Vipercore FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG User manual

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
FORCE CONTROLLED
WARTHOG (FCW)
Installation's manual

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
Table of contents
1.#Introduction#........................................................................................................................................#3#
#
2.#FCW#Installation#in#a#Warthog#stick#base#............................................................................................#4#
#
3.#Installing#the#Warthog#FCW#into#other#bases#...................................................................................#19#
3.1$Cockpit$base$....................................................................................................$19#
3.2$Cougar$base$.....................................................................................................$19$
#
4.#Setting#up#your#FCW#..........................................................................................................................#20#
4.1$Electronic$Calibration:$.....................................................................................$20#
4.2$Installing$the$software$.....................................................................................$22$
#
5.#Using#your#FCW#.................................................................................................................................#25#
5.1$Changing$options$through$software$................................................................$25#
5.2$Changing$options$through$stick$button$combinations$.....................................$28$
#
6.#Programming#your#FCW#....................................................................................................................#30#
#
7.#Contacts#and#credits#..........................................................................................................................#31#

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
1. Introduction
Congratulations#with#the#purchase#of#your#Force#Controlled#Warthog.#
The#FCW#is#a#drop-in#replacement#for#the#original#warthog#gimbals.#
#
Unlike#the#FCC#for#the#Cougar#the#Warthog#FCW#replace#completely#the#electronics#of#the#warthog.##
As#a#consequence,#you#will#not#be#able#to#program#the#warthog#stick#with#Thrustmaster#software#
(Target).#Programming#will#only#be#available#through#Direct#X.#
Please#refer#to#the#DX#programming#capabilities#and#features#of#your#favourite#sims#to#take#full#
advantages#of#the#DX#programming.#(For#BMS,#please#refer#to#the#DX#Setup#Guide.pdf#located#in#
..\Docs\Key#Files#&#Input\Device#Setup#Guides#&#Profiles)##
#
Although#initially#designed#for#the#Warthog,#there#is#no#reason#that#the#FCW#cannot#be#installed#with#
a#Cougar.#The#FCW#is#indeed#backwards#compatible#with#the#Cougar.#If#you#do#install#the#FCW#in#a#
cougar#be#aware#that#you#will#lose#the#possibility#to#connect#the#rudder#and#throttle#on#the#cougar#
stick#base.#You#must#seek#a#way#to#connect#the#rudder#and#throttle#independently.#
#
#
I#hope#you#enjoy#using#your#FCW#as#much#as#I#enjoyed#designing,#building#and#using#it.#
#
If#you#have#any#comments#or#questions#about#your#FCW#you#can#mail#me#at#[e-mail]#
Arend#“Eagle”#van#Oosten.#
CAUTION
The Warthog and FCC printed circuit board are electrostatic sensitive device. This
means you can damage the boards if you don’t take precautionary measures. Make
sure you are not electro-statically charged before working on the PCB. You can do
this by grounding yourself and use ESD-approved materials. If you don’t have them at
least discharge yourself by touching a ground wire of your electrical installation.

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
2. FCW Installation in a Warthog stick base
The#hardest#part#of#the#installation#is#to#disassemble#de#warthog#stick#base.#Most#of#the#warthog#
components#will#not#be#necessary#after#the#FCC#installation.#The#FCW#kit#is#made#of#the#assembled#
FCW,#the#warthog#base#plate,#the#FCW#PCB#and#a#small#bag#of#screws#and#washer.#
#
#
#
#
#
Let’s#put#all#the#FCW#components#away#for#the#moment#and#concentrate#on#disassembling#the#
warthog#base.##Make#sure#you#place#all#screws#and#components#in#a#small#box#while#you#are#working.#
#
Turn#the#base#over#and#unscrew#the#flat#plate#from#the#warthog#base.#That#will#separate#the#base#
from#the#plate#and#give#you#access#to#the#warthog#TM#pcb.#Let’s#start#by#removing#this#from#the#
warthog.#As#you#see#on#the#following#pictures#the#base#I#used#for#this#manual#is#one#of#the#early#
warthog#prototype#and#is#not#grounded.##
#
Chances#are#high#that#your#pcb#is#grounded#and#connected#to#the#metal#part#of#your#warthog#base.#
Unfortunately,#that#ground#wire#is#soldered#on#the#PCB#and#you#will#have#to#either#unsolder#it#or#cut#
it,#whichever#you#prefer.#We#won’t#need#the#warthog#PCB#anymore#so#cutting#it#is#not#the#finest#
solution#but#it#has#no#consequences.##

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
# #
#
Before#disconnecting#any#connector,#I#advise#to#mark#them#accordingly#so#you#can#reconnect#them#at#
a#later#point.#In#this#case,#I#simply#drew#a#red#line#on#both#part#of#the#first#connector#and#a#black#line#
over#the#second.##
#
Remove#the#connectors#by#gently#separating#with#a#flat#screwdriver#and#pull#them#away.#
#
Unscrew#then#the#2#small#PCB#screws#and#store#them#away,#you#might#need#them#later#on.#You#can#
now#remove#the#Warthog#PCB#and#it’s#cable#from#the#warthog#base.#Needless#to#say,#it’s#precious,#
store#it#securely#away.#
#
Turn#the#base#over#and#unscrew#the#round#metal#plate#held#in#place#with#8#Philips#screws.##
#
#

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
There#is#a#huge#spring#inside#the#Warthog#base.#As#you#unscrew#the#following#plate#(with#the#4#
screws#marked#in#red#on#the#following#picture),#that#spring#will#extend#unless#you#hold#the#plate#
firmly#in#place#until#all#screws#are#out.##
#
Please#make#sure#you#don’t#unscrew#the#last#one#unless#you’re#pushing#the#plate#down.#Failure#to#do#
so#may#damage#the#screw#thread#and#create#problems#when#you#attempt#to#reassemble#the#base.##
#
#
#
#

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
#
#
I#didn’t#lie#to#you,#that#spring#is#huge!##
Remove#the#top#plate#and#remove#the#spring#by#lifting#it#up#from#the#base.#Be#careful,#the#spring#may#
be#full#of#grease.#You#can#now#lift#the#cylinder#casing.#It’s#simply#pinned#in#the#base#with#4#pins.###
#
#
#
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#
# #

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
#
#
#
Turn#the#base#over#again#we#will#now#remove#the#gimbals.#They#are#held#in#place#with#the#4#silver#
screws,#of#which#you#may#already#have#unscrewed#2#when#removing#the#ground#wire#before.##
Before#unscrewing#them#all#4,#you#may#also#unscrew#the#centre#light#grey#piece#held#in#place#with#the#
2#smaller#screws.#The#grey#part#can#be#lifted#up#or#flip#the#base#so#gravity#can#help.###
#
#

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
You#can#now#unscrew#the#last#screws#holding#the#Warthog#gimbals.#Make#sure#you#hold#it#to#avoid#
having#the#precious#fall#on#the#floor.#
#
#
#
That’s#it,#the#warthog#base,#or#what’s#left#of#it,#is#ready#for#the#FCW.##Once#again,#make#sure#you#stow#
securely#away#the#left#over#from#the#warthog,#you#may#need#them#one#day#to#help#a#fellow#virtual#
pilot.##
#
The#next#thing#we#need#to#do#is#to#secure#the#FCW#PCB#inside#the#Warthog#base.#This#is#the#only#
intrusive#modification#to#your#hardware.#Although#the#PCB#takes#the#place#of#the#old#Thrustmaster#
PCB#it#does#feature#a#mini#USB#port#that#needs#to#go#through#the#plastic#of#the#base.##
#

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
Yep#you#got#it#right,#you’ll#need#to#cut#a#slot#of#your#base#to#let#go#the#connector.#Don’t#worry#your#
warthog#base#will#sport#the#scar#with#pride.#There#is#another#way#to#bypass#that#modification#if#you#
find#it#too#instrusive,#see#below.#(add#page)#
The#first#thing#to#do#is#to#mark#the#cuts.#I#used#tape#but#a#pen#works#equally#fine.##
#
Saw#alongside#the#tape#vertically#until#you#meet#the#flat#bottom#(don’t#go#all#the#way#through#the#
plastic#touching#the#metal)#Stop#when#the#connector#has#enough#room#to#slide#through.#Repeat#on#
the#other#side,#alongside#the#other#piece#of#tape#
#
#
#
Cutting#the#horizontal#part#is#a#bit#more#difficult#but#here#is#a#modalism#trick.#Using#a#precision#drill,#
bore#a#few#small#holes#as#close#to#each#other#alongside#the#horizontal#bit#of#tape.##
#
#

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
Then#hold#the#bit#about#to#be#removed#with#a#pair#of#pliers#and#snap#it#off#the#base#by#successive#
back#and#forth#gentle#motion.#Eventually#the#part#will#separate#from#the#mainframe.#Sand#the#edges#
flat#with#a#small#file#(yes#it#helps#to#do#some#plastic#models)#
#
#
#
Then#PCB#can#now#be#placed#flat#over#it’s#supporting#holes.#The#FCW#kit#doesn’t#provide#new#screws#
and#expect#you#to#re-use#the#original#ones#to#screw#the#PCB#in#place.#Flip#the#base#and#we’re#ready#to#
reassemble#the#base.##
#
If#you#do#not#want#to#cut#your#warthog#base,#you#can#modify#the#red#PCB#to#reuse#the#warthog#USB#
cable.#Please#be#aware#this#modification#is#done#at#your#own#risk#and#imply#a#minimum#of#experience#
soldering.#
#
1. Cut#the#mini#usb#connector#away#from#the#red#PCB#
#

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
#
Here#is#the#result#after#the#cut:#
#
#
2. Unsolder#the#USB#cable#5#wires#from#the#original#warthog#PCB:##
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#

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
3. Insert#the#5#wires#of#the#USB#cable#into#the#red#FCW#PCB#following#the#order#seen#in#the#
picture#below:#
#
#
4. Flip#the#PCB#on#the#other#side#and#solder#all#5#wires:#
#
#
#
#

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
5. Place#the#PCB#into#the#base#with#the#usb#cable#through#the#original#opening:#
#
#
#
#
#
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# #

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
Let’s#now#continue#FCW#install#by#attaching#the#FCW#to#it’s#support#plate.##
Insert#all#8#provided#screws#through#the#support#plate#centre#screw#holes#and#slide#the#O-rings#on#the#
other#side#of#the#support#plate.##
#
#
#
Then#insert#the#FCW#through#the#hole#on#the#side#of#the#o-rings#and#match#all#screws#with#the#FCW#
holes.#You#can#now#bolt#each#screw#using#the#provided#nylon#secured#bolts.#Do#not#overtight#them.#
They#have#to#be#secure#but#they#won’t#unscrew#anyway#thanks#to#the#nylon#washer#included#in#the#
bolt.#
#
#
# #

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
A#good#tip#is#to#insert#a#coin#between#the#two#plates#and#screw#the#nylon#bolts#in.#This#will#give#a#
good#reference#for#tightening#the#bolts#in.#
#
#
#
The#PCB#is#printed#with#the#word#FRONT#this#will#be#very#handy#in#the#next#couple#of#minutes.#Slide#
the#black#cylinder#casing#on#the#base#and#align#it#with#the#4#notches.##
Connect#the#3#connectors#to#the#base#PCB#while#supporting#the#PCB#from#under#with#your#finger#as#
you#plug#them#in.#Make#sure#you#match#Y#with#Y#and#X#with#X.#It’s#also#referenced#on#both#PCB#so#if#
you#mess#it#up,#it’s#because#you#didn’t#read# ##
Secure#the#wires#in#place#with#the#supplied#cable#zips,#it’s#important#that#the#cables#are#not#severed#
as#you#screw#the#base#closed.#Here#are#pictures#helping#you#see#how#the#cables#are#supposed#to#be#
placed#inside#the#base:#
#
#
#
#
#
#

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
Before#you#place#the#top#plate#on#the#base,#please#mind#a#close#look#at#the#FCW#round#PCB.#There#
are#two#dip#switches#you#can#set#depending#if#you#intend#to#use#the#mod#with#a#cougar#or#a#warthog.#
Set#both#Dip#to#ON#if#you#intend#to#use#a#warthog#stick#and#set#both#dip#to#off#if#you#intend#to#use#the#
mod#with#a#Cougar.#Response#curves#are#slightly#better#with#the#warthog#settings#but#….#
#
#
#
#
You#have#4#possibilities#to#orient#the#base#according#to#your#exit#cable.##The#FCW#PCB#tells#you#where#
the#front#is#(another#option#is#to#screw#the#warthog#handle#in#place.#By#rotating#the#top#plate#by#45°#
you#can#make#the#cable#exit#to#the#front,#the#left,#the#right#or#the#rear#of#the#round#base.#Since#the#
stick#is#to#the#right#of#the#computer#I#chose#to#have#the#exit#on#the#left#
#

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
#
#
Place#the#FCW#and#it’s#support#plate#over#the#base,#aligned#first#with#the#4#small#notches#then#with#
the#4#supporting#poles#and#screw#it#securely#with#the#4#black#original#screws.#
#
#
#
Screw#the#large#flat#plate#from#under#the#base#(you#will#need#it)#and#replace#your#Warthog#handle#in#
place.#Connect#a#mini#USB#cable#to#the#FCW#warthog#PCB.#
That’s#it,#the#FCW#warthog#installation#is#finished

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
3. Installing the Warthog FCW into other bases
$
3.1$Cockpit$base$
The#advantage#of#the#warthog#FCW#mod#is#the#ability#to#mount#the#FCW#into#a#smaller#cockpit#base.##
It’s#a#feature#exclusive#to#the#FCC/FCW.#The#cockpit#base#bolted#on#the#right#auxiliary#console#is#quite#
smaller#than#a#warthog#base.##
#
There#is#no#specific#instructions#to#mount#the#FCC#into#a#cockpit#base#as#the#8#holes#in#the#FCW#match#
the#holes#in#the#cockpit#base.#The#support#plate#is#not#used#and#the#PCB#can#be#placed#anywhere#
under#the#right#auxiliary#console#at#cable#length.#So#installation#is#even#easier#than#in#a#warthog#base.
3.2$Cougar$base$
As#said#earlier#the#FCW#is#backward#compatible#with#the#Cougar.#Installation#in#the#cougar#base#is#
possible#with#the#adapter#plate#which#can#be#ordered#along#the#FCW.#PIX#To#install#the#FCW#into#a#
Cougar#base,#please#refer#to#the#FCC#manual.#
Bear#in#mind#that#if#you#install#a#FCW#in#a#Cougar,#it#will#become#Standalone#Direct#X.##
You#won’t#program#it#as#before#(or#as#with#the#FCC)#with#foxy##
You#won’t#be#able#to#connect#the#TQS#straight#to#the#Cougar#stick#but#you#must#seek#a#solution#to#
make#your#Cougar##throttle#standalone#as#well.#
See#the#throttle#adaptor#from#our#website:#www.vipercore.nl#
#
#

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FORCE CONTROLLED WARTHOG - USER'S MANUAL V1.0
4. Setting up your FCW
#
4.1$Electronic$Calibration:$
Initial#electronic#calibration#is#required.#The#FCW#PCB#has#two#status#led#that#will#confirm#each#axis#is#
centred.#These#leds#are#placed#on#the#connector#side#and#are#labelled#“Centre_X”#and#“Centre_Y”#
These#leds#are#visible#with#the#PCB#screwed#in#the#base,#by#looking#through#the#warthog#base#from#
the#top:#
#
#
#
Each#axis#also#features#a#potentiometer#with#an#adjustable#screw#on#top.#These#potentiometers#are#
located#on#the#FCW#round#pcb#attached#to#the#stick#base.#
#
#
#