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  • Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.

    Post 16 Update

    Post 17 Warning

A Little Bearcat Action

As with the above file, delete the .txt and unzip.

This is a first pass at the -2 but should be a fun flier. Deck lands OK, but as with most FSX taildraggers has a tendency to nose fwd, bounce back, which can punch throught the deck.

A new prop to help low speed acceleration and climb rate.

T
 
Can't wait to try those F8F-2's now, Tom! Thank you!!

Here's some more F8F-1 related screenshots. I'm getting more and more attached to this aircraft with every new flight.

8-ball_.jpg


8-ball_2.jpg


8-ball_3.jpg


8-ball_4.jpg


8-ball_5.jpg


8-ball_6.jpg


8-ball_7.jpg


8-ball_9.jpg

8-ball_10.jpg
 
Tom, after a quick test flight with the F8F-2 flight dynamics, the first thing I have to say is, wow! At full power (past regular take-off power) you can really feel it pull, and the climb-rate is great! I'm also looking forward to taking it around the pylons at Reno, now. ; )

The only criticism I have, is the prop torque on take-off (which combined with the rudder authority, isn't manageable, or at least on my end). One of the things I've read about the Bearcat, is that it didn't have much torque/swing on take-off, and actually in the Budd Davisson pilot report, he states that he never felt the aircraft wanting to swing in the least, with absolutely no torque effect at all.

The full Budd Davisson pilot report is three-pages long, but if you start at the paragraph that reads "By the time I came to the end of the runway", on this page, it talks about the author's first two take-offs in the Bearcat (the one pictured at the very top of the pages): http://www.airbum.com/pireps/PirepBearcat.2.html

Back for more fun!

(Edit: I noticed that if I reduce the P--Factor slider in FSX, it's just fine.)
 
Excuse my ignorance but what files are being replaced? As I'd like to keep originals as back-up,Thanks:salute:
 
Right now, the VS Bearcat is setup with one Aircraft.cfg file and one Airfile, all within one aircraft folder. So if you want to back-up any files, the Aircraft.cfg file and Airfile are the ones to do so with.

As Tom mentions, there is more than enough difference between the F8F-1 and F8F-2 to demand two different flight models. As a result, you have to have two seperate VS Bearcat aircraft folders - one for the F8F-1 and the other for the F8F-2. What I did, was create a new folder titled F8F-2, and copied all of the F8F-2 related model and texture files over to that new folder. I also copied and pasted in the sound, panel, and main texture folders from the original VS F8F folder. I then used the Aircraft.cfg file and Airfile provided by Tom for the F8F-1, within the now designated F8F-1 folder, and then of course I am using Tom's F8F-2 in the newly made F8F-2 folder.

For any repaints you have installed, or especially if you have the extra repaint pack product, as I have, you will have to sort all of these out, between F8F-1 and F8F-2, and add all of the extra entries into the individual Aircraft.cfg files. I'll try to put some images together to illustrate.

For the sake of easing any confusion, here are Tom's same flight dynamics again, as he has so kindly provided above, but re-uploaded in .zip file form.
 
*Note too that Tom has renamed the Airfile as either VS_F8F-1 or VS_F8F-2, where as the default Airfile that came with the product is VS_F8F, so you either have to rename the "Sim=" line in each of the repaint entries in the aircraft.cfg files, or simply rename the airfiles in each of the individual folders, to VS_F8F (it doesn't matter either way you choose). The repaint entries in Tom's files, already have the "Sim=" entries reading either VS_F8F-1 or VS_F8F-2, appropriately.

It's also easier making a new folder for the F8F-2 variants, as there are less F8F-2's covered than F8F-1's.

Edit: This is the file setup I put together, with Tom's Aircraft.cfg files and Airfiles. Also, for those who have the extra repaints product for the F8F, I have attached the two individual lines of repaint entries for both the F8F-1 and F8F-2, for quick copy and paste (you'll still have to add in any additional third-party repaints/repaint entries). Hopefully these images will help provide a good quick reference check, to see if you've got everything put where it needs to be.
 
John:

Thanks for giving such a good explanation of the splitting of the siamese twins!

Indeed the Pee factor may be a bit high, but it is important to use a lot of right rudder trim. FS is a bit wierd in that the trim actually increases the effectivness of the control, rather than just the force required. I will probably work this over a bit more and certainly I wish I had as much info as was available for say the F4U or the F7F. I do know that there were some in service accidents from torque rolls after a waveoff. Pilot reports from the era are ocassionally repleat with a bit of the flyers mystique, as in "torque? what are you some sort of wimp, I didn't have any". There is some handling notes on the -1 in the 1944 Fighter Conf, which I have.

It amazing to climb to 20,000 ft in four mins or so!

Thanks for the comments, I am sure there are a few other holes remaining!

Best wishes: Tom
 
Tom, I think next time I'm going to try with full right rudder trim dialed in, and see what happens. I should have mentioned p-factor all along - the torque effect is good as is.

Thank you very much again!

(Also, I've been using the "single R-2800" sound set by Gary Jones, available at Flightsim.com - it is quite good!)
 
John,Thank you very much for your excellent instructions for those {ME:icon_lol:}Who are PC/Windows/Folder Challenged.

And of course Thank You Tom for creating/testing this package:salute:
Cheers
 
Has anyone tried to install this aircraft in P3D by direct install or drag the folders to P3D?

Thanks for the updates with the air files and aircraft cfg files

VCN-1
 

Bearcat 101

Actual Top Speed:
F8F-1: 421mph @19,700
F8F-2: 447mph, @28,000

My tested speeds, with no armament or accessories, and full of fuel.
Original Vertigo Top Speed:
F8F: 423mph @19,700, and 58 inches, 397mph at 52 inches.

Toms Updated Top Speed:
F8F-1: 420mph @19,700, with 59 inches (water injection on), 394mph at 52 inches (no water)
F8F-2: 439mph @28,000, with 59 inches (water injection on), 413mph at 52 inches.


John is correct on the proper manifold pressure settings, as well as the climb rate. I was very pleased to have water injection, and proper mixture settings at high altitude with the new FD's. The original dynamics left the aircraft remarkably sluggish, particularly at low altitude, while maintaining redline. (You almost had to exceed redline, in order to perform).

My clean, and dirty stall speeds, and characteristics were correct also. My overall performance was much improved, and the aircraft is much more nimble at altitude, as it should be. However, I also agree with John on the torque/p-factor being a bit heavy on the -2. It is correct, that WITH THE TAILWHEEL LOCKED, the Pilot almost didn't experience any torque on take-off. (However, tailwheel left to unlocked, is what gave the aircraft it's name, "Bearcat") Landing was also cherry, no bounce, and this also is accurate, for it has been said that when the Bearcat got planted, it stayed there.

Another critical aspect, is the gear. It needs to be cycled at or below 140 indicated. A little tough to do, when you have such a quick machine.

Am curious, was there ever a water level indicator on the Bearcat? I believe there was a 15 gallon capacity of mixture for the injection, housed in the lower area of the engine accessory section. It was injected at 27psi. Also, am curious if it was used during Grumman's testing, for performance specs.

One other note, having been around Bearcats most of my life, I don't at all mind the Vertigo soundset, and prefer it over that of Mr. Jones, though his is pretty good also.

John, am having difficulty locating some of the paint that you have installed....

Joseph
 
Paul,
Excellent link! I enjoyed that immensely. The little note about the friction lock on the throttle is interesting. Same thing can happen with the Mustang. Always a good idea to check that out before take-off!

Thanks!

Joseph
 
BTW, I love how Grumman designed into their aircraft, the cowls that taper away from the cockpit forward to the engine - much like what Hawker did with their Hurricane - making ground-handling and seeing past the nose much easier than other single-engine aircraft of the period.
 
The high seating for fwd visibility was important for the Navy philosophy of training for deflection shooting. Thinking a bit about the flight link and noting that the lockable TW was quite important for a good takeoff. I expect it was especially effective since the plane sat back at a fair angle, putting quite a bit of weight on it. Unfortunatly in FS the effect of a lockable TW, while there, isn't nearly as useful. Not sure if much could be done to fix this.

At least for the gear, you do not have to hand crank it up lik the F4F!

More later: Tom
 
Now that Fliger has it all tweeked up, it looks like I'll be getting the Bearcat after all.
 
John,
Thanks for the link. I had forgot about that pack. Getting it now.

Bone, GO GET THE BEARCAT, 30% off Right now at pcsimstore

Joseph
 
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