Ship Simulator

English forum => Ship Simulator Extremes => General discussions => Topic started by: bigkahuna on March 13, 2011, 14:12:57

Title: VRInsight - Ship Console questions?
Post by: bigkahuna on March 13, 2011, 14:12:57
I don't have the tools to fabricate a fully custom control box so I'm thinking whether I might be able to customize one of these instead.  Anyone have one of these consoles and can answer a few questions?

Are the rudder and throttles made out of plastic or metal?  How do they feel (cheap or "heavy duty")?  Ever look inside the box?  Does it look like it might be "customizable"?  I'm thinking about adding a potentiometer (instead of the two buttons) for bow thruster controls.  Does it look like the circuit board is "upgradeable"?
Title: Re: VRInsight - Ship Console questions?
Post by: Matthew Brown on March 13, 2011, 16:42:34
Hey! I have the ship console unit and will try my best for your questions  :)

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Are the rudder and throttles made out of plastic or metal?
Metal.

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How do they feel (cheap or "heavy duty")?
They do feel quite realistic.

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Ever look inside the box?
No, because a sticker says: "Do not open or dismantle the product. When it is done, warrant is avoid.

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Does it look like it might be "customizable"?
Don't think so.

Have you taken a look at shipdriver console btw?
Slightly cheaper and maybe easier for "your needs".
http://www.shipdriver.com/

Kind Regards

Matthew
Title: Re: VRInsight - Ship Console questions?
Post by: bigkahuna on March 13, 2011, 17:45:01
Thanks Matthew.  I have looked at the shipdriver unit but it looks too cheap / plastic for me.  I'd rather spend a little more and get something metal and more realistic feeling.
Title: Re: VRInsight - Ship Console questions?
Post by: vin_sun on March 13, 2011, 19:55:03
  I'd rather spend a little more and get something metal and more realistic feeling.

Or maybe something simple & functional ....  ;D

Not sure if it will work with SSE.

Please see attached PDF

Regards
vin_sun
Title: Re: VRInsight - Ship Console questions?
Post by: bigkahuna on March 13, 2011, 20:11:58
Thanks vin_sun.  I've seen that post but unfortunately just one of those components (rudder controller or engine throttles) would cost more than the entire Ship Console unit.  I could build my own components and although the material costs would be considerably less than $300, I don't have the tools or time to do it.  The VRInsight unit looks decent enough, I'd just prefer to have a more realistic bow thruster controller.  Not sure why they chose to use two buttons instead.
Title: Re: VRInsight - Ship Console questions?
Post by: Denis on March 14, 2011, 13:52:13
Hi Bigkahuna,

As Matthew Brown, the VRINSIGHT console is made of metal, and feels quite realistic. I don't think it would be easy to upgrade it (if it's possible at all), and I think it would be dangerous for it.

To my mind, if you need additionnal commands you don't find on this console, the best would be to build a second unit (Ship Sim is able to handle two joysticks at the same time), and to keep the console as it is.

I've been thinking about this too, I would love to have an additionnal console, just with four potentiometers (rudder 1, rudder 1, bowthruster 1, bowthruster 2).