dbeam

I think I've come up with a little better layout... Some of my progress so far over the weekend... Thanks for the reply! Wow you have some really good hardware there! I'm trying to stay with rather low budget approach for now so some of the really nice flight illusion gauges are out of my price point... :( I love that GPS unit... that would be really awesome... I guess I will start low and work my way up.. The CAD program I'm using is Autocad (I have it a my work... its what I do for a living so its second nature to me) The renderings are done in a program called Lightwave... also part of my profession... I'm really not aware of what's available freeware etc... I have ordered the Touchscreen and I'm about to order Saitek hardware... I hope to get my Faceplate for instrument panel done in next few weeks and kinda do a test fit... Im having real trouble with aligning the gauges on the second monitor... Each time I open FSX I have to expand the window to fit my screen... position doesn't really stay the same... I guess its just something you have to adjust each time you open FSX? Given the amount of gauges and equipment I found it impossible to keep the Panel from getting to be pretty "tall"... I'd love to see your layout using that table and keeping it less than 12".... I also am looking for a table that I can use to put this panel on... it needs to be somewhat portable and would be really cool if it was adjustable height.. no luck so far with a reasonable price....

After much research and reading I'm coming closer to a vision of what I want to build... Need advice and/or hints and how to avoid pitfalls... I like the idea of flexible panel so I can fly different planes.... I think I've decided on getting the following for input devices: Amazon.com has these..... Saitek Pro Flight Yoke and Three-Lever Throttle $126 Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals $87 Saitek Pro Flight Multi Panel $117 Saitek Pro Flight Radio Panel $119 Saitek Pro Flight Switch Panel $87 Total for Saitek Input Devices $535 For my panel I would like a set of generic gauges displayed on a LCD Screen. The screen(s) would be mounted behind a MDF cockpit cutout and the gauges could have a CNC Machined metal front plate... The big decision here is what Software to use and what size LCD Screen would work best.. I have looked at three choices for Gauge Software: Project Magenta GA-IFR: It cost ~$150 Peix Software: It cost ~ ~60 http://www.peixsoft.com/ Panel Mania: Shareware Total of 300 new or modified gauges! I've tried it out and it seems pretty good! Does anyone have suggestions on this? How about material and finish for CNC Panel(s) for Gauges? I was thinking aluminum with powdercoat finish? Should I go to the trouble of trying to build in the rotary knobs into the panel or can I buy I prebuilt box with rotary knobs instead? I would also like a seperate LCD for a Gamin 530 GPS (this could be a separte project for later but need to plan for it on my panel) I was thinking about a touch screen? Not sure if that is possible? Or possibly build the knobs and buttons my self and connect to Leo Bodnar BU0836 board... I think I will tackle this as a seperate project! I have a Panosonic Projector and a Theatre Room setup I would like to use as my front projection... What views do people usually use on this? Virtural Cockpit View? I then need some sort of portable table that I can put my panel and control Yoke and pedals.. That way I can move it out of the way when I'm watching movies etc..... LOTS OF QUESTIONS!!! Any comments and/or help much appreciated!!!!