DC Designs Northrop P-61C Black Widow RELEASED

[warchild]

First, a great job Dean to you and your team. This is an excellent airplane and you and your team did not spare many details. Thank you. In addition to the niggles already mentioned, I experienced something unmentioned up to this point. I'm running FSX-A, plane loaded fine and after engine start attempted to taxi to runup area. At 45"MP, and prop RPM @2400, airplane didn't move. Further examination revealed that even though the prop levers are animated correctly, (Ctrl-F3 for increasing Prop RPM) the RPM gauge is not. It appears to work in reverse whereas Ctrl-F2 increases the Prop RPM indication. To taxi and T/O, the RPM gauge is actually reading minimal. Other indicators seem to reflect expected values. Oddly, while flying, CTRL-F3 will, in fact, increase prop rpm. Not sure what I'm missing here. The performance is excellent, fun and, thankfully, challenging. Just one other observation and question, in this d/l, the Black Widow texture, the cowl flaps, prop spinner and top of the nose is a light OD color. Is this what is to be expected? Not sure. Just asking, perhaps my rig is choking on some colors. I didn't know if these areas were chrome, black or some other color. Again, thank you and your team for a job very well done. This must have been quite a formidable airplane in its time. I'm really enjoying it. Thank you....Terry

Ok. Lets go take a look at this one now..

Ok, so here's where we start.. Grab your favorite beverage, kick your shoes off and get comfy.

First, I'm running fsx:SE and whatever the latest update to that is, on a ryzen 5 and a gtx 1070.

Hardware aside, control F-whatever, doesnt work on SE. F2 decelerates and F3 accelerates.

the thrust levers in my VC work as expected, as do the F keys, and the throttles as well..

My "suspicion" is that its acceleration thats messing you up. The entire plane was developed in P3D and then recompiled for FSX, WHICH could be part of the problem as we now have three sets of code we're dealing with ( P3D, FSX, and acceleration ).

obviously things are already complicated so i'm going to start with the most drastic option..
Do you hate Steam ( lot of people do and I highly dislike them )??
FSX:SE is on sale and bundled with Active Sky right now for 25 dollars. Is this an option you would consider??
https://store.steampowered.com/app/364340/FSX_Steam_Edition__Active_Sky_Next_AddOn/
let me know..

 

[DennyA]

I forgot to comment on the sound. It's awesome! That noise at high speed with a subwoofer... Dang. How was that created?

 

[warchild]

I forgot to comment on the sound. It's awesome! That noise at high speed with a subwoofer... Dang. How was that created?

I'm envious. I dont have a subwoofer ::lol::
GMan provided us with the sounds which are from his tigercat, but i've no idea how they were made. I've heard that sound in real planes before, so i fell in love with these sounds as soon as i heard them and the rest is history..

 

[simtech]

Pam, thank you for your interest in trying to resolve this. As for SE. I have it in my Steam acct., but have never installed it. My ole tried and true FSX-A has always been reliable. I won't abandon her now. This issue relative to all things about this wonderful airplane is so minor I'm not "going to sweat the small stuff." I like your description on how this beast flies. It claws its way into the air. Much like how a helicopter beats the air into submission to get airborne. Thank you for a great effort and I'm looking forward exploring all of the flight envelope of this animal. You're a true gem and thank you for this and the other FDEs you've provided to many outstanding projects.

 

[warchild]

Pam, thank you for your interest in trying to resolve this. As for SE. I have it in my Steam acct., but have never installed it. My ole tried and true FSX-A has always been reliable. I won't abandon her now. This issue relative to all things about this wonderful airplane is so minor I'm not "going to sweat the small stuff." I like your description on how this beast flies. It claws its way into the air. Much like how a helicopter beats the air into submission to get airborne. Thank you for a great effort and I'm looking forward exploring all of the flight envelope of this animal. You're a true gem and thank you for this and the other FDEs you've provided to many outstanding projects.

I'm always glad to be there. Your all very special too me and I'd move heaven and earth if i could, for any of you.. Let me know if i can help with anything..

Pam

 

[Seahawk72s]

"OK, then that leads me to think, unless Dean says otherwise, that the texture for the panel is an internal part of the MDL file. That’s unfortunate."


By placing a background gauge at 00 I was able to add 1 bezel, fire instructions & white lines.

 

[falcon409]

Correct, I forgot about that little trick. Thanks for the reminder

 

[Seahawk72s]

Correct, I forgot about that little trick. Thanks for the reminder

See if this works for you

//--------------------------------------------------------
[Vcockpit01]
Background_color=0,0,0 
size_mm=1024,1024
visible=1
pixel_size=1024,1024
texture=$VCNew

gauge00=P61!background,  1,1,1022,593

 

[falcon409]

Just a super quick reply but I was asked to remove the bezel part of the VC so that folks could change the layout of the instrument panel. Will reply in more detail later.

Understood, however a normal panel background is usually still supplied on a texture sheet to allow additions such as placards, switches, bezels (in texture form, which is what I had planned to do) and so on. Probably should have explained that when you asked the original question. 3D bezels are what I believe you were asking about. . .I add bezels on the panel texture and then drop the gauges into the bezels. . .Milton's Beech 18 and Howard 500 are examples of panels I've done that way. No problem, I'll just find a way to do what I need to.

As I mentioned in my initial post. . .beautiful airplane and enjoyable to fly. Thanks for all the hard work.

 

[falcon409]

See if this works for you

//--------------------------------------------------------
[Vcockpit01]
Background_color=0,0,0 
size_mm=1024,1024
visible=1
pixel_size=1024,1024
texture=$VCNew
gauge00=P61!background,  1,1,1022,593

Thanks for taking the time to do that, however I think I'll leave it as is. I'm used to working with a visible panel texture that I can pull into my graphics program and enhance as I go. That isn't available so I'll forgo the plans I had and just enjoy flying the airplane. Thanks again.

 

[Seahawk72s]

Thanks for taking the time to do that, however I think I'll leave it as is. I'm used to working with a visible panel texture that I can pull into my graphics program and enhance as I go. That isn't available so I'll forgo the plans I had and just enjoy flying the airplane. Thanks again.

MMmmmm, I've had that background into my paint program more then a dozen times tonight so ....?

In any case best of luck, will look forward to seeing what you come up with.

 

[Sundog]

Hi Dean,

Is there a way to remove the drop tanks on this and the F-15 Reporter?

Regards,

Ken

 

[DC1973]

Hi Dean,

Is there a way to remove the drop tanks on this and the F-15 Reporter?

Regards,

Ken

Hi Ken,

The tanks are fixed in position I'm afraid. However, it would be possible using Model Converter X and a custom XML gauge to make them invisible when fuel tanks are, for instance, 50% full or less. I'm happy for anyone to make such modifications should they wish to, and might do it myself at some point when I get some spare time.

 

[warchild]

Flying Tip:

If you are experiencing the aircraft pulling hard to either the left of the right on takeoff, turn the engines off and do a manual restart.
1. Battery on
2. avionics in the off position ( on )
3. fuel pump boosters on
4. apply gas and click the left starter switch. If it doesnt start, apply more gas.
5. repeat #4 for the right starter.
6. Increase the throttle to 1000 rpm
7. keep an eye on oil and CHT temps.
8. wait till the temps are in the green ( about 3 minutes )
9. smoothly and slowly apply more throttle till you reach take off speed and power.

These engines are cantankerous and finnicky. They like to be babied.. Do not simply slam the throttles to the wall and expect things to go well.. A slow steady hand and an observant eye will take you a long way to enjoying your experience more..

 

[scotth6]

Absolutely awesome plane Dean, and everyone involved. The modelling, texturing, flight dynamics, sounds, are all superb. I am having a bit of trouble keeping it straight during takeoff and landing, but I'm pretty sure that's pilot error .

Thanks very much for an awesome aircraft.

Cheers,

 

[warchild]

Absolutely awesome plane Dean, and everyone involved. The modelling, texturing, flight dynamics, sounds, are all superb. I am having a bit of trouble keeping it straight during takeoff and landing, but I'm pretty sure that's pilot error .

Thanks very much for an awesome aircraft.

Cheers,

Glad your enjoying it
It can take me upwards of thirty seconds to go from stand still to full throttle because i'm constantly moving each throttle back and forth keeping the plane as straight as I can on the runway. Persnickety engines dont help either, but gortunately a restart doesnt take long, when keeping it straight is impossible..

 

[scotth6]

Glad your enjoying it
It can take me upwards of thirty seconds to go from stand still to full throttle because i'm constantly moving each throttle back and forth keeping the plane as straight as I can on the runway. Persnickety engines dont help either, but gortunately a restart doesnt take long, when keeping it straight is impossible..

Thanks Pam,

I just saw your post above mine regarding the takeoff and landing, I somehow missed it before. I probably had the page open as I was posting and it didn't refresh. I will give the engine restart a go. Unfortunately I am not set up with separate throttle levers. Although I do have a Warthog controller, I use the spare two levers for mixture and prop control. I often think separate throttles would come in handy.

I assume you did the flight dynamics Pam. Absolutely awesome job. I really love the way this plane flies.

Cheers,

Scott

 

[DC1973]

Absolutely awesome plane Dean, and everyone involved. The modelling, texturing, flight dynamics, sounds, are all superb. I am having a bit of trouble keeping it straight during takeoff and landing, but I'm pretty sure that's pilot error .

Thanks very much for an awesome aircraft.

Cheers,

You're welcome Scott, glad you're enjoying it!

 

[warchild]

Thanks Pam,

I just saw your post above mine regarding the takeoff and landing, I somehow missed it before. I probably had the page open as I was posting and it didn't refresh. I will give the engine restart a go. Unfortunately I am not set up with separate throttle levers. Although I do have a Warthog controller, I use the spare two levers for mixture and prop control. I often think separate throttles would come in handy.

I assume you did the flight dynamics Pam. Absolutely awesome job. I really love the way this plane flies.

Cheers,

Scott

Thanks Scott.. Yeahh, I and Paul Frimston started working on this FDE in 2010, We worked on it for five years, and then my health got too bad to continue with the schedule i had set for myself.. Paul's now making his own mark in the flight sim world as a flight dynamicist and doing a great job of it.. This FDE taught us more thsn we could possibly imagine back then, and its such a delight seeing it being enjoyed.

 

[Seahawk72s]

Alternate panel

I tried to use mostly SOH team gauges but then found myself needing to go elsewhere
for authentic looking P61 type gauges.

You will need the NOSA gauges that huub mentions in post # 47.
(The rotary variable dimmer works off the "instrument light" switch)

Milton's ST_Lodestar which will give you the radio altimeter.

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforu...tid=37&nameid=&sort=d&page=1&pp=20&keyid=8265

The FDG_P61b gauges from this link. (Authentic looking fuel gauge and recognition switch.)

https://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?CatID=cfsac&DLID=149136

And the center piece, a very good Sperry gyro unit from Roy Chaffin and company.
You will need his B25, a very good aircraft in its own rights.

http://www.roychaffin.com/packages.html

You will see the differences in the screen shots.
Two panel.cfg are included depending on which version you go with, DC3 or RCS.