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Flight Réplicas Douglas Dc-4 and B-24 free Released

Where are things as far as the B-24 and DC-4 working with FS2024? I know some folks have done some tweaks. I've held off (despite having paid for both in P3D and being a fan of both aircraft) hoping for tweaks that would let them work okay in the sim I'm currently flying.
 
DennyA said:
Where are things as far as the B-24 and DC-4 working with FS2024? I know some folks have done some tweaks. I've held off (despite having paid for both in P3D and being a fan of both aircraft) hoping for tweaks that would let them work okay in the sim I'm currently flying.
Click to expand...
I haven’t tried the DC-4, the B-24 caused an instant CTD when I even clicked on it in the menu
 
DennyA said:
Where are things as far as the B-24 and DC-4 working with FS2024? I know some folks have done some tweaks. I've held off (despite having paid for both in P3D and being a fan of both aircraft) hoping for tweaks that would let them work okay in the sim I'm currently flying.
Click to expand...
The DC-4 works without error for me on MSFS 2024 (non-beta). Nothing clickable in the cockpit, but I think that's the same on 2020.

I did update "layout.json" for the model using the MSFS Layout Generator, in my experience that solves lots of issues when using 2020 models and repaints in 2024.

Did the same for Jankees' great repaints. (y)

The B-24, however, crashes the sim, even with updated "layout.json".
 
DennyA said:
Where are things as far as the B-24 and DC-4 working with FS2024? I know some folks have done some tweaks. I've held off (despite having paid for both in P3D and being a fan of both aircraft) hoping for tweaks that would let them work okay in the sim I'm currently flying.
Click to expand...

hangarrat101 said:
I haven’t tried the DC-4, the B-24 caused an instant CTD when I even clicked on it in the menu
Click to expand...

Penz said:
The DC-4 works without error for me on MSFS 2024 (non-beta). Nothing clickable in the cockpit, but I think that's the same on 2020.

I did update "layout.json" for the model using the MSFS Layout Generator, in my experience that solves lots of issues when using 2020 models and repaints in 2024.

Did the same for Jankees' great repaints. (y)

The B-24, however, crashes the sim, even with updated "layout.json".
Click to expand...

This version of the B-24 should work ok in 2024. The folder name and some of the paints will be a bit different (make sure to uninstall the .to version) but it should get you started.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com
 
The DC-4 tweaking continues...

In the latest set of configs (attached at the bottom of this post) I have made quite a few changes compared to the originals.
The [PISTON_ENGINE] section has been updated to use the R-2000-7 Twin Wasp.
The [PROPELLER] section has been updated to be more accurate.
The brakes have been adjusted slightly.
The [FUEL] section has been modified to add the fuselage tanks. Fuel is now taken from left main and right main instead of the left main only.
Fuel tank positions have been updated
This section will be completely rewritten and replaced with the modern [FUEL_SYSTEM] section (30% complete).
Reference speeds have been updated to show correct speeds in knots.
the {FLAPS.0] section is being reworked to better represent the fully variable flaps. They had no stages and relied on the flaps gauge to show which angle they had set. (10% complete as it requires some xml coding).

Give these a try and see how you get on. Feedback is very welcome!

Oh, one last thing - back up the aircraft first, just in case!!!!
 

Attachments

  • DC-4 Replacement Config Files v1.1.zip
    15.5 KB · Views: 18
SeeRyFly said:
This version of the B-24 should work ok in 2024. The folder name and some of the paints will be a bit different (make sure to uninstall the .to version) but it should get you started.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com
Click to expand...
Awesome! Yep, got it running in 2024 now, thanks so much!

Will this be folded into the "official" release for other 2024 fliers? Appreciate you sharing it here!

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 9_21_2025 10_39_56 PM.jpg
 
Great to see this working in MSFS 2024 - thanks very much for fixing it!

I started looking at the model to see if I can add normal map textures for rivets and panel lines. Initial proof of concept looks encouraging although a bit limited by the texture resolution unless I go to 8k (!), but I don't know (yet) how to add my changes back to the model, since it's currently not looking for normal map texture images. I'm trying to figure this out with MCX but if anyone can give some guidance that'll be helpful!

image.png
 
I've completely redone the rivet network and panel lines on a few models, most recently the Lancaster, prior to that, the AH Mustang. I can tell you it's no easy task. It'll take days...The method I used for years was the FS9/X method, this is no longer used in today's modeling, but with PBR, it still works and you can make convincing looking raised rivets, and surface tension.
You essentially create rivet layers in Photoshop, or Gimp. Horizontal, vertical. The rivets will be white, on a grey background in order to stand out, or grey to black to sink or flatten them in the normal map. The rivet/line textures are then finally sent through paint.net saved as BC5 ( linear, unsigned). Important to remember - in PBR, light is raised, dark is lower.
Be aware that this only works if the model has been setup to use PBR. A lot of the port-overs are not setup for PBR as it was not invented yet at the time of modeling. Therefore, you won't be able to make PBR rivets and lines, then you must draw them and use light and shadow to make them look 3D. Here is an example of a texture sheet I created to send through Paint.net to use as a NORM map. Pm if you need help.
 

Attachments

  • PBR example.jpeg
    PBR example.jpeg
    2.2 MB · Views: 10
The paint kit has the rivets and panel lines in it already, I used those to generate a height map and from there used Materialize to generate a pretty good normal map. I'll post some progress shots soon, but so far I'm happy with how it turned out.
 
DennyA said:
Awesome! Yep, got it running in 2024 now, thanks so much!

Will this be folded into the "official" release for other 2024 fliers? Appreciate you sharing it here!

View attachment 173118
Click to expand...
Glad it works!

It's a bit of a messy situation because I have no ability to replace the files that are on .to

I am working on updating the package with Flak's normal maps, a few clickables in the cockpit, and JK's new default texture files. Once that's done I will find a way to get it posted for everyone.

As for cockpit lights, I see a dim glow that lets me read the panel at night. I tried setting up the actual emissive textures on the gauges but they don't look that great.
 
Jankees, what an amazing collection of paints! Thanks so much for creating/upgrading these!

You don't by any chance have an Alaska Airlines DC-4 paint lying around to convert, do you? No need to create something from scratch, but if you have one, I'd definitely enjoy it!

Also, some of the liveries are working fine for me (all weather flying center, USAF 7405th), but none of the Buffalo liveries work, they just create a ghost plane. This is in FS2024, which I know you don't use, but wondering what might be different from your military paints and the Buffalo liveries...
 
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