DC Designs P3D native FA-18F/G Super Hornet

[downwind]

I like the idea of a midlevel complexity aircraft; in any category of flight simming, so yours will be of great interest to me. The mention of a carrier in development interests me also.

Good luck with your venture!

 

[DC1973]

Looking forward to this as an affordable option to the VRS offering.
Combined with the FSXBA F/A-18C this will fill the ranks nicely on the upcoming Team SDB Enterprise (sorry for the shameless plug, just excited by your news).

Oooh, a renewed Enterprise! That's awesome, so many carriers available now with such a high level of detail, makes for great naval ops in the sim!

If the Hornet package sells well, I'm lining up some more US naval jets with the same mid-level complexity to follow - it all just depends on the audience and the enthusiasm for the aircraft.

 

[Dino Cattaneo]

This project seems awesome! A proper Rhino is indeed much needed!

 

[menef]

"Aircraft will have selectable weapons load-outs, but I will leave TacPack / vACMI choices to the user - the model will include necessary attach points to facilitate weapons should they be desired."


Hello!! Sorry but I don't fully understand what do you mean , will it be already Tackpack / vACMI suitable leaving only the user to choice
wich of the two to use or will the user make it suitable to one of them? Thank you

 

[DC1973]

This project seems awesome! A proper Rhino is indeed much needed!

Thanks Dino!

 

[DC1973]

Hello!! Sorry but I don't fully understand what do you mean , will it be already Tackpack / vACMI suitable leaving only the user to choice
wich of the two to use or will the user make it suitable to one of them? Thank you

The aircraft won't come with "signatures" or files for either live-weapon option ( Tackpack or vACMI ), but all station points required will be included in the model, so users can decide which of the live-weapons options they would like to adapt the aircraft to use - the attach points for weapons have to be coded into the model for Tacpack to work properly. For those who aren't bothered about live-weapons, there will be an MFD screen option that will allow them to select the visibility of stores on the aircraft, via custom-coded visibility conditions built into the model. So, if you want extra fuel tanks and air-to-air weapons, you'd select them in the MFD display and they'll then appear on the relevant stations. Doing it this way seemed to be the only way of giving all users all options when it comes to ordnance.

I should note that the avionics will not support TacPack weapons targeting or similar - I don't have the coding skills for multiple function displays to that extent, and it's beyond the mid-level user target market I'm hoping to appeal to. VRS have got that covered.

 

[menef]

The aircraft won't come with "signatures" or files for either live-weapon option ( Tackpack or vACMI ), but all station points required will be included in the model, so users can decide which of the live-weapons options they would like to adapt the aircraft to use - the attach points for weapons have to be coded into the model for Tacpack to work properly. For those who aren't bothered about live-weapons, there will be an MFD screen option that will allow them to select the visibility of stores on the aircraft, via custom-coded visibility conditions built into the model. So, if you want extra fuel tanks and air-to-air weapons, you'd select them in the MFD display and they'll then appear on the relevant stations. Doing it this way seemed to be the only way of giving all users all options when it comes to ordnance.

I should note that the avionics will not support TacPack weapons targeting or similar - I don't have the coding skills for multiple function displays to that extent, and it's beyond the mid-level user target market I'm hoping to appeal to. VRS have got that covered.

OK , thanks for the explanation and good job

 

[DC1973]

Latest of the Super Hornet's paint schemes completed, this one for FA-18F "Fast Eagle 107" of VFA-41 "Black Aces". The list of included schemes will be;

FA-18E - VFA-143 "Pukin' Dogs"; VFA-31 "Tomcatters"; VFA-27 "Royal Maces" ( CAG bird )

FA-18F - VFA-103 "Jolly Rogers" ( CAG bird ); VFA-213 "Black Lions" 9 CAG bird ); VFA-41 "Black Aces"

EA-18G - VAQ-140 "Patriots"; VAQ-139 "Cougars"; 6 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force

The paint kit will be included with the package, if I didn't already mention that, for re-painters.

 

[Odie]

Looks like a great addition to the hanger! Top drawer stuff!

 

[DC1973]

Grrrowler! EA-18G conversion going well, some ambient occlusion / texture and polygon-smoothing issues here and there but she's in the sim and flying! Heading for the home run on the external models now, hoping to have everything together by the end of the week except the last colour schemes and any last-minute tidying up. Also have been doing some work on the textures for FA-18F VFA-213 "Black Lions", it's a WIP at the moment though.

 

[Victory103]

Models looks outstanding and from someone using/beta testing the VRS since FS9 days, I completely agree with your non-study level effort for the masses. It takes time to get the most out of Tacpack and only a few developers took to adding from scratch to their models. This looks like fun for anyone that just wants to Super Hornet it up around the ship. I'm assuming it's too late to request JHMCS helmets for the front seaters? Also, on the Growler, the NGJ jamming pod looks massive compared to the ALQ-99s, have you seen the latest pics of those?

 

[DennyA]

Looks awesome!

Though I just need one paint... ;-)

 

[DC1973]

Models looks outstanding and from someone using/beta testing the VRS since FS9 days, I completely agree with your non-study level effort for the masses. It takes time to get the most out of Tacpack and only a few developers took to adding from scratch to their models. This looks like fun for anyone that just wants to Super Hornet it up around the ship. I'm assuming it's too late to request JHMCS helmets for the front seaters? Also, on the Growler, the NGJ jamming pod looks massive compared to the ALQ-99s, have you seen the latest pics of those?

The jamming pods have all been scaled as best as photo-resources allow, I think the screenie perspectives might make them look a bit bigger than they are, along with some P3D light bloom. I might be able to add the helmets for the front seaters, but it's not a high priority to be honest - still got a huge list of essential work to complete on the project, not least of all the VC - I'll keep it in mind though.

 

[DC1973]

Looks awesome!

Though I just need one paint... ;-)

I'm going to do the Top Gun paints, definitely, but they'll have to be released as freeware outside of the main package as I suspect Paramount might have something to say about it if I include their stuff in a commercial release...

 

[DC1973]

VFA-143 "Puking Dogs" livery more or less complete, seen here on an older compile of the FA-18E model. Also, a nice shot of the VFA-41 "F" model around the carrier from last night.

External models should be complete by Wednesday, although some texturing will probably remain to be completed. Work on the VC will start the following week.

 

[Scorch00]

I've been lurking on here for a number of days this week and this was the first thread I saw when coming back into the forums and immediately wanted to get my account upgraded so I could respond lol.

First off I'd like to say you're doing an amazing job! The Hornet in general is my favorite aircraft. And we've needed a decent "fire up and go" Super Hornet for a while now. The old freeware go-to was the FS KBT one. I was an owner of the Super Bug from VRS when it first came out. But since then there's really no middle ground, and I think I echo a lot of us, that a) we don't always want to spend 10-20 minutes or so just firing up the jet, b) there's that price for VRS (wow has it skyrocketed from when it first came out), and c) it's been 10 years roughly since there's been an F/G models out there. I mean VRS' were "teased" over there probably what, 8 years ago? Or more? So this will be a nice. I'm not knocking VRS by any means. It's just been a LONG time. But anyway, I look forward to this one for sure!

Thank you sir!

 

[DC1973]

I've been lurking on here for a number of days this week and this was the first thread I saw when coming back into the forums and immediately wanted to get my account upgraded so I could respond lol.

First off I'd like to say you're doing an amazing job! The Hornet in general is my favorite aircraft. And we've needed a decent "fire up and go" Super Hornet for a while now. The old freeware go-to was the FS KBT one. I was an owner of the Super Bug from VRS when it first came out. But since then there's really no middle ground, and I think I echo a lot of us, that a) we don't always want to spend 10-20 minutes or so just firing up the jet, b) there's that price for VRS (wow has it skyrocketed from when it first came out), and c) it's been 10 years roughly since there's been an F/G models out there. I mean VRS' were "teased" over there probably what, 8 years ago? Or more? So this will be a nice. I'm not knocking VRS by any means. It's just been a LONG time. But anyway, I look forward to this one for sure!

Thank you sir!

Thanks! I'm hoping to launch the F-18s as a product either late this year or early next year - if it does well, many more built to the same standard and mid-level of complexity will follow! Just finished getting the Hornets' catapult bars working for carrier ops - a few piccies of the "F" model around the carrier for you. External model is pretty much complete now, work on the virtual cockpit starts next week.

 

[Victory103]

Looking great, any chance of a collaboration with "Jimi08" on the FSDreamteam forums and his work on the WIP legacy FSXBA? He's got alot of the FCS coding done and some basic Tacpack weapon functions.

 

[Sundog]

Looking great, any chance of a collaboration with "Jimi08" on the FSDreamteam forums and his work on the WIP legacy FSXBA? He's got alot of the FCS coding done and some basic Tacpack weapon functions.

Jimi is already working on the F/A-18F for VRS.

 

[Scorch00]

Thanks! I'm hoping to launch the F-18s as a product either late this year or early next year - if it does well, many more built to the same standard and mid-level of complexity will follow! Just finished getting the Hornets' catapult bars working for carrier ops - a few piccies of the "F" model around the carrier for you. External model is pretty much complete now, work on the virtual cockpit starts next week.

*Swoon* Ugh, I love this jet...

I may be jumping the gun here or maybe it's not the proper place to ask, but do you have an idea on what the price point will be for these beauties? I was just curious.