CH Fighter stick for small hands (photos)

[Ghastly]

I've seen at least a dozen times over the last year how "inappropriate" the CH fighterstick is for someone with small hands (like myself).
Each time I see it, also see a response from others that say how easy it is to rectify.  But since it keeps coming up, I wanted to post pictures of just how easy it is to resolve the issue.


Profile look at "Mod" (In this case, a rolled up piece of cotton covered in black electrical tape, and then taped to the handrest.  Comfortable to rest my hand on for hours at a time, yet "stiff" enough to not feel mushy.)



Closeup look at "Mod":



Closeup look at the handrest:



See how easy it is to reach the hat switch?



Fire away, Gridley!



Angling the stick helps too, since it's on a standard desk.  Note that the handle is nearly vertical in the first photo?  This is why, and it makes it a lot easier to use the stick IMO. And the stick is more resistant to sliding on the desk than it was when it was just placed on the original feet - maybe because the angle was so awkward - but anyway, it's very restistant to sliding around unless I get extremely "over controlling" while flying.



Also note in the second and third photos the tape holding the trim wheels securely in place so that my little "helper" doesn't re-adjust them? Keeps me from bumping them too.  Total time to mod? Probably on the order of 15 minutes or so, although I'd done it before so I had a real good idea of how big it needed to be to fit me. And no warranty voided, either.  What do I lose?  I "lose" is the pinkie switch that I find difficult to reach anyway.

<S>

[CRYPTIC]

I cut 5/8 of the grandkids noddle from the poll and double taped it on. They didn't even notice it was gone. I have a big hand but do to a accident the hard plastic is hard on my hand.I can now fly for hours. I also verelco my controllers not that they did move but I know they won't now.

[Chalenge]

Ghastly when you do that can you still use that pinky button? Thats the complaint I have always heard is that using the pinky button and hat switch at the same time causes a hyper-extension pain in the thumb knuckle. One of my squaddies moved his hat switch because of that very thing. For me using the two together is the best way to use 16 views off the same hat but its an easy reach for me.

Seems like if it was a design flaw the easiest fix would be to make the trigger smaller and move that button up higher but I like the stick fine the way it is.

[guncrasher]

I can't give up my pinky button, I use it to shoot cannon only with it.  I just adapted


Semp

[Delirium]

Homeboy modified his CH Fighterstick... here is the link to it. Last I knew, he was doing projects for cash.

http://snomhf.exofire.net/fighterRunt.html

[Ghastly]

Ghastly when you do that can you still use that pinky button? Thats the complaint I have always heard is that using the pinky button and hat switch at the same time causes a hyper-extension pain in the thumb knuckle. One of my squaddies moved his hat switch because of that very thing. For me using the two together is the best way to use 16 views off the same hat but its an easy reach for me.

Seems like if it was a design flaw the easiest fix would be to make the trigger smaller and move that button up higher but I like the stick fine the way it is.

Not really.  I did leave a cutout (not shown) that lets me press it if I want to, but the truth is that my fingers just don't stretch that far and it's too far of a reach. As for the hyper-extension pain, that for me pretty much describes using the stick for any length of time with my hand on the actual hand rest.

For accessing the angle up (as well as angle down, which you don't mention) views, I have 2 of the 4 buttons on the throttle back mapped as "look up" and "look down", and I use those as the "modifier" for the views the same way you do the pinkie switch. 

I've heard nothing but good regarding the work Homeboy does, and the stuff he's posted looks great, but re-engineering the stick is not something you can do in a few minutes and then fly when you first get the stick, nor is it something that's going to leave your warranty intact.

I mostly just didn't want folks to go away thinking that it's a "big deal" to use the stick if your hands are too small for the handle, as is the case much of the time.  It's real easy to address without voiding warranties, or the investment of a lot of time.

<S> 

[Chalenge]

Yes its true I dont use the down views in combat. The majority of techniques in combat maneuvers involve aligning the lift vector (pure up view) in lead.. pure.. or lag.. so really theres no need for a third option (for me). Beyond that you answered my question.

[CRYPTIC]

Here are pics how I did it using a piece of a noddle from the pool. Sorry about bad pic had to use phone.





It is a piece 5/8 and tapered so you can still use the pinkie button.

[zack1234]

always amazed when people come up with simple idea's to solve problems
x52 spring adjustment using tie's to reduce length of spring was a good simple idea

[mattg6o]

What's the CH stick made of? That mod where he cuts out a section is very interesting.

[Ghosth]

I did basically the same mod with a Sidewinder to raise my hand.

[CRYPTIC]

 Hard Plastic. Homeboy does some amazing things with these sticks. I personally think the lefty is the best. I still don't know how he does it. Also in the CH Hanger there is a guy with one arm that modded his stick so that he can fly with one arm.

[ImADot]

Seems like if it was a design flaw the easiest fix would be to make the trigger smaller and move that button up higher but I like the stick fine the way it is.

I thought this was a recreation of the sidestick in the F-16 fighter.  That stick was designed to be used on the side of the cockpit, at leg height while seated - not sitting on top of a desk where you have to reach forward and up to use it.

[Ghastly]

I thought this was a recreation of the sidestick in the F-16 fighter.  That stick was designed to be used on the side of the cockpit, at leg height while seated - not sitting on top of a desk where you have to reach forward and up to use it.

(Image removed from quote.)

Which is probably why it's MUCH more comfortable to use on the tabletop if you angle it back towards you, as I did.

<S>