Who's modifying / Converting their Radio's ? 6ch pistol

[SpeedAssault]

I am working on converting my Spektrum DX6i into a Pistol grip radio case.
One other person I know of that ran with my idea a year ago has completed his (Brittan) and myself and onather are building ours. As well as other people taking various other 6ch systems and installing them into TQ2 and TQ3's.

Just wondering if any of you are doing the same ? ? ?

last picture is a completed DX6i conversion
Here is mine so far
No switches or electronics just yet.

[Arct1k]

Its curious but for my super 4wd / 4ws rock crawler I still think I'd prefer sticks...

[BrianG]

Seems like a lot of fabricating work! Good job if it all works out. Personally, I've never needed more than 2 channels, so I still have an extra available on my 3 channel radio.

Alternatively, could do some slight mods to a DX6, clip it on your belt, and then run an umbilical cable for the switches and pots to a gutted pistol radio.

[suicideneil]

Im curious as to what all the switches will be used for now? Most of them are dual rate switches for ailerons, rudder and elevators on a plane, not that much use on a car I'd have thought ( except for steering ). Theres also the throttle kill switch for a gas engine ( handy on a baja maybe? ) , the bind/trainer switch and the flaps/landing gear switch which has no neutral setting with the stock switch, but it coould be modded to act as left-middle-right or something..

So yeah, I guess my question is why spend ~$150 on a stick radio + $xx on a large enough pistol radio and swap the guts over, when you could sell the pistol radio and get a pretty good brand 2.4ghx radio with plenty of channels for the same money or less? Euragle have nice radios, as do a fair few other places if you are after saving money..

Im curious mainly...

[Arct1k]

I've seen a few crawler guys do this...

On my super I have independent power and steering on both axles which uses 4 channels. I then use 3 custom mixes on 3 switches to mix the steering and the throttles so I can easily get linked steering for tight turns and linked throttles for "normal" driving.

Some folk want this but can't get over using sticks so do franken setups...

Other uses are in scalers where you need 3 position switches for dig and potentially winches, lights and other accessories.

[SpeedAssault]

Originally Posted by BrianG

Seems like a lot of fabricating work! Good job if it all works out. Personally, I've never needed more than 2 channels, so I still have an extra available on my 3 channel radio.

Alternatively, could do some slight mods to a DX6, clip it on your belt, and then run an umbilical cable for the switches and pots to a gutted pistol radio.

YEa I thought of that, but I dont run Air, maybe get my wife a heli in the future and run a cabel back to my Radio.

Originally Posted by Arct1k

I've seen a few crawler guys do this...

On my super I have independent power and steering on both axles which uses 4 channels. I then use 3 custom mixes on 3 switches to mix the steering and the throttles so I can easily get linked steering for tight turns and linked throttles for "normal" driving.

Some folk want this but can't get over using sticks so do franken setups...

Other uses are in scalers where you need 3 position switches for dig and potentially winches, lights and other accessories.

WOw , tell me more on your 3 custom mixes ? how did you gain a third mix?

Originally Posted by suicideneil

Im curious as to what all the switches will be used for now? Most of them are dual rate switches for ailerons, rudder and elevators on a plane, not that much use on a car I'd have thought ( except for steering ). Theres also the throttle kill switch for a gas engine ( handy on a baja maybe? ) , the bind/trainer switch and the flaps/landing gear switch which has no neutral setting with the stock switch, but it coould be modded to act as left-middle-right or something..

The possibilities are almost endless. not sure how the throttle cut could be reused since you cannot assign it to anything else.We dont just use the DX stock switches, we make up our own depending on the need of the model, like take 2 switches and turn them into a 3 way switch, or make a switch that turns on or select between two different control methods. or even turn 2 different switches into 2 momentary buttons.


So yeah, I guess my question is why spend ~$150 on a stick radio + $xx on a large enough pistol radio and swap the guts over, when you could sell the pistol radio and get a pretty good brand 2.4ghx radio with plenty of channels for the same money or less? Euragle have nice radios, as do a fair few other places if you are after saving money..

Im curious mainly...

Whats this " Pretty good 2.4 with (? plenty of channels ?) for the same price as what ?
$100. on a DX 6ch 2.4 is dirt cheap, $10-$30. on a old radio case= you get a custom 6 Channel Pistol radio that does not exist. Run your Super custom Crawler, your 2.2 Comp Crawler, offorad SC, Onroad car, Heli and plane all from a Top notch 2.4 DSM 2 system for under $200.
How do you beat that ?

F4PK is $500. and that's only 4 channels !

[Chadworkz]

I think this is an awesome idea, so good job, SpeedAssault!

I, personally, can't stand stick radios, and have found myself wanting, needing, and wishing for a pistol-grip radio with more than 3 or 4 channels, especially fully proportional channels instead of just the typical on/off 2-position switches on the existing 3 & 4 channel pistol-grip radios on the market.

I have already done the custom Traxxas TQ3 mods to turn the 3rd channel into a fully proportional channel with a small thumb-wheel (for rear-steer on a crawler) and end-point pots for all three channels.

I have also just started working on a Traxxas TQ2.4Ghz 4-channel radio, with the intention of making the 3rd and 4th channels fully proportional, as well as with end-point pots on all four channels.

But, now that I have seen this thread, it's time to start doing a little research and customization! My goal is to fly 4ch, 5ch and even 6ch airplanes using pistol-grip radios! I am already flying 3ch and converted 4ch foamies with pistol-grip radios, but I want to fly *real* fiberglass and wood "air-foil, hard-wing" airplanes with pistol-grip radios, and maybe even single main rotor/tail rotor helicopters!

I am excited about this! ;)

[SpeedAssault]

Sounds great Chadwrks , gota a thread ?


MIX will be my Rudd-Ail (Crab steer)
Rudd D/R will be Rudd-Ail (4WS)

1/8 Scale buggy
Ch-1 Aileron = Front Steer
Ch-2 Throttle = Throttle
Ch-3 Rudder = Rear Steer-proportional
Ch-4 Elevator = 3 way switch 4WD, 2WD, DIG
*Ch-5 Gear. Avail (lights)
*Ch-6 Aux. Avail

Mix = Silver momentary on grip 4 Wheel Steer
Ele = Silver mom above thumb Crab steer

BERG:
Ch-1 Steer
Ch-2 Throttle
Ch-4 Elev. DIG

DUAL ESC:
Mix =silver mom Front throttle 100% / Rear 80%
Mix 2 = silver mom Rear throttle 100% /Front 80%
OR
Possibility Mount a Throttle trigger upside down in battery tray and use pinky to operate

Other 1/10 Cars/Trucks
Program for Standard 2/3 channel operation

1/5 scale On-road

Ch-1 steering
Ch-2 Throttle
Ch-5 Front brakes-
Ch-6 Rear brakes
Heli/plane = Umbilical cord back to DX6i Stick and stock switches

Why not Dual Trigger Throttle ( for the Dual ESC Crawlers)

[Chadworkz]

I will definitely start a thread when I get started doing the 5-6ch pistol-grip conversion for sure! The Traxxas TQ mod threads are over on www.rccrawler.com, just not by me.

[suicideneil]

0_o

Fair enough then- 10 points for weirdness and originality....

[SpeedAssault]

Just about all Done !

Ch1 Throttle
Ch2 Front steering
Ch3 rear steer
Ch4 3 position switch for 4wd, 2wd and DIG

Ch4 2nd throttle trigger for DUal ESC crawler














Channels 5 and 6 on the right
Elev DR and Rudd DR on the left

[brushlessboy16]

WOAH! KICK ASS build! I could never use it but its awesome!

[simplechamp]

I think it could use a few more wheels and a couple more triggers....

Just kidding! This thing is very neat, way to go on an awesome and unique project.

[nativepaul]

It looks like an ergonomic nightmare to me, I will consider doing this to my Futaba 6EX stick set just as soon as I grow a third arm for the other wheel, but well done on the build, its thinking outside the box for sure.

I saw a channel for Dig mentioned several times, what is Dig?

[Arct1k]

It's a crawler thing...

Dig is when you lock the rear wheels and drive with the front only... the wheels "dig" in...

Burn is when you lock the front wheels and drive with the rear only...