Nightime carrier landings

[Fibber]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to remember some practice nightime carrier landings missions that were available. Does anyone recall them or where they may be posted?

 

[Dirtman]

No ... but here is an alternative:

Make a copy of the stock CFS2 "carrier landing mission"
Add "night" to the file name.
Open the mission with Notepad or Wordpad.
Edit the start time to 1am
Hit "save"

Instant night landing mission!

Simple right?

.
.

 

[Fibber]

thanks dirtman

Dirtman;
Thanks, I am not cognizant with screwing with the inner workings of the game, but guess I am now! Didn't know it was that easy but "Live and learn!".

 

[bobhegf]

Make sure you zip up anything before you start to work with it.That way you you have a copy of the org.

 

[bearcat241]

You can change the carrier too with the same hand editing. Make a night mission with a lighted deck carrier and one with a blacked-out deck. I even made one with the USS Stennis to carrier-qual with my jets on an angled deck in my 1950's-to-Modern install.

 

[Jagdflieger]

As I recall, the Virtual Navy made a few aircraft carriers with night lighting on the decks. Jaxon also has some mods for Usio's carriers that give a measure of lighting to assist in landing.

The VN ships should be in the library here, although I can't remember the file names. Jaxon's mods can be reached by clicking on his signature in one of his posts.

 

[Dirtman]

Mod a mission 101

Dirtman;
Thanks, I am not cognizant with screwing with the inner workings of the game, but guess I am now! Didn't know it was that easy but "Live and learn!".

Yo Fibber;

Sorry I was so brief before ... had to go out, but now I'm back.
I'll go through this in a bit more detail for your & everyone else's benefit.

This is really straight forward & easy stuff. A great way to get your "foot in the door" when it comes to modding & tweaking a mission file.


But first: make a copy of the mission & put it onto your desktop. Remember to rename it: carrier_landing_night.mis

NEVER alter the original - ALWAYS use a copy.
If you screw up the original .. IT'S GONE FOREVER

When you are finished, Hit: SAVE then copy the new mission back into the "Missions" folder. Open CFS2 & try it out.



Here is the stock carrier landing mission file & the TWO needed changes in blue.



[mission]
version=2.0
title=%title_string%
summary=%summary_string%
objective=%objective_string%
intelligence=%intelligence_string%
mission_type=1
allegiance=3
total_goals=2
player_aircraft=3818
player_aircraft_name=%player_aircraft_name_string%
date=12/9/1943
time=01:00 (this is a 24 hour clock)

[unit.0]
id=9088
type_id=3818
name=%name_string.0%
is_player_aircraft=1
allegiance=3
skill=1
payload=0

[formation.0]
id=6000
type=air
waypoint_path_id=5000
directive=1
players_formation=1
points=2
unit_id_position.0=9088,0,0.0,0.0,0.0

[waypoint_path.0]
id=5000
waypoint.0=1,0,N18* 7.66',W154* 27.68',+600,,,,180,,0,0,1
waypoint.1=4,1,N18* 11.36',W154* 27.65',+0,,,,0,,9078,0,1

[unit.1]
id=9078
type_id=6004
name=%name_string.1%
heading=0
allegiance=3
skill=3
points=2

[formation.1]
id=6001
type=ground
waypoint_path_id=5002
directive=0
unit_id_position.0=9078,0,0.0,0.0,0.0
unit_id_position.1=9087,0,-5345.8,582.2,0.0
unit_id_position.2=9086,0,5531.8,-4506.5,0.0
unit_id_position.3=9085,0,3721.2,-6482.4,0.0
unit_id_position.4=9084,0,5530.9,4371.2,0.0
unit_id_position.5=9083,0,-7870.3,3274.4,0.0
unit_id_position.6=9082,0,-3700.0,6007.6,0.0
unit_id_position.7=9081,0,-7885.5,-2610.3,0.0

[waypoint_path.1]
id=5002
waypoint.0=1,1,N18* 11.36',W154* 27.65',+0,,,,30,,0
waypoint.1=1,1,N22* 9.63',W154* 28.01',+0,,,,30,,0

[unit.2]
id=9087
type_id=6008
name=%name_string.2%
heading=0
allegiance=3
skill=1
points=0

[unit.3]
id=9086
type_id=6014
name=%name_string.3%
heading=0
allegiance=3
skill=1
points=0

[unit.4]
id=9085
type_id=6014
name=%name_string.4%
heading=0
allegiance=3
skill=1
points=0

[unit.5]
id=9084
type_id=6014
name=%name_string.5%
heading=0
allegiance=3
skill=1
points=0

[unit.6]
id=9083
type_id=6014
name=%name_string.6%
heading=0
allegiance=3
skill=1
points=0

[unit.7]
id=9082
type_id=6014
name=%name_string.7%
heading=0
allegiance=3
skill=1
points=0

[unit.8]
id=9081
type_id=6014
name=%name_string.8%
heading=0
allegiance=3
skill=1
points=0

[unit_type.0]
type_id=3818
unit_family=1
name=f6f3_hellcat

[unit_type.1]
type_id=6004
unit_family=7
name=sha_essex_cv9

[unit_type.2]
type_id=6008
unit_family=5
name=sha_indianapolis

[unit_type.3]
type_id=6014
unit_family=5
name=sha_mahan

[strings]
"title_string"=Carrier Approach and Landing - Night (this is the name that will appear in "Single Missions")
"summary_string"=You may have heard it's easy, or you may have heard it's hard, but today you're going to find out what a carrier landing is really like. Remember, the LSO isn't waving his arms for exercise.
"objective_string"=Get into the pattern, complete your approach, and touch down on the deck.
"intelligence_string"=Ignore a cut or a waveoff and you may not live to regret it.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=F6F-3 Hellcat
"name_string.0"=Bullfrog
"name_string.1"=Essex CV-9
"name_string.2"=Portland
"name_string.3"=DD-721
"name_string.4"=DD-730
"name_string.5"=DD-733
"name_string.6"=DD-736
"name_string.7"=DD-737
"name_string.8"=DD-724



There ya go, that's all that's needed .... see how easy it is? View attachment 12954



And now for a bit of fun:

Notice the "name_strings". This is what puts the names on the objects in the sim no matter if they are plane, ship, ground vehicle or any other object. This changes the NAME ONLY.

"name_string.0"=Bullfrog - is your call-sign in the mission .... change it to any name you'd like ... maybe fibber?

"name_string.1"=Essex CV-9 - is the name of the carrier you are going to land on .... change it to the USS Dirtman or anything else.

"name_string.2"=Portland Is the escorting Cruiser but it is really the stock USS Indianapolis (sha_indianapolis) renamed Portland

"name_string.3" thru 8 Are the Destroyers .... all using the stock USS Mahan (sha_mahan)


This is probably the easiest mission to mod because it's short and has few objects. This in obviously NOT "rocket science".

Play with them ... learn, move on to more complicated missions and soon .... you'll be giving Rami some competition!!

This is how we have all learned ... now it's your turn Bro ... HAVE A BLAST!!!

.
.

 

[Talon]

I'd suggest you put in a carrier with lights like 1 of Collins Essex class carriers.


Talon

 

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I'd suggest you put in a carrier with lights like 1 of Collins Essex class carriers.


Talon

...and srt it up in Mission Builder. Use the Mission Setup menu to set the time of day to night.

 

[Fibber]

Okay guys;
got the aircraft up and running and the appropiate dd screen going but cant seem to get the birdfarm to turn its lights on. I am using the Essex cv9_night from the Mariannas Campaign and also have a Enterprise CV9-N (unkown origin) in the fleet but they wont light up.
The mission loads , runs,and the ships show, just complete darken ship rules followed. I looked in th eDP folder and they show lighted decks in the EXTRA sections. The FX strobe/flash was addd to the EFFECTS folder.
Any ideas what I am missing?

 

[Collin]

Fibber, now you have the mission, download one of my carriers and swap it for the default one you have in the mission. Using the mission editor.

regards Collin:ernae:

 

[Dirtman]

Mod a Mission 102 - Change the Carrier

Yo fibber;

So now you know that the stock CFS2 carriers don't have any lights .... isn't learning fun?

Geez ... now ya gotta put in carrier that has lights ..... like Lord Collin's fine Essex Class. I recommend: USS_Lexington44

Get it here: http://www.simviation.com/lair/cfs2shipyard.htm
and install it.



There are 3 ways to change a ship in a mission. Two of them take some time ... One is quick & easy:


1) Open mission Builder, load the mission, then select the ship & change it out. Hit save & Bob's yer Uncle.


2) Get Morton's Mission Utility: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=2586
Install it, load the mission & change the ship.

Everyone should have this GREAT little tool.


OR


3) Take the folder name from whatever carrier you'd like; in this example: USS_Lexington44 and simply paste it into the mission file in 2 places:




[unit_type.0]
type_id=3818
unit_family=1
name=f6f3_hellcat

[unit_type.1]
type_id=6004
unit_family=7
name=USS_Lexington44 (this MUST be the actual folder name)

[unit_type.2]
type_id=6008
unit_family=5
name=sha_indianapolis

[unit_type.3]
type_id=6014
unit_family=5
name=sha_mahan

[strings]
"title_string"=Carrier Approach and Landing - Night
"summary_string"=You may have heard it's easy, or you may have heard it's hard, but today you're going to find out what a carrier landing is really like. Remember, the LSO isn't waving his arms for exercise.
"objective_string"=Get into the pattern, complete your approach, and touch down on the deck.
"intelligence_string"=Ignore a cut or a waveoff and you may not live to regret it.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=F6F-3 Hellcat
"name_string.0"=Fibber
"name_string.1"=USS Lexington CV-16 (this is the name that will be displayed)
"name_string.2"=Portland
"name_string.3"=DD-721
"name_string.4"=DD-730
"name_string.5"=USS Bearcat
"name_string.6"=USS Talon
"name_string.7"=HMS Collin
"name_string.8"=HMCS Dirtman



Hit save & fire up CFS2 for some Night Ops!

I guess yer buying the virtual beers tonight eh?

.
.

 

[Fibber]

collins HI!!!!!!!!!!

I have all of your carriers loaded and love them. I am particular to your USS Laffey(DD) as I am a old Tin Can Sailor who served in the same squadron with her and my ship was of the same class. Many of my liberty friends came off of her when we nested together.
I re-edited as you suggested. On approach I am fine and the strobe shows ,then for some reason I seem to be ,suddenly, in hyperdrive and the Bermuda Triangle , where the instruments go bonkers and blame-oh I am feeding the whitetips!
As far as I know I am NOT hitting "X"s or any acceleration gimmicks.
Any suggestions?..... Buheller........Buhller.......Buheller.....?

 

[Collin]

Any suggestions?..... Buheller........Buhller.......Buheller.....?

The LSO found out about you and his wife?
Yer drunk or high on summat, check yer air, Dirtman has been known to tamper with such things for a joke.

Practice...lots of it.

You haven't said what yer flying and trying to assault me carrier with yet, If'n its one of those Corsair thingammies, do what the RN did, place HMS Kenya45 or 50 half'a'mile off the carriers port quarter. She has a special light on her mainmast which is your turn point for the start of the approach.

Post some screenies if yer can so we can see what yer problem is.

Glad yer like the ole'tincans

regards Collin:ernae:

 

[bearcat241]

Assuming you've already found the original mission file in the "Combat Flight Simulator 2\LESSONS\USA" folder, you also have to make a copy of its attendant dyn file and rename it same as the mis file, following the many examples already present in the folder. This is critical and should have been done first before making any changes to the content of the mis file. The dyn controls the triggers, voice tutorial and events of this specific mis file.

 

[Devildog73]

I can miss them on my own at noon, why in the world would I want to miss them at night?

But then again, if I don't see it coming, maybe it won't hurt as bad.........

 

[Collin]

I can miss them on my own at noon, why in the world would I want to miss them at night?

But then again, if I don't see it coming, maybe it won't hurt as bad.........

So you can crawl outta the wreckage and not see the crew laughing

regards Collin:ernae:

 

[Fibber]

Finally!!!!!!!!!!

Well, after about a zillion dollars in damages to aircraft and birdfarms, I have put a F4F bird in the roost!
The trick is to make the start time around 0500 hrs. Just starting to give a horizon. Just like in golf, Keep the bloody head down and in the cockpit. Use just the instruments in front of you and the mini screen to keep track of the farm. Slow to minimum and get a vis on the roost then go past the farm. Go into the racetrack oval and use th corsair approach. Short approach, heavy turn and drop onto the deck!
Not like the approaches I use to see when we did nightime planeguard but it works! Damn lot of concentration and stress.
No wonder the exams on stress on pilots who went north in Nam and then had to deck land showed more stress on the landing than over the North

 

[Collin]

Well done Fibber! Now practice without crossing yer fingers, toes, legs and anything else, don't worry about the damage the US Navy and Rami's paying.

From here on in its all downhill, your next assignment (should you wish to take it), is to land at night on a Colossus class carrier in a Sea Fury. (we'll kill you off somehow.)

regards Collin:ernae:

 

[Devildog73]

Collin, I am so glad I don't have the ship nor the aircraft on my farm....

I would give her a try, but alas, I don't think I can find those addons........