This is my "Blue Noser" P51D cockpit replica/simulator. It
is modeled after JC Meyers P51D back in WW2. JC Meyers was the CO of the
famous 487th fighter squadron, the Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney. His 2
P51D Mustangs were Pete 2nd and Pete 3rd. This is Pete 4th :)
The fuselage was framed with pine and covered with very thin
hardboard. The hardboard bends nicely and has a nice smooth shiny finish
on one side. When painted it looks quite a bit like aircraft aluminum and
for me was allot easier to work with. The canopy was GIVEN to me from a
coworker who found it partially BURIED in his back yard (how's that for
luck!!!). We think it might have been from a P80 shooting star. The stick
is a highly modified Microsoft sidewinder force feedback. It has a Thrustmaster
grip on it with a modified 8 position hat. The stick was also lengthened
to about a foot long. I never could do the "twisty" thing with that stick
so I fabricated my own rudders pedals which drive a pulley system which
twists the stick at the base. The rest of the stick up to the grip stays
stationary (non twisting) while the inside shaft twists within. It all
works great and the force feedback stills transfers well to the grip. The
rudders are also set up so that I can install toe breaks later. The throttle
on the base of the stick is also transferred up to the temporary throttle
section using some bicycle cable (the wire inside a hose thingy). The seat
is completely homemade (even sewed the cushions ...hehehe) and is set up
a little more for comfort than for historical accuracy (for those long
ramrods into Germany :) ).
I use a 19 inch monitor and 366 puter...nothing special.
I sometimes add a fresnel lens. Subwoofer and stereo speakers for the sound
system along with a headphone/mic setup and RW. The keyboard and track
pad slide in and out under the monitor in preparation for the day that
I can replace the keyboard with actual switches and levers. I have a good
collection of authentic Mustang gauges and switches now and are looking
to add on. Check out http://www.warbird-parts.com/index.htm. Great place
for good deals...thanks Chris "Pnus" Van Brunt!
The 2nd phase of this project will be to populate the interior
and make it as completely functional as possible. I have been reading allot
of posts which sounds like many of you are facing the same type of challenge!
And lastly I would like to pick this thing up and move it! I will be shooting
for a 2 or 3 axis 35 degree motion platform. Really dont know if it will
be electric / hydraulic or what but that is a ways down the road. Right
now I'm building a 3000 sq ft house to put it in so it may be a while :)
I'll post more pics when I get back to working on it.
USA
