Extranajero

OK thanks. I ran Helios and found out that for BS1 users the export.lua file is created in " your base directory\config\export " I have deleted the rest of this post because it was a bunch of stupid questions, the answers to which I found out myself :D

That's right. I had the choice of spending my spare cash on starting to build a pit, or on a new PC. Is this 'export.lua' file the first thing I should be looking for in BS1 ? I'd like to help if I can, I'm no programmer but if it's a case of finding bits of data in text files or whatever I can manage that no problem.

Could it work with BS1 ?

Aaah....OK, it wasn't anything very important anyway :)

Has the forum software had a hiccup ? I posted a comment which wasn't at all controversial and now it's gone.

I am starting to think that the KA-50 is like the Airbus joke.... New Airbus pilot : - " Why is it doing that ? " Experienced Airbus pilot :- " Oh, it's doing that again "

I love the MiG-21. I suppose it's because I grew up in the cold war, all the old school fighter jets fascinate me. The Russian aircraft are a bit special though. I lived quite close to a few RAF bases as a kid and any time I wanted to see an F-4 or a BAC Lightning or a Bucc I only had to persuade my dad to drive me there so I could watch them take off and land. But the Mig's and Sukhoi's existed for me only as grainy black and white photos in books with a few lines of text underneath giving their estimated performance figures. They were mysterious :) So I particularly want this MiG-21 to be released...

Shouldn't it be turn the FD on to disable autopilot steering ? i.e button illuminated and FD bars appearing in HUD ?

I have a very similar ( but completely different :) ) problem, in that the collective brake in my KA-50 doesn't seem to do anything at all. I am rapidly coming to the conclusion ( despite reading every guide and watching every tutorial on the net ) that the KA-50 autopilot and trim systems are possessed by evil spirits with a perverse sense of humour. Gremlins probably.

Cheers. It was actually in a completely different place because I'm using BS1 ( which I should have mentioned ) - but you gave me enough of a clue to find it. Top job. I need to understand what the values in these scripts are, how they work and how to get them to light an LED, my current goal is to design a KA-50 countermeasures panel. I'll start a new thread for that though, instead of cluttering yours up.

Where does clickabledata.lua hide ?

I can dig out the details of a UK supplier of thumb switches if you like. I just ordered 10 of them at about £1.50 each. The switch is PCB mount and doesn't come with a knob, so it'll need a bit of work to package it into a grip, but it's cheap.

I've ordered an Arduino Uno and a load of other electrickery. It's making it's way to Spain very slowly... I have always resisted building a simpit, but I have given in to the urge now. It'll be my second pit actually - the first was made from a cardboard box in 1972 and the displays were drawn in magic marker :D

I'll have to do that. I did use the forum search engine initially but it isn't very good at returning relevant results. To be fair, that's a pretty common problem with any forum. I downloaded Helios, it looks great for instruments.

Thanks Jimbo. That Phidget board looks financially very painful...

Nothing ? Help me out here someone ;) I'm looking at things such as the Alt Hold button illuminating to remind me to switch it off after cancelling auto hover I don't need a complete dummies guide, some links would do...

What are my options for reading data from Black Shark so I can light LED's on various panels ?

Is there any way to reproduce the same functionality using a lathe and a milling machine rather than witchcraft ? ( sorry, code and microcontrollers ) - I might have a chance then :D Seriously, I'm enjoying this even though it's making my brain hurt. I have an Arduino Uno on order together with several miles of wire and lots of mysterious electric components and will need all the help I can get...

It was easy, I'm a biker ;) One great solution for a collective would be a rotary steering damper - it would make for a smaller package and also double as the pivot mechanism. But rotary steering dampers are very, very expensive :( Anyway, I think your current design will work very well, I hope the part arrives from Thailand quickly - I want to see more :thumbup:

Motorcycle steering damper ?

What a great idea, why didn't I think of that ? :doh:

What are you thinking of as a construction method ? wood, I know - but how will you hollow it out to fit the switches and wiring ?

Having the parallel the same width as the button isn't really an ideal situation, but you may well get away with it. The modellers vice would certainly work really well for the square buttons too. I actually wouldn't mind taking on jobs for the pit building community. I'm working on flight controls for myself at the moment ( it's been a hobby of mine for quite a while ) I've given up gunsmithing due to the insane paperwork and regulations I had to go through, so my machine shop isn't being used nearly enough. If you have good reference materials I would enjoy working with you on the landing gear and fuel refill, just send me a PM with more details, or post them here if you prefer. The stick extension probably wouldn't be possible for me to do, not having physical access to the existing parts it would have to mate with. But maybe theres a workaround for that, who knows ? Good luck with your 99 caps ;)

My pleasure, I'm sure you'll have some helpful advice for me one day ;)

Here, as promised, are plans for a drilling jig for square buttons. Isometric view and a top down view of how it works. You'll only need two pieces of precision ground stock and to drill three holes and tap two of them. Actually the stop piece that contacts the vise jaws could be made from anything you have lying around. In use as long as you make sure that the stop on the end is in firm contact with the vise jaws, and the button is in contact with the head of the allen bolt on top you'll get what we call " repeatability " - enough for this kind of job anyway. Never throw a jig away when it's done it's job, you can recycle them into other useful tools or holding fixtures :)