Going to start building a home cockpit

[Schnuupi 0]

So as the title says I'm gonna start buying a home cockpit after planning what I'm gonna do.

 

Question one is this. I've always wanted to build a Dash 8-400 cockpit because i prefer the smaller airliners, turbo props and such it's more relaxed and cosy. But after a while of searching I couldn't find anything for dash 8 hardware, instruments etc.

 

The other one I'd like to do is either the A320 or the B737, both are equally available to get parts of but wondering which one I should go for. I prefer flying the Airbus but for terms of building a cockpit would it be better and more value for money to build a B737? Since it has more to it, so will be much more interesting and stuff.

 

Thanks for any input!

[Jimmy RFR 406]

I've been playing around with home cockpit ideas for a couple of years, but I'm hampered hugely because I enjoy so many different types, as well as would really like to keep the beautiful VC's we have.  Seems a shame to waste them.  My compromise has been to stick to hardware controls only - basically try and replicate everything lower than the yoke with hardware.  Which is then even hard, since at some point you have to pick a type to match...

 

However, a dedicated full cockpit would be so neat.  I think a Q400 pit would be absolutely amazing, personally.

 

It's worth noting that one of the future versions that Majestic is coming out with will have full standalone gauges and panels, which with the use of monitors and some custom hardware, might make the project of a full home pit feasible.

[Clutch Cargo 388]

I would check out the "cockpit" specific forums at different websites and ask around for parts on that aircraft.  You may need to create a more generic type "pit" as it seems most commercially available parts are for the more popular Boeing's and Airbuses.

[Schnuupi 0]

For the most part I don't mind using any instruments (altimeters and such) they dont have to be from the Dash 8. And since the dash 8 has displays I can set up simple monitor displays with the 2D panel on them. The main problem would be replicating the pedestal, I could make it myself in theory because the Dash 8 has no auto-throttle so no need to install a motor.

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[ohsirus 241]

Looking at the Dash 8 VC it would not be that hard to do. Not many switches mainly buttons and using some grey Foamulux and clear label prints with white text you could knock out the panels easy. Get some Korry Switches and a few annunciators and you're almost done. Once majestic releases their cockpit software you would have a nice avionics suite to boot.  NOt sure how many to-scale drawings are available though.

[max2770 75]

For around the same amount of money, I'd build myself a killer computer and run a widescreen 4K with TrackIR. You get to enjoy the nice VCs of every plane and get much more immersion than your typical setup.

[Schnuupi 0]

Nah it's still a screen to me and that's what I hate, being seperated from the cockpit, I want to be inside it. The closes non-hardware thing you could do is the Occulus Rift if it had good FSX support.

 

I could build the parts myself, been considering getting a 3D printer as well which could be useful for the smaller plastic parts like dials or nobs. Other than that the other thing I thought of is trying to get retired parts, a lot of simmers have done this as it's sometimes very good deals. But finding somewhere with a retired Q400 is something else, I know Flybe have some retired Dash 8 from their old fleet and liveries. But contacting someone or finding them is something entirely different.

[metalmike 34]

Also check out Flight Deck solutions. They're stuff is largely already put together, and while I don't know their prices too well, it seems like you'd put just as much money into it as you would building it yourself, assuming you're going for maximum detail.

 

They also have the much more affordable "Jetmax" 737 product, but it's not the full cockpit.

 

I've never tried to build a home cockpit (and don't plan to either...rather just do the real thing), so I could be way off on pricing and stuff.

[Schnuupi 0]

Yeah pretty keen to use them. My reason for a home cockpit is I cannot do the real thing (my partner doesnt like me being on planes) the only thing we conflict on.

 

I'm sort of swinging more towards making a T7 since I love doing them but really not sure if I should take the time, means I'll only be able to do long flights on it. But the A320 is too "simple" for my tastes so really the thing I feel would be worth it the most is the 737 since it has the most to see and use in the cockpit. T7 would be nice but gives me less freedom, Dash 8 would probably be too hard for me to do. Probably gonna go for the 737 and then order most parts off of Flight deck solutions or cockpit flight sim. As soon as I move house I'm gonna start working on the frame, pc and the non-flight deck stuff. Already got a PC for using for it just got to get some more parts to increase performance. Going to buy a SSD drive to install XP 64bit and FSX on it's own HD and OS with only FS software to run on it. Already got a fast CPU in it, AMD 8350 at 4.2GHz. GTX 660 + 550ti hopefully that should be okay for performance. 

[max2770 75]

Just so you know, you won't be able to make a 777 for much less than 60-70K.

 

Depending on where you're located, I know there's a project somewhere and you'll be able to fly a full-motion 6DOF collimated-display 777 sim. I can't go in details right now, but it's to be expected in Q4-2015 or Q1-2016.

[Schnuupi 0]

Just so you know, you won't be able to make a 777 for much less than 60-70K.

 

Depending on where you're located, I know there's a project somewhere and you'll be able to fly a full-motion 6DOF collimated-display 777 sim. I can't go in details right now, but it's to be expected in Q4-2015 or Q1-2016.

Um not sure what your trying to refer to but yes you an. Flight deck solutions make T7 parts same prices as the 737 stuff give or take a little, actually the T7 is less detailed since there are less controls so most likely cheaper.