A General Front Console Hardwares

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The panels are designed and built modular and 3D printed.

The objective was to build something large in a small 3D printer.

Thus I decided to design all panels separately and to fuse them together after fabrication.

A flat and smooth back surface was required in order to accommodate an LCD panel for the instrument readings. So, in order to keep the proper real life proportions, I was limited to building each layer and fit all electronics in a very narrow space.

I designed a back panel that could be laser cut in aluminum or other material, but this would raise the cost. So I opted for sectioning the entire structure into pieces that would fit the 3D printer build plate.

These parts will then be merged with epoxy resin, and the individual panels bolted to its front surface.

This would be solid and strong enough for the purpose and a decision was made to keep this solution on this initial version.

Overall Progress

100%

Recent Updates

design

Project Update — Rethinking Panel Design for Everyone

I paused development of the A-10C panels for a moment to focus more deeply on the electronics side of SIMSTRUCT. After all… what is a body without a soul? The front console is essentially complete — all panels are designed, printed, tested, and the fit is extremely accurate. I’m very happy with how the results are shaping up. However, with the arrival of a new batch of toggle switches, it became clear that I’ll need to revisit some parts of the design, especially the mounting geometry on the back panels. This raised an important question about the future direction of SIMSTRUCT: How can I make the A-10C cockpit files and electronics accessible to everyone, regardless of skill level or component availability? Different builders use different hardware, and even small variations in switch dimensions can become barriers to an otherwise simple build. That goes against my vision — which is to make cockpit construction achievable and enjoyable for all. Because of this, I’m now exploring a “one-size-fits-all” approach for panel design. The idea is to create mounting systems and tolerances flexible enough to support a wide range of switches and components without forcing anyone to hunt for specific hardware. And I would love to hear from the community: What challenges have you faced with panel compatibility? What ideas or suggestions do you have for universal mounting systems? Are there components you think should be prioritized for broad compatibility? Thank you all for following the project and supporting each step of this journey. Much more is coming soon — and your feedback will shape it. See you in the next update.

Nov 20, 2025Open