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Need ideas for simpit lighting

Navy Chief

Navy Chief

Senior Member
A few weeks ago, I purchased the plans for a KwikPit simpit.

http://www.kwikpit.com/plans.htm

Am finally in the process of building it (painting it tomorrow). It is very simple to construct. I have extended the side panels by about 15 inches, to make it more comfortable as armrests, but pretty much, I stuck to the plans.

But I need ideas for lighting!

Am wanting adjustable low voltage lighting.

Thanks!

NC
 
Are you interested in building your own lighting setup or store bought lights? Eyebrow lights or back lighting for the panels?

If you want to add them yourself check out www.mycockpit.org This is a site for cockpit builders. there are several avenues to making your own lights and they can help.

I bought a map light from an airliners historical group for my cockpit. Had to change the bulb to a 12 volt one. You might find some on eBay?
 
Sorry Chief I can't advise you on the lighting (being the wrong sided of the pond), but, I notice some absolutely important things missing form the build so far...

ashtray...even if yer don't smoke.

Cup/mug/whatever holder.

Enough space on the top for multiple monitors.

A GI-NORMous red "Pause" button.

:d

Looking good so far though.

regards Collin:ernae:
 
Hey Collin,

My main screen is 6' by 8', wall mounted, and use a ceiling mounted DLP projector. The CRT monitor I use is only for instrument view. The side panels of the simpit are right at 30 inches long, so will have plenty of room for coffee cups, etc......

Thanks, JMIG for the lighting tips. Yes, it is "eyebrow" type lighting I would like to use...

NC
 
Chief,

You can build eyebow lights from LEDs and PCV pipe sections. You can also get these lighting strips from electronics outlets. They are nothing but flexible tubing with embedded LEDs. One of those under the lip should give you enough indirect lighting.
 
Chief, ya need a college frig for the beer and sodas too.

As for lights, how about digging out one of your old beercan lights. Remember the ones we all made back in the late 60s and early 70s? Yeah, I thought so. ;) :costumes:

On a more serious note.... how about a small swingarm desk lamp? Or get one of those small lights that you can strap on your head. There's even one that clips to your pocket that I've used when flyfishing.

You could also put an adjustable light on the seatback and aim it over your shoulder.

And best thing I use is a backlit keyboard...... Saitek Eclipse. A Logitech G-15 or G-11 keyboard would work too.
 
If a 'eyebrow light' is the kind that hides under a hood, then howabout a lightstrip? You can purchase these from Walmart in the automotive section. You can get house type plugin units too and link them to a dimmer for a nice soft glow.

For smaller ones though, you will need to make them or find a group that is making them for VC sims. (I am sure someone makes those little ones like in the old Cessna's). I wonder if Sporty Pilotshop has some?


By the way, that is freaking cool! I want one. Actually I need one! I would need to make a huge, long, raked back futuristic Aurora F-136 style cockpit though with a reclined seat ala F-16 style. :d


I am looking forward to seeing more pics on it.




When I was a kid, I would make instrument consoles with cardboard boxes, cut openings, tape in pages from books that looked like CRT 'stuff' to the back sides of the openings (flush on the outside) and then I backlit them with desk lamps. I had cool 'space ship' panels for my closet, lol... Those were the days. FS is more fun though.

Bill
 
Lionheart said:
When I was a kid, I would make instrument consoles with cardboard boxes, cut openings, tape in pages from books that looked like CRT 'stuff' to the back sides of the openings (flush on the outside) and then I backlit them with desk lamps. I had cool 'space ship' panels for my closet, lol... Those were the days. FS is more fun though.

Bill
Click to expand...

Some things never change.. they just get more expensive! :costumes:
 
chief,

I don't know if you saw this thread or not...

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?p=6872#post6872

You guys keep this up and I'll have ANOTHER woodworking project for the winter :costumes:

Rob

Forgot to add
Nearest store is in Atlanta, but if you head that way you can get these
-I have the second one(s) on my desk -LED, cool, low cost and decent sort of 'moonlight' colour to the light

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50119407
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60124272
 
Thanks all for the tips. I have been fighting all day with the wireless network in my house, trying to get my wife's laptop to connect. All of a sudden, it quit connecting. It is a HP TX 1000 notebook. I have a feeling the network card has bit the big one, yet the Device Manager says it's working ok. :banghead::banghead::banghead:

As for my simpit. I got it painted on one side of all parts. Other side gets done tomorrow, then hopefully tomorrow evening, I start assembling. Then unassemble to get it in the house and upstairs.

NC
 
navychief said:
Thanks all for the tips. I have been fighting all day with the wireless network in my house, trying to get my wife's laptop to connect. All of a sudden, it quit connecting. It is a HP TX 1000 notebook. I have a feeling the network card has bit the big one, yet the Device Manager says it's working ok. :banghead::banghead::banghead:

As for my simpit. I got it painted on one side of all parts. Other side gets done tomorrow, then hopefully tomorrow evening, I start assembling. Then unassemble to get it in the house and upstairs.

NC
Click to expand...


This happened here last night.

Try unplugging the Router for a min. and replugging it back in. The reboot cured ours. Might work with yours as well. (We had to do it twice).



Bill
 
Bill's right... it could a cable thing. I don't have wifi but it happens here every so often. It's a Royal PITA, and Comcast is too. ;)
 
Ok shipmates,

Here are pictures of the finished simpit. Of course, I will always find reasons to "tweak" it even more, heh, heh. I need to add that the monitor pictured is used just for "instrument views". The main screen is a 6' by 8' wall mounted screen. I use a DLP BENQ ceiling mounted projector. Resolution is 1024 by 768.

Pete
 
Goodness man! Its more the like the film set of Star Trek Next Generation! Its starting to look like a huge business rather then a sim cubie.

I have to make something like that someday.....

:ernae:

May I ask where you got that cool seat? I notice it has built in speakers. Very cool.....

Bill
 
Bill,

It is a "Raptor" chair from the Ultimate Game Chair Co. I have had it for almost three years now. This model has been updated, I think. I disconnected the speakers in the headset. There are 12 (I think) small shaker speakers in the seat, which work in conjunction with my sound card. Makes for a neat experience.

http://www.ultimategamechair.com/

Pete
 
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