Flanker562 Arma 3 WIP Thread

[Flanker562]

Noticed that the Light Howitzer Container and such didn't have any networking ability, so I added datalink (the Cruise Missile Container had limited functionality, now it has full) code to the various containers that actually fire munitions, so the Cherokee Container mod at least will have it this Sunday, and the Helicopter Pack versions when that is uploaded. So for Sunday:

- Flanker562 Cherokee Containers

[Flanker562]

Okay was messing with the Mk200 (default AAF LMG and FIA gun)  and came up with some Boat Tail rounds for the one magazine type (actually four types, but yeah), so I added it to the Boat Tail mods (and the one for the Expeditionary Force version), and will upload Sunday, so:

- Flanker562 Boat Tail Rounds
- Flanker562 Boat Tail Rounds for the EF CDLC
- Flanker562 Cherokee Containers

[Flanker562]

One thing I'm doing with the MH-92 (Insertion/Sniper) is adding an ECM pod to the mix, giving it some protection against at least the Tigris, and other modded radar systems. It's a work in progress, as I have to figure out the pod stuff and config setup for the system. I have a general model in mind, and would work with the helicopter, but figuring out how to implement it in code is the kicker. It's not a pressing matter, the proxy is setup for it, and does show in the Pylons Settings menu, just nothing to use it yet.

[Flanker562]

Well, it's something... I managed to make a BS model of the antenna system for the ECM pod for the Insertion/Sniper MH-92s. I don't know why the code is showing two entries, but I guess it's just from the kitbashing I am doing for the code.. Anyway, it shows up automatically with the MH-92 (Insertion/Sniper), and I just need to get the code right so it's only one entry, which should be it. I'm loath to add the radar pod and such because I don't know how it works yet, and well, the aircraft has a radar system already installed, so no need for it I don't think. But it is removable in case the mission doesn't require jamming, if how it works (I don't know, I haven't seen much of any documentation on it, other than it's present on the DAP helos).

[Flanker562]

Managed to clean up the code, as I simply had more than I apparently needed. So now it's just one entry in the drop down menu for the Pylon settings for the MH-92 (Insertion/Sniper). I think I have it setup as the wrong type of system though, and will look at the code tomorrow and go from there, as I think it's a DIRCM, not a jammer pod like the config says, so I'll inherit from that and hopefully it'll still work, but otherwise seems to be working as intended. I just need to code it right, and go from there tomorrow when I get some sleep and have a new day to do things.

[Flanker562]

Just in case if you're wondering, current changelog of the Flanker562 Helicopter Pack:

RC203 (Release after 2.22 comes out!)
- Updated and redid some RVMATs, particularly for the Fire Geometry on most helicopters
- Added the new ECM Pods on the BattleHawk and CheroHawk, and the MH-92 DAP
- Battlehawk has the new nose pods for use with the helicopter.
- Requires Game Version 2.22
- Per the update, the drop tanks now function as they should
- Updated various code for the locking and countermeasures system
- Containers with weapon systems now have full datalink equipped
- TF562 Medic uses a custom Kitbag (MTP) for its care items; it has a Medkit, 10 First Aid Kits, two regular and two red smoke grenades, and two green chemlights. Also makes him stand out less when fighting the units.
- Added a removable ECM Pod for the MH-92 (Insertion and Sniper) variants. It is currently WIP, and as I get familiar with how it works, it will be improved over time or remain as is. This is in case the mission needs the jammer pod to be present. Default settings have it mounted on the helicopters when spawning them.
- Fixed the Co-pilot position of the Battlehawk, now seats as intended due to a proxy index misnumbering.

[Flanker562]

Well, I tried out some of my stuff against a ZSU-39 and found that neither mine or BIS's ECM does anything noticeable to the radar system, still got shot down as easily with the ECM Pods on the MH-80 DAP and the MH-92 system. So maybe it's still in development but as of right now there is no benefit with the ECM system. I would expect that the jammer would you know, jam the radar so you don't get shot at or something, but as of now nothing.

[Flanker562]

Okay after some thinking, and realization is that I don't need the wing mounted ECM pods on the MH-92s, so the DAP will have the same mount as the other MH-92s (it changes the changelog but nothing serious since it's not released), to sort of streamline things, and go with the logic that the military will pay for the single system, not so much the dual system (considering weight on a helicopter and such) that the MH-80 DAP has (and needless to say I have no control over BIS's decision cycle), so it should be effective enough for players, but that remains to be seen in the future when they develop the system more.

[Flanker562]

Been getting blown up by AT gunners and moved to increase the cost to make them more targetable, and turns out that the config for that soldier was missing a ;, so it wasn't working correctly. Hopefully the update I just posted will fix the issue and make them easier to engage by AI forces, since that's how I deal with them, and take those buggers out, since they've been plastering me with RPG rounds left and right recently, so I fixed that. I think now I'm in a holding pattern with the ECM, as there's differing values, and that the code and stuff isn't implemented yet with the RC build, so gonna have to play it by ear, as if I'm reading the config right there should be separate ECM and DIRCM pods, or if that's how BIS wants to run it and so on as the ECM pods are actually DIRCM, or something like that, or something.

[Flanker562]

Well looks like that the CSAT config for Better Infantry was borked to some degree. Some things weren't done right, and so on. Every now and then I make mistakes. The good thing was that other than a couple entries, things should look right now that I went over the configs better than before. I'm surprised nobody said nothing and so on, but I guess it looked good enough for government work. It's backed up so any mistakes will happen going forward, but will necessitate an update on Sunday, just to keep things regular, and the small amount of people who use it, don't notice any errors anyway, or don't use it enough, but will update on Sunday, as the worry seems to be on my end, not the user's end. Anyway not much else projected for this week, another slow one but had a lot of real life issues come up too.

[Flanker562]

Okay with 2.22 being released on Stable, I can upload the Flanker562 Helicopter Pack and the Ah-1Z Sunday, so those can finally be let out of the barn and so on. Modding for this week is sparse, I don't have any ideas, but I may look into expanding the Friendly CSAT mod though, but since nobody has really either used it and provided feedback, or whatnot, I haven't gotten any feedback on most of the unit mods, so I'll just work on it until somebody says something, but I think it's a viable mod for most missions that would allow such a scenario to exist in some fashion. Anyway, that's it for now, more to follow if something does, so for Sunday:

- Flanker562 Helicopter Pack
- AH-1Z

[Flanker562]

Playing one of my Pilot missions and the FIA soldiers were in contact, and they seemed to do okay, but I decided to give it a "boost" by adding some Better Infantry stuff to it. Right now it's only setup for the BLUFOR side, so it's a little biased. I may look into variations of the other two factions (Independent and OPFOR), but this Sunday's update will feature the BLUFOR faction for a couple of missions I actually use the FIA soldiers with, so that will get some possible testing done for the faction, so there's that, so this Sunday:

- Better Infantry
- Flanker562 Helicopter Pack
- AH-1Z

[Flanker562]

Got a request to convert the Kiowa Warrior into a Dual Rotor configuration, and here you go. It's looking pretty cool, and frankly I'd like to do an AT-99 Scorpion but alas, this will suffice for now. The key difference is the motive system and weapons capability as well. It's a bit different, but I like how it turned out anyway, even though I thought it was a weird request. But he allowed me to upload it as a mod, so Sunday:

- Better Infantry
- Flanker562 Helicopter Pack
- "OH-76 Kiowa Warrior II"
- AH-1Z

[Flanker562]

Some model tweaking and fixing the colors on the fans:

[Flanker562]

Did some checking on the FIA portion of the Better Infantry, and found out that for some reason the TRG-21 (stock rifle) doesn't accept my other mags for some reason. So I took a look at CUP and found out that CBA has a special magazine well, and that the weapon takes my custom Mk318 mags, so now the mod (Better Infantry) now requires CBA_A3. I know I try and keep the mod requirements to a minimum, but CBA isn't an unknown mod, so in line with allowing stuff for my mags to work, it's a small price. I already updated the Workshop page, and now it requires CBA to run, just for one magazine. I kinda don't like it, but I do use CBA for a lot of stuff, and the capability is allowed, so that's that. Now that I figured some stuff out, the mod works as intended.

[Flanker562]

Been messing with the CfgGroups thing and going to add some class to my Helicopter Pack, at least for the TF562 units. I need to look into the other units, like the TF160, but since I deal with the "customers" for the TF160, I added a few things to the lineup. Now the TF562 A-Team is in the appropriate section (NATO/Special Forces) and in the right spot where the Lord intended. So now that I'm getting familiar with that, I can look into the Task Force Black units I made for the Weapons Pack, working on that stuff in secret; I won't upload the Weapons Pack just yet, as I have that work to do with TF Black and such, but it will be after this Sunday. I've added some magazines to the Weapons Pack, based on what I did elsewhere; I just need to update the Changelog:

[Flanker562]

As I was going to sleep, I thought I needed to improve the units I made for the various mods, so I'll focus on that next week, since knowing how to improve things helps polish the mods as needed. I'll post what I specified for this Sunday tomorrow, then work on the CfgGroups stuff after that, so next week you'll have some improved mods for use with your games.

[Flanker562]

Doing some checking, and found that I had mistakenly added the Better Infantry CSAT squad to the Friendly CSAT mod. After figuring out what I had done, I simply made a squad for the Friendly CSAT mod, so I added that, and now works as intended. Since it's a small mod, I'll upload it tomorrow, so:

- Friendly CSAT
- Flanker562 Helicopter Pack
- OH-76 Kiowa Warrior II
- AH-1Z
- Better Infantry

[Flanker562]

Also got a request for the Kiowa Warrior to have access to more weapon systems, so I included the code for the BIS pylon weapons too, so you can vary your loadout a bit, and cross into the future and such. Will show up tomorrow

- Friendly CSAT
- Flanker562 Helicopter Pack
- OH-76 Kiowa Warrior II
- AH-1Z
- Better Infantry
- ADuke Kiowa Warrior

[Flanker562]

Okay that's tomorrow (above), here's next Sunday (not tomorrow):

- Flanker562 Persian Islamic Front
- US Militia
- Flanker562 Weapon Pack
- Flanker562 Taliban Fighters

[Flanker562]

Okay, I've been spending some time working on the CfgGroups stuff and figuring things out through trial and error. Seriously, it's going pretty well, and I'm finding some new stuff to add to the mix. A lot of the units that were mashed in with the stock stuff are slowly coming out into the open, so to speak, and they now have their own listings in the Compositions (I call it Groups) section, which will help mission makers if they choose to use my units. It looks good, and I like how it's turning out, as I'm kinda excited to learn another facet of Arma modding. I really think I learned a bit more. I noticed a bug with the Raven PMC Gun Truck. I think the classname or something is wrong, even though a quick look at the Assets page online says it's correct, gotta open up a PBO and see what I can do better, as it may be a classname conflict or issue that I need to address.

[Flanker562]

Unfortunately, a critical fix had to be uploaded for the Weapons Pack, so there's that. For next Sunday:

- Flanker562 Persian Islamic Front
- Flanker562 US Militia
- Flanker562 Taliban Fighters

[Flanker562]

Got an error (before I uploaded so I missed it yesterday as it showed up this morning) with the Kiowa/Kiowa Warrior II regarding the GAU-19. The weapon and stuff shows up as normal, but didn't show it in the listing, it showed up as M3P, so I fixed that, and will update next Sunday. I have some alibis with the OH-76, but other fixes will probably be needed, but so far quiet even though I just uploaded. So next Sunday:

- Flanker562 US Militia
- OH-76
- Flanker562 Taliban Fighters

I pretty much completed the mods as of right now, but I like to do a block of mods, and worry about the other thing. And as I was sitting thinking, I may do a DIRCM for the MH-92s as well, though I may have to figure out what needs to be done besides the config. I think I know what to do, and assume I'm right, but without a sample model I am just stabbing in the dark and such.

[Flanker562]

Some work from the Helicopter Pack. On a whim I made the MH-92 ECM Pod available to the MH-80/DAP, and vanilla UH-80s with the appropriate Pylon name. Apparently there is no ECM system for the XX-80 series, but more geared to the 160th helos and such. I may make a custom setup, but for now it works, and I'm happy:

[Flanker562]

Okay, I did some hunting and pecking through the config for the XX-80s, and only the MH-80 variants can use the MH-92 ECM Pod. I may rename it to something like an "AN/ALQ-240" or something, just to make it look like it's "official," like a real ECM pod, rather than just "MH-92 ECM Pod," sorta lore-base it or whatever. Anyway, I did some tweaks, and if you're interested in the basic model, then it's on the #arma3-github If you somehow missed that. Anyway, not much else is planned right now. I think the lineup so far is okay, good for Sunday:

- Flanker562 Helicopter Pack
- Flanker562 Taliban Fighters
- Flanker562 US Militia
- OH-76 Kiowa Warrior II

The only sitrep on the SA-2 Samson is that it's been worked on, I talked to ADuke last week and he's been working on that. I also commissioned him to do a Wreck model for the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior so sometime I think after the Samson we'll see that, if not sooner. Anyway, things are being done, and getting done, if not slowly.