Realistic joysticks/throttles

[Zkirby]

Hello,

Im currently Looking into a business venture here and need a little feedback. We Are in the infant stages of beginning production on affordable replicas of control sticks/Collums and possibly throttles and pedals. First will be the spitfire with more models to follow if there is enough interest. I'm looking for feedback from simmers as to what models they most want as initially we will be making limited runs and offering a number of one model before moving on to other models I.e. Bf-109, p-51, etc.

Sticks will be historic replicas with working buttons. Full sticks as well as mod kits to mod existing joysticks. All buttons will work and be programmable.

Thoughts? Spears? Let them fly..

Zachary Kirby
Stickmonkeys Inc.

[Herbs107]

I am certainly interested Zachary, put me down for a Spitfire stick/collum and pedals.

Michael

[revi]

you will have to compromise realism for practicality, as real pilots have an entire cockpit full of buttons/switches.
Simmers have a hard job as it is wwith mapped boards and buttons.
Stripping down the joystick to its bones will further fustrate the simmer.
So a somewhat authentic looking stick/throttle/pedals will be a welcome addition.
Dont go for total realism.

[Sauf]

I think a realistic looking stick for the bf-109/Spitfire/Hurricane that fits current setups (Thrustmaster/CH, ect) would sell well, as Revi said though the extra buttons are needed for simming hatswitch ect. Goodluck and keep us informed on your progress.

S`

[Vengeanze]

I'd love some kinda "box" with trimwheels and throttle, radiator, mix and pitchsticks that I can easily mount to my desktops left side.
That together with an authentic stick with ffb with perhaps a couple of buttons for fire, comm and quickzoom.

There! Make one of those and you have atleast one customer.

[CWMV]

Originally Posted by Vengeanze

I'd love some kinda "box" with trimwheels and throttle, radiator, mix and pitchsticks that I can easily mount to my desktops left side.
That together with an authentic stick with ffb with perhaps a couple of buttons for fire, comm and quickzoom.

There! Make one of those and you have atleast one customer.

Do this with 109 parts and ill buy for sure. For that matter you'd be money ahead to have 109 parts for sale when you open the doors. Lots of people in this sim and IL2 like the Spit/Hurricane, but there are MILLIONS of die hard Hundert-neun drivers. You know, people who appreciate what a real airplane should be...
I kid, I kid...kinda.

[Zkirby]

Like I stated earlier, we are in the early stages of this project. I'm an avid aviation buff as well as simulator fan. I'm currently active duty Navy and fly the EA-6B Prowler. On the side my father and I are in the middle of building a vans RV-8 Experimental aircraft. So far we are kicking around a few ideas, they are as follows:

3 ways to get the control stick you desire:

1 - A standard joystick (size wise). Size and feel will be very authentic, materials TBD. It would be a plug and play, programmable of course, joystick but only stand about 12 inches high or so.

2 - A full size joystick, for those who have the room and prefer a full length stick. Telescoping may be a viable option to allow for slightly different setups/seat heights etc.

3 - Stick kit. This would be the bare bones to mod a current stick, not very high on our want to do list as we then have to deal with warrantees and other people tearing apart their already good working joystick.

As for the first two options, our initial idea is to make our base accept all of our sticks i.e. you could detach your current, say spitfire stick, and plug in your BF-109 stick etc. Buttons would be historic with accessories or attachments available. Although we understand the constraints with current sims and the need for more buttons there are other options, albeit they cost money but the new trackIR setup is amazing and voids the need for a coolie hat to control your view. As for throttle quadrants they would have the 2-3 main levers and trim wheels and be as period correct but on the base would be a multitude of buttons, sliders, levers, etc. all within reach and all programmable.

Force feedback: I don't think we will be going down this road. The sticks will most likely be free floating with adjustable dampener/stiffeners/springs so when released the stick would not just flop over to the edge. More to come on this.

Materials: We believe in doing things the right way. We will be using a lot of high grade materials but will not sacrifice playability/affordability just to say we used grade 9 aviation bolts and fasteners. Where injection molded plastics will suffice and not take away from the overall feel/look we will probably use it as long as it holds up well. We do however love the feel and look of raw or anodized aluminum so who knows.

Again, feedback is what I'm looking for at this time. Hopefully we will have a few concept drawings to post in a few weeks/months. As for now, I have a lot of research to do. Luckily Paul Allen owns and flies a spit out of Arlington field which is about an hour away. A field trip is in order.
Zach Kirby

[revi]

I have modded my Cyborg FFB stick to a full length size, to give me the feel I had a control column in my grasp that my arm could use, not just my wrist as was the case with the stick out of the box.
This has been both easily accomplished as well as one of the best modifications/additions to gaming - for me.
From doing this I learnt the height of your stick needs to be adjustable, as everyones set up is going to be different.
Force feedback is crucial for me. I wouldnt buy a stick without it. No matter how good looking a stick is, the immersion factor is gone without FFB.
I do like a solid and weighty feel on the stick/column although materials dont concern me too much as long as the feel is there.
Authentic looking buttons/switches +1. No good on the base tho.
Selling interchangeable sticks for generic base is a great idea.
Most importantly, as you will be well aware, its not just the flight simmer who you have to sell this to, its more his other half.
So keep the cost down or you'll join the ranks of the other exclusive fanatics.

[Sokol1]

The thing about making a replica Spit column is that it is fine if all you want to fly is a Spit. It just wouldn't feel right if using it for a 109.

Just imagine that you are a pilot in Swiss 109.



I look for KG13-B - Tarmac Aces plan in next version of these change B-Knof in 5 way switch, so you have 8 buttons. But they actual cost is prohibitive.

Since Force Feedback involve royalties to Imersion, this is a No Go for small scale production.

I like the idea of kit for MOD actual joystick.
Imagine that someone have a CH Fighterstick and buy a kit to change to KG13-B,
whit 8 buttons in WWII grip. But left unused another 8 + HAT...

Just include in kit a small switch panel to handle this leftover buttons.
Something like this AV8R MOD:





Sokol1