F-18 grip, WARTHOG compatible

[Gary M]

Here's another voice in the "count me in" crowd: I'm in for a 15/18 setup and a Huey one.

 

Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help - I'm active-duty airforce.

 

Cheers!

 

Gary

[Nobody96]

I have been looking for ages to mod something better on top of my FFB2. A resin based Huey grip would be just perfect :-)

 

-Mathias

[badger66]

Wired, ready to mount and made out of metal for under $150 and I am in as well.

 

Yep ..... Ill go along with this .

[TraxusIV]

Such beautiful 3d modeling! Have you built any plane models?

[MTFDarkEagle]

Yep ..... Ill go along with this .

Count me in for that as well!

[rajdary]

Im very intrested in your replicas, specially the F-18 one. Count me in.

[slowhand]

I'm in:joystick::music_whistling:

[TraxusIV]

It would be nice to have a heavy duty A-10C/F-16C version with a heavily reinforced structure to allow for installation on force sensing bases such as this: http://www.realsimulator.com/html/fssb_r3_warthog.html

 

If you were to look at doing some throttles, you might approach it by making a kit, with the grip, button covers, switches (prewired or not), and, most importantly, a chassis for installing the throttle arms and hall sensors, etc. I know a lot of us are already comfortable with DIY type projects, we just lack the tools to make proper enclosures and grips and stuff. I believe there are affordable usb controller kits out there like Arduino and stuff which would allow for an easy enough interface. There was also that fellow here on the forums who made the controller boards with 128 buttons and 8 axes on them, if I recall.

[TraxusIV]

But yeah, when I get the money, I'd be in for an F15C grip too. :)

[hegykc]

Ok best bad news ever.

 

There I was, ready to pull the trigger on a hobby 3d printer and accessories I would need. But I thought, let's give it a month, just in case.And what do you know, everything spun up 180 degrees in those 30 days.

 

Here is the dilemma:

 

A hobby machine, only good for prototypes, it would probably take 2 days to print a whole grip, surface treatment needed after the print. Best ones are made in US so after taxes it would run me about 4k$.

 

Now, there have been several pro type machines, with completely different technology announced, the kind I was planning on engineering myself, and the kind I've been waiting on for the past 7 years when I first came in contact with the technology, but the price was in hundreds of thousands.

The one that would best fit my needs is even made in EU so there would be no taxes involved ( which accounts for about 40% of the budget for the hobby machine). The only draw back, it would be another 3-4 month wait.

 

But that would be a machine that would allow me to go right to production, no print failure rates, no model limitations, no extra surface treatment. Perfect, ready to use hardware. And in quantities of a few dozen per day.

Price tag, 5k$, so just a bit more then the hobby machine.

 

So I'm pretty certain I'm going the pro machine route. In the mean time I'll get back to finishing my models.

 

Sorry for the last minute change, but it'll be worth it in the end.

[TraxusIV]

Ok best bad news ever.

[....]

 

Sorry for the last minute change, but it'll be worth it in the end.

 

Any chance you can link to the new and old printers? I'm interested in learning about the tech and how it's developing.

[sndwv]

I too would be interested in learning more about the printers and process, but also because 3D printing for heavy use items somewhat worries me to be honest (not based on any scientific data by the way).

 

What I've seen of high end prints thus far the result is always somewhat rough and, most importantly, porous and I would also have concerns about the properties of the polymer over time (sun, heat, moisture). Casting 'feels' more robust to me but, as I said, this is just my gut feeling.

 

BUT, not wanting to rain on your parade at all; I'm still pretty exited about the project and perhaps a bit more info could unnerve any worries I have.

[GodsPrototype]

Ok best bad news ever.

 

There I was, ready to pull the trigger on a hobby 3d printer and accessories I would need. But I thought, let's give it a month, just in case.And what do you know, everything spun up 180 degrees in those 30 days.

 

Here is the dilemma:

 

A hobby machine, only good for prototypes, it would probably take 2 days to print a whole grip, surface treatment needed after the print. Best ones are made in US so after taxes it would run me about 4k$.

 

Now, there have been several pro type machines, with completely different technology announced, the kind I was planning on engineering myself, and the kind I've been waiting on for the past 7 years when I first came in contact with the technology, but the price was in hundreds of thousands.

The one that would best fit my needs is even made in EU so there would be no taxes involved ( which accounts for about 40% of the budget for the hobby machine). The only draw back, it would be another 3-4 month wait.

 

But that would be a machine that would allow me to go right to production, no print failure rates, no model limitations, no extra surface treatment. Perfect, ready to use hardware. And in quantities of a few dozen per day.

Price tag, 5k$, so just a bit more then the hobby machine.

 

So I'm pretty certain I'm going the pro machine route. In the mean time I'll get back to finishing my models.

 

Sorry for the last minute change, but it'll be worth it in the end.

 

No need to apologize for anything. Thanks for your effort and hard work. Take your time and deliver the best hardware combat flight simulation has ever seen! Thanks again

[rajdary]

Its a logical decision, i will happily wait. By the way will you make a Eurofighter replica, the module might be here by the end of the year.

[Buznee]

Any thought on making a quality metal warthog extensions with included wire cable extension? There doesn't seem to be a good source in the good ol' USA. It would be great if you could offer different sizes, some like as short as 4 inches, and some like floor mounted sticks. There's also some that like bends in the stick extension for rotorcraft style cyclic sticks.

[hegykc]

Regarding 3d printing technology, sorry, you'll have to start googling becuse

 

there's just too much for me to start posting about it

 

and the machines I'm looking at are not out yet so I'm not at liberty to discuss the technology itself.

 

I'm actually outfitting my entire workshop so there will be a laser cutter, cnc machine, pipe bender, sheet bender etc. Not all at once so it might take to the end of the year but, sooner or later I'll be able to build anything simpit related in-house, which is the only way to have things at affordable prices.

 

Eurofighter controls are in the works too.

[DonLduk]

its great to see your effort I hope to support your products soon.

[ishtmail]

Hegykc, just wanted to say I'm monitoring this thread closely and will be coming over for inspection when you start printing :) Would love to see in person what you cook up...

 

How close to the border are you?

[hegykc]

Haha you're welcome! The secret bunker facility is located about 200 clicks from the border, int the area known as house 18. Some background check and security clearances might be required though :)

[southernrebel]

Hi: i'm new to writing post. Just had to say that i would love an F-18 stick like all others before me. I'm an old fart, so my preference would be an A-4 Skyhawk stick and throttle. Iplan to build a pit. Again good work on what you have done. will follow this thread.

[thor363]

Please PM me if you get this off the ground. I'm in...

[Spins321]

I would contribute to crowd funding for this... just saying.

 

5K isn't that much, and perhaps 10K for materials would be a good limit.

 

Jamal

[Kybosh]

I would contribute to crowd funding for this... just saying.

 

5K isn't that much, and perhaps 10K for materials would be a good limit.

 

Jamal

 

I could go in on this. Very cool looking prototype .

[DeathInACan]

I would be keen for one of these sticks at some point - since I am starting to plan out a F-18 pit. Keep us updated on your progress!

[Nobody96]

I would contribute to crowd funding for this... just saying.

 

5K isn't that much, and perhaps 10K for materials would be a good limit.

 

Jamal

 

+1