Raceguy

Hi Trip I'm not sure what dimensions you are looking for so I'll just post the basic framework. These are my pit dimensions and one variance will be the MIP frame as I had to adjust it to accept the LCD. Length: from MIP to rear bulkhead 50 inches Width: external from outer edge of top longerons is 32 1/2 inches internal from inner edge of top longerons is 26 1/2 inches Height from floor to top of longeron is 23 inches Let me know what other dimensions you are looking for and I will try to help. Ed

Thanks Trip! I've seen your full motion build and would love to have the skill to add that to my pit. Regarding plans, I purchased a set of DVD's that were scans of the original NAA plans. The copies were made in the 40's and sadly 20-25% were too light/dark or just missing details. I went through all 12,500, there are DVD's that have 16,000 and are supposed to be better, and saved what I thought would be useful. In some cases the dimensions for a particular part were not clear but I could read a nearby measurement and do an if/then calculation. I found out about the subscription after I was 75% through my build. A friend did sign up and he seemed pleased by it's a personal choice. Tomorrow I'll post some general dimensions so you can see how my pit measures up. Here are the pics of the throttle build and where my pit is today. Let me know if you have any questions. I'm not sure if I should mention this here but I'll take a shot. My complete build as of this afternoon is on the A2A forum. Just go to the P-51 MIL CIV topic and look for P-51D cockpit build. Thanks Ed http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/Throttle%2059a.jpg http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/Throttle%2037a.jpg http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/Throttle%2036a.jpg Internal components of throttle. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/Throttle%2026a.jpg http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/IMG_3343a.jpg http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/IMG_3364a.jpg http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/IMG_3400a.jpg

Thank you jmig! I agree, it will probably never be complete.

Hello everyone. Well, the third 7 inch LCD screen hasn’t arrived yet but after confirming that it will be the exact size as the first two I decided to make its frame/holder. Since I have “confirmed things” in the past, and they were a different size upon arrival, I have a “plan B”. If the new one comes in a different size I can always use it for one of the floor fuel gauges eliminating more hair being pulled out. I have decided not to use the real O2 flow indicator and pressure gauge that I had purchased. I had come up with a way to make the flow indicator work but not the pressure gauge. So I decided to go with another small screen to display the functioning gauges using L:Vars and Air Manager Gauges. Details and pics below. Thanks for looking. Take care Ed I started by making a holder for the LCD using ¼ inch MDF. Since the LCD is 1/8 inch thick I made a frame using 1/8 inch balsa wood. Strength will not be an issue since all of the parts will be screwed together. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/O2%20gauges%206a.jpg I decided to use the plate I had made for the real O2 gauges but I had to make a larger face plate due to the LCD dimensions. I added 1/8 inch square styrene to form new bezels and a thin strip ¼ inch wide to fill the gap to the LCD screen. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/O2%20gauges%207a.jpg One situation has bothered me since I installed the MIP LCD in its frame and that is access to its power buttons. With false O2 gauges I could have reached up under the gauge frame to hit the button but the real gauges stuck out too far blocking them. Using an LCD for the O2 gauges causes the same problem plus it is taller. And, a new issue popped up with the viewing angle of the LCD. From straight ahead the picture is clear but from an angle the screen is not readable. As a work around I installed a PanaVise mount that I had previously used to hold a MFD controller in my old simpit. By using the articulating mount I can tilt the LCD to see the screen and by placing the LCD a little farther back I will have access to the MIP LCD buttons. Here you can see the ball part of the mount secured to the back plate. I added the LCD button strip below the frame and connected the screen ribbon cable. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/O2%20gauges%2014a.jpg Sorry about the blurry pic but you can see the new gauges in place. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/O2%20gauges%2018a.jpg And from the back you can see the support. I had to make a new connector rod for the PanaVise as the original was too short for this project. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/O2%20gauges%2019a.jpg And finally the gauges running in Air Manager. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/O2%20gauges%2020a.jpg

Thanks il88pp! I was thinking about a cover for when I'm not flying to keep dust out but had not thought about spills. I think I'll drill a few holes at the edge of the recess for drainage and add a very thin acrylic sheet over the LCD before I put the wood floor in place. Thanks for the great idea! Ed

Thanks John. I forget what 24 feels like! I think I have this sim building thing figured out. When you start to get near the end of the project you see something new and say “Hey, I could add that to my pit.” Then you take the pit apart and figure out how to add the new part or feature. Oh well, as my wife keeps saying, at least I’m staying busy and out of her hair. I played around a little more with the two 7 inch LCD displays I ordered for the floor fuel gauges and feel fairly comfortable with how they function. Thankfully they are easy to set up with Air Manager and Windows. So now it was time to install them in the floor. I got the last 2 LCD units Desktop Aviator had for these fuel gauges. I wanted to make sure they work the way I want for my sim and they do. So, I contacted DTA and asked them to order another one for me and it should be here in 2-3 weeks. More about where that will go later. Take care Ed Here you can see where I have identified the floor supports with masking tape and placed a drawing of the display and circuit board for measurement. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/IMG_3177a.jpg With the location determined I cut out the recessed areas with my router. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/IMG_3178a.jpg Then I dropped a unit in to make sure I had left enough room for the wires. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/IMG_3179a.jpg I had also marked the locations in the oak flooring and cut the round holes for the bezels. I trimmed them to the correct depth and HEY, they fit!! http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/IMG_3182a.jpg http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/IMG_3183a.jpg Today I painted the bezels and added screws to simulate the real units. The real gauges and bezels are below floor level but I chose NOT to complicate my life any more than I already have. I also started working on the defroster and hot air controls. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/IMG_3196a.jpg In the following pic you can also see the boot cover my wife made for the modified stick. She saw me struggling with the fabric and volunteered to make it for me. She is a keeper! http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/IMG_3199a.jpg

Thanks BRC! Sorry about the slow response. I had been procrastinating on ordering small screens for the fuel gauges until I saw some 7 inch LCD's at Desktop Aviator for $35 so I bought the last 2 they had. Here is a pic of a Mustang floor with red arrows pointing out the two wing tanks. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/Mustang%20floor.jpg I have started on the bezels for the gauges and here you can see one in place. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/LCD%20monitor%206.jpg The display looks good when viewed directly but at any angle it "greys" out and becomes blurry. This is OK for the fuel gauges in the floor as I will be looking directly down at them just like in the pic above. For the O2 blinker and pressure gauge under the MIP they won't work since the gauges are below eye level and I will view them at an angle. I am considering tilting the screen just enough so it will be viewed from a more direct perspective or looking for a small screen that gives a better viewing angle. I'm considering tilting the screen since that should be easier and cheaper and will give me better access to the on/off button for the MIP screen. Take care Ed

Thanks JD Yesterday I modified a Saitek AV8R stick I bought because the grip come close to the Mustang. Here are the details. This is the stick in its original condition. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/Stick%201%20AV8Ra.jpg I have unscrewed the grip and with 2 more screws out the wires are accessible. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/Stick%202%20AV8Ra.jpg A made a quick trip to my favorite aviation parts store, Lowe's. Here are the pipe fittings I chose to make an adapter for the lower connection. In this pic you see a connector, pipe adapter and 1 inch pipe (shaft). The connector fit nicely over the threaded base connection but its original length interfered with the spring mechanism. I trimmed off ¾ inch and all is well. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/Stick%204a.jpg With the adapter inserted into the connector I slipped the parts onto the base and drilled holes for bolts and nuts to hold the adapter to the base. These bolts went through the threads on the base. I then inserted the 1 inch pipe, checked the unit’s length in my pit and cut the shaft to length. I took everything apart, extended the wires from the base, through the new shaft to the grip and reconnected everything. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/Stick%205a.jpg Here is the grip on the 1 inch pipe. The diameter was a nice fit but it could only be inserted 3/16 inch into the grip so I added bolts through the grip into the pipe. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/Stick%206a.jpg Complete assembly http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/Stick%207a.jpg And in the pit. http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y328/egilbert4752/Stick%208a.jpg

Hello everyone I have been following this forum for quite a while and appreciate the sharing of information to keep our hobby flying. I retired 2 years ago and we moved from Ohio to Florida since we were tired of the Midwest winters. We do have heat and humidity in Fla and severe storms are a possibility but I don't miss shoveling snow. I thought I would share what I have been working on for the last year. I will mainly use this for FSX but I do own DCS. I put EVERYTHING in the pit today for a final check. This is the first time it has all been in the pit at one time and it felt really cool! I did find 3 things that I need to correct but that was the purpose of this test. My wife has seen it in parts and pieces so I brought her out for a look and even got her in the pit! She has been a great supporter of this project. Probably to keep me out of the house! I still need to add the labels, run all of the wiring, do some final painting like the white area under the dash and install the skin but it feels like I am finally getting closer to completion. Take care and have a safe Memorial Day weekend. Ed