Skyraider READY!

[Rezabrya]

Tim, I just want to let you know that to me, this is your best plane yet. The VC is amazing. You get better and better with every plane.

 

[Piglet]

It's not supposed to be "rust". It was just me playing with some shading, and looking at my Tamiya model boxes.
Suppose one can easily say it's the red dirt of Viet Nam, or one can easily edit the textures.

 

[GunnyG]

Tim: Thanks for such a beautiful model, I can find only one inaccuracy. The rust in the cockpit would NEVER had been present in a USN aircraft. I strongly suspect that it would not have been there in a USAF SPAD either. Anyone seeing the first sign of rust like this would have downed the aircraft to remove the panel and do a complete inspection to see the extent of the structural problem. The plane captain assigned to this aircraft would have never permitted it to get this decrepid in the first place - after all, it was HIS aircraft. Please give us a VC without the rust - it really is inaccurate. Bill

On the other hand, scratched or worn paint on panels, handholds, and floorboards showing the primer or even bare aluminum would be entirely normal. Aside from the Dzus fasteners, how much steel is present in an A-1's cockpit?

GunnyG (the former C-130/EA-6A & B/CH-46, -53/OV-10/AH- & UH-1 avionics tech)

 

[Wings of Gold]

I totally agree Gunny, scratched or worn paint would be quite appropriate. Bill

 

[noddy]

Great shots guys, and what a stunning looking model. Well done Piglet. :salute:

 

[krazycolin]

Piglet, I have to say, quite honestly, this is one of the best planes I've taken up in the past 6 months. Wow.

thanks much.

kc

 

[hews500d]

Piglet, I have to say, quite honestly, this is one of the best planes I've taken up in the past 6 months. Wow.

thanks much.

kc

I agree! Took a few minutes off from working on the Buff VC yesterday to play with the Skyraider. Shifting the viewpoint around in the VC to where you're looking in the cockpit from the outside just looks like you're standing on the wing of the real thing :ernae:

Thank you Piglet!

Darrell

 

[Kowalski65]

iM ANOTHER WHO LOVES FLYING THIS BEAUTY-SO STABLE & EASY TO FLY.
HERE IN THE uk pc pILOT MAGAZINE HAS A STAR DOWNLOAD ON THEIR COVER cd EACH MONTH,AND iM SURE THAT pIGLET'S PLANES HAVE BEEN IN THIS POSITION MORE THAN ANY OTHER,AND i AM CERTAIN THAT THIS WILL MAKE IT TOO.


(arrgh,damn caps lock!!)

 

[Z-AZ1USN]

Tom
i do not see
tail hook configured for carrier ops
cable_force_adjust=1.5
or
[launch_assistance]
launch_bar_pivot = 5.41,0.00,-2.0
launch_bar_lug = 11.583333,0.00,-7.50
they are not the correct figures
i just copied and pasted them from another ac
but i believe for carrier ops they need to be configured for fsx
H

Where do you paste these changes? I'm guessing the ACFT.CFG file
however, as to the "tail hook configured" entry, any special area in the acft.cfg
file for that one?

 

[GypsyBaron]

Tom
i do not see
tail hook configured for carrier ops
cable_force_adjust=1.5
or
[launch_assistance]
launch_bar_pivot = 5.41,0.00,-2.0
launch_bar_lug = 11.583333,0.00,-7.50
they are not the correct figures
i just copied and pasted them from another ac
but i believe for carrier ops they need to be configured for fsx
H

The tailhook definition section is at the very end of the aircraft.cfg file, Henry.

[tailhook]
tailhook_length= 8.000
tailhook_position= -20.400, 0.000, -1.600

As for the rest, the A-1 doesn't have a launch bar. Just rev up that R-3350 and
fly it off the deck!

Paul

 

[StormILM]

There's a new unofficial FDE update out for the Skyraider. This is at Avsim and later at Flightsim.com.

<table align="center" bgcolor="#aaccee" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="left">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Category: Flight Simulator X - Aircraft Repaints, Textures and Modifications[/FONT] </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" width="*"> [FONT=verdana, sans-serif]New! [/FONT] [FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Douglas A-1J Skyraider FDE Update [/FONT]</td> <td align="right" nowrap="nowrap"> <!-- --> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> [FONT=verdana, sans-serif] File Description:
This is an FDE update for Tim Conrad's new A-1J Skyraider model for FSX. The primary changes are in the airfile for smoother flight handling characteristics, and also modifications/additions to the config file including the contact points(main gear/ground stance), toe brake force, tailhook, launch assistance. The aim of this update besides refining flight handling was to tweak the model to be able to facilitate it's use with moving AI Aircraft Carrier programs for upcoming Naval repaints for this model. Special thanks to Michael Davies for his help on the contact points. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]
[/FONT] <table align="center" bgcolor="#aaccee" border="0" width="50%"><tbody><tr> <td width="25%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Filename:[/FONT]</td> <td width="75%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]a-1jupt.zip[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]License:[/FONT]</td> <td width="75%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Freeware[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Added:[/FONT]</td> <td width="75%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]9th March 2010[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Downloads:[/FONT]</td> <td width="75%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]93[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Author:[/FONT]</td> <td width="75%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Bry Hardee[/FONT]</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Size:[/FONT]</td> <td width="75%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]13kb[/FONT]</td></tr></tbody></table>
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[Henry]

thanks
H

 

[fliger747]

It appears that the FSX arrestor utility was configured for nose draggers as it incorporates a significant forward pitching moment. Most WWII era planes that I have worked with will do OK if landed slowly enough as the pitching moment seems to be proportional to the square of the reletave arresting velocity. It may be a modification to the cable force parameter will take care of the issue.

Cheers: T

 

[michael davies]

There's a new unofficial FDE update out for the Skyraider. This is at Avsim and later at Flightsim.com.

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 width="100%" bgColor=#aaccee align=center><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2 align=left>[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Category: Flight Simulator X - Aircraft Repaints, Textures and Modifications[/FONT] </TD></TR><TR><TD width=* align=left>[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]New! [/FONT][FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Douglas A-1J Skyraider FDE Update [/FONT]</TD><TD noWrap align=right><!-- --> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]File Description:[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]This is an FDE update for Tim Conrad's new A-1J Skyraider model for FSX. The primary changes are in the airfile for smoother flight handling characteristics, and also modifications/additions to the config file including the contact points(main gear/ground stance), toe brake force, tailhook, launch assistance. The aim of this update besides refining flight handling was to tweak the model to be able to facilitate it's use with moving AI Aircraft Carrier programs for upcoming Naval repaints for this model. Special thanks to Michael Davies for his help on the contact points. [/FONT]

<TABLE border=0 width="50%" bgColor=#aaccee align=center><TBODY><TR><TD width="25%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Filename:[/FONT]</TD><TD width="75%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]a-1jupt.zip[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD width="25%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]License:[/FONT]</TD><TD width="75%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Freeware[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD width="25%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Added:[/FONT]</TD><TD width="75%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]9th March 2010[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD width="25%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Downloads:[/FONT]</TD><TD width="75%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]93[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD width="25%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Author:[/FONT]</TD><TD width="75%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Bry Hardee[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD width="25%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]Size:[/FONT]</TD><TD width="75%">[FONT=verdana, sans-serif]13kb[/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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I'd like to point out that the gear point modifications are not a reflection on Piglets work, I personally had no problems with bouncing, but over the last nine years have seen this effect appear at random to some but not all users (carriers being an espcially fickle child to tame), therefore I edited to a generic broad set of values I have that remove bouncing for those that usually have issues, they may well present issues for those that previously didn't, so back up your original cfg file first please. My values may well not match precisely the animation strokes in the model, that was not the intention, the intention was a more bullet proof set of figures suitable for a broader user base. The rest of the work was all Bry's and in reality all credit lies there, I just fiddled with a very small part .

Sincerely

Michael

 

[StormILM]

Michael, thanks again! I just had to give credit for your assistance which helped get things on the right track in this tweak. I reiterate and add to what you said about the elements of these tweaked Skyraider files not being a reflection of Tim's work. The work done was more or less from personal preferences to enhance various factors of the model's flight characteristics and improve the carrier landing behavior. Some folks who are experienced with tweaking may make little adjustments here and there in the config file to suit their own wants or requirements. The adjustments work great on my end and added the icing on the cake so to speak for a truly outstanding model. I want to clarify that I am not a seasoned expert in working with FS models. I think it is proper to say I am a "dabler" who adds to and plays with things a bit to refine what is already excellent work by true model developers who are far beyond my humble and meager abilities. That's why I gave credit to Michael and many others who I have learned a lot from.

As to the airfile, it is a mirror of sorts of the older Razbam Skyraider. I always liked the way that model flew and naturally I felt I wanted to base the tweak as close to that as I could. Tim was well in the ballpark in that regard. I simply "rounded the edges" so to speak. I am still learning airfile workings. This was only the 5th airfile I've ever worked on/modified. There's a ton of data in those files and trying to work through them is a migraine inducing experience staring at a screen and number tables for hours and hours! The motivation for such things is simple. Sharing in a hobby we all are quite fond of.

:salute: Cheers to all
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[michael davies]

Bry, You are always more than welcome, as is anyone else who asks, if i can assist i will, if not I will politely decline.

 

[GT182]

Breathtakingly beautifull!!!

Yeah it is.......

Makes ya want one just to head over to Afghanistan and terrorise the Taliban. :d

 

[Z-AZ1USN]

Carrier Launchable

I've tried to deck launch this bird and it will almost get airborne and the pointy end of the carrier however;
With FD4, I can cat launch most planes, this one (Sandy) doesn't seem like it wants to cooperate and
cat launch. Am I missing something here?

 

[StormILM]

I've tried to deck launch this bird and it will almost get airborne and the pointy end of the carrier however;
With FD4, I can cat launch most planes, this one (Sandy) doesn't seem like it wants to cooperate and
cat launch. Am I missing something here?

I am not sure about FD4 as I do not have that program. I assume it works with Acceleration? Using AI Carriers works fine with the Cat stroke. The only issue is that the velocity is too high coming off the deck. I have no idea how to change the launch velocity on FSX Acceleration Carriers. As far as deck launches go, use full flaps (at weight) and make sure you have the carrier deck aimed into the wind with the wind set at no less than 8 knots or higher. See what happens with those settings factored in.

Try out Lamont Clark's aicarriers2.zip located at Avsim and use it with Javier's Nimitz as well as some other AI Carriers out there and see if everything works ok. I have had nearly perfect Cat launches with that setup.

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[Sieggie]

I've tried to deck launch this bird and it will almost get airborne and the pointy end of the carrier however;
With FD4, I can cat launch most planes, this one (Sandy) doesn't seem like it wants to cooperate and
cat launch. Am I missing something here?

The plane now works perfectly once the update is applied. It will land and cat launch from a carrier in the aicarriers2 pack.

Thanks for the quick fix to the flipping problem
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