5 minutes ago, orchestra_nl said:

Hi Chris,

My ancient CH throttle quadrant is starting to break up (one axis failed already) so I am wondering how the development of the Fulcrum quadrant is going. Can you shed some light on its development?
If it is still a year away I might need to purchase something else for the time being, even if it means spending money on a substandard device, until yours is available.

It is not going to be quick I'm afraid. We are still struggling with production of the yoke due to various hold ups in the UK. However design is done, we are just not in a position to start running production on it. Should be later in the year once the order backlog is cleared. I'm hoping this will be done by some time in March. There will also be a stand alone trim wheel coming after that of a similar form factor to the throttle quadrant.

Chris

2 hours ago, tutmeister said:

once the order backlog is cleared. I'm hoping this will be done by some time in March.

Aren't we all!🤞 Hopefully there are no more spanners to be thrown in the works. We've all had enough of those in the past 12 months. Hope you get things back on track before too long.

On 1/14/2021 at 9:20 AM, tutmeister said:

There will also be a stand alone trim wheel coming after that.

I'm intrigued...

I know everyone has been wishing for throttles, but IMO, a trim wheel should be your next production priority.  You could corner the market!  While there are plenty of throttle options out there (I have too many already), a good quality trim wheel is a rare thing.  Strange, considering how important such a device is for achieving realism. 

I call dibs to be first in-line for this!   

On 1/16/2021 at 6:30 AM, danwood said:

I'm intrigued...

I know everyone has been wishing for throttles, but IMO, a trim wheel should be your next production priority.  You could corner the market!  While there are plenty of throttle options out there (I have too many already), a good quality trim wheel is a rare thing.  Strange, considering how important such a device is for achieving realism. 

I call dibs to be first in-line for this!   

Indeed.

Now that Flight Velocity have changed theirs ( https://flightvelocity.com/products/flight-velocity-trim-wheel )  to map as an axis instead of buttons it is an option I am considering,  but I could be convinced to wait if the Fulcrum one is likely to be available in the near future, even if it were more expensive.   I am sure a fulcrum trim wheel would be a vastly better build quality and overall a better product.

Ideally a trim wheel should either map as an axis and be motorised to move with AP or switchable between axis mode and button emulation mode (for use with an AP), though I have no idea how hard either of those options would be to implement.

Edited January 19, 20215 yr by Glenn Fitzpatrick

5 hours ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

Ideally a trim wheel should either map as an axis and be motorised to move with AP or switchable between axis mode and button emulation mode (for use with an AP), though I have no idea how hard either of those options would be to implement.

Option 1: hard enough= expensive. Option 2- very easy.

On 1/14/2021 at 8:20 AM, tutmeister said:

It is not going to be quick I'm afraid. We are still struggling with production of the yoke due to various hold ups in the UK. However design is done, we are just not in a position to start running production on it. Should be later in the year once the order backlog is cleared. I'm hoping this will be done by some time in March. There will also be a stand alone trim wheel coming after that of a similar form factor to the throttle quadrant.

Hi Chris,

Any chance you could provide a little info or picture on the future Fulcrum throttle quadrant -- would sure help some of us with our future planning. It is a lot easier to decide to wait for something if you have some idea what you are waiting for.  😉

Thanks,

Al

 

Edited March 27, 20215 yr by ark

While you await an answer, I'm going to take a wild stab and say that Chris might not be quite ready yet as I think the backlog is still to be cleared, judging by my order having to go through the approximately 10 day wait for dispatch which he warned of until 24 hour dispatch was possible. (Soon to be wending its way to me now though😊 ). Very happy for Chris to prove me wrong though!

9 minutes ago, 109Sqn said:

10 day wait for dispatch

Not sure what that means. I got an email that a UPS shipping label was printed, but no indication of anything else like an expected delivery date. Does Chris print the label and then it take UPS 10 days to actually pick up the yoke from Fulcrum?

Al

Edited March 27, 20215 yr by ark

50 minutes ago, ark said:

Does Chris print the label and then it take UPS 10 days to actually pick up the yoke from Fulcrum?

No, the 10 day wait was between your payment clearing and dispatch happening. So if you have, like me, received that email, your yoke should dispatch imminently. As I got my email on Friday evening (UK time), I assume UPS won't be collecting my order from Fulcrum until Monday unfortunately.

Chris has said that once the backlog has cleared, orders should hopefully leave him within 24 hours. 

24 minutes ago, 109Sqn said:

No, the 10 day wait was between your payment clearing and dispatch happening. So if you have, like me, received that email, your yoke should dispatch imminently. As I got my email on Friday evening (UK time), I assume UPS won't be collecting my order from Fulcrum until Monday unfortunately.

Chris has said that once the backlog has cleared, orders should hopefully leave him within 24 hours. 

I see, thanks for the info. I kind of thought UPS may not pick up packages over the weekend.  🤔

Al

17 minutes ago, ark said:

I kind of thought UPS may not pick up packages over the weekend

No problem. It's "UPS Standard" (for UK deliveries at least), so I assume it's weekdays only. I expect a priority service would probably pick up 6 or 7 days a week, but that would obviously cost us more and I'm happy to save a few pounds and wait slightly longer.😉 Plus, I don't know Chris's setup as far as he or someone else being able (or willing!) to be on hand over the weekend to hand over parcels.

At the moment there is no such things as weekends off, for me at least. UPS do not accept parcels either standard or express over the weekend. Even if I drive them to the depot it is closed over the weekend. Sorry.

Regarding the throttle, the mechanism.is designed but the other bits aren't finalised yet. Picture a metal saitek quadrant type of thing. The question is, do we bother making 3 ways or just a 6 way (like 2 put together).

Also buttons. Toggle or push? Push are more universal and easy for people to assign like on the saitek. The throttle will not be like the honeycomb with lots ofextras. It will be more straightforward and functional as a throttle.

Should it be followed up with a 3 way Vernier style throttle?

Chris

31 minutes ago, tutmeister said:

At the moment there is no such things as weekends off, for me at least

I kind of figured that but, not being your spokesperson, I didn't want to put words into your mouth!😁

 

32 minutes ago, tutmeister said:

UPS do not accept parcels either standard or express over the weekend. Even if I drive them to the depot it is closed over the weekend. Sorry.

That I didn't know. No apology necessary, it is what it is. I'm more fortunate that my order has been completed than I'm unfortunate it was ready for dispatch too late for a Friday collection.🙂 I've waited this long...😄

 

The throttle? As I'm very much price-sensitive (wish I wasn't!), so there's a temptation to say 3 way so that a second could be added at a later date, but then that would add to the overall cost (2 shipments). On the other hand, I'm not a hardcore simmer so I'd probably be happy enough assigning both engines (or 4?) to one set of levers. 

Toggle or push? I guess whichever is more reliable, not just physically but also in terms of assignments working properly in the sim. Buttons would pretty much need LEDs, for switches it could be optional. One suggestion would be to leave enough flat space above and below each button for Dymo tape labels or similar so users can label them easily. That would be a minimum of 7mm for the Dymo labels I use for example.

And a Vernier style throttle? Not for me personally. I'm not a real world pilot and I personally just like the feel of hand on lever over how I imagine Vernier would feel. I don't drive, so I don't even have experience of a push/pull choke! But I'm only 1 person.

 

Just my 2 pence/cents/ for what it's worth - and about as much as I have spare to spend on simming right  now, or so it feels!😄

4 hours ago, tutmeister said:

Push are more universal and easy for people to assign like on the saitek.

If by push you mean momentary contact -- absolutely!  Much easier to use with FSUIPC, and provides flexibility since with a momentary switch you can easily model other switch types, such as 3 position switches,  if necessary.  From what I've read, the type of buttons on the Honeycomb TQ have been problematic for many users,  and they have limited flexibility.  Momentary contact switches like on the Saitek is definitely the way to go.

4 hours ago, tutmeister said:

The question is, do we bother making 3 ways or just a 6 way (like 2 put together).

I assume here you mean 3 levers (axes) or 6 axes?  Think I would opt for 6 axes unless "gang-able" 3 axes units could be an option. There are lots of twin engine a/c!

 

4 hours ago, tutmeister said:

Should it be followed up with a 3 way Vernier style throttle?

Not sure what you mean here -- 3 vernier (screw) axes?

Al

Edited March 28, 20215 yr by ark

Without want to fall into being accused of copying, drawings exist for a saitek STYLE 3 axis and also a 6 axis. The first was going to be a 6 axis because it is more flexible. Obviously there are some unique features as it will be part of the One range i.e. like the yoke it will be one throttle to cover all types (except vernier style! :D)

5 hours ago, ark said:

Not sure what you mean here -- 3 vernier (screw) axes?

Al, vernier style are the push pull type you get in certain GA aircraft. Vernier because you can pull and push them and then twist them for fine adjustment eg mixture.