I am going to upgrade my joystck. I’m interested in the spring and cam bases. Which do you use and why?
Thanks…Greg
Virpil
Base: VPC MongooseT-50CM3
Grip: VPC Constellation Alpha they sent me an Alpha Prime at no extra charge when the regular Alpha was delayed.)
Mount: VPC Desk Mount V4
Why? Because it’s the best.
I added a VPC Flightstick Extension - 200mm for helicopter use. But they make shorter ones if you aren’t into that. Pair the extension with the short or long desk mount. Get the long mount if you might do rotors.
1 Like
I have the same, except for the mount. I built a floor mount instead.
May as well get the collective too if you are doing rotor craft.
2 Likes
I have the same base and grip etc. as BegottenPoet228.
Why, quality and I specifically purchase it for flying helicopters. It is expensive, but we’ll made and personally I viewed it as an investment in a hobby. Along side my Virpil collective it has really added to the immersion of flying helicopters.
1 Like
I have the VKB MCGU grip and Gunfighter MkIV base. I use it with a 100mm extension for fixed wing, as it gives a realistically large range of movement.
The gimbal is incredibly smooth and highly adjustable, with variable weight springs that can be doubled-up (all supplied as standard) and adjustable damping via dry clutches. VKB’s calibration and control software is very powerful, offering control over every aspect down to how the LED’s work & setting up control curves.
There is also a 200mm extension available, which is excellent for helicopters but needs a long / low mount solution.
I went into buying a high-end stick with an open mind, and tried out a few options at home on my own pc.
For the final decision between the two best, I had the Virpil Mongoose base with an Alpha Prime grip (borrowed from a friend - thank you Mike!) side by side with the above-mentioned VKB Gunfighter IV / MCGU grip for a few days. I also had my old T16000m and X56 on hand for comparison, as well as the VKB Gladiator NXT Evo which the new stick was to replace. I flew with them all in MFS 2020 and DCS.
The TM and Logitech felt like cheap toys compared to the others, so were quickly discounted. The VKB Gladiator is far better than either of these.
The Mongoose / Alpha Prime & the Gunfighter IV / MCGU were both way better than any of the others, but out of these two I personally preferred the VKB pairing. The gimbal is quite a bit smoother in action, and it also has a larger range of movement, allowing extra-fine control. I thought the buttons, hats & ministick all felt a bit better and more solid in use, and I like the way it’s all easily adjustable.
You get 4 sets of cams with the base - 2 with progressive weighting for aviation with either hard or soft centres, and 2 with linear weighting for space games with the same choice of centres. You can adjust the damping clutches on the fly, or unplug it & remove 4 screws to change cams & springs. The grip comes with different coloured button tops, and and additional hat / ministick, which you can swap around by removing 2 screws to find a setup that suits you best.
I have never had a mechanical or electrical issue with any of my VKB products, but whenever I have had questions (mostly about the software at first), VKB staffers on their forum have always been very fast and helpful.
I’d have been happy with the Virpil combo as it’s noticeably better than the Gladiator, but personally I thought the VKB combo is even better. If you can try one at home that’s best, but there are also loads of YT videos out there which might help your choice a bit.
1 Like
I bought the VKB STECS Throttle (and not the Virpil Mongoose) based mostly on Youtube videos comparing the two.
VKB makes great gear, and I’m sure I’d be happy with having their joystick/base combo. You really can’t go wrong with either manufacturer. Watching comparative videos, as MagicQuasar suggests, is a great way to get a feel for what will work best for you and your budget.
1 Like
Watch a lot of videos, read a bunch of reviews and make your choice. About a year ago in the same situation, I upgraded my long-suffering Logitech X52 to a VKB Gladiator NXT Evo stick and STECS Standard throttle. I have been happy as a clam with both, in FS2020, FS2024 and DCS. LOTS of controls to customize - hats, switches, toggles and axes, each device is insanely configurable via internal firmware as well (want a switch to present itself to the sim as an axis instead? No problem. Want an axis to present as a switch? Also no problem. Want the analog thumbstick on the stick to be another hat? Again, no big deal. Need more axis calibration than the sim will give you? Just calibrate it in firmware instead. Et cetera.
1 Like
Absolutely this.
VPC and VKB both make superb kit, and if you are upgrading from a plastic ball and socket gimbal equipped stick like a Thrustmaster, Logitech or Turtle Beach, the high end products from either of these makers are in a different league.
There are subtle differences in the way each one works and looks and fits into your ecosystem. Read and watch some reviews, and go for whichever one you think will fit best, you really can’t go wrong with either.
1 Like
Hello everyone,
I currently have the Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS SPACE SIM DUO joysticks.
Is there a way to utilize these joysticks together for MFS 2020 or will I have to but the Thrustmaster TWCS Throttle to play/enjoy this game (My First Time)?
As long as the sim recognizes both joysticks simultaneously, then you can try binding controls to them. Not sure if you can use one as a throttle.
You don’t have to buy a separate throttle quadrant, just one T16000m has everything you need to start flying in MSFS. It has a slider in the base to use for throttle, and pitch, roll and yaw can all be controlled from a single grip, so you don’t have to get rudder pedals either.
If you want to improve the experience in the future and add more controls, then a separate throttle and pedals definitely bring benefits and make things more realistic.
I don’t think there is any value in trying to use 2 x T16000m’s for MSFS. Some joysticks from VKB or Virpil allow you to lock out the roll axis, remove springs, add damping and adapt the grip to a horizontal position so that it can be used as a throttle or collective, but this isn’t an option with the thrustmaster.
have one virpil warbrd base that i dont need if you are from EU