives.Clutch