The projectors and TripleHead2Go have arrived (thanks JK!) and I've started testing with a single projector. Even with this basic setup the level of immersion is significantly improved. I'm using a BenQ 620MP and it's a very impressive machine.

Buzzing around Sydney by night

Much progress on the network and flight systems this week:

• Finalised PC allocations and network infrastructure, and all is running well
• Separate PC now running the multifunction display (EICAS2, SB3 etc.) in CDU pedestal
• Squawkbox3 now running across the network with remote push-to-talk for voice comms also functioning
• 2 independent CDUs running
• Weather radar image now running on the ND displays - thanks to SatelliteWX image hookup via Project Magenta's Whazzup software. See image below..
• Terrain images now running on the ND displays (another Project Magenta feature)
• Instructor Station software installed and running well (also Project Magenta)

I've also got temporary arrangements in place for the flight yoke and pedals (using CH gear) and the seat and support box. Neil Brown and I actually flew this baby for the first time today!

Well I can't get genuine pilot sets yet - so here's the next best thing ... 3 pairs of Business Class passenger seats!! Got these beauties on eBay for a song. 2 pair are headed for the home cinema (some day) and the other pair is headed for a "mystery location" ... more to be announced on that next year :). They are out of a Qantas 747 and pictured here behind the shell of the 737 simulator.

Looks like Qantas seat pitch too ay? :))

Even in business class you can never predict what they'll sit next to you!

Darn passengers ... "give the call bell a break already!!!"

I've been joined in the project by a friend of mine - Neil Brown. Neil is a fellow sim enthusiast, VATSIM/VATPAC member and only lives a short walk away! :). Neil's been a great help as my health only permits part-time work, and he fills in the gaps in my relatively poor concentration levels at the moment.

We've been busy getting the central steel frame configured for welding.

More work has been completed on the shell. The back section is complete and ready to be lined. I'm waiting now for the the welded steel centre frame to arrive before I can finish the top of the front section (i.e. window frame tops and roof).

View from the front / captain's side. You can see the finished base and floor sections and the bottom run of the window frames.

Looking through the door, past the control and instructor stations (left/right), the jump seat (left) and into the cockpit section itself.

Moved the MIP and CDU stands inside and made a temporary column (for the CH yoke). The main PC (FS01) has arrived and I've got it all setup. So we hooked up the other PCs, the sound system and the displays and get it all going (eventually!). The pic below shows the test configuration running with a 19" LCD forward view (to be replaced by projectors), the captain's PFD/ND, EICAS lower and upper, and First-officer's PFD and ND.

More progress on the shell frame, but I've now run out of handy angle! I've made the decision to split the shell into two main pieces - the dividing line running across the sim just in front of the jump seat. This is so the whole thing can be moved more easily. It will now require a welded steel centre frame to act as the joiner between the 2 sections and provide core strength for the overhead units.

This is the view from the back/right

This is the view from the front (nose). You can see the window frame starting to take shape, and also the jump seat on the left. (note: floor bearers are not in the front section yet)

Got the CDU rack finished (except final fill, sand and paint) and did a test fit with the 2 CDUs and the latest addition ... an 8" LCD touchscreen. This picture show the testfit but note that there is no panel facing installed yet:

Edit: fitting the CDUs was a pain in the butt! The power and USB cable ends come out the bottom end of the unit which is the WORST possible place for them. Urrrrghh!

And here's the new screen! In this shot it's in 800x600 resolution and Squawkbox3 and PilotAssist site (charts etc.) are running. The screen will be a multifunction device for lower-EICAS, online software (Squawkbox3), Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) off the web ... and ... TV! Yep that's right, this little baby is a fully fledged colour TV as well - perfect for those long-haul flights :). Bought it new on eBay for $330 AU. I'm thinking to put a small printer in the avionics stand (hidden) so I can print charts off this screen if needed.

We went looking for seats for the flightdeck today and after stumbling around dozens of car wrecks we settled on this pair of hardly used Magna seats. I might get / build more realistic seats down the track but these will do the job nicely for the foreseeable future.

I've started work on the main instrument panel base and CDU bay.

Bliss! Joy! My 2 new babies have arrived. 2 CDU's from Engravity arrived safe and sound and are working well.

11 Nov 06

Did some testing tonight with 2 PCs. One running FS9 and the other running Squawkbox3 and Project Magenta PFD & ND (connected via WideFS). All worked charmingly!

Started to build the shell frame with the handy angle steel. Working well so far so I'm going to order some more. I may put a welded steel base underneath later on (just around the perimeter and 2 cross-members). I'll see how the strength and rigidity turnout first.

Been doing design work on the cockpit enclosure / shell. This has been a great challenge. There are many plans, dimensions etc. for the 737 around the net which is a great start, but they vary quite a bit. Some builders have changed dimensions to suit their restricted building spaces so you have to use them with caution. Deciding on what final measurements to use is a bit nerve racking, but I think it's all come together ok now. See the latest plans on the enclosure page.

I've been scouring eBay for 2nd-hand PCs to run much of the sim (except main FS & visuals - that will be a shiny new PC). Not been having much luck. BUT I found that a local auction house was auctioning hundreds of PCs today and I scored 3 great P4 machines for a song. I'm happy ... much cheaper and easier than what eBay was coughing up.

The steel angle has arrived today ... hmm now to cut it!

I've been trying to finalise all the orders from various suppliers / countries in Europe. This is no easy task - especially using PayPal and International transfers for the first time. Good news is alot of the purchases went through when the Aus$ was higher against the Euro, so saved a bit there.

Also took the plunge and purchased the full Project Magenta suite today (there is a price rise in the wind - yikes!). Bought it through CSI in Canada ... saved about $80 because of a better exchange rate against the US$ (instead of the Euro).

Display testing underway with Project Magenta glass cockpit and the PMDG-737 flight model.

Yeah I know... "BANK ANGLE !!"

The rubbish and the posts are now cleared and in the skip!

And the sim's new home is now ready for construction to start

Started work on preparing the building area for the sim. This is our neglected old garage which is full of junk. In the photo below everything that you can see will be cleared out leaving an empty shell for the new baby (737). Eventually the sim will be moved offsite but this is where she'll be created.

I've now got a basic project plan, resources organised, and an excel spreadsheet that lists specs and compares prices of every part I can find for the 737NG. Without this I would lose my mind, it will help greatly in making final decisions and hopefully save me some money too.

I've had to take some time away from my career to do some study, improve my health issues, and do this project gradually. I can only do this part-time as my health allows and I have to start much more slowly than normal, but that's life.

I estimate that I've spent around 150 hours in research, design and planning thus far - over the past year or so. And that's without spending a single dollar yet. Other builders have impressed upon me how important it is to do your research and planning in advance. This suits the way I work anyhow (I'm used to managing large-scale IT projects).

Informal planning prior to commencement- this is the bit where you surf around vendor sites and sites of other builders and dream on. This is also the stage when you start getting freaked by the money involved! This stage happened very gradually over about 2 years. In that time I built up a long list of sites and resources, and a fair knowledge of what is available at the time.

I've decided now on the B737-NG as the model for the sim. The rest of the work will flow on from this crucial decision.

(right) Flight simming as I've
known it for the past few years
... the desktop setup we all start with.