DCS Cold War Dual-Panel Setup by S.A.L.S.A

Overview

This build uses two modular Switchology panels to create a unified control layout for multiple Cold War aircraft in DCS World. The configuration separates aircraft systems from weapons, navigation, and communication functions, offering a consistent workflow across diverse airframes like the MiG-19, MiG-21, Mirage F1, F-5, and Viggen. The focus is standardization: essential controls such as landing gear, weapon select, and jettison are always in the same place, making transitions between aircraft straightforward, even in VR.

About This Setup

I fly a multitude of Cold War aircraft on DCS world (Mig-19, Mig-21, Mirage F1, F-5, Viggen) so I wanted a setup that would work well across all these airframes while keeping a level of standardization that would help me switch between airframes without too much of a headache. I quickly realized that one Switchology panel, even fully populated would not be adequate to map all of the controls I wanted, so I settled on 2 panels:

    • 1 panel for aircraft systems like startup, engine start/air start, lights, landing gear etc
    • 1 panel for weapons, nav and comm systems

Why This Layout Works

This setup has enough controls on it that across Cold War airframes (Red and Blue) it lets me map most aircraft in a very consistent way (i.e. landing gear, weapon selection, jettison, etc are all consistent across planes with only minor differences)

As a result I can switch from one air frame to another without having to to do much to check what controls do what since I can be confident that e.g. my usual jettison button works as expected in every air frame. This is doubly helpful because I fly in VR so I can’t usually see what I’m pressing. It’s for that reason that I’ve put some tactile marks on the 4 button modules so I can tell where I am on the panel.

The really nice thing is that it has room for growth – theres a few spares button available on most airframes, and worst case I have modifiers available as well.

Modules Used

5 x Dual Encoders: Comms, nav, and volume settings
7 x Small Keys - 4 Keys: Aircraft startup, and all purpose for settings
3 x 3 Keys: Weapons selection and engine air start
2 x 1 Key: Weapon selection and Master Caution
2 x Pushbutton - Dual: Emergency and Select Jettison
4 x Large Toggle Switch ON-OFF-ON: Landing gear, parachutes, canopy, master arm
3 x Small Dual Toggle Switches ON-OFF-ON: Jettison Options, Modifiers and Lighting/ECM
1 x Rotary Selector: Eject

Function Map

Photos

Additional Notes

In order to come up with a good general purpose panel (or panels) its important to spend some time flying the modules you want. Also build it step by step – in my case in did the weapons panel first and used it for a while to understand which buttons were most useful and then build the second systems panel. The reason for this was I needed the weapons panel while in the air and flying, whereas the systems panel I mostly use at startup or on the ground before takeoff, hence at a pinch I could use mouse clicks in the cockpit until I had the panel built.

Build Your Own

Interested in building something similar?
Start with the a blank slate here → Switchology Builder
check out both panels in the Builder: Weapons Panel Build, Systems Panel Build
or explore the modules used in this setup:

Dual Encoders
Small Keys - 4 Keys
3 Keys
1 Key
Pushbutton - Dual
Large Toggle Switch ON-OFF-ON
Small Dual Toggle Switches ON-OFF-ON
Rotary Selector