Wings Over Flanders Fields (WOFF) (Dec 2013)

[Nefaro]

I think the D.IIIs were the best looking planes of the Great War...

Their wings are beautiful.  I'm not such a big fan of their fish-shaped fuselage but that can be overlooked since it's rather unusual.  Certainly some good-looking planes overall.   The D.VII is also gorgeous, along with a couple Brit planes ( I like generally like their wings too).

[Nefaro]

This is it right?

http://www.microcenter.com/product/353243/TFlight_Hotas_X_Joystick

Yep!

Great price on that.  Perhaps Thrustmaster has a new model coming out or something?  I'd snatch it up at twenty bucks!

I figured the same, made the purchase and will be picking it up today.  Not too often you find a $20 joystick, especially one a lot of people seem to feel is good for an starter person like myself.  Not sure how they can be so low, everywhere else I looked the price seemed to be the lowest around $50.

In my experience, the price drops quite a bit when the manufacturer stops making it in favor of a newer model to take it's place. 

I recall buying a Saitek X45 years ago for about 20% of it's regular retail price just because the X52 had just started arriving.  Maybe that's what is happening here.. clearing the stock.

[Gusington]

Hmm maybe I'll get one of those too, at that price...if there are any left. Is it a big bulky stick?

As far as plane aesthetics I have always been partial to Spads and the occasional Pfalz.

[Tuna]

I agree.. Great price on a great stick!.. I should grab one, for when my current one eventually dies!

[Grim.Reaper]

Just got back from store, they still had about 20 left.

[Gusington]

For 19.99 I would be silly not to order one, even if it looks kinda huge. And of course that's what she said. Looking to finally purchase WOFF after Christmas.

[Grim.Reaper]

For 19.99 I would be silly not to order one, even if it looks kinda huge. And of course that's what she said. Looking to finally purchase WOFF after Christmas.

Although not a ton of time with it yet, initially feels better than my x52....seems tighter and easier to control.  It is larger, but you can separate the throttle and the stick, although still connected by cord.  For $19, I think there will be no regrets from me, maybe it will make me a better pilot:)

[Gusington]

The throttle is detachable from the stick too, right? That will save space.

[Grim.Reaper]

The throttle is detachable from the stick too, right? That will save space.

They come by default as detached, but they are still connected by a cord...don't readily see away to remove the cord connection.  I think the detachment is just so that you can place the throttle and stick in a position of your liking if you don't want them right next to each other.

[Gusington]

Hmm, weird. For 19.99 I am still willing to overlook weirdness like that.

I'm in a bit of a gaming funk right now too as nothing is really doing it for me. That makes it more tempting to drop some money on WOFF to try to get out of the funk. But I would owe it to myself to really try to get into it. It's hard to tell so far how hard it is to get into for the non-hardcore.

[jomni]

I have that stick. Detached is when you want to place on a table.  Yes, a cord runs between the two units but it really is not awkward.

Then  you combine both units, that configuration is when you want to put the HOTAS on your lap. That stick is also PS3 compatible, and that is the reason why it has the lap configuration.

[Nefaro]

I was surprised how tight the gimbals were on mine, when I first got it.  For a budget HOTAS, I didn't have terribly high expectations so it was a pleasant surprise.   I don't need to put any dead zone on most axes except perhaps a bit on the twist rudder.  But for the rudder I try to use the big rocker switch on the far side of the throttle for big rudder movements (mapping both of them separately if the sim allows).

If it had a second hat switch on the throttle, it would be the perfect budget HOTAS.  Hell, for $20 you guys are getting quite a steal.   I'm shocked it's priced so low.

As for the two-piece thing, I keep mine split a short distance away, with my keyboard on the other side.  Makes it easier to reach between and punch a key or two when needed.  I originally placed the stick and rudder on opposite sides of the keyboard but felt it was too far apart for my tastes.  I don't need to punch many keyboard buttons with these WWI flight sims anyway, after mapping my most used stuff to the HOTAS buttons.

[jomni]

But for the rudder I try to use the big rocker switch on the far side of the throttle for big rudder movements (mapping both of them separately if the sim allows).

Same here.  I use the rocker for rudder and lock the stick twist. :)
And it's quite durable as I have been using it for several years already.

The real downside as Nefaro said it that there aren't many buttons if you try to use this for DCS.
But it's good enough for Strike Fighters, WWI sims, WWII sims, and FSX.

[Tuna]

But for the rudder I try to use the big rocker switch on the far side of the throttle for big rudder movements (mapping both of them separately if the sim allows).

Same here.  I use the rocker for rudder and lock the stick twist. :)
And it's quite durable as I have been using it for several years already.

The real downside as Nefaro said it that there aren't many buttons if you try to use this for DCS.
But it's good enough for Strike Fighters, WWI sims, WWII sims, and FSX.

For DCS I just use the left shift and ctrl to increase the options for  the buttons on the stick..

That way the Hat can do three functions and all the buttons as well..

Can't do this for FSX, because FSX won't let you combine keyboard and the stick.. But DCS does!

[Grim.Reaper]

I nice brief review/overview for those on the fence.....

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/12/20/wot-i-think-wings-over-flanders-fields/