Catalina

I have the feeling there is some mis-understanding here. When I saw Quicksand junior's first post I was thinking the same as Andersel did.

Alphasim use to give their old models for free to the community. However Alphasim doesn't exist anymore and their enterprises have been taken over Virtavia. It could be very possible that apart from the name more has changed, like management, or policies.
Therefore I think it is quite a legitimate question to ask whether Virtavia will continue Alphasim's generous habit of giving their older models to the community as freeware.
And I don't see why this question should be regarded sarcastic or insinuating.

Communication is a difficult thing, especially when you are limited to writing and in the language used in not your native one.

Cheers,
Huub
 
I think another Cat has to be mentioned:
It's the Abacus PBY!

Purchased it a while ago and am quite happy with it.
Further patrol above Skagway:

abacus_pby1.jpg


abacus_pby2.jpg


abacus_pby3.jpg


Garry J. Smith created some very fine skins for this one!
Too bad that there's no paint kit included, just non-layered white textures...

I was a little surprised when I saw Ken Mitchell's freeware panel with it (!), but the VC is great!

abacus_pby4.jpg


abacus_pby5.jpg



I know it's no top-seller, but it should be added to the list...

Cheers,
Markus.
 
My first ever payware aircraft was their Be2c for Fs2000? Always had a soft spot for them.
 
Having been involved with Alphasim and now Virtavia since 2000 I would be surprised to see the Catalina go to freeware. For a couple of reasons...

First is that all former Alphasim products are now being sold via third party venders (under the name Virtavia) so there is no problem with server space like there was in years past. Back when we were cranking them out quite rapidly, if a product hadn't sold more than one or two copies for a couple months straight it was determined to just be taking up space so Phil would convert it to freeware and have me upload it to all the freeware spots.

And second, such a change from payware to freeware always had to be approved by the developer. Alphasim was/ Virtavia is Phil alone with the rest of us all being private developers either working together on something selling under the company name or contributing a specific part to something Phil was putting together. The Catalina was made by Carl, aka "ninja mouse", along with the C-5, F-22, Eurofighter, Big "E" carrier set, F-8, etc. None of which are on the freeware site or available via an online store at this time. Pretty much everything by the other developers who worked there is.

But hey, what do I know? It could go to freeware tomorrow. Or all of Carl's models could be made available for sale. You just never know. Anyway, just my $.02 worth. :salute:
:ernae:
 
Dangerousdave26 said:
I don't think it is that simple. Yes or No with out a logical reason why yes or no is kind of empty and makes the question not worth posting.

Truth is I don't think they will. The reason why I don't think so is it is not in the current catalog with Virtavia. Since Alpha sim was made up of a group of Developers the Developer who made the Catalina might have left Alphasim and taken the rights to the model with them (or at least their part).

Which would be why it is not in the current Virtavia line up.

Another reason is I look for them to make every dime they can from the models they do have the rights to and I don't begrudge them for that.
Click to expand...


well, if its not currently in Vitaria catalog yet and no one knows if it will or not.... it would make perfect sense to release it as freeware. Like I said to begin with, I was just asking

thanks
 
It only took 48 replies to get your answer. How's that for support!

I knew your meaning, but not the answer :mixedsmi:
 
huub vink said:
I have the feeling there is some mis-understanding here. When I saw Quicksand junior's first post I was thinking the same as Andersel did.

Alphasim use to give their old models for free to the community. However Alphasim doesn't exist anymore and their enterprises have been taken over Virtavia. It could be very possible that apart from the name more has changed, like management, or policies.
Therefore I think it is quite a legitimate question to ask whether Virtavia will continue Alphasim's generous habit of giving their older models to the community as freeware.
And I don't see why this question should be regarded sarcastic or insinuating.

Communication is a difficult thing, especially when you are limited to writing and in the language used in not your native one.

Cheers,
Huub
Click to expand...

Thanks Huub. I appreciate your take on this continuing and, unfortunately (at least from my point of view), contentious issue. For my part it has never been about freeware vs payware. Freeware is great. Payware is great, too. That has NEVER been the issue. Hell; this is about airplanes. I'm just one of those people that cannot keep from asking questions. My brain works faster than my hands and it gets me in to trouble sometimes. I guess this is another one of them. LA
 
Hey Andersel,

Don't worry about it too much or let it get you down.

Tomorrow it'll be a few places down on the page, come Monday it'll be on the next page and come the end of the month, everybody will have forgotten about it.

Regards,
Stratobat
 
While we're on the subject of Alphasim's Cat, the textures by Pierre Lheureux are well worth checking out. :jump:

Pete.
 
If you really want to give Mike's bird a makeover, put the model through a dynamic shine edit and then drop most, if not all of the alpha from the paints. (Batch conversion to 24-bit then back to dxt3 should do the trick, just make sure that the alpha goes to all white, not black.)
 
Stratobat said:
Hey Andersel,

Don't worry about it too much or let it get you down.

Tomorrow it'll be a few places down on the page, come Monday it'll be on the next page and come the end of the month, everybody will have forgotten about it.

Regards,
Stratobat
Click to expand...



Only too true, Stratobat. Mostly just trying to get my own thoughts in some sort of rough order. Still raining, still dreaming. LA
 
IIRC, way back when I had several questions on the accuracy of the then 'Pay-ware' Cat (my late Father flew them all over the Pacific) and the possibility of revising the aircraft in these areas, I was informed by the ever-helpful Michael Davies that the person responsible for the Cat had departed and taken his bat and ball with him.
Shame, as the basis was there, but so far we have not yet received an accurate PBY-5/5A, the Abacus version is fair but not the complete answer.
:173go1:
 
wombat666 said:
IIRC, way back when I had several questions on the accuracy of the then 'Pay-ware' Cat (my late Father flew them all over the Pacific) and the possibility of revising the aircraft in these areas, I was informed by the ever-helpful Michael Davies that the person responsible for the Cat had departed and taken his bat and ball with him.
Shame, as the basis was there, but so far we have not yet received an accurate PBY-5/5A, the Abacus version is fair but not the complete answer.
:173go1:
Click to expand...

My dad (Quicksand) has the Aerosoft Catalina for FSX on his computer, and its right on the money.... just thought I'd mention
 
wombat666 said:
IIRC, way back when I had several questions on the accuracy of the then 'Pay-ware' Cat (my late Father flew them all over the Pacific) and the possibility of revising the aircraft in these areas, I was informed by the ever-helpful Michael Davies that the person responsible for the Cat had departed and taken his bat and ball with him.
Click to expand...
That's exactly right. And my second point. I expect Phil will continue to give stuff away from time to time but not Carl's stuff.
:ernae:
 
Thanks for that insight Frank. I might have to go ahead and just buy the Cat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top