That's really weird because the F-15 combiner glass is not chamfered(sp) at both ends - the HUD core is pretty much the same between the two as well. Either Kaiser or Canada/Marconi is the OEM. I don't recall which off the top of my head though.

[I did some digging and I'm wrong - the F/A-18 uses a full combiner glass on the lower and a half on the upper whereas the F-15 uses a half on the upper and a 3/4 on the lower]

g.

This build just oozes quality! And that's a kings ransom of switches you've collected there Pretzel!

I see ViperPits has 11 F-18 Hornet Panel for sale. A few F-16 panels will crossover like the KY58. I think these are the same ones sold at the SimulatorStore..........Steve?
http://www.thesimulatorstore.com

Link.
http://shop.viperpits.org/index.php?cPath=39

Hey Pretzel
Fantastic job on the pit.. Your post here is a big help in getting things together to start my pit. I do have one question. For the ribs on the fuselage. sorry if it's a silly question but how and what did you use to get the curve on the fuselage..

Thanks
Mark

Nice!!!!!!

What they said! Great stuff!

I forget the name of the Jig that was use to measure the hull curve. The Lex was removed and you pressed it against the side of the Hornet and lock it in.
Then it was layed on a print and drawn it out at increments.
My Hull has no ribbs (fake ones be added later on the inside) It is made from blown fiberglass as well as the side panels..and soon to be instument panel.

Cheers!

wow!! Alot of work but worth every bit of effort. Thanks for the reply..

Just wanted to say hello to fellow Hornet pit builders and tell you a little about my progress.

I'm building a F/A-18C pit. I got almost all of the left and right console panels from ebay. The replica panels cost me 18 usd per panel and they can be backlit (lucky me!). I am currently attaching switches, pots, rotary encoders and knobs to the panels (70% done). I bought IO cards from Leo Bodnar and they are in the mail.

I bought all the C-model compatible panels from Viperpit.org shop (Mike) and I'm currently attaching those to my pit frame. I had an idea to use real dzus rail but it seems to be impossible task to find compatible dzus screws for my panels. This means that I have to replace the rails or drill the metal wire off from the dzus holes (I will propably do the drilling). It's kinda sad to waste good dzus rail. I did order dzus replicas from simworld.pl but haven't heard back from them yet. Hopefully they will ship my order soon.

The front pit frame and many other nice parts are available from Steve (www.thesimulatorstore.com). I heard rumors that more parts will be available soon.

I am searching for the following items (real or replica) and would love if some of you could help me out:

MFD Bezels - Friend working on these
Map display bezel
Integrated Fuel/Engine Indicator bezel
AOA Indexer
Left Threat display - Planning to order from Steve
Attitude Reference Indicator
Azimuth Indicator
Standby Airspeed Indicator
Standby Altimeter
Vertical Speed Indicator
Canopy Jettison Lever
Standby Magnetic Compass
ECM Control Panel
Clock
Altimeter (pressure Compartment)
UFC (up front control panel)
Brake Pressure Indicator
Hydraulic Pressure Indicator
3x mirrors
Indicator panel bezel (which is for the nose, left, right, flaps etc indicators)

...and ejection seat kit (NACES or similar) - FOUND ACES 2 and modding it to look like NACES.

Alot of things to do but I did have time to test drive my pit with the Seven-G demo and it was FUN!

Hey Chain,
I hear you about the dzus fastners. I ended up making mine form a mold. Plastic injected with black color.
Im just going to drill a hole at the corner of each panel and glue them in. Thats why they have a stem on them.
Im not doing the rail thing.

I dont have the mold anymore . lots was lost in the move. But I need to get back into it.

Cheers!
Pretzel~

I got an ACES 2 replica today and I'm planning to paint it black and modify it to look more like NACES-seat. I also received my 5 meters of led strip and a dimmer for back-lighting my panels. Simworld.pl shipped my order of dzus replicas and rotary encoders. I'm going to be busy next week

Where did you get the ACES from?

Also, what search did you put into ebay to find those panels, stuff like that seems tough find.

I bought the ACES2 from a F-16 pit builder about 20km where I live. It cost me 45 euros with the cushions I found the panels by just searching ebay motors with "simulator panel". I was really lucky that time.

Does this guy make ACES replica on order or this was a one shot thing?

Unfortunately this was one shot thing. He wanted a more comfortable chair and I offered to help him get rid of the ACES2

Today my order arrived from Simworld.pl. The dzus replicas look nice (they have boeing style paint on them). These are plastic but seem very durable. Not bad for the price. Now I'm just waiting for the I/O-card and then I get to finish my panels

Hi Guy's
I finally got my pit out of the garage and into the house (with a lot of sweet talking to the wife may I add) Anyways, just finished the tub and started putting it together so I can start setting it up or at least what i have so far. I see others pits and am very impressed on what I see. I would loved to have purchased the panels from the sim store but can't really afford it as RL things comes first.

The tub and side panels are made with 5/8 particle board and the benzels as well as the avionics panels are made from 1/4 inch MDF and 1/8 MDF to give it some depth. At times I really wish I would have learned the trade of sheet-medal but never did.

The glairshield was the most difficult to construct and bend to the shape. I know it's not split like the really one but to me it looks close.

Now that i have it in the house is where all the fun begins placing all the switches in and getting them to work correctly. I purchased the A10 HOTAS to get the split throttle am now at a loss of what to do. The throttle is just way to bulky and I am very temped to pull it apart and place the switches where they belong.
Still trying to decide on what to use for an interface board. Probably will end up going with X-key board unless someone has any other recommendations I can look at.

At the moment I'm experimenting with what software to program all this with.

Anyways here are a few pics for you.

I have the same problem with the throttle. I was thinking about doing extension parts for the throttle arms. Not sure if the throttle arm throw would be near to the real one though (and I don't have the necessary tools to make this happen).

Btw check this out:
http://aerotronicsllc.com/f18throttle.htm

Thanks Chain

Wow that is great. Funny i was thinking of extending the throttle arm as well and placing the throttle under the left panel and just bringing the throttles through with the extensions. I sent them an email to see what the cost is so once I see the price that will be the deciding factor.

Mark

I was wondering if the pot movement area will decrease if we just extend the throttle arm. Perhaps we need to bend it a little. I need to do some calculations

Here is one example of my panels. Almost all of the side console panels are now complete. I still need few more special pots. Panels still need some paint and few small fixes but otherwise they are ready to be wired.

Be ready to be disappointed. Think 4 figures.....