Is the Warthog HOTAS a sturdy one?

[harf4ng]

Hi,

 

So, with a 13 cm metal extension, in a home cockpit (obutto r3volution), is the stick still sturdy?

I have read that the plastic gimbal may break.

 

Also, on a forum someone said that "The stick is plagued by 'stiction'" (no idea of what it means). The same user on the same forum also says that "My Warthog HOTAS had stiction out-of-the-box and the throttle fell to bits...within the first 8 hours of use"

 

I currently own a X55 in an obutto r3volution cockpit, but I thought about buying a warthog hotas to replace it, with a 13 cm metal extension to have a longer stick (MFG makes those), and the obutto warthog mount system to hard mount it in my cockpit. Unsure if it worth the price though to switch from my X55 (which still works perfectly) to the warthog hotas.

 

Thanks

[Gladman]

I went from an X55 to a Warthog with a 10cm extension about a month ago. I've had no issues.

Stiction is refering to hard to move feeling the TM stick has. Its sensitive but it does require a certain amount of force to start moving. The extension eleviates that completely in my opinion.

To be honest, I'm very happy with the move. I really miss the amount of buttons on the X55 throttle but the stick is much more responsive and AA refueling as well as formation flying is easier because of it. The throttle also has a longer throw which allows for more accurate control. I'd suggest you would have the same success as myself. I'm not sorry I spent the money but it will take a bit to get used to the throttle.

[harf4ng]

Something I wonder... now that thrustmaster is also selling the stick and the throttle separately, don't you think I could keep the X55 throttle and just buy the stick?

Sure this will prevent me from selling my X55 though, as nobody will buy a X55 stick without the throttle...

 

You preferred your X55 throttle than the warthog one?

 

Thanks

 

(I also saw that thrustmaster designed a new mid range throttle sold separately, the FCW or something like that, with the new SMART technology, that could be useful to add new axis if we need so in a plane ^^)

[Gladman]

I see no reason the two systems wouldn't work together. They are independant USB connections.

 

I prefer the button on the X55. I prefer the movement and throw of the TM.

 

I haven't looked at the mid range throttle by TM. Seriously I'd just go all in and buy the Warthog.

[Sokol1_br]

(I also saw that thrustmaster designed a new mid range throttle sold separately, the FCW or something like that, with the new SMART technology, that could be useful to add new axis if we need so in a plane ^^)

 

Thrustmaster TWCS

 

A option if you are not looking for dual throttle and want spent less (80$).

 

> Mini-stick - instead the "lanky slew" with micro-hat cap in Warthog that some hate.

 

> Two extra axis - Warthog has one.

 

< No base buttons at all like in Warthog, X-55.

 

BTW - Their "SMART technology" is just a fancy name for... "drawer rail". :D

[Thadiun Okona]

Warthog is very sturdy, sounds like that guy had a lemon.

 

The sticktion is real, however with an extension you will not notice it for a long time, however eventually you want to open it up, clean out the old grease and cat hair and re-grease it with good grease, preferably something with serious damping properties like Nyogel 767a.

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=80787

 

Preventing dust from getting inside the gimbals will go a long way towards staving off the onset of sticktion though. https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=172588

 

When using an extension, you need to be very careful when tightening the shaft to the gimbals. If you put too much torque on it, there is a part called the 'articulation sphere' that will snap, and TM are weenies about replacing it however you can also just print a new one, because this has come up.

 

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4126577/all/My_Broken_TM_Warthog_Stick_Gim

 

Besides the articulation sphere, it's really hard to break one, though guys with force sensing setups sometimes snap the tailpiece, but that is under far greater loads than it ever sees on the stock gimbals.

[Braeden108]

I run a 35 cm extension, off a Logitech 3d pro gimbal, it's solid. So you'll be fine.

[Sokol1_br]

Botton line is:

 

Besides their know "issues: stiction, more force need for leave center position, blend X/Y axis force, hated slew control, broken articulation sphere, broken necks...

Warthog is the best HOTAS available for domestic simulation that one can buy.

 

;)

[Art-J]

..... and the infamous O-ring dislodging itself. Mine did after 2 years of heavy usage, however, forcing the first ever disassembly and sanding/regreasing done on that occasion, so not a bad result really.

 

It might not be a high-quality product inside, but either that "8 hours" guy had a really badly produced unit, or some crappy, 2nd hand refurbished one, or was just hamfisted idiot, as they're not THAT easy to break.

[FeistyLemur]

My O-ring fell out after about 3 weeks of normal use.

 

And mine is overall a nightmare for sticktion. I don't think it's the best of the bunch.

 

I get a few days use after redistributing grease on the slide poles and its grungy and jumpy again. And this is with a 10cm extension. God willing I'll get a higher end stick with cams soon.

[hansangb]

I've had zero issues. Well, there was one. When I was changing out the bottom plate, one of the cables connecting to one button came off. So again, innards could use a lot of upgrade. But over all, zero issues. I'd buy it again. Do I want a better gimbal, sure. Do I want better innards. Sure. Is there another stick with comparable plug-n-play for A10 and exterior build quality? No. So I'd buy it again.

[harf4ng]

Thanks. Maybe though I'll wait to get the mfg crosswinds pedals before changing my hotas, as the twist grip of the X55 is quite handy without pedals...

 

Or, can I use something on the stick or hotas to replace the rudder (for planes, not helicopters of course), while I wait for the mfg crosswind pedals to be ready?

Edited September 10, 2016 by harf4ng

[Gladman]

Maybe a hat switch could be used. I'm not sure about how you would go about it but it wouldn't be anywhere near as user friendly as rudder pedals. Especially those by MFG. I have a set and they are impressive.

[harf4ng]

I know I know... I ordered them in february but still waiting because the combat plates are not ready yet, and I don't want the "feet on plates" version :)

But considering maybe to get only the warthog stick, and keep the X55 throttle, as the advantage of the X55 is the more buttons/switches/rotaries, seems the X55 throttle has more possibilities than the warthog one.

 

For you, Gladman, who had both, how would you compare the two throttles? The warthog HOTAS is 400 € in france, and the stick alone only 250 €. So, 150 € less expensive...

 

For instance, flying the TF51-D I have setup the top rotary of the X55 throttle to be yaw trim, and bottom rottary to be rudder trim, looks a lot like the real plane this way :)

Edited September 10, 2016 by harf4ng

[Gladman]

Well here's the thing. My squad rarely does a mission that doesn't require AA refueling, formation flying and carrier traps so for me, the TM throttle in the end was the way to go. The length of the throw (overall travel length) of the TM is longer and therefore you have the ability to make smaller corrections and maintain better overall control during intensive activity.

 

Yes the X55 has more buttons and I do miss that but after a couple months you get used to it. I've never really been much of a P-51 guy but I will say that it is better overall for twitchy aircraft. (wait till you get your MFG's, oh my god the difference is insane). So yeah, you could setup your trims on the X55 easier but the TM does have one slidder you could use for that and maybe you could setup a hat switch for the other. Using the Target software, apparantly you can set a button to act the same as your three way switch on the X55. I haven't done it but the fellow I was talking to about it, I fly with on a regular basis so its for sure that it can be done. With that, you basically have the same abilities with the TM as the X55 with a different set of buttons.

 

I preached Saitek for years but I have to admit that the TM Warthog system is overall better and with some time you will grow to realize it.

[harf4ng]

Ouch you're trying to make me spend 150 more euros, damn :)

The thing I have to consider as well is I need enough buttons on my hotas because I fly with an htc vive therefore I need all important commands on the hotas as I cannot use the keyboard anymore...

Though I have noticed I rarely setup anything on all the x55 throttle switches...

[harf4ng]

In fact I think I will buy the whole thing. When I think about it, with virtual reality too many buttons is the best way to use the wrong switch. So better to less buttons :)

[Gladman]

I use a Rift and Voice Attack.

 

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/1523496/

[harf4ng]

Cannot use voice attack, my wife will kill me if I start talking to my computer in the middle of the night :)

[harf4ng]

So, I just bought the warthog, just bought also the obutto warthog mount (ouch, the shipping fees are about the same as the product itself ^^), and will wait for this to be put in my cockpit to decide which size of the warthog extension I'll get ^^

 

And so I'll try to sell my X55, and also my saitek TPM ^^

[Gladman]

Congrats. You're really going to love it.

[FeistyLemur]

Cannot use voice attack, my wife will kill me if I start talking to my computer in the middle of the night :)

 

Well, as long as it's only talking she shouldn't get too jealous.

 

Being in France, I recommend one of Sahaj's extenstions. Shipping from Poland to France shouldn't be too bad. http://warthog-extensions-by-sahaj.com/

 

His workmanship is nice. Aluminum turned on a lathe. Seemingly pricey, but it's in line for what you would expect to pay a machinist to make something like this. If you ever need factory parts Guillemot is right in France also, so that's beneficial.

Edited September 10, 2016 by FeistyLemur

[harf4ng]

I thought about buying the extensions from the maker of MFG crosswind pedals. Though I'll check sahaj as well.

 

MFG is cheaper though :)

http://mfg.simundza.com/blog/new-product-mfg-warthog-extensions/

Edited September 10, 2016 by harf4ng

[Gladman]

I bought mine from Sahaj. Good quality and you should ask him for a break on pricing. ;)

[Sokol1_br]

MFG is cheaper though :)

http://mfg.simundza.com/blog/new-product-mfg-warthog-extensions/

 

Good option, taking advantage of their introduction lower price - you can get two different sizes for the price one of "others". :thumbup:

 

They use CNC for thread and the rest is common to all, just aluminum tubes. ;)

Edited September 11, 2016 by Sokol1_br