[simpits-tech] Helopit (was ATTN: Mark Collins)

[Mark Collins]

Hey Roy,
I don't know if this will ever be a pit in the same sense that guys are
making F-16 pits...but it works for me.  I still have a long way to go.
Once I get working again, I'll be populating the instrument panel with
instruments from simkits.

As for the joystick, it main hardware is from a flightlink cyclic.
www.flightlink.com  They make hardware for mil simulators.  Actually, I'm
thinking about taking the springs out for the pitch axis.  Real helicopters
have trim switches so you're not always fighting the stick.  I haven't come
up with an idea that will work for  putting in some type of motorized trim
system.  It's really too bad, a functioning trim switch would be really
cool.  I put the TM FLCS head on the flight link stick so I could use all
the button functions on the FLCS stick.  As things progress, I probably will
not need all the buttons as I will have real switches in the pit.  I also
slaved the collective through a TM TQS that you see sitting by the
collective.  I put mini plugs on everything so I could switch as I wanted
to. So, the pot on the inside of the collective is actually slaved through
the TM TQS board. Functionally, though I have different control hardware,
it's all running through the TM system.  I just need to find a way to
activate all the switches on the collective.  I know I could use an epic
card, but I'm not really willing to put out the cake for that just yet.  Any
ideas would be appreciated.   Sometimes I fantasize about maybe putting
together a Mil helo pit...Blackhawk or an Apache...Maybe some day.

Most of the stuff has been gotten off E-bay on the cheap.  This includes the
Collective, the helo seat, and the Instrument Panel.  The Flight Link Cyclic
was courtesy of Paul at Desktop sims...Thanks Paul!!

Hope the pictures were worth the wait!!!! ;)

Mark

> -----Original Message-----
> From: simpits-tech-admin@simpits.org
> [mailto:simpits-tech-admin@simpits.org]On Behalf Of Roy Coates
> Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 3:10 AM
> To: simpits-tech@simpits.org
> Subject: [simpits-tech] Helopit (was ATTN: Mark Collins)
>
>
> On Sun, 15 Jun 2003, Mark Collins wrote:
>
> > Ok...I've taken the pictures...I've had them
> developed..(yes...developed.
> > No...I don't have a magical digital camera...  Even though I'm a techie,
> > I've just never gotten around to buying one...I miss my Nikon
> F3!!)  I've
> > scanned them and they are ready for upload.
> >
>
>
> Thanks Mark - helopit's seem a bit thin on the ground and its nice to see
> someone else having a go!  A question for you.. is the spring in the
> joystick you've converted into a cyclic not just a little too weak with
> the extra length?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Roy.
>
>
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