Pilotasso Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 I have been investigating a new stick for me, and while I cant afford any of the hardcore stuff discussed here, Im more inclined torwards the CH combo than the cougar. X-52 is my backup choice (if I realy cant save the money in the next 3 months or so). IMHO the cougar is not worth the trouble and I also play older space operas from time to time, I used to have TM F4 replica and that was a pain for continuous hard manuevering due to heavy springs. CH may not be a perfect replica of the real thing but it has tons of buttons and the thing has quite a rep of being durable, probably outlasting several of the sticks I had wich put together cost more than the CH stuff. If I had the money...CH right now, cougar out of the race. I realy dont trust TM stuff anymore... .
Yellonet Posted November 9, 2005 Author Posted November 9, 2005 Yeah... I'm beginning to think the same.. that the Cougar isn't worth it. But here a CH stick+throttle is as expensive as the cougar :( i7-2600k@4GHz, 8GB, R9 280X 3GB, SSD, HOTAS WH, Pro Flight Combat Pedals, TIR5
Andrew_McP Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 Yeah... I'm beginning to think the same.. that the Cougar isn't worth it. But here a CH stick+throttle is as expensive as the cougar :( That's because CH make good hardware. You could always try an Saitek X-52 (or whatever number they're up to this week). Looks like a kid's idea of what a stick ought to look like, but with the built in rudder it's a very flexible and cost effective bit of kit. The stick itself is fairly poor, but when you get sick of it you can buy a CH Fighterstick and hide the Saitek stick behind your monitor or something (it has to be connected to the throttle but you can use any number of controllers in LOMAC... just remember to disable unused stick axes inside LOMAC's options or you'll end up with phantom inputs confusing you as much as it confused me... for about three months <blush>). The CH Fighterstick is a great stick. Rather loose, but you soon adjust and that lightness gives you very accurate, fingertip control that the stock Cougar just cannot manage IMO. I have a Cougar but it was soon, and very sadly, relegated to ornamental status (looks kewl, but I can't fly with it to save my life). I'd get rid of it, but I do hope one day to find a good excuse to spend much more money than it cost in the first place modding it. Somehow I doubt that'll ever happen though, because the Fighterstick gives me everything I need from a stick apart from cramp. ;-) Ok you don't get the same degree of programmability as the Cougar, but how many people really use all that power? Not many, I'll bet <fx:queue of guys forms, all using their Cougar to programme the central heating and read stories to their kids at bedtime> Anyway, good luck with your choice, it can be hard work spending money sometimes. I always say I don't mind spending a lot of money as long as I get what I want. But I've been bitten more times by joysticks than the postman's been bitten by dogs. My first stick, in '93, was a CH Flightstick and it lasted for *years* of heavy use. Wonderful bit of kit, and my biggest mistake was trying just about everything else on the market before returning to CH again in 2004. Mmm... must be time to shut up, my fingers are sore ;-) Andrew McP
Revvin Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 Ok you don't get the same degree of programmability as the Cougar, but how many people really use all that power? That's a bit of an oudated notion, the German transator of the Cougar manual 'DonUlfonso' who also has gone pretty deep into the Cougar's programming had this to say after recently trying out a CH HOTAS: After all, I've got a HOTAS-system, and it shouldn't be too much asked if I'd prefer to not ever touch my keyboard or mouse if I can avoid it! With the means the TMs offer, this almost is true, at least in most cases - with my new CHs this always is true, in all cases . It knows more tricks and stunts than my TMs will ever learn. No need for logical flags when you have CH's CMS scripting ;)
504 Wolverine Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 Well I'm happy with my stick anyways. No need fo HOTAS with this baby. :p :icon_lol: [/url]
Revvin Posted November 9, 2005 Posted November 9, 2005 LOL who needs potentiometers or HALL sensors when you have leaf switches!
Andrew_McP Posted November 10, 2005 Posted November 10, 2005 That's a bit of an oudated notion, No need for logical flags when you have CH's CMS scripting ;) Ah, it's outdated because it's been a loooong time since I bothered to read about stuff I never use. :-) Glad to hear the Cougar has one less thing to lure people in its direction. Now if only CH can add flaking paint and a $500 optional upgrade for perfect gimbal strength they'll have the high end paperweight market cornered! ;-) Andrew McP
BBushe Posted November 10, 2005 Posted November 10, 2005 That's because CH make good hardware. Not many, I'll bet <fx:queue of guys forms, all using their Cougar to programme the central heating and read stories to their kids at bedtime> I've got the heating programmed, but I can't get rid of the metallic tone when it reads the bedtime stories. CH stuff look cheapish, but works great and lasts for ever. I'm still using the CH-Pro Pedals, that I bought about 1995 (crikey is that possible!), connected to the Cougar. Thrustmaster looks great, doesn't work as well out of the box, but mods give it great performance and it then lasts forever. Or least I think it will, ask me after forever. The flakey paint is just authentic...
Guest ruggbutt Posted November 10, 2005 Posted November 10, 2005 The flakey paint is just authentic... I paint stuff for a living. Poor quality paint applied poorly best describes the Cougar. They could spend an extra dollar a stick to keep the paint from flaking off. They don't cuz they know that someone somewhere is gonna read that it's "realistic" and buy it, even though it's poor quality inside and out.
Guest IguanaKing Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 Yup. Flaking paint is not authentic to real world aircraft controls...that is...unless your Cougar is 20-30 years old. :D
VMFA-Blaze Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 Yup. Flaking paint is not authentic to real world aircraft controls...that is...unless your Cougar is 20-30 years old. :D For your information the new Cougar sticks have an improved paint, its an extremley hard black epoxy that doesn't flake off... I did have some wear on the grey buttons and switches, but this is normal just as it is with installed aircraft equipment...... So if your stateing something, please make sure it's acurate....... intel Cor i7-6700K ASUS ROG MAX VIII Extreme G.Skill TridentZ Series 32 GB Samsung 850 Pro 1TB SATA II ASUS GTX 1080/DIRECTX 12 Windows 10 PRO Thrustmaster Warthog Oculus Rift VR
Guest IguanaKing Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 Hey...I didn't make the statement about flaking paint. In fact, it was a Cougar user who said it added to the authenticity. I agreed with that if it was in comparison to a 20-30 year old aircraft. Sheesh...don't get so defensive, its only a joystick, and I was just teasing. :icon_pai: BTW...most yoke/stick mounted switch caps I have encountered in real aircraft are molded in that color. The ones that are painted, like certain trim switches, hold their finish for quite a bit longer than just a few years.
Guest ruggbutt Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 So if your stateing something, please make sure it's acurate....... Yours didn't flake, mine did. Who's "more" right? All I know is it happened to me and plenty others have had it happen to them.
BuzzU Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 Yours didn't flake, mine did. Who's "more" right? All I know is it happened to me and plenty others have had it happen to them. The paint on your car probably flakes too. It's a matter of taking care of your stuff..:D Buzz
Guest IguanaKing Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 No it isn't. With poor surface prep and/or insufficient curing time, ANY paint will rub off easily. In fact, "proper care" may even accelerate this problem. ;)
BuzzU Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 Would you mind if I bust Ruggs butt without interruption? Buzz
Guest IguanaKing Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 No problem if you do it in a PM. This was a public forum last time I checked, hence you should expect public comments on your "private" conversation. ;)
BuzzU Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 Well if you want to stay on topic. The paint is supposed to be better on the newer Cougars. btw..I had one of the first Cougars (preordered). I used it for 1 1/2 years with no paint flake. I must be lucky eh? btwbtw.Why would I bust Rugg's chops in a PM? He knows i'm not serious. Buzz
Guest ruggbutt Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 I repainted my Cougar with the best PPG paint I could get. I also did something that they evidently didn't think was necessary at the factory. I used primer. And I'm all about caring about the environment. I shot it w/my HVLP. :)
Guest IguanaKing Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 Actually, as I said before, the "paint" SUBtopic was brought up by a Cougar user...not by me OR Rugg. You have a $300 HOTAS that hasn't flaked in a year and a half, and you consider yourself lucky? LOL. I'm glad I still have my $75 X45 that I have used for over 5 years, and it still shows no external signs of wear. I'm also glad I have my $140 combo of CH Pro Throttle and Fighterstick. All of these cheap things get used often and have no problem whatsoever with being knocked on the floor by me or two curious reptiles. They continue to function, with a minimum of cleaning, pampering, and/or other maintenance...the "minimum" being NONE AT ALL, except for occasionally blowing off shed skin from my lizards. But...if you're happy with a $300-$1000 joystick that you have to treat like fine china...so be it. :D
BuzzU Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 Actually, as I said before, the "paint" SUBtopic was brought up by a Cougar user...not by me OR Rugg. You have a $300 HOTAS that hasn't flaked in a year and a half, and you consider yourself lucky? LOL. I'm glad I still have my $75 X45 that I have used for over 5 years, and it still shows no external signs of wear. I'm also glad I have my $140 combo of CH Pro Throttle and Fighterstick. All of these cheap things get used often and have no problem whatsoever with being knocked on the floor by me or two curious reptiles. They continue to function, with a minimum of cleaning, pampering, and/or other maintenance...the "minimum" being NONE AT ALL, except for occasionally blowing off shed skin from my lizards. But...if you're happy with a $300-$1000 joystick that you have to treat like fine china...so be it. :D You're confused son. I have years of use on my CH setup. Buzz
Guest IguanaKing Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 Maybe I am. So...you're saying you aren't extolling the virtues of the Cougar?
BuzzU Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 Maybe I am. So...you're saying you aren't extolling the virtues of the Cougar? I like the Cougar and the CH stuff. Don't hate me for not being a fanboi.:D Buzz
Guest IguanaKing Posted November 12, 2005 Posted November 12, 2005 Hey...I'm definitely no fanboi of anything. It seems I just walked right into an inside joke between you and Rugg. It went over my head...I've got no problem recognizing that. :D I must say though, I'm pretty impressed with my cheaper stuff (including my CH setup) and how it holds up well in harsh conditions. The CH is AWESOME...I just had to stay away from sims for a couple of weeks to forget my X45 movements. :icon_jook
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