If these photos upload you will see I have pinched an idea and used my old quadrant to build a collective. Utilizing an old walking pole I have the handle attached. It ain't proffesional but its working ok, had to play around with axis tune so I wasnt raising collective vertically. The proof in the pudding will be when I try online with you guys and I can't pause
Any observations on how to make it better/ sturdier or anything please post I am more used to joining things with six inch nails and a big hammer

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Excuse the squalor of the quadrant its been in the shed for 5 years

Cib.. here's  my Collective and some ideas for you.




I found that  a 1 1/2" PVC pipe (<--Schedule 40) fits my grip the best. I cut it to length, mounted & painted.....but not before I added a keypad and attached that keypad with an epoxy. You'll see a small screw ( took apart the keypad & guts-- put 2 screws into plastic to help with the attaching of keypad....  I'm not really sure I needed to... but it made me feel better.. then the epoxy-->Keypad to PVC pipe.  Now it's one piece & hard to damage/flex/twist  

As you can see, I ran the keypad cable down the PVC pipe...I knew that it was going to be short of the PC so there is another extension cable ( USB 2.0) I didn't show




I love my keypad addition (mounted approx. 45 degrees  for comfort and ease of use) for extra key bindings such as:
PTT Button (if needed)
VoiceAttack button
NVG-- on/off
NVG Gain—up & down
Briefing window -on/off
Rearm& refuel
Zoom in
Zoom out
Autopilot -on/off
Snap views*x 3

If you decide to go this route—don’t forget the following:
Keypad
USB2.0 Extension—2 meter length  minimum (suggest you don’t go short on this)
Epoxy



Links for items above:

Keypad    $ 9.99 us--Don't spend a lot on this--you can find them cheaper

RectorSeal Epoxy  about  $4.00 -5.00 us Great stuff for any hobbist-- Comes in a putty & sets in approx 5 minutes.



Cheers  !

Great idea I even have an old X52 lying around. May have to experiment

Many thanks Hawkeye

Quick question. How to attach the tube to the x52? Did you remove the side plate?

(B/229) Cib wrote:Quick question. How to attach the tube to the x52? Did you remove the side plate?

No-- don't tear apart the X52 Throttle ( unless absolutely necessary).

I drilled 2 holes exactly 180  from each other (it's Easy--- I'll explain how next time we speak)

*Test fit the bolt into the little recess in the handle.
* apply epoxy around bolts/recess-- AND Add more to make a "cradle" for PVC pipe (So the pipe will set against the Plastic X52 recess area). As you can see in the pic below,  I have the PVC Pipe/bolts ready to be epoxy'd and the Front of the PVC pipe is  supported (out of view) but you get the idea..

let it harden.




Look closely at the Handle to X52 area... you'll see the epoxy built up as a cradle..and notice the nuts  now securing the PVC pipe to X52...  SNUG  but not too tight.. (don't want to crack the epoxy).

Hers mine Cib same as Hawks, i think the original idea was from Highway :  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7meeoif5k7nk3hr/AADr8qEJ_cVfPaAg9ttOAwmxa?dl=0

https://s1126.photobucket.com/user/Killhooly/slideshow/SIMPIT

Many thanks guys, been down for the epoxy stuff and will root about my numerous boxes of crap for suitable parts

(C/229) Strut wrote:Hers mine Cib same as Hawks, i think the original idea was from Highway :   https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7meeoif5k7nk3hr/AADr8qEJ_cVfPaAg9ttOAwmxa?dl=0

https://s1126.photobucket.com/user/Killhooly/slideshow/SIMPIT

Beer holder is my personal fav.

 It has begun

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Cib, Not sure if you picked it up on our pics - that we are positioning the throttle in reverse, you get more throw because of the angle of the throttle at its lowest setting. The base of the throttle is seated at about 40 - 45 degrees which allows you to get the collective handle positioned at the horizontal at the "0" collective power position. Look at my pic, a picture paints a thousand words.



Heres a better pic

An oversight on my part. Too late now to change as the epoxy is set hard and has the tubing held tight. I am happy with it though and am looking forward to educating myself with it. I still find myself pulling instead of pushing but flying is so much smoother and lifting is effortless