SOH A-26 Invader, the story continues ...

MZee1960

MZee1960

SOH-CM-2023
Gordon's recent comments about re-visiting this beauty in his A-20 Havoc post finally convinced me to download it and play with it a bit. Following a few hours of 'research' here at SOH, I finally had the most updated version, with all the 'fixes'. I must admit that she even looks better in sim than the pictures here will do justice. Needless to say, after several minutes, no ....actually, several hours of flying this beauty, I am tinkering with a few mods for my personal use. Thank-you, again, Milton, John, Gordon and co. for providing this outstanding model to the sim community.

 
Thanks for looking into this and sharing it. I also have the SOH Invader, but I'm probably not at the same mod level as you are. You indicated that you had to go through several threads to achieve this, and I must have missed one or even a few. I think it would be great if all this information could be condensed. Do you know or can trace back the mods you applied to achieve your current level you are at?


Cheers,
Mark
 
expat said:
Lost track whether a native model conversion was ever done for this one.
Click to expand...

Yes it was. John Terrell (Bomber_12th) converted the B and C versions some while ago. JensOle and I are currently playing with them. I've converted the K for my own use and added a payload.


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DaveQ
 

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roger-wilco-66 said:
Thanks for looking into this and sharing it. I also have the SOH Invader, but I'm probably not at the same mod level as you are. You indicated that you had to go through several threads to achieve this, and I must have missed one or even a few. I think it would be great if all this information could be condensed. Do you know or can trace back the mods you applied to achieve your current level you are at?


Cheers,
Mark
Click to expand...

Yes, certainly. As I said, it took me several hours to do this looking-up, but in a nutshell, here's what I remember :
1) Go to: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforu...ts=1&keys=1&literal=1&search=a-26&childcats=1 and install the third entry for the A-26 (manual install).
2) For FSX, go to: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforu...ys=1&literal=1&search=a-26&childcats=1&page=2 and install the A-26 conversion with fix.
3) I then read thru this entire thread, but remember page 7 : http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforu...26-Invader-FSX-Converted-Files-Download/page7 where in post #168, John has a mediafire link to fix glass issue. Download and install as per directions these files.
4) Go to : http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links_search.php , search username gman5250 and install Gordon's new A-26 texture sets (third from bottom).
5) Go to Avsim and install Richard Wisman's 'beech 18 auto-smoke xml gauge' found here : https://library.avsim.net/search.php?SearchTerm=smoke+effect&CatID=fsx&Sort=Name&ScanMode=0&Page=2 , (second entry on page).
6) Wing lite reflections I commented out as although I found them very nice, they were a bit too bright for my taste.
In the aircraft config under [LIGHTS]:
//light.11 = 5, 4.5, -18, -3.9, Newll //wing lite reflections
//light.12 = 5, 4.5, 18, -3.9, Newll //wing
7) I slightly darkened the VC lighting.

As I mentioned, these mods I made for my own personal use according to my taste and not everyone may like these, but IMHO, they just add to the realism of this wonderful creation by the developers here at SOH.
Thank-you, Gordon for the texture sets and for pointing me to the smoke gauge, and, of course, Milton and co. , for the wonderful aircraft model.

Hopefully this helps sort things out a bit.

Still, a WOP .... as I understand.
 
Not sure what you mean by "psychadelic" but if you're using Dx10 then you need to change the 8 bit textures using Steve's fixer, because the tyres look like mirrors.
 
Roger said:
Not sure what you mean by "psychadelic" but if you're using Dx10 then you need to change the 8 bit textures using Steve's fixer, because the tyres look like mirrors.
Click to expand...

Hi Roger,

Here's some pics -

Dwm2017-11-0919-06-15-28.jpg

Dwm2017-11-0919-06-18-51.jpg


I'm not using Dx10. Using the original Dx9. Here's what I mean by 'psychedelic' . The first pic is default tire texture labelled as 'tiretred' BMP file. The second is the 'tiretreadnew' diamond pattern BMP file.
I have 6 models of the a26 ( -b, -bearly, -bearlyng, -bng, -c, -cng )
I installed into my FSX conversion model as per Milton's instructions here - doing only what's in red as all I wanted are the tire tread textures :
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FS9 A-26B and A-26C Model Additions with Textures for the FS9 A26-SOH
(Works as Port overs for FSX as well with normal prop and glass updates)

Included are:

1) two new models - One A-26B with guns; one A-26C with Guns

2) two new models - One A-26B No Guns; one A-26C No Guns

3) Two new optional tire tread textures for these models


These models are in addition to your current FS9 A26-SOH model folders.

The new models can be used with any B or C textures you currently have.

For that to work you must do 3 things:

1) Copy the four new model folders to your A26-SOH aircraft folder.

2) Copy the two textures to all your texture folders. (Do not replace your current tiretread.bmp. That is required for the original models)

a) the new textures are named tiretreadnew-diamond.bmp and tiretreadnew-Plus.bmp (To activate one of the tire treads, rename it to "tiretreadnew.bmp" )

3) Change your aircraft.cfg [fltsim] "model=" parameter to call out one of the four new models. (examples: model =a26bw or model=a26cwg )


There are two tread patterns-Diamond and Plus. In order to switch between the Diamond or Plus tire textures, you must rename to "tiretreadnew.bmp" to activate it for the new models to recognize the active tread.

These new tread patterns were done by Steve "Duckie" Bryant for the Harpoon and Lodestar series and look good on weathered and faded paint schemes.

Enjoy :)

Milton Shupe
July 2014

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am sure the 'fix' is easy but right now, I just can't put my finger on it ??? :banghead:

Thank-you for any additional input,

Cheers,
Milan.
 
Hi Milan,

thanks for taking your time to share all that information!

I'm going to revisit the A-26 tonight :)



Cheers,
Mark
 
Hi Mark,

Also, I have now updated all of my repaints with Gordon's updated texture bump maps using the 'texture.metalb' and 'texture.metalc' folders (copy and paste and allow overwrite -except for thumbnail and texture CFG files, of course) found in the file download I referred to in step 4) above. Now all repaints look even nicer than ever and more 'crisp' as well with these bumps.

BTW, if you find an answer to my 'tire tread dilemma' I mentioned above, pls let me know.

Cheers, and have fun !
Milan.
 
The issue with the textures are that they are by todays standard rather low res (the originals are a ), specially for getting crisp decals. I have slowly started with a new paintkit in HD, but it will be an big undertaking to get all textures done.
I have a 6 gun B-26B in the Farm Gate program scheme with VNAF roundels as a test subject and it is a big improvements for the decals to get a HD threatment.
 
MZee1960 said:
Hi Mark,

Also, I have now updated all of my repaints with Gordon's updated texture bump maps using the 'texture.metalb' and 'texture.metalc' folders (copy and paste and allow overwrite -except for thumbnail and texture CFG files, of course) found in the file download I referred to in step 4) above. Now all repaints look even nicer than ever and more 'crisp' as well with these bumps.

BTW, if you find an answer to my 'tire tread dilemma' I mentioned above, pls let me know.

Cheers, and have fun !
Milan.
Click to expand...

I'm going to look into the tire problem tonight. The image above suggests that the UV coordinates of the mapping do not correspond to the bitmap of the texture. From the pure looks it's totally off, and not merely a flipping problem. But as I said, I'm going to have an "in situ" look at it later.


Cheers,
Mark
 
MZee1960 said:
Hi Roger,

Here's some pics -

Dwm2017-11-0919-06-15-28.jpg

Dwm2017-11-0919-06-18-51.jpg


I'm not using Dx10. Using the original Dx9. Here's what I mean by 'psychedelic' . The first pic is default tire texture labelled as 'tiretred' BMP file. The second is the 'tiretreadnew' diamond pattern BMP file.
I have 6 models of the a26 ( -b, -bearly, -bearlyng, -bng, -c, -cng )
I installed into my FSX conversion model as per Milton's instructions here - doing only what's in red as all I wanted are the tire tread textures :
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FS9 A-26B and A-26C Model Additions with Textures for the FS9 A26-SOH
(Works as Port overs for FSX as well with normal prop and glass updates)

Included are:

1) two new models - One A-26B with guns; one A-26C with Guns

2) two new models - One A-26B No Guns; one A-26C No Guns

3) Two new optional tire tread textures for these models


These models are in addition to your current FS9 A26-SOH model folders.

The new models can be used with any B or C textures you currently have.

For that to work you must do 3 things:

1) Copy the four new model folders to your A26-SOH aircraft folder.

2) Copy the two textures to all your texture folders. (Do not replace your current tiretread.bmp. That is required for the original models)

a) the new textures are named tiretreadnew-diamond.bmp and tiretreadnew-Plus.bmp (To activate one of the tire treads, rename it to "tiretreadnew.bmp" )

3) Change your aircraft.cfg [fltsim] "model=" parameter to call out one of the four new models. (examples: model =a26bw or model=a26cwg )


There are two tread patterns-Diamond and Plus. In order to switch between the Diamond or Plus tire textures, you must rename to "tiretreadnew.bmp" to activate it for the new models to recognize the active tread.

These new tread patterns were done by Steve "Duckie" Bryant for the Harpoon and Lodestar series and look good on weathered and faded paint schemes.

Enjoy :)

Milton Shupe
July 2014

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am sure the 'fix' is easy but right now, I just can't put my finger on it ??? :banghead:

Thank-you for any additional input,

Cheers,
Milan.
Click to expand...

It looks like you have renamed one of the new tire textures to the old name.

That will not work because the tires are mapped differently as you can see.

Restore the original tiretread.bmp and you should be fine.

The old models call for the old mapping pf tiretread.bmp.

The added models call for the tiretreadnew.bmp mapping.

If you want to change the old, you can copy and paste some other textures in the tread space of that original mapped texture.
 
Dave will probably answer himself, but I think there will be some more work before it is ready for release!
 
A few questions for John T and all the other warbird encylopedias here at the SoH:

-Information about the store pylons (and their position) and drop tanks introduced on the B-26B/Cs in the late 50's/early 60's as used on many of the CIA covert operations of the period and the USAF Farm gate invaders in Vietnam (Flickr has some good pics of them).
->The Droptank looks similar to the Mustang 165 gal tank.
->The drop tank pylon, which also could be used for stores, looks a bit different than the outer ones. Pictures of the Farm Gate invaders shows different types of pylons. Some of them are heavily supported by rods (supports anchored in the old rocket rail mounts/gun packs?

-Right side escape/entry door to the back compartment. I have never found good pictures to tell if this was a later mod or if the door as seen on the On mark/ invaders was build as such from the factory. I have pictures of the door on the RB-26Cs used in the Farm Gate program in 1963.

Any help is much appreciated!
 
alain0568 said:
Hello,

DaveQ, could you share your converted B-26K FSX, or at least the model?

Thank you.


Alain-
Click to expand...

I have a working K already but I want to try a few things like taking the pilots out on the ground. I've added weapons but grabbed from payware so cannot share. If anyone has a source of Vietnam-era freeware ordnance I'd be really grateful! Will share soonest.

DaveQ
 
Dave, if we can't manage to get them you can give me the types of ordinance you need I can make some custom ones for this project! That's really not too complex, and I think the A-26 is worth it.


Cheers,
Mark
 
Sorry I can not help you guys out on this venture. I just do not have any of the FSX native code.

Seems you are making out just fine without the help though, so go forth and have fun. :)
 
If anyone has a source of Vietnam-era freeware ordnance I'd be really grateful!
Click to expand...

Maybe someone over on the CFS2 forums could help out, ive got it in the back of my mind, someone did release some Vietnam weapons pack, just cant remember where.

cheers ian
 
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