Hi everyone, I’m new to Mudspike, because one of my team mates from EAF saw this post and suggested I share my Spitfire cockpit with you.
About two years ago I wanted more realism when flying WWII prop and decided to build full scale replica Spitfire MkIX flying controls, particularly with the arrival of the DCS Spitfire. I started off by getting original Supermarine Aviation Works engineering drawings and buying Paul Montforton’s e-book “Spitfire MkIX/XVI”, which I highly recommend.
The design challenge was to include modern electrical components to replace the original mechanical, pneumatic or old electrical systems without altering the exterior aspect & dimensions of the components. I use 123D Design to re-create the parts and Repetier to send the drawings to a 3D printer (Anet A8). Most of the kit is made up from 3D printed PLA with the addition of PVC tubes for control column, spring loaded strut (simulating elevator control rod), aluminium bars (to support a left hand cockpit panel and fit it to a desk or worktop) and real nuts, bolts, screws & washers (the assemblies are more or less put together like the real thing) and 3mm board for the cockpit panel.
The current desk mounted kit includes a portion of left hand curved cockpit panel upon which are mounted rudder & elevator trim wheels, a throttle quadrant with Fuel Cutoff lever, Throttle lever with bomb release button in the grip, an adjustable max take-off stop, Airscrew Control lever, a dummy u/c warning horn switch, and a working friction wheel and lever. This port cockpit panel also includes a replica VHF Remote Controller Unit with 7 user programmable buttons and working dimmer slider. This unit houses an Arduino Leonardo game controller to which all the “cockpit” controls are wired and plugs into the pc via a standard USB cable. The kit has a floor standing control column fixed to a wooden base which can be either ballasted or screwed to the floor. The control column is held in place by a spring loaded strut which keeps the column at its 11° aft rest position and provides increasing resistance as it reaches travel limits. The column has an articulated spade grip with rubberized covering. The spade grip includes a working brakes lever and two-way firing paddle (which allows cannon or machine gun or both) with working safety catch (mechanical & electronic). There is a second game controller at the base of the control column.
I have started work on items for the right hand side cockpit and for the moment I have the Chassis Control Unit which replicates the lever movement of the original and has a working status indicator (Up-Idle-Down). I plan to add other items such as the auxiliary tank cock & jettison lever.
I am also working on a transportable full scale cockpit, which will include the above controls. The idea is to be able to take it to airshows, museums and events so that others can share a realistic Spitfire flying experience. This cockpit will slide apart to allow easy access. The first version is designed for IR tracking with a cut out in the instrument panel and cockpit coaming to allow a screen to be fitted. I plan to build a full scale cockpit section mounted on actuators for use with VR.
Desk mounted kit :
As others have no doubt already said, once you get into this sort of “trip” you never see the end, but I have recently retired and it keeps me out the pub !
The main benefit is of course being able to fly a Spitfire “just like the real thing” without relying on modern HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick) style controls. With this kit no hat switches nor 15 buttons at your fingertips, you fly right hand on the grip with the left hand darting around the cockpit to adjust the trim wheels, throttle, rpm lever and radio buttons. On take off you have to switch hands to operate the chassis lever, with its own particular procedure to get out of the gate, and one can experience how novice pilots often “porpoised” during this maneuver. But I can’t wait to get my VR cockpit in action as a Norwegian friend sent me a video of his cockpit with my controls installed and said it was a truly amazing 3D experience where the controls perfectly match what you see.
Will post up pics of the full cockpit when I get time to do more work on it.
Our boys like to drive so I need the flexibility of moving the wheels and pedals as well.
