WOW... i can’t believe what i just did

[MyPC8MyBrain 273]

WOW... i can’t believe what i just did

I’m speechless right now

my brain cannot process many syllables at the moment

all i am able to say is repetitive WOW’s

blow some air out

than WOW again

it’s been over two hours now

I didn’t even plug it in yet; I’m just staring at it admiring it

No plastic in sight; it’s all metal! WoW what a master piece

[stu7708 244]

Enjoy it Chris... 

 

 

[MyPC8MyBrain 273]

Thank you Mikael

i was all set to get the X52; than this odd size box kept staring at me

the second i pulled it off the shelf; my arm almost ripped out its socket

i know something was wrong; i just didn't know how wrong its about to get

the X52 were there; but i've heard about these ThrustMaster controller set;

i just wanted to see whats all the fuss is about

but the sales guy refused to open the box;

he kept saying if you don't like them you have two weeks to return it

i figured ok; ill excuse this as an evaluation only

ill be back in few days to return these and get my original X52

my description above is what happened when i opened the box when i got home

i just came back from a ride on the Dodo; i am blown away from the sensation

how am i going to return these now; these are never going back, MINE FOREVER!

[stu7708 244]

I think I had a joystick from Thurstmaster way back when I first got a PC in the mid-late nineties (and before I got in to MS FS)...

 

But I still managed to wear it out, playing Star Wars: X-wing Alliance

 

It wasn't as sturdy as that one looks though  

[jaydor 345]

Congratulations, you will love using this set up, a it is so precise and realistic..  enjoy.. 

[brett 2,315]

That guy was a good salesman.   Have fun.

[MyPC8MyBrain 273]

conclusion and general advisory, do not take ThrustMaster HOTAS home! (they will never leave)

 

you will never be able to part from it; i don't recall the last time i was smittened like this

 

the story gets even better; so i figured lets have fun with this all the way

Saitek x55 was glaring me down making me feel bad i wasn't considering her

yes X55 came home with us as well for the lineup test

 

it is still sitting its its box; sealed!

i don't think it will even get open for a peak.

 

 

 

[MyPC8MyBrain 273]

Congratulations, you will love using this set up, a it is so precise and realistic..  enjoy.. 

TY James; this is so true!

i am still speechless

i was out looking for artifact today to mount these properly

since both ThrustMaster HOTAS and Saitek X55 HOTAS are here;

im going to follow up with a short personal review on the two (well the one mainly)

out of respect i made myself open the X55; poor thing didn't stand a chance from the get go

if you guys want any special angle pic or for me to test something; speak out

[mutley 4,498]

Hey Chris, you make it sound irresistible!

 

I would really like to read your take on it..

 

Cheers,

Joe 

[MyPC8MyBrain 273]

trust me you dont!

 

if you around one of these; look away like its the sun

if you touch it once; your going home with it!

move along the faster the better

 

now its getting more complicated and expensive, DAMN

 

http://shop.volairsim.com/Volair-Sim-Flight-Racing-Sim-Cockpit-VS-01-2.htm

 

[MyPC8MyBrain 273]

Its been two days now; my hand is in excruciating pains as I refuse to let go of the cyclic  

I am transitioning from twist rudders to pedals; the instinct is stamped in my brain

I find myself constantly trying to twist the stick instead of sending instructions to my feet

Good thing it’s made out of 100% metal; id probably would have snapped broken any other grip on the market by now

 

This little personal review isn’t focusing on any technical aspects of either sets

As these are both top of the line controllers; I doubt the feature department is lacking for either

there will not be any head to head comparisons accept for few pics for impression

 

both controllers look almost identical as they both aim at the same HOTAS platform

 

 

I’ve watched Frogle’s review on the X55 and was extremely curious; as he was raving about these

If it wasn’t for that review; the X55 would have stayed in the store; TM HOTAS would have won by its sheer weight alone

Further inquiries for the TM HOTAS box returned 10.35 lbs shipping weight

We are discussing a flight controller, 10.35 lbs

 

Yes; that’s pretty  much how I felt

I read the box description saying “replica”; ok ive seen that many time

They write it on every box; I was expecting some crazy overweight transformer

 

From the minute I opened the TM box; its as if I was hit by a ton of bricks

I just sat down; very quietly holding only the leaver, unattached to anything,

The cold metal immediately send a unique sensation through your fingertips like no other

You know the feeling of holding a real gun? It commands respect from the second you wrap your hand around it!

 

Very much confused and disoriented by the thought running through my head

I pulled out the base; the damn thing is heavy; is this… all metal…? OMG, It is!

I saw that thin base online; thinking how is this stable with a thin base like that; I got it now.

 

Next I attach the parts together with few turns to the metal knob on the base

I was looking at the plug itself before I closed it; noted to myself; they thought of everything; this is made to work!

Its a simple PS2 male female connector at the base; which makes extending the leaver a simple task; well the wiring  part of it  

 

All connected; I struggled slightly lifting the cyclic with a single hand

I was admiring the design and guts it take to come out with something like this

It’s a real leaver! I could feel the excitement keeps building as I examine the base design

learning the flat part at the bottom is detachable with 4 screws

 

 

I placed it on my desk; it is time to give her a go; Let’s see how she feels

I wrap  my hand around it looking for the right grip; my mind keeps loosing focus from the sensation

I start moving the stick around; this feels too damn real

It moves different than any controller I tried before

The base magnets pull on it from every direction

Not allowing you to loosen your grip for a second

Let it go and it snaps to center instantly with a real metal clank

awhile the whole base remain stable!

 

It was about than that I glanced to the X55 box with some sadness

I know there is nothing in that box that could come close, noting!

 

I haven’t even pulled out the TM throttle leaver out of its box yet!

[MyPC8MyBrain 273]

The throttle leaver is a heavy monster by itself

Full of old style analog switch buttons; and plenty real-estate to map many functions

The two leaver operate separately; I found them little flimsy when operated individually

When the hidden lock button is set to lock them as one; it is sturdy as one can ask for; but isn’t made of metal

The throttle base is fully metal with piano gloss top panel; against the chrome shine of the analog switches; love it!

 

 

So we fast forward countless hours of admiring this work of art; I finally plugged it in

Windows immediately recognized the new hardware; no drivers were needed

Next I opened FSX ; sure enough everything was l listed there

Closed fsx and went through the built-in windows calibration which went smooth as butter;

back in FSX > FSUIPC calibration went smooth as well

its now time to take her for a ride

my Dodo is loaded and set to level 4; here we go…

 

testing the range on the throttle left me very happy with plenty of range and sensitivity to play with

as I mentioned I am transitioning from twist rudder’s to pedals which added to my nervousness and confusion at first

I find myself gripping the leaver so hard in order to maintain my direction

Mainly not used to the magnets pulling on the leaver; something that doesn’t exist with regular controllers

This isn’t force feedback imitation; but something else entirely; you can’t use two fingers to operate the cyclic

Your whole hand has to grip good and maintain your position; you let it go and the magnets will pull you to center instantly

This is the first time I had to use constant force as I was flying

When the flight was over; I was not only mentally exhausted

but my hand was hurting from the constant battle with the cyclic

it is amazing the layer this particular controller adds to the flight experience

 

I don’t think I can ever go back to standard cyclic after this

[MyPC8MyBrain 273]

It wasn’t until the next day that I pulled out the X55 from the box; shortly after another long flight with the TM

I hindsight I should have started with the X55 set; because what happened next felt like a joke

As soon as I pulled the leaver out of the box I was disappointed

Im judging it based on my TM experience and it had no chance

There is no cold feel to it or respect; it feels very nice and smooth

The texture is made of nice compounds; but they are very light

There is no fell to it; no magnets to resist your motion; It felt lifeless

Similar to the TM, the X55 attaches to its base nice and firmly

The leaver contours are slightly more fitting to my hand

I could rest my thumb and thumb pillow firmly on the grip without hitting any buttons; something I couldn’t do with the TM

The X55 comes with set of replacement springs to setup the leaver to your preferred tension

I found them all to be light years apart from the effect you get with the magnets

this could be a deal breaker for some; as the X55 is simply much easier to operate

It doesn’t resist you; and have the option for the twist rudders; which the TM doesn’t offer

This new leaver the X55 is so light; that it too will snap to center with even the lightest tension spring mounted

It doesn’t feel very sturdy because if it’s extremely light weight; but once placed on a flat surface

It is very stable; and with not much to resist; its not going anywhere anytime soon

The base is also a very nice; I personally didn’t like how everything is so light weight (regardless on the TM)

If not for the big base; it’s so light weight; it doesn’t convey stability when you lift it

The X55 also have separate leavers; for some reason they feel little sturdier then the TM leavers when operate separately

I don’t know if it’s because the X55 is fully made of sort of plastic compound so its leavers feel more natural in its casing

Vs the TM which are again some sort of plastic compound within a metal casing; your sub conches expects them to be out of metal

I have to admit I didn’t take the X55 for a ride; I know I wasn’t going to be disappointed with them

They felt so flimsy compared to the TM; I didn’t see the point I know the outcome in advance

I was more excited to load another flight with the new TM

to conclude

i now have a new permanent resident in my cockpit

actually this controller commands a full cockpit to be built around it

which i already started looking into a nice base from VolairSim

for those of you on the market for new controller

i strongly recommend to stay away from the thrustMaster Hotas Warthog

unless you’re ready to part way from a nice chuck of cash; when you see these, run and dont look back

if you touch them once; you’re done; no if what’s or buts; they will go home with you

and you will get in trouble when your significant other finds out

mine didn’t yet