[simpits-tech] So I've got this huge thing in my garage now.....

[Matt Bailey]

On Thu, 8 Aug 2013 07:35:35 -0700 (PDT)
geneb <geneb at deltasoft.com> wrote:

> On Wed, 7 Aug 2013, Matt Bailey wrote:
> 
> >
> > Of course, this is not a huge issue if I use it as a BP screen with
> > a Mylar mirror in front of the cockpit, since I can put the
> > projectors truly in line with the screen's plane.
> >
> If it was ME, I'd build a mirror cell for that screen.  The screen
> itself is the hardest part of the whole build - it takes a LOT of
> time to build one like Wayne & I did.  You've got the hard part
> done.  (Well except for hanging the Mylar - that's going to be
> entertaining to say the least.)

Oh I think a full Mylar mirror and proper setup is my destiny! :) I was
chatting about it with my wife (who is incredibly supportive, by the
way....she is the one who urged me to bring the BP screen along for the
1,000+ mile journey home, no matter what), and we have decided it is
only right to make this thing work as it was originally intended. :)

I did some more testing last night, and have developed a new plan: my
20'x22'ft garage is busting at the seams to handle my sim, workbench,
washer/dryer, model planes, AND this big ol' new screen. I think the
20+ft Mylar screen is out of the question. However, I was already in
the early design phase of a new workshop. We figure I can do a 35'x35'
shop in the side yard, or a 45'x23' if I lay it out a bit differently.
Either way, I can dedicate a good half of this building to the nose
section of a real plane (when/if I get it...crossing fingers) and a nice
big Mylar screen in front of it. With a 12ft ceiling, I should be able
to squeeze in the BP screen above the plane.

This leaves me needing some new equipment, namely: at least one more
visuals PC, three short-throw projectors, and quite possibly some
mirrors. Now, last night I moved stuff around and was able to beam the
projector from the outside of the BP screen. The image inside was
better than I was even hoping for, it looks nearly identical to the
image on the outside with the projector inside the screen. What I
could do for now is beam three projectors from the outside, and set
the screen in front of my sim, using it as the primary screen. Of
course, there's lots of distortion, which leaves me still needing some
Linux-friendly screen warping software. This would already be far and
away better than even my most ambitious plan prior to acquiring the
screen (cylindrical screen), and would probably look really good. Then
once I build the shop, I would also build the Mylar screen.

Ya know, this all started as a little desktop instrument panel that
could be lifted by one person and tossed into the back of a mini-van,
and was built in the back room of a house with less square footage than
my current garage, which is now "too small"....what happened??? :)

Matt