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RAM Controls - Star Wars Flight Yoke

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FrizzleFried:

--- Quote from: Havok on September 25, 2007, 08:56:08 am ---Oh well, looks like this is turning into a Christmas present after all...

--- End quote ---


...of `08?

 :dunno

Daviea:
Here's a long overdue report on the status of various projects going on over at RAM Controls.    Sorry about the delay in news.

First of all, I've had very limited access to the website as far as the FTP server is concerned, so I have had *difficulties* in updating many of the project blogs.  This is a known issue and I have been working on it.  Long story, would rather not get into it for the time being.

That said, here's where we are with the top 6 projects:

1.  Star Wars flight yoke.  I get the most requests for info on this project and for good reason....it's a fricken cool item for an even cooler game!  LOL  Someone copied an email of mine verbatim earlier in the thread, so you have an idea of what's going on.  Ok, so we've been in a stand still holding pattern for many, many months on this project due to continued vendor issues with the powdercoating.  I tried several different vendors and it all ended up with the same outcome: they could not get the job done.  The reasons are many, but the outcome was always the same.  I finally got my fill of all the excuses and delays and pulled all the handle pieces back.  I actually had to send them in to be stripped of the crappy powdercoat job, too. 

So, I sat on the project for a few weeks, trying to figure out how I could manage to do the job myself, in-house.  Doing it this way would give me the ultimate in quality control which is a major concern of mine.  After doing a lot of research on the topic and visiting a few showrooms to try out various powdercoating equipment, I opted to buy a huge setup.  I figure this would take care of this project and any future projects which may require powdercoating of any kind.  Sure, it set me back a few dimes, but it's going to be worth it in the long-run.  Now, I've taken delivery of the equipment and it's been sitting in the shop for some time now.  I've been waiting on the utilities to come out and set it up for me (need electrical and gas hookups) as well as new air lines for the PC machine AND the sandblaster.  Unfortunately, you can't just call them up and have them out the next day to get it done. 

Anyhow, this equipment is some nice stuff to get to play with, so it's worth the wait, IMO.  Ok, backing up a little bit, the entire project is done EXCEPT for:  (a) powdercoating the housing(the single part that the yoke artwork is applied to) (b) powdercoating the handles and (c) assembly of the device.  I'd like to note that there are exactly twelve (12) existing prepays for this this item.  If ANY of you decide that enough is enough and you'd rather not wait any longer, PM me or email me and I'll refund your cabbage right away.  I don't want to leave you guys hanging on a project that's well beyond the original expected completion date.  I'll throw in some nice extras for anyone who manages to wait this one out.  :-)

2.  The Lunar Lander thrust controller.  While I've been spinning my wheels with the above project, I've made some serious headway on the LL thruster.  I have the bracket weldment completed which was actually the most difficult part.  I also have the following parts done: the shafts, the pins, the plastic bearings and spacers, the handle (which, by the way, I've made from aluminum and hard anodized black -- looks awesome), the rubber bumper stops and the springs.  I've got the Y-shaped handle weldment parts machined, now I need to weld them together and then chrome it.  Last item, the control cover (the big black plastic piece) is nearly complete.  I had to send this out, but it appears to be running smoothly.  All in all, this project will most likely be completed before the SW yoke.

3.  Food Fight & Red Baron gimbal (analog) joysticks. These are a little bit behind compared to the two above, but I've made some serious headway with them.  The top plates are done, the gimbal linkages are done, the body (upper and lower) is done.  The shafts are done.  I'm waiting on the handles and the gimbals.  I figured out a way to make the gimbals out of aluminum (instead of nylon), so they'll be superior parts.  The gimbal linkages are also aluminum -- nice!!  Overall, this one has some time to go before I finish it.  I still need to find someone who can overmold the handle knob onto the FF shaft.

4.  720 Rotary controller.  This one is at a stand-still while I re-engineer the controller. I already have many of the parts finished, however.  The sprockets, the chain, the encoder wheel, the alignment wheel, etc.

5.  Dedicated Major Havoc cabinet.  This one has come a very long way over the last few months.  Sometime soon, I'll have some pics available of the "dry fit" for the final pre-production model. 

6.  I've been "quietly" working on reproduction LED switches (the ones used with the Atari button cones).  Sure, I have a boatload of NOS red LED switches, but I've been slammed with requests for "other" colors ever since I started up RAM Controls.  Well, I'm happy to report that I'm getting close to completion on this one.  My reproduction is based on the Licon version (rather than the Cherry version) for a couple of reasons.  The main reason being that the Licon version is a much better made part to begin with.  Anyhow, I'm going to be offering LED buttons in standard red, of course.  I'm also going to be offering them in green, yellow, blue and white.  They will be identical in form and fit to the originals which means that the lenses (actually, they're called "plungers") will be 100% compatible with the OEM switches.  Best part is that I should be able to offers these suckers for much, MUCH less than the OEM buttons. :-)

So, that's about it for now.  Thanks for the support, everyone.  I appreciate it. 

David

HoopstarsGarage:
Ohh Sex..!!


Hoops

ratzz:
Sorry ... sounds like more hot air to me.

Noone should order until they have problems sorted. why should you fund these delays?

BAD excuses ...

RUN ... RUN AS FAS AS YOU CAN ...

jcoleman:

--- Quote from: ratzz on October 27, 2007, 07:59:05 pm ---Sorry ... sounds like more hot air to me.

Noone should order until they have problems sorted. why should you fund these delays?

BAD excuses ...

RUN ... RUN AS FAS AS YOU CAN ...

--- End quote ---

You've been a member for two and a half months and you're teling us to avoid a vendor who has so far acted in good faith?  Where does one obtain arrogance of this sort?  Where do you even fit into the picture here?  Perhaps you're the disgruntled former partner?

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