BURLINGTON, Ontario, Canada — BRASS WORKS has launched the Q400 FGCP, a desktop Flight Guidance Control Panel designed for FlyJSim’s Q4XP in X-Plane and Majestic Software’s Q400 in Prepar3D. The first production batch is available to order now for US$169, with worldwide shipping from Canada.
Developed by an airline pilot, the project began with a personal need: a more practical way to rehearse familiar Q400 procedures at home.
“When I was flying the Q400, particularly during my initial training and later when reviewing procedures at home, I used both X-Plane and Prepar3D,” explains the developer behind BRASS WORKS. “The aircraft simulations were useful, but I missed having the physical controls in front of me. Using a mouse to operate the flight guidance panel did not give me the same flow or familiarity. I originally started building this panel for my own practice.”
Turning that personal project into a product took considerably more work than its relatively simple appearance might suggest. Development has involved six major versions and more than ten revisions along the way, with repeated adjustments to the mechanical design, controls, electronics and software.
The first batch represents the result of that process, while leaving room for further refinement. BRASS WORKS is continuing to evaluate smaller details, with some improvements being considered for the second production batch.
The Q400 FGCP follows the aircraft’s familiar control arrangement while making a modest adjustment for desktop use. It is not a full-size, one-to-one replica: the outer sections have been narrowed slightly to make the panel easier to accommodate on a desk. The control layout otherwise follows the real aircraft, and particular attention has been given to making the button feel as close as practical to the developer’s experience in the flight deck.
Backlighting is included, with an emphasis on comfortable use in a darkened room. Its brightness was chosen to reflect the restrained illumination of an aircraft flight deck. In a brightly lit room, it may appear less intense than some other simulator panels; with the room lights lowered, the markings become clearly illuminated.
“The aim was to capture the feeling I remembered from the aircraft,” the developer says. “The current lighting is already bright enough for a dark environment, although I am considering giving users more brightness in a future version.”
Each panel includes a desktop stand and two matching mounting screws. A single USB-C connection carries both data and power, allowing the panel to connect to the user’s computer using a USB-C data cable.
Simulator integration is handled by BRASSWORKS CONNECT, the accompanying Windows application. For supported setups, Connect bridges the panel to the aircraft without requiring users to map individual controls manually. Current simulator integrations are:
- FlyJSim Q4XP for X-Plane
- Majestic Software Q400 for Prepar3D
Alongside simulator connectivity, CONNECT provides a panel monitor, button and rotary-control checks, lighting tests, and firmware updates. It is also being developed as the common software platform for future BRASS WORKS panels, allowing additional supported hardware to be managed through the same application.
The Q400 FGCP’s first-batch price of US$169 includes the panel, desktop stand and mounting screws. Orders ship from Canada, normally within approximately three business days of payment.
Shipping is free within Canada and the contiguous United States—the lower 48 states. Other destinations are charged the actual shipping cost. The product carries a one-year warranty and a 14-day return policy, with buyers responsible for return shipping for change-of-mind returns. Full shipping, warranty and return terms are available on the website.
The Q400 FGCP is the first product in a broader hardware roadmap. An ATR panel is planned next, followed by panels for the A220 and CRJ. A panel based on the Garmin G1000 avionics system is also under consideration. Further specifications, compatibility details and release dates will be announced as development progresses.
BRASS WORKS is an independent flight simulator hardware business based in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Its products draw on practical flight-deck experience to bring familiar aircraft controls into desktop simulation.