3D Printed F/A-18 Hornet Cockpit for DCS World

Its been a labor of love over about a 2 year period but here is a tour of my Hornet cockpit for DCS. I play in VR so the goal was to get all the controls in as close to the right spot as possible so what you see in VR is what you feel with your hands. Its mostly 3D printed, with a combination of Arduino and Leo Bodnar controllers. Let me know if you have any questions or comments. I'm more than happy to help out where I can. 3D Print files are available below. Donations appreciated but not mandatory - paypal - [e-mail]
2023 UPDATE VIDEO:
• 3D Printed F/A-18C Coc...
forums.eagle.ru/topic/282409-... - ED forum post on the consoles
forums.eagle.ru/topic/236378-... - Original thread on the front panel build
drive.google.com/drive/folder... - Google drive with files
TWITCH: / jselfdcs
www.vcsg3.com - The DCS world group I'm a part of.
tex csg3 dcs cockpit

[@johnw9831]

The best thing I like about this video is that I can show it to my Wife when she’s worried that I’m out of control

[@DCSTex]

HAHA

[@azmanmdsalleh2009]

Her vision similar to my wife also

[@pmadood6970]

cracked me up lol

[@Strengthandconditioning60]

I ALWAYS show my wife the most expensive thing I can find when I want a new toy, that way way when I show her what I would "settle" for I actually get what I really wanted in the first place.

[@borisrazmiki8296]

😂 wives… can’t live with them can’t live without them.

[@1989rbrown]

You should have installed it on your roof, with a real ejector seat. And when you land in your neighbour's pool they can be dressed up as a sea rescue unit

[@zzbudzz]

Lmao 🤣🤣

[@Skim_beeble7125]

I can see it your on your roof screaming you have bandit on your ass and then just send it and launch up into the sky

[@baconvegan5741]

Lmfao

[@thanak.2419]

Lol

[@InfamousRecons]

Funniest thing I've heard all day!! His setup is awesome when I can afford it maybe I'll install it on a roof...

[@zhiliw4856]

So realistic, it even costs as much as a real F/A-18.

[@phuckfumassters]

lmao

[@funtourhawk]

straight up, for the price/effort I'd rather just go learn how to fly a real plane lmao

[@JTD472]

@@funtourhawk clearly don’t know how hard it is to get hours

[@trazyntheinfinite9895]

@@funtourhawk "a real plane" unless we talking spitfire or mustang..... what you gonna do with a birdmincer.

[@CmdrKiillerjoy]

@@JTD472 Actually it's easy join the navy they need pilots

[@coffeecat4506]

Really wish stuff like this was manufactured, this is *way* beyond a HOTAS system and is an absolutely incredible setup, well done!

[@alexsp7086]

I'm working on an F16 version front panel system that will attach to a desk or sim rig. If it goes well i will try and marketize it.

[@yourallygod8261]

@@alexsp7086 goodluck and may you prosper in this attempt

[@Kaarna5]

"This is way beyond a HOTAS system" No shit?

[@ExtremelyAverage1]

A lot of it is, now. I'm looking at a shop called "Coutronics" for the main panels, winwing for the MIP, and almost all the rest comes from Etsy and a place called TekCreations. One.can now build an entire hornet sim by delivery.

[@_Matsimus_]

I can barely keep my computer desk clean and this dude has made skynet in sim form

[@matthewmcgreevy7270]

Very bad ass!!sound system to go aroun

[@JohnSmith-xq1pz]

Same despite my best efforts including massive cable management lol

[@Shbeeve]

same

[@marcelgordijn1400]

mhuhahaha right on

[@billywashere6965]

@@JohnSmith-xq1pz I used to have good cable management, but now it looks like an uncontrolled vine patch in the Amazon Rainforest behind the entertainment center, and I just can't be bothered to go back through and clean all of it up (a lot of it started getting messy when I introduced multiple VR headsets, one for PSVR and one for PC, and then added a wireless VR module, and the cords just never got clean again after that).

[@tomlaf1882]

*describes literally one of the best pc setups possible* “It runs it pretty well”

[@Zeithri]

You think this is good. You should see the guy who made an Elite Dangerous desk.

[@tomlaf1882]

@@CS-932 then what can?!

[@nut913]

Yeah that had me dead 😂

[@billywashere6965]

Yeah when he said 3090 Founder's Edition and "runs it pretty well" I almost did a spit take. Oh, what so many of us would give to get our hands on an RTX 3090 at a reasonable price.... 😔

[@JTD472]

@@Zeithri hey buddy after reading your comment I looked for elite dangerous setup videos and only found some that had low(ish) number of views, so not sure who you meant. Any chance you could give me a name or specify which setup you meant? Thanks

[@jayrose6312]

I served on an aircraft carrier (USS George Washington CVN-73) and had the opportunity to see some of this stuff 'up close and personal,' and with that being said this is simply bad ass! You really can't get much more realistic! Great job on both the design work and the electronics that goes into it!!!

[@whiskeyairsoft1729]

Jesus loves you

[@alyssadraculesti]

Ive been around 18's for a number of years, you did pretty damn good on this

[@whiskeyairsoft1729]

Jesus loves you

[@Aphex51]

Just wow. The attention to detail here is outstanding. Very impressed.

[@fladave99]

HI, I am an AIRFORCE RECRUITER and I wonder what you are doing for lunch tomorrow?

[@jackr0101]

@@fladave99 im having chicken sandwhichers

[@fladave99]

@@jackr0101 MOM! CHICKEN SANDWICH HERE PLEASE!

[@jackr0101]

@@fladave99 what?!?!? why!?!?!

[@astrixau8928]

The way you mapped the controlls is insane. You have the rotations and all. Sweet VR Build!

[@michaelsMW2movies]

yeah im shocked there is a game out there with this capability. How did he even go about mapping these controls? having everything recognised by the pc as an input device? I'm impressed to say the least

[@dangerously72]

@@michaelsMW2movies DCS has been around for probably 15 years.....actually, just checked...it came out in 2008.

[@James_Bee]

@@michaelsMW2movies The cockpit is not giving the PC any input. That is all done in VR. The cockpit is just to have the tactile feel of everything being real to the user while manipulating everything in VR. As he said, it isn't a 1:1 cockpit, but when he reaches for the controls in VR, the spacing is perfect for his cockpit.

[@DCSTex]

@@James_Bee Nope..the cockpit is giving the inputs to the game. works in or our of VR

[@realMaverickBuckley]

@@DCSTex Dude... I cannot express just how in awe of you (and envious) I am. I... I'm speechless. Well done.. I guess? Just seems a bit redundant 😳

[@rwilson4073]

Apart from the seat and the area around the sim, this looks nearly identical to what the real sims I've seen at an Air Force training base looked like from the inside, and I think they transplant a real frame and instrument panels for theirs, so bravo!

[@lucianphotography7240]

That is a fantastic set up. Wish you were my neighbor. Well done sir.

[@punkinpunker]

That is incredible. I can't even begin to get my head around that, very impressive.

[@caseyjay8097]

watch the video again and pause occasionally. It worked for me anyway. I'm still looking for the parachute

[@jaerbear7237]

Sweet setup. I really like how it doesn’t take up an entire room.

[@vert8739]

+its not messy and gross

[@niko7903]

Yeah, he decided to forego the wings.😉

[@jamesrosewell9081]

@@niko7903 haha!

[@tcox4508]

Badass set up man. Really impressed with the 3D printing. Your imagination is almost endless having access to one

[@QuackLoud]

Simply AWESOME!! You can tell that a lot of work went into this. Thanks.

[@ZionistSoldier]

Dude you must have a lot of other boxes in life ticked to spend this much time and money on this! I love it

[@benfrese3573]

Maybe that's true, maybe not. People don't need to have things in order to spend insane amounts of money and time on things that shouldn't be number one priority right now.

[@matthewknotts901]

Idk why you have a hornet and a tomcat in your pc, but that's epic lol

[@DCSTex]

Tomcat was my all time favorite jet, but for DCS the Hornet my favorite module

[@Iknow700]

@@DCSTex where did you buy them from? i've been wanting to do something like that with my computer

[@DCSTex]

@@Iknow700 ebay - search Hogan wings

[@cab6273]

Fly Navy! 🤙

[@mikerice5298]

@@DCSTex UFOs vs F- 18 super hornets from Uss Nimitz aircraft carrier and the its strike group Video shot by a F-18 off the coast Of California and Ensenada Mexico NOV 2004 UFO travel 60 miles 3,700 mph under a minute

[@chrischammas1]

In absolute awe of the detail

[@lucidc.f.3320]

Amazing! Nice work!

[@Cladcreeper]

0:40 love the little models you put in the computer! Would love to have a simulator like this!

[@missionslos8856]

Just hope the cooling works otherwise they'll melt

[@DurtKokayne]

I have a little model p51 in my rig that I have suspended with some fishing ling. pretty cool stuff lol

[@fellah4730]

@@DurtKokayne do you know what brand they are? i wanna get one for my pc

[@nickwhitney1534]

Not sure why this was in my recommended? I know nothing about planes or sims and didn’t understand half of what you said,but I’m blown away. Amazing work. Thanks for sharing.👍

[@DCSTex]

gotta love YT algorithm!!

[@kainejoyes2981]

props brother this is next level......just brilliant.

[@Hyperion9997]

That's amazing. Absolutely gobstopped looking at this. The detail.

[@oldmanfunky4909]

I've been following your work on the DCS forums and am currently educating myself with Arduino scripting and making circuits via the bread board. Love what you did!

[@CameTo]

Very impressive man! I have to "reach out into muscle memory" when I fly vr, I can imagine this rocks

[@boggy8557]

Very cool. Really nice build. Thank you so much for sharing the files.

[@Red80008]

Your passion is inspiring!

[@larryssuperhomearcades]

I’ve 3D printed one of the panels for my X-Wing simpit but I haven’t done any of the ones with toggle switches yet so I’m glad to see that it looks so good with your build!

[@UltraNyan]

I found your original thread on the forums and it really inspired me to learn fusion 360, hadn't modelled in CAD for like 4 years. Made a smaller remix of the jettison panel and 3d printed it on my ender 3. Its still sitting on my desk waiting for to be painted, soldered and programmed XD

[@DCSTex]

awesome!!

[@walterwhitesexer]

really good pacing in the video kept me interested the whole time

[@MeMyselfI_69]

Un-freaking believable this is awesome great work!

[@BrotherBloat]

Amazing stuff Tex! Never gets old looking at it!

[@DCSTex]

Thanks Bloat!!

[@nigelmtb]

Very nice work buddy. I've got a pit for my AV8B and I'm about to go the VR route. It's great to hear that you are able to find the controls like you do. I think I need to redesign some of the panels though for more one-to-one match between game and cockpit in the real world. I have a Mars 2 Pro - clearly I need to put it to better use!

[@sixgod6120]

BEAUTIFUL setup! Thanks for sharing 😎

[@ScottBickhaus]

Very impressive John! Thanks for sharing what you've built.

[@TheFlyingZulu]

This is badass... With this level of realistic simulation it seems like you could hop into the real one and pick it up quickly.

[@ferdware]

Stewardess: “Are there any passengers on board that are a pilot” Guy raises is hand! Stewardess: “Sir are you a pilot” Man: “Not really but I have a fully printed 3D cockpit in my bedroom with 500hrs of flight sim experience”🤣

[@nopenope5203]

There's no way it's just 500 hours. For someone to have the dedication to make a setup like that AND go through the effort of even mapping the controls... This guy has to have 1,000's of hours of playtime in that game.

[@ToreDL87]

@@nopenope5203 Barely have 200 myself and its astonishing how quick you learn!

[@Red80008]

seems legit ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@Menaceblue3]

Doctor: "The pilot, copilot, and half the passengers are sick and need to go to a hospital!" Stewardess: "A hospital? What is it?" Doctor: "A big building used for treating sick patients, but that's not important right now...."

[@nopenope5203]

@@Menaceblue3 Airplane was so good.

[@Pursc248]

dude this is truly amazing...so awesome!

[@micahleis5424]

My God, that's amazing!! I'm extremely impressed with this setup! Just wanted to let you know how awesome that is; I hope you're getting a ton of kicks out of it.

[@KevinDDom]

Impressive as hell. This is exactly what I'd like to try to build, even down to your ability to swap to different airframes.

[@Katronicle]

this is actually insane

[@65gtotrips]

🔰 My thought exactly…never seen anything like that in a home

[@iitzfizz]

damn you levelled up! really, really nice set up man!

[@ivananzellotti]

incredible job! congrats

[@xxbooflexx5024]

Brilliant, well done! I'm in the process of making my new hornet pit at the moment.. my Super Taurus arrived this week, amazing bit of gear. This video helps the motivation to keep moving forward with the project for sure, cheers.

[@thewarthogproject]

Great setup! I'm jealous of that collective!

[@MeppyMan]

Same. That’s the thing I focused on. My dream is to build a helicopter cockpit one day.

[@D0RYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY]

that is so awesome, good job!

[@Vandallolwut]

very cool! i might look your group up later on when i know what im doing in DCS.

[@miguelsouderado3459]

Dude. This is legit. My compliments on a pristine set up. If I weren’t into camping and over landing I’d be spending my money trying to build something similar.

[@johnnytrongaming]

Whoa someone that realizes there are different hobbies people like to spend their money on. I’m deep into the camping gear as well, but have been migrating to the flight sim.

[@sykosocial]

It would be incredible if you found a way to streamline this process and sell these as sets. Obviously multiple printers would be needed to cut time down per unit - thus creating a more consumer friendly cost. (with the screens/hardware either not being included or as an added purchasable option perhaps?) Purely hypothetical of course, just curious as to how much it would end up being for someone who's moderately interested in the concept. Really great work!

[@RisingDad]

@John Self I would be open to getting a 3d printer and printing/shipping these parts on demand if you wanted to get something going.

[@GastonDwarvenPilot]

Beautiful setup! Thanks for sharing!

[@notchabek7429]

Impressive. Thanks for sharing.

[@ezrolly898]

Imagine arm/ hand tracking with a 3d avatar and your pit. That'll be amazing

[@MyFavoriteDisease]

That would be kinda pointless IMHO. Why would you need hand tracking when you've got the physical switches right in front of you?

[@ezrolly898]

@@MyFavoriteDisease for hand tracking a pilot avatar

[@nameussurnamesky8984]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGXcfICVe8yAhac&ab_channel=VIPERWING.com%3AbuildingF-16%2CF-35andothersimulators%21

[@xavierrodriguez2463]

@@MyFavoriteDisease because it's in VR I reckon it'll be easier to place your hand if you can see where you hand is without needed a passthrough

[@abadran8174]

@@ezrolly898 but you wouldn't need any of the panels in you have hand tracking. you'd just reach the controls in the game.

[@GazAce]

Incredible effort man, totally outrageous ( in a good way of course ) The whole Pit set up, looks like it doesn't take up that much space either. Remarkable.. hats off to you brother 👌

[@DCSTex]

thanks

[@AirplanesLuxury]

Wow incredible work!

[@carlosalbertosantos7238]

Congratulatinos,,, very..very good !!!!!!

[@JDuBz815]

That's an interesting kitchen island lol

[@neehooya]

John, that’s so impressive. Thanks for sharing. What was your total time Dedicated to this build?

[@gordongoolsby6805]

truly awesome good job man

[@DeathCorax]

As someone who is also playing DCS in VR, I must really tell you: Awesome work! Looks so incredible good!

[@Glorious_Kim_Jong_Un]

I don't get impressed easily and this certainly is not one of those times and I'm not serious this is actually really amazing

[@Krispy453]

rip

[@raymond3855]

I wonder how many hours you put into this project. Really cool!

[@DCSTex]

I don't want to know...

[@FlightSim2703]

OMG this is wonderful, I love you settings 😊👍

[@TheSirBlackbird]

Impressionnant, majestueux, que dire de plus que, superbe travail ;)

[@leflopjames5628]

Dudes low key building a fighter jet from the inside out. Smart.

[@Adam-qk5tt]

Instead of VR i would put a huge Curved screen for this setup, its looking so good, for me personally it is a waste of immersion and time to play on this setup with VR ;) Thats just my small opinion :D Besides that it is a great job and amazing setup :) Good luck and Good Hunts Sir :)

[@BananaSentry]

I honestly think this is just the next best thing to full finger tracking, which seems to always be right around the corner. If finger tracking is worked right in dcs in conjunction with vr I'd find playing the game 100x more fun, especially with all these new headsets coming out with increased resolutions. I guess might also just like the idea of able to use head tracking for targeting 😅. Motion sims are also one of the few games i think have an actual use case for these force haptic gloves that are starting to get hyped.

[@dontbescaredhomie3137]

@@BananaSentry The next best thing would be a full motion sim. I've seen them for between 15-30k I think ? China. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nam7gHqYl7aWnKM It shouldn't be too difficult to build something like this yourself. I mean the software and hardware should be pretty straightforward for basic full motion sim in helicopters or not doing alerons and barrels quickly. (You would need a bunch of hydraulic actuators for that)

[@DCSTex]

A 2D screen will never beats depth perception of VR from an immersion standpoint

[@isodoubIet]

A curved screen works well for the warthog because you're mostly facing forward, but for a fighter when you're constantly looking up and back it's more awkward.

[@4SHIZZLE206]

Man, that is an awesome set up!

[@americanlawdawg3609]

That’s amazing, a lot of work! Great job !🇺🇸

[@jarrodsteers8991]

My question is: How sturdy is it? Do you have to worry about breaking the switches and dials? Or leaning too much on the stick and paneling?

[@AndroidFerret]

Looks pretty usable to me

[@jarrodsteers8991]

@@AndroidFerret I think so too. But I can get a bit rough when I have to act quickly in a game and I just was wondering if a setup like this can take rough treatment.

[@DCSTex]

Its mostly all 3D printed plastic, so it will break if overly stressed. I haven't broken anything yet, but some of the more intricate controls (parking brake, hook, g ear, etc) I'm pretty gentle with

[@jarrodsteers8991]

@@DCSTex Thanks.

[@Fastbikkel]

Nice! Thanks for sharing.

[@MsTheCops]

exceptional work

[@uther10]

Epic build!

[@tuffguy007]

Well done Sir.

[@Mikebuster]

this has opened my eyes to the potential when it comes to 3d printing and home cockpits. good video

[@rhodie33]

looks amazing

[@jaxgrier9935]

holly crap thats insane great job

[@alias555aka]

Awesome job. I'm waiting for some parts to arrive before I start something similar as well.

[@JulioRad954]

Beautiful!

[@wayneaustin5533]

You're really committed to the process.

[@butejmanuel9762]

Holy shit amazing work greetings from Austria 👌

[@tituslaronius]

This is mind-blowing

[@ditleif6165]

that setup is freaking awesome

[@TheNukite]

Awesome! Greetings from Sweden.

[@grumpyirish9627]

That looks fantastic!!!

[@indigosaiyan4738]

Actual boss for doing this! Good work!

[@robotmonkeys]

This is just great. I love it

[@gatorboots7608]

Man, that’s freaking cool! Nice!

[@mholden020]

Tremendously impressive, nice work!

[@sppoitier1]

Absolutely awesome.

[@SlickDiecast]

This is very impressive!

[@carlstevens6670]

Great Job!!!

[@adamkreuz9068]

I am blown away, this is so cool!!!

[@romanpotichko509]

Great job 👌

[@jaxrammus9165]

dude holy shit... this entire set up is just insane!

[@Rockethead293]

Whoa. That's... that's the best setup I've ever seen honestly

[@FRED-CONNOR]

Wow absolute great...realy good work. nice. I like this so much. A Dream

[@billywashere6965]

Wow, just wow.... just wow.... I can't even imagine the amount of dedication it would take to build something like this out. I get exhausted just going through the process of setting up/turning on the wheel kit for racing ames, HOSAS for Star Citizen, and VR for VR games. I can't even imagine going through the process of 3D printing an accurate near 1:1 model cockpit and getting all of the cabling right. But that's fandom to the next level! Love that enthusiasm man. Unbelievable work. Wish there was a Super Like button for videos like this.

[@rpals5412]

Phew... that's next level geek setup ❤️ amazing work there

[@RBomb62]

This is probably one of the coolest things that I've ever seen. Congrats bro

[@clausbohm9807]

This is INSANE!!!!!! My brother is going to love this.