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#3153430 - 12/09/10 12:48 AM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit ***** [Re: choowy]  
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Holy Crap! Am I glad you reposted your build here! I was following it on Frugals and was super bummed when that site went down! Superb planning, design and execution. Really looking forward to seeing how you finished it up!

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#3153475 - 12/09/10 01:40 AM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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Thanks Redhornet, you are too kind!

I'll try to get it all up as fast as I can. There are some really nice projects going on over here, The Apache project looks very nice.

I used a larger sized timber edge to allow for a bigger radius similar to something that may have bee a steel construction in real life.

This was easily shaped with a hand plane and sander.






The edges where the mdf joined along the tops were also rounded a little but you have less material here to work with so cant go too shallow on the radius.



Be very careful planing mdf surface (edges are ok) as you destroy the smooth finish and it needs a lot of sanding and possible filling.

In my case I was going to add a little wear and tear later so any defects could be disguised as dents etc.

#3153600 - 12/09/10 08:11 AM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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Ok onto the ejection seat. This was modelled on the ACES seat and a little of the F14 and some of a British design I think.

I wanted it to be adjustable for my kids to get in so it moves forward and back and up and down. I found a great seat mechanism for $20 at a wreckers. The base design is built around the mechanism.




I made up a balsa model to check for look and size when I originally scale built it.




The original design was to have the missile pods on either side with the left side opening as a door. I simplified as the build time was getting too long.

I'd highly recommend using balsa to scale build anything that might be large and complex to give you an idea of what will work and its quick to assemble.




The design is based on this model from the Mechwarrior series, Vulture or Maddog




Marked up the sides with a pretty good guess on the shape using a flexible edge.





The side needs to be shaped to the finished product so you can then attach it to the other side and use the trimmer bit to create an identical side.





Using the straight edge to finish the edges for the base side..



The finished side for the base based on the balsa model.


I wanted to give the base a cast aluminium look so I added another identical side and marked up a web pattern before drilling holes at the radius of each shape.




Roughly cut to a few mm of the line.


#3153604 - 12/09/10 08:49 AM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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choowy Offline
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Again using a temporary straight edge nailed to the piece to get a clean finish.






Finished side piece.



Clamped to base to check fit and angle.


Sides of the seat back with the centre supports. These are also curved inward to give a contoured back.



Seat base of solid timber to be lined with a ply sheet.


I used a better looking screw head on the base even though it will have a cushion sometime.



Seat back clamped to check fit and look.



The top head rest piece is just a simple box.


Mini oxygen cylinder from a mouse bottle and other bling.





The hydraulic lines are inserted into a standard hex bolt with the end filed smooth and the correct hole drilled in the centre.
Its just pushed into the correct sized hole in the block. Sorry about the poor focus.

Using the right type of screw helps to make it look more real.




Finished product after undercoat and satin black spray. The far side has no detail as it cant be seen once installed in the sim.

I made up stickers to give it a more authentic look. Military stuff has labels all over everything.


#3153631 - 12/09/10 11:15 AM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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Gopher Offline
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My god, that is a masterpiece. Seriously. That is effing awesome. And this is just the chair!

#3153664 - 12/09/10 01:08 PM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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Choowy, that is stunning! The creative use of commonly available materials to simulate other things just makes it all that more impressive. I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest of the project!

I may just have to revisit MechWarrior: Living Legends ...

#3153723 - 12/09/10 02:44 PM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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f15sim Offline
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That seat is a work of art! I'd love to get drawings of it. CNC! *laughs*

g.


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#3153907 - 12/09/10 06:22 PM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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kneeldown

Wow! The seat itself is a masterpiece!

#3153921 - 12/09/10 06:39 PM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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Damn man that's impressive stuff! Reminds me of Wasp's life size mech pit! Keep it up totally a work of art!


I've got a bad feeling about this.....
#3153930 - 12/09/10 06:47 PM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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Not worthy...so not worthy...

thanks for the replies. I know about working with it but didn't realize you were using it as that for the finish. I assumed....yeah I know with the way the finished product looked that you have worked out some type of epoxy or veneer type material on it.


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#3154017 - 12/09/10 08:53 PM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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choowy Offline
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Thanks for the support guys, WinkNGrin I'm sorry I don't have detailed drawings but I'm happy to provide measurements if you need anything.

I decided to make my own throttle which in hindsight may have been a little weird as they make some very nice ones but I was firmly in DIY mode at that stage.


I made up a prototype first just to see how things felt. I had looked a a few in stores to get the sizing.



From that I used pine (easy to work and shape) to rough out a shape. I added an extra piece on the top to allow room to fit the switches.



Using a wood rasp shape the corners and get the size right. Finish wasn't important here yet as it was going to have automotive filler applied .





I added ice cream sticks as an easy way of layering up areas that were too low. It was still a in two halves as this stage as I needed to be able to cut access holes internally to run the cables through. It was later glued together.



Filler applied to any areas that need it.



Primer applied ready for finishing coat.


Switch plate to house two momentary and one rocker. Aluminium plate used.


Final finish and assembled.




#3154036 - 12/09/10 09:36 PM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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Nice job on the grip. thumbsup

#3154084 - 12/09/10 10:59 PM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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Watched your build at Frugals too.

jawdrop


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#3154138 - 12/10/10 12:58 AM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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OMG... It was brilliant and original and now the GRIP???? OMG the best idea to make a home made grip ever. I was toying in my head about casting aluminum, or use epoxy putty! I couldn't see the WOOD for the trees! Pun intended! biggrin

S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G!!! AWESOME!!!

Do you know what you just did????? You just helped me realize how to build my own dual throttles. It was there all the time, and I couldn't see it! So easy! So graaaand!!

CPR! CPR!!! biggrin

#3154142 - 12/10/10 01:07 AM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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DEFIBRILATING!!!

I was thinking - not trying to tell you how to run things, you do just great - you obviously won't be able to do an eyefinity setup.

What would really take the cake, would be if you could have one central screen, and 2 screens on either side acting as windows, with their view locked at 3 and 9o'clock. And use TrackIR or any other panning utility. I reckon it would be great to have even more screens to cover as much of the front as possible. The bezels of the monitors would actually be no issue; they would look like the frame of the canopy.

I don't think there is an app like that though, that allows the user to select which views to be displayed for each screen.

#3154249 - 12/10/10 04:50 AM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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choowy Offline
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Hi JAMF, thanks, nice to hear from you again. Cheers Ghost, its a great site to post here.

aRKOM glad I can provide an alternative for you. One thing on my throttle that is poor is I didn't use a great brand of spray and it needs a little makeover. Otherwise it seems a pretty nice alternative to metal. It does have a steel shaft which you will see later.

Yes your right about the displays, that would be very nice. Back at the old thread people were talking about curved screens, fresnel lenses and projector screens. Again for me it was about getting something that I would actually finish and i chose the more basic approach with the display. Its still effective though but there are other options now. The game is a little restrictive also in supported resolutions. MWLL is another story, lots of potential there.

#3154261 - 12/10/10 06:10 AM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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Originally Posted By: choowy
One thing on my throttle that is poor is I didn't use a great brand of spray and it needs a little makeover.


Have you tried Plasti Dip pray?

#3154284 - 12/10/10 08:20 AM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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choowy Offline
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No I haven't ever heard of it. Looks like a great product, interesting.

My next door neighbour (who built a scale 767 cockpit in his house with all the controls functional)




suggested using Araldite ( 2 part epoxy glue) and heat it up so its quite liquid then paint it on and it sets like a plastic coating.

I'll respray with a better quality paint.

#3154299 - 12/10/10 09:39 AM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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choowy Offline
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The top of the throttle case has a slot cut into the end of two pieces to allow a sliding plastic tongue. Glue the two pieces together before drilling a hole at each end and then cut out the slot.







The throttle has a 19mm steel tube attached at the base to an angled bracket with a nyloc nut to stop it coming loose. The cabling also passes through the tube and out an access hole in the side.





I used an old Gravis Eliminator game pad for the controller after having issues with a cheaper 2 axis joystick. The main control switches on the joystick connect directly to where the original gamepad switches were on the circuit board.




Finished product.


#3154300 - 12/10/10 09:58 AM Re: Mechwarrior Cockpit [Re: choowy]  
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Hole for the door marked out.



Door cut out roughly, using the same method to trim, fix a temporary guide around the outside of the opening. I think I may have laid the unit over to do this.




Making sure the seat sits in the right spot.




I added a door surround to give the look of a steel reinforced fitting.




Bolts cut down and added.



Fitted internally and painted.


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