Just looking for your short and sweet, summarized experience of either (or both if you own both).
New to flight sims, and got myself a VKB NZXT Gladiator Premium to start just over a week ago. Love it so much I told myself I should get a premium throttle so I ordered the Virpil CM3 a week ago.
Reading up even further it seems I won’t be seeing my CM3 for 6 months or so. Don’t want to wait that long to enjoy this game so I ordered a TM Warthog throttle to hold me over.
Will I like the Warthog enough to cancel the CM3?
Should I cancel the Warthog order and suck it up?
Or enjoy the Warthog for a few months, and set it aside once the CM3 arrives to keep as a backup?
What say you?
It is true that there is quite a waiting time for Virpol products (if they are on back-order). But in my experience Virpil stuff often gets shipped quite a bit faster than initially announced.
About your question:
- Imo the Virpil is the better product. I had a TM Warthog and sold it as soon as my CM3 arrived.
- I‘ve been using Virpil products since 2020 and never experienced any failure, even though I use them every day. Consequenty, a back-up throttle is not a must. But if you have the means, then - by all means - keep both
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I still own both throttles, and when my CM3 arrived was a little disappointed, as not a very big jump up from the Warthog throttle (action), which is very good. What you do get with the Virpil is a better set of programable buttons for sure. I’d also have liked the CM3 finger leavers to have a lock up function, so when not using/wanting detents, rather than take them off locking up would have kept a smooth action, maybe in next version.
But, yes Vipril is very good kit, and stick to stick Virpil wins hands down, Throttle to Throttle, for smooth action the Warthog holds it’s own, but Virpil wins on buttons etc.
If you are buying via online source and will have both throttles to gather, give them both a try before sending one back.
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I have owned both. The Warthog is now gone. Virpil hardware is way more flexible in what you can accomplish with it.
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Yeah I placed the order (they’re on backorder) due to a large 20% off sale going on.
I wanted to be in at about $5-600 in a HOTAS setup since I’m new to the scene; haven’t owned a joystick for almost 20 years now as I had a Microsoft Sidewinder long ago.
I continue to read about how Virpil is a better product in terms of quality, but many that have experienced VKB and Virpil say the Warthog can hold its own.
It’s nice hearing people chime in when they have experience with both products.
Appreciate the input!
My assumption is I would have owned the Warthog for a few months by the time the CM3 arrives so I wouldn’t be able to return it.
I just don’t want to get caught up in the nostalgia of owning a new stick if it isn’t one worth keeping. I’ll definitely try it out to see if I like it, but would like to hear what I’m ‘missing out’ based on experience.
You touched on one thing for sure though; the versatility of the buttons provided on the CM3.
Wish Virpil didn’t have such a long wait time.
That, is freaking beautiful!
Way too many buttons for me to learn though 
Although it will be fun making my own stands and mounts for sure.
Just remember, good things come to those that wait. You just invested in a quality setup that will last you years to come.
I have also owned some VKB hardware in the past. Everyone has their own opinion but I feel Virpil has been the best hands down except for rudder pedals. I still give the pedal award to Thrustmaster and their TPR pedals.
You can also do some cool things with the led lighted switches on your Virpil hardware with the VPC Link Tool.
Your wait will be well worth it!
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That’s great to hear, and to really see your setup, your opinions do not fall on deaf ears so I’m excited!
I guess I can just keep the Warthog to use for the meanwhile, and take what I learned from that, and apply it to the Virpil once it arrives.
Little background, I owned MSFS 2020 for over a year and a half but only ever used a controller.
Two weeks ago I ordered the VKB stick, and seeing that it was coming from China, I also ordered a Thrustmaster stick that same night. I enjoyed the Thrustmaster so much I was anxious for the VKB to arrive.
Soon as I got my hands on the VKB is when I ordered the Virpil…of course after many old threads, youtube videos, and other searches.
The Warthog may turn out to be similar to the experience I had with the Thrustmaster to the VKB which was only days apart.
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The Warthog arrived; so far not impressed with all the plastic involved at least not for the price.
So, with over 2 hours on this throttle I thought I’d chime in with some thoughts.
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I really dislike the illusion of quality, and what I mean is the heavy use of metal for the base to add substantial weight which leads to the next one
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Plastic; my VKB has a lot of plastic but it’s all high quality. The plastic on the Warthog (specifically the throttle) looks and feels cheap.
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The types of switches used, especially the flaps! Fortunately that can all be remedied with simple programming but it would’ve been cool to use the flaps for the flap function versus a sort of ‘increase’ or ‘decrease’ per press; it’s not on an axis
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Love the smoothness of this thing, so it’s not all bad news. I can really dial in the amount of throttle I need.
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The switches, they are just fun to press and toggle! I keep going back into my options asking myself “what else can I add?!” as I’m looking for reasons to use as many buttons on this thing as possible
Few things unrelated to the throttle, since I wanted to try it out I wanted to fly a variety of planes.
Whenever I’m taking off, all of my planes drift towards the left as soon as a wheel starts to lift off.
I looked up the issue and have gone through to disable assistance with taking off, rudders, pitch, and more. I am indeed using Modern controls, and have attempted to take off in different planes in different airports (in case wind was a factor). Unfortunately this was enough to cause me to stop playing.
Another thing is, because I’m on a small desk I have to reach far forward just to use my throttle so I’m going to have to make a sort of pedestal or stand for my new throttle.
Here’s what I drew up real quick, just a little 10 minute sketch which I’ll cut out in 12 gauge steel.
The idea is to cut 2 of these panels out, and run hardware through the holes. They will be evenly spaced by the use of aluminum rods, and with the panels painted black, will give off an industrial vibe. These will act like the “legs”.
I’m not a wood worker by any means, but I MAY just add some height to the top so I can bend it (with holes) so I can attach a small wood base on top.
We’ll see.
Edit: Final draft below.
Sorry for any viewers, I’m practically talking to myself here.
Figured I’d make myself a stand for my stick as well.
Decided to get started and cut the legs out for my stick.
I’ll knock off the dross and work on them a different day while I wait for the two hardwood (cedar) pieces arrive for mounting on top.
Legs will need to get painted too before anything gets put together.
Also followed up with Virpil and they told me their backorders are shipping out between 3-5 weeks so I’ll be returning the Warthog soon. I’ll also have to draw the Virpil logo in lieu of the Thrustmaster logo but that’s a simple fix.
Talking to myself some more; been busy all weekend with company over!
Drew this up really quickly and thought I’d use 2 of these ‘feet’ at the bottoms between the legs.
One will have the jet silhouette and the other won’t.
This will add rigidity to the bottom of the base as the tabs on the legs will butt up against the notched sides of the feet.
Small update; still waiting for my hardwood to arrive to work on but the stand itself is mostly done.
Just needs clean-up and paint.
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Looks better painted now as the hardware contrasts nicely from the stand.
Also excited since I got an email that Virpil just shipped out my CM3!
Better get started on making the stand for my throttle now.
That and I’ll post it next to the Warthog since that’s what the thread was originally about.
Walnut tops arrived.
Had to chop some of it off, cut a radius at each corner, stain it, and then mount it.
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The Virpil CM3 is going to be a bit of a wait still so thought I’d post the finished product and possibly draw up the throttle stand as I need to make some changes to it.
