[simpits-tech] Big screens and big fresnels

[dabigboy at cox.net]

A'ight, so I've got this nice big 37" Tatung open-frame monitor running X-Plane 9 at the moment, and I got to thinking about a fresnel lens for it. I've toyed with fresnel lenses in the past, and was quite impressed with the image I got from a roughly 10x10" lens over my old 17" CRT years ago. But, 10x10" is one tiny image, collimation effects notwithstanding.

HOWEVER, a huge 40"+ lens might look real good on my rig, perhaps? So I started browsing and ran across this:

http://www.greenpowerscience.com/FRESNELSHOP/45INCHSPOT.html

I'm guessing this is a BAD idea simply because I've not seen or heard of a single simpitter trying it.....or maybe no one has thought of it yet? It does seem that most builders go projection or multi-monitor when they want this much screen real estate.

My main concern is that at 45" on a fresnel, I'm nearing the threshold of what looks "right" with a single-plane surface. Additionally, I'm not sure how the left and right extreme areas of the screen would look, due to the long distance and more extreme viewing angles we're talking about. Has anyone tried this? Thought I would check before I chuck ~$200 at the idea.

Matt