helicopter club and my home made simpit

[jayhigh]

hi all.
i am a helicopter enthusiast, spawned from playing battlefield vietnam and battlefield 2.
for the most part i have been flexing my helicopter through a mouse/keyboard/xbox controller 's' setup.
i wanted to go to the next level of flying which is to have full helo controls, (i.e. cyclic, collective, and rudder)
i just completed my home made sim-pit
people like pictures of course..
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/7996/s7300051vy3.th.jpg (http://img70.imageshack.us/my.php?image=s7300051vy3.jpg)
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/3594/s7300050cv2.th.jpg (http://img82.imageshack.us/my.php?image=s7300050cv2.jpg)
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/1174/s7300058qx2.th.jpg (http://img70.imageshack.us/my.php?image=s7300058qx2.jpg)
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/8796/s7300054qa9.th.jpg (http://img82.imageshack.us/my.php?image=s7300054qa9.jpg)

I like to know if there is any helicopter clubs to join, i would like to improve my helicopter combat flying skills, its taking me a lil more effort to use a cyclic and coordinate using the rudder and collective...
but im sure in time i will be better in time, plus i like to fly with other helicopter pilots online!

[MichaelCHProd]

THAT IS CRAZY!

I LOVE IT!

My only question is why didn't you hang the Pro Throttle vertically to simulate the collective?

[chshrkt]

Most awsome my good man!

A few pictures are good, don't get me wrong.

However, in this case; MORE IS BETTER! lol

[jayhigh]

THAT IS CRAZY!

I LOVE IT!

My only question is why didn't you hang the Pro Throttle vertically to simulate the collective?


i would have but the throttle only has flat horizontal mechanics, where as most other throttles tilt on a pivot point...

i might be modding the pro throttle to pivot on a axis, instead of it shfiting to move a small plastic bar that rotates a pot...

that thrustmaster hotas is sweet...i wish the pro throttle came in that kind of design, also almost like the saitek x52 throttle and the x45...

[snomhf]

jay,
Have you seen this: http://www.ch-hangar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5078&highlight=collective

Gregg has built about the coolest collective I've ever seen!

[jayhigh]

jay,
Have you seen this: http://www.ch-hangar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5078&highlight=collective

Gregg has built about the coolest collective I've ever seen!


that is a bad ass collective...
as much as i want to try to build authentic helicopter controls, i think my throttle will end up something like this..

http://www.wright-wing.com/f6fhellcatwip/images/Hellcat51.jpg

i need the semi circle, in which the high point helps me to determine 50% output, full forward is max, and full back is 0%...
i hate guessing where the 50% mark is with the ch products pro throttle and on helicopter "hand brake-like collective....

[GunHog]

Lots of things to get you going in the right direction Jayhigh

http://www.hovercontrol.com/

[bgs48]

Take a look at this: www.pro-flight-trainer.ch.

This is a video of a helo pilot who used CH Products to make a control system: YouTube - Helicopter Simulator System (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxWtyIQ1Wn4).

[Corsair8X]

I love where that guy's head is at.

I've thought of something somewhat different for a collective. My idea involved one of those "lefty hotas" setups (but just the stick), with the handle mounted on a longer shaft. Then have the base of the stick mounted at a 45 degree angle and then have just the "upper" (relative) spring to just provide a little back tension. That way you could still have lots of controls for something like BlackShark.

[jayhigh]

wow.. its be like almost 2 years since i started my project...

it eventually evolved in to
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/753/simpit009.jpg (http://img246.imageshack.us/i/simpit009.jpg/)

[hotwire]

nice work would love to see more Keep it up!

[jayhigh]

thanks.

i havent been simming for a couple of months.
i did manage to mod an old Suncom Talon split throttle and the F-15E joystick complete with CH electronics.
this was sept last year because i was hyped up about the upcoming A-10C simulation by DCS.
unfortunately lost interest due to small multiplayer base for the lockon community..

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4724/simpit005.jpg (http://img338.imageshack.us/i/simpit005.jpg/)
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/753/simpit009.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/753/simpit009.jpg/)
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3148/599012h.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/i/599012h.jpg/)
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/8110/599m.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/599m.jpg/)

im hoping to get back into simming again when ever lockon 2.0 comes out...
my next project will be the 2x MFDs for the A-10C, plus a secondary PC setup, for a wingman (but a desktop version with the thrustmaster A-10C hotas and maybe those Simped F-16C pedals)
im hoping that Yoda from the ED testers team will finalize his MFD program for a client PC, so that ii can hook up 2x 7" LCDs for ACTUAL MFDs..

srping 2010? summer 2010? who knows..

[jayhigh]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN70OHgODmo

[hotwire]

I am about to make you a happy man!


twin pack USB MDF's around $138 http://secure.simmarket.com/thrustmaster-mfd-cougar-pack.phtml



I havent bought mine yet $ still working on my prototype before i start main pit construction
not trying to hijack your thread but thought you might want a look at mine. let me know and ill delete the pic
http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv272/hotwire_2009/DSC_5663.jpg

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv272/hotwire_2009/DSC_5733.jpg

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv272/hotwire_2009/DSC_5065.jpg

[jayhigh]

hey hotwire.. thanks for the link..

i wish it could make me a happy man.. but before i can make such an endevour of getting those (though i rather make my own to actually fit a 7" LCD diagonal), DCS A-10C has to come out first, which could be months away..

if you know any updates to the development/release date of DCS A-10C, that would make me a happy man... ;)


nice setup by the way...
hopefully it is comfortable and usable.

some people build their pits based on what they can end up with, not accounting the egronomics of there setup.
sure it would be nice to have an authentic A-10C cockpit... but in my situation being that i live in an apartment, its not feasible, so my setup is limited.
but for the most part, i made sure i positioned everything in terms of joystick placement to be easy to use, no strain on wrists, etc that kind of thing..

THE LAST THING U WANT TO DO IS INJURE YOURSELF from strain, bad posture, etc from hours of simming...

[hotwire]

Yeah egronomics is a Major concern hence the reason the F105 seat isnt installed yet, I am still working on the comfort lvl of that via new pads.
as far as the 7' LCD there is a very easy solution for that...check out the viperpits website http://www.viperpits.org/smf/index.php?topic=4832.0
this will get you to the main site and just look around there is SO MUCH INFO HERE I didn't want to take you just to the MDF solution !!!!!!

one of the best pit building web sites I have ever found!

just checked out a bit of the video ...nice i wil have to watch it all when i get home (streaming =trouble at work)
where did you get the black shark software?