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#3548597 - 04/01/12 11:49 AM Mancave Project ****  
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RogueSqdn Offline
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Glad and excited to be getting back into flight simming! I was mainly into Falcon4, but plan on also getting into DCS A-10C.

As stated in the other thread, my wife is letting me have the guest room to change into a man cave.


So I starting ticking off things I always wanted, and things that were a problem in my previous pursuits. Because of limited space, before I had to be able to put a cockpit area for desktop and simming use, and ended up with a situation with a keyboard tray bolted on the side of the ABC pit, and turned my monitor in that direction when I wasn't flying. Now, in our office we have a large desk that would be a perfect location for FPS and non-simming gaming. So I figure that when I want to do something other than fly, I'll drag the PC into the office and hook it up to the monitor in there (which currently houses the Mac Mini we both use).

I've used the Akers-Barnes plans before and felt comfortable with that, but wanted to add a few modifications of my own, and some inspired by posts in this forum.
  • A wider keyboard tray to allow for a CH Throttle Quadrant, keyboard, and mouse. The TQ will mainly be used for the switches on the face and also for a landing gear handle and anything else that strikes me.
  • A rudder pedal mount.
  • A forward tilt for the joystick.
  • Cougar MFDs with screens behind them to make active MFDs. This Holy Grail wasn't feasible when I was last in flying.


Some construction photos:





Don't have any current photos of it, but I've built an add-on to the dash for mounting the Cougar MFDs, USB monitors, and an X-Keys 58 for an ICP. Photos of that will come. I used to have an Aimsworth F-16 ICP/MFDs, but that was lost long ago.

Some equipment for the project:

HOTAS Warthog, X-Keys 58, X-Keys 20, Cougar MFDs, and two Lilliput UM-80 USB monitors.

Old HOTAS equipment. I'll be using the CH Pro Pedals and will use the Cougar throttle when flying Falcon4. Ghost will recognize the Franken-Potato(TM). smile

And some new equipment, for simming and other uses: TrackIR 5, G13 game board, G700 wireless mouse, Func Surface1030, and Logitech k360 wireless keyboard. I chose that keyboard because it's compact and wireless, and I would be using the G13 in FPS games anyway. I also picked up two Satechi 12-port inline USB hubs that will be mounted in the cockpit.



As for the computer all this will be hooked up to, that's on order and will be here in a few weeks. Since I've been out of PC gaming for quite a while, I decided to take the easy (but expensive) route of ordering a Mach V from Falcon Northwest. It'll have a Core i7 3930K @3.2GHz, a 1200W PSU, liquid cooling (which I really wanted but didn't want to mess with), 32GB 1866MHz DDR3 RAM, a BD burner, a 256GB SSD (I'll add additional storage drives later), and an EVGA GeForce GTX680 2GB card. I went with just one card for now due to cost, but the motherboard will support two cards in SLI, so I can always add one later.




Well that was a lot for one post, but as you can tell, I'm excited and happy to be diving back down in this rabbit hole! boing


Jared
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#3548620 - 04/01/12 01:26 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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- Ice Offline
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Originally Posted By: Rogue17
I went with just one card for now due to cost


Pfftt! After those specs, I don't think "cost" was involved... biggrin Nice specs!

As for your ABC, did you have it CNC'ed? What material are you using? Looking forward to build pics!


- Ice
#3548622 - 04/01/12 01:29 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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RogueSqdn Offline
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Well I had to draw the line somewhere. wink I also have to afford two trips to Atlanta this year to see the Braves (including the last two home games, and Chipper is retiring at the end of the season!)

I drew out the ABC myself on 1/2 blonde wood plywood from Lowe's and cut it myself with a circular and a jigsaw.


Jared
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FalconNW MachV, Obutto R3volution

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#3548630 - 04/01/12 01:51 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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Very nice woodworking skills! I'm about to do some cuts for my build as well, bought a new set of blades for the jigsaw.

Can you tell me how you painted it? I'm thinking of painting my build when I'm done but I've never done it before, would appreciate some tips.

.... ah, what would we be without our garages and man-caves, eh? biggrin


- Ice
#3548640 - 04/01/12 02:13 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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RogueSqdn Offline
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Thanks for the compliments. I had flat black for the console and vessel gray for the seat and sides. After cutting I used a Dewalt palm sander and then painted it first with primer then with the paint. I bought three paint trays and rollers and used them, and a small brush for the tight spots.

I may put some aircraft markings on it when I'm done.


Jared
-----
FalconNW MachV, Obutto R3volution

DEFENSOR FORTIS

#3548665 - 04/01/12 03:20 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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RogueSqdn Offline
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Forgot to mention: the monitor will be a 40" Sony LCD TV.


Jared
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FalconNW MachV, Obutto R3volution

DEFENSOR FORTIS

#3548812 - 04/01/12 08:37 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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I guess I should stop congratulating you on the specs and start congratulating you on the wife. biggrin

BTW, you know the latest flavor of Falcon 4 is Falcon 4 BMS, right? Have you tried it yet? Fully-working 3D cockpit, 'nuff said!


- Ice
#3548815 - 04/01/12 08:42 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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RogueSqdn Offline
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Yes, I'm aware, but have not tried it as I don't have a Windows PC right now. In the house we have all Macs. I figured that since the PC is on order I'd wait rather than try BootCamp.


Jared
-----
FalconNW MachV, Obutto R3volution

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#3549187 - 04/02/12 03:12 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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Wedge Offline
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So usually how this works out is you will get the room just the way you want it and then you find out Jr. is on the way - there goes your "Man Cave."

#3549228 - 04/02/12 04:31 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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RogueSqdn Offline
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sicko Don't say that!

Actually that would mean new house.


Jared
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FalconNW MachV, Obutto R3volution

DEFENSOR FORTIS

#3549263 - 04/02/12 05:16 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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HitchHikingFlatlander Offline
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LOL I've mentioned around here I might lose my man cave for a baby playroom. I'll be building a bigger room if that happens and everyone wins!


I've got a bad feeling about this.....
#3549336 - 04/02/12 07:25 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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Wedge Offline
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I say this, but it actually happened to me. Two kids later still can't afford to move - my "Man Cave" now is the master bathroom.

#3549408 - 04/02/12 09:29 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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f15sim Offline
More projects than sense!
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Vasectomy FTW.

biggrin

g.


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#3549409 - 04/02/12 09:31 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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RogueSqdn Offline
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The funny thing is she asked me a few days ago if I'd be opposed to getting one. biggrin


Jared
-----
FalconNW MachV, Obutto R3volution

DEFENSOR FORTIS

#3549421 - 04/02/12 09:45 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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Sweet hardware goodness :nods approvingly:


looks very modernishy-phoney-windows eighty-tabletty like

Asus P8P67 Pro Rev. 3.0 // i5 2500k @4.3 GHz with Noctua NH-D14 // nvidia gtx 780 // 8 GB DDR3 1600 //Win7 home 64 bit //450 GB VelociRaptor //Recon3D Champion
#3549841 - 04/03/12 04:56 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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Reschke Offline
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Funny thing Wedge that is exactly how my wife and I ended up with number 3. I was two week pre procedure when we found out that the little one was on the way and we had just moved into a new house with our two boys (plenty of room BTW) with a dedicated room for me...that changed. So procedure was put on hold as it just wasn't necessary any longer till post baby time; which allowed me to move our soon to be middle son into the room with big brother and setup my game room/office as the little one crib area till she was able to move to her own room.

Now 5 years later we are in a different house altogether and my wife tries to dominate the home office in the basement since it is the best room in the house.


Star Citizen Referal Code
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i7-13700K @ 3.40GHz
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#3550008 - 04/03/12 09:04 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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RogueSqdn Offline
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Well the room is getting painted on Thursday, and the computer should arrive at the end of next week. I had to cave on the color of the walls. I wanted sage green ala the USAF's ABU and she wanted sky blue. Since she's letting me have the room I decided to pick my battles. Here's the kicker though: I'm getting away with hanging a camo net from the ceiling! ready

I'll mount my Air Force "I love me" wall stuff in there. thumbsup

Maybe I should get an AF Fathead to put in there....

http://www.fathead.com/military/air-force/united-states-air-force-symbol/?src=browse


Jared
-----
FalconNW MachV, Obutto R3volution

DEFENSOR FORTIS

#3550773 - 04/04/12 11:22 PM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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Gotta love the new and improved Tom Clancy Ghost Recon Future Soldier USAF! Its not sci-fi, its real crap.............


I've got a bad feeling about this.....
#3550797 - 04/05/12 12:06 AM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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RogueSqdn Offline
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Well it was BDU's and black boots when I was still in, but I'm rather fond of what they're using now. Wish I had green boots I didn't have to spit shine every day. Us SP's had to do that...


Jared
-----
FalconNW MachV, Obutto R3volution

DEFENSOR FORTIS

#3550930 - 04/05/12 09:12 AM Re: Mancave Project [Re: ]  
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Cali Offline
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I had my own room when we lived in Phoenix Az, 7 miles from Luke AFB. I could hear the jets taking off in the morning. Now, in Louisiana I have a small portion in the dinning room frown but the wife is a good sport about it. Gonna be on leave from April 16-27th and looking forward to it. Will get some time to work on my pit, just wish my money was here so I could get my new computer. Maybe I'll even hang up some of my stuff also. Got a HOTAS from a F-16, gold pan from Alaska, F-16 and A-10 20mm/30mm shell.....can't wait.


i5-2500k @ 3.3, Asus P8Z77-V LE mobo Windows 7 64-bit, 8GB 1866mhz
EVGA GTX 670 FTW 2GB, 256GB SSD, 500GB WD, Warthog, uber modded Cougar, TM Cougar MFD's, TrackIR 5, G15 keyboard


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