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PEDESTAL
The heard is an old Saitek X-35 Joystick, which comes in two parts: Axis Lever and Thrust Lever, connected both by mean of a DB15 plug, and from the Axis Lever to the PC by a USB conector. Then, I broke the Thrust Lever (Rest Peacefully) in order to convert it in the actual Pedestal with a lot of Programming Buttons: it is without any doubt the easiest way. The main drawing was done by my partner of the Spanish Group Builders Pedro Bibiloni, and I added several views and details of single parts and are available in the DOWNLOAD section.

The materials are very easy to get from your local DIY Store, and basically the parts are made from wood, Plywood, steel and alluminium. The tools are just a drill machine, files and a jag machine.The parts were made using prints from the drawings as templates.

The functions are: thrust and reverse levers for each engine, flaps, elevator trim, fuel valves, Aerodinamic Brake and Park Brake

For the finish, I used a Grey RAL 7001 in spray bottle, and the labels printed in transparent film, and then, glued in small alluminum plates.

 

  PEDESTAL PICīs GALLERY PEDESTAL BUILDING
MAPPING OF THRUST AXES: very easy but with trick

 

    
The Reverse Function works by mean of a microswitch for each engine: the first test I did assigning  each one to its engine by mean of the menu of the FS, allocation F2, but as the FS must first have selected a engine, by mean of the function E1 or E2 (if not, F2  works on both engines simultaneously) I found a solution mapping the axes by using the function of the FSUIPC module, but with a simple trick: with the engine handle to the minimum the potentiometer is not to the minimum, but something turned. Then each switch what it makes is to bypass the rest of potentiometer that is left between the idle position of the handle and the end of the potentiometer, mapping the reverse position of the axis with the switch activated. For the maximum position, directly I could map the axis  without to have the potentiometer to its maximum position: thus it is not necessary to  worry about the gearing between the handle and the potentiometer