Hardware & Technical So I bought a Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X Flight Stick and...

paganpenguin

paganpenguin
When I got my HOTAS X back in October (birthday present... like every 41 year old wants ;)) it took me a while to get used to the feel, having come from a joystick/keyboard set up. At the time I was also trying to get to grips with the FDL - which did not end up well and did rather colour my opinion of it. The list of disasters that ultimately ended up with me in a loaner Sidey, and plenty of time to get to grips with my control system.

I have everything set up on the HOTAS by using buttons 9 and 10 as modifiers (also for some reason button 5 doesn't always work so I avoid using it), from chaff to heatsinks, low wake to high, they are all no more than a button or two away - the only time is when I need to type something or drive the SRV (which I've bound to an Xbox controller). Everything just feels right - except for the lack of precision, so off to download joystick curves and try that out!
 

Arindor

Arindor
The only problems I have with my HOTAS X is trying to make it more responsive by messing with the deadzones, and I would prefer an analogue hat switch (which is bound to lateral and vertical thrust ... although landing on a hi-G planet can be quite scary if you're over zealous with it). Apart from that, it's a good stick for the price. :)
 

nosscar

nosscar
I love my Hotas T flight x, and been using it for a while now, even though i have just ordered a brand new x52 from Amazon now they are at 99 quid, , mainly just for the extra buttons and rotaries\hats ect, and because it just looks so nice and has all the fancy lights, a risk with the current feedback from Saitek yes, but i have a good 12 month warranty with Amazon if there is any problems, and my trusty old Hotas x to fall back on.
 

Hampstor

Hampstor
I modded mine, the throttle I replaced the spring with layers of cardboard until it was the right resistance and I mixed grease with graphite power and packed it into the stick and throttle mechanisms, its smooth as butter now.
 

Teldja

Teldja
4Corvus said:
Man I think I hate it.

For some reason it seems so clunky trying to work the throttle on this thing. Feels like a cheap child's toy, and the keyboard/mouse seems to give me way more control in general.

Am I way outside the norm here or have other people had similar experiences?
Click to expand...


I recently replaced my Trustmaster Hotas X by a Saitek X52 Pro.
Not because it was bad, quite the opposite ! I loved it. It gave me so much more control over a simple joystick.
But It did not resist the test of time. One year old and the bottons located on the truster are dead now. And the Stick is in a bad chape too.
All in all I wish it was more resilient because I would have kept it but it is the cheapest Hotas on the market as far as I know thus, the early wear I guess.
 

Henkka77

Henkka77
Almost 600 hours in with T-Flight and so far nothing to complain.
Sure, its plasticy and a bit toyish, but hey, what did you expect with that price tag..
Serves me well enough.
 

Marra Morgan

Marra Morgan
Another happy HOTAS X user here :)

I use the side-button on the top as a shift-switch to double up my bindings and I've adjusted the stick sensitivity to be a bit lighter as the stock setting was a bit too heavy for me. For the cost, it's fantastic value for money!
 

Genar-Hofoen

Genar-Hofoen
paganpenguin said:
When I got my HOTAS X back in October (birthday present... like every 41 year old wants ;)) it took me a while to get used to the feel, having come from a joystick/keyboard set up. At the time I was also trying to get to grips with the FDL - which did not end up well and did rather colour my opinion of it. The list of disasters that ultimately ended up with me in a loaner Sidey, and plenty of time to get to grips with my control system.

I have everything set up on the HOTAS by using buttons 9 and 10 as modifiers (also for some reason button 5 doesn't always work so I avoid using it), from chaff to heatsinks, low wake to high, they are all no more than a button or two away - the only time is when I need to type something or drive the SRV (which I've bound to an Xbox controller). Everything just feels right - except for the lack of precision, so off to download joystick curves and try that out!
Click to expand...


That happened to me shortly after I bought my T-Flight HOTAS X!

I can tell you right now what that is - the bit of plastic inside the throttle which holds the button switches against the external buttons - has cracked!

So what you need to do is get some epoxy resin and a screwdriver, open up your throttle - ALSO unscrew the two screws that hold the large plastic "faceplate" on the throttle - you'll know it when you see it - this makes it way easier to unscrew and detach the cracked plastic switch-holder.

Be careful you don't lose any of the springs - the buttons will want to fall out as well and it can be awkward and fiddly putting it all back together again so take good note of how it's all assembled!

Anyway - inspect this plastic mount which holds the button switches to the buttons - it'll either have cracked or have snapped altogether as mine had.

Mix your epoxy resin and fix this plastic mount together - again be careful you don't cover holes with epoxy. Also try to reinforce this mount with epoxy. Wait for it to set, reassemble, and your button(s) should all work again.

Regards o7
 

Wasp0

Wasp0
Wasp0 said:
Just count yourself lucky you did not spend (and waste) a whole heap of money on a heap of junk called the X55 Rhino!!

Then have to try get a modicum of sense out of what must go down as the worst Support/Customer Service this side of the black Stump!

You should truly count yourself blessed and Embrace what you have. There are people out there who are worse off than you (X55 Owners!!)
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Well oiled beef hooked................. I wonder if Madcatz support read this forum, as 30 mins after posting the above, they phoned and apologised for the delay in getting back to me. They are sending me my 3rd Replacement X55 :eek:
 

Salami

Salami
HOTAS eh?
Wrong stick, FAR too expensive for what it is.
You should have saved a tiny bit more and go for one of these:
size0.jpg


:p
 
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jojon

J
Being rather imprecise myself, rather than only the joystick, I have long been thinking of (read: "...will probably never get around to..." :p) modifying my T-flight, by extending the length of the sticks - particularly the throttle, for greater travel, and bolting a hydraulic dampener to each axis.

Has anybody else made such mods, and if so; Do you have any obeservations and tips to share. :)
 
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FluorescentBlack

FluorescentBlack
I have made only one exception to flying without a stick and that was in Freelancer because you could not use one. OP, was this the first stick you have had or was it just the first time you used one in ED?
 

Dielos

Dielos
I love my throttle. Having the central notch is a god send in ED, and couldn't find any other hotas that gives you this. Also, it's a very good hotas for that price!
 

shadragon

shadragon
4Corvus said:
Man I think I hate it.

For some reason it seems so clunky trying to work the throttle on this thing. Feels like a cheap child's toy, and the keyboard/mouse seems to give me way more control in general.

Am I way outside the norm here or have other people had similar experiences?
Click to expand...
It's a budget HOTAS made of plastic. I got one to try out the HOTAS concept and I like mine. I use a Logitech joystick (which has more buttons than the default one) and the Thrustmaster throttle. You can buy x55's or even hire a company to do a custom one for a couple of thousand. Lots of options out there if you want a metal chunk of oiled perfection. :)

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Rudolphus said:
is it possible to use the throttle in the right hand
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The hand grips and buttons are built for the left hand. I'm left handed and find this works fine for me. If you are right handed that will be on your joystick so should work best.
 

CMDR MAIN SEQUENCE

CMDR MAIN SEQUENCE
It seems to me there is a gap in the market for a decent quality HOTAS in the £60-70 bracket, something half-way between the T.Flight and the Saitek's.

To the OP, yes it's a bit plasticy but IMO it's great VFM. The throttle could do with a bit more weight and the stick has a sizeable physical deadzone (probably the only thing I don't like about it).

Like others have said give Joystick Curves a try. And Forward Only throttle. The problem is you can't use both together. Unfortunately JC makes the deadzone on the stick seem larger. I've recently switched back to Full Range throttle mainly so that the ship and SRV are the same, the bonus is that I can use JC on the throttle axis and get better control of the SRV speed which otherwise is far too sensitive.

paganpenguin said:
(also for some reason button 5 doesn't always work so I avoid using it)
Click to expand...

My button 5 (used for vertical thrust) is starting to get a bit flakey too.

Genar-Hofoen said:
I can tell you right now what that is - the bit of plastic inside the throttle which holds the button switches against the external buttons - has cracked!

So what you need to do is...
Click to expand...

Many thanks for the tip, rep incoming. Mine is just out of warranty, assuming the warranty is 1 year. But they are so cheap I've been thinking about buying another one and then I have a spare. EDIT: checked and the EU warranty is two years.
 
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Drunk Si

D
I got one a little while ago and at first I didn't like it that much; previously I had been using a Logitech 3d extreme pro and keyboard and it took me a little while for me to retrain the old muscle memory but now that I've got the hang of it and found some nice binds on these forums that give me access to basically everything on the hotas I wouldn't want to use anything else.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=178834&p=2757172#post2757172

Those are the binds I pinched off the forum; printed out the reference sheet and kept it nearby whilst I got the hang of it. Might be worth jumping into a cheaper ship whilst you're retraining the muscle memory too, it can be a bit expensive otherwise. Jump in a viper, use fixed weapons and just do some res farming, and launch/dock with fa off. After a couple of sessions you'll have gotten used to the control layout, how the stick handles and you'll be set.
 
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