question for the pros re thrustmaster hotas

[Cobra Driver]

OK, I'm ready to break-down and spend the bucks on a good HOTAS.

After reading, the Thrustmaster is the way to go.

So my questions are, whats with the versions with or without metal plates?.

What do you do about pedals? My old saitek had the rocker on the front of the throttle quadrant and I see this thing doesn't.

Finally, any links on good sites for mods, upgrades, maintenance, etc?

Oh yea, and where do you get 1? Ebay, etail or somewhere else?

Thanx for any and all help.

In want to get 1 today or tomorrow so any ideas would help.

Cobra Driver

[Cobra]

Have a read on this thread first Cobra_Driver

http://www.fighterops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8470&highlight=cougar

I hope you dont mind, I edited the thread title so people have an idea what it is your after.

:smile:

[Cobra Driver]

Yes I did see that thread and doing a few mods, no big deal. If anything it's fun.

Now, regarding the pedals, it looks like you need the actual pedals if you want them, I'm not to crazy about that but oh well, guess I'll have to get those too.

Thats todays project, I'll just keep looking around for sites, info and prices and then make a move.

I'll keep popping back in here to see what the folks say.

Thx for the info and about the renaming of the thread, thx for that too :thumb:

CD

[Cobra]

i think alot of guys run CH Pro Pedals with Cougars.

havent tried it myself yet.

:smile:

[Habu]

Rudder pedals are a very nice addition to a HOTAS system; however, any of the cougar axes (antenna range or elevation rotaries, for example) can be programmed to operate the rudder. You might try Amazon as a source. I have Simped pedals (made in Germany); but I have also heard CH pedals work well.

[Cobra Driver]

hey I got a question, how about these for pedals?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ThrustMaster-Flight-Simulator-Throttle-Rudder-Pedals_W0QQitemZ130220418697QQihZ003QQcategoryZ139 969QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[SUBS17]

For rudder pedals I'd suggest getting Saitek pedals as they support differential braking and if you're using them in a helicopter sim you can always remove the spring.

[Habu]

hey I got a question, how about these for pedals?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ThrustMaster-Flight-Simulator-Throttle-Rudder-Pedals_W0QQitemZ130220418697QQihZ003QQcategoryZ139 969QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I had TM Elite pedals. They functioned OK; however, the bearing system consists of plastic rubbing plastic. I found them to have high "sticture" or static friction, making precise control difficult.

[T_Flight]

The CH have the Toe braks also. In Falcon AF differential is not supported, but I do have differential in MSFS with them.

I'm not sure if the SimPeds have that or not, but those SimPed's are really nice. They are metal, and are totally Scale with the Scale spacing. They are totally realistic F16 pedals. I may get a set one day. :smile:

[Cobra Driver]

Alright, the Cougars on the way home. It should be here by next Tues.

So now after lot's-O-research......the MODS!!!!

Dang and there's a bunch of 'em.

It seems the Everstrain when it first came out had a titanium yoke, WOW.

But for the $$ I would have passed.

So it looks like an Uber will be an option to study some more.

Thanx for the help with the pedals folks, I'll be following up on those too.

I'm just sick of the fact that I've always wanted a nice set-up, and wanted, and wanted and waited. I finally said, all I'm getting for my waiting is I don't have it.

So ya know what, I aint a kid anymore, I've paid my dues in life, been around the world a few times, served my Country faithfully for 26 yrs. I don't mind saying this....I think I deserve this!!

So I'm putting this set-up together and I thank you for your help.

Now my perfect world will be when FO is out, I go thru the A-10 training and I'm pickling away with my nice little flight control set-up in place.

Cobra Driver

[T_Flight]

Alright, the Cougars on the way home. It should be here by next Tues.

So now after lot's-O-research......the MODS!!!!

Dang and there's a bunch of 'em.

It seems the Everstrain when it first came out had a titanium yoke, WOW.

But for the $$ I would have passed.

So it looks like an Uber will be an option to study some more.

Thanx for the help with the pedals folks, I'll be following up on those too.

I'm just sick of the fact that I've always wanted a nice set-up, and wanted, and wanted and waited. I finally said, all I'm getting for my waiting is I don't have it.

So ya know what, I aint a kid anymore, I've paid my dues in life, been around the world a few times, served my Country faithfully for 26 yrs. I don't mind saying this....I think I deserve this!!

So I'm putting this set-up together and I thank you for your help.

Now my perfect world will be when FO is out, I go thru the A-10 training and I'm pickling away with my nice little flight control set-up in place.

Cobra Driver

Throttles would be an issue with an A10 as they have two engines. That would require a split throttle or a CH throttle quadrant. I'm not sure what's on the market as far as split or multiple throttle setups.

On the pedals, if it was me, and I wanted the nicest, I'd g with Sim Peds. I would check to make sure they have a version available with brakes though. I saw pics of them and they are nice! They are metal, and have the F16 spread.

Alot of stuff is made for the F16. Other planes are harder to find stuff for. That's why I like the F16. it's easy to find stuff for, and I've always been an F16 fan anyway. :smile:

Oh and BTW, check out Track IR while you're into this. It makes it so much easier to look around where you want, when you want, and how fast or slow you want to move your head. Be careful though. This IS addictive. I'm gonna tell 'ya right now. I've got a full HOTAS and pedals, I want another one, and I want an ICP and MFD's now. hehe

[Habu]

I concur with the Simped pedals. They are from Germany, tho, and quite pricey. They do have a model with toe-brakes. I have them and they operate super smoothly.

Regarding Cougar mods, you are probably aware that modern fighter flight control sticks move very little. Rather, the aircraft flight control surfaces are displaced in proportion to the pressure applied to the stick. There are 2 mods available that convert the cougar to a pressure-actuated controller - the FSSB from RealSimulator in Spain and the FCC-2 from White Eagle, in Belgium, I think. Both are VERY easy to install, but again are somewhat pricey, especially if you are making a USD purchase. They offer more precise control and more reliability than the original Cougar spring-based system, but not as precise at the Uber mod, from reports I have read.

So, you check your wallet and make your choice. I have a force control mod for years and like it very much.

[Cobra Driver]

TY much for all the info.

You read and get ALOT of VERY specific details but it is nice to get some general background on the stuff.

CD

[T_Flight]

God Allmighty! I just did a currency conversion on those SimPed F16 Pedals for the Cougar (Gameport Version) and they are 258 Euros, which equals 400 US Dollars! :bigeyes: I was actually thinking about getting them, but that's just too much. I could make a set myself from scratch out of unobtanium for that kind of money! It's a shame. Those are nice pedals, but that's just too much. That doesn't even include shipping. :sad:

[Habu]

I quite agree about the current price. Fortunately, I bought my stuff a couple of years ago before inflation and the exchange rate drove the price up. Nevertheless, they are the best.

[Fuhgetaboudit]

Does any one have a good and bona fide link to the Simped Pedals that work with the Thrustmaster Cougar HOTAS system??

Thanks!

[Woodstock]

I´m sad I have to announce what I learned myself only a couple of days ago:

On May 11th 2008 Dieter Hofmann, developer and producer of the well-known Simpeds hardware rudder pedals, died at the age of 61 after a long cruel suffering from cancer.
Amongst other fine USB products for flightsimmers, Dieter earned worldwide reputation in the TM HOTAS Cougar community for his F-16/C pedals which plug directly into the stick and are fully Foxy-programmable.
According to his family, most of the pending orders have been shipped, and the pedals are currently out of stock, the company´s future being unshure but yet undecided.
http://www.dhs-electronic.de/home.htm

The flightsim community has lost one of its too few dedicated and idealistic hardware contributors.

Thank you, Dieter, rest in peace!

[T_Flight]

Yes, I had heard about that a couple months agao too. I was talking about the pedals with one of the pilots that fklies at Multiviper and she said she was trying to get some, and that they were out of stock and she had learned why. She later had a freind that sold a new pair to her. It is indeed sad. Those were special, and the guy that made them was special. Those were scale metal pedals of the highest quality and had the pedal spread distance needed for Scale F16 cockpits.

I hope this company continues to produce them as I would love to own a pair one day. If not, I may have to look into fabricating a set that is like them, but that would be very very expensive to do. "One off" machining is very expensive to have done, and its very hard to find somebody that will do it as it ties up the machine for very little profit. The interface board would also have to be designed, as well as the pedal base, swivel point (maybe ball bearing supprted), and the arms.

There are currently not any pedals like these anywghere that I can find that are scale.

What Woodstock just wrote is the truth. This guy was a craftsmen, and obviously had alot to offer in the Sim community. It showed in his work. It's not that he'll be missed...he's missed already.

I don't even want to touch on Cancer becasue it's a painful disease...not just for the person that has it, but for ther entire family. I hope there comes a day when we rid this planet of that disease, and it's why I fold for Standford. There is no reason why this disease should still be around with the brainpower and computing power we have, and I'm fighting it tooth and nail. I don't have the brains of those geniuses at Stanfors, but I'll fight it with every bit of computing power I have. It's took family members of mine, and both my Mother and Father have had it and managed to survive it and the doctors were able to rid them of it, but I want it gone.