Oh boy my Hotas Warthog came today. Already gave it a spin. I'm happy. 
Thrustmaster Warthog & E:D
- Thread starter Spin
- Start date
Buying a Warthog = definitely not a mistake. It's by far the best HOTAS I've ever used and I wouldn't dream of trading mine in.
It might be overkill for Elite: Dangerous, as some have suggested, but even if that's true, the durability alone justifies the cost. It'll last as long as three X-55's, I daresay, having used both.
It might be overkill for Elite: Dangerous, as some have suggested, but even if that's true, the durability alone justifies the cost. It'll last as long as three X-55's, I daresay, having used both.
I had to get a Warthog stick, because my trusty joystick that had lasted since X-Wing days finally snapped it's fire buttons, and was beaten brutally along all axes by SJA's critters.
"Target" allows you to customize your stick's profile. The Warthog is both robust and precise, with smooth controls, and logically placed switches. Extremely solid response.
Plus, I used something very similar thirty years ago IRL.
It helps.
+1.. I have not owned anything other than Thrustmaster since 1995 the beginning of the 16FCS and yes, Rudder pedals are a must if you plan on Combat with any sim. But Great choice on buying this awesome tool..
I use this hotas. I just bound left and right yaw to the left thumbstick on the joystick itself. It's become second nature to me just as natural as adjusting my throttle on the left. As a sidenote I use my left thumb button to navigate menus as it can be pressed in instead of me using the enter button, and the little /stick on my left pointer finger to move the ship up, down, left, right. Those are my preferences for manuvering. Have fun
Well that's exactly where I have mine.
so, my CMS has stopped working in the upward position, after speaking to thrustmaster support they're going to send me a new switch component that i'm supposed to fit myself, which entails opening up and dismantling the flightstick!
this, taken directly from the support email:
"For the component though we do not have any replacement instructions. The only available instructions that we can provide you with are the ones from the attached document - on how to open the casing of the joystick handle."
as it says, no info on actually replacing the switch itself! anybody ever had to do this self repair and have any advice?
the piece is on it's way apparently and i was never given the option to send the stick for them to do it for me, not too impressed to be honest.
TIA!
this, taken directly from the support email:
"For the component though we do not have any replacement instructions. The only available instructions that we can provide you with are the ones from the attached document - on how to open the casing of the joystick handle."
as it says, no info on actually replacing the switch itself! anybody ever had to do this self repair and have any advice?
the piece is on it's way apparently and i was never given the option to send the stick for them to do it for me, not too impressed to be honest.
TIA!
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When you buy this HOTAS you are supposed to be able to do these things. Their product isn't meant for people who don't know what they are doing.
That said, they have designed these things to be easy to take apart, maintain, cleanup and repair. They are using all common screws that every household should have a screwdriver for. It's just opening it, taking a look at it and using common sense to find out where pieces go. If you need help upload some imgur pictures of your opened stick and the part in question and I can guide you if needed. However I haven't had to fix mine and haven't done this before.
That said, they have designed these things to be easy to take apart, maintain, cleanup and repair. They are using all common screws that every household should have a screwdriver for. It's just opening it, taking a look at it and using common sense to find out where pieces go. If you need help upload some imgur pictures of your opened stick and the part in question and I can guide you if needed. However I haven't had to fix mine and haven't done this before.
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thanks for the offer of help ashslayer, but surely you can see that it's somewhat ridiculous that a 300+ euro bit of kit, still under warranty, isn't being repaired by the manufacturer! and like you say, you haven't had to carry out a fix and haven't done it before, so you can't really be sure if it's just a simple fix or not! which is exactly my position. hence why i'm asking for a bit of advice from anybody who has actually had to do it!
and yes, just in case anybody suggests it, i have googled, extensively!
Yeah it is a little strange, but I assure you the stick and throttle are designed for easy repair, which is why they sent you a spare part. It's a lot cheaper to send a tiny part of the stick than to mail the whole thing back and forth, not to mention easier. Hopefully it will go just fine. I love tinkering and fixing things so I'd love to even do the repair for you, but that's just not feasable
Actually the stick itself is held together with allen key bolts which is a lot better than Phillips screws imho. Of course the base mechanics block is pretty much all Phillips screws and not one was overtightened which was good. Too many pieces of kit I have bought that has been screwed together so tight that you need the Hulk to undo them lol. I took mine apart to do the big spring removal mod. Personally I like it without as it makes it a lot easier when throwing my ship around. With it I was getting shoulder ache.
My only complaint about the Warthog has to be the excessive stiffness of the buttons and stick. Maybe it will loosen up with age (or I start putting muscles on my thumb lol) but the buttons are stiff and spongy at the same time (the red ones on the stick and the throttle are the worst). The HATs are also pretty spongy too... That may also be a newness issue. The one loose hat switch is the one used for countermeasures on the stick (the side mounted grey one) which has actually started to feel better the more I use it.
But taking the stick apart was simple... I haven't got around to pulling my TQ apart yet but I'm thinking of pulling the top panel off any replacing it with one that I can replace for different flight sims. Make them removable like a real module on an aircraft with the quarter turn bolts (called Dzus). What I need now is a good CNC machine to cut some engraved panels to light up like the existing one for the Warthog.
There is one thing that confuses me about the Warthog build setup. Everything is solid and seemingly well built... and then they use cheap rivets to hold the name panel and side panels on the Throttle box. Makes no sense. Couldn't they afford a few bolts?
My only complaint about the Warthog has to be the excessive stiffness of the buttons and stick. Maybe it will loosen up with age (or I start putting muscles on my thumb lol) but the buttons are stiff and spongy at the same time (the red ones on the stick and the throttle are the worst). The HATs are also pretty spongy too... That may also be a newness issue. The one loose hat switch is the one used for countermeasures on the stick (the side mounted grey one) which has actually started to feel better the more I use it.
But taking the stick apart was simple... I haven't got around to pulling my TQ apart yet but I'm thinking of pulling the top panel off any replacing it with one that I can replace for different flight sims. Make them removable like a real module on an aircraft with the quarter turn bolts (called Dzus). What I need now is a good CNC machine to cut some engraved panels to light up like the existing one for the Warthog.
There is one thing that confuses me about the Warthog build setup. Everything is solid and seemingly well built... and then they use cheap rivets to hold the name panel and side panels on the Throttle box. Makes no sense. Couldn't they afford a few bolts?
i do, it's perfect for yaw (unless you have a rudder indeed)
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as i said earlier or in another thread, mine is from 2010, number 0004, still brand new despite me being not so gentle with it.
Mine is 33700+.... Not that many sold because of the high price I guess. But then again if you saw some of the real pro flight sim hardware you would be gobsmacked at the price...
Like this for instance... makes me drooooooool.
ho i know, but there is no point comparing, clearly NOT what many can afford, let's stay realistic here
if the piece you linked is having number, how many did they sold to normal ppl? (i.e. that are not military / flight school etc...)2? 3?
i mean, that kind of stuff cost more than some cars for instance
Mine is high 2000's - from late 2010
just a quick update on my repair. the replacement part arrived this week. opening up the hog was a pain, but not complicated, the only tricky bit was noticing that the stick doesn't come completely apart, but has to be rotated open with the the paddle switch base as the pivot. i then had to scrape out a ton of glue around the CMS to get it out, the new one went in very easily. the switches themselves don't need any soldering and just connect into a control board in the middle of the stick. all in all, a very easy job, the most time consuming part being removing and then replacing all the screws.
And comically enough in the meantime my Warthog has ended up with 2 problems. looool. Now the first one didn't bother me, but the thumbstick on the joystick that I use to yaw left and right suddenly didnt click left anymore. It still clicks to the right, but now only slides to the left and suddenly makes the ship move. However I don't accidentally move it ever so that is no issue.
But the issue is with the throttle. The red ring finger button I was using for my 2 menu suddenly stoppped clicking. Now it activates my menu randomly and even pressing it can create no response, a delayed response, 2 responses or a single response. It feels darn random. I've been in touch with the store I bought it at and am waiting on a response. Now I'm starting to question the 500 dollar HOTAS myself.
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good thing the throttle has a ton of buttons I didnt use so I can probably rebind it if I feel like going back to elite. I discovered the button was broken on my last day in elite before taking a break for the next patch.
But the issue is with the throttle. The red ring finger button I was using for my 2 menu suddenly stoppped clicking. Now it activates my menu randomly and even pressing it can create no response, a delayed response, 2 responses or a single response. It feels darn random. I've been in touch with the store I bought it at and am waiting on a response. Now I'm starting to question the 500 dollar HOTAS myself.
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good thing the throttle has a ton of buttons I didnt use so I can probably rebind it if I feel like going back to elite. I discovered the button was broken on my last day in elite before taking a break for the next patch.
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