Welcome to my new blog The DIY DH.2, which charts the progress of an attempt to build a Sim Cockpit (or Simpit) of an Airco DH.2, the classic Great War pusher fighter designed to take on the Fokker Scourge.
Some of you may be familiar with my other blog in which I ramble on about miniature wargaming and modelling: Do You Have A Flag? As well as wargaming, I've long been into my simulators – whether planes, trains or automobiles. Obviously, that is what this blog will be all about.
I've always wanted to try building one of these infernal contraptions and now finally the Venn diagram of 'wanting to build a sim cockpit' and 'able to build' has finally converged.
What is a Sim Cockpit?
For those kind souls that are visiting form my wargaming blog, or some poor sod that has got lost and ended up here, you might be wondering "what on earth is a sim cockpit?"
A Sim Cockpit, also known as a Simpit (or just Pit), is a physical representation of an aircraft cockpit designed to be integrated with flight simulator software - essentially a home-built version of the pilot training simulators we've all seen - although generally without the motion.
They can vary from the simple to the complex, from the general approach to the exacting replica of a specific aircraft interior. They can be based around general aviation, combat or commercial aircraft, and the new or the old.
Generally they include both inputs - e.g. flight controls, buttons and switches, and outputs - such gauges, screens and various displays.
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| The glorious Airco DH.2 |
I've always wanted to try building one of these infernal contraptions and now finally the Venn diagram of 'wanting to build a sim cockpit' and 'able to build' has finally converged.
What is a Sim Cockpit?
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| The ABC - old school, simple and effective. Source |
A Sim Cockpit, also known as a Simpit (or just Pit), is a physical representation of an aircraft cockpit designed to be integrated with flight simulator software - essentially a home-built version of the pilot training simulators we've all seen - although generally without the motion.
They can vary from the simple to the complex, from the general approach to the exacting replica of a specific aircraft interior. They can be based around general aviation, combat or commercial aircraft, and the new or the old.
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| ABC- advanced variant for modern combat aircraft. Very impressive work! Source |
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| Another impressive bit work, this time a GA pit in the form of a Cessna-style cockpit. Source |
Possibly the pinnacle of the sim cockpit, a Boeing 737 built in a garage using real aircraft components. Incredible work. Wouldn't even know where to begin with this, the car would have to go somewhere else for a start... More information on the 737 flight deck in the video below can be found here
The Project, the Future and the Blog
Whilst my cockpit will be nowhere near as complex or spectacular as some of those above, I do hope that it will look as accurate as it possibly can and provide an immersive bit of simming.
I wanted to keep a blog to keep track of my progress, and hopefully others may find it of interest too. More importantly it's also a gret way to be part of a wider hobby community, to pick up great hints and tips - maybe, just maybe, I will be able to share a few of my own as well.
I
won't waffle on now, that's for later posts, but I want to say thank
you for taking the time to check out my latest mad project.
Next
time: Why the DH.2?
