Pedals - VKB or Bauer or MFG

[FESS67]

Any experiences or recommendations please.

Price is not a factor, just wanting to upgrade.  Currently Saitek pro.

Cheers

[zack1234]

CH Pedals are good, look a bit dull

[Gman]

I don't have the Bauer, but I do have the VKB, MFG Xwind, and Slaw 109Cam custom pedals.  Any of the 3 are vastly better than the CH or Saitek Combat pedals I used before.

The Slaw/MFG/Bauer all cost fairly close to the same amount, while the VKB are much less expensive.  The VKB are nearly completely metal, same with the Slaw.   All have great construction and are very solid.

The MFG/Bauer/Slaw your feet will be slightly wider apart, and they all have pedals with brakes.  The VKB do not, but there is a software workaround if you want to go that route.

The VKB unit functions differently than the others, the heel stays planted and the pedal is pushed from the ankle, more of  a fine motor skill movement, while the others operate like most other pedals out there, the push is from the leg/knee/hip more, and it rotates the entire pedal platform on top of the base so to speak.  The VKB pedal is like pushing on a sewing machine pedal, best analogy I can come up with.  Some prefer one, some the other, IMO the VKB type movement allows for more precision and accuracy, again, due to the nature of it being a more fine motor skill part of the leg/body doing the moving.  YMMV.

Availability - Slaw, I waited 4 months.  MFG right now is the end of May as a best case estimate (add much more time in my experience with all the custom pedals, sticks, etc I've bought for the most part).  VKB pedals are actually in stock, around $250.

You can't go wrong with any of them, but expect to a: wait, and b: pay.  The VKB pedals are the simplest, but cost far less and are usually in stock.  The are very well built, a big chunk of metal on the floor, and in the 2 years I've had them have stood up extremely well.  The Slaw I like the next best, then the MFG in a close 3rd.  The MFG look the best if bling is a factor. 

Viripl is in partnership with Bauer right now, they are working on a new desktop gimbal/stick, and apparently pedals are in the works, so if it isn't an immediate thing, perhaps wait a month or two and see what they offer.

Since price isn't an issue, and if you prefer the Saitek type motion to the VKB, IMO you'll be happier with the MFG, Bauer, or Slaw over the VKB.  Slaw has a long waiting list right now, as does Bauer (I think, last time I checked anyway), and MFG again will be available in 6 to 8 weeks.  Used sets come up but get snapped up very fast, you have to check all the forums and online for sale places pretty much daily to go that route.

[FESS67]

Did not know the VKB motion was a hinged pedal.  Think I would prefer the more traditional motion but will seek out some review vids of the VKB to see if it is something I could work with.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Ack-Ack]

I have the MFG Crosswind and VKB T-Rudder Mk IV pedals and both are great.  IMO, in terms of performance in game, they are both the same and provide the same measure of accuracy in movement.  Frankly, I really can't tell (performance wise) the difference in game when using either pedals.  The only reason why I use the VKB pedals over my Crosswinds is the foot prints of the pedals themselves.  The Crosswinds are rather large in size, you need to some ample foot room under your desk for these pedals, foot space gets cramped if you're using a small computer desk.  With the smaller foot print, the VKB pedals fit under my small gaming desk a lot better than the Crosswinds, with enough space that I can move them out of the way when not using them. 

I do like the build of the VKB T-Rudder Mk IV over the MFG Crosswinds, it just feels and looks sturdier than the Crosswinds.  In either case, you won't go wrong with getting either of the pedals.  One ding though on the VKB pedals, no physical toe brakes, it has to be programmed through the VKB software which is nothing more than a convoluted POS software that is tough to use.

[Drano]

I'm about a year into a set of the MFG Crosswinds pedals. Really liking them a lot. I think they look the best of the better pedals too. They're very accurate, smooth and configurable in both the hardware and the software. There are several different cams available that have different curves that are either more or less aggressive or have a harder or softer center depending on your preference. Think it came with choice of two cams? Spring tension is easily adjusted with just your big toe! The angle of the toe brakes is also easily adjusted as you like. There are  tools provided with the pedals for making these adjustments which is a nice touch.

They sit a bit wide but that's fine with me. These are perfect for me. I went from CH to Saitek to these and the MFG's are the widest. I also have the room under my desk to accommodate the movement so that's not an issue. They have optional pedal spacers that can make them wider still if you need more room. While not all metal like the Slaw and VKB they're made of a fairly thick and tough composite material. Far better than the all plastic Saiteks they replaced! I think I'd have to throw them across the room to actually hurt them! Certainly nothing giving you a sense of fragility with these peds.

Only thing is while they have some weight to them, they're not heavy enough to stay put after some kicking around. No problem. They're actually constructed with holes in the base so you can anchor them to something. I snagged a 2 foot square scrap of plywood from work and screwed them into it. Problem solved.

Oh and last but certainly not least the service is first rate. I got several emails from the manufacturer updating me every step of the way from order to shipping and followed up after I'd had them a while to see how much I liked them. Nice guy to deal with. I don't remember exactly how long I waited but I want to say it was like a month or so from order to arrival. I waited the better part of a year to get a base and grip to make a full stick from VKB so that ain't bad! Like a lot of companies out there making these niche high end controllers they're a small operation so that's to be expected. Once shipped from, Croatia I think it was, they were here in a few days.

If you were looking for a new set of pedals I'd recommend these. But I'd say you couldn't go wrong with the others mentioned up the thread.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

[FESS67]

One of my poor habits is that I tend to rest my feet unevenly so often am applying unintended input to the rudder when I am intending to fly straight.  I have a dead zone to correct the issue but I find it hard to tell if my current pedals are centred.

How are they entering forces?  Is it obvious to you guys that your pedals are centred?

Cheers

[Ack-Ack]

How are they entering forces?  Is it obvious to you guys that your pedals are centred?

Cheers

Yes.

[Drano]

One of my poor habits is that I tend to rest my feet unevenly so often am applying unintended input to the rudder when I am intending to fly straight.  I have a dead zone to correct the issue but I find it hard to tell if my current pedals are centred.

How are they entering forces?  Is it obvious to you guys that your pedals are centred?

Cheers

On my Crosswinds I have the softer center cam installed with enough spring tension dialed in so the pedals come back to center nicely. I could dial in more tension and it'd center better still. Or I could swap out the cam to a more defined center one and it'd be even better if that's what I want. Personally, I like the softer center because I don't like the kind of "bump" you get going thru center one way or the other with the other cams.

I see what you're saying tho. Not to sidetrack but on my Gunfighter stick I have the same softer center cam installed with a medium set of springs and it does NOT always come back to dead center in both axii when simply letting go of the stick as it did with say my Fighterstick. It can make enabling the autopilots a PITA as that wants to be dead center to enable and then stay enabled. Might have to give it a jiggle to get it exactly centered but it will center. I could just as easily install the other cams on the Gunfighter with a more defined center but that comes back to my preference of having no "bump" going thru the center of the axis. I could dial in some deadband but--same thing.

[WpnX]

One of my poor habits is that I tend to rest my feet unevenly so often am applying unintended input to the rudder when I am intending to fly straight.  I have a dead zone to correct the issue but I find it hard to tell if my current pedals are centred.

How are they entering forces?  Is it obvious to you guys that your pedals are centred?

Cheers

Fess, with that in mind, I think you'll be better off with the VKB T-pedals. You can rest your heels unevenly on the base and it won't throw your yaw off at all. I've had a set of them for about 4 years now and love them.

[Gman]

Ditto, after you posted again Fess, I was going to say I have the exact same problem, with most pedals I had to dial in dead zones as well for that specific reason too.  The VKB pedals I don't even notice that now due to the nature of the way the pedals are built and work.  I got mine after WpnX told me about them, they are a gen behind the latest version but are essentially the same thing with a few cosmetic and other little changes.  They've been trouble free since then, and again, are the only ones in stock at the moment as well.

[FESS67]

Mmmm after watching vids and reading reviews VKB looks good.

But, reading all that stuff meant I saw sticks and gimbals and stuff.

Might go to Virpil T50 base and put my warthog stick on it.  Should be able to get away with it without getting thrown in the doghouse

Any experience with the Virpil base???

[WpnX]

I have the Virpil base with the T-50 stick. Had it for almost a year and I love it. It is a very different feel from the Warthog - softer, more precise feel, very smooth... and all metal construction inside and out for the base. You can adjust the cams and springs in it to give you a soft, medium, or hard center. I use it with the Virpil desk mount which I love as well. If you want it for a desktop setup, it will be a little taller than the Warthog but I think it may be ok in this setup with the Warthog stick since it is shorter than the T-50 stick. The base with T-50 was really designed to be mounted in a cockpit or with the desktop mount below the desktop level.

[SIK1]

I have the Virpil base, and stick and love it. The base is well made,very precise, and infinitely adjustable.

Virpil does clearly state that the T-50 is not made to be used as a desktop base, but has to be mounted. They do make a mount, or you could build your own. They are also about to release their WarBRD base that was developed together with Baur, and is designed to be used as a desktop unit.

 
Sik

[Gman]

I've got a couple T50s too - the T50 base is simply too high for desktop use IMO, I'll post some pics later comparing it to the WH/CH/etc sticks. They do have a new base coming for the T50 stick, the WarBrd which is a desktop unit, but it too will be higher than the Warthog still by a bit.

The desktop mounts from Virpil are great for the $, but you will be sitting a lot further back from your desk, making the keyboard/mouse a bit of a stretch unless you get a keyboard/mouse tray, I bought a clamp on one to use for when I'm using the T50 setup.  I have the VKB Gunfighter as well, similar to the T50 with small differences. 

Changing the cams is a bit of a PITA with the T50 due to the locktite being overdone and needing a lot of heating and screwing around to remove the screws without stripping them.  The stock cam isn't bad, probably the best for WW2 online gaming IMO due to the lightest center bump, but changing the springs to the lightest spring set is IMO a must.  The VKB Gunfighter I have left stock, and it's about the same as the T50 with the lightest springs installed. 

VKB just sold out of the Gunfighter yesterday, I grabbed another Mk2RevB MCG Pro, the last they had in stock.  Virpil takes about a month from the time you order until you receive their T50 typically, at least for the 2 I've bought, it's been the same time frame.  Great guys at Virpil, I had my 2nd stick arrive DOA, but it was just an internal connection that was a bit loose, they answered me within 2 hours of punching a support ticket anticipating a larger problem. 


I've tried both the Cougar and Warthog stick on the T50 base, they work great with any spring/cam combo, including the lightest spring setup I have installed in the T50s now.  The VKB stick you need an adapter to run the WH stick on their base, which you have to install into the WH grip, making it incompatible with the WH base after that, plus you need to replace the stock cam as the WH stick is too heavy for the stock cam and it'll flop around a bit with the standard springs installed.  If you plan on running a WH stick on one of the "new" bases, IMO the T50 Virpil base is the best option as you don't need an adapter or cam swap, so long as you don't mind the mounting solution.  If you really prefer desktop, I'd wait for the new Virpil WarBrd and stick you WH stick on that, assuming it'll be compatible, and I think that's likely.