Building a 737-800 Homecockpit [OE-LNJ]
using ProSim737
![Building a 737-800 Homecockpit [OE-LNJ]](https://737cockpit.info/wp-content/files/2016/05/Header_6.jpg)
Last week I have started to build the afterwards overhead panel.
I have received the package from Opencockpits.
Same as we did for the overhead, I have built a wooden support structure.
Next is the wiring to be done from all switches and LED indicators. One little modification will be made there. The ALIGN LEDs will be switched to white LEDs, as it is in real.
Today I have managed to build in the hardware for the 1st office 6 pack and the master warning as well as the fire warning. (Thanks to my dad đŸ™‚ ).
This was the last update for 2014. In 2015 I will start wiring the indicators and switches to make it functional.
Also I will start with the aft. overhead panel and on the to do list there is also a possible migration to the Prepar3D simulator.
As well as to finish the seat and the shell. So as you can see a nicely planned 2015 will land soon đŸ™‚
I wish you all the best for 2015!
As mentioned earlier in a post I am also working on a captains and first officer seat.
Now I have started one and can show you some pictures.
I have cut out a numbers of wooden parts and built them together.
As for now the seat is done except the back of the chair. I also have to find the optimum seat height to finalize the adjustment with the bolts.
I started working also on an old long idea. To have the ATC COM in the cockpit from above instead of normal desktop speakers.
My requirements:
after a little research I found a cheap and simple solution for my needs.
I purchased via Amazon a small car HiFi amplifier, hooked it up to a 12V/2A power supply and connected my USB Soundcard as an input device.
The round speakers were purchased from ebay and built into the overhead next to the lights.
Later the amplifier will be build into the captains side wall then it will be possible to change also the volume from the ATC.
Via the pedestal I can switch between the two configurations: Headset only or Headset and Speaker Output (I have made a video some years ago).
This makes it very convenient during the flight phases.
Yesterday we have started with the planks of the cockpit shell. We also have built two small racks where the rear speakers are hosted.
We also included a light switch on the outside. With this switch it will be able to switch the dome light on when you enter the cockpit. You can switch it off with the switch located in the aft overhead.
Also we continued with the shell building and mounted the light panels. In a couple of days in those panels I will build in the ATC speakers (a separate post on this topic will follow as soon as it is finished)
Last but not least, we started on the Captain seat. Also there I will post a separate story when I can show you the progress.
During the building of the room and the wall between we have installed also a light switch and a light to have an additional lightsource when you work in the back of the cockpit.
Everyone who was working never came into their mind that the switch is direct in the projector area. Therefore it was required to move the switch out of the projections area.
This was accomplished yesterday. Below you can see an image after the move. In a couple of days it will get painted so you won’t see the plug anymore.
As well today I have installed a floor cable management.
So it is easier to walk behind the cockpit for some maintenance and cleaning đŸ˜‰
Today I have managed to get my ACARS printer finally working. With the use of the great freeware tool called ProSimUtils from Humberto.
You can download it here, in the ProSim Forum.
The software itself is quite simple to configure. You need a login code from Hoppie, you can get it here.
In conjunction with Topcat you can make all the calculation from Topcat for Takeoff and landing within the CDU in your cockpit. And finally you can print the report on your ACARS printer.
It looks like this:
Make sure you have on your ProSim Server machine the printer installed (either connected or connected from a network share) as ProSim handles the printing from the server application.
I also started working on the wet compass. Therefore I have purchased a small 4.3″ monitor .
With PROSIM the compass is displayed on the small monitor, which is connected to an PC VGA to Chinch converter .
Today we have continued the shell. We got so far, that we could insert the overhead panel back into the place it belongs. Also all the electronic cards (joystick cards, LED cards, etc.) got rearranged and mounted again.
The next step is to rewire all the cards and boot up the system again, check for failures and start the repairing.
During this weekend, I had some hours time to build the SixPack for the 1st officer side.
All parts where glued together and got soldered.
During the next weeks it will be build into the MIP.
