Sim Cockpit Station Thing for CH products?

[Vudak]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if any of you have any experience with a fabricated cockpit of sorts (nothing fancy like Edbert's)...  Something along these lines:

http://www.simcockpitsystem.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2

I've been trying (once again, think this is the 3rd time in a few years) to transition to some CH gear, but my desk setup is just not favoring that at all.  My knees are banging against the bottom of the keyboard station (where I keep my throttle/joystick) on account of the rudder pedals, and my lowest chair is not low enough to fix this...  Flying is extremely uncomfortable.

The link I provided shows some other setups that do not look particularly comfortable either.  I'm looking for something where the joystick would be more centered...  Anyone have any suggestions or other links?

Thanks,

[SIK1]

Vudak I have used just about everything from holding the joystick between my knees, to modifying a desk.

This pic is when I first started on the desk. There were many changes before I gave up on it. FYI I gave up on it because the office chair moves around while using the rudder pedals. So I decided that I needed something with the seat in a fixed position.

Looked into building an Akers-Barnes simpit. Even got the plans and the permission to build it.
Akers-Barnes holds the rights to the design.

I have also seen some great ideas on how to make the simming experience more comfortable on these forums.
Look here    http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,232659.0.html

One guy mounted the stick and throttle to the bottom of his chair using pieces of wood. I thought that was real ingenious. Unfortunately I can’t recall who it was.

I finally decided to just build my own custom simpit.

Still a long way to go but I'm getting there. When I'm done the cabling will run inside the tubing, the speakers will be mounted to the simpit, and the keyboard will be on a swing arm mount.

What I’m getting at is you can make something that will make flying more comfortable for you. And being comfortable is what it’s all about. How far you want to take it is up to you.

If you have any questions feel free to ask. I'll help you if I can.

[Gixer]

Check out the "The Home Cockpit Support Forum" on AVSIM has a ton of information on this stuff. Some of these guys build full motion boeing/airbus simulators.


<S>...-Gixer

[BaldEagl]

One guy mounted the stick and throttle to the bottom of his chair using pieces of wood. I thought that was real ingenious. Unfortunately I can’t recall who it was.

I think that was mtnman IIRC.

[Vudak]

That's a nice setup you have there, Sik1...  It would be an interesting challenge to make myself...

I remember seeing something a few years back that was basically a wooden structure independent of your chair with the pedals at an angle, a piece of wood coming up the center for the joystick, and another piece of wood would be for the throttle.  It looked pretty much ideal and the price, if I recall, was something like $150...  Not too horrible.  I haven't been able to track it down yet (assuming it even still exists - can't image this sort of thing would be a perennial best seller), but maybe after digging through that link you provided I'll come across it.

The bottom line I'm trying not to think about is that there's an awful lot of room for problems with that too.  I don't suppose it's one size fits all and building one myself would certainly be the only way to come up with something "just right."

I'll have to do some studying

Thanks for the help!

[Reschke]

Vudak you are probably referring to what was known as the H.O.T.A.S.S. and somewhere around here I just happen to have a set of plans for that item. It was a little wobbly and I was working on shoring it up and never got around to building it the way I wanted to out of some steel tubing with wooden tops. Anyway I can look around and see what I have sitting there.

[SIK1]

Vudak IMHO the only way you are going to get something that is truly comfortable for you is to either modify someones design, or build your own design.

The AB simpit is pretty nice it's fairly inexpensive, easy to build, relatively portable. The only reason I didn't build one is that with the way my gaming comp is set up I would have to make so many modifications I decided I might as well build my own.

One of the toughest parts about building a simpit for yourself is figuring out how everything should sit. I can't tell you how many times I have put something together set it all back up fly around a little decide something isn't right tear it all back down and make a change. For me little things make a big difference. I've probably changed the angle of the seat four or five times, as an example.

I even went so far as too build a mock up out of PVC to get an idea of the ergonomics. It did help some, but didn't answer all the questions.

[The Fugitive]

Well we know what my Simpit looks like. I think Sik has the right of it. A sim pit, which ever kind you use, is a very personal thing. Starting with someones basic design is ok, but you WILL be modifying it a lot. Each person is different, and what is comfy for me may very well suck for you.

Mine has an 8-way power seat. Now that I have it where I like it, I took the power away so nobody can mess with it (darn kids !). I got the seat from a junk yard because some people spend a ton of time driving, so its got to be tuff, and comfortable (I've had mine a few years now and its still great) Siks looks like it a "rumble seat" or some other type of gamers seat. Its important to get something your comfortable in.

Next step is to get it positioned right in front of your monitor. Do you like to sit up, lean back, or something in between? Then the controls. I like mine flat, but they are just the right height below my shoulders, and far enough out that I'm not reaching and can fly for hours with out getting tired. My pedals on the other had MUST be tilted so I can be more smooth on the rudder.

Don't be afraid to mess with this stuff. Build a temp rig that you can make adjustments on the fly with (use wing nut, and slotted panels so you can make quick adjustments). Go for it !  Good Luck !