Will I regret swapping my trusty MS force feedback 2 joystick?

[w00dy85]

I have had my MSFF2 for at least 15 years now and it’s still going well. But while I was looking at rudder pedals on eBay I came across a VKB Gladiator joystick, which I thought looked great and I liked the button setup on it. After watching lots a YouTube videos and reading some reviews on the stick, I watched the eBay sale for a few days as no one put a bid on it and its starting price was only £25.

So after a couple of days I decided to bid and now it’s gone over what I’m willing to pay for a second hand joystick and it’s only about £30 more for a new one. So does anyone have a VKB Gladiator MK.2 and what are their experiences with the joystick and Is it a good swap for a MSFF2?

I know if my MSFF2 broke tomorrow I would get the VKB Gladiator MK.2 without doubt.

 

[Delta3D]

Doesn't look bad at all.

Although if you wanted to stick to a budget the Speedlink Blackwidow is good if you can find anywhere that sells one

If their quality is anything the same across the board then their "Phantom Hawk" could be good!

 

[w00dy85]

Doesn't look bad at all.

Although if you wanted to stick to a budget the Speedlink Blackwidow is good if you can find anywhere that sells one

If their quality is anything the same across the board then their "Phantom Hawk" could be good!

Phantom Hawk looks OK, but for me it's the VKB Gladiator MK.2 or I keep the MSFF2

 

[Delta3D]

Phantom Hawk looks OK, but for me it's the VKB Gladiator MK.2 or I keep the MSFF2

I'd personally get the VKB Gladiator MK.2 then, more buttons made my flight-simming so much better, nothing worse than having to fiddle around with a keyboard when you're trying to fly

 

[w00dy85]

It's even worse when your flying in VR

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

I have a Speedlink Airrow, I think OCUK sold them for a while. It's basically a Gladiator, but with some simplications. Bought it for my son, but gave it a try.
For the dosh, it's a great piece of kit, and is nice and accurate, with as you say, plenty of buttons on the base.

Having said that, if you're MS FFB2 is still working don't get rid of it. There's hardly any forcefeedback joysticks currently on the market. The only one that springs to mind is some nuts level swiss thing costing over £1k. What you might want to do is look at either button boxes to deal with the MS FFB2's lack of them, or if you're feeling a bit handy at DIY, replace the stick on the FFB2 with something better endowed with buttons. One of my ex-squadron mates swore by his FFB2 and was in the process of replacing it's stick with a grip from a CH Fighterstick.

 

[w00dy85]

Yes if I get the gladiator I won't be getting rid of my FFB2 I still want to keep it. Like you say you can't get a FFB stick now with out spending silly money.

 

[Troop]

If you could find a good Gladiator Pro Mk2 you will be made, I still love my FFB2, but its not in the same class as the GL pro.
Pic of the Gimbal from my pro.

Edit to add, NO Twist action on the pro.