Ok, every plane needs a set of rudder peddles! There are a lot of choices, and then everything in between. The pedals show below, Figures 1 to 5, are commercial products priced from $50 to more than $500 dollars! Figure 1 is my old Thrustmaster but it has no toe brakes and its interface is a Gameport! Figure 2 are from CH Products, and not toe brakes at about $100. Figure 3 are the Logictech G pedals and they come in at about $125 with toe brakes and are nice for the price.
Figure 1 | Figure 2 | Figure 3 | Figure 4 | Figure 5 |
Figure 6 | Figure 7 |
Now for the high price spread! Both Figures 4 and 5 hit or go over the $500 line both are incredibly well built and customizable. I personally like the TPR, Figure 5, but they are both relatively new to the world. My take on Figure 4 is it a re-engineered of the old Thrusmasters. I like the TPR as all the crap between the pedals is out of your way.
And of course, there are a smattering of DIY pedals from A to Z! Personally I like a large pedal as I am not petite. So I guess I will have to make my own! My 3D printer only has a 9" cubic print space and will take hours to print.
Enter Boeing 737. I have been looking for a set of these on eBay for a while now and they to hit the $500 mark. But the tubes have been destroyed as you can see in Figure 7. So that puts me back at square one.
This is what eBay has given up. For about $220 including shipping. COOL! My pal David Allen has a B-737-200 Simulator and is happy to give me measurements for the tubes. The current plan is to make the tubes from standard electrical EMT and print the shroud, with the bell ends. Then side them on and glue them in place. So the only parts I will have to print three sets of tubes:
- Pedal tubes (large), brake linkage tubes (between pedal and pivot point).
- Pedal extension tubes. (Connects to the bottom yoke)
- Brake tubes to brake levers on the bottom of the pedal tubes.
- Brake extension tubes are mounted to a pivot point. (not shown in the diagram.
Other parts that I will print are the hex nuts on the top and bottom of the Pedal tube; Bottom pedal yoke assembly and mount; Bottom brake bellcrank; Bottom mount points for the through-bolt, L/R and Center.
In aircraft, seats are mounted to the deck and do not move! So to move the Pedals in and out they use a crank mechanism, but I will use a bed motor (reversible) and some slides.
Oh, I almost forgot. I want the pedals to be self-centering. I have seen all sorts of DIY crap from springs to whatever. But I think two pneumatic air cylinders cross-linked should do the trick. Also for brake pedal resistance, I will most likely use some small automotive rear window lift support.