VKB Gladiator joystick project

[Sokol1]

I may look into getting one from Russia if I decide I want one. Not sure yet.

 

You can buy direct from China, cost 80$.

 

http://shop.vkb-sim.pro/items/gladiator/

 

Not sure, but think shipping is around 35$. Ask be email.

Edited January 12, 2017 by Sokol1

[HunDread]

Thanks Sokol1 that's good news. I thought this was from Russia.

[ShamrockOneFive]

I appreciate the feedback ShamrockOneFive. Very useful.

 

My problem with the X 52 Pro stick is the friction, stutter, sticking (not smooth movement) where the metal plate collar moves on the shaft. Silicone grease has been helping but recently it doesn't do the job as I'd like. I've read two suggestions recently: chapstick or Nyogel 767A grease. Pobably I'll try these two and see if they help.

 

If this still keeps annoying me I'll try the Gladiator.

Good news is that the Ravcore Javelin OEM version is available in a local store. So I can simply try it and return it if I don't like it. 

 

My Gladiator is incredibly smooth compared to my old X-52. There was definitely the same stutter and sticking that I experienced on my old stick too... This will be like night and day.

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

Not a Gladiator owner here (Speedlink Airrow) but I'd say both are at a compareable level. What the X-52 has in favour of the Gladiator is more buttons and programable options and a higher movement range due to the large angles.

 

The Gladiator (Airrow) on the other hand has one key advantage and to me that's the seperated spring loading for X and Y axis. It gives me much better controll during manouvres I previously tended to mess up with my X52 Pro because of the single spring system not giving you appropiate feedback. Also the dampening grease is a nice addition in my opinion since it helps with fine adjustments.

Design wise it's more appropiate to a WW2 sim, but it's limited buttons can be troublesome (X52 throttle does help with that).

 

Don't know if this also applies to the Gladiator, but my Airrow noticeably centerplay out of the box (same as my 3.5 year old X-52 Pro) which is a bit inappropiate for the price they're charging. Also it was singnificantly miscalibrated and the speedlink Software couldn't work it out, so I had to ive it 4 goes in Windows calibration until it finally worked normally.

[J37_Spyboy]

Stuka

I am sure  read on here or on VKB forums that Wizzo worked with your stick. Wizoo  is very good and Sokol1 (who is very helpful) has posted a how to use guide on the VKB forums.

S

[SJ_Butcher]

vkb joysticks are going to be send this week, yay and I have some juicy information, the throttle is a ww2 replica but is going to be announced in Q3 or later, they have other priorities with sticks and grip replaces.

[ShamrockOneFive]

vkb joysticks are going to be send this week, yay and I have some juicy information, the throttle is a ww2 replica but is going to be announced in Q3 or later, they have other priorities with sticks and grip replaces.

 

I'm sure the throttle will be worth waiting for!

[SJ_Butcher]

I'm sure the throttle will be worth waiting for!

Me too, I hope the gladiator is good, jumping from a x52 saitek (which is a toy) to the gladiator non pro. Maybe if the pedals were a fw190 or 109 replica I would have bought one

Edited February 9, 2017 by SJ_Butcher

[Yogiflight]

My dream would be a throttle in Bf110 style, fitting to the gladiator and of course usable for the 109.

[Sokol1]

My dream would be a throttle in Bf110 style, fitting to the gladiator and of course usable for the 109.

 

I am not much hopeful about WWII throttle anymore - VKB are under pressure from players for a "jet/kosmosimov" throttle first (another kind of A/F-1x, X-5x throttle like the ones available in the last two decades), so the WW2 throttle can be moved down in priority list. 

 

I have there F-16 TQS and Suncom (F-15) SFS throttle, I don't need another throttle of this "category". 

Edited February 12, 2017 by Sokol1

[SJ_Butcher]

I am not much hopeful about WWII throttle anymore - VKB are under pressure from players for a "jet/kosmosimov" throttle first (another kind of A/F-1x, X-5x throttle like the ones available in the last two decades), so the WW2 throttle can be moved down in priority list. 

 

I have there F-16 TQS and Suncom (F-15) SFS throttle, I don't need another throttle of this "category". 

 

in my previous post I clarified that, I talked directly with the members of vkb and confirmed th

[Sokol1]

First or after?

[Yogiflight]

Would be very disapointing, if it would be another modern style throttle, after having introduced a WWII style stick with the Gladiator. I think threre are enough modern style throttles, give us a throttle fitting to the Gladiator.

[SJ_Butcher]

Would be very disapointing, if it would be another modern style throttle, after having introduced a WWII style stick with the Gladiator. I think threre are enough modern style throttles, give us a throttle fitting to the Gladiator.

 

If the guy that gived me the information is right it will be a ww2 style throttle 

 

 

First or after?

 

first ww2, second modern style

[F/JG300_Gruber]

Does anybody knows if the left handed grips for the glad/gunfighter have an estimated release period on this year ?

[Sokol1]

Realistic, expect for end of year at the best. 

 

Thing is that molds for joystick grip is very expensive - depends on design can cost like a medium car - so there's no way manufacturers invest in molds for a niche on a restrict niche market.

 

What now seems make left hand grips production viable is the "Space Sim" (Kosmosimov) market and their HOSAS (Hands on Stick and Stick = play with 2 joysticks) concept, that need left hand stick.

 

At end 2016 VKB divulge this "To Do" for 2017 in Russian forum - just for reference, probable priority has changed - for make after set Gunfighter production, that is on the way, first units expect to be delivery in March.

 

 

(In) design

1) "FAT" Gunfighter <<<  Initially a "porcupine" base like in Mambas, but changed for ECP (Enhanced Control Panel) a kind of optional tray for Gunfighter desktop with addtional buttons and axis.

2) Throttle <<< Seems at first a WW2 trhottle and after a modern throttle taking in account "Kosmovimov" needs

3) Grip KG12 with twist rudder (for Gladiator PRO and Gunfighter I guess)

4) Plastic grip for modern aircraft and "Kosmosimov" *

5) Metal grip KG12 Pro (2 "buttons-HAT" 5 positions + trigger and "pinky button)

6) Metal grip for modern aviation (probable just a metal version of the above grip *)

7) Plastic grip left-handed for "kosmosimov" <<<<<<<<<<<<

8 ) Wheel (Flying Yoke)

9) Three axis rudder pedal Mk-22.

 

"Space Sim/Kosmosimov" specif needs add a new complicator for joystick manufacturers.

Edited February 19, 2017 by Sokol1

[F/JG300_Gruber]

Thanks 

[Guest deleted@1562]

Now that's quite a list. Should keep them busy for the next decade

[KG200_Volker]

We placed an order to vkb site that was proposed by Sokol1, frustrating that there is no English version, we got 2 mails that confirm the order but no payment or shipping details. What happens next someone will respond from vkb? It's been 2 days so far.

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

I'm glad I didn't get too caught up on the hype surrounding the Gladiator. I almost purchased the Pro but I'm actually pretty glad that I didn't.

[Sokol1]

No bad decision, now you have reason for buy VirPil T-50 or VKB Gunfighter PRO. 

[SJ_Butcher]

We placed an order to vkb site that was proposed by Sokol1, frustrating that there is no English version, we got 2 mails that confirm the order but no payment or shipping details. What happens next someone will respond from vkb? It's been 2 days so far.

 

you ordered from other site that isn't in English? really? to just save 4 bucks? I ordered mine from vkbcontrollers.com and they were and are extremely fast, they answered all my emails (like 6) in no more than 15 minutes, they sent me my Gladiator 2 and arrived yesterday to my Currier in USA, now I am waiting to receive it in Chile.

Edited February 21, 2017 by SJ_Butcher

[KG200_Volker]

Since you are ignorant, in Greece we have vat, apart from that when we order from US we have an added tax from 60 to 90% on top of retail price + shipping price, so it's not 4 bucks.

Edited February 21, 2017 by KG200_Volker

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

Gunfighter/Gladiator, available in Europe or not, in stock/out of stock, budget / high end... I'm totally confused,... I'm not sure if I'm perhaps confusing more than one company?

 

No, VKB seems to make distribution/availability their lowest priority which seems a little counterproductive but what do I know?

No bad decision, now you have reason for buy VirPil T-50 or VKB Gunfighter PRO. 

 

What it comes down to is that the Gladiator doesn't seem to be the high quality controller that it set out to be... Distribution/availability for the product is really poor and requires a lot of hoop-jumping... And out of all the reviews that I've read, many reflect on fundamental quality issues like poor quality materials, sloppy action, poor construction, misaligned/miscalibrated sensors, etc.

 

Not worth the money that they're asking for it, AFAIC. I hate to say it but it would almost be better to sell the Gladiator Standard design to Logitech (or the like) so they can actually keep up with production/distribution demands and provide at least some measure of quality control/production standards.

Edited February 21, 2017 by Space_Ghost

[Sokol1]

you ordered from other site that isn't in English? really? to just save 4 bucks? I ordered mine from vkbcontrollers.com and they were and are extremely fast, they answered all my emails (like 6) in no more than 15 minutes, they sent me my Gladiator 2 and arrived yesterday to my Currier in USA, now I am waiting to receive it in Chile.

 

I don't see problem with "no English site" - this is NOT a Web Store, is just for display products  for Russian market - if the communication/buy will be done in English by email, as people are doing at several years, since Mamba early days.

 

Extra bonus, besides the 4 bucks - will save "Courier" costs.

 

But the more "universal" solution - from buyers perspective - is sell then trough Amazon.com, people will be able to buy with few clicks as they expect.

 

216th_Pinko, on 21 Feb 2017 - 11:07, said:

Gunfighter/Gladiator, available in Europe or not, in stock/out of stock, budget / high end... I'm totally confused,... I'm not sure if I'm perhaps confusing more than one company?

 

 

Gladiator Mk.II "vanilla"  - Entry level "desktop" joystick with twist rudder, all in plastic. Available for Russian and USA/Canada market only. (1)

 

Gladiator PRO - the above joystick with "Next Gen" all in metal gimbal, without twist rudder, available 'worldwide" - well, for now can be bough in 3/4 places in the whole Earth. 

 

Gunfighter - joystick projected for use with 20 cm extension - but can be used as desktop without - with base in metal, besides their more advanced (relative to Gladiator PRO) "Next Gen Dry Clutch" gimbal. Same "worldwide" availability.

 

Gunfighter PRO - the above joystick with 20 cm extension by default. Same "worldwide" availability.

 

(1) This limitation is due VKB partnership with Asia Games factory, who reserves the rights to sell their OEM  (AIRROW, Javelin) versions of the same joystick in the "rest of the world".

 

FYI - OEM versions will not incorporate improvements made for Gladiator Mk.II, AG don't consider these improvements important for they... well, typical consumer. 

 

Until now availability has been always low: VKB make a batch, delivery then - always with delay, await customers feedback, make changes based on this feedback for next batch... start again... so is always "Two weeks, be sure."™

Edited February 21, 2017 by Sokol1

[KG200_Volker]

 

 

this is NOT a Web Store

Oh, I didn't know that, so I ll wait for mail, thank you.

[=362nd_FS=Hiromachi]

What it comes down to is that the Gladiator doesn't seem to be the high quality controller that it set out to be... Distribution/availability for the product is really poor and requires a lot of hoop-jumping... And out of all the reviews that I've read, many reflect on fundamental quality issues like poor quality materials, sloppy action, poor construction, misaligned/miscalibrated sensors, etc.

 

Not worth the money that they're asking for it, AFAIC. I hate to say it but it would almost be better to sell the Gladiator Standard design to Logitech (or the like) so they can actually keep up with production/distribution demands and provide at least some measure of quality control/production standards.

None of this is present in my model. Quality is much superior to my Cobra M5 which I have used before and to my brothers X55, plastic used for the grip and "box" cover is high quality and by no means feels bad - and I compared it in 1:1 with X55, Warthog and Cobra M5. Action is very good for me and I am a lot more precise now (at least that is my subjective opinion). 

 

However with second part I could agree. It was not worth that many, particularly that for even a lower price there is a Warthog available to which I could add extension which is not recommended for Gladiator. A no matter how better Gladiator is by default, extension is a game changer. 

For what VKB offers they have really low availability and unjustified price. 

[SJ_Butcher]

why are you complaining about the joystick now? I searched a lot in reddit and videos and all recommended the gladiator, I bought the non pro mk2, it seems to expensive the difference for me, maybe for a hotas I would have paid that amount or a little more if is a hotas but it is not, isn't the non gladiator pro sturdy? make to be durable? my x52 pro is a toy of joystick, too fancy but poor quality and feels useless.

[=362nd_FS=Hiromachi]

I did complain before too, particularly before getting it But I dont consider it bad so dont see a reason to talk all that much. It's just overpriced for what it is. 

[SJ_Butcher]

I did complain before too, particularly before getting it But I dont consider it bad so dont see a reason to talk all that much. It's just overpriced for what it is. 

 

talking about the pro vesion right? because the gladiator mk2 non pro looks cheap to me, I hope it will be superior to CH sticks

[=362nd_FS=Hiromachi]

Yes. Pro purchased in EU along with shipping cost me 312 Euro. Standard Gladiator is a good deal though.

[Sokol1]

No, VKB seems to make distribution/availability their lowest priority which seems a little counterproductive but what do I know?

 

What it comes down to is that the Gladiator doesn't seem to be the high quality controller that it set out to be... Distribution/availability for the product is really poor and requires a lot of hoop-jumping... And out of all the reviews that I've read, many reflect on fundamental quality issues like poor quality materials, sloppy action, poor construction, misaligned/miscalibrated sensors, etc.

 

Not worth the money that they're asking for it, AFAIC. I hate to say it but it would almost be better to sell the Gladiator Standard design to Logitech (or the like) so they can actually keep up with production/distribution demands and provide at least some measure of quality control/production standards.

 

 

Well, for ones that don't like of Gladiators, always are Saitek's (now Logitech) option and their "wonderful" QC.. 

 

If you know any hardware peripheral distributor willing in invest buying batches of 10000 at least, for a very small market niche = joystick for flight games, suggest then for VKB, probable they will gift you a Gladiator PRO.  

 

...is a Warthog available to which I could add extension which is not recommended for Gladiator.

 

 

Extension is not recommend/tested* by Thrustmaster, but users add at their own risk, so why not try in Gladiator PRO?  

 

* At least Gladiator PRO all metal gimbal was tested with extension in Mambas. Warthog gimbal is plastic and survive, their base case is plastic too - just the caps is in metal.

 

Edited February 22, 2017 by Sokol1

[Bearfoot]

And out of all the reviews that I've read, many reflect on fundamental quality issues like poor quality materials, sloppy action, poor construction, misaligned/miscalibrated sensors, etc.

 

Would you mind linking to these? So far, I've seen only one negative review (later on this thread) -- specifically mentioning the play. All others have been glowing/positive, and none have mentioned anything about poor quality materials/construction and sloppy action (in, AFAIK, all have specifically praised the precision). Am really interested in getting the full scoop as I am thinking of getting the gunfighter pro! Thanks.

[71st_AH_Mastiff]

Love My Gladiator Pro!!!

 

now Im waiting on the T-50 !!! with all the bells and whistles.

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

I'm waiting for honest reviews, I want new joy and it would be VKB gunfighter or Virpil t50.

[SJ_Butcher]

This week or the early next one should arrive my Gladiator Mk2 non pro, I will make a review against the x52pro bu,t my english is not the best so I will try my best, I think I am not biased to any joystick, I only want the best for the money, I hope the VKB meet that because I have really high hopes on it, so I will be very very objective in every aspect.

[Sokol1]

I'm waiting for honest reviews, I want new joy and it would be VKB gunfighter or Virpil t50.

 

There are few users reviews scattered around simulation forums, done by simmers - or some these common today "blog" or "youtuber's" unbox reviews that barely worth anything.

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=2889699&postcount=1

https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3060108&postcount=32

Edited February 23, 2017 by Sokol1

[Sokol1]

It was not worth that many, particularly that for even a lower price there is a Warthog available to which I could add extension which is not recommended for Gladiator. A no matter how better Gladiator is by default, extension is a game changer. 

 

In April VKB will (tentatively) sell their extension stand alone, you can buy one, remove the 200mm "S" tube, done in that way for compensate the outbalance of heavy (~1Kg) Warthog grip (what extensions done for TmW don't consider) - install a short ~75/100mm tube (like those common TmW extensions), guys in Russian forum are asking for a kit with connectors ( mechanical/electronic) only.

 

Maybe when - IF - Gladiator became more available/popular the 3rd part will offer their own solutions in extensions and users will risk use.

 

Edited February 23, 2017 by Sokol1

[Bearfoot]

 

 

out of all the reviews that I've read, many reflect on fundamental quality issues like poor quality materials, sloppy action, poor construction, misaligned/miscalibrated sensors, etc.

 

 

Again, could you provide references to these? Not finding anything at all to back this up ...

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

 

Again, could you provide references to these? Not finding anything at all to back this up ...

 

 

No, I'm not going to contribute a large amount of my personal time googling product reviews or looking them up on YT for you - especially when there are months worth of them.

 

I don't own the joystick - I'm only repeating what I've heard.

 

Chill. 

Edited February 23, 2017 by Space_Ghost