Weapon selection

[captain_dalan]

Hello Heatblur!

 

Another thread from me tonight. This one's about trigger mapping. I am close to getting my new HOTAS and i am already starting to draw new ways of mapping commands to the different buttons, hats and switches. So, if this isn't an issue, how do you plan on implementing the weapon selector on the stick? Will each of the selection options map to separate keys-inputs or will it be like on the stick itself, cycling up or down?

 

I.E. current switch position OFF, one up - guns, another up - Sidewinders. another up - Sparrows/Phoenix, two down - Guns?

 

Or, 1 - OFF, 2 - Guns, 3 - Sidewinders..... etc....

 

Safe flying and clear skies mates! :pilotfly:

[Donut]

Hello Heatblur!

 

Another thread from me tonight. This one's about trigger mapping. I am close to getting my new HOTAS and i am already starting to draw new ways of mapping commands to the different buttons, hats and switches. So, if this isn't an issue, how do you plan on implementing the weapon selector on the stick? Will each of the selection options map to separate keys-inputs or will it be like on the stick itself, cycling up or down?

 

I.E. current switch position OFF, one up - guns, another up - Sidewinders. another up - Sparrows/Phoenix, two down - Guns?

 

Or, 1 - OFF, 2 - Guns, 3 - Sidewinders..... etc....

 

Safe flying and clear skies mates! :pilotfly:

 

Great question! I have been wondering the same thing. I do not know of any current HOTAS that would exactly replicate the weapon selection switch of the F-14 stick. A 4-way hat switch could work with something like down=OFF, right=GUN, left=SW, and up=SP/PH

Edited September 20, 2017 by =BJM=

[Cobra847]

You will map a seperate button to switch between Phoenix and Sparrow when the selector is in the PH/SP mode. You push the selector button in reality.

So, when you're in the SP/PH position, you push this button and that toggles between SP and PH.

 

Otherwise it just works as a standard up/down incremental switch.

[Donut]

You will map a seperate button to switch between Phoenix and Sparrow when the selector is in the PH/SP mode. You push the selector button in reality.

So, when you're in the SP/PH position, you push this button and that toggles between SP and PH.

 

Otherwise it just works as a standard up/down incremental switch.

 

Thank you for the info! I didn't know that about button for the SP/PH position. So, with a 4-way hat switch you could use up/down to switch between modes and use either right or left to serve as the button toggle for SP/PH.

[VampireNZ]

I believe the new VKB Gunfighter Pro will come with toggle switches that also have press functionality, which will work perfectly for this function.

[VZ_342]

"Too close, switching to guns"

 

*flicks switch on joystick*

 

Just curious, that's a favorite line from an obscure movie...is that accurate?

[captain_dalan]

You will map a seperate button to switch between Phoenix and Sparrow when the selector is in the PH/SP mode. You push the selector button in reality.

So, when you're in the SP/PH position, you push this button and that toggles between SP and PH.

 

Otherwise it just works as a standard up/down incremental switch.

 

Thanks Cobra! :thumbup:

My new stick just arrived today and not a moment too soon. Now just a few more days and the new throttle should be here as well :joystick:

 

I have the perfect idea of how to map one of the 4-ways now. Up and Down for the incremental switch and right for the PH/SP command.

 

Great question! I have been wondering the same thing. I do not know of any current HOTAS that would exactly replicate the weapon selection switch of the F-14 stick. A 4-way hat switch could work with something like down=OFF, right=GUN, left=SW, and up=SP/PH

 

That was my original idea, but now that we know incremental mapping will be available, i would rather use one of the 4-ways as i described above. This leaves me with a free Left command on that key....... i plan to put the DLC on the thumb 4-way, along with the chaff and maneuvering flaps commands. I already have a weapons release button assigned. The PoV hat will go to the aileron/elevator trim.......that leaves one 4 way hat, one pinky and a single left command of the last 4-way free........how would you guys map them if you were doing an F-14 HOTAS emulation?

[punk]

That was my original idea, but now that we know incremental mapping will be available, i would rather use one of the 4-ways as i described above. This leaves me with a free Left command on that key....... i plan to put the DLC on the thumb 4-way, along with the chaff and maneuvering flaps commands. I already have a weapons release button assigned. The PoV hat will go to the aileron/elevator trim.......that leaves one 4 way hat, one pinky and a single left command of the last 4-way free........how would you guys map them if you were doing an F-14 HOTAS emulation?

 

The actual pinky switch on the F-14 was used as the Autopilot Reference and Nose wheel button. I might use the side button to switch to back seat and 4 way for dogfight radar modes or some other backseat operations or something depending on how I set up the throttle. It is going to be trial and error I think.

[Dino Might]

I've been tempted to buy a cheap joystick handle, cannibalize it, and try to make a weapon selector switch, simply because that closeup scene from Top Gun always looked so cool to me. Yeah, I know, ridiculous, but until someone finds a set of old F-14 pilot sticks for reasonable $, or any $ for that matter, that's my only option.

 

Unfortunately, TM probably won't make an F-14 stick offering because there are too many Hornet fanboys and not enough Tomcat fanboys.

[punk]

I've been tempted to buy a cheap joystick handle, cannibalize it, and try to make a weapon selector switch, simply because that closeup scene from Top Gun always looked so cool to me. Yeah, I know, ridiculous, but until someone finds a set of old F-14 pilot sticks for reasonable $, or any $ for that matter, that's my only option.

 

Unfortunately, TM probably won't make an F-14 stick offering because there are too many Hornet fanboys and not enough Tomcat fanboys.

 

Yeah, too true. There is a guy who made his own, I will gather all the info he sent me on what he did and email it to you sometime in the next week or so. Not sure I will be able to do it, seems a bit beyond my limited abilities.

[Home Fries]

You will map a seperate button to switch between Phoenix and Sparrow when the selector is in the PH/SP mode. You push the selector button in reality.

So, when you're in the SP/PH position, you push this button and that toggles between SP and PH.

 

Otherwise it just works as a standard up/down incremental switch.

 

Are we going to have discrete keymaps for Guns, SW, and SP/PH to go with that toggle switch? That would be great, especially for the 3 position switches.

 

EDIT: if we do get discrete keymaps, could you make the discrete keymap for SP/PH act as the selector button if the switch is already in place? This would make things a lot easier and stable for HOTAS programming. For example, if I'm in SW and i press the SP/PH key, it switches to SP/PH. If I press the SP/PH key and I'm already in SP/PH, it toggles between SP and PH.

Edited September 29, 2017 by Home Fries

[captain_dalan]

All right, so both pieces arrived with a week of each other and now i need you advice once again people :joystick:. This is my planned setup (i try to mimic all the functions of the F-14 HOTAS). As you can see, quite a few buttons are unassigned. What would you suggest they be mapped to? And what would you change in the current setup (if anything)?

 

Cheers mates, and safe flying! :pilotfly:

 

P.S. I would like to map the main flap lever and the emergency sweep handle if possible, but not sure about those yet.