All - I currently have Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joystick. It’s over 10 years old, and starting to have some looseness and wiggle, which means it not as precise as when new.
I have the Honeycomb Throttle Quadrant on Order, and will when available get the Yoke unit. With that on the plate, I do need to upgrade my joystick, because not all planes use yoke. When aftermarket releases my favorite fighters I will need a joystick for those. Those are: F-4 Phantom; F-14 Tomcat; A-4J(T) as well. There may be others as well.
Currently I like to fly planes with yoke, TBM-930; B787/B747/ and hopefully some aftermarket planes once this simulator settles down and the bugs are repaired. Regardless, need to think about which one to get. I believe to narrow down comments, staying with the Thrustmaster line, as reviews say the quality is excellent, and they last a long time. The Warthog might be as top of line I might need.
Your thoughts are appreciated. Be as long winded as needed as to why you recommend and why. Thank all in advance.
Check out VKB and Virpil if you haven’t already.
I know from my own experience 6 months ago that they don’t come up in a quick google search for joystick reviews/recommendations. It took finding r/hotas on reddit for me to learn about them.
Nothing wrong with Thrustmaster sticks but they’re not quite the top tier that a lot of sites make them out to be. More like the best you can easily buy on amazon. (or at least you could before this game came out)
VKB recently released their Gladiator NXT which is very nice for $120-150 depending on which version you get, and will soon be releasing some inexpensive ($50-60) throttle/button boxes to go with the new stick.
Both Virpil and VKB have a F-14 grip available. Most of their other grips are modeled after soviet style grips though. However their grip + base costs about as much as the Warthog stick and throttle, so if you want a whole hotas setup with them it’s going to be quite a bit more.
I recently upgraded from a TM HOTAS X to a Warthog. What a difference! I’m hoping it will be even better with a stick extension. The spring does a fair simulation of feedback. Hopefully, we’ll see a decent FFB stick in the near future.
I think with the warthog I got to buy rudder pedals. That being the case, another issue. The best ones are made by virtual fly “ruddo” (yoko the yoke vendor). Thrustmaster I believe makes two different models, and I will have to research them. The warthog also has lots of switches/buttons not sure I will use since only a very few military fighters I want to own down the road. What is the stick extension? All the extra stuff might be wasted on me. It is one I have in my list to investigate further. I thank you for your input, and what rudder pedals did you get?
I’m using some old TM TFRP rudder pedals. They’re not very good, but the recent sensitivity settings change has made them MUCH better. I’m using the throttle from an old TM HOTAS X, and use the HOTAS X stick for the drone.
Regarding the buttons and switches on the Warthog, apart from the obvious trim switch, I use the other switches and buttons for camera views, flaps, radio, etc. There are some third-party stick extensions to make the stick longer and therefore more precise, but it’s not really necessary. The resolution of the Warthog is very good without it.
Is the Warthog a short stick? I guess I will try to find the specs and see if any measurements are present so I can maybe see what is going on. I also need to address the rudder pedals, one review said some “sticks come with throttle and rudder pedal bundle”. Assume, those are well “cheap and not of long term quality” but I have never owned TM products, so only know what I see on the YT reviews. Thank you again.
Patrick - Checked out Virpil, and think Im going with the below.
- VPC T-50CM2 base.
- VPC Desk Mount Bracket-should lower the stick enough so it’s at the correct height for my desk.
- VPC VFX Grip.
Down the road, the VPC Ace Pedals. Then with the honeycomb TQ and Yoke should have everything I need for years. Thank you for the heads up. Thrustmaster seems to have a joint which can get lose or get wobble down the road, the Virpil does not.
FWIW-In reviewing my order it has not been acknowledged yet. Sure know they have backlog, not sure when it will be processed and a date for shipment to occur.
Additionally anyone ordering their base and using existing Thrustmaster Grip, watch several videos on YouTube so you configure it correctly, you can break the base with Thrustmaster grip. Pay special attention to setting up the base/grip especially not having any other USB equipment hooked up to PC, believe they are talking about rudder pedals, etc., I am going to unhook everything and use internal keyboard on laptop so I know everything is disconnected.
Finally got invoice, so assuming equipment is in production schedule, backordered, maybe receive by January 2021.
I went with the Virpil Alpha with the WarBRD base and it is incredible.
All - This thread is OLD, updated by me is:
Virpil VFX stick, mongoose base, CM-3 Throttle unit, had for over year, excellent quality, 95% metal parts. Sold HC Bravo, as I did not have enough desk space for it, and hated some of it’s features. Takes over all the light switches for instance. Wore out arm turning trim wheel to get it set.