ALPHA PBY-5A Catalina conversion posted

Blackbeemer

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Hi All,

Has anybody converted the ALPHA PBY5 Catalina for CFS2 ?
It goes well through MDLC but needs an airfile , a panel , some sounds and a DP ( among other things :) )

BB
 
Blackbeemer,

You should be able to use the old VB or other Catalina air files as substitutes in your conversion.

Just rename them to match this in your .cfg file:

//ALPHA PBY-5 Catalina kb_checklists=pby_check
[fltsim.0]
title=ALPHA PBY-5 Catalina
sim=pby5<<<--- Name the substitute air file to match the "sim=" line
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=
kb_checklists=pby_check
atc_id=PBY69
atc_id_color=0x00000000
visual_damage=0

The DP file can also be substituted, but you'll need to tweak the hard points and loadout lines to line up with the Alphasim model. Name the DP file the same as the "sim=" line too and CFS 2 will recognize it and add your weapons and whatnot.

I have three freeware Catalinas in my library. They are by VB, VN and Follas. Many should be available here or at the larger sim sites. You can salvage your air and DP files from any of them without too much trouble. I think the VB planes scale is larger than the rest so it would probably take a little more tweaking of your hard points than the others.

Ditto for the 2d panel. I think the VC panel will need some switching out of FS 9 gauges to CFS 2 gauges.
 
Fellows:

I have Windows 7 so I have to use MDLC on another computer. My problem is that with the PBY_5A the wheels sink into the runway, and the nose wheel does not extend properly until after takeoff. I had a simular problem with a converted MDL. Does anyone have the series of converted mdls for the Alpha pby-5a for Fs2009 they could send me? I have added gauges, air and dp files from the Vb pby, and they work perfectly.

Braveheart
 
Braveheart,

The problem of the wheels either sinking or hovering above the runway/tarmac is due to the wrong data in the "contact" section of the aircraft.cfg file. This is a normal problem on conversion and can be fixed by trial and error. It usually takes some time to get it correct.

Here's the contact data for the PBY 5A:

[contact_points]
static_pitch = 0
static_cg_height = 4.21
tailwheel_lock = 0
gear_system_type = 1
max_number_of_points = 8


point.0 = 4, 15.4378, 0, -2.75, 2500, 0, 0, 40, 0.25, 2.5, 0.9, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
point.1 = 4, -2.6, 4, -3, 2500, 0, 0, 0, 0.5, 2.5, 0.9, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
point.2 = 4, -2.6, -4, -3, 2500, 0, 0, 0, 0.5, 2.5, 0.9, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
point.3 = 2, 1.1985, -45.8922, 1.2205, 1000, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
point.4 = 2, 1.25, 45.5909, 1.0694, 1000, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
point.5 = 2, -20.8488, 0, -1.4688, 1000, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
point.6 = 2, 0, -52, 8.65, 1000, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0
point.7 = 2, 0, 52, 8.65, 1000, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 6, 0, 0

I'm not sure which points are for water landing and which are for the wheels. Perhaps a more enlightened member can help out here.
 
Those [contact_points] are for PBY that don't have wheels. point.0 to point.3 are floats and the rest are scrape points.

Here are the contact points I made when I re-did the VN PBY-5A.
[contact_points]
//Gear
point.0=1, 10.08, 0.00, -4.1, 4200, 0.0, 0.69, 41.5, 0.1, 2.50, 0.70, 5.0, 5.0, 0.0
point.1=1, -6.91, -7.00, -4.1, 3200, 1.0, 0.69, 0.0, 0.2, 2.50, 0.88, 5.0, 5.0, 2.0
point.2=1, -6.91, 7.00, -4.1, 3200, 2.0, 0.69, 0.0, 0.2, 2.50, 0.88, 5.0, 5.0, 3.0
//Floats
point.3=4, 16.08, 0.00, -1.1, 6200, 0.0, 0.69, 0.0, 0.20, 2.50, 0.78, 0.0, 0.0, 2.0
point.4=4, 0.00,-20.10, -0.6, 6200, 0.0, 0.69, 0.0, 0.20, 2.50, 0.78, 0.0, 0.0, 3.0
point.5=4, 0.00, 20.10, -0.6, 6200, 0.0, 0.69, 0.0, 0.20, 2.50, 0.78, 0.0, 0.0, 3.0
point.6=4,-16.08, 0.00, -0.3, 6200, 0.0, 0.69, 0.0, 0.20, 2.50, 0.78, 0.0, 0.0, 3.0
//Scrape
point.7=2, 1.26, -50.0, 8.00, 10574,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,5.0
point.8=2, 1.26, 50.0, 8.00, 10574,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,6.0
point.9=2, -21.58, 0.0, 2.50, 10574,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,9.0
point.10=2, 8.83, 0.0, 2.50, 10574,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0,0.00,0.0,0.0,4.0

static_pitch= 0.0
static_cg_height=3.68
 
Converting the Alpha PBY-5A Catalina

Fellows:

Thanks guys you have been a tremendous help

I have converted the Alpha PBY-5 Catalina, and added panel, airfile, and DP. Everything works perfectly except for the PBY-5A, that has landing gear. The problem is that the nose gear doesn't extend to meet the ground, and is slanted forward. This may be a problem in conversion. Has anyone got a clean conversion from Mdlc, with the gear properly extended. I know I am asking alot because all 7 versions of the PBY-5a have a different mdl file. But if anybody has a clean conversion of this mdl, please send me a copy or a possible solution.


Braveheart
 
wow nice job. I love those planes, i am old enough to remember seeing them land on the bay in San Diego at the naval base and taxi across the water and waddle up the ramp to the hangars on the point by the old Lindberg Field. Nice job very well done, planning to upload it here soon?

:medals::icon29:
 
It still needs a couple of tweeks and it's certainly no 'professional conversion' as I've seen earlier from much more talented members of this community ,but I'll be happy to upload if there's any interest and if I don't break some sort of 'rule'... I have a working amphibian in CFS2 with DP , panel with CFS2 gauges and a VC with working gauges so far..

BB
 
Reply...

Blackbeemer,

For some reason, the upload did not get into the library. Would you mind please uploading this again?
 
Reply...

Good afternoon,

The second download was fine, and it has now been approved. :salute:
 
About Alpha PBY5 and PBY 5A

A short time before Blackbeemer I converted the Alpha's PBYs 5 and 5A MDLs from FS2004 to CFS2, tweaked the airfiles, added DPs, tweaked the textures and panel, added fx for water landing and views for chin gunner and waist gunners.

Here are some picts of the result of this work.

I did not upload this work at this time as I don't now the rules for doing it. If some one is interested, or if you think it is worth to upload this work, tell me how to do it.

Beepee

View attachment 76790View attachment 76791View attachment 76792View attachment 76794View attachment 76795View attachment 76796View attachment 76797
 
The use of the modded chin gunner and waist gunners view from the VN PBY5a is fine by me.
 
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