G'day from Melbourne

[autogyro]

Hi all,

Thought I'd join up with some fellow Viper enthusiasts.

I've got some plans over the next couple of weeks and months to build out quite a different Viper cockpit - I hope I'm still welcome to post about it!

Instead of a full cockpit enclosure, either via metal plates or wooden frames, I'm going to build a barebones, but generally still accurate Viper cockpit. This will be done from 8020 style aluminium extrusion pieces. Although the rig may not be 100% accurate, the use of 8020 aluminium extrusion offers significant flexibility in dimensions and mounting points. Thus, I hope to achieve a pretty suitable analog to the real cockpit, if not in looks, then at least in where different panels and switches happen to be. The other benefit is, the setup of the rig will be pretty quick as I don't need to custom fabricate any parts or build switches and panels myself.

The plan of attack, and list of components that I have either sourced or are awaiting delivery are as follows:

• Base Cockpit - Trak Racer TR80-LITE sim cockpit - made from black 8040 aluminium extrusion and proprietary brackets. Installed on castor wheels
• HOTAS - Winwing Orion v2 F16EX Throttle and Stick set. Mounted via Trak Racer flight sim mount panels
• ICP - TekCreations F-16 ICP. Mounted via Foxx mounts.
• MFDs - Thrustmaster Cougar MFDs, with SongDogDesign screen inserts. Mounted via Foxx mounts.
• F-16 specific panels - TekCreations Right Console, TekCreations Left Fuel & Lighting Console, TekCreations Landing Left Aux Panel, TekCreations F-16 DED, TekCreations F-16 Caution Warning Panel. Mounting solutions to be confirmed.
  

With these parts, I'm looking to make an abridged F-16 cockpit that could cover most of the typically used switches, minimise DIY and use proprietary products where possible, whilst keeping the rig compact and easy to move out of the way when not in use.

[salaxi54]

Welcome aboard mate! We're all looking forward to plenty of pictures (we love pics in these premises).
Using proprietary products is generally speaking, not that ideal IMHO. Things come and go all the time! Sometimes they even stop being produced, or take long to get. May i suggest you try utilizing as much off-the-shelf stuff as you can for peace of mind. Nevertheless, we're looking forward to your progress! 

[Snoopy]

Goodday mate,

welcome here! We are indeed interested in seeing many pictures. Specially from a cockpit flying upside down. 

[Taipan]

welcome mate
theres a couple of us in melbourne already, make that three if you count @Kukki when he's here for the GP...!

my own pit is in a state of hiatus while i restore my healey, but i think @Leech87 is well advanced..
t

[JCook]

Welcome aboard.