Hi.
Name: Mark
Age: Over 40, but still under 50!
About me:
As a kid my flight enthusiasm came from trips with our school Royal Air Force - Combined Cadet Force to Cambridge to learn to fly the De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk. That was it, I was fixed! I wanted to become a Pilot for either the Royal Navy or the RAF. What actually happened was I joined the British Army and worked onboard Main Battle Tanks instead.... (The only link I found between Fighter Pilot and Tank Crewman was... Military, Uniforms... and guns... that was it... nothing else)
The Then:
I plunged myself into Flight Simming way back using FS95 and started out with just a joystick, but I knew I wanted something more. It took me nearly 15 years, but I finally decided that I wanted to build a 'panel or two'.
Having zero experience with a wood router, soldering iron, or fabricating anything I started to layout my Master Plan.
I went out and bought a few Saitek panels, a yoke, pedals and throttle quadrant and decided that starting small with a Cessna panel was the way to go. Plus, it was cheap(ish).
I finished it! It wasn't the best, but it worked. It wasn't pretty, but it was mine! It sat in the corner glaring at me every time I dared to contemplate looking at playing another 'game' other than FS. But that was it. 10 years later, it just sat in the corner and started to gain weight (being used as everything from a bookshelf to a clothes dryer). I was concentrating more on work and earning money and my passion for simming was dying.......
The Now:
Then came Karl! From a random, late-night YouTube session that probably started out watching Car cam Crash/Rage videos (yeah, I know... I'm so exciting), to home cockpit construction. How did that happen??
Watched one of Karls videos, then another, then another, and my passion started to come back. I became a Patreon subscriber as I appreciate everything Karl has kindly shared with us and want Karl to continue!
So.. Out I went again, this time buying;
A 3D printer (Ender 3 Pro).
Still trying to pick out a reasonably priced CNC ("reasonably priced" = Cheap as Chips).
A wood router (which will probably just sit in the garage with the fitness stuff, bought and never to be used again. Really just to say I have one). I have no idea how to use one properly.
So much wood, nails, screws etc ready for construction.
Primer and top coats.
AND
10 Pallets to use as my worktop
Electronics stuff can come later after I actually build the stuff first
This is the build so far, but I'm thinking NOT using the Saitek stuff
So, yeah... That's where I'm at now... 3D Printer wurring behind me, building parts of a clock assembly....
Anyways... yeah, that's it... Hello :)
Hello Mark, Karl has a lot to answer for... Doesn't he? (No way in a bad way) I myself fell under the spell of Karl's epic video's and the quality and simplicity of his designs. They just work and do the job. It was also why I rushed out a bought a 3d printer too. Never had one before and I love it already. Personally I am just starting out on my build. I am going to start printing and building parts so when it comes to the point of assembly I will have the here's the parts I created earlier! (Just like blue Peter). I have spent hours reading up on how to use the printer and the different types of filament. ABS is a sod to print with. However once mastered its a great strong material to use in a simulator. So how have you progressed with your build?
Cheers John