Introducing the VPC WarBRD

[Cyph3r]

►Introducing the VPC WarBRD

 

VPC and BRD are pleased to announce our first collaboration project - the VPC WarBRD!

 

 

The VPC WarBRD is the newest generation of desktop flightsticks perfect for piloting any warbird to it’s highest potential! Featuring the latest iteration of BRD’s world famous compact, all metal, dual-cam mechanics and VPC’s own highly versatile electronic systems.

 

Being equipped with the same connector standard and electronics as the VPC MongoosT-50®, ensures the VPC WarBRD will have complete compatibility with VPC’s existing and future grips without requiring any adapters or modifications.

 

The VPC WarBRD will be positioned below the VPC MongoosT-50® in the VPC product lineup to become the ultimate desktop joystick at an affordable price.

 

Targeted for a release in Q1 2018, more information including a full overview of the VPC WarBRD features, specifications and pricing will be released in the near future.

 

Stay tuned for more news on the VPC WarBRD!

[Mr_sukebe]

Looks interesting. A few questions if I may:

- Any functionality changes when compared to the T50 base? e.g. the number/type of buttons on the grip

- What's it made of?

- Your thoughts on how it "feels" when compared to the existing T50 base

- Does it have swappable springs and cams?

- Can you tighten/loosen the tension as per the T50 base?

 

and on a more joking basis, do you need a UK based tester?

[Cyph3r]

Looks interesting. A few questions if I may:

- Any functionality changes when compared to the T50 base? e.g. the number/type of buttons on the grip

- What's it made of?

- Your thoughts on how it "feels" when compared to the existing T50 base

- Does it have swappable springs and cams?

- Can you tighten/loosen the tension as per the T50 base?

 

Great questions!

 

1. Functionality regarding the grip support will be the same as the MT-50 Base.
   
2. It's made from the same all metal construction as the MT-50 Base.
   
3. The VPC WarBRD will have 2 spring types and 3 cam profiles.
   
4. Nope - the spring pre-tensioner design is unique to the MT-50 gimbal.
   

 

 

and on a more joking basis, do you need a UK based tester?

 

Gunning for my job? :lol: :joystick:

 

But in all seriousness, we already have a large team of testers :thumbup:

[Buckeye]

Introducing the VPC WarBRD

 

Damn! I was pumped, as I had been waiting for a VPC and BRD partnership to buy a stick base, then I saw that this will be positioned below the MT-50...and it is designed for Warbirds, while I only fly modern aircraft.

 

Nonetheless, congrats to VPC on the announcement and I'm happy for the guys that will have great interest in this.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Cyph3r]

Damn! I was pumped, as I had been waiting for a VPC and BRD partnership to buy a stick base, then I saw that this will be positioned below the MT-50...and it is designed for Warbirds, while I only fly modern aircraft.

 

Nonetheless, congrats to VPC on the announcement and I'm happy for the guys that will have great interest in this.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

It is just the name, it is suitable to pilot all the same aircraft as the MT-50 :thumbup:

[Buckeye]

It is just the name, it is suitable to pilot all the same aircraft as the MT-50 :thumbup:

 

 

 

Understood, but I just spent $725 on my pedals + damper...so I'm looking to round my pit out with the top of the top of the line gear for my HOTAS. Not trying to understate this quality of this product as I am certain it's top tier (it is, after all, a product of the dream partnership of Baur and Virpil), it just sounds like MT-50 would still be the better match for me from the VPC product line. I would absolutely want the spring tension control.

 

Best of luck with this, I'm still waiting for VKB to show their throttle before making any decisions anyway, maybe VPC and BRD will have a new bar setter out by then

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Andrei]

Does this base make the T-50 stick more suitable for desktop use? How tall would the stick + this base combination would be?

[cichlidfan]

Curious about the differences. I would love to see a side by side breakdown of the two bases.

[Baz000]

Is this better for flying helicopters than the other base? I'm looking for something for fixed wing and helicopters.

[Baur]

Does this base make the T-50 stick more suitable for desktop use? How tall would the stick + this base combination would be?

Guys, my English is very bad. I did not understand the question and gave the wrong answer.

 

Cyph3p will answer your questions.

Edited December 10, 2017 by Baur

[Hoffster]

Does it have the same 4 mounting holes in the front?

Is the gimbal construction similar to brd-ds but smaller scale?

 

Looks like VPC 2.0 stick from the outside. Looks better.

[sc_neo]

fully Warthog grip compatible? Yeah, and i sure would like to understand the differences to the T-50 base besides the missing freely accessible tension springs srews. And for the uninitiated; what is WarBRD and its cam design? Does this mean the actual gimbla is not a Vripil design at all but only the electronics?

[Sokol1_br]

WarBRD is based on mechanics of BRD-D (desktop) or BRD-DS (chair seat level) gimbals, but using VPC like base.

 

BRD CAM use less expensive manufacturer process (no CNC, but Laser), hence this base is a "low cost" and less customisable option.

 

I guess that due the use of dual CAM (opposite one to another) in each axis allow use more soft springs, less strong parts, what too contribute to lower costs, but without compromise quality.

 

A good question is if this base height will allow use VPC T50 grips on desktop.

Edited December 11, 2017 by Sokol1_br

[aaron886]

This is a great idea... a high-quality, low budget option to help Warthog users replace their bad gimbal. Can we see some internal pictures?

[tintifaxl]

This is a great idea... a high-quality, low budget option to help Warthog users replace their bad gimbal. Can we see some internal pictures?

 

I would be surprised if it will be considerable less than the T-50 base. But one can hope, of course.

[Sokol1_br]

As some people ask for a desktop base, BRD-D seems the logical choice:

 

Early BRD-D kit during assembly, all pieces made of Laser cut and bending:

 

http://avia-sim.ru/forum/download/file.php?id=4976

 

3D render:

 

http://avia-sim.ru/forum/download/file.php?id=5511

 

With Tm F16FLCS and other grips:

 

http://avia-sim.ru/forum/download/file.php?id=6368

http://avia-sim.ru/forum/download/file.php?id=5651

http://avia-sim.ru/forum/download/file.php?id=5633

Edited December 11, 2017 by Sokol1_br

[sc_neo]

ok, googled BRD and stuff. I am not too knowledgable on designing and cutting metal parts, but from the notion 'laser cut', one should think its very precise. Having looked at the pictures linked by Sokol, it seems the main limitation of laser cutting lies in that you cannot work thicker, whole pieces, but have to cut all your pieces from metal plates and layer them up for bigger/fatter pieces when you need to.

 

Where as with CNC you can design solid, complex pieces as long as your drill/router bits can reach each surface.

 

Except for size and weight, i would expect both ways of building a metal gimbal should provide pretty much the same precision, quality and feel +longevity.

Edited December 11, 2017 by sc_neo

[aaron886]

This, of course, describes the BRD-D base, not this upcoming Virpil base. We do not yet know what hardware is inside. I think Sokol is simply describing the style of Baur, particularly the dual cam and gimbal arrangement. He can correct me if I'm wrong.

[VO101_MMaister]

I would like to clarify some basic terms around cnc and laser ect...

 

CNC means a computer controlled machining tool. It can be a lathe, a milling a 2D cutting laser or water jet machine or even a metal sheet bending tool (and many more). The common with these machines is that they are not manually operated but a computer controls the manufacturing process. This automation minimizes the sample variation over a serial production. But CNC itself doesn`t guarantee a high quality product it is only a production method.

 

As i can see the original VPC gimbal is made of milled aluminum parts while the BRD is made of cutted and bent sheet metal (steel). The later is a cheaper production method, but both are CNC controlled.

 

Just because something is made of sheet metal it doesn`t mean that it is subpar compared to a milled one. It all depends on the designer`s skill and the quality of the production. It can be milled from Gr.5 titanium by a 5 axis CNC machine but it can still be a baaaaad design and product.:)

 

Baur is quite an artist of sheet metal part design so I wouldn`t worry about it

[Goblin]

Baur is quite an artist of sheet metal part design so I wouldn`t worry about it

 

He is! Have a look at my review of the BRD-N. A bigger version of the D mechanics, but same in

principle.

http://www.mudspike.com/review-brd-n-black-stork-joystick/

 

Merging VPC and BRD is a really good idea!

Will be interesting to hear what the future will bring...

[Cyph3r]

Does this base make the T-50 stick more suitable for desktop use? How tall would the stick + this base combination would be?

 

The total height of the VPC WarBRD and VPC MT-50 Grip would be ~32.5cm

 

 

Curious about the differences. I would love to see a side by side breakdown of the two bases.

 

Does it have the same 4 mounting holes in the front?

Is the gimbal construction similar to brd-ds but smaller scale?

 

Looks like VPC 2.0 stick from the outside. Looks better.

 

This is a great idea... a high-quality, low budget option to help Warthog users replace their bad gimbal. Can we see some internal pictures?

 

Look out for our next announcement which will go more in-depth with these points :)

 

It will not have the same mounting holes at the VPC MT-50, but instead will be compatible with the VPC Desk Mount via an adapter plate (like our TMW adapter plates).

 

 

Is this better for flying helicopters than the other base? I'm looking for something for fixed wing and helicopters.

 

As this is not intended specifically towards helicopter flight, it would be around about as good as the MT-50 in this regard, if maybe slightly worse due to the lack of some of the adjustment features.

 

 

fully Warthog grip compatible? Yeah, and i sure would like to understand the differences to the T-50 base besides the missing freely accessible tension springs srews. And for the uninitiated; what is WarBRD and its cam design? Does this mean the actual gimbla is not a Vripil design at all but only the electronics?

 

Yes! Full compatibility with everything that the MT-50 is compatible with.

 

The VPC WarBRD is a collaboration project, featuring the latest iteration of the BRD gimbal design, with the efforts of both BRD and VPC.

Edited December 11, 2017 by Cyph3r

[Cyph3r]

► Inside the VPC WarBRD

 

While we all wait for the release of the VPC WarBRD, here are some new shots of the gimbal mechanics!

 

 

Full scale testing of the VPC WarBRD began on Friday and will continue throughout next week. We’re one week closer to opening the sales!

 

Stay tuned for more news on the VPC WarBRD.

[Hoffster]

Nice compact design. It would be cool to see the mechanism movement. And a picture between the T-50 for size comparison.

[Fri13]

As this is not intended specifically towards helicopter flight, it would be around about as good as the MT-50 in this regard, if maybe slightly worse due to the lack of some of the adjustment features.

 

Does any of the Virpil sticks allo friction to be so high that you can leave the cyclic in tilted position for off-hand use?

 

The two different cams for the MT-50, soft and hard centering, do the soft allow such behavior?

This new base doesn't support such adjustment features (quick through the holes on top plate etc)?

[aaron886]

That looks awesome, glad to see the 2-cam design.