New HOTAS inbound soon... someone talk me out of cheaping out, please! :)

[1Sascha]

Since all of my PC stuff is currently in storage in another city, and I'll be building a new gaming PC in the next couple of weeks anyway, I thought I'd also overhaul my input devices.

 

I need everything new (stick, throttle, pedals, headtracker) and have come up with two scenarios:

 

Stick: Virpil WarBRD grip and base

Pedals: Virpil Ace pedals or MFG Crosswinds (even factoring in shipping and taxes, the overall difference in price is literally less than 1 Euro). 

Throttle: Thrustmaster TWCS to keep cost down

Tracker: Delanclip wired (I had forgotten how insanely expensive TrackIR is in Europe)

 

Pedals + stick: ~ 670, with either the Virpil or the MFG pedals

Throttle: ~85

Tracker: ~100

 

Then I came across a 130 Euro deal for the whole Thrustmaster 16000-set (stick, pedals, throttle). Which means I could save almost 300 Euro by using the crappy TM throttle and pedals with the Virpil-stick.

 

WarBRD base+grip: 328 (incl tax/shipping)

TM set: 130

Tracker: ~100

 

 

Problem is: I've had bad experiences with TM's cheaper products since the days when they were an independent company and the pedals look super flimsy to me. Plus they don't use Hall-sensors which will probably mean maintenance down the road.

 

I won't be buying a new graphics-card in this insane market. But considering that I'll still have to dish out roughly 1300 to 1400 Euro for the new rig and monitor, saving 280 or 300 on peripherals looks mighty tempting.

 

So: Go with another "it'll do" solution or bite the bullet and go for a set of pedals that will probably outlast me?

 

Cheers

S.

 

[Chief_Mouser]

You may have trouble getting hold of Virpil stuff, they are in Belarus.

[von_Tom]

 

 

If you can justify (and afford) the cost, pay more but only buy once.  Otherwise you'll always feel dissatisfied with the TM elements and you'll get the itch to upgrade again.

 

VIRPIL and MFG resale value is usually higher too.

 

VIRPIL's EU site is still trading.

 

von Tom

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

I own Virpil and, regardless of the current events, would never buy their equipment again due to many problems.  Check out VBK.

[1Sascha]

9 minutes ago, VBF-12_Stick-95 said:

I own Virpil and, regardless of the current events, would never buy their equipment again due to many problems.

 

Could you elaborate on that?

[cardboard_killer]

1 hour ago, 1Sascha said:

Go with another "it'll do" solution or bite the bullet and go for a set of pedals that will probably outlast me?

 

If given the need to conserve money, I'd actually go for expensive pedals and save on the stick and throttle. Maybe it's just because that's how it worked out for me, but my $80 VKB Gladiator II and $50 (used) CH throttle sextant did me for a long time. Indeed, the main reason I just switched to the VKB gunfighter was mainly to use the 200mm extension (and because I sold off most of another hobby's stuff to fund it), not because I thought the Gladiator was failing me. And I'm still using the CH throttle without any HOTAS.

 

But, my Crosswinds . . . I cannot imagine going with a cheap substitute. However, as I've said elsewhere, I bought them used and if I had had to buy them new, I probably would have eschewed the toe breaks and gotten the VKB pedals instead to save money.

[1Sascha]

1 hour ago, cardboard_killer said:

But, my Crosswinds . . . I cannot imagine going with a cheap substitute. However, as I've said elsewhere, I bought them used and if I had had to buy them new, I probably would have eschewed the toe breaks and gotten the VKB pedals instead to save money.

 

That got me thinking... I am pretty picky when it comes to the feel of my sticks, but after having watched a review video on the VKB Gladiator, and then reading that the new version ("EVO"?) of that stick is about to hit their NL warehouse, this might actually be the better solution.

Gladiator + Crosswind + TM Throttle

That would be just over €500 with the option of reselling the stick if I don't like it.

 

I just wish I could get my hands on any of these sticks just for a few seconds to feel if I like the spring tension. I'm kinda picky that way and have been searching for something that, spring-tension-wise, is somewhere between an MS Sidewinder FF/FF2 and the old Thrustmaster FLCS Pro (F4-grip, all metal base... God, I'm showing my age :D). On video, the Gladiator's action looked like it could fit the bill, but ... ?

 

No way I'm getting around the crappy TM throttle, though. The Warthog would be another €250, the Virpil is over €400 and I wouldn't touch anything Saitek/Logitech with a 10 foot pole.

 

S.

[unlikely_spider]

8 minutes ago, 1Sascha said:

I just wish I could get my hands on any of these sticks just for a few seconds to feel if I like the spring tension.

Not sure about the other models, but my VKB NXT came with three sets of springs with different tensions.

 

Edit - maybe two sets. I don't remember. Either way, the stick feels very nice.

Edited February 28, 2022 by unlikely_spider