Classic Aircraft Simulations J3 Cub Released!

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you, Centuryseries, I'll have to try that out!

 

[DennyA]

For the Quest 2/3, highly suggest picking up Virtual Desktop and using it instead of the Quest Link tool. It's very easy to set up, and it supports OpenXR on MSFS. With the various bitrate and other settings you can play with, my Quest 3 looks as good in MSFS over wireless as it does with the direct cable connection.

 

[Sunny9850]

Is there a way to actually fly with doors and windows open, without having to change the difficulties settings for MSFS as a whole ???
Still ticks me off every time I "crash" a perfectly sound airplane because of that idiotic setting in FS.
Can't tell you how many hours I have flown with the Saratoga with the windows open in both doors:
And on quite a few occasions, I have flown her as a photo ship with the rear door not even in the airplane....much less closed.

 

[woody901]

Is there a way to actually fly with doors and windows open, without having to change the difficulties settings for MSFS as a whole ???
Still ticks me off every time I "crash" a perfectly sound airplane because of that idiotic setting in FS.
Can't tell you how many hours I have flown with the Saratoga with the windows open in both doors:
And on quite a few occasions, I have flown her as a photo ship with the rear door not even in the airplane....much less closed.

If I recall, then it's the 'overstress aircraft' setting you need to turn off.

 

[LouP]

I think they're point is that if something doesn't overstress an aircraft in real life then the aircraft shouldn't overstress in the sim without making special adjustments for that aircraft.

LouP

 

[DennyA]

I feel no guilt turning off the "overstress aircraft" feature because it's not realistic at all.

 

[Bomber_12th]

What started off as a simple repaint quickly morphed into a full-blown project over the last week, but I think I'm just about ready to upload my repaint of NC61903. Having messed with almost all of the other textures, one last item I wanted to do was to create new textures for the tires as well, so here are some screenshots showing the results after spending a couple days creating the new normal maps and comp maps . The textures are matched to a common style of 8.00x4 tires used on J3 Cubs. I also added screws to the wheel covers and embossed the 'CUB' name. I'll work on finishing off the remaining items and upload it tomorrow. CAS will be releasing another update for the Cub tomorrow as well, so I also might just wait to test it with the update first to make sure everything's hunky-dory.

New "kicks" for the Cub





I've made quite a few changes to the look of the cockpit too - "new" floor, "polished" glass (scratches and smudges harder to see, but still there), re-painted lower cockpit framing (yellow instead of black), removed heat shielding from forward bulkhead, painted the mag switch red, and cleaned up some areas of the comp maps.

 

[jankees]

John, as always, your attention to detail is amazing!

 

[Tim-HH]

Wow, John, that looks amazing! Your attention to detail is always impressive. I'm really looking forward to that livery

 

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you Jan Kees, and thank you Tim! It was a struggle to finally consider it finished, but 'The Fighting Grasshopper' is now available on Flightsim.to: https://flightsim.to/file/76545/piper-ne-1-cub-nc61903-the-fighting-grasshopper

My next repaint is another favorite Cub of mine, also based in France, which is painted in the blue over grey airship squadron NE-1 paint scheme, operated by the French Wing of the Commemorative Air Force.

 

[simtech]

John, that's a really beautiful Cub, like I remember when I was a kid. Great job, thank you for your hard work.

 

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you, Simtech.

Just another heads-up, Version 1.0.3 has now been released. It features the following updates:

• Fix remaining persistence issues relating to starting cinematic
• Added (subtle) airframe shake on ground
• Fixed parking brake remains engaged on engine 'start' button
• Fixed altimeter above 10,000 feet
• Fixed tailwheel clipping underground in certain conditions
• Flight model tweaks, slightly more elevator authority
• Decreased tailwheel dampening

According to the developer, Chris, the next update should include the float version.

 

[Bomber_12th]

Since it was asked elsewhere, I thought I would mention it here as well. The hue/shade of yellow on my repaint of NC61903, which I've tried to match to the real world aircraft, is different than the yellow used on the CAS J-3 product textures, but is no less or more accurate. On all Piper Cubs built up until 1946, Piper used a nitrate dope in which the color was called 'Lock Haven Yellow'. This was a bit darker and a bit more orange than what later became 'Cub Yellow', which was a butyrate dope that Piper switched to using from 1946 onward. The real world restored NC61903 has a darker, more orange finish, in-line with the original 'Lock Haven Yellow' as would have been used when the aircraft was originally manufactured in 1942 (though being a modern paint/dope, might not be a perfect match either). The brighter, more pure yellow nitrate dope, called 'Cub Yellow', used from 1946 onward, is like what the CAS J-3 product textures depict. Oddly, the paint company Univair, which offers both Lock Haven Yellow and Cub Yellow poly-fiber coatings, has these hues/shades reversed.

 

[Twice43]

Thank you, Simtech.

Just another heads-up, Version 1.0.3 has now been released. It features the following updates:

• Fix remaining persistence issues relating to starting cinematic
• Added (subtle) airframe shake on ground
• Fixed parking brake remains engaged on engine 'start' button
• Fixed altimeter above 10,000 feet
• Fixed tailwheel clipping underground in certain conditions
• Flight model tweaks, slightly more elevator authority
• Decreased tailwheel dampening

According to the developer, Chris, the next update should include the float version.

Simmarket loaded v 1.0.3 straight into the Community folder.
However, I have now lost the functionality whereby if I hovered the mouse pointer over the EFT & left clicked when a cross showed whilst holding down the RHS Ctrl key, the EFT came up, much larger.
Anyone else found that?
T43

Update - forget the above. Senior moment.
It works when I hit the ALT key, not ctrl.

 

[Sunny9850]

If I recall, then it's the 'overstress aircraft' setting you need to turn off.

That part I was aware off, I simply do not want to turn that off all the time because sometimes you actually do something that might in fact exceed the demonstrated capabilities of an aircraft....and then you should get a reminder....at least here in the sim it is hardly ever painful.

Somehow other developers have managed to allow open doors or windows without breaking the aircraft. And frankly if you can't fly a Cub with the door open....there is almost no point to flying it at all.
You fly low and slow and you literally smell the world you are flying through....I did it mostly in a 160Hp PA-18 but also a few hours worth in a 65Hp J3 very much like the one from CAS.

I must say I am glad that I let myself be talked into buying this little nugget. The only real critique have is the overly reflective interior sides. They are almost mirror like and in certain angles look very .... cartoonish.
Handling wise....it is the Cub I remember, if maybe a tad bit too easy to keep straight on the runway.

 

[DennyA]

That part I was aware off, I simply do not want to turn that off all the time because sometimes you actually do something that might in fact exceed the demonstrated capabilities of an aircraft....and then you should get a reminder....at least here in the sim it is hardly ever painful.

The thing is, though, there are many situations where a plane might need an inspection after exceeding limits, but wouldn't be instantly destroyed as is what essentially happens in the sim. And the stuff like window opening causing crashes is far worse than any 'realism' benefits from the overstress feature.

Also, some of the better planes let you know if you exceed performance parameters.

"NTSB final report: Pilot flared too late and struck the runway with a rate of descent exceeding the rated capacity of the aircraft."

 

[IanHenry]

I've purchased this but I'm a little confused, do I need to install the Contrail app to download the aircraft?
I don't particularly want another piece of software running on my computer.
Also confusing is the fact that I'm being quoted several different prices, any suggestions will be gratefully received.

 

[modelr]

I've purchased this but I'm a little confused, do I need to install the Contrail app to download the aircraft?
I don't particularly want another piece of software running on my computer.
Also confusing is the fact that I'm being quoted several different prices, any suggestions will be gratefully received.

As far as I can tell, yes, the Conttrail app is required. Once installed, you can delete the app, but each time there is an update, you will have to reinstall it.
I think the different prices have to do with the exchange rates at the time and country of sale.

 

[IanHenry]

Thanks for that. It's very much like Orbx Central.

 

[Tom Clayton]

I have apps from Aerosoft, Orbx, and Simmarket. None of them are an issue. Just go through the settings when you first install it and make sure there's nothing there about starting up when Windows starts.