Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: DREDIOCK on January 12, 2006, 12:40:12 AM

Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: DREDIOCK on January 12, 2006, 12:40:12 AM
Which is better and why?

Whats the differences between the two?

Which one  most resembles the old TM FCS stcks as far as size (XFighter in particular) for handgrip is concerned?

While Im not a particularly large man nor do I have large hands I find that the vast majority of sticks I see in say "Comp USA" and such the grip seems to be designed for the hand size of a 9 year old

Do either of these sticks fit in a full grown mans hand comforatbly?
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: DonULFonso on January 12, 2006, 01:52:02 AM
The only but essential difference between the FS and the CS is that the CS features 2 coolie-hats less than the FS and has simple buttons instead.

Both sticks are of the same size, and both will "fit in a full grown man's hand comfortably".
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: Callisto on January 12, 2006, 02:52:57 AM
The only diffrence is in the number of buttons.

I prefer combatstick.



Its got less buttons then Fighterstick (not a bad thing ). And for sure it wont feel small in your hand. I even think its tad too big.. That red button on top of the stick is pretty hard to reach.
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: Rooster on January 12, 2006, 07:58:00 AM
If you think you might spend any time in Jet Sims go with the FighterStick. The extra hats will come in handy. If your a 100% WW2 flightsim guy, the CombatStick will suffice.
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: DonULFonso on January 12, 2006, 09:39:44 AM
The size of the stick can't be too big - only your way of holding it may be wrong ;) : it is designed to be used in the "low grip", with your hand resting on the plate at the handle's base, to control all but the top coolie and thumb button - to control them, you are supposed to lift your hand into the "high grip". That's no design flaw but made on purpose - the USAF spent quite some time and mney to develop this ;) !
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: maddog on January 12, 2006, 11:31:39 AM
I have small hands and added some "foam"... The kind that you use on pipes to keep from freezing, on the base... Now hand is higher and reaching buttons is not an issue.....
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: Callisto on January 12, 2006, 12:08:04 PM
Quote
Originally posted by DonULFonso
The size of the stick can't be too big - only your way of holding it may be wrong ;) : it is designed to be used in the "low grip", with your hand resting on the plate at the handle's base, to control all but the top coolie and thumb button - to control them, you are supposed to lift your hand into the "high grip". That's no design flaw but made on purpose - the USAF spent quite some time and mney to develop this ;) !


Design Flaw or not.. that red button on top is still hard to reach.:D
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: DonULFonso on January 12, 2006, 01:40:46 PM
Nope: simply do what you're supposed to do and lift your hand into the "high grip" :p !
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: Callisto on January 12, 2006, 02:25:53 PM
Quote
Originally posted by DonULFonso
Nope: simply do what you're supposed to do and lift your hand into the "high grip" :p !


That messes up my aim :)

But you're right, it's a little  easier to reach it if you keep the stick low or inbetwee legs.
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: Pawz on January 13, 2006, 10:37:24 AM
Call where the hell have you been:huh
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: Callisto on January 13, 2006, 07:09:21 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Pawz
Call where the hell have you been:huh


Heeey Pawz!!  Im still here! didnt go anywhere, just having computer/connection issues and AH is uplayable for now.
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: Pawz on January 14, 2006, 05:57:22 AM
Do you know when everything will be up and running again?
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: DREDIOCK on January 14, 2006, 01:32:56 PM
Thank you all for your input.

I am finally after many years strongly considering retiring my old Thrustmaster XFighter.
Not that I am unhappy with it but because it is getting increacingly more difficult to get spare parts for it. the Hatswitch in particular seems to be the main thing that keeps going.

The big main spring in the base broke a long long time ago and IMO I like it better that way as the spring made the stick too stiff and other then some very minor spiking issues I sometimes get it has performed great for me.

 Designwise, its size and button layout and location is absolutely perfect for me. I just wish it had an 8 way hat instead of a 4.
Had it. I probably would never change sticks lol

But its time I think to move on as parts are getting harder to come by.

Getting a new stick will also afford me the opportunity to give a shot as somethign I've been wanting to try for a while.
And that is designing and creating my own custom stick using the XFighter overall design as my starting point. adding more buttons. better built with higher quality components etc.

anyway. should be an interesting project.

I'll probably be going with the combat stick which looks like it will suit my needs but still from what I can see looking at it could stand some improvements in design. (that reach to the top hat will probably be one of them)

anyway. thanks again for the input
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: Rolex on January 14, 2006, 08:13:32 PM
The 'problem' with the button reach is that the real stick is between your legs and low, not resting on a table like we have it.
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: Callisto on January 14, 2006, 10:39:23 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Pawz
Do you know when everything will be up and running again?


Everything should be working again in couple weeks... i hope.
Title: Fighterstick All The Way
Post by: FireOf59 on January 23, 2006, 08:08:45 PM
Put my hands on both at an EAA convention a few years back. I have small hands for a man, but the Fighterstick had many functions within easy reach. It gives more options that you may choose to use or not.
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: wrag on January 24, 2006, 06:39:55 AM
IMHO the fighterstick is the better of the 2 but it is more expensive.
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: DonULFonso on January 24, 2006, 08:59:42 AM
10 bucks or so if you look at the right spot...
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: rayzore on January 26, 2006, 07:50:57 PM
I didnt read all the post because they say pretty much the same.

sorry if I repeat this.

As a user of CHproducts for several years it is my UPMOST opinion that the

568COMBATSTICK is the best of all ch sticks.
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: DonULFonso on January 27, 2006, 12:31:52 AM
As a user of TM products ;) since a dozen years who's just recently migrated to CH Products' products (ouch :rolleyes: ) it is my utmost opinion that you NEVER can have enough, let alone "too many", buttons :p !

Thus I for one am happy with my Fighterstick that features the number of coolies that I'm used to :D and would never touch a Combatstick where I'd simply miss 'em.

The difference in the price is just too small to justify wrong stinginess, IMHO, especially if you take into account that you buy it once and then intend to keep it for a couple of years.

Plus, it usually is easier to get set-ups for the Fighterstick than for the Combatstick.
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: TequilaChaser on January 27, 2006, 06:10:23 AM
Quote
I'll probably be going with the combat stick which looks like it will suit my needs but still from what I can see looking at it could stand some improvements in design. (that reach to the top hat will probably be one of them)


Dred,

if you go with Combat Stick and Pro Throttle, I do believe if I remember correctly one of the stick's hats becomes 8-way capable............don't hold me to that though...( am thinking is the topside hat on top right , too)

thinking back to analog days , the PT allowed this, but stick along did not.......
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: rayzore on January 28, 2006, 03:24:25 AM
DonULFonso  you are right the fighter stick has more buttons
Title: Combat or fighterstick?
Post by: DonULFonso on January 28, 2006, 05:21:24 AM
Both the Combatstick as well as the Fighterstick feature a true 8-way POV-coolie - you don't need the Pro Throttle to 'activate' it (but the Pro Throttle features another 8-way POV-coolie).

BTW and FYI, the currently cheapest prices I could find are Combatstick 69$ / Fighterstick 88$ @ SecureMart (http://www.securemart.com/cgi-bin/future/resultskw.html?id=6py4NuJs).