Super cheap ways to mount HOTAS?

Markdude · October 15, 2010

Does anyone have any super cheap ideas for ways of mounting my HOTAS? I am thinking of two cheap but sturdy (40-50 lbs) chests of drawers (about 2 feet tall) from IKEA and placing them next to each side of my (armless) office chair, and then using some industrial strength velcro to attach the stick and throttle to them. If anyone has any other ideas, I'd really appreciate some insight. I'm looking for cheap and easy, and minimal building. Doesn't have to be pretty, just functional.

:joystick:

Deadman · October 15, 2010

Some scrap tiles at the base for weight three or for sets of two two by fours stacked up a couple of phone books on top and some cheep tie down straps to hold everything together total cost a couple of bucks for the straps on for the stick and one more for the throttle and you good to go:thumbup:

Duckling · October 16, 2010

... placing them next to each side of my (armless) office chair...

If using an office chair with arms, you might consider extending/bend the arms (or use the fastening systems for these), bolt on a plate for supporting the throttle and stick. Same approach to get a centered stick but a bit more tricky.

Watch up for the problem with an office chair when using pedals, it will cause the chair to twist. For a QnD setup, I'd use a sturdy wodden kitchen chair as base, sides to support the HOTAS could be bolted on directly :-)

digitaljjd · October 18, 2010

Something like this perhaps?

Oscar · October 18, 2010

Those are some interesting mounting brackets. Source?

digitaljjd · October 18, 2010

Those are some interesting mounting brackets. Source?

It's my personal design. Maybe I should patent them?:D I'll throw a quick demo video together, it's basic but I had to put a little thought into it, I made a few mods since these pics were taken to include a mouse platform and a removeable keyboard pedestal.

Succellus · October 18, 2010

The armrest doesnt get on the way for throtlle and stick grip, hows faring the saitek pedals.

CyBerkut · October 18, 2010

I really like what digitaljjd came up with there.

However, the O.P. mentioned that his office chair is armless, so he's going to need a somehat different approach.

Markdude... If you like what digitaljjd came up with, you may be able to mount something even though you don't have arm rests. Most office chairs have bolts attaching the pedestal to the chair's underside. If you have them, you could use those as attachment points for whatever HOTAS mounts you fashion. Of course, you could easily end up departing from the "super cheap" criteria that you mentioned. Deadman's suggestion will get you there at low cost, that's for sure.

Do you have any materials already on hand? (Plywood, pipe, conduit, ???)

Steel Jaw · October 18, 2010

Would that design hold the weight of the Cougar though? The saitek is lite weight plastic.

Case · October 18, 2010

Check this: http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=552343&postcount=330

Extremely sturdy, extremely cheap, extremely easy to make!

Sov13t · October 18, 2010

I constructed mine out of PVC pipe, following http://www.rogerdodger.net/diyflightsims.html designs.

I find it to be versatile, easy to adjust/redesign if there is a need, and relatively cheap.

digitaljjd · October 18, 2010

My video will take a bit longer then I thought I added some stuff to my chair since then. No arms would be a problem. (Buy a new chair?) I just wanted to pass on lessons learned. Check back in 3-4 hours?

digitaljjd · October 18, 2010

Here's a lame HOTAS video on my chair. Don't judge me, I'm renting a trailer in BFE nowhere...there are no apartment complexes where I live. Anyway, disregard the beer and the sweatpants on the floor.

Video here

ESA1178 · January 6, 2011

Did you ever get around to putting a youtube tutorial together?

Mark

Tailspin45 · February 6, 2011

Cheap ($20), quick (4 hours idea to fly) http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=66927

CarneyUK · February 14, 2011

I just made a board for mine and stuck a pillow on it. All I would need to do is adjust the control base sizes for the HOTAS Warthog. I then put it on my original seat and can take it off when wife and kids wanna use the PC.

Super cheap, super easy to make, sturdy enough as it's 2 cm thick wood, but you may need to be careful when getting off as weight of HOTAS could make tip it. May be removing seat unit and bolting it in place.

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1100572&postcount=33

WildBillKelsoe · February 23, 2011

you could get a very broad bed log (those which support your weight and mattress when you lie on bed) the size of your seat, and trim it to HOTAS's dimensions, apply oar and varnish, then use a drill to make exact holes in the log. Screw tight and for elevation, use the drawers.

here:

chair only

chair with log bolted or screwed or glued

you will sit on the log since its flat, but make sure its the size of your chairs seat (here, the chair is round outline, so it would be equal to radius squared)

then to elevate your hotas to comfortable position, use the drawers

then make holes in the drawers once they're in the proper elevation, affix your stick and throttle to preferred sides.

happy simming :D

RedX · February 27, 2011

Well, here's one way to mount... It's for the TMWH but I guess it works the same as long as you manage to attach a bolt on the base of the joystick. A 10mm bolt goes through the joystick bottom, a plate, the seat, and another plate on the other side. The plates reduce the wobbling motion due to seat cushion and rounding their corners (to prevent damage on cushion) was the most time-consuming part of the whole thing. It's fairly rigid now. When removed, there is just a small hole & flap on the seat cushion that can be covered by a small piece of tape if necessary. The good thing is that now joystick is center mounted like in the real thing. Throttle lays on a small table on the side. The idea to use velcro to fix it sounds nice, I might try that. See attached pics.