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Can't keep the damn thing steady.... - Printable Version

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Can't keep the damn thing steady.... - KillerCondra - 01.01.2009

I'm not sure if it's my calibration, or just my inexperience here. I've flown in real life a couple of times (Cessnas, was gonna get my private but then decided I was going to go military anyways, so I'm holding off until I'm done with college.) But most of my experience is through simulation.

This is my first Combat sim, and I have to say...I have a lot of trouble keeping the plane steady. I'm not sure if maybe my HOTAS isn't calibrated correctly, but when I went into my editor, everything seems ok.

My biggest problem is coming in for kills, it seems like I jack the plane all over the place and if I'm lucky, one or two shots will pepper them. I've tried a multitude of different aircraft, and I have the same problem with them all. It's just very rocky for me, and I can't keep a dead center shot for the life of me. I always over-correct, and then have to correct again, and by that time - I'm either TOO close, or stall out and can't get the shot.

Anyways, any tips on keeping a steady/level plane would be awesome. And another question, is it natural for these older prop planes to have a natural-pull to one side or the other? I expect it when taking off, but when I'm in the air it seems to be pulling a little much for what I would have thought.

EDIT: I should add that my preferred planes to fly are the MiG3-ud, P-63C-5, the P51(any model), and the P-38/39s

- KG64_Ðørvånski - 01.01.2009

the same thing happens to me. i have always had trouble keeping the planes straight in 1946, although not so much in the original il2. i think some of the planes do have a list to one side, especially the pe8. when i try to take it off it just spins in circles at about 30 kmh.

- SkyMaster - 01.01.2009

it's the prop torque that wants to pull you one way or another.
Depending wich way the prop spins on that particular aircraft.

try these stick setting,these settings will smooth out the gunsite wobble when trying to line up for a shot.

elevator ,aileron and rudder
50 50 50 50 50 60 70 80 90 100

a lot of people will laugh at these settings,but for anyone new to this flight sim
try them and you be the judge.

After you can tweak the settings up ,once you get a "light touch" for flying.

3 words for flying smooth,Trim Trim Trim

Here's a link to a good joystick setting tool>
http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads&file=details&id=1021


Edit> I should mention that "easing the throttle on" on the take off roll will give you less Prop torque
than if you slam it on.Be very easy with the throttle.Most real aircraft you can tighten up the throttle lever so that to make small adjustments you just bumb the throttle with the palm of hand or however.
In increments rather than actually sliding it.

From take off though,ease it on as easy as eyou can for a smoother take off,
and "lock you tailwheel".

- KillerCondra - 01.01.2009

Thanks, SkyMaster. Now I have another question for you - Where do I find/input these settings? Or is this in-flight tweaking your doing with the trim? I've only just gotten the game yesterday, but logged 16 flight hours already Confusedhock: Suffice it to say, I'm still learning the ropes here with setting up my controls, and whatnot.

I knew about the prop-pull. But like I was saying, it felt like It was pulling quite a bit. I've got the Saitek-X52 HOTAS (not pro) so the throttle slide is actually very nice and easy to 'ease' in on takeoffs.

I do fine just about everywhere except when it comes to Dog-fighting, and keeping the plane from wobbling when trying to line-up for shots.

- FA_Bong - 01.01.2009

This sounds like a calibration issue or a worn out stick, go to the Saitek profile icon on your task bar, control panel, and look at the box that shows your stick axis, is it centered? when you move it and let it go does it go to center? does it seem to wobble or jump around, when you move it in very small adjustments does it jump around? If it does your stick maybe wearing out, go to the tab marked deadzones and look at the X-Y axis the red bar should be dead center if it isnt, try putting a dead zone just large enough to cover where the red line is set, this might cover enough to eliminate the wander, but if you have a wear and tear issue it might only help for a short while. I just replaced my old X-45 for just that very reason you described.

- KillerCondra - 01.01.2009

Well, it shouldn't be Wear and Tear, considering that I got the stick on the 26th of Dec, less than a week ago.

I'll check it all again, but from what I can see - It's all level. /shrug

Is there an in-game calibration that I can run? Or is it only the Saitek Config that does anything?

- FA_Bong - 01.01.2009

I have noted that in the newest version of the software there is no calibrate function. But, if you want to erase any calibration so to speak that already exists:
Unplug the controller, click Start>Run, type regedit and click OK. In the Registry Editor browse to the following folders in order:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKEY_CURRENT_USER if using Vista)
SYSTEM
CurrentControlSet
Control
MediaProperties
PrivateProperties
DirectInput

And delete any folder starting with VID_06A3. Plug the controller back in, move it fully a couple of times and see if that has fixed it.
-quoted directly from Saitek Support
__________________

- danimalhanke - 01.01.2009

I don't know about those settings. I have 600+ hours in SEL acft and I'm a certified flight instructor. For me the best setting on my saitek av8r is 0,10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,90 and filter set to mid-point and deadzone set to 5 ticks from left. the av8r is a very accurate stick and slight input form it translates into large movements on screen. One of my 1st lessons to new students is to tell them to hold the controls with a very light touch. NO DEATH GRIPS! especially when lining up for a kill! If u do find yourself bouncing around simply let go and then with a very light touch grap the stick and make small controlled movements. Even I find my self holding onto the stich as if I'll fall to my death if I don't hold on tight! lol!

If u don't know where to find these then goto hardware setup the lower right hand button in the main menu screen! good luck. Oh! One more thing practice! practice! practice!

Torque - TriggerHappy57 - 01.01.2009

The drift or pull to one direction is natural. I think trying to compare a Cessna to a WWII fighter plane is whats throwing you off. A Cessna has some 150-200 HP where as a WWII era plane on average is 600-1,500 HP, so there is quite a difference in torque. I recommend you trim your rudder so the ball is in the center of the slip indicator and adjust your ailerons accordingly to keep you level. Also remember that changing RPM, throttle, fuel level, altitude, etc all have an effect on trim so you constantly have to adjust. Minimizing throttle adjustments as your lining up on someone will help your aim until you become more proficient in controlling your aircraft.

Re: Torque - danimalhanke - 01.01.2009

TriggerHappy57 Wrote:The drift or pull to one direction is natural. I think trying to compare a Cessna to a WWII fighter plane is whats throwing you off. A Cessna has some 150-200 HP where as a WWII era plane on average is 600-1,500 HP, so there is quite a difference in torque. I recommend you trim your rudder so the ball is in the center of the slip indicator and adjust your ailerons accordingly to keep you level. Also remember that changing RPM, throttle, fuel level, altitude, etc all have an effect on trim so you constantly have to adjust. Minimizing throttle adjustments as your lining up on someone will help your aim until you become more proficient in controlling your aircraft.


TRU DAT! Trim trim trim trim! LOL! Get it you must trim your acft! Even little Cessnas need trim. Of course in a Cessna it's only elevator trim, but you gotta use it! The turning forces in a small Cessna will make it go around and around, now imagine the monster engines and the tremendous turning forces in the WWII fighters!

- RRuger - 01.01.2009

I had that problem in the recent past and I did was to update the drivers for the stick. If you used the drivers from the disc that you got with the stick there may be more current drivers out for it, check it out...

Re: Can't keep the damn thing steady.... - Helrza - 01.01.2009

KillerCondra Wrote:I'm not sure if it's my calibration, or just my inexperience here. I've flown in real life a couple of times (Cessnas, was gonna get my private but then decided I was going to go military anyways, so I'm holding off until I'm done with college.) But most of my experience is through simulation.

This is my first Combat sim, and I have to say...I have a lot of trouble keeping the plane steady. I'm not sure if maybe my HOTAS isn't calibrated correctly, but when I went into my editor, everything seems ok.

My biggest problem is coming in for kills, it seems like I jack the plane all over the place and if I'm lucky, one or two shots will pepper them. I've tried a multitude of different aircraft, and I have the same problem with them all. It's just very rocky for me, and I can't keep a dead center shot for the life of me. I always over-correct, and then have to correct again, and by that time - I'm either TOO close, or stall out and can't get the shot.

Anyways, any tips on keeping a steady/level plane would be awesome. And another question, is it natural for these older prop planes to have a natural-pull to one side or the other? I expect it when taking off, but when I'm in the air it seems to be pulling a little much for what I would have thought.

EDIT: I should add that my preferred planes to fly are the MiG3-ud, P-63C-5, the P51(any model), and the P-38/39s


Disable the twist on ur stick if u can mate, that'll stop ya jerking around when ur tryin to line up for that kill. Had a twist stick b4 and had nothin but problems like ur havin, locked the twist problem gone... until the stick broke lmao, and i went back to me 10 year old wingman interceptor and remapped the rudder to the buttons lol. And yup, prop torque will always be a prob, from the ww2 beasts, to the cessna ur flyin in real life, as im sure uve been shown (or will be shown) by your instructor Smile Triggerhappy and danimalhanke have it right, trim trim trim, and a cool hand on the stick Big Grin

- Pirate - 01.01.2009

The link that Skymaster posted is what you need (il2joycontrol). Especially for the x52, it will allow you to adjust all the different axis assigned in the game: including the trim wheels, slider and mouse wheel 8) The joystick axis being the most important - also I would highly recommend against disabling the rudder as someone else advised :? while using it smoothly takes practice, it is an absolutely essential part of you aircraft... and using buttons just aren't an option.

I'm not at my home pc right now, but when I to it I'll post the stick settings I have found to be the smoothest on the x52 so far, I found it to be very different from my previous stick.

Good luck, and happy flying

Pirate Smile

- FA_Bong - 01.01.2009

And to further add.. I've only had my New X-52 a couple days and have been pretty busy trying to get it exactly the way I like it. It's not too much different from my X-45, but it's enough to need some getting used to and the IL-2 Joy Control is a reaally useful tool so make small adjustments and to only 1 or 2 things before moving to the next, it'll help you a lot.

- Bearcat - 01.01.2009

Make sure you have rudder trim assigned, preferably to a slider.. also check out this program. You might want to give your pitch & roll a little deadzone in the stick setup.. play around with it.