Simviation Forums

Hello everyone, I am BS8th_Jaw and I come from IL2-Sturmovik, I currently run a squadron and fly quite often.

I am slowly progressing my "sim pit" and I need some assistance - I would like to create a trim panel... since the only joystick that currently utilizes one is the CH products yoke (im not a ch fan, im a saitek fan) and besides that it costs too much money for their yoke that has a single trim axis.

My current setup is track IR with Saitek X52 joystick (soon I will be switching from the normal throttle that comes with the X52 to a Saitek throttle quadrant for better control), CH rudder pedals (the only CH gear I actually own, because they are more reliable than the Saitek ones). So far - as a simpit I have built myself an extension on my desk to hold my joystick and my keyboard a bit better. Thats as far as I have gone towards it.

The one thing that irks me in IL2 is its so hard to control trim surfaces... yes with my X52 I can control two surfaces quite easily with the built in rotary wheels on the throttle - however I still have to trim my rudder either on a hat switch or on my keyboard which is plainly a nuisance as the extra key on my joystick could be used towards something more important and the keyboard is just plain too tough to get too when you need quick rudder trim. Not to mention the fact that when I get my new Saitek Throttle quadrant that I will lose my two rotary wheels that I currently use for aileron and elevator trim.

What I want to do is build a USB compatible trim quadrant with the three trim axis, forgive me for having to do these in Paint but at the time of the sketches it was convenient  ;)
- Thats with all three surfaces on the top of the quadrant.

- Thats with the elevator control on the left side of the quadrant.

What would I need to do to do the proposed sketch? I was planning on building it with a wooden base, because my desk is a wooden base (the one I built). I have good experience with tools so thats not an issue.

I just need some direction about how to do this correctly the first time so it works.

Are you talking about the box, the wiring, or...?

BS8th_jaw,

First of all....... welcome to SimV and the "Homebuild Cockpits" forum section.  

Are these functions "mapable" in IL2-Sturmovik?  Meaning are there standard Windows joystick assignments possible?

The workhorse for simpit use is FSUIPC that allows lots of stuff to be set up "outside" the MS simulation series...... but I don't know of any equivalent for other flight sims.  So if there are no joystrick assignments... you'll be stuck or you'll haveto write custom code.

best,

......................john

Yes, il2 is a flight sim, and allows HOTAS assignments and controls.

I currently use a Saitek X52 joystick and I have the two rotary wheels setup on that stick for aileron and elevator trim... the problem I run into is when I have to trim my elevators I cant do it easily, because I don't have that vital third rotary wheel.

IL-2 allows a user to assign different axis's to certain commands, such as trim, roll, pitch, yaw etc...

The box I can handle building - I am not tool shy so to speak - the innards is where I would need assistance as I have never built my own HOTAS control before and quite frankly I would be baffled if I tried it w/o helpful input. Specifically the wiring and what to use so that the controls work correctly. Since il2 allows HOTAS axis I was thinking of possibly taking an old joystick, taking it apart and using it as the axis base... although this kind of seems like it would  be difficult to do.

Basically what im looking for is idea's, the above sketch is kind of what I would like it to look like so its easy to use... how I get there is up to anyone who wants to help me out.

Seems like a BU0836 joystick controller would be good for your setup. It allows you to have 8 analog inputs, plus you could always add more controls using the same controller over time, when you upgrade your setup.

http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/joystick/

That is what your talking about I would assume?

Ok so if I buy one of these, what do I do to connect the controls I need to it? What I want is the three main trim wheels and maybe I will add some extra actual buttons... as no matter which joystick you have its never really enough ^_^

looks like I would have to wait till after x-mas to buy one anyway so until then, anyone want to throw out some tutorials or idea's?

It comes with the header pins so you would need some 18 gauge wire  connected to the headers you have 3 wires which go to the potentiometer

5v
signal
ground

They recommend using shielded cable, but if your connections are good it will work ok.

I hooked my old Thrustmaster rudder pedals to analog input 8 on the BU0836. The pot was a 100 kohm but you can use anything from 10k to 100k linear taper--important

As far as buttons you will need to hook up a button matrix, they have the schematic on the site.  They say you can use switches but I would stick to momentary push buttons.

Here is a link to my rudder pedals:
http://flight-simulator-cockpits.com/Ho ... pit+Part+1

Its a bit sloppy right now and I used hot glue to hold the wires in

Surprising as it seems... the information on the BU0836 webpage is just about all you need to actually build the device! Follow the information there and you shouldn't have any problems, this only looks like rocket science.

I would recommend that you take the time before ordering to figure out two things:

1. Will Il-2 allow multiple joysticks to be hooked up and active. I think the answer is yes... but haven't looked at it in several years. Best to double check before you spend cash.

2. Decide what you want all the buttons inputs and axis to do. I did say all... it's very little extra work to use all the available inputs and it's work easier done during initial construction. Deciding how to use it all now allows you to either build it all at once or to design the construction to allow for easy upgrades when you inevitably decide to use the full capabilities of the controller. Gear handles are very popular for flight simmers and weapons panels are popular with the combat set, those are two possible suggestions.

Goodluck with your project!

Surprising as it seems... the information on the BU0836 webpage is just about all you need to actually build the device! Follow the information there and you shouldn't have any problems, this only looks like rocket science.

I would recommend that you take the time before ordering to figure out two things:

1. Will Il-2 allow multiple joysticks to be hooked up and active. I think the answer is yes... but haven't looked at it in several years. Best to double check before you spend cash.

2. Decide what you want all the buttons inputs and axis to do. I did say all... it's very little extra work to use all the available inputs and it's work easier done during initial construction. Deciding how to use it all now allows you to either build it all at once or to design the construction to allow for easy upgrades when you inevitably decide to use the full capabilities of the controller. Gear handles are very popular for flight simmers and weapons panels are popular with the combat set, those are two possible suggestions.

Goodluck with your project!

Well I already know that Il2 supports multiple joystick axis use... several people within the Il2 community currently utilize simpits of this fassion. I believe the most I would want to use is the three trim wheels and about 5 extra buttons for various things.

its really that easy ? I hope so...

Thanks and ill give it my  best.

well, I've ordered the part and it will hopefully be here by sometime next week.

I'll get to work on it as soon as I can and get some pictures of it up, if its not a complete and total disaster that is...

ok... so I have my controller... I have successfully built my box out of some light weight wood, had to piece it together with glue but I got it to work.

Now my question is... what kind of input switches/buttons do I use? For example... I took one of my old ps2 controllers apart and took the buttons out of it but will those work? And how exactly does this controller hook up? I have a ton of 18 gauge wire from one of my old computers... computers are full of 18 gauge wire.

So some more input is needed please, possibly some pictures? Am I able to get supplies from radio shack?

BS8th_Jaw,

See silverfox's comment above.

phew, well I spent most of my night putting it together, but I finally got my extra three axi's working great!

I was able to hook up three of them with a little work, only lost one solder connector in the process. I have several pics which I will get to uploading tomorrow night after work as I am bushed from working on this all afternoon.

My next question(s) is what kind of buttons do I have to have to use it with the controller? Also where do I hook the buttons up at? I would take a gander and say that the 6 pin solder connectors are for buttons? :-/ :-?

I am planning to add at least 10 more buttons, if those 6 pin connectors are for buttons then I will just go ahead and add the full 12 buttons, I believe I will have the space and heck... you never have enough buttons anyhow

If you look at the controller webpage there is a diagram that shows a simplified hookup for using only 12 buttons near the middle of the page.

As for the buttons... I would suggest using pushbutton momentary contact types (not push-on, push-off types).

Physically hooking them up is probably best done by running one wire to one side of all the switches and then to one of the analog ground pins. On the other side of the switches run one wire each to one of the 12 pins in the Columns and Rows area of the controller. I would suggest leaving the wires from the 12 pins long enough to allow future conversion to the more complicated matrix hookup in case you find you want to add more buttons later. The webpage doesn't tell you what diodes to use but 1N914 signal diodes are sufficient and really cheap.

VIOLA! 12 new buttons.

Oh, I forgot... once your are finished there's something else that you get free...

A sense of accomplishment and bragging rights over your friends.  ;)

Well, what I did was when I was at Radio Shack I got an assortment of buttons. I bought a few toggle buttons (push on, push off) then I bought quite a few single press buttons. All of the buttons have only 2 contact points to hook wires to, but the solder connectors have three contacts, is this an issue?

I have the diagrams but ... they are a little confusing.