Deltasim Ministick Review

[Cerulean]

My Deltasim mod for the TM Warthog throttle arrived from the UK last Tuesday.  Even though I live in the Canadian backwoods, it didn't take all that long.  A little over a week, and that despite two massive ice storms.  I won't go over the installation as that has been covered in detail in a really good video.  I just wanted to say I wish I had put this on the throttle 20 months ago when I first bought it.  You know, I actually got to be pretty good with that shoddy little cell phone mouse TM uses for a ministick for weird reasons known only to TM.  It is so bloody weird that TM keeps using that component because the Warthog, even all these years later, is still a great HOTAS, especially when you consider the price compared to the competition.  But that hideous ministick knocks the Warthog throttle from a 4.5 out of 5 star product to a 3.5.  But the Deltasim mod is great and brings it back up to a 4.5 star product.

Installation only took about 20 minutes, and it would have taken barely half that if I had had any familiar with the throttle's internals beforehand. It's very simple.  Remove four screws, pop out the worthless TM ministick and unplug it, replace it with the DS analog sticks and plug it in to the circuit board, and screw everything back into place.

You can find the TM config software on the Deltasim site. For some reason, it's no longer available on the TM site (at least that I was able to find).  You don't need it, though.  You can configure the TM Warthog throttle entirely through the Windows 10 USB game controller configuration menu, and through the TARGET software.  But Damien at Deltasim recommended running the TM configuration app to get the most out of the ministick, and I did, and he was right.  It is noticeably more sensitive now.

BTW, Damien at Deltasim is great.  If you have a question, he gets back to you fast.

As to is it worth it?  Even with 20 months of practice (mostly in the A10C and FA-18 and F-16), it was tricky lining up the TGP and cursor on the AA radar screen using the original TM Warthog ministick.  Not anymore, with the Deltasim mod movement is very precise. I've been messing with Star Citizen lately, and movements on SC are also smooth and precise now.  So, yeah, definitely.  Only reason I put off getting the mod so long is the terrible exchange rate between Canadian and UK currency.  It's better now, but still about a 40% difference.  Even so, still definitely worth it!

I'll probably create a video showing the Deltasim in action on my new YouTube channel: Cerulean Skies.

Edited February 12, 2022 by Cerulean
improve clarity

[BuzzU]

What I never understood was why the mini-stick that's in the Warthog came that way to begin with? TM was picky to make the HOTAS just like the real Warthog. Even to the point of having the same pressure to push in the buttons. Why in the world did they use that mini-stick? It's nothing like the real Warthog HOTAS.

Another mystery is after all these years of everybody complaining about the mini-stick they can't be bothered to change it out for a proper mini-stick.

[Cerulean]

17 hours ago, BuzzU said:

What I never understood was why the mini-stick that's in the Warthog came that way to begin with? TM was picky to make the HOTAS just like the real Warthog. Even to the point of having the same pressure to push in the buttons. Why in the world did they use that mini-stick? It's nothing like the real Warthog HOTAS.

Another mystery is after all these years of everybody complaining about the mini-stick they can't be bothered to change it out for a proper mini-stick.

It is not for we mere mortals to question the ways of Thrustmaster.

[Steel Jaw]

On 2/13/2022 at 6:48 AM, Cerulean said:

It is not for we mere mortals to question the ways of Thrustmaster.

Sure as heck is...if not us then whom?