1:16 Space Shuttle flight deck

[nando]

Beautiful work Tonino! Very wonderful enhancement on the seat.
Thanks to remember my little contribution to this project. Here you can see my built of the early version of the seat that Tonino give me for testing. Here you can see also some picture of the joystick and I can wait to see your new version Tonino.
My compliment again.
Best, Nando

[Tonino]

I'm very proud to announce I've just released a critical detail that was really worrying me: the joystick! Now I'm very satisfied with the result of this long trial and error process.
But let's go in order...

I already did some experiment with a multi-layered paper joystick (first two photos) the handle was too "square" and slim to be convincing... I didn't like it very much.

Now I started with another idea: to use the "slices" as in last try but giving a more "fatty" look curving the handle from inside. I'll explain myself better:

First of all I selected only a subset of my original series of slices (using all of them the stick would have resulted too wide) adding two reduced slices at the extremities (photo #3)

Then I cut and pasted all the shapes with white glue to form a "sandwich" that is still pretty square (photos #4 #5).

When the glue has set I inserted a thin needle in the handle from below (ouch!) This gave a rounded shape to the handle (photos #6 #7 #8).

Then I covered all with a generous amount of CA glue. This operation uniformed the shapes, smoothened the edges, fixed the roundness and hardened the paper making the handle hard as plastic (photos #9 #10 #11).

(to be continued...)

[Tonino]

... then I painted it with a first layer of matt black to better appreciate the surfaces and started sanding all the paper edges still visible with very fine sandpaper. (photos #1 and #2)

Then I added the base, a little brass nail head to represent the 4 direction selector and a 0,5 mm plastic rod as the upper button. (photo #3)

Another hand of black paint, some touch with gloss red and we have a nearly perfect Shuttle joystick!!!

Believe me or not: this is the detail I'm most proud of... so far!!!

[Vermin_King]

Amazing work, sir

[elliott]

Nice job on the joystick Tonino. Looks realistic from here.

[dhanners]

That thing is a model all by itself. Great job!

[Richschindler]

You sir are a master modeler. Insane amount of detail work, right down to the joystick. INCREDIBLE !!!

[Seascape]

Great Work! Really enjoying this thread and amazed at the detail you are including.

Fred

[beckychestney]

Holy crap! That looks great!

[Tonino]

Thanks a lot Vermin King, Elliott, Dhanners, Rich, Fred & Becky!
Your appreciation adds more value to my - already big - satisfaction with this build!