(Part 3) Top products from r/hotas

Hi, I'm only an occasional lurker on this sub but I can help a little here. I was searching for info and stumbled on an Italian store listing three variations, HOTAS, stick only and a 'Flight Pack.'

You may take it with a grain of salt since some store speculatively list to draw early pre-orders, but Amazon in Germany have the same products up:

HOTAS

Flight Stick

Flight Pack

I assume the Flight pack includes the pedals?

I think Thrustmaster's own website shows the throttle separately as well, and surely they'd be crazy not to sell the items individually. I'm sure it will be possible to do stick only.

Nice review, I just did similar sort of research for myself when upgrading from a SpeedLink Black-widow (which you may want to mention on your list) to an X52 Pro. What struck me is how few HOTAS options there are on the market, and to an extent flight sticks in general. The last time I was aware of the pleasure-stick market was 5 years ago, when I bought my SpeedLink. I expected to find a ton of options when searching for an upgrade, but apart from a few new ones you still are basically limited to the same small selection that was available 5 years ago. And no good force-feedback sticks! I'd love to get my hands on a modern day Sidewinder.

Also, I've been using my SpeedLink with Arma 2 and 3 for the last few years, and it does work surprisingly well. The flight models are slightly arcadey, but using a hotas with it will still give you an edge over a basic flight-stick. It seems a lot of people still prefer using keyboard and mouse for Arma flight though, which personally baffles me but it probably attests to the weak flight physics. I'd like to see them run Prepar3d with a K&M.

Check out some of these reviews on Amazon.

From what I'm gathering, it's not a bad product, but it has a number of issues that you'll likely have to deal with.

Also, like the newer Warthog counterpart, I don't believe the Cougar stick will twist, which means you're going to want a set of rudder pedals as well before you can properly fly anything.

If he's willing to give you a ridiculously awesome price, go for it. Otherwise you might just want to consider other options.

Thanks for all the replies. Alot of options that I am leaning on. For reference Ill take a pic of the office chair I have its similar to the below similar handle bars:

https://www.amazon.com/HON-Validate-Tall-Executive-Chair/dp/B005ZC69VM

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No need to take a pic of the couch as its just a couch

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Interesting enough as per the pvc idea I was randomly googling and stumbled upon some adjustable speaker stands like the below that may work also. what do you guys think?

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https://www.amazon.com/VideoSecu-Adjustable-Height-Satellite-Speaker/dp/B000VRREPG/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JANCXA1MJQB7K7QZ59NM

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I also was researching racing wheel stands as it is harder to find flight stick rigs and stumbled upon these that may also work I guess:

https://www.amazon.com/Next-Level-Racing-Flight-Pack-pc/dp/B01CXYJJIE/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JANCXA1MJQB7K7QZ59NM

Maybe the better rig and cheaper with center stick possibility

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Racing-Simulator-Steering-Wheel-Stand-for-T300RS-458-T80-G27-G29-PS4-G920/332846460696?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3Daf00d28a5c984bbd8107bc08b055b980%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D10%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D113165331091%26itm%3D332846460696&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Ad42db93c-2656-11e9-9992-74dbd1800c3a%7Cparentrq%3Aaa83e8601680ac3c5f9856f0ffdf13d7%7Ciid%3A1

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As for the JPien I checked it out but not sure if I can buy 2x of those to stick on my office chair if that work, is it possible? Guessing the center piece can go where the leg strut is maybe to fit between the legs?

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Alternatively that ikea laptop stand looks really really good and a small price also. Im thinking maybe can buy 2x and use my office chair and set 1x up on the left side and the other in the center of the chair

https://m.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/art/20242767/

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Alot of options to run with here I suppose tough choice what to aim for

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That reminds me.... I got one of those steelseries F1 wheels that I would love to mount on a yoke. It has like a million buttons. Would make a sweet space freighter or TIE bomber/Ywing controller. If only I could find a yoke for cheap, no way I'm butchering a new one.

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/uk-videogames/2011/dp/B006IR6NH8/image1_large._V140829819_.jpg

Maybe something like this?

Belkin F3U200-08INCH DB15 8-Inch USB Joystick Adapter for SideWinder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000067RIV/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_CwmYxbCHGHKP1


Better reviews on this one:
USB game port Adapter Rockfire RM-203 gameport https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HAX7OU/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_3xmYxb6KA1WBA

Ok thank you very much! Will this be fine? https://www.amazon.co.uk/WD40D-701-325UK-WD-40-Silicone-400ml/dp/B006UCNI38/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538835042&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=wd40+silicone+lubricant&dpPl=1&dpID=41KizM8YwCL&ref=plSrch

Well, it depends on what you're looking for. Those kinds of throttle controls do exist, and are often often designed for specific kinds of aircraft. I hesitate to recommend Saitek given their currentnear-complete lack of support at the moment, but I've heard their yokes and throttle quadrants are actually decent and a number of other companies do some even more comprehensively. You might also take a look at the CH Products Throttle Quadrant if you're interested in that sort of thing. They're ugly, but they're built like tanks and at $120 they aren't going to break the bank.

CH includes an analog thumbstick on its pro throttle which most players map to thrust vectoring and translation.

A buddy of mine who has Elite dangerous says he uses a 3dmouse for 6DOF controls, He also does 3d modeling as well so if you only want it as a game controller I would say to save your money.

I use locking casters as well (generic chair nothing particularly fancy) plus caster covers on the wheels to keep them from slipping on hardwood. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004SOJIZC/

I just used Super Lube on an old stick I'm tearing down and rebuilding. It works fine, although since I just did it I don't know yet how long it will last.

Thanks. Here are the clamps I used:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004K60H08/

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Everything else I got from ZYLtech. Note that I have no affiliation with them, just a happy customer.

2 * 1m long 2040: http://www.zyltech.com/zyltech-2040-anodized-aluminum-extrusion-pre-cut-lengths-300mm-2000mm/

Rubber strips: http://www.zyltech.com/flexible-rubber-extrusion-strips-for-20mm-aluminum-extrustion-black-or-blue/

1 pack of inside angle brackets: http://www.zyltech.com/t-slot-l-type-90-degree-2020-inside-bracket-12-pack/

1 pack of outside corner braces: http://www.zyltech.com/12x-90-20mm-aluminum-brace-angle-bracket-for-2020-extrusion-black/

1 bag of M5 hammer nuts: http://www.zyltech.com/100x-zyltech-hammer-nuts-t-slot-for-2020-aluminum-extrusion-m4-or-m5/

1 bag of M5x8 screws: http://www.zyltech.com/100x-zyltech-m5x8-and-m5x10-button-hex-screws/

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I'm going to go back and add a corner brace at the top of the upper clamping piece as it's tending to rotate up when I clamp, and I need to make a lower clamp pad, which I will probably make out of wood since I have lots of it.

CH makes joysticks and yokes.

https://www.amazon.com/CH-Products-Flight-Yoke-200-615/dp/B000056SPM

https://www.amazon.com/CH-Products-Eclipse-Yoke-Programmable/dp/B001GIOGBY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1506116244&sr=1-1&keywords=ch+eclipse

The Eclipse is newer.

https://www.amazon.com/CH-Products-Throttle-Quadrant-300-133/dp/B0002A59Z4/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1506116050&sr=1-1&keywords=ch+quadrant

If you have the room for it on your desk, one of these under each base will keep them still in an earthquake. I picked up that 2-pack soon after getting my X-55, and I haven't noticed any movement since using them. The only downside is that they're pretty big. I think you may be able to cut them and have them intact, but I haven't tried.

Clamp

https://www.amazon.com/Lubricant-Grease-Nyogel-50g-Tube/dp/B00W6KWK1Y seems in stock but I've used https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-80345-White-Lithium-Grease/dp/B000HBNV58/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_263_bs_lp_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=9JBBKWHAVF09F98QKWYP in a pinch without issue

I use two of these attached right to the regular chair armrests

these
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BT7EA18/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=nerdshowand09-20&linkId=98b05413c5c5fbf0ddee78adfe4305b1

Not listed in US stores yet, but a standalone version exists: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01H6KXGEI/

More "affordable" in Amazon.de

EUR 199,99

https://www.amazon.de/Thrustmaster-F18-Hotas-Stick-AddOn/dp/B07S5FC1HS/ref=mp_s_a_1_31

This Mixer Stand
and a 16x22" board cut to size and velcro'd onto the stand.

Look at the hardware store for anti-skid mats for carpets on hard floors. You can cut it to size to give them more grip. Or maybe a desktop version at an office supplies store.

https://www.amazon.com/Grip-Non-Slip-Surface-Floors-10-Feet/dp/B003UV3FI0?th=1