VKB Gunfighter

[♣_Spiritus_♣]

That one with the extension looks bad. Damnit now I want one.

[ATAG_Pattle]

Im very interested.

Hows Australia looking for availability?

[ATAG_Pattle]

Any chance of it being available in Australia?

[ATAG_Highseas]

Well if worst comes to the worst.... by boat and by lorry....

There's always a way....

[1lokos]

Until now VKB barely discovery the America.

[LuseKofte]

I have little to no hope for this, looking at Gladiators availability history. I have taken the consequences for this and resigned. I buy what I want and pay the shipping cost. My latest purchase cost me a warthog just in shipping.
Is it worth it? I hear you ask, Well to me it is.
I cannot get anything decent in any store in Norway, so I have to look carefully and take my time thinking and choosing. Last purchase was from Hong Kong.
Unfortunately for the Gunfighter there are some very good options with a network all over the world. Let say you fly DCS also , choppers and jets. Do you really want to spend 600$ + on a stick with a small numbers of buttons, I thought I would until I was about to buy, then I changed my mind.
Secondly the hand-rest make the KG 13 not look like a KG 13, then why buy a KG 13. Truth is you do not need a hand-rest on a floor mounted stick, you rest your hand on your feet.
I always believed that a self centering stick was needed, going for choppers I choose to have a non centering stick. And what do you know, it gives a very authentic feel for planes also, and muzzle memory center the stick all by itself.
Please there are many options, Baur ( guaranteed quality and handmade base, I am sure it is better than most) , maxflightstick (same handmade quality) and many many more. Take a look and do not get too focused on this

[1lokos]

Problem with VKB is their "feedback police":

Recently we will send one batch of Gladiator Pro to European warehouse. I think it will be available in European warehouse very soon.
Please allow me to explain why there is delay.
Because usually for first new model of joystick, we didn't produce big quantity, and tried to get feedback from clients.
To check if there should be any improvements. For first batch of Gladiator pro, we didn't find problem.
Now we already under production of second batch, which is planned to finish production within 4 weeks. So our goods will be always with stock.))

Good for one side, bad for another (availability).

BTW - Pool about USA/Canada interest in Gladiator PRO:

http://forum.vkb-sim.pro/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=2436

[ATAG_Highseas]

Please there are many options, Baur ( guaranteed quality and handmade base, I am sure it is better than most) , maxflightstick (same handmade quality) and many many more. Take a look and do not get too focused on this

I will look into these.
Cheers.

[Stig1207]

Truth is you do not need a hand-rest on a floor mounted stick, you rest your hand on your feet.

So how long are your arms, Luse?

[1lokos]

Secondly the hand-rest make the KG 13 not look like a KG 13, then why buy a KG 13. Truth is you do not need a hand-rest on a floor mounted stick, you rest your hand on your feet.

VKB planned enter in mass joystick market with the typical 4 buttons + HAT grip joystick.

Take in mind that in this range the cost to add a single extra press button is considered prohibitive. To give you a idea about this: When VKB are managing the production of Cobra M5 for Defender (Russian hardware distributor), Defender executives vet use a 16kb chip because cost 0,05$ more than 8kb version.

BTW - Cobra M5 production was discontinued recently. Their creation is a interesting history (will tell more about VKB): https://habrahabr.ru/post/141524/

In China is easy and cheap use a maked-up existent mold from other joystick for make a new - like the used Thrustaster HOTAS X, the same grip is see in several OEM brands.

But VKB plan enter in the market with something different, their engineer is simmer and like of Bf 109 KG12-B stick,
so decide ADAPT their design to be a "desktop joystick", move the mic button (pinky) up, make the B-Knop button a HAT
and add this palm rest (convenient in desktop joystick).
He don't want make a replica of KG12 grip (Bauer did), just use their look.
And they achieve make a their 3 button joystick able to press 8 buttons, so has more usability than T.16000M grip for example.

Gladiator hand-rest is removable.

https://forum.il2sturmovik.ru/upload...1475148969.jpg

[LuseKofte]

So how long are your arms, Luse?

Floormounted stick do not need a hand-rest. because when you fly longer you rest them on your leap

same goes when you manoeuvre carefully in a chopper. Hand-rest is really important for table joysticks .

@ Lokos1 I agree with you, but my guess this stick will be in a price range that will compete with real high end equipment. And personally I think if they keep it under 600$ it will really be a bargain. Over that price , well there is so much more.

[1lokos]

As always in VKB story, use Gladiator KG-12B grip in Gunfighter is a workaround - like use Cobra M5 for Mambas - until they don't have capacity ($) to produce a more "sophisticated" one.

Not sure about, but seems they will sold Gunfighter without grip, for Warthog users use their grip.

VKB solutions is for one who know and look for better internals.
The ones who want "badass" look and 20+ buttons exist Warthog's.

Is like this 600$+ helicopters stick that you link, they are for restricted market - and their mechanical solutions are far from innovative.

[LuseKofte]

I was not going for innovative, but realism. And as far as that goes it give immersion. I bought one with CF fighter grip, nothing fancy but with two hats and 6 buttons. I was after something working for both planes and choppers, not self centering and could handle a lot of movements. And I can assure you it does. Witch make it pretty alone.
I had a 1300$ yoke (1600$ with shipping) it could not take active flying for a long time, springs broke.
For my specific needs Maxflightstick is about the only one suited for me. But that does not mean it is for you

[1lokos]

Despite Santa Claus and Reindeer's brave efforts, "el Pistolero" missing Christmas.



But will come... in "two weeks, be sure™" , after the New Year.

BTW - This New Year is the Chinese New Year holidays, in February.

[ATAG_Highseas]

Hahaha!

[1lokos]

"Pistolero" secret weapon - the new gimbal, seems that use a ... "brake"??:

free picture upload

http://vkbcontrollers.com/?product=vkb-gunfighter-pro#

Renders (WiP) of FAT Gunfighter idea (scrool down) - the site is not VKB affiliated, just "fan page":

http://www.vkb-sim.com.ar/gunfighter-mki-cjg9

[LuseKofte]

I am really curious about the price of this thing

[1lokos]

I suppose is the "Khosmosima" grip (Wip).



"Dead man" switch?

[1lokos]

2x

[ATAG_Highseas]

I'm confused. Where did the metal gimbal cam levers go??

[1lokos]

This above has CAM, the brass lever under sensor PCB. Basically the Mambas/Gladiator PRO gimbal improved.

In opposite side of CAM has a "brake drum" to damper return to center.

[ATAG_Highseas]

This above has CAM, the brass lever under sensor PCB. Basically the Mambas/Gladiator PRO gimbal improved.

In opposite side of CAM has a "brake drum" to damper return to center.

Listing on the USA site now suddenly specifies with regard to the dry clutches "made of nylon".

That changed after they started taking orders.

No idea if nylon works better in this role than brass, just thought I'd mention it.

[1lokos]

Strange that change with previous warning...

But since the purpose of "dry clutch" is creating friction dampening the return to center, no inconvenient in be made in Nylon.
I remember VKB say in Russian forum that "dry clutch" will require maintenance - a drop of oil time from time, probable Nylon avoid this.

[ATAG_Highseas]

Strange that change with previous warning...

But since the purpose of "dry clutch" is creating friction dampening the return to center, no inconvenient in be made in Nylon.
I remember VKB say in Russian forum that "dry clutch" will require maintenance - a drop of oil time from time, probable Nylon avoid this.

Probably.

Can't really see myself using those much in any case... though you never know.

Mine is on order. How tremendously exciting.



Keep ya posted !

[PhoenixCNE]

Aaaaannd it's gone ... lol. Unfortunately the North America distributor is now out of stock on all gunfighter variants, very surprised at the speed they went (altho I have never been a part of awaiting a VKB release so can't say if typical)

[69th_Zeb]

Yeh, the brass is tougher but nasty on the galling chart. Delrin/Nylon would work great. Looks like a nice product!

[ATAG_Highseas]

ha!... 1Lokos is right again !

Shipping of the Gunfighter initial batch is delayed somewhat due to delays in the supply chain of the Gunfighter's PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) and PCBAs (Printed Ciruit Board Assembly). These delays were outside of the control of VKB HQ and pushed back the delivery date by about two - three weeks. VKB HQ promised to provide me with an up-to-date shipping date on (or before) March 28.

I've waited a year. I can wait another month or three if needs be.

My guess is the European shop will be listing them after they are actually "physically" available. !

I still can't speak Russian or Chinese.... so no idea there !

[Vlerkies]

VKB products remain somewhat of a mystery to me.

I see lots of press and really good comments but when I go looking for info I hit blanks.
Probably just me and I am sure the hardware is of good quality, I just don't understand the differences or improvements.
Taking my own stupidity out of the equation for a second, my comment is offered as constructive criticism of the marketing, not the hardware itself.

[ATAG_Highseas]

VKB products remain somewhat of a mystery to me.

I see lots of press and really good comments but when I go looking for info I hit blanks.
Probably just me and I am sure the hardware is of good quality, I just don't understand the differences or improvements.
Taking my own stupidity out of the equation for a second, my comment is offered as constructive criticism of the marketing, not the hardware itself.

haha !!

I don't really get them either.

I guess they are more a collective of folk who wanted to make nice stuff for themselves... rather than a traditional company.

Odd setup from a UK / European perspective, (business wise I mean).

Stuff looks good though, and more than that the designs are logical from a mechanical viewpoint, and excellent from an engineering viewpoint.

I assume that their design mindset is to start with the function, and end up with a product. Rather than start with "pretty" fashion item, and work backwards from there to get it to work.


but yeah... I know very little about them other than that they have my money... and I'm ok with that.

[1lokos]

My guess is the European shop will be listing them after they are actually "physically" available. !

What based on all these "two-three more weeks, be sure"™ make all sense.

People use say there: "Scalded cat is afraid of cold water".

Sell existent products and not "promises".

I guess they are more a collective of folk who wanted to make nice stuff for themselves... rather than a traditional company.

Seems the case, one guy living in China (with a office and some Chinese employers) dealing with 3rd party production chain, a programmer and some designers/engineers scattered across Russia = small capacity for production.

What seems help then is that in China are a big market for their products, bigger that Russian market.

BTW - They say that MCG grip first batch will be 1000 units.