My simpit control panel - Orbiter-Forum

Mulbin · 05-12-2016, 10:06 PM

Hi all,

Long time lurker! I've been meaning to post this now for ages, it's a panel I was working on for KSP but with plans to also code it for Orbiter. It's temporarily shelved due to my other work but it will one day be housed as part of a full simpit!

**Quick_Nick** · 05-12-2016, 10:32 PM

That is beautiful!
You could totally make an Apollo simpit for NASSP (7) with the same components.
You're going to have to share your source of components, especially those text decals, because it's all very convincingly 'Apollo'.

**Notebook** · 05-13-2016, 06:45 AM

Very nice! The switch guards are a realistic touch, its always the details that make things.
Are those toggle-switches spring loaded locking types?

N.

**Phil Smith** · 05-13-2016, 07:06 AM

That's great, Mulbin!
Can I ask some questions please?
- What material you've used to manufacture the panel itself?
- How you put labels on it?
- These lamps look awesome! Old-school-ish

Are there LEDs inside?

Good job, keep us posted!

Mulbin · 05-13-2016, 02:35 PM

The panel is made from aluminium composite board (sometimes referred to as dibond), the same material used for external business signage. I designed the full panel as an art file and sent it to a sign printing company so it is printed directly on to the surface. I then trimmed and drilled it. Dibond is really easy to work with as it is actually a hard plastic board with a thin metal skin.

---------- Post added at 02:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:31 PM ----------

The switches are standard two and three position toggles running through an arduino board. The lamps each have a bright three colour led so can display red Amber or green to show different status'

---------- Post added at 02:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:34 PM ----------

The switch guards are galvanised U bolts from a hardware store.

fred18 · 05-13-2016, 05:07 PM

Can I ask what is the font of the texts?

**Hlynkacg** · 05-13-2016, 09:36 PM

looks like Tahoma, but don't quote me on that.

**Ripley** · 05-13-2016, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulbin

...I've been meaning to post this now for ages, it's a panel I was working on for KSP but with plans to also code it for Orbiter...

Drooooooooooool!!!

Mulbin · 05-14-2016, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fred18

Can I ask what is the font of the texts?

I can't 100% remember but I'm pretty sure it's Futura. Futura is pretty close to the Apollo era font.

---------- Post added at 10:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ----------

The reason I have so little time to work on it is I'm focussing on VR cockpits these days

http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthr...158#post533158

But hope to pick things up again once my game is published.

---------- Post added 05-14-16 at 04:51 PM ---------- Previous post was 05-13-16 at 10:50 PM ----------

Yep, checked the files it's futura (the same thing I use for the mercury panels).

You can get a fairly good match to most 1960s era panels, using either standard or bold - blod tends to suit apollo style while the regular is closer to mercury.

Not sure what the shuttle had... might work for that too!

---------- Post added at 11:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:51 PM ----------

A couple more images showing the art file and a possible layout for my finished panels (on day!).

05-12-2016, 10:06 PM	#1
Mulbin Orbinaut	My simpit control panel Hi all, Long time lurker! I've been meaning to post this now for ages, it's a panel I was working on for KSP but with plans to also code it for Orbiter. It's temporarily shelved due to my other work but it will one day be housed as part of a full simpit!

05-13-2016, 07:06 AM	#4
Phil Smith Donator	That's great, Mulbin! Can I ask some questions please? - What material you've used to manufacture the panel itself? - How you put labels on it? - These lamps look awesome! Old-school-ish Are there LEDs inside? Good job, keep us posted! Last edited by Phil Smith; 05-13-2016 at 07:08 AM.

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05-12-2016, 10:32 PM	#2
Quick_Nick Passed the Turing Test	That is beautiful! You could totally make an Apollo simpit for NASSP (7) with the same components. You're going to have to share your source of components, especially those text decals, because it's all very convincingly 'Apollo'.

05-13-2016, 06:45 AM	#3
Notebook Donator	Very nice! The switch guards are a realistic touch, its always the details that make things. Are those toggle-switches spring loaded locking types? N.

05-13-2016, 02:35 PM	#5
Mulbin Orbinaut	The panel is made from aluminium composite board (sometimes referred to as dibond), the same material used for external business signage. I designed the full panel as an art file and sent it to a sign printing company so it is printed directly on to the surface. I then trimmed and drilled it. Dibond is really easy to work with as it is actually a hard plastic board with a thin metal skin. ---------- Post added at 02:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:31 PM ---------- The switches are standard two and three position toggles running through an arduino board. The lamps each have a bright three colour led so can display red Amber or green to show different status' ---------- Post added at 02:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:34 PM ---------- The switch guards are galvanised U bolts from a hardware store.

05-13-2016, 05:07 PM	#6
fred18 Addon Developer	Can I ask what is the font of the texts?

05-13-2016, 09:36 PM	#7
Hlynkacg Aspiring rocket scientist	looks like Tahoma, but don't quote me on that.

05-13-2016, 09:39 PM	#8
Ripley Tutorial translator	Quote: Originally Posted by Mulbin ...I've been meaning to post this now for ages, it's a panel I was working on for KSP but with plans to also code it for Orbiter... Drooooooooooool!!!

05-14-2016, 11:17 PM	#9
Mulbin Orbinaut	Quote: Originally Posted by fred18 Can I ask what is the font of the texts? I can't 100% remember but I'm pretty sure it's Futura. Futura is pretty close to the Apollo era font. ---------- Post added at 10:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ---------- The reason I have so little time to work on it is I'm focussing on VR cockpits these days http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthr...158#post533158 But hope to pick things up again once my game is published. ---------- Post added 05-14-16 at 04:51 PM ---------- Previous post was 05-13-16 at 10:50 PM ---------- Yep, checked the files it's futura (the same thing I use for the mercury panels). You can get a fairly good match to most 1960s era panels, using either standard or bold - blod tends to suit apollo style while the regular is closer to mercury. Not sure what the shuttle had... might work for that too! ---------- Post added at 11:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:51 PM ---------- A couple more images showing the art file and a possible layout for my finished panels (on day!).