AV8R Joysick re-worked

[Old Roar]

Like many of you, I found the AV8R stick a little awkward to use in combat. Instead of complaining about it I decided to modify it.

The first thing I did was to mount it on a board which sits nice and firmly across my lap, creating a stable platform for it.

I have cut all the button output wires and have extended them to an external jack-plug junction box.
This allows me to swap all the buttons around to suit.
I have also remounted new switches at the front of the stick (2 of which are on the throttle) so I don’t have to take my hands of the throttle at any time.
I have also made a foot switch to give me another thumb so to speak.

I have got rid of the stick spring and replaced it with a weighted disk which gives me a very light control that still centres. I have also taken out the rudder spring, which allow me to fly at set rudder settings and also makes aiming a little easier.

I hate having to have my thumb on top of the stick all of the time, so I have taken the stop off the underside of the x button guard and attached a shaped steel strip down the side of the stick so I can operate the x button with my thumb wrapped around the stick. This also makes rudder operation easier.

Unfortunately I still get shot down by you more experienced flyers but perhaps I will make it a little harder from now on.

[stealth finger]

nice, you have any pics of the result?

[philabong2]

hey guys,
I was trying to do a button swap on my av8r-3, following the instruction provided in another thread, when I realized the ps3 and x-box models are different: the x-box version seems to have 2 extra buttons on the face plate and the buttons do not seem to have the same id (pretty obvious cause x-box and ps3 dont have the same control pads).

Anyooo, I just want to relocate the start (flaps) and L3 (map) buttons - or the other way around - to the side of the throttle so they'll b more accessible. Does any1 know what color are the wires to these buttons? This would really help speed up the process instead of goin by trial and error.

Cheers

[philabong2]

ok got it done
for anyone who want to do buttons mods on the PS3 AV8R-03 stick, all the wires for the buttons in the front panel present themselves in the same order on the wiring board as they do on the front panel.
The ground wire is the first orange wire from the right (looking at it from the bottom, front panel facing u, there r 2 orange wires: ground is the one on the right)

so i added 2 buttons in parallel with the start button (brown wire) and L3 button (blue wire) right next to the throttle so they r more handy and the original buttons are still functional. Those 2 are use for map and flap on the aviator layout in sim. Now i just wish there was a zoom function that would work...

[Panzergranate]

Ideally, the controls would be laid out as for a WW2 fighter cockpit.

This would have the throttle on the pilot's left and operated by the left hand, along with the undercarriage, bomb and missile trigger selection switches.

The all weapons would be fired from the joystick (unless in a Japanese warplane, in which case the triggers are on the throttle under the left hand).

The rudder control would be by a foot bar.

Player controls for looking around would be accessed by buttons under the left hand, as would the flaps and trim controls.

Piloting an aircraft would be solely with the right hand and feet, with button pushing, etc. by the left hand.

Their are cockpits available, for many years, for hooking up to PCs and Macs, to fly the various simulators available over the years. However, these are joystick port connector types, not USB, so aren't compatable.

However, with a bit of home garage woodwork, welding and a few nails and screws it should be possible to knock up something attached to a suitable chair by canabalising an X-Box controller. It would also be hook-up-able to the PC for use in IL-2 games.

A drinks can holder could also be included and maybe, to add authentic realism, a "Pilot's Friend" pee bottle and tube facility would put an end to those "Busting for a leak but can't leave the intense game" moments.

[philabong2]

Originally Posted by Panzergranate

...
A drinks can holder could also be included and maybe, to add authentic realism, a "Pilot's Friend" pee bottle and tube facility would put an end to those "Busting for a leak but can't leave the intense game" moments.

lmao
now im wondering which wires coming out of the stick itself are the rudders cause i think i might try to make some kind of rudder pedal bar with some kinds of foot switch - i just cant fly well using that twisting the stick action for rudder control

Damn. And my wife calls me eccentric!