RealFlight G4 - Interlink Elite Transmitter Heli Mods

[Tweakrr]

I have really been enjoying the new updates in RealFlight G4! I feel it has greatly improved my flying skills, in addition to being a lot of fun just to mess with anyway...

Because I use it as training, I want it to be as close to my own rig as possible, and so I changed around the Throttle Hold switch and Flap Knob locations. I found a few how-to guides involving soldering, and I'm okay with that, but here is another way to do it, which I think is easier/quicker. I took a few pictures to outline the process:

First, remove the 4 screws on the back of the case carefully:

http://www.blak94gsx.com/pics/interlink_elite_heli_mods/remove_case_screws.jpg



-Unscrew the ring holding the switch in and just lay the switch out of the way for a minute

-Carefully pull off the Knob for the flaps, then slide out the little circuit board and lay that out of the way for a minute


-Snip off one of the plastic peg/slider things that was holding the knob in:

http://www.blak94gsx.com/pics/interlink_elite_heli_mods/snip_off_peg1.jpg

http://www.blak94gsx.com/pics/interlink_elite_heli_mods/snip_off_peg2.jpg



-The knob will be relocated to poke through the front of the case where the switch originally was:

http://www.blak94gsx.com/pics/interlink_elite_heli_mods/knob_placement.jpg



-Use hotglue or whatever you like to hold the knob in place, just don't get any in the hole:

http://www.blak94gsx.com/pics/interlink_elite_heli_mods/hotglue1.jpg

http://www.blak94gsx.com/pics/interlink_elite_heli_mods/hotglue2.jpg



-Mount the switch, with the yellow wire on top so the switch is facing the right way:

http://www.blak94gsx.com/pics/interlink_elite_heli_mods/hotglue3.jpg



-You can adjust the throttle detents feel/tightness as well by loosening the screw that holds down the metal tab. What I did was put a piece of electrical tape over the detents on the plastic to smooth out the feel so it wasn't so ratchety, and then adjusted the tension on the metal tab until it matched the throttle/collective stick feel on my DX7:

http://www.blak94gsx.com/pics/interlink_elite_heli_mods/loosen_detents.jpg

http://www.blak94gsx.com/pics/interlink_elite_heli_mods/detents_closeup.jpg


-Put the cover back on and the 4 screws back in and you're done!

http://www.blak94gsx.com/pics/interlink_elite_heli_mods/done1.jpg

http://www.blak94gsx.com/pics/interlink_elite_heli_mods/done2.jpg

[Cheekers]

Can the new G4 controller be used with other sims that use joystick-type devices? For example, does it show up as a joystick device?

The reason I ask is I'd like to use it with other sims I use (like FMS, Clearview, AFPD).

[Gadget01]

Cool. I did the same thing with the left stick to smooth out the feel. I gave some thought to swapping the switch with the knob, but I guess you beat me to it. I wonder why they thought to switch those 2 around. Maybe that's a Futaba thing. I use a JR and a Spektrum.

The only thing you left out - The label on the front is now backwards :D


Nice work- time will tell if the hot-melt glue holds up.

[Tweakrr]

Yeah the knob holds itself in there pretty much by itself without the hotglue. The hotglue was just to make myself feel better about it and I figured I might as well since I was already in there. I used hotglue since it is easy to remove in case I want to switch it back or something.

[Tweakrr]

Can the new G4 controller be used with other sims that use joystick-type devices? For example, does it show up as a joystick device?

The reason I ask is I'd like to use it with other sims I use (like FMS, Clearview, AFPD).

Yes it shows up as a game controller in windows. I like to fly the Airbus around from the tower in Microsoft Flight Simulator X using the RC controller...

[CyberJay]

DONE! Thanks for the motivation. I thought about moving it when I was modding the throttle as well, but was too anxious to get it up and running.

You'll notice from my pic I cut some bits from the PCboard that the dial is mounted to. This allowed me to have neutral be at 12 oclock.

-Jay

[Tweakrr]

I just made sure the knob was centered when I pushed it back on, but I like your suggestion.

[lovespicyfood]

Another alternative for the throttle solution, just slip some fuel tubing over it and adjust the tension of the screw to your liking. It worked well for me! :D

I too am LOVING this G4!!! Upgrading from G2, it's a WORLD of DIFFERENCE!

Thanks for posting the pics of the switch mod. I'll have to do that once the "newness" wears off because I'm using this thing all the time now! ;)

Not sure if any of you saw it, but there's a new G4 version of the Align T-Rex600N Pro just posted on the swap pages of knifeedge. Unlike the ver9 for G3.5, this one doesn't crash the program! I'm STOKED because pretty soon I'll be maidening my real 600N Pro! :D

Thanks,
Pete

Regards,
Pete

[CyberJay]

I just made sure the knob was centered when I pushed it back on, but I like your suggestion.

DUH.. I'm an idiot... Well maybe not an idiot but when I get excited about something sometimes I miss the obvious solution. I fully endorse your common sense solution, people should NOT cut up their PC board like I did.

-Jay