Good trim controllers for trimming?

[Voyager]

So, I want to add trim control to my controller setup, for the purposes of trimming the plane*. I'd like to use it with both Il-2:1946 and CoD. I'm experimenting with using the joystick's throttle slider as the elevator trim, but it's seeming to be even harder to get the trim right than with the keyboard. Anyone have any suggestions on what would work for this?

Harry Voyager

*I don't know about anybody else, but I find it rather hilarious that I have to specify that it is specifically for trim control

[Codex]

Sounds like you need to buy a HOTAS

[Voyager]

I've already got a CH HOTAS: Fighterstick, Pro-Throttle, and Pro-pedals. I'm looking for a unit for fine control of 3 axis trim.

For context, I mostly fly the P-47, and I prefer to do the long historical type missions, where you spend a fair amount of time cruising to the target in fast time. Having the trim set up right ends up having a big impact on how much of your effort goes into keeping the plane upright. On top of that, if/when you get into a fight, you really need to re-trim to fit the speed and attitude you're aiming for, which isn't really cruise. I'd sort of like to be able to experiment with trim on landings, but that already seems to require six arms. Well, four, but you know what I mean.

[*Buzzsaw*]

Salute

Depends what plane you are going to fly as to how many trim axis you may need.

For example, Spitfires and Hurricanes have trim controls for rudder and elevator, nothing for aileron.

109's have trim for elevator only, nothing for rudder or aileron.

If CLIFFS OF DOVER is anything like IL-2, you will be able to assign trim to an axis when it is enabled for an aircraft.

If you already have a joystick and rudder pedals, then what you need is a throttle to give you additional axis to assign for trim.

There are many solutions out there, here are a couple:

CH Pro Throttle



This has one throttle axis, it would free up the throttle wheel on your joystick to use as an elevator trim. Combine that with the wheel on your mouse, which you could use for a rudder trim. There is also a mini joystick on this unit which could be used for trim purposes.

CH Throttle Quadrant



This has six separate throttles which could be used to free up the throttle wheel on the joystick, or whose axis could be assigned to whatever trim you wish.

Saitek Pro Flight Throttle Quadrant



This has triple throttles which again could be assigned to trim purposes or free up the throttle wheel on your joystick.

You can also buy HOTAS setups which include joystick, throttle and rudder pedals if you don't already own a joystick and pedals.

For example, the Saitek X-52 system is a joystick and throttle. Combine that with the Saitek rudder pedals and you have a HOTAS setup:



There are also HOTAS setups available from Thrustmaster, Logitech and CH Products. (my personal favourites)

One thing people need to remember about CLIFFS OF DOVER, is that with complex engine management, it is going to require quite a few more control axis. By my understanding of the promo info released, the axis required would be as follows:

1) Throttle

2) Mixture

3) Supercharger boost level (players will need to be careful in their settings, too high boost with lean mixture will cause detonation and destruction of the engine. Low boost with too rich mixture will consume too much fuel as well as bogging the engine, and players who run high boost/rich mix all the time will find they will run out of fuel in very little time. Combat power should consume 4 times the fuel of of cruise settings.)

4) Prop pitch (for early Spit and Hurri, this will be a two speed setting, activated by a button, either coarse or fine pitch. Later Spits will be constant speed, with the player setting the RPM level, and the auto pitch adjusting to maintain that engine speed. For 109, this will either be completely manual, with the requirement for the pilot to ride the controls constantly to prevent overrevving, or if Oleg allows for the late BoB 109 to be modelled, which were very rare, there will be an auto pitch version of the 109)

5) Radiator

6) Flaps (only for 109's, Spit and Hurri flaps are either up or down, and would be activated by buttons. If 109 flaps are correctly modelled, they will take 30 seconds to fully deploy)

7) Elevator trim

8b) Rudder trim (Spit and Hurri only)

[julian265]

Originally Posted by Voyager

So, I want to add trim control to my controller setup, for the purposes of trimming the plane*. I'd like to use it with both Il-2:1946 and CoD. I'm experimenting with using the joystick's throttle slider as the elevator trim, but it's seeming to be even harder to get the trim right than with the keyboard. Anyone have any suggestions on what would work for this?

Harry Voyager

*I don't know about anybody else, but I find it rather hilarious that I have to specify that it is specifically for trim control

I'm not aware of anything on the market that gives you fine adjustment out-of-the-box. You can make your own, however, with multi-turn pots (or geared HE sensors) and an A/D converter / USB interface like the BU0836. It would be a good project to start on if you haven't done anything similar before.

[Sokol1]

Buy one L.Bodnar BU0836 (or stripe some basic USB stick), two or three multi turn-pot (like ETI MW22B), knobs and a small box to assemble and you have the best trim device possible.

Or http://www.simw.com/gf-lgt-ii.html

Funny reply.

Sokol1

[MadBlaster]

Originally Posted by Voyager

So, I want to add trim control to my controller setup, for the purposes of trimming the plane*. I'd like to use it with both Il-2:1946 and CoD. I'm experimenting with using the joystick's throttle slider as the elevator trim, but it's seeming to be even harder to get the trim right than with the keyboard. Anyone have any suggestions on what would work for this?

Harry Voyager

*I don't know about anybody else, but I find it rather hilarious that I have to specify that it is specifically for trim control

That's not a good control for static elevator trim (I assume that is the one your talking about). But you could make it work. You could put some marking along side the slider. Say for climb, dive and cruise settings. But that means you have to move your head down to see the notches line up with the slider. Not so good. Or you could write up a glovepie script to generate an audible response. In your script, basically break the slider axis up into segments, then as you move the slider up or down, the tone (e.g., midi bass drum) goes off once as you slide to the next segment on the axis. This could work I suppose.

Really though, slider not a good choice for static elevator trim. Better options: button up/button down, notch style rotary dial, ministick off a gamepad, povhat...you could make any of these work much better for you I think because they give you discrete feedback as you manipulate them. Whereas slider you using guesswork without some kind of feed back to tell you were your at.

[Skoshi Tiger]

Originally Posted by Sokol1

Buy one L.Bodnar BU0836 (or stripe some basic USB stick), two or three multi turn-pot (like ETI MW22B), knobs and a small box to assemble and you have the best trim device possible.

Or http://www.simw.com/gf-lgt-ii.html

Sokol1

I've got a BU0836 based controller and multi turn pots are definately the way to go.

I've got a 10 turn pot on the elevator trim which alows very precise adjustment.

Unfortunately I've only got a 270 degree pots for the rudder and ailerons. Some times especially in something like the p-51, you feel like your balancing on a barrel, the adjustments are too coarse.

When I get around to it a 3 turn pot will be an investment, pitty they are relatively expensive.

Cheers!

[*Buzzsaw*]

Originally Posted by Sokol1

Yeah, he re-posted while I was replying to his first post. He did not say he had a HOTAS in the first post.