Edit your own dp!
Why not just change the entry in the DP file to match what you have? I've done that for years. (Usually when the ordnance I want to use is better than that which the aircraft builder elected to use)?
Highpockets, Bill is pointing out the way to do it.
The first thing one must learn, if a serious depart from the strictly stock install is wished, is to edit aircraft Damage Profile (i.e.: *.dp) Files. This will open up a whole new world of tweaking your addon aircrafts, a very satisfying practice.
- Open it with a simple text editor, I've used Windows Notepad for ages.
- If it's the first time select Notepad "Open always with" option in order to open all flies ending with *.dp with Notepad from then on.
- Scroll down to the end of it, you'll find the [PAYLOAD.x] section.
[PAYLOAD.0]
; Payload = Guns only
[PAYLOAD.1]
; Payload = Bombs Light
mount.3=wep_pylon_ja_wing
, 1, -1
mount.2=wep_ja_30kg_gp, 1, 4
mount.5=wep_pylon_ja_wing
, 1, -1
mount.4=wep_ja_30kg_gp, 1, -1
[PAYLOAD.2]
; Payload = Bombs Medium
mount.3=wep_pylon_ja_wing
, 1, -1
mount.2=wep_ja_60kg_gp, 1, 4
mount.5=wep_pylon_ja_wing
, 1, -1
mount.4=wep_ja_60kg_gp, 1, -1
- Replace what I highlighted in the above example with your weapon of choice, copying exactly its filename from the root \OBJECTS_DP folder, providing you had previously installed it correctly. Filename only, leave the .dp extension out.
- Save the new dp file.
- Delete the corresponding *.cdp file in the aircraft folder (to force CFS2 accepting the new changes) and start CFS2.
- DONE.
Now comes the fun part.
Every addon weapon has its own HARDPOINT location. The most common thing that happens now is that your new waepon is hanging in mid-air, nowhere near the pylon where it should be hanging from. Some designers took the extra pain in matching the stock HARDPOINT figures, like Dbolt and Thicko, but the great majority of the addon weapons out there will not sit in the same place of the ones they replaced.
If this is the case, onwards to the next step.
[HARDPOINTS]
mount.0=0,-0.661,-0.52
mount.1=0,-0.661,-0.52
mount.2=0.85,-0.55,-0.3
mount.3=0.85,-0.65,-0.3
mount.4=-0.85,-0.65,-0.3
mount.5=-0.85,-0.65,-0.3
Again in the *.dp file, the above section usually comes before the [PAYLOAD.x] section. The meaning of the highligted figures is as follows:
1st: distance from the central aircraft longitudinal axis. Increasing this number will move the hardpoint away from the central aircraft longitudinal axis. Lowering this number will move the hardpoint closer to the central aircraft longitudinal axis. This example looks like those two hardpoints are located under the wings. A weapon carried ventrally in the center would have a 0.0 location. The minus in front of mount.4= means the opposite side.
2nd: above and below a given point. Lowering this number will move the hardpoint downward. Increasing this number will move the hardpoint upward. In this example the two numbers are different because probably the model came out not too accurate and the weapons must be hanged in two different locations in order to look levelled. It often happens.
3rd: forward or backward a given point. Lowering this number will move the hardpoint backward, toward the tail of the aircraft. Increasing this number will move the hardpoint forward, toward the nose of the aircraft.
A word of advice when working with hardpoint locations: pay attention to the negative and positive numbers. Sometime increasing a negative figure sends the weapon opposite to what we want, it usually happens to rookies, a little practice will clear all misunderstandings.
As with hundreds of other mods with CFS2, it's a matter of trial-and-error. DpEd is a freeware utility application, you can find here, that should help finding the correct harpoint figures quickly. I never got used to it, other than fixing incorrect gun data. I usually do all of the above with CFS2 run in a window, aircaft displayed in Free Flight, changing figures by 0.5 increase/decrease steps each time and watch results until I find the right spot.
Each one of us has their own methods and you will get other suggestions. What I wrote above is how I do it, you must develop your own method.
"Memento audere semper!" (Remember to dare always) In other words:
have fun!
Cheers!
KH 