Poors mans cockpit (in progress)

[LonelyJoe]

Bear with me as I put my new free Google webpage together. I was looking for a portable solution to hold my gear. Part 1 is done. Go ahead and check it out at my link if you care to. Hopefully I will complete the throttle stand this weekened and I'll take the time to cut/paste the photos into this topic.

http://intoxicatedace.googlepages.com/lonelyjoeswebspace.

For some odd reason it won't allow me to link it. It works if you cut the url and put it in your browser though... not sure what I did wrong here.

My Webpage (http://intoxicatedace.googlepages.com/lonelyjoeswebspace).

[topcat989]

got a 404 error on your page, so post when you have it up! looking forward to your work :)

[Revvin]

Yup linky no worky but please do keep us posted I'm always looking for inspiration for my own one day

[LonelyJoe]

OK this is weird. I too get the 404 error when I click both links. BUT if I cut and past the complete url with the period at the end of it and paste it in my browser it works. This is one of those new Google homepages - maybe there is some bad voodoo goin on with it. I'll just post some pics tonight if that does not work. Its pretty simple but I like the idea of having a simcockpit forum so I figured I would work to fill it up some...

My current project of the week involves my new joystick setup. I am married to a wonderful woman who considers my passion for flight sims completely twisted. A homebuilt cockpit is completely out of the question but I got sick and tired of reaching up on my desk for my throttle and stick. Its like steering a 109 from the dashboard.

I figured since I was going to udergoing a complete system upgrade as well as getting a new CH HOTAS it was time to build something more functional. Now that I am on the topic of upgrades you need to check out Ken Kings Franken Potato mod. A nice review on it came be read here. The thought of having CH quality throttle with rotaries and the TQ bells and whistles got my attention. More info can be found here.

Originally I saw this H.O.T.A.S.S. setup on both SimHQ and the CH HAngar forums as seen here: LonelyJoe's Tip for the day: - DO NOT Google H.O.T.A.S.S. as the wife is walking in the room. This was along the lines of what I wanted but I thought I could do better. Better is a bad word - because I think this is very good. Just "better" suited for what I needed. Additionally I wanted to have a setup that I could remove my gear from stow it away easily in a closet or corner. I also did not like the idea of a pine board under at my feet. I know flight sim stuff is cool, you know it - but to others it may seem a bit over the top so I needed it portable.

http://intoxicatedace.googlepages.com/Hotas1b.jpg/Hotas1b-large.jpg

Above is the HOTASS setup I have seen done in the past. This seemed like a cool enough idea. But I wanted something just a bit different that I could move around to suit chairs, desk or additional equiptment that I might decide to change.

Initially I built what was esentially a pine box about the size of a PC tower. It was the right height and all but once my stick was secured to it and it was pulled alongside my chair I found it to suffer from a case of the "wobbles". (for those that flew IL2 v4.02 you can go ahead and roll your eyes now) It was far too unsteady and was not going to work out. So it was on to Plan B. Unfortunately I did not yet have a plan "B".

A quick trip to my local home depot this past Saturday and I came home with the following list of goodies:

1 - 4 1/2 in sq. composite deck post in stock 44" length

4 - predrilled steel "L" brackets

8 - 1/2" x 3/8 Lag screws

1 - package of industrial velcro

I had some spare 3/4 inch pine (various widths) in the gararge for the base.

I cut the post to length on my mitre saw, predrilled the screw holes, capped the top with some ash stripping and Elmers wood glue, cut some pine in what I thought might be a fairly stable base and then bolted it all together. I used a can of Rustoleum flat black paint. Two quick coats and 45 minutes later it was dry. I attached the velcro to the stick base and pedestal cap and there - it was done.

Here you see the brackets and base:

http://intoxicatedace.googlepages.com/fs1.jpg

http://intoxicatedace.googlepages.com/Picture009.jpg

I capped the top with three pieces of ash stripping, glued them down nice and secure and sanded the edges flush

Velcro. ...Velcro is second only to duct tape as mans greatest invention.

Consider this the Yin.

http://intoxicatedace.googlepages.com/fs2.jpg

...and this the Yang.

http://intoxicatedace.googlepages.com/fs3.jpg



Here is a couple shots that show the height and positioning:

http://intoxicatedace.googlepages.com/stick004.JPG

http://intoxicatedace.googlepages.com/stick001.JPG

So as it stands Plan B part 1 is complete. I am very happy with how it works out. Its solid as a rock and provides a wicked sturdy platform to mount the stick. Like patch 4.04 the wobbles are gone.

As far as the velcro goes - its solid too. No sign of shifting or peeling off. Now if Ken could just make that FedEx truck drive a bit faster I can get started on my throttle/xkey pedestal.

Updates as they come... Thanks for stopping by. I know I have butched spelling and grammar but I am too tired to go through it at the moment. I'll get to it later.

[Greystone]

Joe:

Great pics! An excellent solution to real estate probs, which I suffer from as well. My home office enclave is primarily for doing business stuff, but I like to relax with some air time when able. She who must be obeyed comes wandering in at her own peril, since we long ago agreed that it would not see the swirl of her dustrag or howl of the vacuum-- I get to do that when the dust bunnies get as big as ball moss. The rest of the house looks like a museum... but I digress.

Quick Q: I noticed the Alienware box. Do you find this machine is too "game" oriented for regular MS Office work, or does it do everything well? I am considering one to replace the 2.8 GHZ/80 Gig/GeForce FX 5900 I currently use to run air things and biz things.