KomodoSim

The collective is getting the finishing touches and a couple of tweaks. Will be ready soon. BR Rich

First prototype is underway. Should be back with me in the next week or so. BR Rich

Just 2 short throw ones. BR Rich

How about this one? 180º x 60º FOV at less than 1m distance. BR Rich

No the spring force is fixed. The springs are just there to return the cyclic to the 'centre' if moved without the FTR button being pressed. The springs aren't part of the system when you press the FTR, only the hydraulic damping is. BR Rich

Hi, @swissMAG No, I will have both available to buy still. But unfortunately the grips won't be interchangeable due to wiring differences to make the Force Trim work. Yes it uses various circuits and magnets as well as springs to make the system work. Haven't got a final price yet, will have a better idea when the first prototype is finished to see if any parts need changing or re-designing. @Flagrum Its not at the moment, but I can easily change the switch to a double pole one to allow that function. Hadn't thought of that, thanks for pointing it out. Its not FFB on this design, it is something I'm looking into but that could a while off yet. That needs software as well as hardware to make it work. This is a purely standalone system that can't receive inputs from the sim. BR Rich

The system will work by holding the Cyclic control in a position when the unit is plugged into the computer via USB. You will be able to move the cyclic from this position under spring force and it will return to this position. If you press and hold the Force Trim Release (FTR) and move the cyclic there is only hydraulic force and no spring force, so you can move the cyclic as normal. If you then release the FTR the cyclic will stay in the new position and will return to this new position if displaced without pressing the FTR. Does that make sense? BR Rich

Hi, The new parts are arriving for my new Force Trim System. This will be a mechanical system in the base unit of my Cyclic control, so it will work with any flight sim or helicopter or fixed wing for that matter. No software is needed to run the system, as long as its plugged in it will work. Internals have all been designed, just waiting for them to come back from the printers so I can build the first prototype. BR Rich

Hi, No helicopters have a return to centre spring loaded Cyclic. Some have a Force Trim system where you can create a false centre that the Cyclic will return to if displaced without releasing the Force Trim. This system is used in the cruise, when near the ground or manoeuvring you have the Force Trim release pressed and you effectively have a floppy stick Cyclic as any other helicopter. BR Rich

Am I not even allowed a 5min break?!?!?:(:(

The dampers work by moving the oil from one chamber to another thru a small orifice. (no sniggers from the back row please!) If the oil is thick enough to not go thru the hole without a small amount of force then the collective will stay in place until a force is put onto it. Does that make sense? With my Multi-Grip system without the collective shaft attached its quite hard to move the pivot arm, but with enough force it moves and is smooth, but stiff ( wow this really is sounding more and more dodgy as I type). So with a longer arm i.e. the collective, its get easier to move, until a point where the weight of the collective is more than the required force to hold the damper oil in place and the collective will move. Its finding the right balance of oil thickness against weight of collective. Think I'll stop before it gets all out of hand, so to speak! BR Rich

Hi, The main control box and tubes are from aluminium and the other main components like the collective heads and throttles are SLS 3D Printed from Nylon12. A very strong and flexible material depending on thickness. If you want the damper to hold the Collective in place then 20000cst might be suitable for your setup if you're using PVC pipe and ABS head box. But you might need something thicker. You will have to experiment with this. The brake system might work, again something that will need trial and error. I would stick with the hydraulic damper as it would give you a hydraulic feel to the movement and it will also be much smoother motion. You will probably get some nose from the grip tape along with jerky movement. BR Rich

Hi, I use 20000cst oil in my Cyclic and Collective controls. Both still need friction devices to hold the controls in place. It will depend on the length of the arm and the weight at the end of it of course. It will be trial and error until you find the right balance. BR Rich

Shouldn't be too difficult to do. Is there a model for a sim to fly it with? BR Rich

Hi, I already do an AS350 Cyclic and Collective, as well as an EC135 Cyclic with the collective almost ready. Check the website or the Facebook page, or email me direct! BR Rich

Quick update of the early progress of the VBS ProCyclic KA-50. Hope this ready early next year. BR Rich

Back from the printers, couple of things to adjust. BR Rich

Will do, if you keep an eye on the Facebook page as well I will update any progress there. BR Rich

Hi Hansang, I'm about 1.5hrs from London and not reachable by tube I'm afraid. I haven't got a demo either at the moment. But I should be at the Flight Sim Convention at the International Helicopter Museum in Weston-Super-Mare in May next year. BR Rich

Hi Chic - I'm on it don't worry!! Hi Hansang, The Multi-Grip range allows you to interchange grips for the Cyclic Range and the Collective Range. So you buy a base unit for the Cyclic, you then buy a shaft for say a B206. At a later date you can buy a Shaft of the Huey and simply un-screw the 206 shaft and attach the Huey one without having to buy a complete new Cyclic. The idea is the same as the Warthog, the only difference being I have more than one control in the range. The Huey Cyclic is available to buy now and the Collective should be ready in the new year. BR Rich

Hi Guys, Didn't want to jump in too early on this thread, I'm biased anyway! Yes I do all the fabrication from a workshop here at home and ship world wide from here as well. Please feel free to ask any questions about anything on my controls, I'm always as honest and upfront as I can be. At the end of the day you are spending a lot of money on these things and I want you to be happy with what you are buying. Development work is a little slow at the moment as I'm really busy making orders. Booked up until March at the moment. However work has started on the KA-50 Cyclic and tweaks and being made to the collective for both the Huey and KA-50. I hope to have all available for order early in the new year. I will post some pics as soon as I have anything decent to show. Many thanks for all the kind words, its taken a while to get here and I'm really happy with the controls and how they are developing. BR Rich

I would offer to do it for you, but I'm fully booked building controls until the end of February at the moment. There are people out there can do it, and I bet someone else on the forums could do it. Good luck! BR Rich

If you can get accurate enough images and dimensions of the broken part you could have it made in CAD and have a remplacement 3D Printed? BR Rich

Couple more tweaks and its ready! BR Rich

Update on the Huey Collective. I've totally re-designed the whole unit in new CAD software today. More accurate and a better overall finish. This is now off to the printers to get the first prototype made. BR Rich