Got my VKB Vintage Black Mamba

[LukeFF]

This week, I received my VKB Vintage Black Mamba joystick from Stratojet. As expected, it is everything and more I was hoping it would be:

• The build quality is absolutely excellent. It sports a nice, smooth finish, with no rough machining marks or other flaws to be seen anywhere.
• The movement of the stick is really smooth. I installed the strongest-tension springs after receiving it, which was no more than about a 10-minute job. The result is very nice, smooth, and accurate stick movement. No noise at all when moving the stick around, and the strong springs make coordinated movements that much easier. Coming from CH Fighterstick, this is really noticeable. 
• The grip is very comfortable to use.
• As a nice added bonus, the stick comes with both an all-metal trigger and the standard plastic trigger. Even though these are not spring-loaded, they stay in place without any problems. The plastic trigger has a magnetic insert that helps keep it in place when it's in the Fire position.
• No calibration was needed upon plugging it in. I just went into the key mapping section for BoS, set it up how I wanted, and I was good to go.
• The two analog rotaries are very smooth and, once again, exhibit no noise.
• The three encoders work absolutely great for adjusting trim. They emit a keypress as they are moved clockwise and counterclockwise, making fine movements possible. They also all have a push button feature, so I can reset my trim inputs with a single press.  
• The lights change color as various buttons on the stick are pressed. For now, I just have the landing gear lights switch from red to green.

In short, this is what the TM Cougar and Warthog sticks should have been all along, right out of the box. I've been wanting a WWII-style joystick for years, and this one fits the bill just right.

 

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Thanks for the review, Luke!

 

It really does sound and look wonderful.

[SYN_Vorlander]

Thx Luke.

[MK_RED13]

Thx Luke.. nice work! Mamba looking good!

Edited May 14, 2016 by MK_RED13

[Cyph3r]

Very eagerly awaiting my Vintage Black Mamba to arrive (UK customer) it looks top notch!

 

How heavy is the grip? Does it feel cheap?

[LukeFF]

 

 

How heavy is the grip? Does it feel cheap?

 

It's a bit hard to define how heavy it is, but it definitely does not feel cheap at all. This is a very well-built, durable joystick.  

[Cyph3r]

It's a bit hard to define how heavy it is, but it definitely does not feel cheap at all. This is a very well-built, durable joystick.  

 

Good to hear. Everyone knows how great the base is. But I was curious how the grip was. The Defender m5 grip was abit too cheap for me. But the Gladiator grip looks much better!

 

Also I read on the forums a while ago that the top button is a hat in disguise... is this true?

Edited May 16, 2016 by Cyph3r

[LukeFF]

 

 

Also I read on the forums a while ago that the top button is a hat in disguise... is this true?

 

The left-hand button on the top is an 8-way POV button. The one to the right of it is a standard single-press button.

[Piekarski]

LukeFF, Your rotaries works as trim axis imput?

How to assign Trim Rotaries from Mamba to trim axes in IL2 BOS? (elevator trim/level stabilizer in bf 109).
Seems like 109 Level Stabilizer only works with keypress (You need to hold key pressed down). Rotaries from my Mamba generates only short input and thestabilizer wheel in cockpit doesn't move.
 

[LukeFF]

LukeFF, Your rotaries works as trim axis imput?

 

How to assign Trim Rotaries from Mamba to trim axes in IL2 BOS? (elevator trim/level stabilizer in bf 109).

Seems like 109 Level Stabilizer only works with keypress (You need to hold key pressed down). Rotaries from my Mamba generates only short input and thestabilizer wheel in cockpit doesn't move.

 

 

It's the three encoders on the base of the stick that I use for trim. One of the rotaries I use for stabilizer trim in the Bf 109s and the C202 (and the relevant planes in Rise of Flight). With the encoders, I also have them set to reset trim to neutral whenever I press one of them (since they also work as a pushbutton).

[seafireliv]

Impressive stick. Surprised how it hasn`t had any lewd jokes... but maybe that`s cos there are few ladies here.

[Piekarski]

Thanks
So there is no possibility to set up small rotaries (marked as trims on mamba base, they have unlimited rotation, )
to drive level stabilizer in bf109?

You are using analog pot knobs for level stabilizer? - analog bigger (marked as throt and prop on mamba base, they have limited rotation)

[Sokol1]

You can set the "rotaries" - encoders that send button press at each "click" - to work as continuous virtual axis.

 

Look at VKB forum for how set this.

 

In BoS/BoM Bf 109 Stabilizer Adjust can be controlled with button/key press or with analog axis (is the only plane of the game that allow this).

 

If you joystick have a analog (axis) knob, try use then for Bf109 Stabilizer Adjust.

[Piekarski]

Thanks Sokol

 

If anyone is intrested how to set up virtual axis in Mamba

 

Look for Victorus posts

http://www.vkb-sim.pro/viewtopic.php?t=2081&start=15

[LukeFF]

 

 

You are using analog pot knobs for level stabilizer? - analog bigger (marked as throt and prop on mamba base, they have limited rotation)

 

Yes, that's what I'm using. It works quite well.  

[VictorUs]

Look here http://www.vkb-sim.pro/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2081&p=21819#p21819 please.

Almost complete trimming guide   

Ask questions, colleagues!!!

Good luck!

Edited June 3, 2016 by VictorUs