If you can swing it, create options for both.

If you are definitely going to lock in on just one... it sounds like you may be better off with the side stick. A sidestick mount should fit well with your sci-fi emphasis, and will be easier to implement with an Akers-Barnes style pit. Plus, the Saitek X-52 (if you are going to keep using that) is easier to use in the side mount position. To center mount it, you have to deal with the issues that arise from the width of its base. That typically entails either making a narrow post platform that raises it above the movement area of the thighs (which may not be ideal for ergonomic operation of the stick), or extending the joystick's shaft to allow the stick base to be mounted below the movement area of the thighs. Stick extensions can be done, but introduce new challenges (distance of full stick deflection, spring power, additional leverage-based wear and tear on the stick's mechanism in the base, etc.) Also, a center mounted stick's ergonomics work best if you can angle the grip approximately 15 degrees counter-clock-wise. If you make a shaft extension, then that can be built-in to that. If you go with the raised platform, then you still have the stick angle issue.

Side stick mounting has it's own challenges though... (remember, the F-16's side stick doesn't have a large deflection like your Saitek X-52 does.) The bio-mechanics of that additional movement needs to be taken into account. Allow for enough clearance, and experiment with what elevation works best (of the stick relative to your seated position).

Someone needs to show this to Magnum!

Thanks for the input, CyBerkut! I know that I'm going to upgrade my stick at some point, either to a Thrustmaster Warthog or to a Saitek X65-F. I love the look and reviews for the Warthog, but I also love the force-sensing and price point of the X65. Hopefully I'll be able to upgrade sooner rather than later, but I'll probably be upgrading my PC before I get a new stick. I'm probably going to go side-stick though, and if I do, I'm assuming that the X65 would be better for that.

Hit a small snag on the build today. Was pretty much ready to cut, and was looking at all the lines, and some of them didn't look quite right. It concerned me enough that I went to Home Depot and bought a T-Square. Turns out my eye was right. A lot of my lines, while straight and square to each other, were not square with the edge of the plywood. So I'm in the process of checking all my lines and measurements, since I already found once piece that I had made half an inch shorter on one side!

In most of my previous projects I just "eyeballed" it, and things turned out "gooder enough," but with this build I want things to be straight and level and accurate. I never really found it helpful before now, but I'm glad I'm following the old addage "measure twice, cut once!"

Interestingly enough the plans for the Akers pit should have come with CNC files. Don't know if you wanted to go the route of finding someone that can cut the plywood for you.

Great looking plans Renic! I absolutely agree with your measure twice and cut once philosophy. I have a well equipped garage shop to work from but all the tools in the world won't fix a miscut board! I have some scrap MDF in my garage from that exact issue.

Are you going to power the fans off of your PC power supply or run them to a stand alone power source?

Dud

I haven't decided on the fan's power yet. The power supply for the computer I'm going to build is pretty beefy, so I think it should be able to handle it without a problem. I originally planned on a 1000 watt supply, but since I'm not going to be running Crossfire or SLI, I've since downgraded it to a 750 watt supply. But none of the new PC parts are ordered yet, so there's still time to change my mind. Good point to bring up though, I'll have to do some more research before making the final decision. Thanks!

Lots of progress today!

First off, my MFDs came today!


Tested to see if they'll both fit on my 15" LCD that I'm planning on mounting behind the center panel.

They fit!

Started cutting the first sheet of plywood.


I figured that drilling a hole where the slots and notches need to be cut out would make life easier...


But they ended up punching through the last layer instead of cutting through.


My buddy came over to help and he suggested putting a scrap piece of wood under the piece to be drilled through, and that worked wonderfully.

Got the first two pieces cut out.


And finished the entire first sheet of plywood!


Here's whats left over.


Cut everything with my cheap $50 Ryobi Jigsaw.

Now we're going to start the second sheet of plywood. It's a good night to be a pit-builder!

Woo! Got everything cut and assembled! Pictures:











The pics are a bit blurry and shaky, but you try taking clear pictures after running a jigsaw for hours!

There are a few pieces that need to be trimmed a bit in one area or another (you'll notice that I don't have the keyboard tray inserted, and that's why). And I didn't cut the hole for the seat support pipe, so no sitting in it yet!

But overall, I think it turned out pretty good!

When you're drilling a big hole like that, it's best to drill a small pilot hole, bore 1/2 depth from one side and then flip it over and finish the hole. This is important when you're using a hole saw. You can do the same thing with a forstner bit, but you bore 1/4 depth first instead of 1/2. That keeps the center spike of the bit from widening your pilot hole and messing with the bit center.

g.

Awesome, thanks for the tip! I'm pretty new at all this woodworking business!