Alpha F-8 Crusader improvements

[TuFun]

This is my panel gauge entries under [Vcockpit01] :
[Vcockpit01]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=1024,1024
visible=0
pixel_size=1024,1024
texture=$vpanel1

gauge00=ALPHA_Crusader!Contrail_REC, 0,0,20,20
gauge01=ALPHA_Crusader!Reheat_Auto_LOGO, 0,0,20,20 <<<< this one was already there and at the top
gauge02=ALPHA_Crusader!RALT, 280,270,101,108
gauge03=ALPHA_Crusader!OilPress1, 177,280,75,75
gauge04=ALPHA_Crusader!N1RPMTURB1, 80,384,80,82
gauge05=ALPHA_Crusader!AOA, 170,374,89,90
gauge06=ALPHA_Crusader!Flaps_ind, 83,490,73,73
gauge07=ALPHA_Crusader!VSI, 663,567,90,94
gauge08=ALPHA_Crusader!EGT1, 79,588,90,89
gauge09=ALPHA_Crusader!GFI, 170,579,93,95
gauge10=ALPHA_Crusader!ALT, 265,546,128,130
gauge11=ALPHA_Crusader!ATT, 414,432,198,200
gauge12=ALPHA_Crusader!Gear_Ind, 10,491,66,71
gauge13=ALPHA_Crusader!TRI, 638,271,119,125
gauge14=ALPHA_Crusader!VGI, 616, 396 ,158,160
gauge15=ALPHA_Crusader!ACLK, 767,388,84,84
gauge16=ALPHA_Crusader!FuelFlow1, 766,483,84,84
gauge17=ALPHA_Crusader!TSI, 167,475,95,95
gauge18=ALPHA_Crusader!ATT2, 764,574,86,85
gauge19=ALPHA_Crusader!fuel_gauge, 857,576,85,85
gauge20=ALPHA_Crusader!SPDBRK, 653,228,29,29
gauge21=ALPHA_Crusader!STALL, 285,234,54,18
gauge22=ALPHA_Crusader!Switch NAV-GPS, 124,316,16,40
gauge23=ALPHA_Crusader!AB_on, 862,348,33,22
gauge24=ALPHA_Crusader!OSPD, 681,228,29,29
gauge25=ALPHA_Crusader!Tailhook, 357,211,33,25
gauge26=ALPHA_Crusader!LandingLights, 438,363,25,30
gauge27=ALPHA_Crusader!NavLights, 493,363,25,30
gauge28=ALPHA_Crusader!PanelLights, 465,363,25,30
gauge29=ALPHA_Crusader!AP Icon, 15,575,22,22
gauge30=ALPHA_Crusader!AP Switch, 45,576,22,22
gauge31=ALPHA_Crusader!Pitot deice, 563,362,25,30
gauge32=ALPHA_Crusader!ADF, 858,387,86,90
gauge33=SimIcons1024!ATC Icon, 15,600,22,22
gauge34=SimIcons1024!Kneeboard Icon, 45,600,22,22
gauge35=SimIcons1024!GPS Icon, 15,628,22,22
gauge36=SimIcons1024!Radio Icon, 45,628,22,22
gauge37=SimIcons1024!Map Icon, 32,655,22,22
gauge38=F15_Gauges!IRIS Airspeed US, 281,416,104,104
gauge39=Rollusgauges!tews, 428,162,179,176
gauge40=Rollusgauges!incidence, 316,104,24,77
///gaugexx=Harrier_GR7!HUD Night, 446,3,137,144

In original Panel entries the last gauge entry was //'s out and I think gauge 39 and 40 could be //'s out as well, yes?
There are four cab files under folders. Which ones need to stay?
View attachment 88116

Not necessary to do what I had posted before. Just use the F8-DCB version and change the threshold below 1.00, like .99 or less to get the afterburner to work as Don suggested.

 

[FSX68]

IT works

The Ab now works for me!!!!

Thanks Don and TF for explaining it to me. I too changed the threshold to .98 and the A/B fires up. Pretty neat!!!

:salute:

 

[TuFun]

Having some fun!

 

[expat]

Don,

Awesome work and package - many thanks for sharing your efforts with all of us. Enjoyed bringing the VMF-251 Crusader (the one with the bullpups - your paintwork looks pretty cool!) up from Cecil to KNBC Beaufort around dusk. Who needs Phantoms anyway??

expat

 

[fxsttcb]

Don,

Awesome work and package - many thanks for sharing your efforts with all of us. Enjoyed bringing the VMF-251 Crusader (the one with the bullpups - your paintwork looks pretty cool!) up from Cecil to KNBC Beaufort around dusk.

expat

Thank You, for the kind words. :redf:

Who needs Phantoms anyway??

Wash your mouth out! ...Don

 

[dhazelgrove]

View attachment 88199

We don't notice that "7" on the tail at all, do we?

Dave

 

[fxsttcb]

View attachment 88199

We don't notice that "7" on the tail at all, do we?

Dave

That's too funny! I'd say a few thousand of us didn't, anyhow.
Look at my avatar! It was definately flown a lot during the testing of the package, and I never noticed.

That repaint was uploaded back in 2006! I can just hear Russel "Now you tell me". lol...Don

 

[navy81]

This is a great package!
I am still struggling with the burner effect
I also adjusted burner threshold in the turbine engine data section
[TurbineEngineData]
fuel_flow_gain= 0.009 //0.003
inlet_area= 4.520
rated_N2_rpm= 9976 //J57-P-20(-20A)
static_thrust= 10700
afterburner_available=1 //turn off for max dry fuel flow test
reverser_available=0
ThrustSpecificFuelConsumption=1.245 //J57-P-20 10,700 lbf thrust, AB 18,000 lbf thrust @2.10 lb/(h·lbf) afterburner should give ~1200nm max econo range, 350nm Combat radius + 20-30 minute loiter.
afterburnthrustspecificfuelconsumption=2.1
afterburner_throttle_threshold=.95

The only way I can get the effect, and it is momentary, is by pressing and holding the F4 button. Burner comes alive, stages, then shuts down
Any thoughts?

Thanks everyone!
Deke

 

[FSX68]

This is a great package!
I am still struggling with the burner effect
I also adjusted burner threshold in the turbine engine data section
[TurbineEngineData]
fuel_flow_gain= 0.009 //0.003
inlet_area= 4.520
rated_N2_rpm= 9976 //J57-P-20(-20A)
static_thrust= 10700
afterburner_available=1 //turn off for max dry fuel flow test
reverser_available=0
ThrustSpecificFuelConsumption=1.245 //J57-P-20 10,700 lbf thrust, AB 18,000 lbf thrust @2.10 lb/(h·lbf) afterburner should give ~1200nm max econo range, 350nm Combat radius + 20-30 minute loiter.
afterburnthrustspecificfuelconsumption=2.1
afterburner_throttle_threshold=.95

The only way I can get the effect, and it is momentary, is by pressing and holding the F4 button. Burner comes alive, stages, then shuts down
Any thoughts?

Thanks everyone!
Deke

The only thing I adjusted (right out of the box) was the afterburner_throttle_threshold and I changed that to a .98 and it works for me.
I learned that from Tufun.

 

[fxsttcb]

The only way I can get the effect, and it is momentary, is by pressing and holding the F4 button. Burner comes alive, stages, then shuts down
Any thoughts?

Thanks everyone!
Deke

Because the 'burner is tied directly to the throttle, check for speed hold or some other throttle related function interfering.

If you have added any other gauges that operate the Logo lights, that could be it too...Don

 

[DaveQ]

I'm trying to uprate the paintkit a bit but can't find the texture for the nose gear main doors. Anybody any ideas?? Been doing a VF-33 bird off the Big 'E'

View attachment 88292


BTW I've taken a whole different line to Pam and others and grafted the Rolus .air file onto the Alphasim model. The result works for me - it's a lot easier to fly, so, being a rubbish pilot, I can now actually trap it. Only problem it rolls nose-up and stays there after a trap. I've cured that by cheating - turning the detect damage off!!

DaveQ

 

[hschuit]

I'm trying to uprate the paintkit a bit but can't find the texture for the nose gear main doors. Anybody any ideas?? (...)

Dave, it depends on the MDL:

model.F8U-1E = F8_Colour_Gray.bmp (is also used for the canopy frame, AIM-9 rails !)
model.F8-J = F8_Colour_cream.bmp
model.F8-J_FrenchNavy = F8_FrenchNavy_Colour_Gray.bmp (is also used for the canopy frame, Magic rails and dorsal hump !)

ModelConverterX by Arno Gerretsen is a very nice freeware tool I use to identify texture mapping on the MDL file.

 

[DaveQ]

Dave, it depends on the MDL:

model.F8U-1E = F8_Colour_Gray.bmp (is also used for the canopy frame, AIM-9 rails !)
model.F8-J = F8_Colour_cream.bmp
model.F8-J_FrenchNavy = F8_FrenchNavy_Colour_Gray.bmp (is also used for the canopy frame, Magic rails and dorsal hump !)

ModelConverterX by Arno Gerretsen is a very nice freeware tool I use to identify texture mapping on the MDL file.

Thanks a million Henk; got it - F8_Colour_cream!

 

[expat]

Guys, is there a way to make the burner can more reflective, shiny looking metal? My tinkering with the alpha channel just made it more transparent. Think this came up in a thread a few years back here and someone found a way around it but not sure it meant changing some values to the model itself.

 

[expat]

Been doing a VF-33 bird off the Big 'E'

Great looking paint, DaveQ. Will definately want one if you upload it!

 

[DaveQ]

Great looking paint, DaveQ. Will definately want one if you upload it!

A lot of work to do on it yet, but will post when finished.

We explored the alpha channel issue about 4 years ago, and decided it could be done but, because of copyright issues, we could do no more than tell you how you could do it for yourself (OBIO's the expert btw). To be honest I've never tried to do it myself but I might now give it a go.

DaveQ

 

[hschuit]

A lot of work to do on it yet, but will post when finished.

We explored the alpha channel issue about 4 years ago, and decided it could be done but, because of copyright issues, we could do no more than tell you how you could do it for yourself (OBIO's the expert btw). To be honest I've never tried to do it myself but I might now give it a go.

DaveQ

Dave, do you have any docs/instructions about this? In FS9, the exterior shine is controlled by the MDL material specular RGB and specularity. I updated this with MDLMat (1) and it looks perfect now in FS9 but the plane is still dull/flat in FSX.

(1) F-8J: Exterior parts LOD01 03, 04, 06, 07, 08 Specular RGB from 0,0,0 to 90,90,90; specularity from 3.2 to 250.
Burner can LOD01 10, I kept the specular RGB at 80,80,80 and changed specularity from 11.2 to 250.

thanks, Henk.

 

[DaveQ]

Dave, do you have any docs/instructions about this? In FS9, the exterior shine is controlled by the MDL material specular RGB and specularity. I updated this with MDLMat (1) and it looks perfect now in FS9 but the plane is still dull/flat in FSX.

(1) F-8J: Exterior parts LOD01 03, 04, 06, 07, 08 Specular RGB from 0,0,0 to 90,90,90; specularity from 3.2 to 250.
Burner can LOD01 10, I kept the specular RGB at 80,80,80 and changed specularity from 11.2 to 250.

thanks, Henk.

There's an FS9 tutorial by OBIO for MDLMat but it doesn't really work for FSX. I tried converting the F-8E model to FSX with ModelConverter but that didn't work either. I've just spent about 3 hours tinkering to no avail; there's no easy way to solve this one!!

DaveQ

 

[hschuit]

Dave, thanks. I have OBIO's tutorial, guess we are stuck in the same mudhole Anyway, even without exterior shine, for me it is still the best F-8 rendition to date (the Rollus one has the same shine issue in FSX and imho the Alphasim model looks more accurate).

 

[DaveQ]

Dave, thanks. I have OBIO's tutorial, guess we are stuck in the same mudhole Anyway, even without exterior shine, for me it is still the best F-8 rendition to date (the Rollus one has the same shine issue in FSX and imho the Alphasim model looks more accurate).

Agreed entirely but the Rollus one is easier to handle; that's why I tweaked the AS aircraft.cfg so I could use the Rollus .air file.

DaveQ