{"id":222,"date":"2023-10-15T14:34:52","date_gmt":"2023-10-15T14:34:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/avimator.net\/?page_id=222"},"modified":"2023-11-07T13:19:12","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T13:19:12","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/avimator.net\/index.php\/the-apache-pit-project\/faq\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Frequently Asked Questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where did you buy that cockpit?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If only it were that simple! – I didn’t buy it, I built it myself<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s all 25mm SHS 1.6mm walled steel, a mix of 10\/12\/17mm plywood, 4?mm MDF, 3mm acrylic\/plastic and paint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of the cockpit panels I designed myself and laser cut in my garage. All of the switches and buttons are cheap ones I bought from eBay and Aliexpress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is only a few real specialised items that I splashed out on, & whilst I am intending to design\/build my own versions of those, circumstances causing too much of a delay were untenable to the projects continuation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much did it cost?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Thats the number one question I get asked! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike warthog project – I didn’t do a very detailed breakdown of my costs, most of my materials was scrap or non -structural packing ply that I scrounged up over the last few years & stockpiled until I was ready to begin construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The planning & preparation have been occurring sporadically over the past ~6<8 years or so… some of the stuff I have been holding onto for even longer than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During that time, I have been collecting stock like scrap & offcuts of plywood sheets, either free or as cheap as i could find, trying to be as frugle with my retirement $$$ as possible, when purchasing new I have normally waited for heavily discounted sales or releases of newer generations of gear, then purchased last gens kit at a reduced price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most expensive parts of the cockpit are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Item<\/th>status<\/th>amount<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
HP Reverb G2<\/td> 2nd hand<\/td>AUD$500<\/td><\/tr>
Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS suite<\/td> 2nd hand<\/td>AUD$450<\/td><\/tr>
Thrustmaster TPR pedals<\/td>2nd hand<\/td>AUD$400<\/td><\/tr>
Tek Creations Keyboard Unit (without screen)<\/td>New<\/td>AUD$248<\/td><\/tr>
VKBsim Left hand SCG grip on Gladiator <\/td>New<\/td>AUD$150<\/td><\/tr>
VKBsim Right hand SCG grip on Gladiator NXT <\/td>New<\/td>AUD$165<\/td><\/tr>
Virpil Twist throttle Collective with UH-60 grip<\/td>New [a birthday present for myself]
(20% discount from virpil panel competition)<\/td>		AUD$765<\/td><\/tr>
Total Controls – Apache MPD frames x 2<\/td>New<\/td>AUD$450<\/td><\/tr>
K-51 collective<\/td>New (shipped)<\/td>AUD$436<\/td><\/tr>
electronics – Nextion screens (x4)
7.0″, 5.0″, 3.5″, 2.4″<\/td>		New (shipped)<\/td>AUD$195<\/td><\/tr>
electronics – custom PCB EUFD<\/td>New <\/td>AUD$14<\/td><\/tr>
electronics – custom PCB MFD<\/td>New <\/td>AUD$28<\/td><\/tr>
electronics – custom PCB TEDAC<\/td>New <\/td>AUD$19<\/td><\/tr>
APACHE AH64 Throttle Panel CAD<\/td>New<\/td>AUD$104<\/td><\/tr>
most expensive component, by far is the G-seat<\/td>mixed<\/td>see below<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody>
Simpit Cost<\/td>sub-total<\/td>~AUD$3320<\/td><\/tr><\/tfoot><\/table>
Table1 : simpit cost<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
G-seat Item<\/strong><\/th>status<\/strong><\/th>amount<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
steel SHS 25x225x1.6mm<\/td> repurposed from other projects<\/td>AUD$250<\/td><\/tr>
5-point racing harness<\/td>New<\/td>AUD$68<\/td><\/tr>
electronics – 24VDC motors x3 <\/td>2nd hand<\/td>AUD$435<\/td><\/tr>
electronics – 12V DC power supply x2<\/td>2nd hand<\/td>AUD$50<\/td><\/tr>
electronics – driver controller cards<\/td>New<\/td>AUD$480<\/td><\/tr>
electronics – rotary sensors<\/td>New<\/td>AUD$190<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody>
G-seat cost<\/td>sub-total<\/td>~AUD$1223<\/td><\/tr><\/tfoot><\/table>
Table1 : G-seat cost<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It took a lot of work over many different mediums to get it done, I learnt how to weld properly from a TAFE teacher on weekends, (poorly executed) woodworking, acrylic cutting & engraving, PCB design & manufacture… & painting, you have no idea how much I hate painting…. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why not just use VR?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I wanted to provide a better CPG experience than can be achieved in VR, for the CPG I don’t feel it is as important, as you spend the vast majority heads down…. real world this might not be the case & the pilots would share the heads in\/out workload as each performs specific tasks, however in DCS… & with budgets & technology limitations…. the CPG is in 2D only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I do actually use VR in this cockpit- I have an HP Reverb G2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both VR and physical cockpits with large screens have their pros and cons, and I enjoy both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don’t think VR has replaced physical cockpits… just yet. But I hope AR (Augmented Reality) isn’t too far away & affordably in reach in the not too distant future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What video game is that?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

 DCS World<\/u><\/a>, with the AH-64D Apache module. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I do fly other DCS modules (sometimes) in this cockpit as well, namely;<\/p>\n\n\n\n