Coming along.
Levers basically OK
First rough assembly of 1/8"metal plates
So far, so good Jack!
Very nice Jack. You are making yourself a very good piece of hardware there. :)
Was a long day...at that stage everything is a matter of millimeter to fit the faceplates.
Never really goes as planned, coming along though.
looking great Jack! I think your finished result is going to be awesome.
Scott
Thanks Scott.
99% fun. 1% fear
Now it is reaching a danger zone. As it starts to look like what it is supposed to be, there is a strong temptation to rush things or take shortcuts to finish it. Like using some MDF to build the spacers between the plates instead of cutting tediously small (shiny) aluminum brackets...etc etc..
But NO, I will continue in the same vein! Just awfully long.
Very nice Jack, I wish I could work with aluminium like you do.
Regards, Wendy
Just have another scotch before you cut each piece of aluminum. That otta keep you going slow. Man, that just looks incredible.
Trev
Positioning the power levers...
nice work!
Great looking throttles!
Jack you must be so proud. OMG that is amazing.. God dude.. You get the gold medal here for sure. Its beautiful.
Trev
Wow. Those are looking awesome!! They will undoubtedly be a joy to fly. And nothing like being able to respond "I did" when someone steps in your pit and marvels at those throttles and asks you who made them!
Nice work.
Regards,
Scott
An update....(God it is slow, I always miss something and have to go back to the hardware store..etc etc but it is worth it.)
Those pics show how it is put together.
Pic1: Throttle #1 module closed and Lever#2 in place
pic 2:Throttle #2 module closed
This way bothe throttles are self contained in one asembly with their own axle and clutches.
Picture 3: speed brake module added and showing flap module before attaching it.
Pic4: the TQ, with the three assemblies together.
This allow quick access from both sides for maintenance and adjustments.
PS: the feel of those clutches set at some 5-10 pounds is .....whaoooo!
Really stunning work Jack! I'm deeply envious of your skills :cheers:
(Thanks Daryl. Just enthusiasm and a LOT of trial and errors.)
Check others above, this is another shot
Starting the interfacing.
I decided to go with Phidgets sliders.
Using a piano string rod for link. Easy to work with, can be heated red to make smooth attach points and very rigid so that there is no play.
Translating the circular motion into a straight line works fine as the angle in no more than 60°.
Spoilers first. Here are two pics.
It looks so well engineered Jack, The phidgets sliders you are using, do they have to be plugged into a phidgets interface board?
I ask because they are about a quarter the price of the ones i was going to order from sim parts. I don't need to ask if they are good quality if they are going in your throttle!!
Nope, plug into any interface card or joystick.
And they come with a neat plug and wire.
(A slider is a pot, with 3 wires out. )
Hey Jack,
I had missed this thread somehow . . . that is really fantastic craftsmanship. That is going to be a first rate TQ, looking forward to seeing more of your project. Oh, and I know what you are saying about the trips to the hardware store . . for the smallest project I will make multiple trips! Thankfully the store is located less than a mile from home.
Finished the Fuel Control Panel which sits in center front of the TQ.
I got the locking toggles on Ebay last year.
The guards have been painted with the Gunship Gray from Testor. Perfect match with the panel color.
Had to put aluminum reinforcement at the back as flipping those heavy duty toggles is hard on the lightplate.
That is really some beautiful craftsmanship Jack!
Scott
Jack,
truly great work. It looks fantastic.
Warren
Great work Jack, I'll be looking into those phidgets sliders for my Prop and Mixture.
Nice job mate
Darryl
Great work Jack. Very professional.
They look Great, youve given me a good idea by using metal on your build :)
Little update. While waiting for Gwyn's Flap gate to arrive , I finished the power levers and put the tabs which will hold the lightplates. Seeing the end of the tunnel!
PS:edited this Friday at 17H00: GOT THE GATE!! Super Job from Gwyn! A rather complicated shape as my TQ is anything but standard. Perfect fit.
Really nice Jack, that must give you a very satisfactory feeling when sitting back and looking at it!
The best part is moving it...those clutches do a really great job.
Looks absolutely fantastic Jack. You are rapidly setting a new standard in homebuilt TQs :)
Maurice
Thank you for your appreciation Guys, this is the best payment anyone can have for countless hours of ...fun actually!
Stunning work Jack!!!
Darryl
thank you...would trade it anytime for a vertical dive with a howling prop...
see what I mean! ...memories!
Thanks again.
I know exactly what you mean!! But these days I tend to settle for "sim", every now and then I still cut loose for real, great work mate, looking forward to wacthing her "grow"
Darryl
Here we are, starting to "skin" the beast....
Hey Jack,
It's coming together . . how long have you been working on the TQ? It sure looks great!
Approx: 150H+
Cost of material : max $300
Labour: $7500+ at a mechanic rate of $50 an hour.
Very pro Jack - awesome stuff!
I bought enough 8mm aluminium plate to make the B777 flap gate for Ken's TQ, it only has 7 positions so I'll have to modify the CNC file that I did for yours a bit. I really like the look of the 8mm gate in your quad, great to see it fitted...
Gwyn
PS - I would suggest a small roller fitted to your flap lever rather than a fixed pin, I think it would operate a little bit smoother!
I was thinking the same...have not located one small enough though! any idea?
Quote from: jackpilot on March 28, 2010, 08:27:29 PM
I was thinking the same...have not located one small enough though! any idea?
Find a 5/16" stainless steel bolt or rod, and cut a roller from the shank where there is no thread. File each end flat and then drill 3/16" through it for an axle bolt. Cut a 3/16" thread in your flap lever with a lock nut on the outside. 5/16" will give you 0.07mm clearance in the flapgate slots. (Lots of lube and slow drill speed to drill stainless steel). This should work and it won't corrode, grease the roller when assembling it all!
Cheers, Gwyn
Quote from: jackpilot on March 28, 2010, 06:15:06 AM
Here we are, starting to "skin" the beast....
Jack, looking at this quad come together I have to tell you it causes bodily reactions that I don't care to share with all. Although tons of work and unimaginable hourly labor costs, the satisfaction as the face goes on must be priceless? I can see why Gwyn does what he does. Even though it may be for others to enjoy it's fantastic to see your children slowly born.
Ken.
Great looking work Jack. I love the all metal construction.
That has to be the best homebuilt throttle ever. It is really a great piece of work. Really amazing photos Jack.
A pity that the cover also hides some of your nice work. You should covered it in clear acrylic ;)
Good stuff Jack :)
I am still just amazed at the quality of stuff we builders can create without the use of big heavy machinery and expensive tools.
Great job Jack.
At what cost!!!!
mean :wrinkled hands, no sleep, getting slowly insane with MSD (Maurice Syndrome Disorder), trying to get approval from peers (done), worring about interfacing the flaps, etc etc...fiouhhh.
Quote from: Kennair on March 28, 2010, 09:34:27 PM
Jack, looking at this quad come together I have to tell you it causes bodily reactions that I don't care to share with all.
Ken.
DITTO. :cheers:
Outstanding work, Jack. I'm awe-struck.
Jay
KTPA
Quote from: jackpilot on April 01, 2010, 05:34:32 PM
worring about interfacing the flaps, etc etc...fiouhhh.
Jack,
I'll send you two sets of 3:1 ratio gears for your pots, my donation to this project!!!
Gwyn
Aerosim Solutions
Thank you Sir..
But you already contributed Big Time by engineering the flaps gate!
Cheers.
(https://www.cockpitbuilders.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi24.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc29%2Fjackpilot%2Feggs.gif&hash=e3b5ceacd2e8c1ce0319d91e8f964d2d783b1a67)
Back to the soldering gun, the little tools, twizzers etc
Starting the interfacing . I use the FDS FC1 board, 8 axis, 32 buttons, which will come handy for the rudders and brakes as well as joystick buttons assignable functions.
The ugly primer...very smooth surface though!
The TQ is back to pieces !!
Getting close to finish...
Showing off Gwyn's Flap gate and Scott's middle section skin (I used the alu) .
A piece of fine art!
Wow Jack. That really looks awesome.....your work that is! A cover plate is nothing :-)
The work you did on the handles and all of the design like Shane said is truly a piece of art. Did you have to repaint the cover to match or was it really that close?
I bet it will be a blast to start using!
Again, just fantastic.
Scott
That really is art. Mein Gott mann, I don't think I've ever seen anything that good from a home shop. Ever, on any site. Puts mine to shame for sure.
Time for another throttle build! ;D
Thx Guys.
One thing that I cannot send over the net is the feel of it.
The all metal construction really makes a difference, all levers move smooooth with neat "clunks" on the stops and there is absolutely no play or side movement.
Thank again for the comments. Makes all these hours worth.
Jack
Not that we all haven't said this before, but This has to be the best Home built throttle I have ever seen in my life. Words just cannot describe what I think about when I see this.
Jack you really have outdone yourself here.
Great Stuff!
Trev
I think he outdid us all!
I can only imagine how good that must feel, i have your proto levers and they feel like nothing else (compared to plastic toys) to me, multiply that with clutches and bearings and the little clicking detents and all the other work you have put in, like the speedbrake and flaps etc, its awesome and inspiring, and thats before you look down and see how absolutely stunning it looks. An Engineering master class and quality i can strive towards.
PS Mike:Dein TQ war schwieriger als meines zu bauen!! much simpler design for the 787
----------------
Could not resist trying to place it where it belongs.
Still temporary but fits right in.
737 -1000!! ;D ;D
Looks just amazing Jack!!
You will get the good feeling in your pit now :)
Just looking at all the switches and knobs makes you want to flip and turn them! Looks great Jack . . :idiot:
My first "official " take off with it tonight....Whaoooo. even the flaps lever is a joy to move..Either I'm getting senile or too young for my boots!!!
Sorry guys, I had to talk about it.
JP
Quote from: jackpilot on April 22, 2010, 03:59:40 PM
..Either I'm getting senile or too young for my boots!!!
JP
Yep! Probably a combination of the two but keep the 'too young' part for sure...makes the senility less of a bother ;D. Remember the days when firm boobs & bums were a bigger thrill than firm lever motion? ;)
Maurice
Quote from: maurice on April 23, 2010, 05:36:40 AM
Remember the days when firm boobs & bums were a bigger thrill than firm lever motion? ;)
I am still enjoying those days right now :)
Quote from: Trevor Hale on April 23, 2010, 05:40:49 AM
Quote from: maurice on April 23, 2010, 05:36:40 AM
Remember the days when firm boobs & bums were a bigger thrill than firm lever motion? ;)
I am still enjoying those days right now :)
I would too if I could find them & remember what to do with them :'(
Mau
Fun Playing with it....I love the Phidget Sliders. both engines adjust nearly even, variance less than 1% if I move the levers together. You can see the breakout boards from the FDS FC1 joystick emulator. I use only 4 of the 8 axes available and 6 of the 32 buttons. I assigned the TQ two guarded switches to Pause and Slew as they have no purpose in the737, fun fun fun..
Looks like so much fun.. I can only imagine how much fun it must be to use Jack.
Trev
I can see it now....sitting for hours watching engine guages while pushing the levers back and forth! Haha....that would be me for sure.
What a fine piece of craftsmanship Jack.
Scott
Hey Jack,
Your TQ looks great . . I bet that is really nice having them interfaced and watching them function! :idiot:
Sorry if you already answered this or not, but was the engraving from CNC or laser?
thanks! Looks incredible.
FDS lightplates.... Laser I suppose.
JP
Reviving an old post !
As I am about to disassemble the MIP part to send it to a happy buyer and replace it with a FDS DSTD I feel an urge to take some pics. So much effort went into this.
The TQ I keep !!Still very happy with the beast, this picture to show that the design blends well with the 737.
(Better than the old clunker :P )
Oh, yes! It matches the happy buyer's MIP really well. ;) However, I plan to get 737 TQ for the future MIP, when its time comes...
:D
Yes I'm with you Jack, that TQ will go very well with your new FDS DSTD. Damn good choice!
Ken.