Hey all. I realize that this is more dedicated to real birds, but I figured you all would find this more interested than GD at large. I have a long one I am writing out and might take me a couple days to get it all up here - Lots of pictures, and my project still is in its early stages. I figure I will document it here.
What I am recreating is the cockpit of a F-16E Block 60 aircraft, and will be utilizing a 56 inch flat screen TV for the primary visuals, plus (3) 10.4 inch TFT monitors for the three MFDs. The real ones are 8.4 inchers, but I picked up the 3 10.4s for 65 dollars each - so I can just work the extra into the design (hiding the R/L MFD behind the HUD Box, and the center one through using a taped front bevel to the center pedestal.

The primary reference photo showing the differences between the Block 60 vs the 50 or the MLU (52).

My plan drawing - scale it to 103% for a 1:1 ratio. It's almost complete - I need to finish designing the FUEL panel and INSTR panel on the R AUX Console. The left and Right primary consoles are not exactly accurate - I live in a barracks room (no roommate!) so I shortened the consoles and removed the least used and unimportant panels. Once I get out and get my own place to keep this thing, I'm going to redo the consoles as accurate.
Hope you all enjoy this!
John
UPDATE #1 - 11APR09

MLU Misc panel. I'm going to use this until I can design a Block 60 series one. I got it all wired up to a DB25 connector to plug into my interface.

2 out of my 3 screens up and running.


Replica throttle arm made of mostly wood. Has a functional adjustable friction plate. Im running the Cougar HOTAS and just need to make an adaptor to attach the throttle grip to the arm, then figure out where to route the cables from it, then rig the pot to an arm coming out the bottom.
UPDATE #2 - 11APR09/1851
Finished up my design for the ICP, which features an intergrated DED (Data Entry Display)/PFD (Primary Fault Display). I need to tweak it a little if I find someone to CNC it, but this one is designed to hold me over with a hand made plate.


Also, assembled my PHCC Motherboard assembled from a raw PCB - this will support up to 32 analog inputs and will allow up to (16) 64 input daughter boards plugged into it, plus several daisy chained LED or 7segment driver boards. (All of which are assembled but not pictured.)
UPDATE #3 - 15APR09
Update:

It's like Christmas! This is what came out of the Box I got today.

The keys from the Block 50 ICP I got sent me. All I need for him to make now is (right vertical row, from top to bottom) is "NAV", "HUD WARN", and "FLT ACK", plus the same rocker switch from the Block 50/52 ICP, and I need to order 4 standard B50/52 thumb wheels.

Warning Panel well backlit. Each of these blocks will have an LED placed behind them.

Landing Gear Panel. Awesome quality...except it seems that a piece of paper got laid over it while it was still drying and ended up smudged pretty bad. Those smudges are permanently in the panel unfortunately.

Closeup of the EW Panel and the HMCS Panels....I love them. I can't wait for my Display and keypad boards to get in for them!
UPDATE #4 - 17APR09/1538

Just finishing up the Solidworks drawings for the tub. This is the tub that all the parts will sit in.
I'll have some neat pictures of a replica ACES II here soon. My CNCer came up with some improvements to the design, so I'm getting it reworked. He is actually talking about selling these as a kit for other simulator builders.

UPDATE #5 - 23APR2009/1157
Well, Bought a pair of the Logitech Z-10 speakers, used, just for the LCD screen and electronics.
Ripped the speakers apart, took out all the electronics, and now I have a display that will function as my DED (Data Entry Display) which will be mounted inside my ICP.

Picture of the real Korry ICP:

UPDATE #6 - 06MAY2009/1600
Well, came into quite an arrangement with a CNCer. Gonna be able to fabricate more parts than I thought I would. Just gonna have about a 6 week spin up time and then he will crank em for me.
Woohoo!
Here is a few renders of models I have been working on:


ACES II (Actually his model - getting a copy for free cause I made his website for him.)

Korry ICP Model
Decided to hold off on electronics til I finish getting all my panels and such.

UPDATE #7: 22MAY2009/0415

Just got some parts for the ACES II.

All I ordered was the seat cushions and the risers.

He threw in a set of decals, and a ejection arming lever.

The arming lever looks resin, so I am guessing it is one of Dunk's replication products.

The risers don't have the Koch fitting, I may worry about finding one cheap....or just going with a similar fitting from bits and pieces of a T10C I have laying around.

Lap Belt (With all hardware to include mini-Koch fitting.)
&
Oxygen bottle with fittings.

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UPDATE #8: 02JUN2009/1925
Finally got in a large order from my supplier.
By the end of the month, I should have my ACES II Seat and the majority of my structure.
As promised:
Left Console:

Overall

Test

Fore Left Console
Right Console:

Kinda Overall View

Forward Right Console

Rear Right Console
Got a couple panels missing in these layouts, plus the spacers and back panels.
Until I had the consoles laid out....that REALLY REALLY brings home the fact of how small and cramped the cockpit is...but I imagine a cockpit would have to be very small to reach everything when you are strapped in tight and pulling or pushing gees.

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UPDATE #9: 16JUL09/0819
MASSIVE Update!
Built my ACES II Seat.






Dry fit of the center column.






Center column near complete.






Parts for one of the sides, minus detail panel.






Side assembled, minus the detail panel (Its easiest to attach the detail panels last.)






Rocket Tube glue drying.






Sides to the seat.






Back of center column complete.






Completed Center Column.






Seat finished, but unpainted. (Front view.)






Seat finished, but unpainted. (Back view.)






Painted Seat.






Color balance was wioerd on this one. The actual color is a darker primer grey with a blue undertone.






Back detail shot.
All in all, needs one more sanding and painting probably. Rules of thumb - when buying paint, buy twice as much as you actually think you need...and Krylon 360 degree swivel nozzles are amazing.
Total time for build was about 7 hours. (To include multiple coats of paint/glue drying.)

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UPDATE #10: 27JUL09/1640
Another update! Got some goodies in:





EW Panel Jettison Switch (The knob/rotary thats one there is from an Apache; will get replaced with the proper one at a later time - still gotta find a line on knobs. Would crap myself for a set of real ones.)





Real EW Panel Switch/Light PCB





OSRAM Board





All together now!
This EW is gonna look NICE!
And some more goodies from Mike!





Last few panels





Brow Light's/Master Caution.






Lit Up!





Panel Indicators

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UPDATE #11: 11AUG09/0645





Just a few new items. Knobs, Rubber Switch Caps, and Gear Indicator Lights.









Knobs and More.








Alt Gear Handle









Alt Gear Handle Assembly

This is amazing.

I want a Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering degree...but...I suck at math. No amount of studying has helped. Biggest reason I haven't gone to college while I was in.