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Official KC Flight Shop F4F Wildcat development thread.

Gibbage said:
OK guys. I need your help! There are two objects on the left side of the F4F-3 I cant identify.

f4f-q.jpg


The object circled in green. I think its a buzzer or some sort of alarm?

The object circled in red. At first, I thought it was the supercharger state selector since I don't see it in late F4F's, but that lever is on the left side. Can anyone identify this lever? I need more information so I can properly model it. Thank you in advance!!!

Kevin
Click to expand...

Been a while since I watched em but there might be an answer in these vids...



 
Thanks for sharing the video! It will be really helpful, but still didn't explain the lever. He's flying an FM2 and does not have the lever.
 
Could it be the fuel tank selection ?
Or perhaps, the selection of pylons for dropping or jettisoning the load ?
 
Well, I'm no expert but...

The Just Flight Wildcat and Martlett manual states that the lever there is the "Ordnance and Tank Controls". They actually work in the sim. The tooltips are not displayed in the screenshots below, but if you hover over the black handle it says "External Stores Selector" and the bluish handle behind says "Drop [Left, Right, Both] Stores". I have no doubt that this is probably correct and I don't see anything else in the cockpit that would perform that function, so it seems perfectly reasonable.

The big circle I was actually going to guess was a cockpit pressure valve (it looks like some I've seen in other aircraft) but I don't think that the Wildcat was pressurized. If you look closely on the top of the second picture, you will barely see the text "General Purpose Alarm (horn?)". I don't know what it activates however.

2014-1-4_14-53-11-879.jpg2014-1-4_14-53-28-824.jpg
 
It looks like you've got your answers regarding those items, but I thought I would confirm again that the item in the green circle is a (standard for the era) landing gear horn.
 
Deacon211 said:
Oh, I take it back. The Just Flight manual actually does say that it is the "Landing Gear Warning Horn".
Click to expand...

That sounds about right. Modern aircraft have the same thing. I have flown a Cessna 177RG and when your RPM is low and the landing gear is up, the alarm sounds. Its a very simple way of reminding the pilot to put down the landing gear! Its also very annoying since the alarm tends to sound often in normal flight. The 177RG is a very slick bird. When you need to drop altitude, you really need to crank the RPM down or you can overspeed it quickly, and that will trigger the horn.
 
Kevin, although I'm sure you know, the three-switch panel (and surrounding indicator lights) that is located in that photo, just above the gear horn, is a modern addition and wasn't present on Wildcats originally. The primer color that you see in that photo is correct for the F4F-3 (called dark dull green).

Note, too, that the photo I shared of the other side of that particular F4F-3 cockpit, that the gear handle is facing down - this is because on that particular restoration it has a non-authentic electric gear retract system installed, and thus the crank handle isn't used. On Wildcats with the original crank system employed, the crank will always face forward when the gear is lowered all the way.
 
Bomber_12th said:
Kevin, although I'm sure you know, the three-switch panel (and surrounding indicator lights) that is located in that photo, just above the gear horn, is a modern addition and wasn't present on Wildcats originally. The primer color that you see in that photo is correct for the F4F-3 (called dark dull green).
Click to expand...

Ya. I went over the old thread and saw that posting. The F4F-3 will be painted in the dark dull green, with the later F4F-4 and FM2 (if its done) will be in the chromite green. I love these sort of details! Really brings in the authenticity, and im sure you guys go nutz over it ;) Thank you for the heads up. Every little bit helps!!
 
Very nice work as usual Kevin.

Looking forward to this one.

Was thinking of picking up one of the JF Wildcat/Martlet, as for some reason, I feel the need to have an example of Grumman's stubby little fighter in FSX!

But I might well wait now until yours is complete.

Are you just doing one variant, or are you planning on doing a few more (F4F-3, Martlets etc)?

I must admit, I would really like to see a high quality FM2 in FSX. :encouragement:

[EDIT]

Just seen post #53! :jump:

Cheers

Paul
 
Thanks for the reference contribution! Every little bit helps. The F4F is on hold for a little bit as im working on a pilot training video (for real life pilots). I hope to have some cockpit texture up sometime next week!
 
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