Universal Control Panel

[AG-51_Glider]

I'll be all done until my screens for the MFD's show up.

What screen are you getting Kaydo?

[AG-51_Kaydo]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/HDMI-input-LCD-controller-board-8inch-800x600-EJ080NA-05B-lcd-panel-Remote/1829412131.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.8.q5mbJ1&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10152_10065_10151_10344_10068_5000016_10130_10345_10324_10342_10547_10325_10343_51102_10546_10340_5060016_10341_10548_10545_5130016_10541_10084_10083_10307_5690016_10539_10312_10059_10313_5080016_10314_10534_100031_10604_10603_10103_10605_10594_10596_10142_10107,searchweb201603_2,ppcSwitch_2&algo_expid=2c941c1d-6cb2-4cd3-b7ac-d6d393806030-1&algo_pvid=2c941c1d-6cb2-4cd3-b7ac-d6d393806030&rmStoreLevelAB=0

I bought two of these.  They were half the price of monitors already assembled and these ones use their own power cord and HDMI port.  The lilliputs that most people buy have 2 usb cords which need to be directly tied to your tower.  I don't have those slots to spare so making my own was better.  My bevels will be made from acrylic sheets i cut and meld together.

[AG-51_Razor]

Your link takes me to a login page.

So, what will you be seeing on these screens? Is it what the game shows in the cockpit?

[AG-51_Kaydo]

I fixed the link.  The screens will show what is in the cockpit on the harriers mfd's.  So when i push the corresponding button, my screen wil change.  This video is a short demo of what I will be able to do.  It also makes it so I don't have to print my mfd cards.  I can make a pdf file and just move them to the corrsponding screen for aircraft such as the P-51.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ4muY0YvlA&t=45s

[AG-51_Razor]

That is awesome!! I believe that what you described for a/c without MFD's like the P-51, is exactly what Animal is doing now. Can't wait for you to post a video taken by your wife with you in the "pit" flying the Harrier! You'll probably have to mute it though to supress he giggles 

Serriously though, take good notes on this project as I may be asking for some advice later on down the road. 

[AG-51_Bulldog]

I could also see this eventually happening..

[Apache600]

A little more progress here.  The button boxes are completely enclosed on the bottom half of the panel.  Now it's time to start construction the main angled board that will house the MFD's and G13.

[AG-51_Razor]

Nice Apache! 

[AG-51_Hawg]

If your like me you will be going through several iterations and be working on this for a long time :)

[Apache600]

I've built quite a few control panels (over 10 different designs, for 6 different sims)   This one actually has the fewest buttons (that I am putting on it), but should have the most versatility because of the "interchangeability" it'll have.  Thanks to the MFD's and G13.  After doing the math, this will have a total of approximately 225 buttons/switches.   I'm really striving to not have to make another version of this ... but I'm sure that, in time, I will.  haha.

[AG-51_Hawg]

I found that in most cases I end up using very few of the buttons on my cockpit and tend to use the hotas and mfd buttons most of the time.   

[Apache600]

Damn Hawg, why are you not flying that thing with us???   That's boarder line criminal to have that and not be using it.
Anyway, here's some progress from today.  I mounted the back panel that will hold the MFD's and G13 (you might even be able to see the trace marks of them I drew on there)  I set the X-55 Hotas on it just to see how it looked.  Don't worry, the cables will be tucked away

[Apache600]

Alright.  Another big update.    Box is complete, now just have to make the stands for the quick reference button sheets to sit on.   After that, it's on to painting and wiring

 

[AG-51_Glider]

Question for Kaydo- So how are you connecting the displays to your video card? Are you using Display Port to HDMI cables?

[AG-51_Kaydo]

Sorry, I was out of town.  I am using two display ports.  The cables I purchased are DisplayPort to HDMI.  So one end connects to the video card at the DisplayPort, the other end into the screen board is HDMI.  I should have my tutorial done next weekend and posted.