Warthog mod. Russian style braking handle.

[1.JaVA_Platypus]

A while ago, I did this mod for the Warthog joystick. Ik makes the brake-handle paddle assignable as an axis in DCS. So it has a more realistic functionality. The aim of this 'mod' was to minimize the 'damage' done to the Warthog. The Braking Axis can be used in DCS with the MiG-15, MiG-21, Mi-8 and the L-39. First up, a vid of the actual functioning.

 

 

Secondly, I got some pictures to explain the actual fabrication. There are three parts to the construction. The front part, consisting of a larger bracket, made out of sheet aluminium (0.5mm IIRC), the middle part, brass tubing of diffrent diameter and the rear part containing another bracket and a pot-meter.

 

The actual 'axis' is a normal linear POT meter with a 4mm shaft. I attached it to a sheet-metal bracket wich i made myself. I drilled two 2.5mm holes in the Warthog handrest, wich don't come out the other end. And I made M3 thread in it. It is very easy to drill the holes too deep, so the drill-bit comes out the other end. Also, the Warthog metal is rather soft, so it is easy to make the holes too wide. The bolts got locking washers in them.

 

 

Here you can see most of the parts I used for the linkage between the front bracket and the Pot-meter. I used brass-tubing of different diameter. These can slide into eachother wich is very important. Because the length of tube long tube is very important. Also, brass can be soldered easily. It is a good way of joining the different pieces of tubing wich won't come loose quickly if you know how to solder. it correctly. You can also see the small spring I used over the Warthog button. This is also an important part. I still got the button functioning.

 

 

It is important to maximize the travel of the front and rear parts. So I made the front bracket as large as I could, without hindering the movement of the joystick itself. The rear arm/tube, wich is joined with the POT-meter must be as small as possible. But some length is still required. Standard POT-meters have a 300 to 320 degrees of motion available. This ensures maximum sampling resolution from the USB/joystick input board. In my case, the paddle switch rotates about 20 to 30 degrees and the rear part with the POT-meter rotates about 70 to 80 degreees. After calibration, this is enough for the brake-axis as you can see in the vid above. The length of the tube between the front and rear part is important to keep the mechanical tension on the rotating parts as small as possible.

 

 

I also soldered the pot-meter to a 3 wire (male) audio plug I still had lying around. Well, the plug has two wires and I used the shielding as the 'ground' for the pot-meter. So when I disconnect the joystick, I don't have 2meters of electrical cable dangling. For the link between the front and rear parts, I used M3 bolts wich fit snugly inside the 3mm tubes and used self-locking bolts so they won't come loose on their own. The bolt that is fastened into the Warthog paddle is cut to size, so it doesn't stick out the other end. I had to file away a bit on the inside of the construction that holds the paddle to make room for the bracket without everything becoming stuck. The Original Warthog axle was retained.

 

 

And 'the other end' is wired onto the BU8036X board. After connection, it is necessary to calibrate the new axis in Windows or it won't be functional in DCS. Leo Bodnar's BU8036X is rather expensive. Other board should work just as well. The BU8036X supplies the POT meter with 5V, ground and the 'signal' wire. To prevent accidental short-circuit, the female part of the plug is connected to the board.

 

 

The construction of this mod was done in an afternoon. It makes for more realism in DCS when taxi-ing. The Brake axis should be assigned as a 'slider'. And a small deadzone should be added to prevent spiking.

Edited February 28, 2016 by 1.JaVA_Platypus
No more MiG-21 bug with the brake as an axis.

[cro_mig_21]

Now this is some seriously awesome engineering :) thank you for sharing and I really hope I can achieve something as hals as good as this ;)

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Nice work!

[1.JaVA_Platypus]

Thank you! :)

 

I only used stuff I had lying around in my home. This is just one solution. Other solutions can include gears, chains, or whatever. I am also really glad the way it turned out.

[TomOnSteam]

that is super cool! Well done!

[FeistyLemur]

I was literally thinking of this an hour ago, I come on here, and there it is, awesome. Now I want one too.

[f4l0]

I did something similar with a brake handle.

 

[1.JaVA_Platypus]

Cool :)

[Combat Wombat]

An easier way for warthog owners just for ground use is to apply brakes to the INCR on the throttle control ! change it to slider in the profile settings Then all you need to do is apply the brakes slightly using that And you'll be able to taxiing around like normal ! Although a bit of a cheat it works fine.

[Thadiun Okona]

I was toying with the idea of making a little plunger axis with a button at the end of the travel in the form factor of one of TM's single button housings. The intent of which is to install instead of the stock one the pinky paddle depresses, to make it an analog axis without any real modification to the grip itself.

 

It dovetails with other facets I'm working on, like a z-axis twist modification for Warthog, so am already looking at alternate miniDIN plugs with more pins etc.

[javelina1]

Dude, that's insane! And AWESOME!