Got my CockpitSonic B737 Clock with Interface in the mail today. I’ve finally replaced the PS1 Clock Screen, it just got to be a hassle as newer video cards are starting to be problematic with TV Out, updated Windows drivers are causing problems and most of the time you run into 3D/OpenGL issues with them. So, I bought a nice replica working clock that also interfaces USB with FSX.

The clock is very well built and looks really nice!! The pictures don’t do it justice! When I get power I will post some photos of it illuminated. I will have to order another for the FO side now!

Placed my order for the new MCP and EFIS’s (both Captain and FO) and Robert said they should be here in a couple weeks!

Here’s a video another user made of theirs:

Over the past week I added a few light switches behind the overhead. Since I don’t have a working aft overhead yet, these work well!

Another quick shot, progress has been made in the roof liners. Simple but effective. Am working on a few switches for lights now and will post pictures when all this is completed :)

Just a few picts I took this evening. Spent 12 hours rewiring everything, brand new usb powered hubs, longer cables, and labeled everything.

Over the last month I’ve been trying to get a chronometer (a clock) working. My first attempt was to use an old Matrox Orbital LCD screen I had. I modified an old clock insert I had from the 747 years ago and it “worked”.

The problem was, it only displayed the PC time. It would not let you display FS time/Zulu time. Sure, you can set the PC clock to zulu time, but I just didn’t want that.

The next thing I tried was a $100 LCD from Fry’s that is used with a reverse camera for a car.

This LCD has composite in, so coming out from the video card it would work great! PROBLEM.. it’s a 16:9 screen. IE Widescreen. There are no controls to change the aspect ratio, so, the chronometer from project magenta was oval shaped. Strike two.

Then, I recalled people (even FDS) using PSOne screens for their CDU’s and thought I’d give them a try. I ordered two off Ebay, about $45 each.

I went to Radioshack and bought a stereo mini 8 plug (that has 3 connectors, NOT 2…) and has a female RCA end. From there it’s just RCA to the video card, done! (You can see the connector in this photo, its the silver one)

And the result is….

WOW!

This is running another copy of the PFD project magenta software, with the chronometer on and the only thing showing. The PSOne screen has a white border around it that shows a little through the FDS clock hole. I solved that by putting a little piece of paper on the right side. When viewed straight on, you can see it (as in this photo) but from the captain’s chair you do not see it, neat!

Here’s a few pictures I took tonight! It’s coming along nicely!

(View High Quality Here)

(View High Quality Here)

(View High Quality Here)

(View High Quality Here)

I have to admit the TSR software is pretty neat! I picked up the whole package during the 20% off sale, so I have the B737 software, the Autobrake Pro and the Electronic Checklist. I added the extra sound information to pmsounds for the AutoBrake but have not really tried that yet.

Today I spent most of the day reconfiguring buttons, programming the offset information for the AFDS on the Captain’s side (I don’t have the F/O’s side wired up yet) and then setting up the electronic checklist. I setup four of my GoFlight P8 buttons to use FSUIPC offsets which control the program directly. Here’s a video of that in action!

One important thing I learned. If you create your own checklists, they MUST be created and / or edited in WordPad or the like. Notepad screws the formatting up and the software will default to the base file. Which, even after removed, still seems to find it somewhere. Anyhow, knowning that will save you lots of time! I sent Thomas an email for his new manual revision.

Just a couple of updates. The old ch rudder pedals and the saitek yoke “work” and I use that term lightly. I can’t “wait”!!! to replace those things… So while the FDS glare gets cut and coated, I’ve setup the projector. Tomorrow I’ll install the screen. Here’s a pict of the sim as it stands right now, need to now build the FO’s chair. (Office stand in as stand by) And below of it running with the just the Captain/FO PFD/ND and the EICAS with the projector.

A good “test” of the projector, with no screen! But the eye point is completely wrong.

When it’s ceiling mounted that will be corrected. (See image below)

Moved the MIP over to where I’m going to build the shell, etc. Right now have a 24″ LCD mounted to the wall until I get a projector based visual system going. Once the CDU bay arrives I’ll put that in place instead of a kitchen chair heh, and I’ve placed the glare order with FDS so that should get going sometime this week and will finally have a place to put the EFIS and MCP! Then, the real yolks and throttle, pedastal, overhead… So much more to do!

Had to make a couple more trips to Home Depot and Pepboys for hardware, but all in all these screens went in pretty smoothly! The EICAS screen is a 15″ monitor that a client of mine was going to throw out long ago. I had brought it home and it was my daughter’s screen. Glad I saved it, it fit great! I’ll set the mip on a chair (CDU bay is still in the works) and give it a test run tonight!

Picked up two Acer 19″ widescreens yesterday model X193W from Frys. I was hesitant to remove the casing but after doing some test fits it became clear they’d have to come off. More picts soon!