How many axes does one need?

[Schwalberich]

I am currently planning in upgrading my trusty Saitek X52 Hotas to something new as it starts more and more to cause issues.

 

For the stick I ordered a VKB NXT EVO.

And now I am thinking on what to replace the throttle with.

 

The VKB GNX series looks quite promising together with its modular approach.

And therefore my question.

 

How many axes is the maximum one needs in this Sim?

 

When thinking about it I got about 6 for dual engine (2 throttle, 2 rpm, 2 mix)

Even the JU52 should be fine (3 throttle, 3 mix, no rpm as fixed props)

Single engine should be fine with 3.

Will 6 also be enough to fully utilize the P-47 with all its regulators?

 

If I calculated right 2 THQs with 3 axes each should be enough.

Does anyone have experience with those Throttles or what are you using for Multi Engine operations?

 

Best regards 

Edited August 24, 2022 by Schwalberich

[BOO]

The JU52 works fine with 2 thottles tbh due to its braking system.

 

if you are smart with the P47 you can manage it fine with a dual throttle and some thoughfull key binds.

 

Not sure RPM and mixture fully justifiy their own axis in this sim but each to their own and the immesion would be more for sure.

 

The THQ is fine but other more modern HOTAS type throttles have many more useful buttns for fuctions on hand. 

Edited August 24, 2022 by BOO

[Sokol1]

The two levers in the two upper modules can be axes too.  

 

[LukeFF]

Six should be plenty enough. Also, of course realize that with the new input profile system you don't need to try to jam every single input into one input profile.

[Charon]

Bear in mind that the Ju 52 has inlet cowl flaps and oil radiators as well as mixture.

 

Personally, I find that fully duplicate engine controls isn't worth the trouble. The engines just aren't modeled such that you would need to adjust mixture independently. I use 3 axes for throttle, 1 for mixture (all engines), 1 for inlet flaps (all engines), and 1 for oil radiators (all engines).

[Jaws2002]

12 hours ago, BOO said:

The JU52 works fine with 2 thottles tbh due to its braking system.

 

if you are smart with the P47 you can manage it fine with a dual throttle and some thoughfull key binds.

 

Not sure RPM and mixture fully justifiy their own axis in this sim but each to their own and the immesion would be more for sure.

 

The THQ is fine but other more modern HOTAS type throttles have many more useful buttns for fuctions on hand. 

 

Agree with Boo. VKB GNX is a very good throttle at it's price range, but once you start to add modules, the price comes close with higher end throttle units and those offer vastly superior ergonomics.

Sure the GNX looks closer to ww2 cockpits, but since I also play DCS and FS2020, I prefer the functionality of modern HOTAS. 

Winwing is a newer Chinese company and they make controllers with pretty much the same internal parts VKB is using and they have some decent options at good price.

Virpil throttle is outstanding, but it's quite a bit more pricy.

 

Also you don't need to put everything on axis. Buttons and hats work decent as well. 

 

Edited August 25, 2022 by Jaws2002

[Schwalberich]

Thank you all for your replies.

I primarily fly IL2 and MSFS.

 

As I am currently building a button box I would have more than double the buttons of the X52 when it's finished.

 

With your inputs it seems that 4 axes would also be enough for most of the time.

It seems most throttles have 2 or 3 axes.

Didn't know about WinWing, yet. The Orion seems to be pretty neat, but with shipping and customs it would be around 400€ and Virpil Mongoose about 500€

Which is currently out of budget

 

The VKB can be bought separately which would result in something about 250€

 

But I was not able to find something similar in that price range...

It seems like either cheap and bad or expensive and good. Not really in between.

[cardboard_killer]

I keep three. One for chopping wood; one for throwing contests; and one to circumcise trespassers. 

[BOO]

2 minutes ago, Schwalberich said:

Thank you all for your replies.

I primarily fly IL2 and MSFS.

 

As I am currently building a button box I would have more than double the buttons of the X52 when it's finished.

 

With your inputs it seems that 4 axes would also be enough for most of the time.

It seems most throttles have 2 or 3 axes.

Didn't know about WinWing, yet. The Orion seems to be pretty neat, but with shipping and customs it would be around 400€ and Virpil Mongoose about 500€

Which is currently out of budget

 

The VKB can be bought separately which would result in something about 250€

 

But I was not able to find something similar in that price range...

It seems like either cheap and bad or expensive and good. Not really in between.

I honestly think if you are balancing a budget 3 is enough. 2 throttles and mixture and mixture only for convienience)

 

For those "occasional" axis and even for those that are more regularily used, Ive grown up using skick/throttle buttons and SHIFT. Now the big caveat here is that I paid out for a warthog throttle and Virpil T50 so I am totally over buttoned for IL2 especially if I use modifiers and given Im surrounded by my living room and not WW2, im not an immersion freak. Im happy to fly a 109 with the stick out of an SU27 and throttle from an A10 :-).  A Warthog throttle can be picked up for under 300 euro new and even the trustmaster entry level T1600  throttle and stick (£129 for the set but you could ditch the stick))  is decent quality and would likley do all you needed it to.

 

Using somthing like Joy to Key, I can select a button as a modifier (SHIFT etc) for use on the T50s fold down trigger (or the ptt on the thumb button of the throttle) and have that modify a button on the throttle or stick as an "axis" button when depressed. In DCS the set up allows for modifier assignment in game but think IL2 still requires external assignment.  I could do the same with an individual analoge axis but the problem there is that the next time I touch it, whatever its main use it set will leap to that positiion (not an issue if assigning buttons). Not very realistic but than neither is using a hat on the skicj for adusting trim in a warbird.

 

Its all horses for courses and what YOU want to do. Personally, if I had the space I may consider additional axis as a luxury but I wouldnt pick the GNX over the additional functionality a hotas set up provides especially not in IL2 where those additional axis are not used very much.

 

I have about 3500 hours with IL2 now, another 4000 in DCS and about 4000 in CloD and I honestly cannot think of a time where I thought I needed more auxillary axis than my two throttles and the fuax tension lever on the warthog which is primarily reserved for mixture.  

 

[Vortice]

I currently have sixteen axes available across all my flight controllers. At the moment for IL2 I use just eight of them. Still it's always good to have spares IMO.

[[CPT]Crunch]

Brake lever axis on the stick.

Three dedicated trim wheels on a custom button box.

Two on Virpil throttle for oil and water rads, one for turbo, two throttles.

Three on throttle quad, two RPM, one mixture.

One unused spare on the throttle grip itself, an even dozen extra used, not counting the roll, pitch, independent wheel brakes, and rudder. ?

 

Edited August 26, 2022 by [CPT]Crunch