Brand New Saitek X-52

[ROC]

Sometime last year my old reliable X-52 broke.  It wasn't the first time, but I had pretty much cleaned the connections as much as I could. She'd had it, it was done.
I pulled out my old Microsoft stick I keep on hand for the sake of having it, and sat it on the desk.
Christmas rolled around, and I was looking at the sticks thinking it's time to replace it.
I kept looking at it.  Then, thinking back to how much time I flew in the past several years, how much time I sat at the desk running scenarios but not flying, and how work was piling up, how a key staff member of mine had a devastating loss and set me back emotionally and created a drastic work load increase, I walked away from the new stick and kept looking at the old one just gathering dusk on the desk.
Then a while back, I knew, it was time to take a break.  I even unplugged the old backup Microsoft stick. I didn't know how long, didn't know when, or even if, I wanted to come and fly again, I didn't have any desire at all to "play".
So I worked, slept poorly, and kept working.  Then things started to level out, got duties moved around, helped a friend recover, and slowly moved back to not really normal, but at least a new normal.
Passed on the last scenario, might be the second scenario I've missed either working or flying in since the late 90s.  Honestly, didn't miss it, didn't think about it, didn't care.
Except, as it happens, the game still draws.  Or, probably more likely, the people in the game still draw.  So I am now the CO of the next scenario and just got my new X-52 today and plugging her in. 
Nice to be home again

Get ready to join the Scenario, either side, but I forgot that I needed to play for the sake of playing, and we all need to play.  Join up and let's get that Scenario blood boiling and have a fight, a great big drawn out no drama battle, because in the end, no one dies and it's one hell of a lot of fun.
http://electraforge.com/brooke/flightsims/scenarios/201606_BattleOfTheDnieper/banner3.png

[Molsman]

Glad ur back and all but your going to need more then a new stick to keep the Luftwaffe down

[ROC]

Glad ur back and all but your going to need more then a new stick to keep the Luftwaffe down

Already got that covered.  We brought 2 sticks 

[Chilli]

Roc,

I have a 7 minute magnet tweak for your X52.  Once done, you will want to marry it.....  Once you find the 3 x 12 mm magnets at your local Home Depot store, it literally takes about 7 minutes and a screw driver to do it.  It makes the response instant.  The other tweak that is great is the spring shim, made from the cover of old CD case.

http://youtu.be/-JGZSx7UaVU

The above link, was discovered and relayed to me by Bentnail. WOW! What a difference and way too easy and non invasive.

All I can say is that once I found suitable magnets:

According to these comments from others that tried it, you might have luck finding magnets like they did:

"I found these locally in the US at Home Depot, item number 07046HD"

"3x12mm magnets although they can be too "fat" for original magnets replacement...", it took me about 5 minutes to do and back to flying.

I am just very cautious, so it goes a lot quicker than that. Just watch the video and it is as easy as it looks. It does void your warranty for the stick, beware.





Disclaimer: (You might need to do both). I also did the spring mod using portion of an old CD case that holds the CD. I cut a slot in it so it would slide into place easily. Pull the spring down and insert. Release the spring and then you have no stick flop (takes all the sloppiness out of the joystick movement). Similar to this, except I used the actual CD case and trimmed it (already had easily snipped center portion.)

http://youtu.be/TYBvO2i0h24 

[Bruv119]

it is so refreshing to have a stick that you can put 100% faith into.   

I had some troubles with CH but now have something that delivers knock out blows with ease and precision.   

[Scca]

I miss my X52.  I heard a lot about CH, so I got it, now I hate it.  If I didn't have to upgrade my video card for AHIII, I would be getting my X52 back. 

[Kanth]

  Welcome back.   

Nice to be home again

[waystin2]

I love my X-52 and have used it since I started the game.  On my third stick in 9 years so averaging about 3+ years per setup.  Not bad for the amount of time I spend in game.

[Molsman]

i love my rhino 55 gave a squaddie my x52 so he could get a friend hooked on Aces high always used saitek products since the x45 then to my 52 when I came back never had problems with them at all

[FishBait]

When I bought my X-52 (which I purchased specifically for this game and this game alone), I figured I'd be replacing it in short order. Boy was I surprised! My first & only stick is still kicking! I did have to open her up once or twice to make a minor repair, but other that that it's been rock solid. It's a little sticky now - I really should replace it - but I want to see how long she'll go before dying completely. I keep hearing about this stick and that, but based on my experience, I don't see how anyone could go wrong w/ the Saitek. When this one dies I'll guy another just like it.

[DmonSlyr]

x52 was a great stick for me. I had mine for 8 years before the buttons started giving out. I read that they got bought out by Madcats in late 2007, so that's why the many built after that were having a lot of problems. It was a good stick for me.

I now use a CH stick and throttle, which are very smooth and seem to work well. The CH definitely has more buttons, but the way you could adjust the stick on the X52 was really nice. The CH stick is much bigger than it looks in the pictures. I do however, like how much sturdier the CH controls feel and there are definately enough buttons.

Any way, that scenario looks like it's a gonna be a lot of fun. Hopefully, I'll be able to participate. I've been flying the P51B a lot, so I might join the allies this time. But I'm not sure just yet!