Nephilims Virtual Simulator..

[The_Nephilim]

Hey Everybody,

I am currently in the process of going to 3 New PRojectors. I had to scrap plans for the 2 I already bought they where 2 Acer X1261P's from Ebay..

Well I am now looking at 3 Optoma HD66 DLP 1280x800 3D Projectors.. They are NVidia certified as I will be doing a 3D Setup..

Now I need to make a new screen. I am here to first kick off to what should I make it out of??

Im thinking a screen size of over all width of 7' 4" at a 16:9 Aspect ration. each projector segment will be about 4; 1" Diagonal plus a width of 3' 7" and at about 2 foot high.. I know it is sort of small but I am not sure if I have enough room maybe I do...

That is a different item right now I need to see what different kinds of materials you all have used..

For my Current Screen I used 3/4" MDF and it was too heavy I need to cut the weigh down a bit so something little thinner but sturdy..

I would like to keep it DIY as that would be the cheapest I am on a tight budget.. Budget is unknown at the current time I would just like to keep costs down when I can..

I think this time I will be buying nThusim for my setup oh and I am thinking Curved screen as well so Please I need help and some ideas..

Here is a video shot of my Old setup.. sorry for the low quality of the video:

Watch on youtube.com

[BHawthorne]

Good to hear from you again. I look forward to helping out on the build. I've not flown BMS much lately but I've been flying DCS. I recently picked up one of the VRpit seats from Flim on the Eagle Dynamics forums. I need to get motivated on getting it built. That'll be one of my big projects in the next few weeks.

-Brad

[The_Nephilim]

Yes Good to see your still using your setup too.. So lets jump to what material I should consider using for my Screen??

I was thinking either make it out or sections with 1/4" Plywood and use a Regualy Home Theater screen over it, I can get custom size screen from DaLite..

Or I could use some sort of Smooth material and use either screen goo like I did with my current setup or try the New "Black Widow" mixture that is all the rave over at AVS Forums..

What do you think I should use that is both cost effective, easy setup??

[BHawthorne]

The thing I've constantly found with traditional screen material is that it doesn't like to conform to a curve or conform to a really wide span. I've also tried using 3M adhesive to apply screen material to plywood backing and it turned out bad because the adhesive did not want to adhere uniformly and formed air pockets over time because the wood backing allowed air in from the wood breathing. Maybe if the wood was sealed and primed before application that might address some of that. I think if you end up using a traditional screen material that you'll have to tension it on the edges probably by stapling it to the reverse side of the material you're stretching it to.

Right now I'm leaning towards recommendation of a screen paint of some type merely because of the negative properties of screen material in this type of design. So far I've never been truly happy with any traditional screen material in this sort of setup because all samples I've experimented with have exhibited at least one or two negative characteristics. Bowing under tension, ripples, non uniform tensioning or air pockets. At issue is I've been so focused down on experimenting with screen material samples that I've yet to gain any personal experience with screen paints.

At best I can only give second hand information about screen paint in relation to DIY AV forums using it on flat screens. This might be where your build could help the sim community by giving new insight on screen paints through experimentation. I wish I could be more helpful and insightful on screen paint, but it's something I've really not had a chance to properly get experience with yet.

At this point I would suggest thin plywood or MDF sheet with a lumbar frame. Mud and sand the screen surface joints as needed for a uniform finish. Then prime and paint it with a DIY AV screen paint formula such as Black Widow. If you can find sheet material in 144" width so you can have an uninterrupted screen surface that would be preferable. 144" is the widest I've been able to find source in the US so far when looking around. Not sure where you're located, so no idea if that is possible in your area.

Even though I've been revising my screen builds since 2009, I still consider what I have right now to be experimental and not ready as a consumer design. Most of that is to do with screen material negative characteristics in this sort of configuration. I really think screen paint might be the best answer for now.

-Brad

[The_Nephilim]

Well After Sticker Shock of the cost of the 3 new Projectors, Video card and cabling I am retiring this VERY EXPENSIVE Idea..
I still may make a Curved screen so thoughts on that are still good. I may still need nThusim If I go with a curved screen..

At this point I just don't know..

[BHawthorne]

Understandable. The cost of entry into these builds is still quite steep. It's the main reason why I went single video card AMD Eyefinity 2x1 and two projectors instead of 3 in my current build. Trying to keep most costs down. It's also why we're developing for the Oculus Rift too. The cost of entry into immersive visuals can also be addressed for some that way. I'm still more of a fan of full simpit plus projection though.

[The_Nephilim]

Understandable. The cost of entry into these builds is still quite steep. It's the main reason why I went single video card AMD Eyefinity 2x1 and two projectors instead of 3 in my current build. Trying to keep most costs down. It's also why we're developing for the Oculus Rift too. The cost of entry into immersive visuals can also be addressed for some that way. I'm still more of a fan of full simpit plus projection though.

Well I have a smaller setup currently. It has served me well since 2010.. I have the room for a Bigger setup perhaps after I get the other 2 Projectors, the one I bought was defective so I am sending it back..


I do like the idea of a Curved screens I was just curious is there any real benefit over what I have now??





Each section is 45" diagonal and a 4:3 Aspect ratio.. I sit about 42" which makes it look larger then it is.. my Pariphrial vision is good and it is right on the edge of my site.. I like it but would like to go bigger for My Flight Simulations I play.. for those bigger is better..

[BHawthorne]

I do like the idea of a Curved screens I was just curious is there any real benefit over what I have now??

The main benefit is a uniform projection surface no matter where you look. The downside is ensuring your edge blends are properly calibrated. Running three flat panels is more straight forward for calibration and upkeep imho. Be mindful that in my case with two projectors my edge blend is smack in the center of my projection. If I get any projector mount drift I need to do minor calibration tweaking to fix. It's my main pet peeve with this setup, but for what it does I'm happy. Awhile back I pondered going flat screen cube setup like Flim did with DCS World, but I'm still too used to my current uniform curve to change this late in the game.

-Brad

[The_Nephilim]

Hmm Do you have a link to Flims setup I would like to take a gander..

[BHawthorne]

He has a whole thread on it including YouTube videos. The YouTube videos are really cool. PeterP did the lua camera scripting for it. There are ways to improve upon his design but at this point it was the most visually interesting DCS implementation I've seen. Flim is now really into Oculus Rift though and has since then moved on to a Rift build. Flim is really approchable though so you could probably pick his brain directly about the build on the ED forums. I know he has an account here, but I don't know if he's on much.

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=90731

-Brad