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737 cl clock installed to mip. a future project will be wiring the clock for operation. at the moment 5 volts backlighting is connected

Whilst waiting for the Main Instrument Panel (MIP) to arrive from Flight Deck Solutions (there has been a delay in fabrication), I came across this OEM 737 clock for auction on e-bay. The clock has been removed from an American Fed Ex aircraft and has been serviced to new condition. The price I paid was very reasonable and my thoughts were it would make a very nice addition to the MIP to replace the stenciled clock or reproduction clock on the First officer side.

I'd like to try and get the clock working with the simulator, and will look at doing this sometime in the future. At the moment I will contend with the fact that it's a nice looking 737 style clock that adds to the aesthetics of the MIP on the First Officer side.

OEM components are generally inexpensive and often less than the price of reproduction items, and while conversion of an OEM part can be difficult for the technologically challenged, it is not impossible.

If you are seeking realism, then OEM components provide a more tangible feeling to what is in effect a reproduction flightdeck.

737-800 Clock

This clock is not what most Next Generation aircraft have installed. The Next Generation usually has a digital chronograph. I am using a chronograph on the Captain-side. This style of clock is more readily observed in a 737 classic airframe.

I intend to fit this clock to the First Officer side of the MIP. The Captain side will have a standard style Next Generation chronograph fitted.

Update

on 2016-03-01 12:58 by FLAPS 2 APPROACH

I've received several e-mails asking where I found this clock and how much I paid for it.

I discovered the clock on e-bay and the price was a tad over $100.00 USD with freight. The freight paid was most of this amount! A fair price, in my opinion, for a serviceable 737 style clock.

Several companies fabricate 737 Next generation Main Instrument Panels (MIP) and each company offers different design options. Basically, you have the following main options - some with and without instrument integration.

Full MIP with lower kickstand & CDU bay (Double Seat Training Device (DSTD)
Full MIP (desktop version) without lower kickstand & CDU bay
Half MIP with lower kickstand & CDU bay (Single Seat Training Device (SSTD)
Half MIP (desktop version) without lower kickstand & CDU bay

LEFT: A half MIP (SSTD). Just because you don't have a DSTD doesn't mean you cannot have realism (photo courtesy FDS).

Which MIP is purchased depends on what level of realism is sought, your budget, your time, and your ability to fabricate lower kickstand sections (CDU bay, etc), and most importantly your available floor space. Floor space is often a forgotten phase of your research. Saying it will fit and 'she’ll be right mate' often 'doesn’t cut the mustard'.

My previous generic flight sim was very compact and was little larger than a desk.

Initially, I decided that a half MIP with lower kickstand and CDU bay would be ideal for my purpose; the new sim would fit perfectly into the alcove area that my current generic sim resides.

Granted a half MIP is only a one seater and obviously wouldn't be an honest replication of a two seat aircraft, but the space savings are considerable – sometimes you need to compromise.

Fly Engravity make an ideal half MIP, from which you can add to, as space and budget dictate. However, the half MIP doesn’t come with full ICS (instrument integration) meaning you must wire it up yourself; for me, a somewhat daunting task in skill and time.

Flight Deck Solutions produces a half MIP with full ICS, lower kickstand and CDU bay. But, at the time of writing this MIP is only a special order. Therefore, if I was to have full ICS, I must purchase a full MIP with lower kickstand and CDU bay.