The blog post is here: http://www.simpits.org/geneb/?p=140





ttyl!

g.

They look great Gene. That is some great attention to detail when you add all the screw/rivet heads on the TQ. Looks like you might also be working on a trim wheel as well.
Derek

Wow Gene! That is some beautiful stuff!

Thanks. The screws are holding the skin on. I'm thinking about building a "single-gang" version of it that uses a specially crafted arm that would take the throttle grip from a Saitek X45.

Yep, I'm working on the elevator trim & flap wheels. It's mostly complete but I don't have any pictures of it yet.

g.

Someone give this man a CNC and a plasma cutter!!!

I want more (cowbell!) metal!

Those look excellent! Great work!

Thanks. Maybe one day I'll make a new set of pedals out of .125 6061-T6. I don't have a brake that'll bend that thick of material though.

g.

Nice. Is that serial style connector an old school gameport connector or are you using it to plug into a Bodnar unit or something similar?
Nevermind, answered on your blog I see:

The throttle quadrant will plug into a Beta Innovations Plasma that I've got (one of the original devices from 2003).

I'm also planning on building a new 2 lever quadrant that will use the throttle grip from a Saitek X-45 and a regular knob for the prop pitch lever.

g.

Really cool Gene hows things going with your cockpit plans, thinking of buying the template set to build your pit with my Grandpa. He's 84, a master woodworker and I'm 29 and need to learn those old world skills we youngsters don't know.

Sales are much less than I'd hoped.

I'm not offering the templates any longer. They're very easy to make yourself though.

g.

Well thats cool I know my Grandpa can read prints and has all the needed tools possibly minus a few.....

Well, I'd like to boost your sales and I'll spread the word as much as I can. I've admired your DIY pit since you first mentioned it! I've checked out the new thread up above too!

Thanks!

g.

Very nice Gene, I need to get back to my build one of these days. As soon as things slow down...:(

I'm hoping to get this thing nailed down before the end of the year. We'll see.

I got the rudder pedal assembly mounted on a pair of ball bearing drawer slides that are oriented horizontally instead of vertically. My local woodworker[*] store had them for $9.99 a pair. I've got to drill locking pin holes in the base plate for the rudder pedals as well as the cockpit deck and then that'll be ready to install. I still need to make & install the heel supports on the pedals though.

I don't know if I'll get to it tomorrow - I've got some "emergency" work to do on the F-15 that will likely eat up the whole day.

g.

I used to dream of having a 'pit like yours Gene, but at the moment I'm just dreaming of having a whole day to spend building it!

Hehee. I pull my hair out sometimes only having one day a week to really work on multiple projects...

g.