VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?

[Mister Fork]

Does anyone here own a VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II? I'm thinking about ordering one when it becomes available later this month.  And at $100 - looks like a good price for a good joystick.  My current one is a SAITEK X-52 which is 10 years old. Still going strong but I'm getting spiking in my rudder when moving the joystick and I'm finding it challenging to be accurate when shooting.

[The Fugitive]

There is a whole thread on it here.....

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,384415.0.html

[JimmyC]

Got the Mk1
Very good stick imho

[Ack-Ack]

Yes, VKB joysticks are good sticks.  I'm waiting for VKB-Sim MCG-PRO to get out of pre-production so I can throw more money (I already have the T-Rudder Mk IV pedals) at them.

ack-ack

[TerryRF]

I don't have the Gladiator but I highly recommend VKB controllers.

My Saitek rudder peddles died and I replaced them with the VKB T-rudder pedals and they are great. I got the Gunfighter joystick to replace my CH stick and the difference in precision is amazing.

They are expensive but very well made.

                                Av8.

[Drano]

Yes, VKB joysticks are good sticks.  I'm waiting for VKB-Sim MCG-PRO to get out of pre-production so I can throw more money (I already have the T-Rudder Mk IV pedals) at them.

ack-ack

I have a gunfighter base due to be shipped next week. I'm all over that grip too the day it becomes available. Don't know how far off that might be but last update I got on the gunfighter says it was cleared for production so guessing a month or so?

Don't know what I'm gonna do staring at the base without a grip on it!

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[flippz]

best stick ever, I love mine highly recommend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[atlau]

You still liking it? I see it listed on Amazon now.

[OldNitro]

I have a Gladiator Mk2, matched with an X55 throttle.. I love it..
I also have an almost brand new X52 dustbuster stick/throttle that I never use..
The Gladiator is far superior..

Feels totally different from the X52.. Has separate Elevator and Aileron
gates in the mechanism that you can actually feel.. Far better than the no feel
central pogo stick spring.. The feel of the separate control gates, allowed me to
reduce the deadband, without unintentionally actuating aileron or elevator..

Has a great WW2 vibe to it as well..

[atlau]

I have a Gladiator Mk2, matched with an X55 throttle.. I love it..
I also have an almost brand new X52 dustbuster stick/throttle that I never use..
The Gladiator is far superior..

Feels totally different from the X52.. Has separate Elevator and Aileron
gates in the mechanism that you can actually feel.. Far better than the no feel
central pogo stick spring.. The feel of the separate control gates, allowed me to
reduce the deadband, without unintentionally actuating aileron or elevator..

Has a great WW2 vibe to it as well..

How long has it lasted so far? Just went thru my 3rd t16000 in about as many years (the rudder now spikes all over.. I tore it apart and putbut back together but there is still more slop in it than i consider acceptable). Do you feel like the 32 bit controller is more precise?

[Drano]

I can't speak for the innerds of the Gladiator but my Gunfighter is built like a tank. Pricey but idea was it'd be the last stick I'd ever have to buy. The smaller niche manufacturers like VKB and Virpil make good stuff where anything mass produced these days seems to get crappier and crappier.


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[OldNitro]

I've owned it since early 17.. I only use it a few months in winter, so I'd say cumulative use is about 6mo or so.. Hours, I honestly don't know.. When I got it, I thought about keeping a log, but I didn't.. Still works perfectly tho..

Never had a Thrustmaster.. But back in AH2 days, I used the good ole X3dPro, lasted about 6 months, then get another.. Got so I just kept a couple new spares on hand, LOL! Buy em 3 at a time at Bestbuy.. But it was a good beginner stick that didn't cost too much.. For that purpose, I think it is still good..

I'll say this, the $100 bucks for the Gladiator, and another $100 for a refurbed X55 throttle, was well worth it.. Even tho I was using a brand new X52, which I still have..

[Reschke]

VKB and Virpil both make good products but you do have to wait on delivery time. I still love my Warthog after all the years I have had it without anything major other than needing to flash the firmware and hoping I didn't brick it. I just bought a set of Thrustmaster TPR pedals to get back into playing flight sims and I went back and forth on the TM pedals as opposed to the ones from VKB and Virpil. I ended up with TM due to availability and the sheer volume of good words that people have said about how they feel.

[atlau]

I ended up getting a replacement t16000... so in 6 months I'll be looking for a new joystick

But seriously if the gladiator had a few more buttons mapped on it it seems like it would be the best value out there. 32 bit controller and magnetic potentiometers in all 3 axes.

[OldNitro]

  Sure, always easier to "Stick" with what you know..
Plugs right in, no remapping of controls, no learning the feel of a new stick..

Oh also, the Glad Mk2 has a 2 mode switch, that allows you to double up all the buttons..
In case ya didn't know..