ANNOUNCEMENT: VRSimpits.com - Your Source for WW1 Hardware!

[vonrickenbecker]

Hello All,

 

I'm very excited to announce the opening of my new website, VRSimpits.com! My hope is to make this website a one-stop-shop for WW1-themed hardware and accessories of all kinds, including joystick grips, throttles, pedals, and more!

 

I want to extend my sincere thanks to the community for your support following the release of the SopGrip MK1 replica Sopwith joystick. It is because of your enthusiastic responses, encouraging comments, and orders that I have decided to expand my activities into a more full-fledged operation. I have several new projects in the works that I'm very excited to share with you in the near future, so stay tuned! To learn more about my plans or to purchase a SopGrip, check out my new site at the link below!

 

https://www.vrsimpits.com/

 

 

Original SopGrip MK1 announcement post and Q&A:

 

[LLv34_Flanker]

S! 

 

Best of luck and many happy customers for you! ?

[ITAF_Rani]

Great!!

My compliments

[Chill31]

I tried my sopgrip attached to a TM Warthog today.  VERY cool!  The Sopgrip is different from the MS Sw FFB I normally use, and it is a bit different from the Dr1 grip in my Fokker Dr1...BUT! What an awesome addition to the immersion! I felt like I had a WWI control stick in my hand!  I say that because they are very different from the modern grips we use today.  They don't fit as well in your hand, and they have trigger levers that won't fit neatly under your index finger. 

 

If you want a sense of WWI in your hand, I list it as a must have.

[vonrickenbecker]

Thanks for the feedback @Chill31! That immersion and WW1 feel is exactly what I was going for, so that's great to hear! 

 

[hsthhsth]

As soon as the VKB gunfighter base is available as a separate buy this will be my first next buy!

[vonrickenbecker]

Hello All, a new blog post is available for your reading pleasure! Just a little taste of things to come

 

https://www.vrsimpits.com/post/teaser-major-product-updates-on-the-way

 

[Jade_Monkey]

Very cool!

[Cynic_Al]

On 8/14/2020 at 1:36 AM, vonrickenbecker said:

Hello All, a new blog post is available for your reading pleasure! Just a little taste of things to come

 

https://www.vrsimpits.com/post/teaser-major-product-updates-on-the-way

 

 

Doesn't look like the Sopwith rudderbar will be materialising for a good while yet.  I'm just dying to see the way you implement that.

[vonrickenbecker]

On 8/15/2020 at 5:16 PM, Cynic_Al said:

 

Doesn't look like the Sopwith rudderbar will be materialising for a good while yet.  I'm just dying to see the way you implement that.

Hey Cynic, yes unfortunately my initial prototype didn't work out as well as I had hoped. I have a couple other ideas to try that I am more hopeful about, so I'm sure I'll get it working  eventually! Once I'm done with the Tampier quadrant I will have more R&D time to devote to the rudder bar.

[Spitty]

Rudderbar is easy if you have some plywood and some aluminium..Sorry its taking me a while to convert rather large PDF files as Ive been busy with work.

[vonrickenbecker]

Thanks Spitty! Yeah the bar itself is the easy bit, I actually have a prototype and a routing template for it already. The part that's giving me difficulties is integrating the bar with electronics and a spring/damper system for realistic control forces, while still making it look like the original.

[vonrickenbecker]

Greetings everyone, a new logbook entry just went live, with some exciting details about the upcoming Tampier Quadrant and related products! Check out the post at the link below for more details.

 

https://www.vrsimpits.com/news-and-updates

Good hunting!

-vonrickenbecker

 

Edited August 23, 2020 by vonrickenbecker

[Spitty]

The victorian light switches you can still buy..

Quote

The part that's giving me difficulties is integrating the bar with electronics and a spring/damper system for realistic control forces, while still making it look like the original.

Id fold up the rear engine mount/top rudderbar axle mount and hold all the electronics inside.All you would need is a pot and some springs.

Edited August 24, 2020 by Spitty
added

[vonrickenbecker]

 Testing the prototype Tampier Quadrant in IL2! Very nearly done now, just a couple of small manufacturing details to work out before it will be available for purchase!

 

 

[vonrickenbecker]

While I'm finishing the last few production details for the upcoming Tampier throttle quadrant, I thought I'd take a minute to give you all a look at VRSimpits headquarters: the little workshop where all of my products are made. Hope you enjoy this short tour!

 

 

 

Edited October 7, 2020 by vonrickenbecker

[SCG_Wulfe]

Very Cool, 

Will likely order a sopwith grip from you soon. But I am really looking forward to a potential future DR1 or DR7 or Albatros controls!

[vonrickenbecker]

Hello All,

 

I am very happy to announce that the VRSimpits Tampier Quadrant is beginning production now, and will be available to order just after new years! I didn't mean to time this announcement to coincide with the announcement of Flying Circus Vol. 2, but it's a happy coincidence indeed!

 

For more information about the quadrant, head over to www.vrsimpits.com, and stay tuned to hear when the order button goes live!

 

[ZachariasX]

Wow... that looks great!

[Spitty]

You need this?

[vonrickenbecker]

35 minutes ago, Spitty said:

You need this?

 

Thanks Spitty! That will actually come in quite handy for another project I have in development currently!

[vonrickenbecker]

VRSimpits Tampier Quadrant Pre-Order is Open!

Greetings All,

 

The first production run of five Tampier units is in process now, and on track to be ready to ship towards the end of this month, with subsequent production runs hopefully occurring monthly thereafter!

 

I have received a very high level of interest and email inquiries about the Tampier Quadrant, which is awesome! Due to this high demand, I have decided to open a pre-order registration form which I will use to distribute the first units, rather than simply throwing them up on my website. I want to make sure that I give you guys -- the people who have followed and encouraged my work -- a good shot at obtaining one of the first units! If you want to grab a unit from this first production run, head over to the pre-order form linked below and submit an entry! No money is required up front, I won’t bill anything until I have your order ready to ship. For these first units, I will send all pre-order customers an invoice rather than ordering through my website directly.

 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfH45cU3j5lFO8LMUY4mpVAy6KFYN54UdTXm5aGSYCQYzzmdw/viewform

 

And don’t forget that you can get all of the details and technical specs of the quadrant at my website:

 

https://www.vrsimpits.com/tampier-quadrant

 

 

What People are Saying...

 

I sent a pre-production Tampier Quadrant to my friend Chill31 (real-life pilot and owner of a Fokker DR1 with original engine), and here is what he had to say about it:

 

“I just got my VRSimpit throttle to go with my Sopwith grip...WOW! It is just like the real thing. I'm floored at how nicely these are done. It beat my expectations by a mile. I can't wait for the next WWI event so I can take my rig and let people try their hand at a WWI flying experience.”

[vonrickenbecker]

Some exciting news for VRSimpits: We're moving to a new workshop!

 

https://www.vrsimpits.com/post/vrsimpits-is-moving-to-a-new-home

 

In other news, the first production run of Tampier quadrants has been completed and sold to happy customers. Another production run is forthcoming after I have moved into the new workspace, and I will also restart production of SopGrips in the new workshop. Many more exciting things are yet to come!