Warthog Review

[HFC_Dolphin]

Hi Flanker, you didn't have to say much cause I had already ordered it
It seems that I have a strong will against buying, ahahahahaha!
When I say "I won't buy this thing", I resist for about a couple of minutes and then...I buy it

TBH, this is such a good price, that I would hate it after a couple of days (or hours) when I'd see it back to £299.99.

As soon as I get it and set it up, I'll let you know of my thoughts and be sure that as a strong lover of CH products, I won't give it an overrated credit unless it really deserves it

[Flanker35M]

S!

So you have as "solid" spine against shopping as I do I am sure you will like the solid feel of the Warthog. The throttle is very good too. Please write something when it arrives

[JKeefe]

Originally Posted by TUSA/TX-Gunslinger

1. Stick tension of the Warthog joystick is noticably greater than U2Nxt Cougar without the rubber boot. For jet sim people, this may not mean much - particularly since I'd imagine most of the "Kept the rubber boot". I was a little miffed at this, because I read SIMHQ previews and reviews which said just the opposite. I remember from the first preview - the SIMHQ reporter saying:

"SimHQ's preview article was short on details about how the HOTAS Warthog felt to use. My initial impressions were very favorable; I have a Cougar modded with NXT gimbals and I think that the HOTAS Warthog stock gimbals feel even better. The HOTAS Warthog throttle feels very nice, too, and has a detent system that is worlds better than the Cougar's. However, for a true comparison SimHQ needs more time with the controller and the ability to do side-by-side A/B testing. When we review the HOTAS Warthog we will publish more thoughts on how the HOTAS feels."

Hi everyone, Joe here from SimHQ (I wrote SimHQ's HOTAS Warthog Review).

Gunslinger, I wrote that the HOTAS Warthog feels better than an NXT-modded Cougar. This is a statement of opinion. I did not write "the HOTAS Warthog requires less force to displace from center than does an NXT-modded Cougar", which seems to be what you are implying I said (i.e. "better" does not equal "easier to move / less stiffness"). The reasons I think it feels better are because of its more equal force distribution (i.e. the force required to displace the stick from center does not change at the ends of its motion) and because of its complete lack of resistance to pure diagonal motion. I'm sure that an NXT-modded Cougar without a boot comes closer to equal tension than does an NXT-modded Cougar with a boot.

Clearly the preference of the NXT-modded Cougar or the Warthog is up to the individual. I happen to prefer a stick feel where I know where the center is absolutely, and sometimes I feel with the NXT Cougar that I can wobble about the center too much for my liking. I truly do believe that the HOTAS Warthog feels better than an NXT-modded Cougar, but readers must understand opinion for what it is. My intent in composing that comment was certainly not to mislead anyone.

FYI, there were two SimHQ reviews of the Cougar written. The first was by me; I focused on the stick and throttle hardware (including the internals), the T.A.R.G.E.T. GUI, and the T.A.R.G.E.T. Script Editor. My previous controller experience is based on a Gravis Blackhawk, a Logitech Wingman Strike Force 3D, a stock Cougar, and an NXT-modded Cougar. I am not an aviation professional.

The second review was written by BeachAV8R, who is a commercial pilot. He used the HOTAS Warthog with a variety of sims and reported on the experience, based on his professional and sim experience. Previously he has used an X-45 and X-52.

[TUSA/TX-Gunslinger]

Joe, (my given name also) thanks for responding! My comments were written fairly quickly with a little frustration. That frustration was with myself for not realizing the center detent existed in the video, which I should have clearly picked up on. I apologize for sounding a bit harsh toward the SIMHQ reviews and admit it was my translation of them that was the main source of error. On the other hand - if I can "read incorrectly" so can others.

I wrote this post with only one thing in mind - to inform the few people who have high end mod-Cougars, to think about the items I described before rushing out and investing in a Warthog. I sought to amplify previews and reviews - aiming more at these individual propeller and gun applications like Il2, SOW, ROF - etc...

In fact, I realized these features more than a week ago - but at the time thought I'd wait until I had give the Warthog a more thorough trail. As I said in my post - my comments should be construed as preliminary only. I don't think I would have been so quick to grab my Warthog, if I would have re-read all the previews and reviews more thoroughly with a more critical mind.

With that said, I know that I won't have the complete picture for myself until I've flown with the stick for many hours. As you said, it's a matter of personal preference. I can find the center of my U2Nxt Cougar easily, though maybe I have too many hours with it.

Since you are seeing this thread - could you answer a question?

Do you fly propeller sims or jet sims mainly? Or would you say you fly them all equally?

BTW, as I said - I'm keeping my Warthog. There are many great features it has - and I suspect I can change what I don't like. The single spring provides great possibilities and I can figure out a way to remove the detent if I need to.

S!

Gunny

[JKeefe]

Originally Posted by TUSA/TX-Gunslinger

Since you are seeing this thread - could you answer a question?

Do you fly propeller sims or jet sims mainly? Or would you say you fly them all equally?

I am definitely a jet sim guy. Sorry for the late response; I chose instant email notification for this thread but never received an email...

By the way, there has been some discussion over at the Eagle Dynamics forums about how to remedy the sticktion that some are feeling with this stick.
http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=62564
One of the solutions focuses on removing the main coil spring and moving the plate tensioning screws from the bottom to the top of the plate. This reduces stick force markedly, and by definition this would also reduce the center bump. It might be something you are interested in.

[svanen]

Originally Posted by HFC_Dolphin

Right now Amazon.co.uk offers it at£199.99

Originally Posted by HFC_Dolphin

Hi Flanker, you didn't have to say much cause I had already ordered it

+1

Thanks for the tip, great price!!