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F14 TOMCAT GRIP ENTERING PRODUCTION


AeroGator

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Check out the pictures...

A roaring F-14 Tomcat, one of the most fearsome airplanes of the Cold War.

... and

A state of the art F-14 Tomcat grip that is now officially announced as it is entering production stage.

Please put on your helmets, fasten your belts, and get ready for the take off.

 

F-14 Tomcat grip turned to be one of our most interesting products (joint project with Heatblur, supported by Eagle Dynamics).

The grip is a veritable replica, exact to a fraction of a millimeter. Prototypes were checked and approved by the real veteran F-14 pilots of Heatblur team.

 

Making a replica grip wasn't easy, as we couldn't alter the shape or size of the device, nor the controls' layout. However our engineers set their creativity free when it came to internal design of the grip. We didn’t want to make a lookalike device, somewhat resembling the original. Instead we wanted to deliver the spirit and feeling of this legendary warbird with her feline nickname.

 

The very touch of this grip is supposed to wake up the memories – or, bring up the images – of the glorious service Tomcat did to the world.

 

 Rubber inserts for a no slip firm and handy grip

 Metal ammo switch, hat, and emergency autopilot disable trigger

 Long travel soft click buttons

 Modular hat design (fully dismantleable, all buttons user replaceable)

 Ammo switch design based on contactless sensor

 DLC maneuver wheel design based on contactless sensor

 Two-step trigger design based on cam mechanism – similar to that used in real life war planes

 Lockable contactless sensor twist mechanism

 32-bit ARM controller as the brain of the grip

 

Now, where are we, and how it translates into simple words?

We have finished the molds. Here they are, the real beauties. See the picture! Perfection in every curve!

 

Our engineers need a few weeks to finalize the surfaces adding texture and making tiny invisible tweaks here and there.

We're planning the first copies roll out in early-mid November. There will be pre-order open in November; RRP is marked at 189 USD (base not included).

 

Those who already purchased F-14 module from Heatblur will enjoy 10% off this price; those who consider buying that module will have 10 USD off the price of the module with the purchase of the VKB F-14 grip.

 

New VKB F-14 grip is breaking into the gaming devices market. We know: we did it right, and we’re proud of our new creation. Hope, you can join us and share our pride and happiness!

 

P.S.

An attentive pilot has probably noticed something interesting in the picture of the grip… What could that be? - Great question. Please stay tuned for more news: a new announcement is coming soon.

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Edited by UIV

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Best Regards from VKB Lair,

AeroGator

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This looks like exceptional work. Well done. I'll be looking forwards to getting one of these.

 

I don't have a Gunfighter base: will you be building up a stock of these to meet demand for people new to VKB hardware? Anyways... pretty excited to see this.

 

Oh... one question: what mechanism is there to verify F-14 module ownership?


Edited by Milou

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Oh... one question: what mechanism is there to verify F-14 module ownership?

 

It's planned that Heatblur will provide individual codes to owners of their F-14 DCS module, and these codes can than be entered into the respective VKB webshop for the 10% discount during checkout.

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I spy a mkiii base

 

Yepp... I think you're spot on. Damn, I was hoping for TECS hints :(

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I just got my SCG Pro grip in today completing my collection of grips compatible with the Gunfighter Mk II. Now, I am going to be waiting for the pre-order announcement.

 

I also just purchased a 2nd Gunfighter Mk II because I damaged a bearing on my first one. So, now I have one fully functional and one that just needs a new bearing, providing some redundancy... but now there is a Mk III!

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It's planned that Heatblur will provide individual codes to owners of their F-14 DCS module, and these codes can than be entered into the respective VKB webshop for the 10% discount during checkout.

 

Does it matter if you have the module through Steam or directly from ED/Heatblur?

 

Also, which are the time limits attached to these two discount options?

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I damaged a bearing on my first one

Every time I bump into your name on the forum I have some sort of deja vu, like I did write to you ans asked to contact me through PM at VKB home forum... Did I not? Because I remember reading your first post about the bearing, and thinking how to help you. But we only do tech support via our own forum, so I thought I asked you to get registered there first.

If I didn't, then I do now.

Please go to our forum and ping me there. Direct links to your posts with your problem described would help a lot. I'm pretty positive we will be able to o something about it. And yes, pls mention which country you are in.

>

Best Regards from VKB Lair,

AeroGator

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Does it matter if you have the module through Steam or directly from ED/Heatblur?

Also, which are the time limits attached to these two discount options?

 

There is still some time till mid November; we will work out the technicalities, and explain how tos to the potential buyers. Talking time limits, no, we don't plan any.

>

Best Regards from VKB Lair,

AeroGator

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I don't have a Gunfighter base: will you be building up a stock of these to meet demand for people new to VKB hardware?

Time to wake up and welcome the brave new world :pilotfly:

GF bases are in stock.

Talks about GFs and MCGs not being available are rapidly falling into oblivion, even although there are guys still happy to pop up this topic in every discussion. NO I am not hinting at anyone present :) just sharing my point that "vkb is never in stock" is not a trendy topic any longer.

:music_whistling:

>

Best Regards from VKB Lair,

AeroGator

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MK I base compatible ?

There will be kinda pre-order list (why kinda is because no funds will be taken or frozen) - it will help us know roughly the number of v1 users we will need to serve. Then, based on this number we will make grips for v1 - either they will be available right away (no firm promise), or within a couple of months (not years). Our production capacity now is times that last year, so fear not. Long delays are in the past.

>

Best Regards from VKB Lair,

AeroGator

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is it compatible with a Warthog base?

And the codes for owning a Tomcat does it for with steam Users too?

 

 

im sooooo excited !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Givve it tooooo meee ! ;)


Edited by BlackLibrary
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I wish to buy the F-14 grip asap through your european distributor.

Will he be able to open a pre-order list and receive grips from the 1st production batch as well?

 

Interested in this too.

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Hehe cracks me up. VKB start voting poll - Does the F-14 stick need a twist function?

 

80% of respondants say NO it does not.

 

VKB..."Sweet...Lockable contactless sensor twist mechanism added"

 

Hey I am all for options right - but still kinda funny.

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Hehe cracks me up. VKB start voting poll - Does the F-14 stick need a twist function? 80% of respondants say NO it does not.

Well, this is not the only platform where we collected feedback. Besides, an advice is an advice, and necessity is necessity. Technology is technology. Some things vote for themselves! :)

>

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AeroGator

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Well, this is not the only platform where we collected feedback. Besides, an advice is an advice, and necessity is necessity. Technology is technology. Some things vote for themselves! :)

 

Did you also collect feedback for a TM base adapter perhaps?

 

I'm sure there are customers out there with TM compatible bases who'd prefer your grip over the Virpil one.

 

Since you don't offer a throttle, you can't expect people to ditch their current HOTAS systems, but selling them grips until your throttle is ready would be a way to attract them to your eco-system.

 

Warthog base - no. Why should it? Just to turn a masterpiece into an overpriced chunk of useless circuitry, plastic and metal? WH base is too much a limitation.

 

I guess there's my answer. Oh, well..


Edited by Dudikoff

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DISCLAIMER: My posts are still absolutely useless. Just finding excuses not to learn the F-14 (HB's Swansong?).

 

Annoyed by my posts? Please consider donating. Once the target sum is reached, I'll be off to somewhere nice I promise not to post from. I'd buy that for a dollar!

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Why would VKB limit their designs or increase their cost/complexity trying to sell accessories compatible with their principal competitor's products? If you can afford it, it is better for both them and their customers to push sales of their Gunfighter Mk.II stick bases. If you can't afford their product or simply refuse because you are happy with what you already have, you weren't their target market. They wanted to make something for people who wanted something more than what the Warthog offered in both quality and capability. But it comes with a much higher price.

 

I like the Warthog HOTAS, but the stick has always had its limitations. I decided to try VKB when they announced their MCG Pro. It killed two birds with one stone: a much better gimbal and support for Soviet style sticks with analog brake levers, flip down triggers/safetys, etc. I paid more for the VKB stick/grip than I paid for the entire Warthog throttle and stick HOTAS, but I got what I paid for. The feel and precision of the gimbal is amazing. The MCG Pro was perfect for flying certain MiGs and the Spitfire Mk.IX, but was still more than compatible with anything that worked well with the Warthog grip.

 

As it stands, VKB has provided adapters that are easily installed to use the TM Warthog and F/A-18C grips with their Gunfighter Mk.II stick base. So you can keep your Warthog or even enjoy the new Hornet grip on a base that not only has a much better gimbal that can be tuned to the owner's preferences, but supports grips with much greater capability than the TM grips: more hats/buttons, analog axes and cursors, etc.

 

I have absolutely no trouble flying with the Warthog throttle and VKB Gunfighter Mk.II in DCS World. So, I don't understand the need for VKB to urgently provide a throttle to make their stick/grips more attractive? I now have a large assortment of VKB compatible grips, most of them replicas or reasonable approximations of real grips. The F-14 grip will be a great additon to my collection.


Edited by streakeagle

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