Building a half-assed cockpit

[protek]

Inspired by salaxi54's amazing cockpit project, I decided to start my own project.

Instead of fighterpit I'm doing a simple GA panel, hence half-assed. I've cut a board to shape and measured positions for the Saitek Yoke and panels.

Next thing is to cut the openings for the yoke and panels and purchase a cheap 15" LCD for instruments.

 

[johnim]

I hope there is some competition

 

[protek]

I cut the openings for the yoke and switch panels this morning. I haven't found a suitable LCD yet so I couldn't cut the opening for the instruments yet.

I need to cut some board slices to be screwed on the backside so that I can mount the switch panels flush.

 

[voyager_1701e]

Interested to see how your project turns out...cool idea!

 

[protek]

D'oh! I should've not taken 5 cm out of the height of the panel after all. The LCD panel I got doesn't fit behind it. The bezel sticks half a centimeter from the top.

Well, have to think of something.

 

[davideo]

Can't you take the base of the LCD panel?

 

[protek]

Yes, and I'm actually planning to remove the bezel too. In fact, the front bezel is already off.

The opening on the left of the LCD is not for the LCD. That's for the switch panels. The LCD will reside where it's currently being placed on the picture.

 

[salaxi54]

Hey there Protek, glad to see you started such a project. Personal difficulties have given a pause to my cockpit project for the moment...
Anyway, looking forward to your progress mate! If it were mine, i'd deffinitely dissassemble the monitor plastics, and mount the LCD behind that panel. Plus i'd find a nice spot to remotely install the monitor's controls. But we all have our own ways of fixing things. Keep us posted.

 

[protek]

Thanks, Vasilios! Yes, the bezels are coming off and I'll move the controls to a convenient location. I have to decide whether I'll leave the opening for th LCD panel smaller so that it would cover the panel edges or cut the opening big enough that the LCD panel sits flush in it and fabricate a separate bezel to cover the edges.

I'll keep you posted.

 

[protek]

The bezel is off and the panel just about fits in there. Next I have to cut the opening for the LCD.

 

[protek]

I cut the opening for the display. I left it slightly smaller than the actual screen size.

Next some sanding...

 

[protek]

I did a little sanding to the openings. I also screwed extra pieces of board to make recesses for the panels.

I test fitted one of the panels to see how it fits.

 

[protek]

Today I cut and drilled the pieces where the yoke will be attached to and also help to support the panel.

I need to buy some suitable screws to fasten the pieces into the panel.

 

[protek]

This is how the LCD panel is attached to the front panel at the bottom. I could utilize the screw posts for the LCD stand in this. Need to find some suitable braces for the top.

 

[protek]

Little update. My project took a few steps back when the original panel got soaked and swoll. Got a new piece, out of plywood to make the panel. Need to cut the openings and holes for that tho.