Author Topic: Flight Yokes Production (Read 4758 times)

Gamecab · « **on:** April 13, 2005, 11:46:00 pm »

Hi All,

Well today is the day that the major machined parts for the GameCab flight yokes arrived at my house. Naturally I had to inspect every last part and take some pictures...
I am pleased to say that these units are SOLID and are also a lot thicker than a standard Star Wars Yoke. Credit needs to be given to Kelsey from Oscar Controls for correcting my CAD flaws, and for properly aligning the parts before final production. Thanks again Kelsey!!

The First picture is of the three main parts that will make up the Yokes Base, Mounting Plate and Control Head. I spread everything out on a work table for this pic.

The Second Pic is more or less the "Class Picture" of the First 10 Yokes. (Note: The parts are just stacked on top of each other)

In the coming days I am going to update the Flight Yoke section of the GameCab website with more up to date information relating to the New Yokes. The older flight Yoke information will be removed from the GameCab site and that product will be considered discontinuted from that point forward.

I am still Pushing for a Mid-May release of these Yokes, so keep an eye out for the GameCab newsletter as well as this board. The GameCab website will cover the Specs, Price and lead time for ordering.

Thanks
Charlie

AmericanDemon · « **Reply #1 on:** April 14, 2005, 12:00:37 am »

AWESOME! I cant wait!

Kremmit · « **Reply #2 on:** April 14, 2005, 12:01:44 am »

Looking VERY nice.

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #3 on:** April 14, 2005, 07:40:05 am »

all i see is a bunch of metal parts...and i still cant wait,

Gamecab · « **Reply #4 on:** April 14, 2005, 09:11:28 am »

Yes, and it's good metal!!!. I'm really excited about the parts and just had to post them. The next Pic will be of the finished units but that may not be for at least 2 weeks. I'm a touch behind on the control panel orders and need to clear these up before putting the yokes into serious action.

Thanks
Charlie

Lilwolf · « **Reply #5 on:** April 14, 2005, 09:20:55 am »

LOOKS GREAT!

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #6 on:** April 14, 2005, 09:48:35 am »

do we have a price point?

GGKoul · « **Reply #7 on:** April 14, 2005, 10:47:12 am »

VERY NICE TEASER!

LPZ · « **Reply #8 on:** April 14, 2005, 03:06:26 pm »

Well, those pics got my attention!

cholin · « **Reply #9 on:** April 14, 2005, 03:16:44 pm »

Mmmm, metal

OSCAR · « **Reply #10 on:** April 14, 2005, 06:27:02 pm »

Hey Charlie,

They look great!! Glad they went together and I didn't screw up the flat patterns when I was mucking around with them!

Can't wait to see the completed unit (like everyone else, I'm sure)....

Kelsey

Gamecab · « **Reply #11 on:** April 14, 2005, 08:23:13 pm »

Quote from: OSCAR on April 14, 2005, 06:27:02 pm

Hey Charlie,

They look great!!

Gamecab · « **Reply #12 on:** April 14, 2005, 08:34:29 pm »

This is just a thought for everyone... and please let me know what you think.

Now that the Bases of the units are final, it is very possible to make a 270' and 360' steering wheel unit out of this. All that would need to be created is a collar that could mount to a 9 inch Go-Cart steering wheel.

A 360' Unit would need a few Oscar Controller parts (Encoder wheel and board).

A 270' Unit would basically be the Flight Yoke minus the control head.

What do you all think of having these added as additional products along with the Yokes?

namedos · « **Reply #13 on:** April 14, 2005, 08:59:34 pm »

I think it is a great idea as long as it doesn't detract from the stability of the unit. More flexibility should translate into more sales.

I don't remember seeing anything posted but if you have ten of these in your initial run are you going to take pre-orders or do you already have a waiting list?

Looks like a great product so far, nice work!

mahuti · « **Reply #14 on:** April 14, 2005, 09:00:21 pm »

I think that would be swell. Just needs to be switchable.

MrSaLTy · « **Reply #15 on:** April 14, 2005, 10:22:03 pm »

Man if you could make it so you could swap a wheel and a SW yoke I think thats a wonderful idea! Lets face it, there are way more driving games than games that can use a yoke.

Gamecab · « **Reply #16 on:** April 14, 2005, 10:22:25 pm »

Quote from: namedos on April 14, 2005, 08:59:34 pm

I don't remember seeing anything posted but if you have ten of these in your initial run are you going to take pre-orders or do you already have a waiting list?

Gamecab · « **Reply #17 on:** April 14, 2005, 10:32:53 pm »

Quote from: MrSaLTy on April 14, 2005, 10:22:03 pm

Man if you could make it so you could swap a wheel and a SW yoke I think thats a wonderful idea!

mahuti · « **Reply #18 on:** April 14, 2005, 10:35:53 pm »

OK, as a consolation, I get to be on the list for one of the first 10.

Take that suckers!

Gamecab · « **Reply #19 on:** April 14, 2005, 10:42:48 pm »

Trust me, I'll give ample notice of the release date. I guess I'm stuck with the prototype until everyone gets a yoke

.

Kremmit · « **Reply #20 on:** April 15, 2005, 12:11:00 am »

Charlie-

Adding 360 and 270 wheels is a great idea- they're some of the only widely-used controllers we don't have much option on, thus far. If a BYOAC'er wants a 360 wheel, it's used on ebay or expensive from Happ. For 270, you've got the same options, plus cheap-o PC wheels. You'd have the market cornered on steering controls, and let the joystick & encoder guys fight amongst themselves!

I think you should give the swapable idea some further thought, too. There's gotta be a way to pull this off, and I have to believe there are more potential customers who would pay extra for a 3-in-one than there are that would buy 3 separate steering controllers.

For that matter, folks wouldn't necessarily have to shell out the big bucks for a 3-in-one, as you could sell single-function "base models", and then "upgrade kits" they could add down the line. And you know they'd come back and buy them, too. If I wanted steering controls but was on a budget, and I knew your system was upgradable, I'd buy a 360 unit for starters (lower cost than the yoke, more/better games than the 270), then add the 270 and yoke upgrades later when my budget allowed. And I'd definately buy your system instead of ebay/happ/pc stuff, BECAUSE it was upgradable.

Let's see, the yoke/270 is easy, since that's just a swap, Steering Wheel (Handlebars? Spy-Hunter style?) for the yoke-top. It's the 360 that's tough, you'd need to suddenly allow the yoke base to spin freely, and disengage the pot, and add an encoder & optics. Tough order, that.

Maybe if you made a totally separate 360 unit that was contained in the same housing as your current yoke top(y-axis). Then make that unit such that it could be mounted directly to a CP, for standalone use, but also make it such that it would attach to your current base(x-axis). Add a locking mechanism to the base/x-axis, so it won't turn when the 360 module is installed, and you've got it.

If you actually build this, I want a discount.

MrSaLTy · « **Reply #21 on:** April 15, 2005, 01:12:36 am »

Well put Kremmit....

I... uhhh... meant all that same stuff in my post... heheh

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #22 on:** April 15, 2005, 07:39:23 am »

Quote from: Hoagie_one on April 14, 2005, 09:48:35 am

do we have a price point?

Gamecab · « **Reply #23 on:** April 15, 2005, 11:30:56 pm »

Quote from: Hoagie_one on April 15, 2005, 07:39:23 am

Quote from: Hoagie_one on April 14, 2005, 09:48:35 am
do we have a price point?

I'm going to have to quote myself on the begining of this post.

I am still Pushing for a Mid-May release of these Yokes, so keep an eye out for the GameCab newsletter as well as this board. The GameCab website will cover the Specs, Price and lead time for ordering.

I would rather not get into the price as it is not a firm price as of yet. If I mistakenly quote/ hint/ or suggest a lower or higher price than expected I could have problems. I made this mistake about a year ago with the first Yokes, it wasn't pretty.
Just try and remember that I'm making the Yokes for the community at a very small profit. Keep this in mind when you read the post that someone will start with the title of "GameCab is out of his F*&^%$! Mind". This is in no way a hint of the price scale, but I have seen many a vendor get this type of reception with past products at almost any price.

Thanks
Charlie

markrvp · « **Reply #24 on:** April 15, 2005, 11:38:01 pm »

Quote

"GameCab is out of his F*&^%$! Mind".

ROTFL!

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #25 on:** April 15, 2005, 11:45:20 pm »

Quote from: Gamecab on April 15, 2005, 11:30:56 pm

Quote from: Hoagie_one on April 15, 2005, 07:39:23 am
Quote from: Hoagie_one on April 14, 2005, 09:48:35 am
do we have a price point?

I'm going to have to quote myself on the begining of this post.

I am still Pushing for a Mid-May release of these Yokes, so keep an eye out for the GameCab newsletter as well as this board.

Gamecab · « **Reply #26 on:** April 15, 2005, 11:47:54 pm »

Quote from: markrvp on April 15, 2005, 11:38:01 pm

Quote
"GameCab is out of his F*&^%$! Mind".

Tommy Boy · « **Reply #27 on:** April 16, 2005, 02:14:15 am »

Hey Charlie -- Just want to throw some support behind the switchable wheel idea. I'll probably buy a yoke anyway but I would definitely buy a yoke/270/360 setup that I could switch on the fly! That would be a proposition worthy of a premium price...count me in!

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #28 on:** April 16, 2005, 08:25:03 am »

cant you use the yoke as a 270 already? just not use teh up \ down?

Lilwolf · « **Reply #29 on:** April 16, 2005, 08:43:38 am »

Not a bad idea...

You might be able to find a way to lock the up/down axis just for driving games.

I think the joke wouldn't be a bad controller for a 270... especially if its locked down.

Tiger-Heli · « **Reply #30 on:** April 16, 2005, 10:37:29 am »

Quote from: Gamecab on April 15, 2005, 11:47:54 pm

Quote from: markrvp on April 15, 2005, 11:38:01 pm
Quote
"GameCab is out of his F*&^%$! Mind".

ROTFL!
That might be the new sale slogan for the May-June GameCab Newsletter

$2 off all LED Driver boards because "GameCab is out of his F*&^%$! Mind!!" he's INSANE!!!!! (If some of you guys in the NY , NJ Remember Crazy Eddie, that one was for you)

Wasn't Crazy Eddie the same guy that got in trouble for selling a Stereo Receiver for 150 bananas (Crazy Eddie goes bananas) and then someone went and spent $20 on actual bananas and wanted their stereo?

Sorry for the OT.

Chris · « **Reply #31 on:** April 16, 2005, 11:00:54 am »

Quote from: Tiger-Heli on April 16, 2005, 10:37:29 am

Quote from: Gamecab on April 15, 2005, 11:47:54 pm
Quote from: markrvp on April 15, 2005, 11:38:01 pm
Quote
"GameCab is out of his F*&^%$! Mind".

Tiger-Heli · « **Reply #32 on:** April 16, 2005, 06:19:43 pm »

Quote from: Chris on April 16, 2005, 11:00:54 am

No, that was Silo.
http://www.snopes.com/business/deals/bananas.asp
--Chris

Thanks!


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