A Baker's Dozen of Stearman Repaints

[gray eagle]

2048 or 4096

Just got the VS Stearman and had choice of two files to install 2048 or 4096. I went with the 4096 and it seems to work okay but what are the differences between the two files?

 

[gray eagle]

How did you get a pilot in the front seat?

Whoops. My bad. I wasn't looking at the front cockpit.

If it's of any interest, the VS Stearman has more animations than the GAS Stearman such as the trainee in the front cockpit, etc. Again, both are great to have.

 

[DaveB]

Butch..

In the VS Stearman.. you use Shift+E+3. Unfortunately.. these combinations never work for me

The 2048 files are now considered standard.. the 4096 are 'HD'. File sizes are double so if you notice a drop in FR's.. drop the smaller ones back.

The manual will give you all details of what can and cannot be done and includes checklists and perf charts.

ATB
DaveB

 

[big-mike]

Thank you very much John for these amazing paints.
Mike

 

[Bomber_12th]

The VS Stearman panels/instruments situation can be argued all day and night - it doesn't do me any good or bad. I have no ties to the company or product, I just made some repaints for it, in-case anybody who already has the model and enjoys it would wish to add a few extra flavors, not yet covered by the default paint schemes or other repainters. I have about a dozen more Stearman repaints to upload when the time is right (which includes the "Spirit of Artemis" Tracy Curtis-Taylor Stearman (which, unfortunately however crashed/was severely damaged last year) and a post-WWII USAF Stearman (which the restoration is not yet complete, but I have all that I need for reference to the paint scheme), as well as mostly a bunch of civilian schemes). With regard to texture resolution, with the original VS product, you are given the choice of either (compressed) 2048x2048 resolution textures or (original) 4096x4096 resolution textures. With my repaints, you only get 4096x4096.

With regard to aircraft on display at the Smithsonian, you will not find another museum in the world which strives as hard as they do for absolute accuracy/originality. Knowing the Stearman they have, like most of their exhibits, it remains as a time-capsule, untouched (but cleaned/conserved) since original military use. By posting the image that I did of the Smithsonian Stearman cockpit, it simply clarifies that there is a precedent for why the VS Stearman panels/instruments are the way they are (just one of any number of layouts they could have gone for, either historically correct or modern - with the VS Stearman, you also only get one engine type modeled, when there have been several different types fitted during WWII and the present).

This photo of the rear cockpit, from an original N2S-5 manual, matches the exact same configuration of the rear cockpit of the Smithsonian N2S-5 (and the VS Stearman). I have yet to try, but I would assume, if you're flying solo, if you really needed to look at a bank/slip indicator, you'd be able to lean forward enough to see the one in the front cockpit.

 

[DaveB]

Thanks for the cockpit phot John. So.. no clangers from VS and the Smithsonians reputation remains intact.

ATB
DaveB

 

[gray eagle]

Trainee in front cockpit

When I first installed the VS stearman in 4096 mode, I only had one dude (in back seat), Then I reverted to the 2048 version and saw two dudes (one student & one pilot).
I was using John's Bush Livery... Now I was in the back seat and could see the back of the students head - animated and in the backseat view I could see feet/legs detail
and what was wierd, the backseat pilots microphone bobbing around from left to right.

Now, I took out the 2048 version and put the 4096 mode back in and all I see is a back seat pilot (In all liveries I might add) Yet I see in a post above a student driver in the front seat. Is that
specially selects from some menu?

Is there some sort of keys/buttons that make two animated people show up in their seats cause now all I am seeing is a pilot in the back seat.

BTW those special keys only work the GPS and that's about it.....I've looked at the PDF instruction manual (there are two identical PDF's) in both the N2S and 300 folder......

 

[Motormouse]

I have about a dozen more Stearman repaints to upload when the time is right (which includes the "Spirit of Artemis" Tracy Curtis-Taylor Stearman (which, unfortunately however crashed/was severely damaged last year)

As was reported here in May 2016.. http://www.flyingmag.com/transcontinental-open-biplane-flight-cut-short-by-crash
but it was back together again by the time of Farnborough Airshow last July http://www.birdinabiplane.com/galleries/goodwood16/

Looking forward to your rendition John.

ttfn

Pete

 

[pfflyers]

Shift+E+3 works for me to get a pilot in the fwd cockpit.

 

[dhasdell]

Shift+E+3 works for me to get a pilot in the fwd cockpit.

And Shift+E+2 and Shift+E+4 make the pilots raise and lower their goggles.

 

[gray eagle]

I really had to have the persistence to work the SHIFT +E+3 key to get that student pilot to load, and when it did then a little more details shows i.e. see picture attached.
The microphone goes in the direction of where the student is looking (left right) and I guess that is kosher. Funny thing though, Before I loaded the student pilot ala SHIFT + E + 3
key there were no legs to look at. I'll try those other key combos to see if I can make the goggle action happen. Notice the two brown things between the pilots feet? What is that?
BTW, when I first tried the SHIFT + E + 3 key I could see a main exit open/close dialog in the upper left screen.

And Shift+E+2 and Shift+E+4 make the pilots raise and lower their goggles.

 

[DaveB]

Yup.. this is the thing about combination keystrokes. If you don't get it right.. you don't get what you expect to see!! A lot of the time, it doesn't work for me so I put a door gauge into such panels to do the work for me Press the shift key and hold.. then the E key and hold then quickly release the shift and hit the 3. Shift+E+3 doesn't mean all 3 keys at the same time

ATB
DaveB

 

[Bomber_12th]

N38940, but a UK Flyer

For those that don't read my descriptions, you might be surprised to find that this aircraft, despite the N-registration, is based in the UK, and has been since the early-mid 90's. Paul Bennett, the owner, also restored the aircraft as it appears today (his first of several that he has restored). He is the subject of one of the episodes of "Plane Resurrection", which can currently be watched on Netflix, and this particular Stearman is shown and talked about a bit (including how Mr. Bennett won first place in the very first judging contest he entered this aircraft in).

The reason the aircraft has the specific finish it does, is due fully to historically-authentic accuracy. During original factory production, all of the aluminum panels were anodized for protection from corrosion. When the switch was made to standardizing the finish on Stearmans (and other trainers) to just silver, the anodized aluminum panels weren't painted and were just left as-is. Thus, although all of the fabric surfaces are finished in silver dope, most of all of the aluminum panels have the darker (and somewhat yellow/red/purplish in hue, under different lighting conditions) finish from the anodizing process.

 

[MustangL2W]

John,
I have always had a thing for the Silver USAAF PT-13D/PT-17's, and you really made your versions of them look AMAZING!!! I don't know if you have seen the PT-13D on display at the National Museum of the Air Force. They did a great job on restoring theirs....but those metal surfaces were all painted a light Gray instead of left bare like yours. I prefer the correctness of your versions....although I think that they did start painting to prevent corrosion later?? The contrast of the two (Metal over the Fabric surfaces)on the Vertigo model looks fantastic that way!! Also on both were the Navy and Air Corps markings so they could be delivered right from the factory to either branch and pressed into service. N53549 the Jago Stearman is the perfect example of that. I am just enamored by your repaints and Love the History that you teach with each and every one of them! Have you given any thought of doing any T-50's??

 

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you for the kind words, as always, Jim! Regarding the Milviz Bobcat, I would love to make some repaints for it, but I'm still waiting/hoping for a paintkit to be released for it first. "Spirit of '43" is based quite near to me, and is the only flying example I've seen in person (though I've seen a few different project examples first-hand in recent years), so it will be one of the must-haves. Really my favorite paint schemes for the Bobcat are the plethora of artsy/stylish two-tone 50's/60's civilian schemes.

Pete, thank you for the update on the "Spirit of Artemis" Stearman! The last bit of news I had seen/read about the aircraft was of that crash last spring (and I was surprised to find so much time has passed since then, as I had seemed to recall it happening not that long ago), and I figured it was still being repaired (as would be quite typical, considering the amount of damage). I have read further to find out that they were able to get the wrecked aircraft back to the company that built/restored it originally, quite soon after the incident, and that particular company, which specializes in Stearman restorations, had enough already pre-existing (new set of wings, landing gear, etc.) to get the aircraft quickly rebuilt within several weeks time.

 

[DaveB]

Some of us actually DO read what you type John so I'd already pulled N38940 I actually found a Priory Farm scenery to go with it too..

This is from Alf's Farm Strips#20.

Does he actually fly from Priory Farm or does he use Tibenham?
ATB
DaveB

 

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you Dave for the tip about the scenery!

N38940 is indeed based at Priory Farm, and flies from the grass strip there. The yellow Stearman (N75TQ) in the background of this photo, taken at Priory Farm, was the latest Stearman that Paul Bennett had completed (for a customer) when this photo was taken in 2008, and is the main subject of the Plane Resurrection episode on the Stearman/Paul Bennett. G-BAVO, the other UK-based example I've released so-far, has also passed through Bennett's workshop at least twice (restored in the 90's, and again following an accident in 2004). Here is a selection of images of the various Stearmans which have been restored by Paul Bennett at Priory Farm, a number of which more will surely be available for the VS Stearman in due time (one of the latest, G-NZSS, another stunner): https://www.flickr.com/photos/bigglessnaps/albums/72157620620724966

BTW, as one small indicator of just how many Stearmans there still are out there, there are more than 20 Stearmans that are currently/recently been registered to the same name/single entity of "EASTERN STEARMAN INC TRUSTEE" as N38940 is, alone.

 

[gray eagle]

Dave,

I like that scenery you are flying at, where can I find it and that Tibenham you mentioned? Also, where is the airport in the splash install screen for the VS Stearman? Is it available somewhere?
Edit: I found this one... is this where you are flying at in pic below https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/8514/fsx-alfs-uk-airfields-volume-20/

Some of us actually DO read what you type John so I'd already pulled N38940 I actually found a Priory Farm scenery to go with it too..

This is from Alf's Farm Strips#20.

Does he actually fly from Priory Farm or does he use Tibenham?
ATB
DaveB

 

[DaveB]

Cheers John

Good grief.. that Flicker collection is a right eye-opener. What a great setting too
ATB
DaveB

 

[gray eagle]

Vstudio Stearman repaints

If anyone has the collection of repaints that were available from the VStudios for their Stearman, please send me a pm.

I managed to find what looks like a vstudio site where I could register and after completing their questionaire, was told I would get a response (I wonder if or when?).

I do know that they are not supporting any addons they sold from their online store (UK).