Bill Of Materials

    The Bill Of Materials is a list of every item it took to create this simulator. I have refrained from listing test equipment (i.e multimeters, spare switches, etc.) here as to give you a better figure of what the actual sim would cost. Quantites are based on the number of each item I used to build my simulator and prices are for 1 unit/package of the item - tax not included.
    Since I am aware that some of the stores at which I purchased materials are only available in this region, I have included a description of each store at the end of this page in hopes that you know of a store similar to it. I have included hyperlinks to location maps where possible.

Currency conversion is based on £1 = $1.60 and all conersions are rounded to the nearest pound. If currency rate changes, please notify me at MadScientist@buildingasim.cjb.net.

Note: All prices listed are for one unit of the item.

Software

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000    -    $44.99 (£28)     -    Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Electronics Boutique
    This is the software package which was used to drive the simulator. It is possible to use the simulator you create with any computer based flight simulator, but MSFS98 and 2000 was used throughout the entirety of this project.

PFD Glass Cockpit   -    $169.00 (£106)    -    Quantity: (1 for each pilot)
Purchase Place: Schiratti.com
   Glass cockpit is the software that allows realistic, stand alone gauges to be used on multiple computer while being driven off one copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator. A demo is available at www.schiratti.com

WideFS    -    Freeware     -     Quantity: (1 for each computer on which flight sim add-ons are running)
   This program feeds information to PFD by emulating FS98 on a network. It is available for download at ?

Computer Hardware

Compaq Presario 5240 (K6-2 400)    -    $699.00 (£437)     -    Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Compaq Works ***(Many persons (as have I) have expressed dire concerns about the use of Compaq computers to construct simulators mainly due to their incompatibility with many commercially available, name brand products such as video cards)***   This computer was the main host computer and is the computer used for runing Microsoft Flight Simulator. It is also the host computer on the network. I used a Compaq computer since it was all that I had, but I regret the day I ever saw it. Compaq is making some incredibly idiotic move to make Compaq customers buy only Compaq parts. As a result, many commercial chips, including some RAM chips and Hard Disk Drives, will not work in Compaq computers. My Compaq even rejected my Voodoo and Elsa cards.

Power Spec PC (K6 233)  -  Estimated Value: $299.00 (£187)  -    Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Micro Center
    This computer was used to power the PFD and ND displays. Though the computer alone doesn't get a very high benchmark value alone, a good OpenGL based graphics card can increase your framerate emmensely.

Unknown 17" SVGA monitor  -   $230.00 (£144)   -    Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Micro Center
    This monitor was used as the outside view, but may be used as the PFD/ND view if another 17" monitor can not be obtained.

Dell 15" SVGA Monitor  -  Estimated Value: $150.00 (£94)   -    Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Donated by: Mr. Lawrence Seals'
    This monitor was used in conjunction with the PFD and ND displays.

15" NEC/Multisync  3D Monitor -   Estimated Value: $150.00 (£94) - Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Donated by Big City Bail Bonds
    This monitor was used in conjunction the EICAS display.

CH Throttle    -       $89.99 (£56)   -    Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Flight Sim Central
    This is a standard computer throttle. It may not be used though since recent research is shown that it is possible to creat your own throttles using a 100Kohm potentiometer and some pretty simple wiring.

CH Pedals  -  $84.99 (£53)    -    Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Flight Sim Central
    Standard rudder pedals for IBM compatible computers.

F-15e Talon FlightStick  -  $39.00 (£24)    -    Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Electronics Boutique
    A programmable PC joystick which is to be used for directional control.

D-Link 5 port Ethernet mini hub  -  $29.95 (£19)    -    Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Micro Center
    You will need a hub in order to network multiple PCs. This is the cheapest hub I've ever seen and it works great! Although this one is a 10Mbps hub, I would advise that you use a 100mbps HUB to speed up data transfer. This hub can be daisy chained with other hubs in case you need more than 5 ports.

Netgear Fast Ethernet PCI adapter  -  $21.95 (£14)    -    Quantity: 3
Purchase Place: Micro Center
    These are network cards which slide into your computer to allow data to flow across your network. You will need one card per computer that you use.

Voodoo 3 2000 Graphic accelerator  -  $99.99 (£63)    -    Quantity: 1 for each PFD machine
Purchase Place: Best Buy
   In order for the PFD software to work at full capacity, you must have an OpenGL based graphic card in your computer. This card was chosen since it was one of the cheaper cards, yet still produced excellent results.

AESP 7ft. Networking Cable  -  $7.99 (£5)    -    Quantity: 3
Purchase Place: Micro Center
   One Networking cable is needed for each networked computer so that you may plug it into the hub. Make absolute certain that you buy "Networking Cable", and not just a regular RJ-45. They are made differently, but look almost identical.

Surge Protector  -    ?    -    Quantity: 3
Purchase Place: Already had two
   These are used to allow mutliple objects to be plugged into one power outlet. For those of you who are building a copilot's seat, you may need as many as 3 or 4 surge protectors.

Electronics

Micro Lever Switches    -    $1.35 (£0.8)    -    Quantity:
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
Part Number (From the store): 275-016A
Part Number (catalog): 900-5890
   Lever switches are used for making custom switches.

Mini Momentary Push Buttons    -    $1.10 (£0.7)    -    Quantity: 12
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
Part Number (From the store): Not Sold in stores
Part Number (catalog): 900-7831
   These buttons were used for the Sim Control panel since they are small and cost effective. I however would not advise that these switches be used for cosmetic purposes. They aren't the best looking switches in the world, but they have a very comfortable touch and are some of the most economical switches you can buy.

Momentary Square base Push Buttons    -    $1.99 (£1.2)    -    Quantity: ?
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
Part Number (From the store): Not Sold in stores
Part Number (catalog): 900-7618
   These were the main switches used in the simulator. They most closely resemble the switches used in the real 777 without spending $5 or $10 per switch.

Silicon Controlled Rectifiers:    -    $1.23 (£0.75)    -    Quantity: Explained below
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
Part Number (From the store): 276-1067
Part Number (Radio Shack catalog): 900-3164
    These components were used whenever switches had to control multiple functions such as rotary selectors. A prime example is the IDENT button on the 777 Audio Control Panel. There is a 4 position rotary switch there which is used to select which navigation system identification is heard when the receive button is pressed.

Momentary Toggle Switch    -    $2.45 (£1.5)   -    Quantity: 2
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
Part Number (From the store): 275-709A
Part Number (Radio Shack catalog): 900-7843
    These were used for the aileron trim switches.

9 volt Alkaline Battery    -    $2.39 (£1.5)    -    Quantity: Explained below
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
    Alkaline batteries were used in conjunction with the quad bilateral switches to produce the activation current needed to activate it. There will most likely be a maximum of 4 9v batteries used in this simulator.

8-Position Barrier Strip    -    ?   -    Quantity: 3 (one for every eight pins on the keyboard card)
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
Part Number (From the store): 274-678A

    Barrier strips allow you to connect the various switches in your simulator, to the ports on the keyboard card, without the need to solder. You will need one barrier for every 8 ports on your keyboard card so for a card with 24 pins you need 3 barriers (24 pins on the keyboard card / 8 pins per barrier = 3 barriers...  24 / 8 = 3)

30/40W Iron Tip   -   $1.29 (£0.8)    -    Quantity: undeterminable
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
Product Number (from the store): 640-2072
    In a perfect world, soldering iron tips would last eternally, but alas... in our reality, tips burn out and fairly quickly at that. It is always a good idea to have at least one or two brand new soldering tips on hand in case one melts down.

Rosin Core Soldering Liquid   -    ?    -    Quantity:
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
Product Number (from the store):
    This material is melted by your soldering iron, onto connections on components to allow for the connection of wires, etc. Depending on how quickly you are putting your sim together, it may be a good idea to keep one or two extra packs of soldering liquid at your disposal as well.

20 Gauge Wire    -    ?   -    Quantity: lots!!!
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
   Every switch in your simulator will require many feet of wire. It would be adviseable for you to stock up on red and black wire because your sim will need lots.

Dual General - Purpose PC board    -   ?     -    Quantity: described below
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
Product Number (from the store): 276-148A
    These are just standard breadboards which are used for the mounting of the Silicon Controlled Rectifiers used on the center pedestal. It is predicted that one pack will be needed for every two finite position  rotary switches used in the sim.

4-40 Round head machine screws   -    ?    -    Quantity:
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
Product Number (from the store): 64-3011A
    Although it was advised that wood screws be used instead of wood screws, error margins were so constricted, that machine screws had to be used. They work fine as long as you don't remove the panel more than about 3 or four times. If the screws no longer grip, you can simply use hex nuts to hold the screws in place if necessary.

Shielded Metallized Hood for 25 position D sub-mini connector -   $1.99 (£1.24)    -    Quantity:
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
Product Number (from the store): 276-1536A
    Hoods are used to prevent the wires on the 25 pin connector from become damaged or disconnected. You will need two for each male/female connections used in your sim.

Adaptaplug "K"   -    $1.99    -    Quantity:
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
Product Number (from the store): 273-1714
    This adaptor simply allows is power to be fed in to the fluorescent lights using external power sources.

4-40 Round head machine screws   -    $14.99 (£9.4)    -    Quantity:
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
Product Number (from the store): 273-1776
    This power supply was used to convert wall outlet power to 12 volts of useable DC power. This power was mainly used to power the backlighting system, but may be transferred to a power bus of sorts to supply power to other components.

Wire/Cable Markers   -    $1.99 (£1.24)    -    Quantity:
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
Product Number (from the store): 278-1616
    Markers were simply used to pair and identify wires to allow for instant identification.

Tools

Black & Decker Jigsaw    -    $39.79 (£25)    -    Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Home Depot
   The variable speed jigsaw was used to cut thin wood. The Black & Decker Jigsaw is especially nice because they incorporate a Trademark addition called Quick Clamp which allows you to swap blades in seconds, using no tools.

Multiple Jigsaw Blades (5 pack)   -    $2.43 (£1.5)    -    Quantity: 1 pack
Purchase Place: Home Depot
   These are used in conjunstion with the jigsaw

40 Watt soldering Iron    -    $7.99 (£5)     -    Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
    Electronic components were connected together using this tool. It allows you to melt soldering liquid and use it to attachelectronic components together. A 40 watt iron should be the lowest wattage you consider since anything less will only cause unnecessary delays.

Desoldering Iron    -    $9.99 (£6)     -    Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
    Used to remove the signal ports from the keyboard card.

Butane powered soldering Iron    -    $19.95     -    Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Radio Shack
    This is a great tool to have when you only need to solder a wire or two and don't feel like waiting for the old plug in soldering iron to heat up. Since it is butane powered, you can use it anywhere you go and fuel the iron using lighter fuel butane canisters. It comes with a torch tip as well which is a nice novelty. This iron heats up almost instantly and has heat control as well!

Black & Decker 8.4v Cordless Power Drill    -    $44.94 (£28)    -    Quantity: 1
Purchase Place: Home Depot
    A drill was used inconjunction with a jigsaw to cut panels out when center cuts were needed. It was also used to drill pilot holes and insert screws.

Black & Decker 14pc Bullet Drill Bits    -    $24.87 (£16)    -    Quantity: 1 set
Purchase Place: Home Depot
    Bullet bits are supposedly some of the best drill bits on the market. They've got a specially made head which prevents them from sliding while the drill is on the surface. I was told that they cut through almost anything except stainless steel and concrete so you can use these bits to drill through almost anything in your simulator. They are also very durable, so they won't snap on you anytime soon.

Construction Materials

Posterboard    -    $0.50 (£0.3)    -    Quantity:
Purchase Place: Family Dollar
   Posterboard was used to draw the full scale templates. These templates can prove crucial in the accuracy of your simulator.

.25" 4'x4' sheet of radiat wood sheet   -    $4.00 (£2.5)    -    Quantity:
Purchase Place: Home Depot
    I used this material to cut the individual panels. This type of wood is thin, stable, easy to cut and VERY economical.

1/2" Sheet of hardwood ply   -    ?   -    Quantity:
Purchase Place: Home Depot
    This material was used to cut the frames for the various panels, pedestals, etc

3/4" Sheet of hardwood ply   -    $8.43 (£5.3)   -    Quantity:
Purchase Place: Home Depot
    This material was used to cut the vertical bases for all instrument panels.

Store Descriptions

Home Depot: Home Depot is a huge warehouse-type store which sales a huge array of parts and tools mainly for the purpose of building homes. These tools and materials, however, have many more uses than just home design. This was my main source for heavy duty construction material such as wood and power tools.

Micro Center: Micro Center is a computer superstore which has over 36,000 different products to choose from. They have stores in the following cities. Click on a location to see a position map.

Radio Shack: This store has an assortment of electronic parts for use in electrical projects. I obtained almost every small component (i.e. SCRs, resistors, etc.) from Radio Shack. They have a plethora of locations across america. To find the location nearest you, click here to see the Radio Shack locator map.

Best Buy: This is wide spread chain of stores which is known for their large array of electronic devices of which they sale at very reasonable prices.

Flight Sim Central: FSCentral as it is called, is an online supplier of flight simulation products. They stock every new piece of flight sim hardware and software you can imagine, and at very reasonable prices. They deliver to your door within a few short days so there's no hassel in getting to their location .

Family Dollar: Family Dollar is a small local store that basically sales things for a dollar. I was able to get posterboard, for the pre-assembly phase, real cheap here. Though if you know of any store that sales semi-large sheets of posterboard for a good cost, that'll work just fine.

For problems or questions or comments regarding this web site contact Robert Prather.
Last updated: May 29, 2000.
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