Solved Toe Brakes
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Hi,
I’m looking at the VKB pedals (and what Virpil looks to be selling very soon). The VKB pedals don’t have toe brakes. I am impatient and race around the taxiways far too quickly and use toe brakes to help me get out of trouble (frequently) or just maintain a quick speed.
If you have pedals without toe brakes, what do you use? Can you program one (shifted) button to apply, say, 30% braking force on the left wheel when pressed, and another button for the right wheel? I use the AL.
How does the VKB T-link software work? Do you press a single button and, depending on which rudder is applied, a set force (say, 30%) is applied to the side of the rudder?
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I’m very much sold on the vkb pedals. I already have Saitek pro flight pedals that work…but I never liked them. Realistic movements or not, I do not like the twist feel of all the other pedals. VKB looks like it is built very well and serviceable. Software does look a little clunky but once set up I can live with that.
Yes, VKB has one axis so you can’t depress both pedals.
I think I’d struggle with using roll to control the steering, but that’s a good idea I hadn’t even thought of, thanks.
I can program a button for brakes, not sure if I can program a button for differential brakes though.
Missing toe brakes is not ideal, but I’m hoping I can work around it - I’m sure others must too. Or not - happy to hear opinions that it is a silly idea.
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A rudder without toe brake is like a racing wheel without pedals…
Why would you buy it?
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Thumbs up for the VKBsim rudder pedals.
Last year I was in the market for replacement rudder pedals. When I came across the VKBsim pedals I immediately dismissed them due to the lack of toe brakes and the unrealistic (vertical) action. Cost was not a discriminator. I wanted the best available (but didn’t want to be on a wait list for months due to availability of a boutique offering). I was convinced the way to go for me was the Thrustmaster TPR. I deliberated further because of the size of the Thrustmaster unit under my desk. I watched the following video and took a hard look at the VKBsim unit. Ultimately, I choose the VKBsim pedals.
I have no regrets whatsoever. They are quality built, compact, and the control is outstanding. There are instructions available to program “virtual” toe brakes, but I haven’t had reason to pursue it.
When I have time to sim, it is with Falcon BMS exclusively. I use a Cougar HOTAS with the Dunc_DX file from the docs folder. Braking is via the paddle switch. Rudders only come into play in the F-16 when leaving the revetment/hangar, traveling the taxiway/runway, or during landing rollout. Such a small part of the overall experience.
The VKBsim pedals have the finest rudder control that I have ever owned. I have no reservation in recommending them.
If you are a super realism person or have an elaborate cockpit setup, I understand your reservation. For me, the compact size and outstanding control are what I like best.
GC
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Ok now I am waiting for your promo code since you sold them so well…
TFRP isn’t a luxury item, I have it and it does the job. Now, don’t waste too much money on a rudder if only for falcon… The F-16 barely needs them…
LOL
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@maxwaldorf said in Toe Brakes:
Ok now I am waiting for your promo code since you sold them so well…
TFRP isn’t a luxury item, I have it and it does the job. Now, don’t waste too much money on a rudder if only for falcon… The F-16 barely needs them…
LOL
Yes, rudders I rarely use in flight, but steering and differential brakes I use all the time. No brakes is a no go and waste of money for rudder purchase IMO.
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@greatcouloir said in Toe Brakes:
instructions available to program “virtual” toe brakes, but I haven’t had reason to pursue it
Are you able to depress both pedals, simultaneously?
If so, is this what the
g_bUseVirtualRudder
cfg setting is for?(maybe you also need to check the “roll-linked NWS” on setup screen… so you can steer NWS using roll-axis, instead of rudder axis? not sure)
[Edit: product page indicates it’s just a single z-axis… so maybe not. Hmm… but as you note, it alludes to some software solution for emulating a brake, so it’s not clear to me how that might work.]
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For 4.35 I’m using my T500RS pedals with good results using the “virtual rudder” setting mentioned above.
For the brake pedal, I am using “joy2key” to send the “k” keypress when the brake pedal is pressed. Not exactly analog, but it does the job
All the best, Uwe
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I’m very much sold on the vkb pedals. I already have Saitek pro flight pedals that work…but I never liked them. Realistic movements or not, I do not like the twist feel of all the other pedals. VKB looks like it is built very well and serviceable. Software does look a little clunky but once set up I can live with that.
Yes, VKB has one axis so you can’t depress both pedals.
I think I’d struggle with using roll to control the steering, but that’s a good idea I hadn’t even thought of, thanks.
I can program a button for brakes, not sure if I can program a button for differential brakes though.
Missing toe brakes is not ideal, but I’m hoping I can work around it - I’m sure others must too. Or not - happy to hear opinions that it is a silly idea.
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I wondered to myself how the "virtual brakes” might be configured. Below is a bookmarked page that might give you some insight. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I have not experimented with the potential solution. More discussion can be found in the VKBsim forum.
https://forums.eagle.ru/topic/231541-vkb-mk-iv-t-rudder-how-work-virtual-brakes/
GC
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@mypc said in Toe Brakes:
Hi,
I’m looking at the VKB pedals (and what Virpil looks to be selling very soon). The VKB pedals don’t have toe brakes. I am impatient and race around the taxiways far too quickly and use toe brakes to help me get out of trouble (frequently) or just maintain a quick speed.
If you have pedals without toe brakes, what do you use? Can you program one (shifted) button to apply, say, 30% braking force on the left wheel when pressed, and another button for the right wheel? I use the AL.
How does the VKB T-link software work? Do you press a single button and, depending on which rudder is applied, a set force (say, 30%) is applied to the side of the rudder?
Back in the days when I had the old school Thrustmaster Gameport Pedals, which don’t have toe brakes, I would set up the mousewheel as my brake axis. I also set, I think it was the right button, to reset the brakes. Later, before I purchased my rudder pedals, I used the antenna elevation slider on my Ch FighterStick as the toe brake axis. That worked quite well for what it was. Much better than the mouse wheel.
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@chuckles said in Toe Brakes:
@mypc said in Toe Brakes:
Hi,
I’m looking at the VKB pedals (and what Virpil looks to be selling very soon). The VKB pedals don’t have toe brakes. I am impatient and race around the taxiways far too quickly and use toe brakes to help me get out of trouble (frequently) or just maintain a quick speed.
If you have pedals without toe brakes, what do you use? Can you program one (shifted) button to apply, say, 30% braking force on the left wheel when pressed, and another button for the right wheel? I use the AL.
How does the VKB T-link software work? Do you press a single button and, depending on which rudder is applied, a set force (say, 30%) is applied to the side of the rudder?
Back in the days when I had the old school Thrustmaster Gameport Pedals, which don’t have toe brakes, I would set up the mousewheel as my brake axis. I also set, I think it was the right button, to reset the brakes. Later, before I purchased my rudder pedals, I used the antenna elevation slider on my Ch FighterStick as the toe brake axis. That worked quite well for what it was. Much better than the mouse wheel.
Good times!
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