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#3591655 - 06/14/12 03:02 PM Custom IL2 1946 and Freelancer Control Panel  
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 66
Apache600 Offline
Junior Member
Apache600  Offline
Junior Member

Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 66
Sacramento, CA
Hello all, I've been looking through this forum, and have seen some of the custom controllers you guys have build, and i must say that i'm in awe of them. Here's my contribution to the pile of them already out there.
When i built these panels, i didn't know anything about the A-PEC or BU0836 boards, so both of these controllers are actually built off of hacked keyboards. The first controller i made is the grey one (for an old space sim called Freelancer .... they have a really good newly released mod called Discovery) and then the latest creation in the green one for IL2 1946.
I have since purchased 2 boards from desktopaviator.com that generate a pulse (so i can start using toggle switches instead of push buttons) I have a few projects currently going as of the moment, another Freelancer controller, and a massive one for IL2 Cliffs of Dover. But now i might want to make another 1946 one as well, because you guys have lead me on to discover the other cheap pulse boards.
If you guys have any questions, or want to see more pictures of the construction process so you can get ideas, feel free to ask!

- Apache

IL 2 1946 Control Panel





Freelancer Control Panel (First control panel built)



Inline advert (2nd and 3rd post)

#3591668 - 06/14/12 03:24 PM Re: Custom IL2 1946 and Freelancer Control Panel [Re: Apache600]  
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 151
Flying_Colander Offline
Member
Flying_Colander  Offline
Member

Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 151
Well done, Apache. Very clever dual use set up. Welcome to the ranks of the enviable. Hacking a keyboard is actually a bit more challenge than using ready made button boards. I tried but gave up. Phantom keys. Matrix mapping. You're a better man than I. Kudos.

And keeping posting your progress.

Cheers,

FC

Last edited by Flying_Colander; 06/14/12 03:26 PM.
#3591724 - 06/14/12 05:42 PM Re: Custom IL2 1946 and Freelancer Control Panel [Re: Apache600]  
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 471
MudPuppy Offline
Member
MudPuppy  Offline
Member

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 471
Appalachian foothills in Virgi...
Excellent first post, Apache! I can't imagine soldering those small contacts on the keyboard panel, very nice work. On the joystick for the Freelancer control panel; is that an arcade type control with the micro-switches?

Derek

#3591788 - 06/14/12 07:40 PM Re: Custom IL2 1946 and Freelancer Control Panel [Re: Apache600]  
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 66
Apache600 Offline
Junior Member
Apache600  Offline
Junior Member

Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 66
Sacramento, CA
@FC, The keyboard is pretty tough to work with, although i haven't had any phantom key problems. probably because of the prep work i've done figuring out what goes where (see pic). I traced all the leads with a multimeter first, but then confirmed it all with a keyboard testing program after i soldered a vero board to it.



@MudPuppy, the contacts for the keyboard was an interesting project, but thank the lord for the Dremel tool. That thing is worth its weight in gold.
The joystick is just an arcade micro switch style like you thought, you should be able to see it from one of the pictures on my first post. It just controls strafing movements of the spaceship in the game.



#3653601 - 09/30/12 08:52 PM Re: Custom IL2 1946 and Freelancer Control Panel [Re: Apache600]  
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 66
Apache600 Offline
Junior Member
Apache600  Offline
Junior Member

Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 66
Sacramento, CA
Been a while since i've put out any updates. Just thought i'd share my latest creation. It's for Freelancer again.
Hope you guys like it. Looking forward to starting panels for individual aircraft for IL2-CoD. The IL2-CoD boards won't be keyboard hacks, I've got some desktopaviator boards as well as a BU0836 board.
- Apache600














#3655275 - 10/03/12 04:50 AM Re: Custom IL2 1946 and Freelancer Control Panel [Re: Apache600]  
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 134
choowy Offline
Member
choowy  Offline
Member

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 134
Apache that's a nice setup, well done. Reminds of the hack I did on the keyboard, tracing the keys on the film and making up a matrix, going cross eyed.

#3656533 - 10/04/12 09:17 PM Re: Custom IL2 1946 and Freelancer Control Panel [Re: Apache600]  
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,353
HitchHikingFlatlander Offline
Senior Member
HitchHikingFlatlander  Offline
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,353
California
Nice work!


I've got a bad feeling about this.....

Moderated by  RacerGT 

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