The following pictures show some of my early attempts at a simulator, and my projector setup.

My first attempt at a desktop simulator box. Actual 182 control column, yoke is from a PC game controller, throttle is a choke cable, flaps are activated by using a 2-way momentary toggle switch from RadioShack wired to a couple game control buttons. The control column is linked to the electronics by way of thin wire wrapping around custom pulleys cut out of good-one-side 5/16 plywood (not something I'd really recommend doing free hand - the circles are far from perfect). The wire guides are the wires used to hang curtains on the rails. It worked ok, but not good enough to replace the commercial PC joystick. And then my daughter (2 years old - great stress tester in more ways then one :-) rotated the yoke beyond the little stops I made and snapped the thin wire I had used. It has sat in the basement ever since, and is being cannabalized for my latest attempt.

My current setup. Passenger bucket seat from some domestic car is bolted to 2x4s. The speaker beside the chair is a home made enclosure using RadioShack drivers, built when I was in grade 9 (wow, that was too long ago...) - the suspension on the cones has seen better days (ie: before I had kids - I love them, really I do, I just get a tad frustrated when they stick their fingers in - or through - things they shouldn't). The 15" monitor on the chair displays only the instrument. It's powered off a 486DX. The panel / OHP setup gives me 800x600 and is powered by the main computer (AMD K6 II - 500, w/ 32MB RAM). I hope to upgrade a few PCs this spring and get a side view happening with another 15" monitor. Below the monitor, and off the picture are my rudder pedals (CH Pros).

Sitting in the pilot seat looking at the screen. I tried to take an action shot (image12.jpg if you're desperate / bored) but it didn't quite turn out.

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