The V-Pit a homebuilt flight simulator cockpit Pics

These are photos of the projection system I've added. The screen is approximately 30.5" wide by 23.5" high, this approximates a 37" monitor. The screen required some experimenting to find the right material.

The system is set up as rear projection, meaning the projector is facing the back of the screen, several feet in front of the cockpit. I didn't have the room and could not get a good mounting angle on the cockpit for front projection. This way I can change the size of the projected video by moving the projector in or out.

After experimenting with a small DA-LITE rear projection screen that was pretty expensive, then a window shade, sheets etc,. I found the perfect medium, a white plastic shower curtain liner, no hot spots no unwanted reflections and not too much light loss.

The great part is it's dirt cheap and can be made almost any size you want. The in the photo material is stretched an mounted on 1/4" x 3/4" wood framing. This is then screwed to a fiberboard frame which is painted black.

This is the projector which had became obsolete because of age and brightness, it was bound for the scrap pile. It sits on a cart about 6 feet in front of the cockpit. The size of the image is adjusted by moving the cart.

The photos are of the system in action they are taken from the cockpit. The projector is VGA (800x600) and only 225 Lumens but still illuminates a bright picture onto the shower curtain, the lights in the room have to be dimmed though, but it is still amazingly bright for 225 Lumens.

The photos don't really do it justice. The first 2 photos show Combat Flight Simulator, one from the cockpit and the other from the front of the cockpit. The CSF Mustang canopy frame is 31" from side to side, other shots are of ADF F-22 and Pro Pilot 99.

It looks great! like you're sitting inside a full cockpit instead of a miniature aircraft. If you do go this route get a fairly new projector that has 500 - 1000 lumens (for rear projection, the projector is facing you, it's bright) and can support SVGA, but it also looks great at 800x600.