WTB - Black Mamba Mk.III

[Etzu]

Hello,

 

I know it's a long shot, but if there's anyone out there not happy with their recent purchase of a Black Mamba Mk. III, send me a PM and maybe we can make a deal :)

 

Cheers,

Etzu

[FeistyLemur]

This is a product with obviously much greater demand than supply. I don't know why there aren't more high end joysticks being brought to market. You would think someone at Guillemot would be looking at this thing and scratching their chin by now.

[Etzu]

And do not worry, it will go to a loving home where the owner will cherish and care for it like it was his own.

[cichlidfan]

This is a product with obviously much greater demand than supply. I don't know why there aren't more high end joysticks being brought to market.

 

Greater demand than a very limited supply.

 

Based on the forum serial number thread, TM has only sold about 50,000 units of the Warthog, in over 5 years. That kind of volume is probably not sufficient to entice many vendors into that part of the market.

 

Racing/driving sims, on the other hand, being far more accessible than flight sims and therefor providing a larger potential market, have quite a variety of high end hardware available.

Edited March 16, 2016 by cichlidfan

[FeistyLemur]

Money is money. If you can make the product and make a profit at all, possibly increase the opinion of the company with enthusiasts who are more likely to evangelize your brand name, it seems like a good thing.

 

If over 1700 people in a fairly short timeframe are willing to wait 3 months to send 400 euros to a furniture maker from Croatia for a set of pedals I have to think thrustmaster could turn out a smooth reliable cam based joystick that at least makes money.

 

Or even an upgrade base for the warthog. If you made a warthog mk2 base that was cam based and really awesome, sold it as an upgrade as well as a full product just like they did with the Mamba, I think it would be worthwhile. I'd buy one in an instant.

[Sokol1_br]

The thing with Black Mamba seems (Defender) Cobra M-5 production has suspended or stopped - so they don't have grips to continue assembly this model.

 

The last minute "add-hoc" Vintage Mamba is due this.

 

Molds for grips cost considerable money, the KG-12B metal grip production has postponed due lack of funds to pay the necessary molds.

[FeistyLemur]

The thing with Black Mamba seems (Defender) Cobra M-5 production has suspended or stopped - so they don't have grips to continue assembly this model.

 

The last minute "add-hoc" Vintage Mamba is due this.

 

Molds for grips cost considerable money, the KG-12B metal grip production has postponed due lack of funds to pay the necessary molds.

 

This is really a shame because I like that sukhoi style grip and was pretty keen on some day getting one of those.

 

I can't wait for 3d metal printing to advance to the point where the home user can have affordable high resolution 3d metal printing. At least I hope it happens before I die.

[debolestis]

You can print it on services like Shapeways. They print in nylon or stainless steel, problem with grip is that it takes a lot of time to draw one, switches must be printed, knobs, electronics etc. But if you have something drawn it is easy and cheap today.

[FeistyLemur]

You can print it on services like Shapeways. They print in nylon or stainless steel, problem with grip is that it takes a lot of time to draw one, switches must be printed, knobs, electronics etc. But if you have something drawn it is easy and cheap today.

 

Doesn't really lend well to the creative process though like it would if you could metal print at home. Like if you wanted to build a whole stick and gimbal out of many parts and screw around with some trial and error, ordering parts from shapeways would be kind of time consuming.

 

It would be ideal to be a machinist with access to all the tools but then we're not all machinists at the end of the day.

[debolestis]

Yes, but planning is 99℅, with todays 3d software it is very easy. I really don't want 3d printer or cnc machine, I just need something printed from time to time.

[hegykc]

Money is money. If you can make the product and make a profit at all, possibly increase the opinion of the company with enthusiasts who are more likely to evangelize your brand name, it seems like a good thing.

 

If over 1700 people in a fairly short timeframe are willing to wait 3 months to send 400 euros to a furniture maker from Croatia for a set of pedals I have to think thrustmaster could turn out a smooth reliable cam based joystick that at least makes money.

 

Or even an upgrade base for the warthog. If you made a warthog mk2 base that was cam based and really awesome, sold it as an upgrade as well as a full product just like they did with the Mamba, I think it would be worthwhile. I'd buy one in an instant.

 

They just can't make money on these kind of volumes. 1700 might seem like a high number, but it's nothing to them. If they can't sell 100.000 units per year (it took 2 years for Milan to reach 1700), it won't happen. And today, because of the popularity of the racing community the numbers would have to be several times that to rival them. It's unfortunate but just the way it is.

Edited March 17, 2016 by hegykc

[FeistyLemur]

They just can't make money on these kind of volumes. 1700 might seem like a high number, but it's nothing to them. If they can't sell 100.000 units per year (it took 2 years for Milan to reach 1700), it won't happen. And today, because of the popularity of the racing community the numbers would have to be several times that to rival them. It's unfortunate but just the way it is.

 

I'm happy buying from niche manufacturers like Milan. I just wish it was possible to buy a mamba. Buying from Milan is easy and problem free. There's a small wait but he's always taking orders. If these things were attainable I'd order one in an instant. I'm really sad I missed the November preorder of the last bunch.

 

If they can sell for a profit per unit though, and sell 50k units like the warthog, then why not do it? I'd have to think they could make something like the mamba gimbal that sells at a profit and sell that many of them. There are more games than there have been in a long time that take advantage of a stick thanks to the likes of elite dangerous and star citizen creating an interest.

Edited March 17, 2016 by FeistyLemur

[Sokol1_br]

VKB say that are working in joystick specific for "space sim".

Edited March 17, 2016 by Sokol1_br

[cichlidfan]

 

If they can sell for a profit per unit though, and sell 50k units like the warthog, then why not do it?

 

The problem is that the profit per unit is limited by what the market will pay. The development and manufacturing setup costs must also be recovered and still provide a profit margin within a certain amount of time. 10k units per year is not enough to provide the return on investment in a timely fashion.

 

A very small company can be much more flexible with how they operate than a large firm especially when the small company has a complete alternative revenue source to pay the daily operating expenses (i.e. a full time job for the sole employee).

Edited March 17, 2016 by cichlidfan

[Sokol1_br]

Where/when did they announce this?

 

Not announced, mentioned in il-2 Sturmovik (Russian) forum.