AuthentiKit P-51D Mustang Pedestal Assembly Guide

[@Despiser25]

Ive been waiting for this for quite awhile. When I saw it was ready I was extremely excited. Ive wanted a realistic trim setup for a long long time. My printer is all warmed up and ready to go. Then I went to the site and began to add all the numerous kits and upgrades kits and kits to upgrade the upgrade, then added shipping to the states and exchange rate it came to nearly $300. That's without the plastic and juice to run my printer for 50 hours. After considering my options I bought a Arduino Leonardo for $15, some buttons and two way momentary switches and have 5 Axis and 32 buttons. I just designed a super simple and extremely cheap elevator trim module at a 2:1 ratio (for now) with custom tensioner for less than $5, with inflation less than $10, lol. Being a VR guy I don't actually care much how the parts look but rather how I can easily use them with the headset on. When I finish the design Ill put it onto Thngiverse.

[@AuthentiKit]

Hi. I agree this isn't for everyone. If you have arduino skills and only need one or two trim wheels this is overkill. It's also more relevant for folks who also want the throttle unit and flight stick as well as realistic feeling landing gear/flaps etc. Alternatively you could forget the universal hub and just wire this up to your Arduino.

[@tedwaetford]

Hey mate, did you get your design posted on thingiverse? cheers

[@stephenvince9994]

Very Well done. A top notch idea and very well described. You are an absolute natural at design and of course instruction. Your work is so appreciated mate. Kudos to you!

[@AuthentiKit]

Very kind my friend. The throttle is so close to release now too.

[@russtuff]

Oh my, this is amazing.

[@tomcoughlin4287]

When will you complete the P-51D Throttle Quadrant?

[@AuthentiKit]

On the list but can’t say when i’m afraid. November at a guess.

[@phunkaeg]

8:23 - It's notable that in the video, after you increased the sensitivity it exaggerated an issue with interpreting a rotary encoder as an axis, notice that when you start turning the TH marking is at the 12oclock position, which is equal to the axis in its central neutral position. However, after rotating nose heavy slowly, then going back to tail heavy more quickly, the central neutral position is not where expected (when the wheel rotates back to having the TH marking at 12oclock) the central neutral position is a quarter of a turn further. It's not a huge detail, but it would be significant for someone expecting to be able to go from one mark, to another, and then return to the original position by feel. I am curious whether this is due to an overly aggressive rotary encoder software debounce (too much delay), or possibly the lack of a hardware debounce (schmitt trigger).

[@AuthentiKit]

It's been a learning curve. I've found that 1:1 ratio is better on the encoder setting and a 16ms sampling ratio. I'm looking into this at the moment since I started testing spad.next as an alternative to the tuning app. I've been getting zero missed clicks on latest tests

[@BringTheRain]

looks gorgeous! Great job, and great project! Is there any chance of a P-51 grip and base in the works?

[@AuthentiKit]

Absolutely!

[@JenniferinIllinois]

You make the AuthentiKit projects look like putting together IKEA furniture (minus the IKEA guy in the manual showing you what to do and what NOT to do, or maybe YOU are just like the IKEA guy - hehehe).

[@AuthentiKit]

I was going to say "it's like IKEA" but figured that might put people off! So, I say Lego/Airfix

[@toxaq]

My word. You’ve out done yourself!!

[@JoseJimenez-rf6mi]

What's the model number for the rotary encoder? Why don't you make a 3d print file for the use of a hall sensor ? It's a hall sensor more accurate ?

[@AuthentiKit]

Can’t remember but its in the download. Hall sensor only has around 90 degrees range of movement. With our software the encoder is pretty sensitive actually. The s/w gives it 2x resolution.

[@JoseJimenez-rf6mi]

@@AuthentiKit Thank you very much for the prompt respond. I'm sorry which download you referring to. Are you planning to do a Tempest or Typhoon (basically are the same) pedestal ?

[@AuthentiKit]

@@JoseJimenez-rf6mi the AuthentiKit Tuning App is. The s/w. Tempest pedestal isn’t on my personal list but i’ll be sharing the development techniques so others can do it

[@PelleHed51]

Would it be possible to make indicators for the different trim settings? (It might be neccesary to make them electronical as a mecanical connection to them would be very selicate! Maybe someone with electonic knowledge in the group will take on the task?)

[@AuthentiKit]

I suppose it could be done mechanically with gears. My main interest is VR though so i guess i wouldn’t see them.

[@mungo7136]

That should be /is doable for DCS as you can read-out parameters from the game. So you could i.e. add some small displays that would show you graph of digits equal to actual trim position. In that case, your best option is to go to DCS forum and ask cockpit builders. There are countless tutorials. As far as I know, Il-2: BOX doesn't provide you that data - but I haven't checked whether it is still true for some time.

[@drrabjohns]

Unbelievable kit. Fantastic. Can I ask what brand/colors did you use to paint this?

[@AuthentiKit]

You mean the green, red, orange? No painting just printed in olive green, red and orange filament. I have no patience for painting

[@drrabjohns]

@@AuthentiKit Yes, I mean't the green, red, etc. I only asked because you mentioned the poor paint job in the video. I will go the filament direction. Thanks.

[@AuthentiKit]

I dabbed some white paint on the lettering LAND GEAR and I think one other similar thing but mainly filament colours

[@eddowns5853]

Are you taking orders for the p51d throttle quadrant and pedestal by chance? I seriously can't find anyone who is selling these items.

[@AuthentiKit]

Contact SimKitSupplies.com - they will sell you the parts and you self assemble. Its like a Lego project. Throttle coming in January all being well.

[@erikvandebroek3827]

Looks fabulous. Is the green printed or painted? And the extra levers, yes please, even non functional for the looks. I have a very slow printer so need to figure out how to print the huge pieces.

[@AuthentiKit]

Hi, i discuss colours in the first part of the video. Agreed - extra levers needed really.

[@mungo7136]

I am watching the project for some time. So far I am seriously thinking about some form of cutting the parts for the monocoque (or whatever is the proper technical term for the main green body) from plastic sheet or make some metal chassis and cover it with proper plates, make and drill proper holes and print only levers and internal mechanical parts. Still have to think it out. More levers? Yes, several Il-2: BOX planes have more controls that can be mapped on axis, thus you sooner run out of free axis than mappable controls

[@AuthentiKit]

@@mungo7136 actually the ram/air are just 2 position, so no pressure on those limited axes

[@JLProPhoto]

@@AuthentiKit (This is Siggles) The ram air lever (left lever) has two positions irl, but the mix lever (right lever) has five (not evenly spaced) positions. Not that any simulation models it, or that it's even that necessary since the effects of the levers isn't even modeled in DCS.

[@mungo7136]

@@AuthentiKit Right, but I am looking at it as more general controller than specific P-51 one. That's why I am thinking about replacing flap controller from click/step one to true axis. Same idea about those 2 missing ones. Because many planes I fly in sims have flap control that is not split into steps.

[@thisismystop5735]

just wow!