Hardware & Technical HOTAS/pedals without desk or office chair?

[Y0ssar1an]

Hi,

I've been searching on this topic without success, forgive me if I've missed something. I live in a small apartment with my family and do not have a desk or other space I could dedicate to a permanent setup. Currently I am quite literally an armchair pilot with a laptop and joystick balancing on the armrest. I would like to get a hotas and pedals, and mount everything to something reasonably solid, but it must also be storable. I am unsure of what would work best; I have seen stands online, not sure how well they work for easy chairs, and how convenient they are to fold up and put away? Does anyone have any experience similar situations and workable practical solutions?

Thanks!

 

[Wrongway]

I have a similar situation. Well it's a bit more involved. I have a full large PC setup in a back room with Warthog, Ch Pro Throttle (prefer to Warthog throttle) and Saitek rudder pedals. Due to back ache I don't spend as much time as I used to on that setup so built a secondary "armchair", well sofa actually, setup. I am using a well specced 15 inch laptop that runs ED very well. The CH throttle can be removed from the main setup at a moments notice and I pair that up with a CH Fighterstick rather than lug the large heavy Warthog down to this secondary setup. The Fighterstick has a very similar layout and works really well. I thought I would survive with this secondary setup without rudder pedals, however being so used to rudders with flight sims over the years I just couldn't use hats etc. for rudder control and didn't like all the twisty sticks I tried. I tried using the Saitek rudders but found them too wide/big for my 'armchair cockpit' and were a pain to remove each time I relocated so I resurrected some old CH pedals and these were a lot more manageable so rudders are now sorted. Next came the logistics of where to put everything. In a a way it depends if I am just taking a long simple many jump, eventless journey or mooching around in the station or doing something more involved and serious like a mission. But I have a foldaway tray/table thingy that holds the laptop perfectly with rudder pedals underneath. To my right is an L shaped foldable piece of MDF that I knocked up to give the CH stick stability and also give a mouse platform and notes. The CH throttle sits nicely to my left on top of a book. Everything works fine and can be tidied away within 5 mins. The television is in view so I don't even miss the odd program. Sometimes I just sit laptop sits to the right where the stick usually lives for the more relaxed elite housekeeping things like galaxy map exploring or sorting out your ships kit.

It's an ever evolving arrangement, but I like it. I know it wouldn't suit most but shows that it can be done.