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Can a Cat be more popular than an Alby ??.......

Javis

Javis

SOH Staff
Staff member
Just wondering.... two big, twin engined, US flying boats from, just about, the same era, for FSX only, one priced just a few bucks more than the other, and one released about 2 weeks later than the other..

Reply posts score for the first 2 days after release :

Catalina : 110
Albatross : 33

What could make for the difference you'd think ?...:rolleyes:

Par Example :

#1. the Catalina is indeed more popular than the Albatross here at SOH ?...
#2. the Cat was released *before* the Alby ?.....
#3. the Cat has a better worked out VC than the Alby ?....
#4. the Cat is a little less 'expensive' than the Alby ?....
#5. two big US flying boats is a crowd ?....
#6. would the figures above be inversed if the release dates were inversed, or would they still be the same ?...

#7. any more suggestions ?.....

Just wondering, just curious..... ( i've got 'em both and love 'em both.... :wiggle: )

Cheers,
Jan
 
He, interesting question.
I would say it's #1 and #3.
#X would be build up anticipation by the beta tester's screenies and #Y Aerosoft's reputation in contrast to the frequent Alphasim bashing at this board.
It seems some devs can touch what they want and it'll turn into an at least verbal success at the boards even if it's a mediocre design with historicall and artistical/technical flaws while other pearls are kindly ignored. Note that remark was not at all targeted at either of the birds in question, just it shows the importance of community networking. :kilroy: Some just play that instrument better than other.
Very interesting question, indeed.
 
Hurricane and spitfire....

Hurricane does all the work, spitfire is remembered because it looks better.

Worldwide the cat is simply better known, even within aviation circles.
 
Yep, i haven't bought it yet but i fully intend to. I even have a model of a Cat hanging in my hallway, so..... :)
 
Had there been no Catalina, or even the prospect of one, I would have probably bought the Albatross. Alphasim seems to have done a good job with it, and its exactly my kind of flightsim aircraft.

However, I love the Catalina. There is something so appealing about those observation blisters and I find it a more interesting aircraft generally, to be honest. Aerosoft has done it justice in every way.

So for me it is #5....the classic American amphibian twin - shaped hole in my life has already been filled.
 
I aways liked the retractable wing floats...in the air she has a cleaner eye but on the water had all the needed goodies. both are beautiful planes but I was waiting for the Cat much longer:wavey:
 
If you like Flying Boats or Amphbians - you have to eat your bread without the butter this month - both planes are great. The VC of Aerosoft Catalina raises the bar a lot (my opinion ;-) ) but the Alphasim Albatros is also very nice and i have wait a long time for both planes in FSX.

As Lewis say it is like the Hurricane and the Spitfire ......

Thanks to both Companies for bringing out those Beautys :applause:
 
Lewis-A2A said:
Hurricane and spitfire....

Hurricane does all the work, spitfire is remembered because it looks better.

Worldwide the cat is simply better known, even within aviation circles.
Click to expand...

I'd love to see a decent Hurricane in FSX. I know that the Spitfire is obviously remembered more but I do think the Hurricane is now getting some recognition, hopefully someone will produce one in the future.

The things that I'd love to see are the real underdogs like the Typhoon or Defiant.

Bombers suffer the same fate though, it would be fantastic to see a Halifax or even the Barracuda.
 
Fireball6 said:
If you like Flying Boats or Amphbians - you have to eat your bread without the butter this month - both planes are great. The VC of Aerosoft Catalina raises the bar a lot (my opinion ;-) ) but the Alphasim Albatros is also very nice and i have wait a long time for both planes in FSX.

As Lewis say it is like the Hurricane and the Spitfire ......

Thanks to both Companies for bringing out those Beautys :applause:
Click to expand...


Well put Fireball - i agree with all :ernae:

And would not want to be without either now
 
The explanation is very clear.
464 Albatrosses built
1869 PBY's built.
Albatross was designed in peace time.
PBY served in WWII.
 
I think the explanation is all in the VC. One is simply great, one isn't.

The Catalina's VC is a major selling point and you can find great shots of it in just about every FS forum out there.

The fact that I have had to search high and low to find any screenshots of the Albatros VC says everything :engel016:
 
The Catalina is a more well known aircraft, plus it was made by Aerosoft. I've not bought a single thing from Aerosoft that I haven't thought was fantastic, and they clearly have a great reputation throughout the Flight Sim community, whereas opinions on AlphaSim are very much divided.
 
Sticking my head above the parapet, Aerosoft has consitency, AS doesn't, thats no fault of either set up, just the way they source there raw meshes.

If AS produced at the same rate as Aerosoft then there quality would raise, that can be seen in the Albatross and Islander, both long term modeling projects not built to an impossible deadline.

Both companies also have/had different business stratergies, though AS seems to be moving more towards the Aerosoft philosophy, less aircraft/more detail.

Its a slightly unfair comparison, on a company level and a subject matter level I'm afraid.

Best

Michael
 
The catalina came first, but a paintkit for the Albatross would loosen my creditcard from my pocket....:kilroy:
 
A couple of comments:

1. I'm feeling decadent-- when I get home in early June, I'm gonna BUY BOTH!

2. No paintkit for the HU-16? Is AS planning on releasing one?

Kent
 
as a lover of Floaters
personally id take the Cat
nothing to do with either company or models
I just prefer it
actually i have neither
but the cat will come first
H
 
One thing I like about the Cat is the balky engines. They feel like 60 year old, not real well maintained engines should feel. I still don't know if I'll buy the Albatross. If the Cat wasn't out, there would be no decision. As it is, there are so many good products being released. I'm more interested in the Dragon Rapide right now just for the variety.

Glenn
 
I have the cat, but I will also buy the Albatross for sure. The later replaced the first in Norwegian AF service and I will very much like have both in my FS collection.
 
ColoKent said:
1. I'm feeling decadent-- when I get home in early June, I'm gonna BUY BOTH!

2. No paintkit for the HU-16? Is AS planning on releasing one?

Kent
Click to expand...
1) Good man. I don't have the Cat but it looks great. I do have the Albatross and am enjoying it.
2) I've been told there will be one. It just wasn't ready.

:ernae:
 
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