VKB TECS Release - Finally ?

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, Drano said:

I made a metal base plate for my OG MkI, RevA Gunfighter. I have holes drilled in it so I can easily adjust the clutches from the bottom. The adjusting screws face downward on mine. I figured there had to be a better way than taking the thing apart, adjust, put back together, test, oops--that's too tight, take back apart, loosen, that's better. Yeah that got old real quick! Necessity is the mother of invention and all that! The base isn't going anywhere!

 

I'd updated mine to the MkIII PCB when that kit came out. I'll probably update again to MKIV if there's something in the kit to take care of the grip/gimbal connection to bring them both to the current standard. Mine being original equipment, has the pins facing up.

 

Innovative!

[1Sascha]

17 hours ago, Drano said:

I figured there had to be a better way than taking the thing apart, adjust, put back together, test, oops--that's too tight, take back apart, loosen, that's better.

Weeellll... once you found your preferred spring tension and adjusted the clutches accordingly, there's no real need to touch those screws again. At least not for me. 

However: I did have to adjust more than once because I threw in that 100mm extension at some point - so I went about the adjustment process a bit differently on my last attempt.

 

IMO, the best way to do it (without having to drill holes or otherwise mess with the base's construction) is what I alluded to further up - namely to remove the grip and dust-cover, then re-assemble everything minus the cover, then put the stick into your flying position, open the config-SW's test-tab and start setting the clutches until they're "in balance" with the springs. Then take off the grip, put the cover back on, re-assemble the rest and re-attach the grip.

 

I found that having the stick in my flying position and adjusting the clutches in tiny steps and constantly checking the axes' behavior between adjustments both in the VKB test-tab and for "feel" is the only way I could do this properly. Simply putting in "a bit more/less" clutch strength and then hoping for the best was what I tried initially - and it didn't work for me at all.

 

S.

Edited July 21, 2023 by 1Sascha

[kestrel79]

Do we know which throttle combo has the same dimensions as the Warthog?

[Grimnir]

On 7/18/2023 at 1:28 PM, dburne said:

Strange, in all the time I ran my Gunfighter Mk III  I never had a spring break.

 

Anyway glad to see some movement finally on the TECS throttle from VKB. I had decided they shelved the project and were just going to stick with the cheaper devices.

I finally gave up some time ago and got a Virpil CM3 Throttle. And then earlier this year got the Virpil base and Alpha Prime grip  and using it now rather than my Gunfighter Mk III.

 

So no real desire now on my end to invest in this new TECS throttle. I look forward to eventually seeing user reports on it.

 

The CM3 is amazing, I also bought it since I got tired waiting for the TECS. Don’t see myself buying a new throttle now for many years.

[JG7_X-Man]

Vipril is still the best purchase over all IMHO - If you want modern jet controls, you want to go with Winwing.

Edited August 3, 2023 by JG7_X-Man

[LukeFF]

27 minutes ago, Grimnir said:

The CM3 is amazing, I also bought it since I got tired waiting for the TECS. Don’t see myself buying a new throttle now for many years.

 

Still waiting on picking up a new throttle (hoping that Phase 2 of STECS brings something other than a modern jet design), but now that I have one of their control panels I can thoroughly recommend Virpil. The build quality is superb.

[BladeMeister]

13 minutes ago, LukeFF said:

 

Still waiting on picking up a new throttle (hoping that Phase 2 of STECS brings something other than a modern jet design), but now that I have one of their control panels I can thoroughly recommend Virpil. The build quality is superb.

Luke, Dude, ? does your left hand have eyes? CM3 for the win!!! Best throttle I have ever owned. I have the KA50 panel also and I am pretty sure both these pieces and my GFIII will outlast me.?

 

S!Blade<><

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, BladeMeister said:

Luke, Dude, ? does your left hand have eyes? CM3 for the win!!! Best throttle I have ever owned. I have the KA50 panel also and I am pretty sure both these pieces and my GFIII will outlast me.?

 

LOL I hear ya. ? I'm just doing like what I did with choosing a new control panel - seeing what VKB offers first before making a decision. When I saw that the panel coming with VKB's STECS is not really what I was after, it was then that I made the choice to buy the Virpil one. My current throttle is still serviceable (it's an old GVL224 unit from the Vegas convention a few years back), so I can wait and see what the mythical Phase 2 of STECS brings. 

[kissTheSky]

14 hours ago, BladeMeister said:

Luke, Dude, ? does your left hand have eyes? CM3 for the win!!! Best throttle I have ever owned. I have the KA50 panel also and I am pretty sure both these pieces and my GFIII will outlast me.?

 

S!Blade<><

What happened to your GVL Blade?

[BladeMeister]

1 hour ago, kissTheSky said:

What happened to your GVL Blade?

My GVL is my trim panel. It is still going strong and I use it along with my, shameless plug, Crosswinds and the rest every time I fly.  Lovin life, my Rig and my Hostas so I am good to go. Just need more time to enjoy them.

 

S!Blade<><

[spreckair]

On 8/3/2023 at 5:56 PM, LukeFF said:

so I can wait and see what the mythical Phase 2 of STECS brings

And that is the big question, isn't it?  Is Phase two the slider throttles with electronic detents?  And if so, how much more will they cost?  And why can't they let us know before we spend money on Phase 1? 

 

"Patience Luke."--Obi Wan Kenobi

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, spreckair said:

And that is the big question, isn't it?  Is Phase two the slider throttles with electronic detents?  And if so, how much more will they cost?  And why can't they let us know before we spend money on Phase 1? 

 

"Patience Luke."--Obi Wan Kenobi

 

Yes, there are a lot of unanswered questions right now.