Virpil Apache AH-64 Collective

[Vakarian]

Yeah, EU store.

I mean, production issue could mean a lot of things, not just "there are none". Maybe batch was smaller than expected because "something" and they distributed what they had... Oh well, it's not the end of the world. It will come when it comes.

I pinged them just because there was a "mid/late January" for expected delivery when I made my order and it was still "processing" so I wanted to know if there's any known delay. Now that it is, I'm fine with waiting.

[corbu1]

vor 4 Minuten schrieb Vakarian:

Yeah, EU store.

I mean, production issue could mean a lot of things, not just "there are none". Maybe batch was smaller than expected because "something" and they distributed what they had... Oh well, it's not the end of the world. It will come when it comes.

I pinged them just because there was a "mid/late January" for expected delivery when I made my order and it was still "processing" so I wanted to know if there's any known delay. Now that it is, I'm fine with waiting.

Just got the same message.

Same for me. It‘s just I‘m on vacation in march. So it will be shipped before….well I‘ll see. 

[BigBANGtheory]

 

 

Edited February 13, 2024 by BigBANGtheory
adding part 2

[corbu1]

My AH-64D collective grip and Rotorplus Base arrived today.

[Turd Ferguson]

Does anyone know the correct name for this type of switch (the black one for your thumb) i'm considering replacing the 4 on the 64 grip with this type instead

[Marshallman]

4 hours ago, Turd Ferguson said:

Does anyone know the correct name for this type of switch (the black one for your thumb) i'm considering replacing the 4 on the 64 grip with this type instead

That on your Alpha R stick?  Its a 4 way with push button, but havent a clue where to obtain them. The Apache switches are all two way.

Some leads. Named as a slide button

https://www.otto-controls.com/products/electromechanical-switches

https://www.mouser.co.uk/c/?switch function=4-Way Directional%2C Center Select&_gl=1*gkkyoo*_ga*dW5kZWZpbmVk*_ga_15W4STQT4T*dW5kZWZpbmVk*_ga_1KQLCYKRX3*dW5kZWZpbmVk

 

Edited February 20, 2024 by Marshallman

[Turd Ferguson]

Ahh nice, thanks @Marshallman i'll have a nosy at those links cheers

[Scott-S6]

On 2/20/2024 at 5:05 PM, Marshallman said:

Some leads. Named as a slide button

https://www.otto-controls.com/products/electromechanical-switches

No, slide switches slide, not rock like a hat switch. These are under trim switches. There are two ways in there as well.

[FZG_Immel]

 received mine a week ago. finally installed in my simpit.

 

its very cool. the huge throw helps with precision flying for your. The arm , on top of that the rotor VPC offers is quite long though..

 

A dedicated shorter arm collective base would be better in my opinion

[corbu1]

I installed it this way in my simpit. I like the doublegrip concept. Especialy controlling the FCR from the pilot seat.

[corbu1]

Have the Counterbalance kit now installed as well! I really like it! Works great!

[NahkaSukka]

I received mine, installed and i love it!  They gave me one wrong size screw, but fortunately i found a replacemen from another set.

[corbu1]

vor einer Stunde schrieb NahkaSukka:

I received mine, installed and i love it!  They gave me one wrong size screw, but fortunately i found a replacemen from another set.

Had a wrong small screw as well. But used another one from my tools box.

[Blackrat_UK]

Weird, I had the wrong size nut in the counterbalance kit but never used the fixing bolts for the collective which have M5 nuts so issue resolved. Yet to try it in anger with the Apache grip as I am re positioning everything on my rig which is a major strip down.

[Marshallman]

6 hours ago, Blackrat_UK said:

Weird, I had the wrong size nut in the counterbalance kit but never used the fixing bolts for the collective which have M5 nuts so issue resolved. Yet to try it in anger with the Apache grip as I am re positioning everything on my rig which is a major strip down.

Yes I have a playstation seat which is excellent and found cheaply second hand, however it has several holes in it from repositioning the collective and brackets for the Joystick central to the seat

[Killg0re NL]

On 3/1/2024 at 6:02 PM, corbu1 said:

Had a wrong small screw as well. But used another one from my tools box.

Ah i had it aswell, it was the screw for the clamping the spring should. Was to short, and not properly shaped.

Reported it to Virpil

Edited March 3, 2024 by Killg0re NL
Added picture.

[Blackrat_UK]

2 hours ago, Marshallman said:

Yes I have a playstation seat which is excellent and found cheaply second hand, however it has several holes in it from repositioning the collective and brackets for the Joystick central to the seat

I am transferring from racing to just flight simming, 8020 rig, so I just need to rejuggle stuff around plus add wheels so I can move the rig in a corner. So far its working out as minimal swapping for GA, Airbus, GA rotary and of course DCS, will know by the end of the week if I have achieved that.

[corbu1]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb Killg0re NL:

Ah i had it aswell, it was the screw for the clamping the spring should. Was to short, and not properly shaped.

Reported it to Virpil

 

Yes, that‘s exactly that screw I got a wrong one. Thanks for reporting to Virpil. Hopefully they change them for future customers.

[Marshallman]

13 hours ago, Blackrat_UK said:

I am transferring from racing to just flight simming, 8020 rig, so I just need to rejuggle stuff around plus add wheels so I can move the rig in a corner. So far its working out as minimal swapping for GA, Airbus, GA rotary and of course DCS, will know by the end of the week if I have achieved that.

Just hanging onto RFS RBR though, great fun!...still havent worked out how to get that working in VR

[Vakarian]

Mine just arrived. Although at work I did try to see how the buttons react and yeah, like expected all the 4-5 way switches are mushy as hell.

One thing I noticed is that when you take the cap off, it is a tiny bit better so I suspect there's a bit of a slop due to the space between the switch stem and the cap groove. Will try to fill it with "something" to see if it'll help it.

Still a miles away from VKB 4/5 way switches but that's because VKB produces their own and Virpil still uses off the shelf switches which are really sub-par.

Will see later tonight how it is in action when I mount it.

[Marshallman]

2 hours ago, Vakarian said:

Mine just arrived. Although at work I did try to see how the buttons react and yeah, like expected all the 4-5 way switches are mushy as hell.

One thing I noticed is that when you take the cap off, it is a tiny bit better so I suspect there's a bit of a slop due to the space between the switch stem and the cap groove. Will try to fill it with "something" to see if it'll help it.

Still a miles away from VKB 4/5 way switches but that's because VKB produces their own and Virpil still uses off the shelf switches which are really sub-par.

Will see later tonight how it is in action when I mount it.

Yes a league apart from the Alpha Grips and their switches.

[X-31_VECTOR]

7 hours ago, Marshallman said:

Yes a league apart from the Alpha Grips and their switches.

The switches are worse than on my left-hand MongoosT-50CM from about five years ago, for that matter. I'm so annoyed by the garbage switches that I was going to return the Apache grip, but I decided that they would bother me less in practice than they do in principal (provided I don't try to use the push on most of the hats).   

@Vakarian, I kind of see what you mean, but the stems themselves can also be displaced a considerable distance from center before the actual switch engages. I hope your fix provides some improvement for you, but I fear that the bigger issue can only be solved with different switches. I wonder if we will see a design change in later iterations of this grip (in which case a retrofit might be possible). Probably wishful thinking...

[Scott-S6]

On 3/3/2024 at 10:36 PM, corbu1 said:

Yes, that‘s exactly that screw I got a wrong one. Thanks for reporting to Virpil. Hopefully they change them for future customers.

I had the correct screw but incorrect nut...

[corbu1]

With the Virpil collective out now for quite some time and using it in DCS I really like the two grip design.

Especially with FCR now integrated the collective grip is now fully useable.

Now I‘d wish we‘d get a AH-64D cyclic grip from Virpil as well

[Cyborg71]

I believe they plan to do just that. This year.