Restored a retired F-111 Mission Simulator which is now interfaced with a working flight simulator. Many nuts, bolts, primer, and paint from Bunnings used in the endeavor.
Dy-Mark 325g Grey MetalPro Etch Primer - Grey - Bunnings Australia
Dulux 325g Clear Flat Spray Paint - Bunnings Australia
Croc Grip 500 x 150mm Black XL Anti-Slip Step - Bunnings Australia
Croc Grip 5m x 50mm Yellow & Black Anti-Slip Tape - Bunnings Australia
Flexovit 125mm 8 Holes Orbital Sand Paper - 50 Pack - Bunnings Australia
Rocket 400/600 Wet Dry Sanding Sheets - 6 Pack - Bunnings Australia
Rocket Sanding Block Holder with Medium Grade Sponge - Bunnings Australia
Rocket Fine Sanding Sponge - Fine - Bunnings Australia
Rocket Sanding Sponge Kit - 10 Pack - Bunnings Australia
Rocket Hand Sander - Bunnings Australia
Bondall 250ml Ranex Rustbuster Rust Converter - Bunnings Australia
DIGGERS 1L Wax And Grease Remover - 1L - Bunnings Australia
Bondall 1L Waterbased Paint & Varnish Stripper - Bunnings Australia
UNi-PRO 18 x 36" Painters Tack Cloth - Bunnings Australia
UNi-PRO 100mm Mini Paint Tray - Bunnings Australia
Sika 300ml White Sikaflex 11FC Purform - Bunnings Australia
16mm MDF Panel Standard 2400 x 1200mm - Bunnings Australia
3mm MDF Panel Standard 2440 x 1220mm - Bunnings Australia
Otter 3.2 x 3.2mm Open Aluminium Blind Rivets - 100 Pack - Bunnings Australia
Metal Mate 50 x 25 x 3.0mm 1m Silver Aluminium Unequal Angle - Bunnings Australia
Metal Mate 40 x 40 x 1.6mm 3M Aluminium Tee Section - Bunnings Australia
Crommelin 1L Flat Aquablock Waterproof Primer Undercoat - Bunnings Australia
British Paints Extra Bright Semi Gloss H2O Enamel Paint - 4L - Bunnings Australia
Protite 250g Small Fibreglass Kit - 250g - Bunnings Australia
Sika 350g Sikabond Sprayfix Contact Adhesive - Bunnings Australia
Selleys 150g Ezy Glide Dry Lubricant Aerosol - Bunnings Australia
Flood Floetrol 1L Acrylic Paint Conditioner - 1L - Bunnings Australia
DIGGERS 125ml Isopropyl Alcohol - 125ml - Bunnings Australia
Bosch Professional 250W Random Orbital Sander 0601387540 - Bunnings Australia
https://www.bunnings.com.au/dremel-3000-2-30-corded-rotary-tool-kit-f0133000pn_p6280040
UNi-PRO 100mm 9mm Nap Little Ripper High Density Foam Mini Roller Set - Bunnings Australia
UNi-PRO 100mm Little Ripper Microfibre Mini Roller Covers 10 Pack 4mm Nap - Bunnings Australia
Stanley 20 Piece Acetate Screwdriver Set - Bunnings Australia
Stanley 31 Piece Bit Security Screwdriver Set - Bunnings Australia
Kincrome Pen Engraving Tool - Bunnings Australia
Kincrome 7 Piece Metric Mini Hex Key Wrench Set - Bunnings Australia
Kincrome 7 Piece Imperial Mini Hex Key Wrench Set - Bunnings Australia
Frost 5 Piece HSS Quickbit Countersink Drill Set - Bunnings Australia
Hi @gbreuder
Would love to know how you got this and such things as what you used to etch the surface and integrate this into a flight simulator, as a pilot myself I would love to hear which flight sim you used and how you interfaced it!
Am currently running a version of P3D but it can be interfaced with other software. Alot of custom coding for Arduinos to control the analogue gauges and lights. Bodnar I/O boards to interface the flight control systems and switches.
@gbreuder that is very cool! Can i pop around and try it out? :)
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @gbreuder, it is fantastic to have you with us.
This is definitely one of the most unique projects I've seen.
Where exactly did you get your simulator from? Is it actually ex-military?
If you had any other photos showing the restoration, or even any of inside the cockpit, I would love to see them, as I'm sure others would.
Very, very cool.
Thank you for sharing.
Jacob
Very nice.
Do you also have the battered coffee flask on the port side?
"as a pilot myself"
Just curious @R4addZ - what aircraft do you/did you fly?
This was imported from the U.S. It was a long process getting the proper ITAR clearances from the DDTC at the US State Department and AU Home Office.
From my research it is one of only two F-111F models out of 12 F-111 sims built by Link. It was stationed at RAF Lakenheath for much of its service life before being transferred to Cannon AFB in 1990s. After that it spent some time at a technical school for Sim Techs.
From what I understand the sister sim was bought by the RAAF and converted over to a F-111C AUP simulator by the Thales corporation.
This is the only F model sim left. But the F and C were unique in having the Pave Tack targeting pod and associated radar suite. As a result they have relatively similar cockpit layouts.
Don't have the Stanley Flask holder. This wasn't a feature of the simulators but have considered building the frame work for them. But it would require cutting into the steel bulkhead as well.
Did have to custom fabricate many of the missing bottom side panels, the center spar, and associated framework. So, there is a bit of artistic license to make it look more like the crew module. It was originally in a black and white scheme, and many people thought it was the Space Shuttle. In line with that, decided to paint it in the SEA scheme used throughout much of the F-111's career.
Here is a vlog on some of the development.
F-111F Mission Simulator - YouTube
I converted over another unique aviation artefact, a Macchi fast jet trainer. This jet operated out of RAAF Pearce and now operates as a VR simulator.
It is the only one I know like it. It is now open to the public and bookings can be made at the RAAFA Aviation Heritage Museum in Perth.
hi @Noyade
I only got as far as my PPL and flew cessna 172s I had to stop when I had a Central retinal vein occlusion (basically a stroke to the eye) and even though my specialist says I am good to go back to it, it would cost me probably over $10,000 to get back in the air. and I probably couldn't go much further if I did due to age. It was my midlife crisis and I was even dreaming of building my own plane but not being able to fly it kinda put a dampner on that. I used to be a member here SABC and for those in Perth it is possible to visit the airfield the best time being the last sunday of every month as they hold a club meeting that day and you can wander round the hangers and see all kinds of planes. Last time I was there they even had a CRI-CRI which is the smallest twin engine aircraft and uses two chainsaw engines Video of Cri-Cri although someone has fitted one with two mini jets.
The one I was thinking of building was the KR2 mostly made of wood foam and fiber glass and I would have built a tricycle gear version.
