After trying a few different locations and orientation. I’m definitely at my happy place with the MonsterTech mounts. Initially, I thought that I would have a side mounted stick, knowing that the angle adjustment on the Warthog Joystick mount would change not only the grip angle, but the relationship of the control throws to the aircraft’s various axis. But the side setup never did feel correct, especially in the pitch axis when moving nose up. Pulling the stick aft caused conflict with elbow and chair. And it didn’t feel natural.
So, I moved the stick mount to the middle and rotated the stick counter-clockwise to a natural position. I tried various aircraft and felt that the stick mount needed lowering to a point where it overlaps the dropped leading edge of my Aeron chair. All of the adjustments are easily carried out with 3 different sizes of allen wrench, 4, 5, and 6mm if memory serves.
Then flew some more, and realized that the stick placement was so natural that my brain quickly adjusted for the angle of control throws. I have to say that flying with a center stick is pretty awesome. I had done it IRL taking aerobatic lessons in a Citabria, and later a tailwheel checkout in a Super Decathlon. But, all of my sim time had been with either desk mounted sticks or yokes. Now, I can’t imagine going back.
Yeah, so while the VESA mounts will work, the big clamp would have been right at the point of where I wanted to place my keyboard. The MonsterTech single throw lever clamps make it really easy to move my stick around, compared to releasing and tightening the VESA mount arms or relocating the arm. I have a cutoff wheel to trim the post, and could find a machine shop to make some mounting plates, but I had been really wanting to try some 80/20 profile gear. I’m hooked on it now. Very cool stuff.
Watching the MonsterTech founders YouTube channel, they seem to have a very logical and humorous approach to their current and future products. They seem like good guys, and I’m wishing them well in their enterprise.