SBD Dauntless released.

[Ken Stallings]

First off, to Team Vertigo, you folks did a hell of a job building this Dauntless. I have bought both this one and the Hellcat and feel they were two of the best buys I've made in FS models in some time.

With regards to the debate on the two Dive Bombers, hell, they both did their jobs and with brave crews. Like any other air crewmen, aviators defend their birds against any and all comparisons. We know the reputation garnered by the Dauntless and it's crews. Based on accounts in a couple of WW2 Naval Aviation books I have from the 1970's, the Helldiver had a lot of things going for it numbers wise. The one constant pilots noted was the bugs the plane had up till the SB2C-4 came along. Like a lot of planes(even the B-29), sometimes it took time to iron out all the wrinkles. Nonetheless, I always liked the look of both planes. They and their crews earned their place in history.

Your post sums up the situation extremely well.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[FLighT01]

Downloaded this yesterday and it’s a great job. Two questions come to mind:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
<o> </o>
The F6F is by Vertigo Studios / Real Flight Simulations<o></o>
The Dauntless is by Vertigo Studios<o></o>
<o> </o>
One and the same? They ended up in different folders in Sim Objects / Airplanes.<o></o>
<o> </o>
A sound question: As I’m sitting in the pit looking around and familiarizing myself, or when taxiing, or when sitting on the runway waiting to take off, I’m hearing the sound of a Dauntless (?) flying overhead, approaching from one direction and receding in its opposite. I pan around but see nothing. I then thought it could be the sound set for the Dauntless that is used in the flyby view being activated somehow? Anyone else experience this. (And no, I haven’t been fortifying my morning coffee with a shot of anything, lately).<o></o>
<o> </o>
For the record I’m on Vista64 with MOBO sound.<o></o>

 

[Deano]

Hi there, yes when sat on the runway you will hear a SBD fly-over (ambient sounds) Realflight and Vertigo Studios are indeed the same outfit, we changed name a few months ago.

The ambient sounds will become more apparent when we release the P36 as we're looking to add AI P36 traffic and also stationary aircraft.

Downloaded this yesterday and it’s a great job. Two questions come to mind:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
<o> </o>
The F6F is by Vertigo Studios / Real Flight Simulations<o></o>
The Dauntless is by Vertigo Studios<o></o>
<o> </o>
One and the same? They ended up in different folders in Sim Objects / Airplanes.<o></o>
<o> </o>
A sound question: As I’m sitting in the pit looking around and familiarizing myself, or when taxiing, or when sitting on the runway waiting to take off, I’m hearing the sound of a Dauntless (?) flying overhead, approaching from one direction and receding in its opposite. I pan around but see nothing. I then thought it could be the sound set for the Dauntless that is used in the flyby view being activated somehow? Anyone else experience this. (And no, I haven’t been fortifying my morning coffee with a shot of anything, lately).<o></o>
<o> </o>
For the record I’m on Vista64 with MOBO sound.<o></o>

 

[FLighT01]

Hi there, yes when sat on the runway you will hear a SBD fly-over (ambient sounds) Realflight and Vertigo Studios are indeed the same outfit, we changed name a few months ago.

The ambient sounds will become more apparent when we release the P36 as we're looking to add AI P36 traffic and also stationary aircraft.

Sweeeeeeeet

 

[dswo]

I've wanted a native-X Dauntless for at least two years. This is better than I hoped for.

Some dive bombing questions:

1. Can the wing pylons be armed?

2. Can you set a key to deploy the swing carriage? I ask because I'd like to watch the animation from outside.

3. Can you set a key to drop the bomb? Again, I ask because I'd like to watch the bomb fall from outside.

4. Anyone figured out how to link bomb impact with an effect? (Cf. Iris F-16.)

 

[dswo]

Engine settings, temps from the 1942 "Pilot's Handbook: Model SBD-3," which I found here: http://avialogs.com/douglas/douglas-sbd-3-dauntless/

 

[dswo]

If there's a patch planned, here are some suggested fixes:

1. Reference tab on kneeboard refers user to non-existent checklist tab on kneeboard
2. On the brown and white "Aruba" paint, the "swiss cheese" holes are white or untextured on the inside. This looks odd in bright sunlight. Or maybe it looked odd in real life!
3. The autopilot switch moves slightly to the left when you click "on," but it still points in the general direction of "off."
4. The clock has a 24-hour face, but hands indicate time like a 12-hour clock. E.g., actual time 0645 shows as 1245 on the clock.

Additions?

1. As I understand it, the gyro in the center of the main panel was used to adjust the autopilot heading. Would it be possible to make it do the same here?
2. Make the SBD-3 bombsight telescopic. (Could be more trouble/FPS-unfriendly than it's worth.)
3. I believe the SBD-5 had a reflector bombsight.

View attachment 1756

 

[dswo]

A paintkit is now available. See http://vertigostudios.co.uk/node/218. Unfortunately, to read the whole post (and I think to download the paintkit) you have to register and login.

 

[muletrain]

dswo...thanks for posting the location for SBD-3 "Pilot's Handbook".
Just what I was hunting for!

Roy Marsh

 

[peter12213]

Yeah thanks for that David!

 

[boxcar]

.
Haven't seen anyone post yet about the SBD's role in Vietnam/Indo-China (the French Navy flew some) & I thought it worth mentioning. This SBD Dauntless is mighty tempting, though am still holding out for their F8f Bearcat... same power plant but lighter, smaller, climbs like crazy comparatively. It will keep my F6f good company. May just end up purchasing this one as well, as it is obviously a fine piece of FS work. Am also interested, as David asks, if a bomb effect has been able to be linked with the release of the 1000 pounder. Thanks.
.

 

[Lateral-G]

Just got this one. It's really nice.....

However, after reading thru the manual I still can't figure out how to get the rear guns to deploy.

Can anyone tell me the correct key combo to do this?

-G-

 

[dswo]

Shift-e, release everything, then very quickly hit 2 opens the middle window.
Shift-e, release everything, then very quickly hit 3 opens the rear window and sets up the gun.

 

[peter12213]

Yeah Dave's right Lateral, but my FPS is aweful with this aircraft I'm gutted!

 

[Lateral-G]

Shift-e, release everything, then very quickly hit 2 opens the middle window.
Shift-e, release everything, then very quickly hit 3 opens the rear window and sets up the gun.

Thanks Dave!

-G-

 

[dswo]

The map tray is a good idea, but I wanted a different image. Happily, it's easy to substitute your own. The file you want is in the Microsoft Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\VS_SBD\texture subfolder and is named SBD_map.dds. Make a back-up before you do anything else.

You can edit DDS files directly with the free Paint.NET program. (I know there are other ways too, but I wanted to try Paint.NET.) It's 512 by 512, which is a bit grainy for up close, so I expanded the canvas to 1024 by 1024 and popped in a map of the Solomon Islands c. 1943. Don't save it yet: you need to flip it vertically first. NOW you can save it. Reload the sim (or just load a different plane and reload the SBD). See how it looks.

Attached is my Solomons map, with a screenshot of how it looks in the VC (with the ENBseries bloom plugin).

-- I updated the chart a little bit; scroll down to my next post for the new file.

 

[Deano]

Nice touch David, appreciated.

 

[dswo]

I added some items to the top of the chart board: MP settings and speeds from the SBD-3 Pilot's Handbook, and a recognition silhouette for the Zuikaku carrier.

 

[roger-wilco-66]

Wow, David!

 

[Merkava]

Lights

Is iny way to reduce size of lights? Formation lights looks very... hmmm... funky maybe. Try turn them On and see.