Warthog or X-55 Rhino or CH Fighterstick?

[Raven_Morpheus]

Hey all

 

I may be starting a new job soon and thus may have some £ spare to spend on some flight sim equipment.

 

So I'm thinking of "upgrading" my HOTAS.

 

Currently I have a Saitek X-52 Pro, I am not convinced it's all that good after a year or two using it, for example I find it (or I cause it) jerks in it's movement sometimes, for example I can be pulling back on it and all of a sudden I see the diamond on the controls indicator go straight down to the bottom!! Also it's generally not all that smooth when trying to get past the centre point. I tried the magnet mod and that actually made the stick hyper sensitive and nothing I've tried (and I've tried lots of solutions) resolves the "sticktion" around centre.

 

However I do like the amount of buttons and programmability of the X-52 Pro (and it's predecessor the X-45).

 

I'd like to either get a Thrustmaster Warthog or a Saitek X-55 Rhino to completely replace the X-52 Pro, or a CH Fighterstick to replace the joystick.

 

I mainly fly helicopters in DCS, especially the Huey, and I also fly planes in IL2 1946 and Cliffs of Dover.

 

I also don't have rudder pedals (I sold my Saitek Pro Flight ones, too big for me for where and how I was sitting, long story) but if I can build a stand for my stick that I can fold up and put away after use I may go back to using pedals, so I need to consider lack of pedals for the moment...

 

So, advice please?

 

TIA

[drcarnage52]

I'm selling my X55 to get a warthog purely so I can fit extensions making helicopter flying much easier and realistic

[7rooper]

You can attach an extension to a X-55 as well. It's a little bit trickier but the green spring is strong enough to return the shaft back to the center unlike the Warthog.

The thing is if you don't have enough money to afford a warthog and don't mind to have a HOTAS that isn't modelled after any specific aircraft

[Sokol1_br]

You can buy only the Warthog stick for a little more than X-55, and if the X-52 throttle still OK, use both as HOTAS, but will need pedals.

[Joni]

Hi Raven!

 

The X-55 is a nicer and more complete HOTAS, BUT... as we all know Saitek's quality is veeeery poor (dont get me wrong, i love Saitek and have myself an X-52 Pro) and quite the opposite CH products are top quality.

 

So it is based on your needs and budget.

 

 

Hope this helps!

[javelina1]

I'm selling my X55 to get a warthog purely so I can fit extensions making helicopter flying much easier and realistic

 

I'm using a 120mm and it works great for both the Huey and WWII DCS birds.

[javelina1]

OP - I made the leap from a modded X52 (magnet & tensioner), to the WH. Wish I would've done it so much sooner. The X52 feels like a limp toy now. So much more precision with the WH. But, you get what you pay for.

 

You can't go wrong with either the WH or CH. Both are quality setups.

[TomOnSteam]

Warthog all the way if you already have a trackIR. If not, I think I'd be getting a CH stick and then getting a trackIR as well, and a really good set of rudder pedals since you fly helicopters.

 

You just can't get the full DCS experience until you use a 6 DOF head tracker, and you saitek or CH pedals aren't accurate enough for choppers :)

 

Going by this review I've heard Komodo Sim AT pedals are a way to go: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=142565

 

I'm eyeing them off myself actually! I play a lot, and while they are twice the cost of saitek/ch pedals, I figure I will get the value out of them over a 10 year period. If it makes flying enjoyable instead of fighting poor pedals.

Edited July 18, 2015 by TomOnSteam

[Joni]

Also if you get the TM you'll need pedals cause it doesnt have twist. The X55 will give you the same troubles after one year, its low quality. I dont know if the CH comes with rudder twist.

[Gladman]

I've had the x55 setup for 2 years now. Not one issue with the hardware.

[Joni]

and ive had my x52 pro for more and also no isues... thats not the point. the thing with low quality standards is that not every unit is the same, you can get a very poor unit or a very good one, its random.

 

but TM and CH has all units built the exact same way by standards, that ensures that no matter if you buy it on china, germany, US, UK, mars or pluto, they will all be the same quality.