SSW F-104G Canopy Scratches

Hollister56

Hollister56

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As you can see from this screen shot the developer completely destroyed the visibility out of the cockpit, the inside is no better, especially at lower sun angles.

Here we have a simulator with the most awesome visuals ever created and we have developers that continue to add these effects to block that view. Now that being said, if you what to do this for whatever reason, at least have an option to remove it. A simple clickspot and a xml edit could do the trick!

I wrote a letter to this developer years ago when I first purchased it for FS2020 asking them to do exactly that, but never received a response. So I just parked that airplane as I could not enjoy it with all those scratches on the canopy and front windows. I really don't know who could and I bought both of their models, the single and dual seat versions?

As a side note their latest revision 1.3.10 did not address this effect, which is the latest single seat version.

I do not have the knowledge to do the modification myself until I discovered using AI, I use both Claude and ChatGPT, to make modifications. It is a remarkable tool for anyone who wants to make modifications and not have to rely on asking and hoping a developer will respond. There are limitations to what can be done, but something like removing an overly scratched window/glass effect is certainly doable.

This took several hours to complete and attached is the PDF, explaning in detail, the process. I don't know how many people are flying the SSW F-104G, but it is a great add-on and flies well. I have spent well over 2 days making modifications to it so it more represents a more modern day aircraft based on the only ones currently flying and that is the Starfighter's F-104's. The 2 seat version has a very cool modern cockpit that I would like to see installed in this airplane.

They have many great YouTube videos to watch and the pilot is extremely knowledgeable.


As noted the Starfighter canopy is beautiful! Here is an after mod picture of the SSW canopy!

Ed

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Attachments

  • F-104G_Canopy_Scratch_Removal_Mod.pdf
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Looks much better! I have a few add ons that I need to do this too as the marks are way too much overkill and it is difficult to see or is very distracting to say the least. The Taylorcraft is one of them, not so much marks but the reflection at least IMO is annoying and I guess I am not alone https://flightsim.to/addon/114589/windshield-reflection-fix-got-friends-taylorcraft-bc-12d

One that stands out that actually looks good is the new Carenado DO, at certain angles in the sun light you can see natural scratches on the windows but its not overly done.
 
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Here is a revised livery. Removed the white wings, black inlets and a few other items. I agree the reflections, especially at night can be very bad, and removing the inner and outer glass from the cockpit view might help. I like flying at night, but the instrument and ground glare was just too much. I am doing this mod to all the planes I fly! This awesome jet is only $13 USD at JustFlight. It is a simple copy and paste into FS2024.
 
@Hollister56 Looking at the comparison pictures, you've done a remarkable job sorting the canopy out - very well done.

I don't know why these things pass muster at the beta testing stage. Surely they could see the problem...couldn't they ? I've seen it so many times; blindingly obvious issues that spoil an otherwise excellent model, and yet they have either been ignored or gone unnoticed.
 
Paul K said:
@Hollister56 Looking at the comparison pictures, you've done a remarkable job sorting the canopy out - very well done.

I don't know why these things pass muster at the beta testing stage. Surely they could see the problem...couldn't they ? I've seen it so many times; blindingly obvious issues that spoil an otherwise excellent model, and yet they have either been ignored or gone unnoticed.
Click to expand...
Prolly because this is originally an FS2020-plane and the lighting engine in MSFS2024 is different than in the previous sim. I do wonder if SSW is even still active these days:witless:? I sure hope so.
 
Lawman said:
Prolly because this is originally an FS2020-plane and the lighting engine in MSFS2024 is different than in the previous sim. I do wonder if SSW is even still active these days:witless:? I sure hope so.
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I had these issues in FS2020 too, so I don't think is was the lighting engine, it was a totally over the top window scratch effect.

I believe this is an Italian development company and their texture artist was over caffeinated on too many triple shot expressos at the time! LOL

forums.flightsimulator.com

Development of sim skunk works LOCKHEED TF-FRF-104 G

Hello, we open this topic with two purposes: give frequent head-up on development status ask/receive suggestion and/or comments from our potential users. Actually: external fuselage and his animation is almost done internal cockpit modelling is at 80% of completion external textures...
forums.flightsimulator.com forums.flightsimulator.com
 
Paul K said:
Looking at the comparison pictures, you've done a remarkable job sorting the canopy out - very well done.
Click to expand...
Thanks Paul and it is a huge improvement and I think it can be done with other airplanes too without too much trouble. Personally, I want a clean, like new window, to look out of when I am flying. Developers can do what they like, but should offer that option to their users! Nice and Clean.
 
Lawman said:
Prolly because this is originally an FS2020-plane and the lighting engine in MSFS2024 is different than in the previous sim. I do wonder if SSW is even still active these days:witless:? I sure hope so
Click to expand...
I think they've been working on an update to their SF-260 for well over a year, and given that nothing has happened with that, and thee fact that SSW said that the F-104 wasn't being worked on as of April, I'd be pretty surprised if they release anything else.
 
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Using AI to modify files is revolutionary! If you have FSUIPC it can write lua scripts that can control the Lvar's. There are some limits because we do not have to source files, but that being said, the configuration or cfg files are easy to modified. The really cool thing is AI can read the SDK and it understands it with great precision. There was some one that mentioned the fuel flow with this airplane not being accurate, but you can modify that setting and test it out with AI until you find something that works for you. I did a fuel flow mod that is now very close to the performance charts in the manual. Also, giving AI access to your aircraft in the community folder, so it can write the changes, is so much faster and easier than attempting the rewrites yourself. You can ask AI after a session to write out a detailed PDF report for future review. I started using AI a few months ago and it has been one of the most enjoyable things I've done in MSFS in the area of file modification. This airplane is on the Just Flight's website for just $13 USD. It is a beautiful airplane and the developers did a very nice job with it and for the price it is a deal! Getting rid of all those scratches in the canopy glass was a huge improvement to my enjoyment level. I had this jet parked for a very very long time because of that and after understanding how to get AI to make texture changes along with other mods, well now it one of my all time favorites!
 
To answer to Lawman and Hollister56, as for the renderings of the cockpit windows between FS20 and FS24, there is indeed a difference:
- It concerns the fact that FS24 requires that the exterior windows/windshields be in the exterior 3D model and that the interior windows be inside; in fact, different texture slots can be applied to these parts, and these slots are different between the interior and the exterior. 0
- On FS20, we could do whatever we wanted.

As for the slots, I refer to this in Blender:

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Each slot contains a type of texture, they do not necessarily need to be filled in (they can be empty). For more precision, read the SDK in the appropriate section.

Regarding my last two planes, I created two sets of textures: a dirty and another clean one and by clicking on a "Mouse Zone" in the cockpit you can display either one.
It’s not difficult and many developers would do well to be inspired by it.
 
eagleFMJ said:
I was hoping they fix it, but like you said maybe not. I almost bought it till I read the reviews it seems pretty broken.
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I DID buy it - 9 GBP from JustFlight which seemed a good price, though haven't had chance to fly yet.

It would be sad if SSW faded away - still waiting for the brilliant F-84 to make it to MSFS...
 
keithb77 said:
I DID buy it - 9 GBP from JustFlight which seemed a good price, though haven't had chance to fly yet.

It would be sad if SSW faded away - still waiting for the brilliant F-84 to make it to MSFS...
Click to expand...
Please let me know how it is, the reviews on SimMarket had me running for the hills.
 
Lawman said:
Prolly because this is originally an FS2020-plane and the lighting engine in MSFS2024 is different than in the previous sim. I do wonder if SSW is even still active these days:witless:? I sure hope so.
Click to expand...

Ah, okay, I've misread this - I assumed that the scratches were just as bad in MSFS2020.

I've now got the F-104, directly copied and pasted into MSFS2024. I'm seeing the same thing as in the opening post, but not nearly as bad. I suppose there could be any number of reasons for that. Anyway, here's a shot of mine:

Screenshot-(216).jpg
 
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