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Interview with WhiteBoySamurai
By CowboyTodd41,
WhiteBoySamurai is one our most well respected modders here on the site, without him SF2NA wouldn't be nearly as interesting (or nearly as dangerous!)
Hey, thanks for taking time out for me and the guys here at the site. A couple of starters real quick, where are you from, and what do you do for a living?
I'm in my early 30s. I was born and raised in Boston, MA, and later spent a large portion of my life in Hawaii. I've been living in Nagoya, Japan for almost 5 years now. Right now I'm doing English/Japanese translation, interpretation, and second-language education.
How did you end up in Japan?
I've always been interested in Japan, actually, and I studied the language in college. The big economic crash ended up giving me an excuse to live and work here. To make a long story short, I had been doing contract work in Hawaii that was steadily turning sour, but I got an offer from a Japanese firm that gave me better job security. I sold everything I couldn't pack or store and made Japan my new home.
So what was it exactly that got you into doing naval objects, as opposed to aircraft or weapons?
My grandfather was an engineer in the US Navy during WWII. He used to tell me vivid stories about the big battleships, how the guns worked, how they'd do shock tests on the deck and hull, the combination of brute force, heavy armor, and precision machinery. It was all very fascinating to me. I ended up working in his machine shop for a while, helping make ball bearings that were to be used in gun turrets and other components for the military. Some of my earliest memories are of going to airshows with him, so he's probably responsible for my love of military aircraft and flight sims too.
What are some of your favorite ships/aircraft?
I love the Ticonderoga class cruisers, and the Aegis DDGs (Arleigh Burke, Kongo, Atago). I went aboard Japan's new Akizuki destroyer recently and it too became one of my favorites. I also have a thing for the Kirov class because of how ridiculously heavily armed they are. And of course I love the Yamato and the Iowa, the absolute greatest battleships of all time.
As for aircraft, the F-15 has been my favorite since the first time I saw it fly when I was very young. I knew there was something special about it even before I knew anything about airplanes. But then I fell in love all over again when the F-22 appeared. A close second or third favorite would be Japan's F-2. I think it's one of the most beautiful things that's ever flown.
...In retrospect, it seems like most of my favorite ships and aircraft are ones that were designed to hopelessly outmatch their contemporary equivalents. Does that make me a bully by proxy?
Not if you're playing to win. About how old were you when you first got into flight sims, and what were you playing?
I think it was F-15 Strike Eagle III by MicroProse. I must've been around 16 at the time, and had just gotten a nice new computer with everyone's favorite OS, Windows 95. (However, I remember having to switch to DOS mode any time I wanted to play the damn game.) Strike Eagle III was pretty impressive at the time, with rudimentary polygon objects and a surprisingly accurate 2D cockpit. It's worth mentioning that I got into this game after playing its console cousin, Super Strike Eagle, on the SNES-- so maybe that's actually my first "sim."(ed. I grew up with A-10 Attack! on Mac, so I really don't know what he's talking about here :P)
What's your favorite sim?
Strike Fighters 2, definitely. I've got nitpicks about it like everyone else, but overall it has almost everything I want in a flight sim. I've probably spent more time in the Strike Fighters series than all other flight sims I've played combined.
Outside of flight sims, I also really enjoyed Jane's Fleet Command back in the day, but I can't get it working on my current computer. The most fun naval sim I've ever played, though, is a Japanese game called Kurogane no Houkou 3, which lets you design, build, and command a fleet of warships in a quasi-historical setting with sci-fi/time travel elements.
How did you get into modding and 3D work?
It was only after I came to Combat Ace and started reading about how people were making all these cool mods that I decided to try it. I started by making very simple objects-- Missiles were easy enough, basically just a cylinder, a cone, and triangular fins. The careful measuring and precision of the process reminded me of my grandfather's machine shop, and being able to create something and then see the results in a game was tremendously liberating. So I stuck with it.
This was years ago in the Strike Fighters 1 days, and I quickly noticed that there were hardly any ship mods. So I started cutting virtual steel for the first time to make the Ticonderoga. I made a lot of newbie mistakes and I couldn't texture well at all, but thanks to help and encouragement from the Combat Ace community, everything worked out in the end.
If you had unlimited time and budget, what would your “dream mod” be?
My dream, and indeed my current goal, is to model nearly every major surface combatant and ground vehicle currently in service with the US, Russia, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea. This will give our terrain and campaign modders a full toolbox for historical and what-if scenarios like the Taiwan Strait Crisis, or a Korean war gone hot again; skirmishes over tiny disputed islands, or a full-scale near-end-of-the-world modern Pacific war.
My other dream would be to build the Yamato for our WWII PTO community. It's selfish, but I can't bear the thought of another modder touching her. Unfortunately building just that one ship from scratch would probably take as much time as all the other ones I'd want to make put together. BUT, I don't think that either of these dream mods are beyond the realm of possibility.
How did you get into SF series?
Years ago I was searching around for a new flight sim that was closer to what I wanted. I had given up on other games: I didn't have the time or patience for an ultra-deep study sim like Falcon 4.0. LOMAC ran like a slideshow on my computer at the time and was nearly unmoddable.
I found out about Strike Fighters: Project 1, which sounded very appealing to me. A large selection of aircraft, good flight dynamics but not so much switchology, lots of things to do and targets to blow up. And, of course, the series is also highly moddable with an active community, so it was the obvious choice for me.
How did you find out about CA?
I googled for "strike fighters mods" and it brought me right here. I bet a lot of other members have the same story.
Who are some of your other favorite modders?
- Dels, who somehow manages to model all of the coolest aircraft in existence. F-22, F-23, B-1B, F-117, AH-64, and my favorite mod of all time, the F-2. Even his C-130 is fun to fly, and I'd never thought I'd say that about a transport plane!
- Wrench, who gives us so many wonderful playgrounds and is an all-around great guy. Wrench has a way of helping people and making them feel appreciated at the same time.
- Julhelm is a consummate pro who taught me some very useful tricks and pushed me to higher standards of quality.
- Stary's environment and effects are just wonderful; the game wouldn't be quite the same without his work.
- KJakker has been a huge help in making sure ship weapons are working the way they should. His enthusiasm for naval combat drives me forward.
I'm sure I missed a lot of people who I appreciate, but this interview would go on forever otherwise.
Do you plan on only doing naval objects or are there other things you'd like to branch out into? Such as your Korean Forces Pack?
I do intend to make more ground vehicle packs, and the next one will be focused on China. I'd also like to make some naval helicopters at some point, such as the Ka-25/27 and SH-60R/K.
I've always wanted to try making a fixed-wing aircraft too, but it honestly seems like they've all been done already for Strike Fighters. There are still some obscure JASDF trainers and support aircraft, I suppose.
Hey, thanks for taking time out for me and the guys here at the site. A couple of starters real quick, where are you from, and what do you do for a living?
I'm in my early 30s. I was born and raised in Boston, MA, and later spent a large portion of my life in Hawaii. I've been living in Nagoya, Japan for almost 5 years now. Right now I'm doing English/Japanese translation, interpretation, and second-language education.
How did you end up in Japan?
I've always been interested in Japan, actually, and I studied the language in college. The big economic crash ended up giving me an excuse to live and work here. To make a long story short, I had been doing contract work in Hawaii that was steadily turning sour, but I got an offer from a Japanese firm that gave me better job security. I sold everything I couldn't pack or store and made Japan my new home.
So what was it exactly that got you into doing naval objects, as opposed to aircraft or weapons?
My grandfather was an engineer in the US Navy during WWII. He used to tell me vivid stories about the big battleships, how the guns worked, how they'd do shock tests on the deck and hull, the combination of brute force, heavy armor, and precision machinery. It was all very fascinating to me. I ended up working in his machine shop for a while, helping make ball bearings that were to be used in gun turrets and other components for the military. Some of my earliest memories are of going to airshows with him, so he's probably responsible for my love of military aircraft and flight sims too.
What are some of your favorite ships/aircraft?
I love the Ticonderoga class cruisers, and the Aegis DDGs (Arleigh Burke, Kongo, Atago). I went aboard Japan's new Akizuki destroyer recently and it too became one of my favorites. I also have a thing for the Kirov class because of how ridiculously heavily armed they are. And of course I love the Yamato and the Iowa, the absolute greatest battleships of all time.
As for aircraft, the F-15 has been my favorite since the first time I saw it fly when I was very young. I knew there was something special about it even before I knew anything about airplanes. But then I fell in love all over again when the F-22 appeared. A close second or third favorite would be Japan's F-2. I think it's one of the most beautiful things that's ever flown.
...In retrospect, it seems like most of my favorite ships and aircraft are ones that were designed to hopelessly outmatch their contemporary equivalents. Does that make me a bully by proxy?
Not if you're playing to win. About how old were you when you first got into flight sims, and what were you playing?
I think it was F-15 Strike Eagle III by MicroProse. I must've been around 16 at the time, and had just gotten a nice new computer with everyone's favorite OS, Windows 95. (However, I remember having to switch to DOS mode any time I wanted to play the damn game.) Strike Eagle III was pretty impressive at the time, with rudimentary polygon objects and a surprisingly accurate 2D cockpit. It's worth mentioning that I got into this game after playing its console cousin, Super Strike Eagle, on the SNES-- so maybe that's actually my first "sim."(ed. I grew up with A-10 Attack! on Mac, so I really don't know what he's talking about here :P)
What's your favorite sim?
Strike Fighters 2, definitely. I've got nitpicks about it like everyone else, but overall it has almost everything I want in a flight sim. I've probably spent more time in the Strike Fighters series than all other flight sims I've played combined.
Outside of flight sims, I also really enjoyed Jane's Fleet Command back in the day, but I can't get it working on my current computer. The most fun naval sim I've ever played, though, is a Japanese game called Kurogane no Houkou 3, which lets you design, build, and command a fleet of warships in a quasi-historical setting with sci-fi/time travel elements.
How did you get into modding and 3D work?
It was only after I came to Combat Ace and started reading about how people were making all these cool mods that I decided to try it. I started by making very simple objects-- Missiles were easy enough, basically just a cylinder, a cone, and triangular fins. The careful measuring and precision of the process reminded me of my grandfather's machine shop, and being able to create something and then see the results in a game was tremendously liberating. So I stuck with it.
This was years ago in the Strike Fighters 1 days, and I quickly noticed that there were hardly any ship mods. So I started cutting virtual steel for the first time to make the Ticonderoga. I made a lot of newbie mistakes and I couldn't texture well at all, but thanks to help and encouragement from the Combat Ace community, everything worked out in the end.
If you had unlimited time and budget, what would your “dream mod” be?
My dream, and indeed my current goal, is to model nearly every major surface combatant and ground vehicle currently in service with the US, Russia, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea. This will give our terrain and campaign modders a full toolbox for historical and what-if scenarios like the Taiwan Strait Crisis, or a Korean war gone hot again; skirmishes over tiny disputed islands, or a full-scale near-end-of-the-world modern Pacific war.
My other dream would be to build the Yamato for our WWII PTO community. It's selfish, but I can't bear the thought of another modder touching her. Unfortunately building just that one ship from scratch would probably take as much time as all the other ones I'd want to make put together. BUT, I don't think that either of these dream mods are beyond the realm of possibility.
How did you get into SF series?
Years ago I was searching around for a new flight sim that was closer to what I wanted. I had given up on other games: I didn't have the time or patience for an ultra-deep study sim like Falcon 4.0. LOMAC ran like a slideshow on my computer at the time and was nearly unmoddable.
I found out about Strike Fighters: Project 1, which sounded very appealing to me. A large selection of aircraft, good flight dynamics but not so much switchology, lots of things to do and targets to blow up. And, of course, the series is also highly moddable with an active community, so it was the obvious choice for me.
How did you find out about CA?
I googled for "strike fighters mods" and it brought me right here. I bet a lot of other members have the same story.
Who are some of your other favorite modders?
- Dels, who somehow manages to model all of the coolest aircraft in existence. F-22, F-23, B-1B, F-117, AH-64, and my favorite mod of all time, the F-2. Even his C-130 is fun to fly, and I'd never thought I'd say that about a transport plane!
- Wrench, who gives us so many wonderful playgrounds and is an all-around great guy. Wrench has a way of helping people and making them feel appreciated at the same time.
- Julhelm is a consummate pro who taught me some very useful tricks and pushed me to higher standards of quality.
- Stary's environment and effects are just wonderful; the game wouldn't be quite the same without his work.
- KJakker has been a huge help in making sure ship weapons are working the way they should. His enthusiasm for naval combat drives me forward.
I'm sure I missed a lot of people who I appreciate, but this interview would go on forever otherwise.
Do you plan on only doing naval objects or are there other things you'd like to branch out into? Such as your Korean Forces Pack?
I do intend to make more ground vehicle packs, and the next one will be focused on China. I'd also like to make some naval helicopters at some point, such as the Ka-25/27 and SH-60R/K.
I've always wanted to try making a fixed-wing aircraft too, but it honestly seems like they've all been done already for Strike Fighters. There are still some obscure JASDF trainers and support aircraft, I suppose.
Interview With Ravenclaw_007
By Skyviper,
CombatACE Spotlight Special With ravenclaw_007
"This place was and still is great ...Especially the willingness of helping newbies to make there first step into moding and eventually to become a modder is something I like very much on CA" -ravenclaw_007
For this week’s CombatACE Spotlight Special our next mod author calls Germany his home; a home served well, and who has been a member here at CombatACE for seven years. He is also known for his helpful nature and for the many weapons he creates that many of us enjoy dropping on our digital enemies. Thank you, ravenclaw_007, for taking the time to do this interview with us.
So, can you tell us little about yourself?
I´m 55 years old and single again; I´m disabled and on pension as result of a brain surgery where a large part of my tumor was removed.
I served for 12 years in the German army aviation as [a] flight mechanic; my aircraft was a Sikorsky CH-53G
After my Army time, I was in [the] Philippines for 10 years as [a] technical consultant. After my return to Germany, my tumor was detected and my troubles started.
What interest you about aviation?
The flying and the technique. I love the challenge to hold a aircraft airworthy and to fix and solve problems during flight.
Have you ever seen the faces of passengers during a refueling when a flight mechanic is going out on a rotor blade and fix a delamination with a [piece of] duct tape and then tell them to go back onboard? This [these] faces you never forget.
What is your favorite aircraft and why?
For WWII fighters the Me-109, we made a formation flight with CH-53 a Ju-52 and Me-109 (Buchon) over Switzerland during an air show. Something I'll never forget, we opened our loading ramp to make some pictures of the Ju-52 and the Me-109, to see them up close in the air [which] was really special for helicopters. The Sikorsky CH-53G for obvious reason for fighters the F-4E/F, I have some special memory there (long story).
Can you tell us a little more about the air show?
This air show was at a small lake in the mountains the location is called Hütten and the benefit was for disabled children, date 19.07.1987. The German Air Force and Army was invited because the Swiss Air Force could not participate because of some legal issue.
It was only the second time after the war that German aircraft are allowed to participate at such an event in Switzerland
Aircrafts from the German armed forces:
- Tornado (German Navy)
- C-160
- Bo-105
- CH-53G
This is the only air show where the audience can look from on top on the aircraft approaching [as] they stay above the edge of the valley. After we made our presentation, we landed on the left side of the valley for static display and almost blew [a] hotdog stand away!
What got you interested in flight simulation?
During my time in the Philippines, I saw a guy playing an A-10 simulation. That was the moment I got interested and bought my first game. Playing on that old 386 I had is no comparison to today; but this A-10 game was great
You’ve been a member here since 2006. How did you find CombatACE and what made you stay for so long?
It is only 7 years now, so [it’s] not that long. I was searching for an add-on for SF1 and found CA , this place was and still is great so I stayed and enjoy it every day.
Especially the willingness of helping newbies to make there first step in to moding and eventually to become a modder is something I like very much on CA
When did you start modding?
I don’t remember the year but my first mod was a Me-109 skin for IL-2 and after I discovered CA I started to make skins for SF-1
What does modding do for you? Is it something that is relaxing and neat hobby etc?
In the beginning it was a hobby, today it is much more than that it is a way to keep me busy and my brain working
I´m not the fastest modder but I like to finish a project and make it as accurate as possible I think the weapons I made for SF-2 shows that.
What modding tools do you use and why?
3ds max and paint shop pro x3, 3ds max is the only program which models can be exported from and paint shop is easy to use.
I see you released an F-4E USAF Pack, which is an awesome update to the TW, BPAO, and Crab_02 models. How long did it take you to complete the project?
It is still an ongoing project, I don’t remember how long it took because I was working on it the same time on other projects as well like the Rafale or the F-16 but I hope I can finish all the F-4E/F soon.
Do you have plans to make or update other types of aircraft?
There is a long list already but after the F-4E/F I have to finish the RF-8A/G, other projects on the list are
- Viggen family
- Recce Kfir
- A-4K cockpit
and a lot more weapons.
What is your favorite mod that you have created?
It was the Buccaneer project I took over from Russouk2004 and it is now even available for FSX.
What is your favorite mod that you did not create?
AH-64 and Su-27.
Who is a Modder you admire or has inspired you to start modding?
There are two; I admire Bpao for the work he did and how willing he was to help. He always gave you an answer to your question. He will be truly missed, and there is Amokofloo/Florian who patiently help and teach me 3ds max without him I could not have done it.
Thank you ravenclaw_007 for taking the time to do an interview and for sharing your story with us. Come back next week for another CombatACE Spotlight Light Special. Until then I'm Skyviper wishing everyone out there happy landings.
DCS 1.2.6 Update 2 is Now Available
By Dave,
Tuesday, 08 October 2013
DCS 1.2.6.18933 Update 2 Change Log
DCS World
Fixed a crash caused by AI in certain conditions.
Fixed crash caused by fullscreen mode failing to initialize when using multimonitor presets (fall back to windowed mode in case of fail).
Multiplayer. Fixed client crash caused by AWACS being killed.
Kh-22 missile 3D model corrected.
Su-25T. Laser Rangefinder doesn't turned OFF when Route mode selected is fixed.
DCS: A-10C Warthog
Fixed crash caused by Mission Prepare.
Flaming Cliffs 3
F-15C. Extra chaff loading has been corrected.
F-15C. Fixed Navigation Mode not updating after aerial refueling.
Fixed Kuznetsov aircraft carrier ATC not providing permission to take off.
Corrected position of smoke outlet of smoke generators.
Su-27. Sorbcya ECM pod 3D model - Fixed navigation light position.
Su-27. 3D model - Fixed canopy texture issue.
Su-27. Adjusted landing gear light cone.
Su-27. Fixed bug with tail numbering for Su-27 "Air Force Standard" scheme.
Su-27. Corrected landing gear animation.
DCS: Mi-8MTV2 Magnificent Eight BETA
Corrected upper blister sections of the cockpit 3D model.
Updated animation of radio channel selectors.
Added animations for the RI-65 voice warning system control panel.
Added thumb button to the rotor brake lever.
Added wheel brake lever to the cyclic control handle.
Adjusted wheel brake sound.
Added bomb release command (B) to the default input profile.
Fuel shut off valves defaulted to off during cold start.
Corrected armament keys for joystick.
Corrected altimeter pressure limits.
Fixed audio volume adjustment when opening/closing blisters.
Removed audio volume adjustment when opening/closing fuselage door.
Fixed camera position issue caused by multiple presses of the Flight Engineer position command.
6 DOF now works correctly when switching to the right pilot position.
Corrected operation of dust protection device heating, engine heating.
Added rudder trimmer option.
Circuit breakers. Common turning-off functionality for auto-stop.
DCS: UH-1H Huey BETA
Fixed sticking commands in the left pilot position.
Flying the new Westland Whirlwind in IL-2
By 33LIMA,
A campaign mission in the RAF's short-lived twin-engined fighter
I thought I'd fill time to my next report on IL2 WW1 mod DBW 1916 by posting my impressions - in the form of a campaign mission report - of a recently-released and very welcome addition to IL-2's Second World War planeset - the Westland Whirlwind.
Children of 'the Airfix Generation' like myself will likely know this aeroplane from the great kit-maker's 1/72 scale incarnation. The aircraft itself wasn't a great success. It was built around an engine - the Rolls-Royce Peregrine - whose development was ended early. The Whirlwind's relatively short range left it with few advantages over the Spitfire once the latter had begun to carry reliable 20mm cannon, which weapon was apparently the main requirement behind the design. The Whirlwind served operationally with only a couple of RAF squadrons between late 1940 and late 1943. However, its performance, though falling off at higher levels, was apparently very competitive in terms of speed, general manoeuvrability - and of course, firepower. Survivability was also well regarded and the short nose and clear-view canopy gave outstanding pilot visibility. Having seen the release announcement for the Whirlwind developed by modder 101tfs and others, I was keen to check out the IL-2 version, in Poltava's aptly-named 'Reaping the Whirlwind' campaign:
http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,37163.0.html
Having installed the necessaries in my IL-2 '46+DBW 1.71, including the recommended C&C mod which (as I was soon to confirm myself) amongst other good things helps ensure missions can replay differently, I fired up the campaign's first mission, eager to get off the ground and into action. Here's the mission briefing, which is written in the style of a personal narrative and while not very military, is nicely crafted:
I'm not an expert on IL-2 campaign flavours but the campaign is evidently a 'DGen' one, accessed via the IL-2 campaign menu option, and not just a set of single missions flown as such. One of IL-2's limitations (compared, say, to CFS3) is the breaking down of theatres into relatively small maps, but the one used here gave good coverage of the English Channel area, including much of southern England and a good swathe of northern France & Belgium.
And so to the flight-line! I'd have preferred to have found myself leading the flight but it looks like I'm not the briefing's diarist, rather the new bloke being taken up to be shown the ropes. Perhaps if I had chosen a higher starting rank than the one recommended, I would have led. Anyway, we started at RAF Warmwell, in machines with correct squadron markings (for pioneer Whirlwind unit 263 Squadron) and I was rewarded with a very effective rendition of both airfield and aircraft.
I don't bother with complex engine management so it was a simple matter to check the controls, set the flaps, start the engines and then hare off after my leader when he took off over the grassy, snow-spattered airfield. I followed as he climbed, turning south to takes us out into mid-channel.
As we climbed away from the coast, I noticed a straggling line of aircraft at about 11 o'clock high, coming in the opposite direction. They did not react to us nor my leader to them; nor were they being fired on by our AA, so I assumed this was an incoming friendly flight of some description.
We leveled off and I took the opportunity to admire my machine, inside and out. When I get a chance I will install some of the higher-resolution skins available for the Whirlwind, but she's already a fine sight, inside and out.
At first, the leg to the south was uneventful, and as the campaign advertises that some missions could see no contact with the enemy, I was beginning to wonder if this was one. So I concentrated on trying to stay in reasonable formation with my leader.
As we approached the next waypoint, things suddenly livened up considerably. My leader announced the presence of bandits on the RT and broke down and left. I dutifully followed, not wanting to miss out on the action!
For a little while, I could see nothing of the enemy and kept somewhat behind and above my leader, just in case. Then I saw our target: a large, greenish aeroplane, heading on a reciprocal course, quite low over the waves.
He was a German, all right, a whopping great Focke-Wulf Condor maritime patrol aircraft, seemingly caught without an escort.
I was now in a hurry to get a crack at the Condor, before my boss polished him off. I spralled down as he passed beneath, and then rolled out after him.
Unfortunately, in pausing and un-pausing the sim to take screenshots, letting go of the joystick in between, I lost the fluidity of my pass and screwed up my attack. My leader, free of any such distractions, made no such mistake, and his four 20mm cannon made short work of the big German machine.
I watched the Condor spin seawards, and was surprised to see a series of parachutes blossom, the last one just before the inevitable waterspout marked the end of this particular Luftwaffe sortie.
I climbed up after my leader and we returned to our patrol route.
The rest of the flight was uneventful, and soon we were back in sight of the south coast of England once more, slipping in past the barrage balloons protecting Weymouth harbour.
I got the 'mission over' on-screen confirmation as - having got permission from Ground Control - I came in for a landing. It wasn't easy to make out the grassy airfield in the countryside but I made it down ok.
Not the most eventful of first flights in the new Whirlwind but it was an engaging and interesting one and a good intro to my machine and our area of operations. My mount seemed fast and tractable with no vices that I've found so far. Unfortunately, I missed my opportunity to try out her firepower but I'm looking forward to remedying that omission on the next mission! Highly recommended, and Kudos to 101tfs, Poltava and the SAS team for this package!
Interview With 76.IAP-Blackbird
By Skyviper,
Interview With 76.IAP-Blackbird
From the other side of the Iron Curtain this next modder, who now resides in the Chez Rebublic is 76.IAP-Blackbird. He has been member here at CombatACE for nine years. His most notable file is the TU-22KD. Thank you 76.IAP-Blackbird for doing the interview with us.
"I`m amazed to have been here for 9 years... Thank you guys for the great time ..." -76.IAP-Blackbird
So, can you tell us a little about yourself?
I was born in Prague in 1984, on the other side of the iron curtain. We escaped into West Germany in 1989 and established a new life there. Not a better one but politically different. If we knew the wall was going to fall down, we would have never escaped. But that’s how life is sometimes.
What interest you about aviation?
I was 3 years old and on holiday somewhere in Czecho Slovakia next to a training area of the Czech Air Force. The Czechers flew in formation of 3 and 5 planes, so damn low, that you could literally touch them. They scared me to death! So I had to know what the noise and machines were. That`s how it started...
What is your favorite aircraft and why?
I don`t have a specific, each era has some nice birds. I love the Spitfire from WW2. The MiG-15 from the Korean era. The F-4 is great, the Starfighter, Suchois .. oh man I could talk about it the whole day
What got you interested in flight simulation?
It was the ability to fly "missions" back in WW2 with "Aces over Europe" from Dynamix. In a different time and a different place on earth. It`s like a tale, you travel with your mind. As a kid it`s easy and you create fantastic adventures. The graphics were so "simple" in comparison with today, that your mind filled the gap. You flew over cities, over beautiful landscapes, under bridges and trough a cloudy sky...
What would be the perfect flight sim in your opinion?
It`s simple, moddable as Strike Fighters, with systems like Jane`s ATF/USNF and LOMAC and a open and connected world like FSX. You could even travel from Britain or Germany to the near East. (Please don`t let me fly from the US to Iraq)
What motivated you to arrive here at CombatACE and stay here over the years?
To be honest, no idea, I was searching for a Forum that had info and Mods for Strike Fighters 1. I think I have started over at Column5`s site.
When did you start modding?
I worked with Maya but this software wasn`t made for games like SF. I have modded since DOS in 1992, you could change stuff with a Hex editor, or simpler with a notepad like the one on Norton Commander, today it`s Total Commander. With this method I made all planes flyable in ATF, you could even stand there as a Building... a bit boring but possible. I loved to change things in games, not go with a predefined way. That`s why I love open world games like Flight sims, Total War series or Operation Flashpoint/ Arma 2
What does modding do for you? Is it something that is relaxing, a neat hobby, etc?
Relaxing, not really. I would say it`s a different kind of work. You can lose yourself very easy in your projects and make people angry when you lose the interest, ah.. that`s not the right word, motivation. But I if you build a plane you love to fly, or just see it in a game, makes you a bit proud! And[so does] the feedback of the people.
How long did it take you to make the Tu22KD mod?
All in all 2 months, cause I had to learn a lot about MAX. This mod was something to test the new Fakepilot Method from FC. TK`s Tu-22. It was nice and a good point for me to start. I have some more variants of it on my HDD, but never released them. I was surprised of the positive feedback this mod received. My Mapping skills were less than basic at that time and I was happy to create a Template for it.
What motivated you to make that mod?
It made the Tu-22 from Strike Fighter useful in a different aspect and made it look "cool" too.
What modding tools do you use and why?
First I have switched from Maya to Max, for the Skinning part I’m using Paint.net and Gimp, both powerful and nice tools to use.
What is your favorite mod that you have created?
Tu-75 variants out of the Tu-4 Bull
That reminds me, I have to finish it ....
What is your favorite mod that you did not create?
I think it will be the Mig-25 and the new Tornado IDS by GMG
Who is a Modder you admire or has inspired you to start modding?
It`s the GMG, those are highly skilled guys who I can ask [for help] in German if I have some problems. And they are offering me core files to learn and expand my skills. Those guys have a lot of patience.
Do you have any favorite quotes or thoughts about being here at Combat Ace you’d like to share?
"Nice to meet you guys!"
I`m amazed to have been here for 9 years, damn what a time, but I enjoyed it. This is one of the most cultivated and most friendly forums [i've] ever seen. Thank you guys for the great time we have here.
.
Interview With Dels
By Skyviper,
CombatACE Interview With Dels
The next modder I would like to introduce hails from Sydney Australia. Dels has been a member here since 2004 and his most notable file is the AH-64 Package whose link is at the bottom of the interview. Thank you Dels for allowing us to interview you.
So, can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am 32 years old, married with three boys that constantly keep me on my feet. I work as a flying instructor in the Royal Australian Air Force with most of my time on the C-130J-30 Hercules.
What interest you about aviation?
Obviously the flying, but specifically it would have to be the ability to constantly challenge myself by striving to improve and achieve the unobtainable perfection.
What is your favorite aircraft and why?
This is a hard one. From WWII: it would be the Mustang, from the cold war: definitely the Scooter and from the modern era: the Hornet. If I had to pick one, probably the A-4 because it’s small, agile and can carry more than its empty weight in payload.
What got you interested in flight simulation?
Once I was interested in becoming a pilot (all those years ago) I looked for ways to satisfy that drive and improve my knowledge about flying and combat. After this, it became a search for the ultimate flight simulator that would balance game play slash immersion and technical accuracy.
Do you remember the first flight sim you ever played?
F/A-18 Interceptor.
What motivated you to arrive here at Combat Ace and stay for 9 years?
After Janes USAF became less prominent and the mods were getting a little worn out I found SF:P1 for sale in a games store for AU$19.99. I was initially hooked by the chance to fly the A-4 but soon found the game satisfied most of the requirements I had for a flight sim. I admit it was missing some features, but a Google search later I found BioHazCentral and I have never looked back.
When did you start modding?
I initially started modding on Janes USAF in 2000, but I started modding SF as soon as I found BioHazCentral back in 2004 and started uploading my humble mods in 2005.
What motivated you to make the AH-64 pack?
I am part of the ODS team and always thought that there were two very important aircraft in that operation. The AH-64 was one and the F-117 was the other. Once the upgrade to SF2 standard started getting underway, I saw it as an opportunity to finally bring the AH-64 to ODS. It seemed like a good idea to do both the A and D models at the same time and it wasn't much extra work. Also, I knew that once the A model was out there people would start asking for the D, so I just beat them to it!
What are some of the mods you'd like to make, provided the game engine can support them?
Because of my trash hauling background, I would like to do airdrop resupply and paratroop insertion missions, but I'm pretty sure that's a pipe dream. For something realistic, I would really like automatic air to ground gunnery implemented so that my AC-130's can do some consistent and accurate damage.
What does modding do for you? Is it something that is relaxing, a neat hobby, etc.?
I used to build model aircraft as a kid (most of the members here can probably relate to that) but after I joined the Air Force and started to move around, the models I made became broken pieces of hard work which was demoralizing. Modding is a hobby that satisfies the artistic part of my makeup, that building models used to fill, and helps me to drive toward the ultimate flight sim as previously mentioned.
What modding tools do you use and why?
I use 3D studio max, Photoshop and notepad. They seem to be all I need but in answer to why I use those specific programs: 3D studio max is the only program which models can be exported from, everyone has notepad and I like the depth and breadth of Photoshop’s functions.
What is your favorite mod you have created?
I had the most fun building my original C-130J-30 because it was the mod I “cut my teeth” on and I have an obvious special attachment to the Herc.
What is your favorite mod that you did not create?
Probably the Mirage Factory F/A-18
.
Who is a Modder you admire or inspired you to start modding?
Probably BPAO, who has since gone to be with our Lord and Saviour.
I'm sure BPAO would be glad to hear that. Thank you, Dels, for taking the time to do the interview and for staying with us over the years. As for everyone else thank you taking the time to stop by and check this interview out. As promised here is the link to Dels AH-64 pack http://CombatACE.com/files/file/12340-ah-64-package-for-sf2-ver-11/.
I'm Skyviper with the CombatACE News Team wishing everyone out there good hunting.
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