Top Jockey

Hello, I've bought my TM F18 grip 2 years ago, with the TM HOTAS magnetic base (10th anniversary edition). The grip itself is working fine in all buttons, switches, etc, with somewhat 'regular' use along these 2 years. I've chosen that grip over the F-16's because I find the F18's grip much more interesting to my likes. What didn't cause the best impression, was the HOTAS magnetic base, with only 'regular' (not very frequent use) nearing 2 years it started to get wobbly because of a dented internal rubber o-ring... thanks to poor factory grease. Although this isn't Virpil price range, TM stuff isn't exactly cheap either in my country. Concluding, I'm satisfied with the F18 grip (so far), providing it has better quality than the HOTAS base. https://forum.dcs.world/topic/310375-tm-hotas-magnetic-base-dented-o-ring/

Hello Wags, BIGNEWY, NineLine, Yesterday I've posted at the thread below - regarding the SPOT / SCAN function for the AIM-9 in the F-16C. (As there are no news on this for quite some time.) As I recall : - I've written in a corteous and polite manner - used the already existing thread at the 'wishlist' - even when others sometimes suggest, it should instead be in the 'bug section' - not so much to your liking https://forum.dcs.world/topic/297187-f-16c-spot-scan-functions-for-aim-9-missile/ ... however, in a not so polite maner, my specific post was deleted in complete silence, without any explanation. So, as a long time loyal customer of yours, I ask: what was the issue ? Best regards, Pedro

I've read it, so far it makes sense for me also - the extra thrust was always welcome in ACM, no doubt there. What else is new ?

That's also a pertinent question. However for the F-14B variant, I didn't yet come across specific comparison info with the Hornet so far.

It's funny, as some time ago I've also posted that very same info here. ... and predictably, some people readily started devaluing it. My source: "Modern Military Aicraft, HORNET" Lou Drendel, Squadron / Signal publications page 17 (last paragraph) For much that the F-14 Tomcat might be my favourite jet (for several reasons), people also must realize that it isn't the "be all and end all" in a dogfight.

Not exactly ... Which fuel grade are you guys selecting at mission editor ?

Not sure (if I understood well), if he was asking a special price for lower income countries, and an higher inflated price for the others. I think he suggested a common, equal and same, slightly lower price... for eveyone.

Oh I see. Was thinking if it could be some kind of 'easter eggs' or something. (Because, having 1500+ Carrier Landings between the F-14 A and B, and being myself the very best F-14 Pilot in the world, it would be impossible for me to do such a poor landing and all...)

Could anyone enlighten me in the following, please. - With the last patch, when doing a Case 1 Carrier Landing with the F-14 ; - if I land with a little bit more of vertical speed than recommended ; - I do receive the message : " Forrestal damaged 1 % " ... seems pointless to me, the F-14 itself wasn't damaged in any way in that landing; how could the Carrier be damaged at 1 % ??

... and I thought it was the F-14 Tomcat.

Hello everyone, As the title says, thank you ED for the improvements to the A.I. jets flight model ! The logic is much better and realistic now, angles & energy fight, etc. Being myself essentially a single player kind of user, this realy made ACM against several different jets considerably more immersive and therefore, interesting. Also, nice touch now adding the Magnetic heading and True Heading, (and in different colours) at the bottom screen info bar. However, I just got surprised when landing my F-14 at the CV-59, when I got the following message : " Forrestal damaged 1 % " And with 1500+ Carrier Landings, I thought I was the best F-14 pilot in the world ?

Not sure if I got your question right, but : - if we are talking about the bank angle slowly changing / and difficulty to keep the F-14 perfectly leveled ; In my case it was a dented and severely worn out rubber o-ring, inside my HOTAS Magnetic Base. The dented rubber o-ring, caused the gimbals to (slightly) not allign perfectly, allowing the grip a slight right side tilt in neutral position. And therefore the HALL sensors detected that misalignment - as they are supposed to do. Have you tried adding a small dead zone in Axis Tune options ?

Hello again. Just a follow up on the situation: - this week received the PTFE rings, thank you @Hempstead, which I'll be installing briefly and try; - also I've been exchanging emails with the TH support ... to which after provinding them photos, magnetic base serial number and invoice, they've sent me a complete pressure plate / disc with the original rubber-o-ring, because "they come togheter", and I was under warranty. Not that I needed it, as I'll be using the PTFE ring, but for an expensive product, I wanted to send the message that their costumers do need support for some less quality parts.

I've just received an email from them, and guess what, the 'acquisition proccess' still works the same fashion today. There's no stock; one does the order (pay) and will be placed in the order queue. The time they said, was 2 to 3 week from order placement to (this part wasn't clear) : - manufacture of the product ? - or deliver at my door ? Eitherway it is not an urgent buy, is more the wish of having a durable product ... no plastic gimbal spheres and the such.

N Not very encouraging news indeed. - the inputs not registering might be a software issue, or bad contact at the switches / buttons ? - the manufacturer not responding, doesn't impress very well also... I'm looking at a VPC WarBRD Base eventually, as I have the idea that Virpil products are durable, but this kind of feedback do raise some concerns with me.

Hello @BuzzU, Allow my curiosity, why were you fed up with Virpil and VKB at the time ? Because of their slow availability / order / delivery times ? The reason why I ask, is because I'm coming to terms that eventually I'll have to buy a Virpil base, or something that durable. As I'm begining to see that my 2 year old Thrustmaster Hotas Magnetic Base is showing its fragility : - so far it's just an internal rubber O-ring which got out of place and got dented; - but from what I've been reading here, eventually I might have gimbal sphere problems ... as supposedly they are not that much resilient to long term use.

Yep, forget about it ... didn't last 24 hours. - the piece of garbage OEM rubber o-ring got out of place again; - ok, it was slightly dented (I've seen much worst on photos at the forum), but I greased it generously and thought that could hold it in place for a while; - played a few hours yesterday at nights start, and today a mere hour; ... until the rubber o-ring got out of its place again causing the respective loss of strenght in center position, and less resistance in several directions. Not going to use it in these conditions, will wait for the PTFE ring. Even the cheaper, 'entrance level' TopGun Afterburner lasted 17 years without giving any headache. (The only thing that stopped me from going to a Virpil when I bought this, was their prices: Base + Grip, and absurd order / waiting list.)

Hello again, So, after greasing the interiors / moving parts / gimbal / etc. of the magnetic base, all was assembled again. ( It was the first time I ever did any maintenance in a joystick. ) However it barely has 2 years yet, and even bearing in mind that Thrustmaster joystick isn't a Virpil or VKB, I still wasn't expecting a product of this level / range to be so failure prone, i.e. poor lube, weak rubber O-rings from factory. Results: - it is early to know if the lube "Ultimate racing shock oil silicone 15.000" will keep the dented O-ring in its place; ( In Portugal, stuff like "Nyogel" aren't exactly around the corner.) - however... because the O-ring was a little bit dented, it causes a very slight uncommanded displacement on the grip to the right side.

Again, me also.

Hello again @Hempstead, I've sent you a PM already. All the best.

By 'slippery' I take it is somewhat like: self-lubricant plastic ? But even so, wouldn't it be of big friction between the 2 plastic parts ?

Very good. Didn't know the PTFE material until talking with Hempstead yesterday, but is it a flexible material like the original rubber O-ring, or is it of stiff consistence / inflexible ?

Hello @Svend_Dellepude, Also thought about it - leaving it without the dented O-ring, re-grease all the physical parts with silicon lube, and assemble everything. My doubt is: - being the 2 parts (gimbal rim and the main spring disc) both in plastic, wouldn't that couse damaging friction / wear in the long run ?

Will do right away.

Hello everyone, After roughly 2 years of medium use, my Hotas Magnetic Base started to give a wobbling, weak resistance feeling to the stick when pulling aft. After careful disassembly of the base cilinder, noticed that the 2.5 inch dameter O-ring which sits between the top of the plastic gimbal rim, and below the main spring disc, was: - getting out of its place (coming up) - twisted - slightly dented. (I suppose the poor-quality lube it has from factory got too sticky, and stopped doing its work.) My doubt is: - is this O-ring specific measures easy to find at any place (I live in Portugal) ? - or, do I have necessarily to ask Thrustmaster for one ? Thank you.