Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: WpnX on October 01, 2017, 09:46:43 AM
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Just an FYI for those that are interested, the VKB MCG joystick is now available for pre-order at VKB North America. Got my order in yesterday but they won't ship for another month.
Elvis
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Ordered mine too. Annoying they've pushed shipping back from August to September to October to now November but from what I hear that's just how they roll! That said I've also heard I won't be disappointed with the quality of what arrives when it finally does. Looking forward to more of the same when their throttle gets further along in development.
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Ditto, picked up the pedals based on info WpnX passed, great product, my fav of the 4 pedals I have. Looking forward to their throttle someday too.
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ordered mine Sunday am first thing. love the vkb at the office. cant wait
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I ordered the KG12 too, for 45$ I figured it's worth it just to check it out. Also, for pre order you don't have to give credit card info or pay until they are in stock.
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I would hold off for the kg12 replica. The one the gunfighter comes with, which I think is the the 40 dollar one, is very light and feels cheap.
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I bought the gunfighter base only a few months ago when I saw the MCG-Pro coming "soon" hehe. That was more along the lines of the CH fighterstick I've been used to for so long. I saw the KG-12 as cool looking but far less functional than what I need the stick to do. So I put those dollars toward the MCG-Pro.
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What attribues are attractive about these products? Precision, build quality?
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What I wanted was something without pots. The gunfighter base is extremely well built. All metal gimbal and hall effect type sensors. So no pots to wear out or get dirty. Much higher resolution in movement too. Figure it'll be the last stick I ever have to buy.
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Oh and I'd add that it's very user configurable. Comes with many different spring sets and a set of guides with a different slope so that you can really tweak it as you'd like.
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Thank you. Is it important that they look 'realistic' (modelled on real versions) or is the feel more important?
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It happens the stick grip I'm buying, the MCG-Pro, is modeled after the Russian Flanker fighter stick. What it looks like means little to me. I'm not looking at it while I'm flying after all. I needed more buttons and hats as that's what I'm used to. And I'd rather have a few more than not enough. Saves typing!
Their system is modular. You can put different grips on their bases. There are extensions if you have a simpit. They have short production runs--they sell out quick! So I bought the gunfighter base a while back knowing this mcg grip was in the works. They're also planning left handed versions for you lefties and those that use two sticks for space sims. They have another grip in the works that's more space sim specific. And a new modular throttle system coming next year. Not a whole lot of info on that yet.
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what drano said and there customer service is a A+ top notch. probably the best I have seen in any industry in a while.
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Pre Ordered the Gunfighter with MCG PRO and MCG PRO for my Ver. 1 Gladiator Pro. Still not sure if I needed the Gunfighter but the Friction adjust seems like something neat to play around with. I did not like the handle that came with the Gladiator at first but once I got used to it, its pretty nice. I did break the plastic trigger but it came with a metal one (they know your gonna break it eventually). I was looking at this other Stick that is very similar to the MCG but has a more convenient adjust for Pitch and Roll. They also make a neat looking holder for the stick and throttle that way it can sit low. It has a cheaper price but not made for desktop use. Based on Modern Russian Fighter Jet Controls
https://virpil.com/en/shop/see-all/vpc-mangoost-50-grip-vpc
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I talked to the Virpil guy last week, as I wanted to pick up one of his T50 sticks to compared it to the VKB once it's out.
The problem with it for my use is the dimensions. It's designed only to be used in their elevator-type desk clamp deal, OR with a stick extension in a home cockpit. It's too high to use on your desk, as they had old pictures of a Warthog type plate you could mount the stick too, but when I spoke to him he said that didn't work out well, as the stick and box that holds the gimbal/control unit is just too high. Using it on a desk is pretty much impossible. So, be aware of that with the Virpil, you need to use their desk clamp deal or an extension and have it on the floor, both of which I don't like as I hate having my forearm and elbow hanging in the air or on an armrest, I prefer them on the desk a bit. Otherwise, from the 2 guys I know that have the T50, they've said it's so overbuilt it's almost like a warhammer. I'll post pics my friend took of it as he took at all the way apart as he's a firearm machinist himself, and wanted to see the workmanship. It's fantastic, best he's seen he said and the pics prove it, and he said it'll out live him, easily, and has it in his F4 home built cockpit.
You also have to buy the desk mount for the stick, and of course for your throttle as you can't have the stick on a mount and the throttle on the desk, as you'd have to sit at a 45 degree angle or so to reach both, heh. I'll link pics from their website of various cockpit setups, fantastic. Some various stick height options too. If I could fly with my arm/elbow/etc off the desk, I'd be using one of these in a flash. You can buy the stick to fit the WH base, but 1/2 the quality and precision, if not 9/10 really, comes from their base.
https://virpil.com/en/gallery
(http://i.imgur.com/vaHWl2Bh.jpg)
(https://virpil.com/images/blog/forums/MngsT-50_TMW0-50.jpg)
(https://virpil.com/images/stories/virtuemart/product/MT-50_Bracket_01.jpg)
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That looks so sturdy that you should quite easily build a forearm rest to be attached to that.
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The Thrustmaster Warthog stick mounts to the Base without any adapters. Every time I see a Warthog base it reminds me of how much time I spent trying to get the Sticktion issue fixed. 'Uggh'
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Looks like the new Gunfighter stick and some other things related to it are pushed back a month to Dec 1. Anyone who pre ordered will likely get the same email letter today. If you didn't pre order but were still waiting, this is the gist of it, and I can understand their reasons and am sticking with them still, especially after using their pedals over a year now, which are still my favs over 2 other custom and 3 factory pairs of pedals.
VKB HQ shared with me today that they are not going to make it in time for the shipping date of November 1 as initially envisioned.
The main reason is debugging the various different firmware elements for the multiple different MCG variants to be programmed, tested, and injected into the Printed Circuit Boards (PCB). This enormous task is slowing things down more than expected.
A word from VKB HQ:
"We are here to humbly offer our apologies to our loyal, trusting, devoted customers.The only reason we breach our promise is that we are determined to give you a product that works flawlessly. As you can see in the picture below, the grip is totally ready to be marketed - hardware wise. However, creating flesh out of mud is one thing, but blowing life into it is something different and this is what we are doing now. It is not going to take long, but it will still take some time.We work 15 hours a day, both our HQ and supporting engineers worldwide. Please don't give up on us, we're doing our best to hurry up."
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got the email today. maybe fortuitous to my upcoming plans :bolt:
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At least they're trying to make sure the I's are dotted and T's are crossed before sending them out. It's been an awful long wait but imagine how pissed you'd be after all that wait it was fubar out of the box.
Sigh. Is it December yet?
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That sums up how I feel - I hate waiting and delays, but I'm impressed that they are at least open about it, and tell their current and future customers the 411 on what's going on. Sure looks good, all this has done is make me want it more. I'll be checking the days to Dec1 too. It works out OK for me too, having ordered the Virpil stuff about 10 days ago, but they just emailed me 2 days ago informing me they had actually shipped it (maybe they needed to construct, not sure, but they are great with comms, I caught an error on their website and they were really greatful about pointing out the missing prices/sales buttons for one item). So, by the time it gets here, it'll give me a full month to wring the Virpil stick out, and be able to get a better impression of the differences with the VKB Gunfighter, which is quite similar to the T50 in a lot of ways.
Still - REALLY want a look at a more advanced version of the VKB throttle, and I hope we get that sooner than later.
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It works out OK for me too, having ordered the Virpil stuff about 10 days ago, but they just emailed me 2 days ago informing me they had actually shipped it (maybe they needed to construct, not sure, but they are great with comms, I caught an error on their website and they were really greatful about pointing out the missing prices/sales buttons for one item). So, by the time it gets here, it'll give me a full month to wring the Virpil stick out, and be able to get a better impression of the differences with the VKB Gunfighter, which is quite similar to the T50 in a lot of ways.
I'm still on the fence but leaning to staying with the VKB stick. I'll probably stop by the Virpil shop in Belarus next week since I'll be there anyway, hopefully they will have their latest T-50 there that I can take a look at.
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Wow, Belarus huh. Hope you enjoy your time, if you can get any pics of the Virpil stuff if they'll let you, maybe post some up here if you can, I'm sure I'm not the only one that'd be interested, very interested in seeing some inside pics. I'll have their T50 next week, and am going to support them as well as VKB/others, I was so impressed with their customer service with me and my order.
So, if you do get a chance to visit them, any intel would be appreciated, I bought their pedals based on your info and recommendation, and they instantly became my primary pedals for both AH and DCS/IL2/etc, pushing the Slaw and MFGs down the line.
My issue with probably preferring the VKB sight unseen with both the Gfighter and T50, is that their base is designed to be used on a table/desk top as well as other options, where as due to the height of the base/gimbal on the T50, you can't really use it on a desktop as it's just way too high. They have great options (for those unlike me who don't need their forearm/etc planted on the desk a bit for accuracy moving the stick) with those desk elevator clamps, plus the extensions from all the accounts I've read make the T50 a really great piece of kit for floor/cockpit mounts. I spoke with Virpil about this quite a bit, and there may be some future options for a desktop T50 or future project, just not anytime soon. Also seeing the pics/video of all the testing and R/D/Engineering Virpil did building their stuff surprised and impressed me.
I still wish there was a Western, as in USA or even up here, company that would get into this custom HOTAS business. A metal F22/F15/F16/F35/F18/etc choice of interchangeable sticks about the size of the CH sticks, a really great gimbal setup similar to the Russian/European stuff, and a similar throttle, and pedals. The extra $100 CDN and frequently $50 to $75 USD for shipping, then import/customs fees, is a place where a North American company would have instant advantage in terms of pricing, right out of the gate.
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dang got an email today saying they will not be available till march of 2018. really????????????????????
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dang got an email today saying they will not be available till march of 2018. really????????????????????
This is just for the complete Gladiator Pro Flippz. The MCG is still scheduled for December
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Yea that is gladiator only Flippz, I think the Gunfighter and MCG are still on for 1DEC. I ended up picking up the new Virpil T-50CM, base and desk mount from the VPC CEO while I was in the Baltics. I’ll give it a try when I get back home.
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yeah that's what I ordered wanted a whole one for the cockpit at the house. I have a rhino 56 now at the house and love my vkb at the office I want one for the house.
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Over at the ED forums the VKB rep said they are almost finished an F14 stick for the Gunfighter base. They were considering a Hornet stick too, but since TM is doing one and is well along with that, reading between the lines it sounded like a gentleman’s agreement to not cut each other’s throats. Great news IMO, a Tomcat stick to go with a new F14 sim. Wheeee.
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From what the VKB North American rep is saying on the ED forums, they aren't going to make their Dec 1 deadline - he said "perhaps in Dec of 2017, but not Dec 1 now, as we're having parts made in a large number of different locations". IMO it'll be 2018 based on what he's been saying.
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Yea that is gladiator only Flippz, I think the Gunfighter and MCG are still on for 1DEC. I ended up picking up the new Virpil T-50CM, base and desk mount from the VPC CEO while I was in the Baltics. I’ll give it a try when I get back home.
ordered the gun fighter with the mgc grip. after looking at measurement and heights I'm not sure the t-50 mongoose will be a good fit for the flight chair I have, and I'm not interested in modding it right now. plus again the customer service with out a doubt was over the top with VKB. not to say virpril is not but when you can fire an email off on Saturday evening at 5pm and get answer back less then 20 min later (which I expected to get a return email on Monday) you cant beat that!
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And it's official.
Dec 1 date is pushed to Dec 15th. I really hope they don't cook that date, as it's too close to Xmas, and they'll miss out on a lot of sales if they push it until 2018. I think they were surprised by the market, and how many of these things they've sold, which is a great 1st world problem to have.
Virpil and VKB have both been excellent to deal with. VKB when I got my pedals they'd actually sold out (this was the last version, not the latest ones which are a bit different), and the rep held the single demo pair they had for me, so I didn't have to wait 9 months for the new ones. Virpil has been great to deal with as well, really good shipping boxes for their gear as well, I was impressed with the care and materials used to encapsulate their products.
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Yeah I got the email too.
As "the Dude" would say... "that's a bummer, man!"
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