Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Mister Fork on June 07, 2017, 03:42:00 PM

Title: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: Mister Fork on June 07, 2017, 03:42:00 PM
Does anyone here own a VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II (https://vkbcontrollers.com/?product=vkb-sim-gladiator)? 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.
Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: The Fugitive on June 07, 2017, 04:29:08 PM
There is a whole thread on it here.....

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,384415.0.html
Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: JimmyC on June 07, 2017, 10:53:43 PM
Got the Mk1
Very good stick imho
Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: Ack-Ack on June 08, 2017, 05:52:05 PM
Yes, VKB joysticks are good sticks.  I'm waiting for VKB-Sim MCG-PRO (https://vkbcontrollers.com/?product=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
Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: TerryRF on June 09, 2017, 06:29:18 AM
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.
Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: Drano on June 09, 2017, 09:23:09 AM
Yes, VKB joysticks are good sticks.  I'm waiting for VKB-Sim MCG-PRO (https://vkbcontrollers.com/?product=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!

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Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: flippz on June 12, 2017, 06:00:34 PM
best stick ever, I love mine highly recommend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: atlau on January 13, 2020, 07:11:43 PM
You still liking it? I see it listed on Amazon now.
Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: OldNitro on January 14, 2020, 08:47:51 AM
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..

Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: atlau on January 14, 2020, 11:26:53 AM
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?
Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: Drano on January 14, 2020, 11:37:22 AM
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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Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: OldNitro on January 14, 2020, 11:49:17 AM
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..
Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: Reschke on January 27, 2020, 02:20:52 PM
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.
Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: atlau on January 27, 2020, 09:08:50 PM
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.
Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: OldNitro on January 28, 2020, 08:49:27 AM
 :cheers: 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..
Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: atlau on January 28, 2020, 01:19:31 PM
:cheers: 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..

Is the 2 mode switch " hands on" or requires using your other hand?

Been looking at their higher end products but not sure I want to do that much coin
Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: OldNitro on January 29, 2020, 06:48:02 AM
Is the 2 mode switch " hands on" or requires using your other hand?

Been looking at their higher end products but not sure I want to do that much coin

The mode button in on the base, so I guess it isn't "Hands On"..
The stick grip itself is a copy of a genuine WW2 German grip..
So It's not gonna have all the buttons on the stick like the X52 dustbuster..
I paired mine with the X55 throttle, so I have more buttons switches and
rotaries than I need.. Don't even bother with the mode button..

The Glad Mk2 is kind of a mid range stick set up, VKB was supposed to
produce a matching throttle for it, but AFAIK, never did..
For as much as I play, this rig is perfect, durability is GTG so far..

But if I was thrashing it every day, like I did back in AH2 days, I would
fork the bucks for the badass top of the line VKB unit.. Back when I was
buying, VKB didn't have a twisty option for the Gunfighter, so it was a N/G..
I need a twisty because my knees are hammered.. Tried using rudder pedals
on a G940 setup, seems to particularly irritate my knee injuries..

I noticed Amazon now has the Glad in stock, with 2 day shipping..
I waited 3 months for mine..

Title: Re: VKB-Sim Gladiator Mk.II - good joystick?
Post by: Drano on January 29, 2020, 08:00:11 AM
I have the gunfighter with the MCG-Pro grip and it's super awesome. Likely the last stick I'll ever have to buy. You can now get a twisty version or convert the one you have to a twist.

As for the throttle? I was just looking in the software manual yesterday. It's so huge I have it in a binder! In there I have the concept drawing of the throttle from like a year and a half ago. They've put out about nothing since about it other than they're working on it. Since that time they've come out with the twist version, a space sim grip(left and right hand), their own desk mount system and electronics and cam upgrade kits for their sticks. So I'm not sure where the throttle is on their list but I'm still waiting!

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