Concerning the limitation to 4 devices:
- use Autohotkey to map buttons of 5th, 6th, ... device to key-combinations (ctrl+...) and assign those inside il2
- use YaDeLi to map their axes to functions

Artist

The throttle is now back together and is working :)
The pcb that has the top hat and buttons. I used a hacksaw blade to cut through the printed circuits on both sides.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psb219763b.jpg
the round IDE cable I used for wires, and the button housing
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps781258b5.jpg
Wires fed through levers
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps5bbdf5c5.jpg
now complete with Bodnar board housed in the box on the back of the throttle
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps8313c06d.jpg
view from the other side showing feed from the pedals
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps7c689f42.jpg

now all that remains is to put my X52 handle on the MS Sidewinder :)