It's a bit like a Boob job

[HagarTheHorrible]

Not that I've ever had one you understand ( I just thought that point might need clarifying).

 

I can't say I've ever really been dissatisfied with my equipment, I've fiddled around with it in the past but what with getting married, kid's, space issues etc I just had to be satisfied with popping it on the desk and playing with it there.  Recently however, maybe it's something to do with mid life crises, I felt I needed something more.  Bigger, more responsive, better, in other words I needed a longer shaft.

 

I'd often dreamed about having something bigger to play with between my legs but until now that was all it was, a dream.  The thing is, a bit like a Boob job, once you start fiddling, it's difficult to stop.  Having done my research (looked at other peoples shafts on the internet) I finally felt ready to proceed, so with saw and screwdriver in hand I set to work.  My first attempt while successful, a 10" straight extension, while it worked, just didn't feel right ( I hadn't really thought much about limiting the range of thrust that I could achieve ). In the bin went the mark 1, mark 2 was better, it now had a bend in it but it still wasn't right.  When it was fully back in my lap it was uncomfortable to hold,  the handle was at the wrong angle.  The mark 3 hit the spot  with an "S" shaped bend, although it was a pain to bend the replacement shaft properly (internet was a great help here, again).  This however was only the start because I then needed some way of supporting my new, bigger, equipment between my legs and if I was going to play with it there then I would also need some method of holding and supporting my thrust component. The last two weeks have been filled with the sound of saws, MDF dust and the smell of fresh paint (No of course I didn't choose the utility room paint to be that colour just because it looked like the inside of aircraft, honestly darling do you really think I'm that shallow ?)  Well when playing with the stick between my legs it still wasn't perfect, something was still lacking so after much experimentation I ended up raising my foot pedals off the ground five or six inches and because I was doing that it seemed sensible to to also build a mount for my old Saitek P8000 and then I needed some way of having access to my keyboard so on and on it goes.  To cap it all off I also had to be able to move it out of the way when not required (like that's ever going to happen) so it all needed to be portable just to help complicate matters.

 

The result:

 

Other (boring) stuff, Cockpit parked.

 

Out of the hanger, note suitcase wheels at back for easy movement.

 

Still parked, front view

 

Set up and ready to fly

 

Just need to climb in and start having fun.

 

Some elements are still work in progress, such as the P8000 layout and cockpit instruments but as i work out what I want and where I will replace them with better high res print outs and attach them properly rather than just with bluetack.  For the moment however I'm quiet satisfied with progress.

[Bando]

Looks sexy!!!!

[Cybermat47]

That looks great! All I've got is a Logitech Attack 3, a PC, and a desk.

[VR-DriftaholiC]

very nice. I do prefer the Saitek throttle over the G940, my 940's throttle has become radiator/oil flaps

[ST_Pirato]

That's a very nice Setup.

[[Wolf]ArcaneRebel]

Nice setup. Looking to do some pit building this weekend myself.

[Snachito]

Impressive set-up Haggar!! I know exactly what you mean about the boob job analogy, once you get-em done you want them bigger and just like a flight simmer once you add something you want to add more and more stuff........!!!