Sad Story- Flight Illusions (SOLVED)

[tennyson]

I'm not happy to say, I won't be dealing with this Company again.
16 weeks ago, I ordered a wet compass with them and still haven't seen it.

While 440+ euro's is a lot of euro's or dollars, we here in Australia, are slugged more for freight, so the unit cost nearly 800 Aus Dollars.

Lead time on their site and in their email was 3-4 weeks.
many promised emails have passed between us, but after 16 weeks, I am at the point of giving up.

I had a similar situation with them a while back, after ordering MIP gauges.

I know they make great gauges, but this type of neglect for paying customers is way beyond what should be expected.
I certainly won't be purchasing any more gauges from them and if I need anything more from FI, I will but from the Aviation Megastore, where they actually have the product!



Frank Cooper

[Trevor Hale]

That's too bad because their product is some of the best if not the best in the industry. whst was the last communication you had with Mark? Is he going to help you? Or did you ask for a refund?

It always amazes me these wet compasses! Why are they so expensive? I am guessing it is because continuous servos don't have pots to keep track of their positions. That makes it very hard for them to stay accurate.

Just very strange to me.



Trev

[Nat Crea]

Their arrogant service has not changed since
I first bought the entire OH suite 4-5 years ago,
which only lasted months before going in the trash...nothing surprising.

[Aerosim Solutions]

I just went shopping for a wet compass and yes the prices are ridiculous. We have opted for a small 2.5" monitor in a compass casing I have built. Prosim has a great wet compass which will be displayed up there. Ken Brand gave me the monitor but they are dirt cheap, use for reversing cameras!! I'll get some pictures on a new thread when we get it hooked up next week.
Cheers Gwyn

[Trevor Hale]

I'd like to see that Gwyn. Thanks

[Caflyt]

Here is one I hobbled together a few months ago. I used the "guts" from an old Saitek FIP (flight instrument panel) and some spare aluminum I had lying around in the garage. The FIP is a customizable gauge so by doing a little bitmap image drawing and limited programming I should have a very usable compass. Using the small screen Gwynn refered to and prosim would probably prove easier yet.
*disclaimer*
I have NO experience with "said company" but if true....Arrogance will doom any company who disregards its finite customer base especially when others are poised to cut into their market share.
There are always other ways to skin a cat.
Craig

[tennyson]

Well, the good news is that mark has promised me that it will be in the mail tomorrow but he has said that in his last 4 emails, so I'll believe it when I see a tracking number.

Craig, you've done a champion job on that unit, mate.
Nat, back from Montreal?? Your suggestions with the zoom helped and I've almost got my views right. just a little more tweaking.

And Gwyn, what can I say, mate, that's right up your alley.


Frank Cooper

[Trevor Hale]

@ Frank - Let me know if I can help, Its just wrong and I would be willing to try if need be.

@ Craig - OMG That looks awesome

[Mink]

As a said in message to you Frank, i will attend the FS Weekend in Lelystad this year,  where  Flight Illusion will be as an exhibitioner.  If you still do not have the compass till 30 october, give me a note and i will talk with them there with a lot of witnesses ( potential buyers ).

Kresimir

[tennyson]

Thanx Trev and Kresimir.

As I said, Mark has kept in contact and been assuring me of a product, just not delivering.
To his credit, this time he kept to his word.
I got a notification today, that the item has been sent to DHL and is supposed to be on it's way.

Maybe there were some exceptional circumstances, but 16 weeks is an awful long time to wait for a single gauge.

Hopefully, it all ends well, fingers crossed, Thanx again for the offers, gents,



Frank Cooper

[mickc]

Hope it all works out well Frank!

On the subject of wet compasses, I obtained a used Airpath compass via Nick at APHS, and scored a genuine bracket/switch off EBay.

I drained and stripped the compass, and repainted it the correct color (also changed the lighting from electro luminescent to incandescent, ans the donor compass was from an OH-58 military aircraft - same compass but different lighting)

Then i converted to to run via a stepper motor. The compass dial drive is now sealed by O-rings so it can still be filled with compass fluid and not lead, even under motion. I was going to run it dry, but the glass lens depends on the fluid for proper optics, and the coating on the dial goes quite dull when its dry.  When installed the stepper motor and photo-sensor are all hidden out of view.

I recreated the labels for the switch and all reassemble looks pretty good.

It runs via an OC Stepper motor card, and i have the script just right so it even has a slight response delay in turns just like a real wet compass.

Just another option to put on the table!

[tennyson]

Mick,
That's a work of art.
Tremendous work, mate. I thought I was going above and beyond (excuse the pun), but that amount of work is incredible.

It is nice to sit back and admire some of your own work, when there is that amount of ingenuity involved.


Frank Cooper

[Trevor Hale]

Wow, I can't believe how awesome that is...  Nicely done.  (If I wasn't so afraid of Gears, Steppers, Shafts, and stuff) I might just try that. 

Beautiful work.

[Nat Crea]

Brilliant Mick!

Nat

[Caflyt]

I just never get tired of seeing what everyone is capable of in this group.
Mick, that is incredible stuff.
Craig

[mickc]

Thanks for the kind words gents,

I do have to say that this compass was a minor job compared to the RMI I converted !

I do not want to derail Frank's thread so I will make a new one for my antics

Will update with the link shortly!

http://www.cockpitbuilders.com/community/index.php?topic=4488.msg33536

[Trevor Hale]

Frank Received his Wet Compass form FI, All is sorted and this thread is now closed.