Tinkercad is pretty amazing, very powerful for something so simple. It does take some "creative thinking" at times.
I like to work in stages in Tinkercad. Using positive/negative shapes to get close to what i want then export that as a STL and then immediately import it, then it becomes a single piece. Then make further adjustments etc. But I always save the original in case adjustments have to be made at that level too.
"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz
Yes, exporting and immediately importing again helps a lot with more complex shapes. TC is sometimes really slow if the models are getting too complex, or it even has problems to load them again. But as you sad, as long as you not sure that the model is right, keep the previous work saved!
Just seen I have still a fully functional, not disassembled Suncom SFS Throttle. I will mod this one to a universal useable throttle for single and dual engine jets, like the F-104, F-4, F-8, A-7, A-6, A-4 or even trainer aircraft like the T-45, the L39 and so on.
The Suncom SFS has an easy to use lock mechanism between the throttles and if this mechanism is greased properly it works very well. In my opinion it is much better as the lock on the Warthog (I removed at all my throttles 😅). In this case I will leave it, to be able to use it for dual or single engine jets.
This will be a MMJoy2 project. It will get two "antenna-wheels", a slew and a few buttons. Not as much as the other throttles, cause it should be used mainly for older fighter jets or trainers. There is a MASON throttle, that is designed like that and is also in two versions available, single- and dual engine, but the grip itself is identical, except the dual-engine version is splitted into two halfs. This one will get a satin white or light grey color.
I took a break for two days, because I couldn't see any throttle anymore. 😅
Doing the same thing four times gets on my nerves and when something starts to annoy or bore me, I start tinkering. Therefore rather a break.
Now the base of the Hornet throttle is finished. Tomorrow I'll do the wiring in the handle, then the thing should also be functionally and electronically complete. Some smaller spray-paintings and / or the lettering must still be done everywhere.
Actually I wanted to continue with the twist-grip for the collectives, which use this system, but then I had the idea of this "universal" throttle. I think I will add that.
At the Harrier is not much to spray paint on the base and also not the Osprey throttle, the grips are already done, so that should still go out in time this summer.
Hornet throttle functional ready. Paintworks on the switches, buttons and other details and also the lettering at the base-plate will be finished at a later time at all throttles. Still looks ugly at the moment. 😅
The rotary knob is for the rudder trim. The button next for the take-off trim. The real Hornet has this combined, but I made it this way cause it's easier to do and more stable. It's no pot, only a springloaded, selfcentering dial-switch. I did it the same way at my A-10 throttle. The autopilot panel is in my consoles, so there is no need for it at the A-10 throttle.
The flaps switch at the Hornet throttle is removed and changed to a 2way for the APU. I have the flaps switch in the panel for the Hornet. The two 2way switches in the autopilot section changed to a 3way momentary switch in both directions rotated 90° for the engine crank.
Not all is on the right place, like in the real plane, cause this is impossible to do with a modded WH throttle, but the grips at all throttles are mostly functional like the real thing. The antenna up/down wheel is springloaded and selfcentering at this throttle and I used the friction pot for it.
The fingerlift mechanics will also be changed to a darker look later. But all those works could also be done after the summer, including the grey painting of the sides of the base housing.
Now I will start with my "universal" throttle and after this with the twist grip of the collectives.
A-10 and F-15 throttle grips must still be spray painted. I will do this the next days between the other work.
After this all grips, handles, collective-handles and so on, in short, everything you hold in your hand is then already painted satin black.
Some HOTAS need a lettering at the grips also and all HOTAS grips will get a final satin clear coating. This is the work I would like to finish until the end of September.
And the five modded TM throttles together. The sticker make them appear more ugly as they are, but I still need them until I make the final base plate with the letterings.
The Cougar throttle still needs the TWCS electronics mechanical it's also finished, the rest is working fine.
The universal throttle is also mostly made mechanical wise. I droped the idea of printing grips after the MASON throttle I mentioned and modded the grips of the Suncom SFS throttle instead to make them appear more "universal" instead of looking like another F-15 throttle. I did this the old fashioned way I also did it back those days, I had no 3D printer available. Using other parts of throttle shells, adjusting them in shape and adding them to the grips with epoxy. I also used all the buttons and switches I had lying arround and have no real use for them.😅
In the end, it doesn't matter if it exists in real life or not, it's supposed to be universally usable and only look somewhat "real". The big advantage of the Suncom throttle is the proximity of the two handles to each other. They are so close to each other (unlike the Warthog and also the real F-15 throttle) that you can also use it as a single engine throttle, when it is locked. It will also get fingerlifts and I have to look for a solutions for a deactivable AB detent. Maybe a solution with magnets, like some guys did it on the TWCS.
I will also post pics of it if there is more to show. At the moment it's very prototypical. 🤢🤮🤣 It will be fillered and primed, when I paint the grips of the A-10 and F-15 throttles also.
So, the last one of the fighter throttles nearly ready for fillering, sanding and priming. Only some switches in the base are missing.
I will do all three remaining throttles (A-10, F-15 and this one) in one paint session the next days.
The AV-8B has also still to be made, but I use a little wooden box for this as housing and also for the the MV-22B throttle. Only the mechanical parts, the nozzle lever and the lever arm of the AV-8B are printed. The rest is from canabilized TWCS. Those parts will be painted in the flat without the use of spray cans. Finally the base boxes wont look like wood anymore, but those boxes had the right dimensions I needed for those throttles and so a bought them together with the boxes I use for my consoles.
The base of this Universal fighter throttle will get a gray which is very near to the one in US fighter jets. The "plate" will be satin black. (this will be identical at all my HOTAS). But the throttle itself will be painted light grey, like the F-14D throttle. Fingerlifts, buttons and hats will be black, the two wheels dark grey and the slew and the boat switch light grey. All will be fired by an Arduino Pro micro with the use of MMJoy2. It will use 6 axis and 18 button functions including the base finaly. I must use a button matrix for this. The antenna wheel on the left has a center detent pot, the other one a normal pot. The slew is a thumbstick with a pushbutton.
All eight throttles will get the same metal plate at the bottom, for which I will do a quick mount in my left console. I use the original WH throttle base metal plates for this. I will only use one of them at each throttle and so I have another four plates for the other throttles, like the Cougar, the Harrier, the Osprey and this one. The Apache throttle (also made out of an old Suncom throttle) will get a plate with the same dimensions, to also be mounted at the throttle place.
The rest will take a little longer, because after a year and a half of constantly working on the project, I now also want to spend more time with my wife again.
She made a significant part of my dream possible in the first place and also showed so much tolerance with her husband infected by the cockpit virus.
That is anything but a matter of course and I know all too well that it can be quite different. I am really glad to have her
After some wonderful weeks now with my wife, I'm slowly coming back to the project. There is still sooo much to do and there were also so many new modules announced in the meantime that have always interested me and that I would also like to use with my cockpit, like the C-130J, the F-4, the F-8, the A-7 and of course also the A-1H!😄
Only thing I'm still missing is an announcement of an AH-1F Tow Cobra, my all time favorite attack helicopter. If this will also come true somewhere in future, I will never need any other simulation beside DCS. 🙂
Funny you mention the AH-1F. I was listening to a 2018 episode of "The Fighter Pilot Podcast" a week or so ago, an interview of DCS dude Matt Wagner. He stated then, 4 years ago, that DCS was working on an AH-1F
"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz
I had also heard the rumor at the time. That was before Belsimtek went together with ED. Apparently there was already something going on regarding a Cobra, but was then apparently put on hold because of the work on Apache, which was certainly also already running for some time in the background.
I used to do some hill walking with the club in the college where I worked. When we were climbing up a mountai in a 40 MPH gale, the leader told us that it was "character building stuff".
