How to build a ring top (aka Spitfire) joystick handle?

How are your clay-modelling skills?

Why not try to use an epoxy modelling putty? ‘Milliput’ is the best thing I’ve used; it is easy to work with (after a bit of practice), is quick-drying, can be drilled, sanded, machined and painted when dry, and is also relatively cheap.

You could use copper central-heating pipe to give the form of the ‘spade-grip’, the 10mm stuff will easily take that sort of bend by hand, and then you could mould the epoxy-putty around it to form the bosses for the control column and for the firing button. You wouldn’t need to be too accurate as you can file and sand the putty to the correct shape and you can always add more where you need it, plus much of the surface could be covered by ‘string’ grip. Any wiring, and even the firing button, could be embedded directly into the putty.

It would take time and patience but if you made a good job of it you could always sell a couple more on eBay!

I read that article with glee. I adore make-n-mend skils. A man after my own heart.
With those skills, you’ll soon find a ring top.

Hi,

thanks for the replies. I guess I’ll just have to trawl shops for something round. Dog rings, deck quoits, have to check these out.

Unfortunately not as exciting as a restoration. I’ve built a floor mounted yoke for flight-simming which has an aluminium pole handle. I built it by taking a PC Joystick. Removing the handle. Reversing it, with the use of a funnel attached it to a yoke. Sounds a bit unconventional but works a treat (see here http://www.flightsim.com/main/howto/joystick.htm ). I was thinking of improving the Mk1 with a Mk2 Ring Handle.

Regards,

H.

Hi, If I may ask, why do you want to make one?. If you are wanting to build one from scratch, to be a perfect copy of an original, I would imagine it would be a near “Mission impossible”.
Somewhere on tinternet, I have seen somewon is selling replicas, which I think would equate to less than it would cost to make one from scratch. I restore ex lighthouse/lightship items, and know that even the most simplistic job, takes more tools than one would think, even for a small simple job, of restoration.

Lincoln .7

If it is only a mock up so to speak – you could look in toy shops for plastic Deck Quoits? Size is 100% important, but it could be filled with balast to give correct weight? Painting and stringing will hide a multitude of sins?

Good luck with your project.

I think it’s too tight a radius for a pipe bender. Or too much of a circle if you get my drift.
It would be very hard with a pipe spring too.
I think the original was an ally or Magnesium alloy casting?

I would look to alternatives. A ring that you throw for a dog for example. Get a solid rubber one, they hardly bend – but you could knife a slot all round the back of it and feed in some good wire, like a coat hanger pre bent to a circle.
Then it needs leather and twine (Was it twine?)