Fat Mamba MkIII is back!!!!

[Bourrinopathe]

They did list the base-only on their (Russian) pre-order website for a time but it's not available anymore.

The last units may have been sold with the Vintage Fat Black Mamba limited offer.

You might want to ask them directly (sales_en (at) vkb-sim.pro) but I won't be too optimistic.

 

Your best chance to order a metal gimbal would be to wait for the upcoming Gunfighter series (production scheduled for March). The modular design should include a Warthog stick adapter (I'm not sure there's an official confirmation though).

Edited January 31, 2016 by Bourrinopathe

[Sokol1_br]

Await the Gunfighter:

 

"Gunfighter (is) designed specifically for use with extension and heavy metal handles (like Warthog). (Is) reinforced to withstand a large load."

 

Good news about first VKB throttle - will not be another DèJa Vú F-something :harhar: throttle:

 

"The first model of the throttle will be stylized aircraft of WWII.

 

This is not a copy of the throttle. Design style close to the Fw-190 and Mustang." :thumbup:

Edited January 31, 2016 by Sokol1_br

[Bourrinopathe]

Eheh ;)

I'm pretty sure a bunch of us are also eagerly waiting for an almost-but-not-so-much-«déjà vu» Su-something throttle…

 

KG-12 + WWII throttle sounds really good for the WWII enthusiasts :thumbup:

And it's not like there's any similar devices around.

[Chivas]

The Vintage looks like a great stick, and would have ordered one if I wasn't going to do all my flying in VR. I won't see the Vintage look, while in VR, and will need all the easier to find extra switches on the Black Mamba with the new gimbal.

[rrohde]

People on the VKB forums are reporting that they have received their Mamba MkIIIs if they were part of that first batch that was shipped. Can't wait to get mine!

 

If you have yours already, post some pics! Especially interested in your custom engraving! :)

[Bourrinopathe]

Great!

 

I'd also like to know how that gimbal feels? What about the default cams (soft/hard center)?

Progressive resistance with the stick movement?

 

(also, as there's no installation guide yet, I've provided some very basic instructions w/ pictures >>> HERE <<<)

 

Have fun with your new surgical tools!

[Bourrinopathe]

One more thing I just learnt about the BM MkIII is that you can rotate (and lock) the grip to the left.

Yes, just like the one in our beloved Su-27! (and many other russian aircraft)

 

(old picture, but the angle is clearly visible)

 

If anyone has a link to an anatomical study or something about the center stick ergonomics, please do share!

(I know there are some interesting texts about the side-stick / center stick comparisons, but that's another subject)

Edited February 2, 2016 by Bourrinopathe

[rrohde]

One more thing I just learnt about the BM MkIII is that you can rotate (and lock) the grip to the left.

Yes, just like the one in our beloved Su-27! (and many other russian aircraft)

 

(old picture, but the angle is clearly visible)

 

If anyone has a link to an anatomical study or something about the center stick ergonomics, please do share!

(I know there are some interesting texts about the side-stick / center stick comparisons, but that's another subject)

 

Now *that* is pretty cool. So it can be a side-stick or a center-stick, depending on one's setup! Nice!

[Bourrinopathe]

Isn't it?

And I don't know why they didn't add that feature in the description…

It's impossible with the current MkII design because of a pin locking the grip aligned to the front.

MkIII > MkII - no doubt.

[Nash]

Well, they make adapters for the TM Warthog grip to work with the Mamba MkIII base, but you'd need to buy that Mamba first. Not sure if VKB sells the base without the grip in the first place...

 

I doubt if that gimbal assembly fits inside the Warthog stick base... from the pictures I have seen it looks larger than the Warthog stick base...:(

I would love to have one of these replace the original gimbal inside my Warthog...

not sure though if I would need to worry about modifying the electronics or not, am not very technically sound about it ...:doh:

 

But if anyone who has the technical knowhow and can guide us to replace the Warthog gimbal with this VKB metal one then I would be very obliged ... :helpsmilie:

 

Thoughts and opinions please ...

[Sokol1_br]

Nash,

 

You can't use VKB gimbal inside Warthog base, they are made for individual sensor in X, Y axis, not for "3D" integrated sensor like the Melexis used in Warthog.

 

What is possible - and people do - is use Warhog joy grip in Mamba base with VKB electronics and sensors:

 

https://flightsimcontrols.com/2013/10/black-mamba-and-tm-warthog-grip/

[Sokol1_br]

Attaching and twisting the grip:

 

 

One guy complaining that his Black Mamba is not... "black". :)

[Vampr]

They did list the base-only on their (Russian) pre-order website for a time but it's not available anymore.

The last units may have been sold with the Vintage Fat Black Mamba limited offer.

You might want to ask them directly (sales_en (at) vkb-sim.pro) but I won't be too optimistic.

 

Your best chance to order a metal gimbal would be to wait for the upcoming Gunfighter series (production scheduled for March). The modular design should include a Warthog stick adapter (I'm not sure there's an official confirmation though).

 

Thank you my friend, I'll keep an eye open for their release and make a decision when the time comes.:joystick:

[Nash]

Nash,

 

You can't use VKB gimbal inside Warthog base, they are made for individual sensor in X, Y axis, not for "3D" integrated sensor like the Melexis used in Warthog.

 

What is possible - and people do - is use Warhog joy grip in Mamba base with VKB electronics and sensors:

 

https://flightsimcontrols.com/2013/10/black-mamba-and-tm-warthog-grip/

 

Thanks Bro ... on second thoughts it would have been very difficult for me get the VKB gimbal shipped to India anyways ... Oh the trouble I went through to get my Warthog ...:disgust::disgust:

[pepin1234]

I see this Joy is more expensive than the other high end top Joystick in the market. This price worth it?

Edited February 5, 2016 by pepin1234

[rrohde]

I see this Joy is more expensive than the other high end top Joy in the market. This price worth it?

 

Check the all-metal gimbal in this VKB announcement here. That gimbal is rather unique, customizable (different cams, spring tensions), and should last a long time. All steel, baby! :thumbup:

[RFC Rudel]

I see this Joy is more expensive than the other high end top Joy in the market. This price worth it?

 

 

it not a joy is a modular system

 

http://dhrf01.wix.com/vkb-com-ar

[Sokol1_br]

Change the CAM

 

[pepin1234]

it not a joy is a modular system

 

http://dhrf01.wix.com/vkb-com-ar

 

The grip is anodized aluminum too?

[Socket7]

I see this Joy is more expensive than the other high end top Joystick in the market. This price worth it?

 

If you want to pay $160 for an adjustable metal gimbal. Yes. So far as I know, it's the only joystick on the market with such a feature. I have my doubts about if such engineering is really necessary, but it sure looks pretty, and with so many adjustments you'll have hours of fun tweaking it just the way you want it (I too get the urge to spend hours fiddling with stuff).

 

As a trade off, you lose quite a few buttons and the dual throttle the warthog has, but it does have a single throttle, and a twist grip rudder, so it's not the end of the world.

 

It's a bit like an Xtreme 3D pro on steroids with regards to its feature set. Pitch yaw and roll on the stick, a single throttle, buttons, and a single hat.

 

I think it's worth what you pay for it, and I think people who buy it will be quite happy with it, but a TM Warthog and a set of rudder pedals seems to be the most flexible setup for the largest number of aircraft.

[Sokol1_br]

The grip is anodized aluminum too?

 

Only the Knupplegriff KG12 for Gunfighter (both announced, not released) will be in metal.

 

But the Gunfighter accept the metal grips of Cougar and Warthog.

 

The Gladiator line use plastic grip, as the - out of production - Mambas, what borrow the plastic grip from Defender Cobra M-5.

 

 

Depends on commercial success or Gladiator line, in future can come other models of grip, maybe with "metal" option.

 

For now what matter, the gimbal, is in proper metal, steel and aluminum - not in door knobs metal like the Cougar. :thumbup:

[Lion13]

Game Trix ECS (engine control system) from VKB Europe

 

I bought a VKB Fat Black MAMBA MkIII, ordered in 11/2015 and received it in late 02/2016. Documentation for flashing firmware/Configuration for creating profiles are in Russian. They are working on English documentation.

 

I bought an Gametrix ECS (engine control sysdtem) , was originally a VKB product. It does not have a lot of buttons, but that's OK as I was always inadvertently pushing buttons on my throttle. It does have a friction adjustment for the throttle, which I really like,as it prev3nts throttle drift. It has a 3 Mode switch and is programmable but manual and software are difficult to get and would be in Russian. There are some Youtube videos in Russian.

 

Some Links:

 

VKB Europe https://flightsimcontrols.com/

[Bourrinopathe]

If you need some tips for the software, there are some answers in the official english forums. Not everything, but it will probably be fairly helpful.

 

About the ECS:

I recently ordered two of them (for a friend and myself) and I didn't bother about the details, but I was wondering if it uses the VKB Device Config software to configure the buttons and modes?

 

And about the throttle axis: is there any play between the two parts (handle and base), or is it steady?

[Kirin]

Anyone from Switzerland pre-ordered the Black Mamba? I did put up a pre-order in November. Didn't hear back yet. According to the given information Switzerland should have shipped with the non-EU batch.

 

VKB support did not respond to my query either. Getting a little worried.

 

 

Kirin out

[rrohde]

Not from Switzerland, but I am still waiting on mine as well. From what I understand, they are being produced in batches, with the first batch already done and shipped, then there was the Chinese New Year break, and next were the VKB T-Rudder Pedals MkIII (they sold out, and they needed new stock), and next up are our Mambas. From what I understand, a shipping announcement will drop soon on the official VKB forums. :thumbup: