Collective for VR?

[Wolf8312]

I'm mulling over getting a collective for the choppers. I love flying helicopters in VR/DCS, not only because the experience is just plain fecking awesome (some of those night missions over water in VR in bad weather are on a whole other level of immersion in VR) but because helis are not as affected, performance wise, as prop planes, or jets, which require much more turning and jerky movements.

The Appache is also just fecking incredible in VR so that may be influencing my sudden impulse! I never like to invert my throttle and I'm kinda thinking it would perhaps be worth the investment to actually get a helicopter setup, as after all, I love flying them more than planes in many ways (and I do have the sense that its only having specifically plane controls that makes me doubt this somehow) so why not?

So how are the collectives in VR and out? Does if make a big difference immesion wise, or do you think I'll regret buying one? 

I'd probably go with something like this (see below) if I do pull the trigger, but I have to say my warthog throttle is showing it's age and I question if the money would not be better put to use elsewhere...

https://cn.wwsimstore.com/view/goods-details.html?id=329

Edited December 30, 2022 by Wolf8312

[edmuss]

Speaking as someone who uses a warthog throttle inverted as collective....

I think the biggest real advantage over a conventional sim throttle would be the longer lever throw which allows finer control of the axis, remains to be seen whether or not it will it make you a better flier?

On the KA50 I have no issues with the WH throttle but the bird is heavily augmented with computer input, in the huey I do notice the lack of granular input and with for a bit more sensitivity.

For immersions sake (isn't this what VR is all about?) then absolutely yes, I'm planning on designing and making my own in the near future

[dburne]

I got a Virpil Collective which I like pretty good, just need to get some more time with it also as have been mainly flying Hornet at this time. Still stuff to learn with the Apache.

I personally did not care much for the difference in force required to raise versus lower collective however got a counter balance mod that works pretty well now they are about the same. I do like the collective though better than using my Virpil CM 3 throttle as a collective. Just need some more chopper time.

[Wolf8312]

Thanks guys! Will probably get one at some point!

[Mordants]

I would suggest the KA51, I have it and used for over a year now, no counter balance required and it uses virpil electronics.

 

[Wolf8312]

1 hour ago, Mordants said:

I would suggest the KA51, I have it and used for over a year now, no counter balance required and it uses virpil electronics.

 

It does look nice. I especially like how it attaches to the chair, and it looks like it has a sturdy constitution though the buttons look a little cheap. How's the customer service/warranty? Is there a long waiting list?

But 200 english pounds with delivery would be a good price. Though that's probably an old estimate by now. I will look into it...

Uh oh paypal...

Edited December 31, 2022 by Wolf8312

[Mordants]

3 minutes ago, Wolf8312 said:

It does look nice. I especially like how it attaches to the chair, and it looks like it has a sturdy constitution though the buttons look a little cheap. How's the customer service/warranty? Is there a long waiting list?

But 200 english pounds with delivery would be a good price. Though that's probably an old estimate by now. I will look into it...

It is very sturdy. and the buttons are fine, they don't feel cheap at all, still you get what you pay for. Not sure on warranty but Mikhail responds really quick and helps with and snags you might have. Though I have had mine a long time with no issues. I haven't even had to apply any more friction in this time to the lever! It stays where it's put. Waiting list you would have to ask him though. It's a great first time collective and does what collectives does. There are way more expensive ones out there if you want. See pics attached of my installation.

*(Note I have put some sticky tape covers on to prevent dust etc dropping in the cervices) Piss poor but does the job!

[Wolf8312]

Ah yes I see. For a minute there I thought it was a massive crack running through the plastic!

[Wolf8312]

Well guys I've gone with the winwing KA-50 with extension and chair mount! My wife will crucify me in the morning but I couldn't resist. What began as an idle curiosity slowly seeped into my mind and infected me until there really was no alternative but to buy it. Could be a hobby could be a sickness...

Actually the collective itself isn't cheap for winwing products (throttle much more reasonable) but I love how it looks (read the reveiws too) and as I live in China Winwing's a no brainer really!

Hopefully my warthog throttle lasts a few more years or I'll be backwards man, flying prop planes and jets using a collective! Anyhoo, half excited, half guilty but I am paying for it in three seperate installments, and I never go out drinking in bars, or gambling darling.

Yes. That should do it..

[Wolf8312]

Well, blown away by the winwing and collective experience! Yet another thing that I've tried and will now not be able to do without!

Quality is fantastic, and although it should be for the price of the unit, there are those that will insist Winwing is inferior to brands like virpil. Well from what I've seen (and I own a virpil) that certainly isn't the case and I'm very glad I went with WW!

As for flying, well... basically you're in a real helicopter! Inverting a throttle never felt natural to me, because with a throttle one is not so much pulling up/down but pulling back/forward(I think without the extension the difference may not be so radically apparent but with one there is a noticibly different effect/mindset). This would just feel incredibly confusing to me when using a thottle to fly planes (leading to many fatal accidents) so it ended up feeling more natural to *not* invert the thottle!

No real problems with dropping or stiction, though the stick needs to be worn in first and tightened up more later I think/heard. I don't think I will need a counterweight or anything of that nature, though I have found that the safety cage/thing actually serves a duel purpose, as I can rest my arm on it without it tiring while keeping a loose hold of the stick.

So to conclude by answering my own original question. If you're big into helicopters, you will wonder how you ever did without one. I've always loved military helicopters because -more so than planes- they feel to me like massive mechanical extensions of ones own body, as if one is a hovering and extremely agile mech or death machine.