Anyone with an Obutto VKB Gunfighter Mount?

[kissTheSky]

Hello, 

 

I’m looking for a center mount that I can put on an aluminum profile rig and would like to see if anyone has obutto’s center mount for Gunfighter III. 
 

It looks to be built for a 200 mm extension and “seems” like very easy to remove (which’s my main requirement), but they have only a single photo on their website so I can’t be sure. 
 

If anyones’s using it, and can provide a photo, I’d appreciate it.

 

[kissTheSky]

Well, i found a photo on another forum and it indeed looks like there’s a easy to operate, large turn buckle between the bottom/top half of the mount, so I ordered it. It’s an old photo and they may have changed it, but we’ll know better when I receive it.
 

I’ll update the thread once I get it and install it in the rig.

 

https://obutto.com/product/vkb-gunfighter-flight-stick-mount/

[hsthhsth]

I bought this last week, had the TM version before as VKB version wasn't availabe back in the days.

I use it for a VKB KG12 and a MCG stick.

The mount is in the middle of the Obutto r3Volution frame with a 50mm wooden block to move it a bit forward. Makes getting in&out the seat easier. When using the stick I only have to slide the seat forward.

For me this mount does require the 200mm extension which as an extra made the stick much more better to handle (fine movements are far easier).

[kissTheSky]

1 hour ago, hsthhsth said:

I bought this last week, had the TM version before as VKB version wasn't availabe back in the days.

I use it for a VKB KG12 and a MCG stick.

The mount is in the middle of the Obutto r3Volution frame with a 50mm wooden block to move it a bit forward. Makes getting in&out the seat easier. When using the stick I only have to slide the seat forward.

For me this mount does require the 200mm extension which as an extra made the stick much more better to handle (fine movements are far easier).

Thanks!

It looks like it will fit the ticket. I received it last night but didn’t post because I wanted to install it first. The large turnbuckle to take it on/off will be a nice feature to switch the rig from flight to race (and vice versa), which was my main requirement. 
 

Slow shipping and very late response to inquiries from Obutto was a drag though.

[Donik]

would really love to see pictures of your rigs with the center mount on!

[kissTheSky]

24 minutes ago, Donik said:

would really love to see pictures of your rigs with the center mount on!

I hope to mount it tomorrow @Donik. I’ll post some photos.  

[kissTheSky]

OK, I installed the Obutto VKB mount to my profile rig. Before going into the photos, couple of impressions first. The mount is built of 2 separate pieces that consist of a bottom L-shaped piece that connects to your rig/cockpit, and an L-shaped top. “Pipe” sections of the top and bottom slide in together, bottom half acting like a sleeve to accept the top portion. You use the turnbuckle to tighten the two pieces together. 
 

I’ll keep this configuration for a while, but I may actually remove the 20 cm extension and return to side mounting the stick. The Con #2 below may prove more trouble than the mounting solution’s worth.

 

Cons:

- Build quality is marginal and hardware included do not really match (see the long M8 bolts). The turnbuckle, I don’t know what it’s called but I’m calling the piece that secures the top and bottom pieces “turnbuckle”, is not perpendicular to the bolt, which causes a noticeable wobble when you’re screwing/unscrewing the top piece. 
- There’s no alignment hole on the top piece, which causes the stick axis to be off parallel to the “plane’s centerline” if you’re not careful tightening the pieces together.

 

Pros:

- It makes attaching/removing the stick a 30 second job, which makes race-to-flight switch extremely easy. However, due to the Con item 2, I am wary that in time the pieces will get looser and will start rotating when in use. 
- Provides a bottom-to-top installation option rather than the more common desk mount options like the strong hold.

 

Without further ado, here are the photos. If you have any questions, I’ll try to answer the best I can. Installation is self explanatory. The biggest issues would be cable management and a secure hanging/storage solution for when stick is not in use.

 

Edit: I can’t seem to get the photos display as they’re displayed on the tablet, for what ever reason they’re rotated 

 

 

Edited February 27, 2022 by kissTheSky

[Panzerlang]

I've modified a GTTrack cockpit by putting in a floor plate to which I've mounted a Virpil stick setup, it works very nicely.



 

[kissTheSky]

2 hours ago, Hetzer-JG51 said:

I've modified a GTTrack cockpit by putting in a floor plate to which I've mounted a Virpil stick setup, it works very nicely.

Yeah, I could have done something like that with extra profile and it would’ve been perhaps better than the Obutto solution, but my main requirement was the ease of changing configurations that the stick would be solidly mounted and can be removed very easily. 
 

I think at some point I’ll build my own interpretation of this, as I really am not happy with the big difference in diameter between the bottom and top pieces. I feel they should have used pipes of closer diameters that you’d only use the screw as a fail safe. Like a bike seatpost. This has too much slack. At least 2-3 mms.

[Panzerlang]

1 hour ago, kissTheSky said:

Yeah, I could have done something like that with extra profile and it would’ve been perhaps better than the Obutto solution, but my main requirement was the ease of changing configurations that the stick would be solidly mounted and can be removed very easily. 
 

I think at some point I’ll build my own interpretation of this, as I really am not happy with the big difference in diameter between the bottom and top pieces. I feel they should have used pipes of closer diameters that you’d only use the screw as a fail safe. Like a bike seatpost. This has too much slack. At least 2-3 mms.

Maybe you could shim it with beer-can metal?

[hsthhsth]

I use a VKB 12KG stick for WWI, WWII and DCS MiG-15. The VKB MCG mainly for DCS MiG21. They both fit perfectly in the Obutto setup.

As posted before, I made a wooden block to move the Obutto mount 50mm forward.

Both VKB bases are mounted directly to the Obutto base mount, no need for the original base plate to be used.

 

50mm block.

KG12 in position when not used

 

.

KG12 in position when ready for use.

MCG ready for use.

 

[kissTheSky]

7 hours ago, Hetzer-JG51 said:

Maybe you could shim it with beer-can metal?

Not a bad idea if it was to stay attached permanently, but in my case I’d have to fumble with it all the time. I can (and probably will) see if a J&B weld type of epoxy would hold the shim(s) in place, before/until I drill and tap a screw hole if I want to stay with this configuration. 
 

7 hours ago, hsthhsth said:

I use a VKB 12KG stick for WWI, WWII and DCS MiG-15. The VKB MCG mainly for DCS MiG21. They both fit perfectly in the Obutto setup.

As posted before, I made a wooden block to move the Obutto mount 50mm forward.

Both VKB bases are mounted directly to the Obutto base mount, no need for the original base plate to be used.

 

50mm block.

KG12 in position when not used

 

.

KG12 in position when ready for use.

MCG ready for use.

 

I honestly didn’t feel I’d need an extra offset, but my seat is a bit set back on the profile base. I have a tight but comfortable fit where I don’t have to remove the steering wheel, and on extreme end of the pull range 20cm extension “just” pushes back on the foam of the seat. 
 

overall, I think it’s a good product falls just shy of being great. For instance, had they drilled pre set holes in the round metal of the top half, they’d have provided at least 3-4 height adjustments, and would have added great stability to the product. I do have a drill press, so more than likely I’ll drill and tap several holes on the pipe if I want to keep this configuration, but they really should have done it from stock. 

Edited February 27, 2022 by kissTheSky

[kissTheSky]

Another update after several hours of flying with the new configuration. 
 

Unless you crank on the tightening screw/turnbuckle, and I mean reallly crank on it, from time to time the whole thing tips right/left on the extreme ends of the roll cycles. The turnbuckle acts as a pivot and since the upper pipe diameter is 2-3 mm smaller than the bottom diameter, there’s a barely felt pivoting movement. 
 

Not an immersion killer, but noticeable none the less. 

[JG27_Arklight]

On 2/28/2022 at 6:28 AM, kissTheSky said:

Another update after several hours of flying with the new configuration. 
 

Unless you crank on the tightening screw/turnbuckle, and I mean reallly crank on it, from time to time the whole thing tips right/left on the extreme ends of the roll cycles. The turnbuckle acts as a pivot and since the upper pipe diameter is 2-3 mm smaller than the bottom diameter, there’s a barely felt pivoting movement. 
 

Not an immersion killer, but noticeable none the less. 

 

I just picked up one of these a few weeks ago and have the same issue. The tolerances of the fitting are nowhere near as exact as they are on the original Obutto Rev center mount. The mount portion you fit into the stick knuckle or whatever it's called is loose and seems to be able to "rattle" inside the seat mount. 

[kissTheSky]

Yeah. In the end it is an underwhelming product with unfulfilled potential. 

[JG27_Arklight]

56 minutes ago, kissTheSky said:

Yeah. In the end it is an underwhelming product with unfulfilled potential. 

 

Yeah, pretty disappointing, especially considering how on-point the actual R3V kit is itself. 

 

I also picked up a Stronghold VKB Long mount. The length is almost the same height as the Obutto center stick mount height when I attach it to my desk (I slide the front of my R3V under the desk and use the desk as a panel mount since it works better than the Obutto panel mount i was using before). A VKB with an extension would be too long, but without an extension it might just be the perfect height. The Stronghold is built like freaking fortress of solitude.

[J2_Steve]

Just skimmed through this thread. Surprised no one mentioned Monstertech. Especially as it uses Aluminium profile.

 

I currently use a GT race cockpit with their warthog centre mounts and throttle mounts. But next time I update a cockpit it will be using profile and Monstertech mounts

 

https://www.monster.tech/

[kissTheSky]

4 hours ago, J2_SteveF said:

Just skimmed through this thread. Surprised no one mentioned Monstertech. Especially as it uses Aluminium profile.

 

I currently use a GT race cockpit with their warthog centre mounts and throttle mounts. But next time I update a cockpit it will be using profile and Monstertech mounts

 

https://www.monster.tech/

My main requirement was that system I’d end up with was to be convertible from racing to flying in under a minute, which meant permanent mounting solutions were not suitable. 
 

Since I have steering wheel top and center, center mount for the stick would only be mounted from the bottom. 
 

This fits all the bills, only to fall short because of ridiculous tolerances. And it only costs $43 compared to what other mounting solutions cost.