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SOH Team Project - Grumman Tracker, Trader, Tracer

Would anybody have the relevant manuals that give the slow and fast AoA indexer values for the Grumman 7 series. I've been trying to land these planes in FSX using virtual LSO to track my approach and carrier landings but had to guess on the AoA values and think my grades are suffering because of it. Or maybe I just need more practice? Most likely a combination of the two.

Some shots from a combined arms exercise with the Frence Navy ( sorry for the bad prop blurs, forgot to change them out w/the FSX ones )

tracker1.jpg


tracker2.jpg


tracker3.jpg


Thanks for any help

Al
 
BEAUTIFULLY DONE!! :medals: Thank you, Milton and team! I am partial to the dark blue variant (NAVY 75), as ATC calls it in in FS. She sits proudly next to my copy of Dave Wooster's superb P4M-Q "Merc" Mercator. The two planes may have never met in reality but the Stoof and the Merc are a nice compliment to each other in FS. :salute:

The nice thing about all of these Tracker variants is that each version handles different from the other. A testiment to the time, thought, research and hard work that goes into creating these excellent models.

BB686:USA-flag:
 
... She sits proudly next to my copy of Dave Wooster's superb P4M-Q "Merc" Mercator. The two planes may have never met in reality...

Oh, I think they must have met. The Stoofs didn't stay on the boat all the time. Aside from being based ashore between cruises, they went ashore as transients at many air stations. And those Mercators were likely to turn up almost anywhere... I'd be very surprised if the two types didn't share a ramp from time to time in one place or another.

Since the types were contemporary, one place they were almost certain to have been at the same time is NAS Patuxent River. If I ever get around to installing FS in my current computer, I will certainly add an AI Stoof and an AI P4M to Pax River.

If I do get FS installed and get back into the hobby, this fabulous Stoof will be a big piece of the motivation.

I've always been partial to that old overall Glossy Sea Blue livery...
 
As to fast slow indicator, I don't believe one was installed. Carrier approaches are flown at 85-95 knots depending on weight, she should come aboard nicely at those speeds.

T
 
S-2T mapping issue

Milton,

Been working on the S-2T a little today, Other than the nacelles, the S2F-3 paint kit works well. I had to rename the wings texture .PSD to use that template from the S2F-3 paint kit. I am having a couple of issues. Please see the attached pictures.

1. The anomaly on the left upper doesn't seem to affect the paint so far. No repair required.

2.The one on the right upper is a major problem. It shows up as an untextured spot (white). see the pic.

3. The main wheel wells are untextured?. When looking up, you see right through the aircraft to the sky. When I checked the other models, they aren't this way(the wells are black).

4. I haven't painted the intake lips yet. I need to know if those parts are mapped for reflectivity or transparency when alpha channels are used. If they are set for transparency, I'll need them set for reflective so they can have metallic shine. edit: PLEASE DISREGARD THIS! Just checked pictures and they are always black.
5. I do need to know where the prop spinners are mapped. These are also black on the military Turbo Trackers!
As the dash 3 paint kit works for all but the nacelles, I intend to only do new paint kit PSD templates for those. Mike Disrud's paint kit can't really be improved upon, at least not by me. My only wish is that they were released in 2048 x 2048 instead of 1024 x 1024. Otherwise they are great!

Dave
 
Milton,

Been working on the S-2T a little today, Other than the nacelles, the S2F-3 paint kit works well. I had to rename the wings texture .PSD to use that template from the S2F-3 paint kit. I am having a couple of issues. Please see the attached pictures.

1. The anomaly on the left upper doesn't seem to affect the paint so far. No repair required.

This is due to mapping the flaps and wings together. It should be fine. Should have mapped them separately.

2.The one on the right upper is a major problem. It shows up as an untextured spot (white). see the pic.

Easy fix, will correct and send model update.

3. The main wheel wells are untextured?. When looking up, you see right through the aircraft to the sky. When I checked the other models, they aren't this way(the wells are black).

The inner walls are not there; will include in the model update to you.

4. I haven't painted the intake lips yet. I need to know if those parts are mapped for reflectivity or transparency when alpha channels are used. If they are set for transparency, I'll need them set for reflective so they can have metallic shine. edit: PLEASE DISREGARD THIS! Just checked pictures and they are always black.

5. I do need to know where the prop spinners are mapped. These are also black on the military Turbo Trackers!

The spinners are mapped to chromespinner_t.bmp

As the dash 3 paint kit works for all but the nacelles, I intend to only do new paint kit PSD templates for those. Todd Disrud's paint kit can't really be improved upon, at least not by me. My only wish is that they were released in 2048 x 2048 instead of 1024 x 1024. Otherwise they are great!

Dave

Thanks Dave. See my responses in RED above.

I will make the necessary changes and sent to you shortly.
 
Megadog

As to fast slow indicator, I don't believe one was installed. Carrier approaches are flown at 85-95 knots depending on weight, she should come aboard nicely at those speeds.

T

Scan for carrier app. is "meatball, lineup, airspeed' for the recip prop aircraft. Across the top of the mirror/fresnel lens were green "cut" lights used by the LSO to let us know we were cleared to close the throttle for an "OK three wire" landing or bolter. The turboprops and jets flew power on to the landing and used aOa rather than airspeed with immediate full power application at touchdowm . The speeds that Tom give are accurate. Differnt techniques were due to power response differnces in case of bolters.
 
Thanks guys, you made me a very very happy man!

The V on the tail indicated this aircraft is stationed at NAS Valkenburg, which is very close to where I live and grew up. The Tracker flew from there until early/mid seventies. I often cycled to the airfield and watched them take off and land. The model brings back many memories.

Cheers,
Huub

Tracker_a1.jpg
 
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