LOL, Saitek rudder conversion for 737

[Goldmember]

I want my 737 pit as realistic as possible but seriously, I don't have a budget like 2500 euro to spend on rudder pedals. I wish I had, I really do. So my mate Capt. Kinsky and I started with a scratch build rudder set out of MDF and hardware store materials. Long story short, we couldn't get it to work mechanically. I'll post the crappy experiment later. So we sat down an evening, brainstorming what to do. Work with brake cables like we did in the yoke build (http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/showthread.php/23660-How-to-vid-of-cheap-dual-linked-yokes?highlight=)? Use an exercise stepper? Until we found out the Saitek Pro Flight Combat rudder (http://www.aviationmegastore.com/pro-flight-combat-rudder-pedals--0021165113503-saitek-0021165113503-joystickspedals/product/?shopid=LM4f3e1c4f4d0cf64bef0031af00&action=prodinfo&parent_id=0&art=97522) has exactly the distance we need between the pedals. Ok, the pedals stick out of the bottom instead of the side but they look great. They have all the functions, centering, differential braking etcetera. And we save 2000 euro! Here's the result of yesterday evening.

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We're gonna cover the slide pads with 1mm steel plate and just leve a slot for the rudders to travel. Bit of paint and voilà, we think. The beautiful thing is that we don't have to change anything on the rudder. Out of the box, mounted in our MDF construction. Cunning or not? I'll keep you posted.

[Geremy Britton]

Absolutely brilliant, well done!
How long did it take to make.
I think there may be a few others following you with this idea!

[vybhav]

Good job..

[Goldmember]

Absolutely brilliant, well done!
How long did it take to make.
I think there may be a few others following you with this idea!

Figuring out the measurements took quite long but we assembled the 2 boxes and 4 slide pads in 3 evenings. Last Thursday evening we cut out room to put the Saitek in and I expect 1 more evening to complete the assembly. Cosmetic finishing like plate steel and paint about 2 evenings. Then the small upper boxes with the adjust winders (http://www.geremy.co.uk/shop/article_GLB09%252316/Dummy-adjust-rudder-winder.html?shop_param=cid%3D1%26aid%3DGLB09%252316%26) I think another 2-3 evenings. All in all about 20-25 hours work.

[vidarf]

See if you can get hold of some door brushes. It's a long piece of plastic with brushes you could mount underneath a door. Cut to size, epoxy the ends and mount in the slits for the pedals. Looks professional and keeps dust away. :) Rubber could also be used, just like around the gear lever.

[Goldmember]

Good tip but I don't think we need brushes. The Saitek rudders are kept original and I assume them engineers have figured out how to keep dust away.

[vidarf]

no, you don't NEED them. But it will look cool! :mrgreen:

[Goldmember]

Update: slide pads plated.

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[JWS]

Very nice, Arjen.

JWS

[Goldmember]

Update: finished. I only have to fasten the plate metal slide pads. I must say I'm quite content with the result. Sacrificing 10-20% realism saves me over € 2000 for the set.

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[Quartermaster340]

that look exceptionally well Arjen. Well done! Are both Cpt and FO pedals independant of each other or do you have plans to make them move together?

[bas_v]

Nice work, I'll keep this in mind. Might steal the idea some time in the future :)

[Goldmember]

that look exceptionally well Arjen. Well done! Are both Cpt and FO pedals independant of each other or do you have plans to make them move together?
To be honest, the F/O unit is still a dummy. Once I put in the second Saitek pedal set, I just arrange in FSUIPC that the larger movement of the two takes over. It's a standard setting. I might consider linking them with brake cables from a bike.

Talking about linking, are the toe brakes linked in real 737's? Or is it only the rudder?

[Quartermaster340]

I cant comment on a 737 but if my memory serves me correctly they are on the 707. If this is the case I'm sure it would be the same on the 737... unfortunately that makes things more dificult for you if you wish to replicate it...

[JWS]

Looking great Arjen, my compliments.

JWS

[PaulD]

Hi Arjen,

Great job with the rudder pedals. I am considering stealing your idea and doing this myself! How do you find the Saitek combat pedals in terms of feel? I have a set of the standard Saitek pedals but they don't have a very realistic feel to them, especially the brake pedals which are little more than on / off switches with no feel to them. Are the combat pedals any better in this respect?

Paul

[Goldmember]

Hi Paul,

The travel in the brake movement is not much but there is a proportional feel. You can adjust the position of the pedals and also the resistance in the yaw movement.

HTH

Arjen

[PaulD]

Thanks Argen. I think I will order a set and have a go at building them.

Paul