Author Topic: DIY HUD (Read 17667 times)

GOONIE · « **on:** October 01, 2012, 07:32:09 pm »

Wanted to share some pics of the simple HUD I built for my flight sim this weekend.

I normally fly using the 2D HUD (no physical HUD brackets shown) in FSX to keep frame rates up, and so I thought I would try to build a simple HUD this weekend to add realism. I couldn't believe how easy it was to build and how much of an effect it had on flying the sim in the 2D HUD view, e.g. I have to peek around the HUD bracket in close to see the ball. It definitely adds a whole level of realism to the flight sim experience (similar I guess to Track IR). I was aiming to create an F/A-18 HUD, but it ended up more like a T-45 HUD. I plan to build a second one more like the F/A-18 next, now that I have some experience building one. I included a couple pictures, doesn't really do the HUD justice, but thought you would appreciate seeing it.

-GOONIE

Mickey_Techy · « **Reply #1 on:** October 01, 2012, 07:55:15 pm »

Thank you for sharing these pictures Goonie.

I've been planning my pit for a long time also, and have now (almost) reached the stage where I'm going to start putting things together.

I had not planned a HUD in my build at all. Well, atleast not in the initial build, not until I saw your pictures.

Thank you so much for showing the way.

Mickey

PS: A log of my pit build is available at this link. It's not much right now, but I plan to make a lot of progress in the coming weeks.

Mickey_Techy · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2012, 08:01:22 pm »

Two sets of questions Goonie,

1. Do you maintain a log of your build activity? Is there a webpage, blog, forum-page you could point me to?

2. That AoA indexer is 'AWESOME'. Did you make it or purchase it? How do you pull out AoA info out of FSX to display on this gauge?

GOONIE · « **Reply #3 on:** October 01, 2012, 10:52:01 pm »

Mickey,

1. No sorry I don't, just this.

2. I wish a hardware solution existed, I am sure one could be made, but I am just using the 2d AoA guage on the screen shown through the HUD. I made a simple AoA window on the HUD. See photo number 1, you can see what I am talking about.

Anyone know of a AoA hardware solution?

-GOONIE

Mickey_Techy · « **Reply #4 on:** October 01, 2012, 11:11:28 pm »

Yeah okay.

Thanks.

GOONIE · « **Reply #5 on:** October 02, 2012, 05:24:50 pm »

Mickey,
Check this out http://www.pc9m.com/Home/electronics/angle-of-attack-indicator
GOONIE

Mickey_Techy · « **Reply #6 on:** October 02, 2012, 07:04:37 pm »

Thanks Goonie,

Read through that link and also another link referred thereon.

I like your rig better.

I will continue to explore other "ideas" also. But, I want to keep it simple. Only if there is no other option, I will use electronics to drive my LEDs.

There are two reasons why I want to stay away from these custom built micro controller cards:-

1. Me and 'electronics' don't like each other too much. My skills in electronics department are a little less than my skills in performing open heart surgery, which are, well....

2. I'm from India. Almost all the manufacturers of these specialist cards are based in US/Europe and some down under. Cost of shipping these items to me are a little more than twice the cost of product itself. Not to say, I have not purchased items from various online stores based in these countries. I have. But, only when there was no other easier option available.

Thank you anyways.

Paddles · « **Reply #7 on:** October 03, 2012, 06:23:56 am »

Quote from: GOONIE on October 01, 2012, 10:52:01 pm

I wish a hardware solution existed, I am sure one could be made...
Anyone know of a AoA hardware solution?

Actually there are many ways to implement an AoA, the easiest (and the cheapest) one is to use a parallel port of your computer - you arrange a set of three colored LEDs (light emitting diodes) in a AoA manner, connect them to the port and run a program, which will control the LEDs. You can find on the net lots of discussions and explanations as well as videos. I like this one http://www.cleghornelectronicskits.com/parallel-port-controlled-leds/, for example.

Indeed you will need a piece of software to control the lights but this is not a problem

Orion · « **Reply #8 on:** October 03, 2012, 07:35:29 am »

Quote from: fsxnavypilot on October 03, 2012, 06:23:56 am

Actually there are many ways to implement an AoA, the easiest (and the cheapest) one is to use a parallel port of your computer - you arrange a set of three colored LEDs (light emitting diodes) in a AoA manner, connect them to the port and run a program, which will control the LEDs. You can find on the net lots of discussions and explanations as well as videos. I like this one http://www.cleghornelectronicskits.com/parallel-port-controlled-leds/, for example. Indeed you will need a piece of software to control the lights but this is not a problem

Does anyone use parallel (or serial) ports anymore?

GOONIE · « **Reply #9 on:** October 03, 2012, 04:33:49 pm »

Quote from: fsxnavypilot on October 03, 2012, 06:23:56 am

Actually there are many ways to implement an AoA, the easiest (and the cheapest) one is to use a parallel port of your computer -

Easiest

Maybe for you Serge, this would take me awhile to figure out, could be a good challenge for the winter months.

Wonder if simconnect or FSUIPC would enable this hardware setup to talk to FSX?

-GOONIE

Mickey_Techy · « **Reply #10 on:** October 03, 2012, 05:47:32 pm »

Thanks Serge, but for the moment I continue to explore other options.

Inspired by Goonies rig, yesterday I experimented with using a periscope arrangement of two glass pieces to place an image of AoA indexer next to HUD bracket. "Experimentally" speaking the idea works, but the image appears focussed on infinity, so it kinda looks surreal.

Maybe I will eventually have to choose electronics to drive my LEDs. But, that will be a last resort, when all other help is lost.

Paddles · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2012, 05:33:48 am »

Quote from: Orion on October 03, 2012, 07:35:29 am

Does anyone use parallel (or serial) ports anymore?

Right, these good old ports have become obsolete, nowadays you can hardly find a new motherboard with the LPT or COM... However the LPT still remains the easiest option to implement an AoA. And for new MB owners there are PCI cards with LPT port onboard, like this one http://www.serialgear.com/1-Port-LPT-PCI-159548.html

Quote from: GOONIE on October 03, 2012, 04:33:49 pm

Wonder if simconnect or FSUIPC would enable this hardware setup to talk to FSX?

Yes, a small program would talk to FSX via SimConnect and control the AoA via the LPT port.

GOONIE · « **Reply #12 on:** March 02, 2013, 12:40:26 am »

Serge,
Just got my I/O board and built a test AoA indexer assembly, yes I know this is for VRS, and the prototype assembly looks pretty crappy, but I wanted to share. VRS is passing the LVars to my I/O board which drives the AoA lights. I plan to build a better looking AoA indexer now that I know it works (need brighter LEDs and a smaller assembly box).

GOONIE

Sludge · « **Reply #13 on:** March 04, 2013, 03:50:55 am »

Goonie...

Excellent HUD. Watched the video, then had to go back and watch your Fly Navy video. Great work.

Later
Sludge

GOONIE · « **Reply #14 on:** March 04, 2013, 06:45:12 pm »

Thanks, Sludge!

Silly how happy I was to get these three LEDs to light up and replicate the AoA indexer. I've flown it several times now, night traps are the best, having the AoA indexer light up really helps with the scan (meatball, lineup, AoA), and I have to peak around the HUD bracket IC to watch the ball, fun stuff.

Is it just me or do you tinker with FSX (coding, building, testing) just as much if not more than actually fly the sim? Funny how that is.

-GOONIE

News: