Forming pit building group in CA for BS

[rocketeer]

Did a prototype of an illuminated switch today. There are illuminated switches in the market, but they are expensive, over $10 each, and I haven't found any big enough like the ones in the AP panel:

 

Using the suggestion that Trigger showed, I used a clear chair leg cushion, it's square vinyl. I chose it because of the size, as most black rubber ones were either too big, small, or shallow.

 

 

I trimmed of the round edges. Then put a piece of acrylic on it, painted it black, with the letter 'K' (a badly etched one). Put it in a square hole of a formboard. Below is another sheet where I mount a latching push button, so that it's push down on, push again off, instead of momentary ones.

 

 

Simulating when pushed down, light comes on:

 

Ok, the top should be blue, the LED should be white. Now I've just used black for the top, and a red LED. But the idea is there. I've also yet to color the sides of the cube black, so you can see the LED sitting inside.

 

Here's what I mean, sitting the cube on a push button. If the square hole is not too tight, after pushing the cube down, it's spring back up, but still end up a bit lower when the push button is in down latched position.

 

As you can see, the legs of the LED are split, as they can't go down straight because of the push button below. So I split them sidesways.

[rocketeer]

Here's how it looks sideways.

 

And the LED with legs split sideways:

[VMFA-Blaze]

Nicely improvised Rocket...

 

As far as my project is concerned, I when to the touch buddy websight but the link isn't working.. So I was googling and found this .. Its from a company called C-more.. They have a demo available so I was playing around with it and seem to have come up with a solution..

 

 

This is what I've done in just a few minutes, it appears that these buttons can be customised to look just about anyway that you chose.. This software is specifically designed to work with touch screen applications..

Here's the web page if anyone wants to look any further...

 

http://web6.automationdirect.com/adc/Overview/Catalog/Operator_Interfaces/C-more_Touch_Panels/C-more_Touch_Panel_Programming_Software_-a-_Cables

 

Blaze

[CAT_101st]

nice find:thumbup:

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

Great to see the progress guys, I just moved into our new home so hopefully after I get some internet connections going I'll be able to participate more,

[Aeroscout]

I haven't updated much recently...

 

I don't have many pics at the moment, but I have begun work on the MFDs. I bought many switches form www.allelectronics.com (very cheep) and am figuring out how to attach them. The push buttons for the MFDs were actually the perfect size and were 15cents a piece! It doesn't get much better than that! so i was able to do all 60 MFD buttons) The hard part is cutting out every button hole in each MFD (that's 60 1/2 inch holes with only basic power tools hear at my home!) It's comming along nicely, but again, it's not going to be perfectly accurate. (not even close really, considering the standards of your Ka-50 pits and Blaze's F/A-18 pit)

[CAT_101st]

OK I just got back from RS and was asking about the rotory switchs. they said I would have to order more. I said yea and I have to pay the shiping right. He said no, and we will ship thim to your house. But you have to order thim here in the shop, Not on the website they charge shiping their. "WOW" I say. Next time I go in I will order 6-8 of thim and the PB buttons I need in one shot (if not in the store). So rocketeer their you go on ordering the switches to save on shiping. Go to the website get the part #s and head over to RS.

[rocketeer]

RS's rotary is quite cheap at $2.99, but I don't like the open rotary type. The ones I have all jammed up after a while, and refused to turn anymore. I tested on at Fry's, closed, type, 4 positions, with adjustable stoppper to set 2 to 4 positions. 30 degree indexing. This one costs more, at $5 plus. Opencockpits has a 12 position rotary, also with adjustable stopper, at 3 EUR, ie. $4.50. plus shipping. We'd need a few 12 position ones as there are a few rotaries in the BS pit with 7-8 positions. Can you modify the double pole 6 position RS switch to single pole?

[CAT_101st]

Yes I can.

[Doggy]

may I ask you, what equipment do you recommend for a collective? I read a dozen of reviews and now I'm totally disapointed...

[rocketeer]

Not sure if your question was directed to Cat, but here's my two cents:

1. Did you check out the one by Mike Powell?

http://www.mikesflightdeck.com/simple_sim.htm

 

2. Or you can use the one that Urze is selling, where you attach it to your X52, X45 etc. throttle.

 

3. Or you can check with Triggerhappy the pit guru, who is building a detailed BS collective.

 

4. Hannibal built a nice chopper pit, but without the custom collective. But with his building skills, you can also check with him for ideas.

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=28370

 

It depends if you want to buy or build. Which ones have you build that you were disappointed?

[CAT_101st]

may I ask you, what equipment do you recommend for a collective? I read a dozen of reviews and now I'm totally disapointed...

 

Do you want off the shelf equipment? or to build your own?

[Doggy]

My question was general to anyone :)

rocketeer, thanks for hints!, nice ones!

As I'm new here, let me introduce myself a little. Firstly, I could say that I'm a rookie (what a shame :)) ) Long ago my first sim was F-18 Precision strike fighter. I realy enjoyed this sim/game. With LOMAC I have flown just several hours (now take a sit) only with a keybord and mouse :D. Yes it is possible... :pilotfly: Then I left FS world because of less free time since I finished a cllege/got a job. So I never bought/built any equipment for FS.

But the Hokum is my "Achilles' heel", it was my first "big" scale model... can't resist any longer...

 

OK, back to topic. As my free time is still limited I don't want to build a cockpit. I'm looking just for any reliable joy/hotas that can nicely control the BS. Head tracking is a sure thing.

What are your opinions about these...

1) Top Gun Afterburner II - weak precision?

2) Saitek cyborg evo - throttle(collective) lever usability?

3) Saitek X52 - long term reliability?

4) Cougar Hotas - little expensive

5) any other solutions, I consider myself skilled enough to build any simple lever mechanism to control the collective

[CAT_101st]

If your not planing on building a pit and have little time. Just go with the X52 and enjoy the game whin you can. I had a X36 the first version of the X52. for years and never had a problem. I have the X52 now and have had no probs so far. going on 8 months now.

Hope this helps

[hannibal]

if you have a little bit of time, i recommend modding a throttle to mimic the characteristics of a collective..i.e. throttle control via handle.

 

i made a mod of a foot pedal and collective, which each of them took me a month each, so i got tired and left the throttle alone.

 

i have a CH Products Combatstick USB 568

 

after trying to practice flying helicopters with battlefield, i found that using the throttle was quite cumbersome..

times that i wanted to decrease lift, i ended up doing the opposite, and vice versa... with the reason being that when i push away the throttle foward , i increase lift, but if you were using a collective lever, pushing away to put the lever down, is like decreasing lift, instead of increasing...

 

and it messes me up alot when it comes to taking out columns of targets..

 

im about to mod my pro throttle to have a collective...i just ordered plastic gears and hydraulic dampers... wish me luck!

[rocketeer]

Ah, Hannibal, sounds great. I wish you all the best! We'd forward to your collective.

 

As for Doggy, since you don't have much time, I suggest getting the X52, and use something like Urze's collective attachment. I have my X52 for 3 years now, still without problem. And so what if it does? It's so much cheaper than Cougar and CH. If you have to replace it after 3 years, it's already worth the money. I've heard many say the Saitek stuff breaks easily, and doesn't feel solid. I, for one, prefers Saitek over CH. I have CH yoke, which doesn't center well. I also have CH rudders, which are too narrow and loose. Then I got the Saitek pedals, which are wider apart, and you can tighten the pedal resistance. So I have a preference over Saitek, but that's just me.

[Nordic]

Do you guys plan to build a MFD?

[CAT_101st]

I will build the buttons and 2 rotory push button switchs for the abrius if that is what you mean. I wont have a screan for it thou.

[rocketeer]

At the moment, we don't know if the data in the ABRIS is exportable in BS to other systems, so like Cat I'd only make the five push buttons and the two encoders with knobs.

[Triggerhappy69]

At the moment, we don't know if the data in the ABRIS is exportable in BS to other systems, so like Cat I'd only make the five push buttons and the two encoders with knobs.

 

Same here..! Having followed the MFD discussion within the Viperpit comunity. And theyr struggle to get the MFD's up in working order (without the HUGE Fps drop). I put my faith in the fact that we'll get it working someday..! ED seems to have theyr finger in the pitbuilding pulse (BIG rep to you for that Mr. Eagle Dynamics), and the LUA exporting from DCS seems to be have ample room for growth.

 

.... also the front panel looks really wierd with that big screaming hole of nothingness on the right side.. So I am whipping out my soldering iron and in goes the encoders..!:thumbup:

[531-Ghost]

hannibal, you do know that you can reverse the axes on the ProThrottle, right?

[Feuerfalke]

Some awesome cockpits and great craftsmanship here. I always plan to build a cockpit, but I'm not that gifted and I play other games on the same machine, too, which would make things a bit difficult. ;)

 

 

Nevertheless, I'm really impressed by all the great ideas and works. Thanks for sharing and, please, keep them coming. :thumbup:

[VMFA-Blaze]

Sorry Guys, I've put this idea on the back burner for now ...As well as all of the other flight sims.. I've been waiting and waiting for something new be released some where in the community. But this is really starting to become boring.. yawn ... :lol:

 

I mean with all of the spammers that have begun to show up.. you Guys know what I mean.... here's one example " Oh yeah? I really didn't know that"

But I think that we've all been guilty of that at one time or another..:megalol:

 

So to cut through the boredom I think that Pit Building is superb way of utilizing your time until the next flight sim hits the market.. It certainly is time consuming, but god knows you have it to spare.. :D

 

Actually what I've just done is bought a Jaguar Convertible, and with the Spring finally upon us, this is perfect for cruising around with the top down.. :thumbup:

 

But I'll still check out all of your innovative skills, Keep up the good work Gentlemen..

 

I should be back here full time once DCS kicks in...

 

~S~

 

Blaze

[Triggerhappy69]

Heads up guys..! I finally got the 4-way switch working...!

 

Check thread in "Tech"..

[rocketeer]

Been busy with work and preparation for out-of-state project. so haven't been able to work on my pit, unlike trigger who is going at lightspeed. Lucky fella.

 

I came across a big push button that is illuminated, which has the potential of making a nicer looking AP button than the one I DIYed earlier.

 

It's light is yellow, didn't like it. And it requires 12V.

 

And I discovered this little guy.

 

Well, size doesn't matter. It's very bright, has a very wide angle of light, and is very cheap. Most LEDs I find, especially white LEDs, can cost $4-10 each, with only 10-20 degrees of dispersion. This guy is only 41 cents from Unique-leds.com. Model is superflux piranha. And it only needs 3V.

 

 

So I put replaced the 12V lamp inside with this chap, and printed the desired letters. It has a removal cap.

 

This is how it looks in the dark.

 

I like it whitish, just like the ones in the AP panel. Here are the rest.

 

Most latched push buttons are small. Even the various ones from NKK. I like this size.

 

And for those of looking for bright, wide angled LEDs, these ones are definitely affordable and ideal for backlighting.