1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Peripherals The Joystick Thread

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by Parge, 27 Jul 2014.

  1. Parge

    Parge the worst Super Moderator

    Joined:
    16 Jul 2010
    Posts:
    13,029
    Likes Received:
    619
    Definitely do mate! Love to see what you've made :rock:

    I bought a Wheelstand Pro (v.2). I enquired on the official wheelstand pro site, and they wanted £101 delivered.

    I then hit ebay up and picked one up for £90 including a Logitech force feedback wheel and pedals, which on their own seem to go for between £50-£75. Will chuck them straight back up there, even if I make £40 on them I'll be happy with that. Now I just need to buy the Small Warthog mount from Wheelstand direct.
     
  2. Cei

    Cei pew pew pew

    Joined:
    22 Mar 2008
    Posts:
    4,714
    Likes Received:
    122
    Nicely done, bit of a bargain!

    I spent the weekend packing my HOTAS(es) and flying gear in to boxes :(
     
  3. GMC

    GMC Minimodder

    Joined:
    26 Jun 2010
    Posts:
    1,502
    Likes Received:
    36
    Will post some pics up later but this is strictly amateur hour, not the craftsmanship I see in case mods ;)
    Bargain on the wheelstand.

    I looked at this on ebay as it's pretty close to what I intend to speak to a fabricator about. http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=271817151677&alt=web

    My own attempt is more bulky due to being made out of wood. (And costing <£30 plus bits lying around)
     
  4. GMC

    GMC Minimodder

    Joined:
    26 Jun 2010
    Posts:
    1,502
    Likes Received:
    36
    Bit of background:
    Been playing with the hotas on my desk and it is both too high, and too close to the screen. I find myself leaning forward all the time and putting my wrists into all sorts of odd angles while flying.
    I have a keyboard drawer in the desk, but it is not deep enough for the hotas and I don't think it would hold up well with the downward pressure that using the hotas would apply. So another solution is needed.
    I want the hotas to be in the same physical location as the in game avatar. google search image:[​IMG]

    Popped down to B&Q and picked up a sheet of MDF, a 2400x140x18 plank, a pack of 4x 50mm 90degree zinc brackets and some velcro strips. Seems more comfortable to me if the throttle is raised slightly over the stick so chopped up a chipboard panel from an old kitchen unit to the size of the throttle base. Plenty of that panel so made 2 at the same time in case I turn out to be wrong.

    Cut the MDF and the planks and fixed together with the zinc brackets. Set up at a width that is comfortable for my legs, and allows positioning the controls immediately in front of the arms of my chair.
    [​IMG]

    The 'legs' were not rigid enough so I used the rest of the plank to add braces to the bottom, and fixed the pads. The left for Throttle, and the right one is immediately to the right of where the flightstick will me. allows it to be used as a mousepad, and offers some additional bracing on one side for the stick. Gap in the middle for keyboard/coffee/snacks/whatever.
    [​IMG]

    and placed in situ:
    [​IMG]

    Got a tine of spray primer and a tin of black satin spraypaint so it will not remain looking like this. Once painted up, I'll use velcro strips to secure the hotas down. for now, BluTack is my friend. :lol:

    The desk wraps round 90 degrees where I have another monitor hooked up to the laptop, but there is no keyboard drawer there. When not in use this stand can just be moved under the desk to the side. Can use as a keyboard drawer there to gain deskspace back as well. :D

    It's not overly pretty but I'm no craftsman and it works for me. Still going to talk to a fabricator about something made of steel that is less bulky (at least see what it would cost) but for now I can fly through the black in comfort.
     
  5. suenstar

    suenstar Collector of Things

    Joined:
    13 Sep 2009
    Posts:
    2,521
    Likes Received:
    190
    Looks good so far, it's definitely a good simple and cheap solution for the HOTAS.
    Are you planning no screwing the bases of the X55 into the frame or are you going to leave them loose?


    My little laptop surface should be coming from Ikea later this week, so when that arrives I'll start looking at the fittings it uses on the height adjustable frame and see what parts I can customise it with.
     
  6. GMC

    GMC Minimodder

    Joined:
    26 Jun 2010
    Posts:
    1,502
    Likes Received:
    36
    Velcro is first option but if unsuccessful I might try to find some shelf pegs
     
  7. zedshead

    zedshead What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    4 Apr 2015
    Posts:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    simple set up and low budget good choice for me.,.,hehehhe:lol:
    [​IMG]
     
  8. suenstar

    suenstar Collector of Things

    Joined:
    13 Sep 2009
    Posts:
    2,521
    Likes Received:
    190
    Another option would be a double-sided rubber mat, that would give a bit of resistance against the plastic base to prevent sliding.
     
  9. GMC

    GMC Minimodder

    Joined:
    26 Jun 2010
    Posts:
    1,502
    Likes Received:
    36
    Got a link? Think I know what you mean
     
  10. Parge

    Parge the worst Super Moderator

    Joined:
    16 Jul 2010
    Posts:
    13,029
    Likes Received:
    619
    Nice work mate!

    I think Velcro is a good shout. Would also be easy to fix in some bolts and really secure it if you did want to do that!
     
  11. suenstar

    suenstar Collector of Things

    Joined:
    13 Sep 2009
    Posts:
    2,521
    Likes Received:
    190
  12. Cerberus90

    Cerberus90 Car Spannerer

    Joined:
    23 Apr 2009
    Posts:
    7,675
    Likes Received:
    222
    Finally got a replacement sorted for my heavily repaired saitek cyborg, :D. Bought Speeds Thrustmaster T1600M. Getting posted tomorrow.

    Looking forward to it. Thinking of maybe using the saitek bottom half for throttle (along with having a few more buttons), got to see if it works without the stick screwed on.
     
  13. GMC

    GMC Minimodder

    Joined:
    26 Jun 2010
    Posts:
    1,502
    Likes Received:
    36
    Gotcha. I think I'll go with the Velcro for now but something rubbery might be handy for the middle. Would love to get a mousemat exactly the right size for the mouse platform but not sure how they react to being cut...?
     
  14. suenstar

    suenstar Collector of Things

    Joined:
    13 Sep 2009
    Posts:
    2,521
    Likes Received:
    190
    It'll depend on the material and what you're cutting the mat with.

    The soft SteelSeries ones are generally okay with being cut with a hobby knife, I've butchered a few of those in the past for creating a bit of vibration noise reduction under things like games consoles and kitchen appliances.
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/SteelSeries-QcK-Gaming-Mouse-Black/dp/B000UEZ36W
     
  15. GMC

    GMC Minimodder

    Joined:
    26 Jun 2010
    Posts:
    1,502
    Likes Received:
    36
    Cool, I have 2 of those already and love them!
     
  16. Parge

    Parge the worst Super Moderator

    Joined:
    16 Jul 2010
    Posts:
    13,029
    Likes Received:
    619
    Picked up the Wheel Stand Pro last night and posted off the Steering Wheel on the way home (went for £65 on ebay!). Also ordered the Warthog Small Plate from WSP themselves - that was an extra £20 including postage, so cost £45 all in which I feel I can live with (the lad I bought it from has another he's selling too by the way, in case anyone can collect from South London).

    Seems like a solid bit of kit. Nicely adjustable too, and doesn’t require me to get the tools out and make my own. Will give it a full review as soon as the mount lands (likely early next week). I’ll be pretty much set then from what I can see – Nostromo, Mouse, Warthog, Bass shaker in the chair. Brilliant! Now I just need Star Citizen (and an Oculus Rift!)
     
  17. GMC

    GMC Minimodder

    Joined:
    26 Jun 2010
    Posts:
    1,502
    Likes Received:
    36
    Discovery scanner

    /nuff said
     
  18. suenstar

    suenstar Collector of Things

    Joined:
    13 Sep 2009
    Posts:
    2,521
    Likes Received:
    190
    Just got around to putting together the Ikea laptop table for my joystick this morning, not a bad quick fix for £14:
    [​IMG]

    There's a bit of room behind the sticks as half the surface is under my desk at the moment, this is the full surface:
    [​IMG]

    There's not quite enough room for a 60% or TLK keyboard between the stick and throttle on that, so I'm thinking of getting some wood and crafting a custom top for it.
    In the meantime, I'm looking at the idea of the Razer Tartarus to buy at the beginning of May to go between the gear for hotkey commands.
     
  19. Cei

    Cei pew pew pew

    Joined:
    22 Mar 2008
    Posts:
    4,714
    Likes Received:
    122
    Yeah, I have a Razer Orbweaver that'll be my go-to device for FPS etc. rather than a full size keyboard I think.
     
  20. Parge

    Parge the worst Super Moderator

    Joined:
    16 Jul 2010
    Posts:
    13,029
    Likes Received:
    619
    Yep, Nostromo here too.

    For SC, the reality is, if you want to use a joystick you are still going to need to be able to access keyboard and mouse for FPS.
     

Share This Page