The Stick

Just sending out some pics so folks know that I'm still "developing" my detachable HOTAS setup. Finially got a F-16 stick mold that I'm happy with. The stick is in its "rough" state (unpainted and thrown together). I just wanted to get some pics out there before i went on "vacation". It's molded from the actual F-16 stick. It's plastic, but I'm thinking about trying to pour a metal one.

Feel free to ask questions.

...Steve

wwww.splash-one-bandit.com

Nice!

Well done! And the original and this one don't split down the middle? You have to feed the wiring down from the top?

1: It's beautiful. Period
2: Why make a metal one? The original is not metal, and if you strive for originality you should even wear gloves when operating it.

Thanks for the complements,


Thanks JAMF. Yep, not split down the middle, wires are feed thru the top. its a one piece except for the top of course. that was the biggest hold up with making the mold, getting the guts to work out and i think i have finially got it. i'll make a few practice runs before i'm happy with it and make it available for sale.


Glad you like it in the unfinished state Brandano, the ones i make available for sale will be painted better and lettering filled white. Have to correct you just a little, the actual stick and throttle for the F-16 is metal, i took an actual one apart to mold it and it was all metal. the actual F-15, F-18, and B-8 sticks are not metal, just metal innards. the flight sim community likes the feel of raw metal (from reading post about the cougar's design) and the more accurate the better. If i get good results from pouring metal, i'll offer both plastic and metal sticks. metals ones being a little more expensive.

thanks again for the nice comments and questions.

Steve

Oh, I have a Cougar, and I love it as it is. However I always believed that the actual F16 stick was cast out of resin, like most modern grips. I think it should be feasible to cast them out of aluminium, using a lost foam method, but results tend to be rather rough and require a lot of finishing work. Would you also produce alternative grips for the cougar if there's a market for it?

the problem with making alternate grips for the Cougar is you would have to produce/aquire the circuit boards that go inside the stick to work with the cougar programming. This is what my business idea is all about, changing sticks without having to buy a whole new setup all at an affordable price.

Steve

I believe the circuits within the cougar handle are just a set of general purpose multiplexers. I think they can probably be functionally reproduced on a single micro-controller, with the added advantage of not risking to infringe on a patented design.

If it's anything like the FLCS, that's exactly what is going on. The FLCS was some ST chips collecting the data and sending it to the ATmega in the base. You could probably use something like a MAX chip to expand the inputs.

great insight, but i have no plans to make them work with the Cougar base. if someone is adventurous enough, i can sell the shells and let them add all the stuff needed to make it compatible with any system...or they can move the chip boards from their current setup into the base and run the wires to the cannon plug.

Steve

That last approach is actually quite smart and could be easily kitted. However, it would mean multiplying the number of conductors going through the grip connector

Yep, currently i'm doing it with 10 connectors of a 24 connector cannon plug going to the BU0836. without looking at the guts of the cougar again, i think it still can be done, i remember a few switches being wired together and then to one point on the PCB. I'll have to check again when get back from vacation.

Steve

Very nice handle there! I'd certainly consider putting one on my Cougar base, if the shaft connecting it to the base isn't prone to play. The last thing an FCC-modded Cougar base needs is more play/looseness...(My current stick handle has a bit of such play in the shaft that I haven't fixed yet, and the paint's also rubbing off.)

That forward angle may be problematic for Cougar base users, however. You may want to consider having a straighter version as well for the Cougar uses, and the angled one for the pit-builders.

(Or maybe I'd actually like the added forward angle. Who knows?)

If you could replicate the electronics, that would be nice, but I'm fully expecting to have to transplant the guts of the existing Cougar stick into the replacement.

Fantastic! The community needs a HOTAS in this vain.

Please keep us updated! Hopefully my G940 can last me until this is ready.

Question though: Do you plan to make all the handles replicas, or would you consider making a few sticks/throttles that are more generic, for use in different sims?

Edit: just looked at your site. I see your developing F-15/F-18 throttle grips. Effin Sweet!

Thanks for the reply aggressorblue,

Modern stick and throttles will be replicas. WWII era type will be somewhat generic.

Steve.

Thanks for posting


Now where do I pre-order one of these bad boys?

Why does it say F-18/F-15 though, are you only one to cover both?

I'd love a dedicated Hornet stick; although they are reasonably similar to the F-15 they are also two very distinct sticks. Nothing against the F-15, I just like the Hornet better

I will try to mold each type. I only have the F-15 stick at the moment. Still trying to find an F-18 stick for sale/rent.