EricJ Release Thread

[+EricJ 4,245]

Update: Currently have the guns available for use on both sides, both the USN and DAPs, after some double-checking and so on to make sure that they had them. Anyway they're modeled and configged, and ready until the next patch comes, which seems imminent, just don't know how long it'll be ready, as I can't verify the stuff until the game is updated so I can take a peek. I use the Dev version of the tools, so any major update and I have to wait until they update the stable game ( don't do dev as I like to go on servers every once in a while) so I can release the next update, as right now I have an older build so I can play missions with my helos without crashing. And if I release it now I'll get 33,000+ people screaming at me, so I'll hold off until things are updated for the Helicopter Pack, as well as any other mods requiring my attention.

[+EricJ 4,245]

Future Plans: As I wait for the Stable version of the game to update, I came up with a plan for the AH-6J. Given that back then they had Hellfires on the bird I'm looking to make the system a pylon system. Personally, I think I can get away with a normal rocket pod, and not have to make every tube for it. I asked around and one person on Discord replied, but none of the experts, so when I can pack the files and not cause a crash due to formatting I'll look into it. If I can do it then I'll go with that, but not looking to make the pylons universal (unless there's a desire to) so it uses BIS weapons. I want to actually limit the weaponry for once, and that's the best way to do it, once I get the rockets configged and model setup so it can work with the game. I'm looking to limit it to Hellfires and rockets. While the MELB featured removable miniguns, I see no reason to do that either, so it'll be just Hellfires and the rocket pods. The minis will stay there as they are now, and be done with it. I'm not looking to expand it and not looking to make an M version, because you can't beat the MELB anyway, so there's that. Other plans isn't really much, given that there's not much to do as of yet. I am thinking of allowing the gun pod from the BIS Buzzard on the AH-96, but that's again on hold until things are good with the Tools (I use the Dev version) and the new patched Stable game. I only do it this way because the Dev Tools work fine and I like the latest updates. I keep the Stable version of the game in case I actually go on a server and play. Otherwise, I'd use the Dev version of the game, and have one, but I prefer Stable. Anyway, that's my musings for now. Of course anything I may have missed let me know and I'll see if I can't do it.

[+EricJ 4,245]

EricJ Helicopter Pack

 

RC103
- Added a right-side firing M230 for the MH-60/92s and a right side firing M197 for the USN 2-pylon heli.
- AH-96 can now use the 20mm gun pod from the A-143 Buzzard on the outboard wing pylons
- The AH-6J has been upgraded with the pylon system, and can only use an M151 Rocket Pod and 2-round Hellfires. No other weapon compatibility is planned for the future. The miniguns aren't removable and remain fixed.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-PcTWH6vwWjsQybLRf8rn8NktiaqUKy1/view?usp=sharing

[+EricJ 4,245]

ADuke Kiowa Warrior Alpha

 

AC9
- Added M260 rocket pods. Current munition available is the M151 HE Warhead

[+EricJ 4,245]

ADuke Kiowa Warrior Alpha

 

AC10
- Adjusted Hardpoint size on the 3D model
- Weapons now visible from cockpit (depending on view)

[+EricJ 4,245]

EricJ Helicopter Pack

 

RC104
- MH-60/92 DAPs can use the M260 rocket pod
- "M260" in the Pylon Settings menu changed to "M260 HE"
- Renamed the "DAR" weapon to "M260" to get away from the BIS ammo.
- MH-60L has the appropriate length refueling probe.
- Updated the Fire and View Geometries for the SOAR MH-60s
- Made numerous fixes to the TF562 units
- Added a Desert version of the HK416th for TF562 units

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-QpqPycOVU3zd0eUHZUGNiXeI7gcqkOK/view?usp=sharing

[+EricJ 4,245]

For those that use my EricJ Helicopter Pack, I'll be removing a couple of models next update. The (Insertion Open Doors) will become standard as I found out on the Project Hatchet Discord. So that means I'll be removing two models, the original closed door MH-60M and MH-92. The open doors will be called (Insertion) anyway, but for those who use it just giving you a heads up for now. it won't affect much I hope. but the classnames will be removed from the configs and model.cfg anyway, which has been done right now. I just have to remove some scroll menu options and they'll be set. I'm thinking also of expanding the warhead capability of the Hydra rockets that I used to replace the DAR rockets that I was using at the beginning, giving some more options, and will have to borrow from a config or two (I'll ask permission, don't worry), and see how that goes.

[+EricJ 4,245]

EricJ Helicopter Pack

 

RC105
- Removed the closed door MH-60/92s and replaced them with the Open Door versions. The aircraft will still be named (Insertion), but the doors will be open, per standard operating procedures with the 160th SOAR. The MH-60L will not be affected for the foreseeable future.
- Thanks to Reticent Echo from the MELB project, I managed to config some more ammunition types for the M260 rocket launcher. The M255A1 Flechette is modeled, as well as The M229 Warhead, and the M261 MPSM munition. All are available for use with the M260 rocket pod.

 

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=667709746

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-WuAatB6IZtehOC7LRFvOOTHmqA7MLdw/view?usp=sharing

[+EricJ 4,245]

With the breaking of some of my missions in 2.18 I'll have to look at them and see what to fix. For the other mods, nothing seems outright affected so that's a good thing. Maybe the Samples will be updated and I'll have to add more stuff as it did mention some things added to the vanilla helis, so when that comes out I'll check it out and go from there, or catch snippets of conversations (or one of you will chime in) to make the changes to make the helis I do have compliant, or add the new feature to my stuff. I thought about doing the pylon system with the UH-1Y, but the way the game handles the system with what the configuration of the helicopter it's not going to happen. I think somebody requested a DAGR version, and I may do that as a variant alongside the DARs, but it can't be done, not without some issues that I don't want to go through again. Anyway I know I said in the last update notes for the EricJ Helicopter Pack that I wasn't going to touch the MH-60L, but then I realized that the new MH-60M stuff was transferred to the L, and so I made them open doors. The reason I had operable doors before was to allow some sort of "cover" (with fiberglass doors), and the open doors allowing the FFV positions to work, so there's some flexibility to options for players in those slots. With the patch that borked the doors so they only opened halfway, it didn't make sense to keep those versions around anymore, hence the change of opinion and so on of reducing models available and so on, and less workload on me in a sense, since I don't have to update things all of the time, and makes it easier on me. Right now the next update the game will require game version 2.18 and the L change. Unless you all have requests and the like of course.

[+EricJ 4,245]

Aduke Kiowa Warrior Alpha

 

AC11
- Added the new ACE3 Missile Guidance Framework for the Hellfires

 

AH-1Z

 

RC17
- Updated the Hellfires with the new ACE3 Missile Guidance Framework, should be right.

[+EricJ 4,245]

EricJ Helicopter Pack

RC106
- Requires game version 2.18
- After some thought (I know I said I wouldn't touch it), but the practicality of having open doors outweighed the player need to have working doors. Since the doors don't work, I felt it was better to leave them open and allow the players to hang out, rather than 50% of the players not being able to fire. So the MH-60L will be in an open-door configuration. If however, the doors are working for some reason, I may revisit the closed/open door system.
- Updated the Hellfires with the new ACE3 Missile Guidance Framework from the latest update to the mod.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-bHXElRiuhWHZCoqJU-vFRy40QB2GqZC/view?usp=sharing

[+EricJ 4,245]

One the Kiowa Warrior front, Quiggs from the ADF Re-Cut mod has decided that when I help him out, he'll help me with the Kiowa, as they have an interest in the helo as well. I don't know too much right now about it in ADF service, but some work will be done, and we're just getting the preliminaries sorted out so we can begin work. So with ADuke working on the AO map, and so on, we can get to the point of making the Kiowa happen, and get the thing "finished". Also I would eventually recolor the aircraft, for the current scheme and the one used while it was in US Army service. Right now there's not much to be said, so once things get moving forward I can give you a status update on that. Right now I'm doing some Strike Fighters 2 skins that needed to be done for a project, so I'll take a break from Arma 3 right now, and see if I can't get those done for that stuff. But there isn't much planned for the helis right now, kinda at a point where I can take a break, though I may do 19-round rocket launchers for the MH-60/92 DAPs. I want to get some missions worked on as allen.l.huber gave me permission to fix the "Pilot XX" missions because they are so fun to do, so any mission makers who want to look and fix the missions since the 2.18 patch broke them, I'm listening and looking for that kind of help, at least a scripter who can fix the scripts (which I think is the issue) given the new patch. Anyway not much else being worked on, and curious to see if any issues have come up with the new ACE3 release. I hear it's annoying to say the least with communities, so if there's an ACE3 issue with my helos, please let me know and I can try and fix them for the new version.

[+EricJ 4,245]

ADuke Kiowa Warrior Alpha

 

AC13
- Control sticks now animate
- Pylons are adjusted, looks more realistic

[+EricJ 4,245]

 ADuke Kiowa Warrior Alpha

 

AC14
- Added M255A1, M261, and M229 warheads for the M260 rocket pod, selectable in the Pylon Settings menu

[+EricJ 4,245]

ADuke Kiowa Warrior Alpha

 

AC15
- Fixed rockets not working, was something I missed.
- Flight model smoothed out now, should be good for use.

[+EricJ 4,245]

EricJ Helicopter Pack

 

RC107
- M230 Cannon rounds reduced to 1100 rounds
- M260 rocket pods work as intended, M261 ammo is correct and named correctly

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-lkGa6slRjv4JRDj_dCGkUGTxnxMT4m8/view?usp=sharing

[+EricJ 4,245]

Okay, some breathing room... I'm working on some Strike Fighters 2 stuff, mainly skin work right now slowly but surely. I have a few more to do. For the Kiowa, the next thing is the gun pod. I did get a request for the three-barreled .50, but that's not a priority as far as I understand, it wasn't exactly used that much. Even the MH-60M DAPs didn't use it that much, if at all if the website is correct. So in a few days I'll grab some photos and begin the process. I'm honestly not too excited as I doubt my own skills, but it is what it is I guess. Anyway, I don't have much planned for the EricJ Helicopter Pack. I need to do the 19-round rocket pods sometime, and thinking of stealing them from the UH-1Y as I have nothing else comparable, and it should be correct. I tell you learning the pylon system is daunting at first, but once you look at other configs and do it yourself, it gets pretty easy as you learn the steps, despite no Samples from BIS on how to do it, you just kinda look around and figure it out more or less. So that's on the horizon, as for the other mods I don't have much need to work on really. Oh if somebody knows how to update scripts for 2.18 for my Pilot XX missions, I would like somebody to fix those missions as some people enjoyed them, and me as well, so I'm keen on getting those worked on so I can upload (along with honorable mentions of course) them and get back to playing something given that I'm not in a milsim unit.

[+EricJ 4,245]

ADuke's UH-1Y Venom

 

RC15
- Added a DAGR variant

[+EricJ 4,245]

EricJ Helicopter Pack

 

RC108
- Removed M260 Rocket pods from MH-60/92 DAPs
- Added a 19-round M261 rocket launcher taken from my UH-1Y mod. Currently only the M151 HE is used for the warhead. This is only available on the MH-60/92 DAPs.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-oJUt5YZb1kJ_36PASBPBcbxYR3w7sj0/view?usp=sharing

[+EricJ 4,245]

EricJ Helicopter Pack

RC109
- Refuel probes on the MH-60 SOAR aircraft now has collision

https://drive.google.com/file/d/102sqUPuYClfoJk_P7DJuLatAyyRiagXe/view?usp=sharing

[+EricJ 4,245]

For news I've been somewhat hanging out at the Project Hatchet Discord and they're talking about doing a project called HeliSim. It's a way to improve the flight models of the vanilla and 3rd party mods that have helicopters, tilt-rotors, and some other ways of doing things. For now I'm going to implement this into the Kiowa rather than the EricJ Helicopter Pack. I feel that the flight model is good enough and no real complaints, and also I want to test the waters with the Kiowa first, as I may change the mind and work on the EricJ Helicopter Pack. for additional mods it will require the Hatchet Framework and the HeliSim mod to utilize these features. if you're like me and don't have much use for ACE3 it won't require it, so that's a good thing if you look at it that way. Personally, I don't like heavy mod dependencies in the first place, and if I can keep it within a mod that just requires the base game, I'll do it, like some of my work, with the only one so far being the EricJ Weapons Pack, which requires CBA of course, but that's a very common mod and most if not all milsims have it for their use.  So the Kiowa first, and if it works out pretty good and not overly complicated I can see about the other helis and so on. But that's when it comes out, whenever that will be. As for everything else again I'm at a little breathing room and now that I'm getting some help with the Kiowa, I can model the gun pod. It's coded and modeled (which isn't finished right now, but it works) more or less, with me finishing up the M3P sometime maybe tomorrow or Friday, or within that timeframe.

[+EricJ 4,245]

EricJ Helicopter Pack

RC110
- M230, M197, and M134 pylon pods now have working muzzle flashes
- Containers have shadows when lifted

https://drive.google.com/file/d/103YckTuMjQlL_hT1E8LdlVVZZKRWF8G4/view?usp=sharing

[+EricJ 4,245]

ADuke Kiowa Warrior Alpha

AC16
- Added a "finished" M3P machinegun for the Kiowa. I need feedback on how it feels and if it looks right on the bird. I think I did a good job and in the future will be textured. But it works, and a very much thanks to John Unden on LinkedIn who provided some good reference photos of the pod so I can get it in A3. In the future sometime it will be textured, as I want it to look good.

[+EricJ 4,245]

EricJ Helicopter Pack

 

RC111
- Added a requested new helicopter, the "S-70 Utility Blackhawk", which is basically a stripped-down civilian version of the Blackhawk chopper. It is only available for use by the civilian faction, along with the S-94s
- UH-92s have improved sensors, IR and visual sensors are improved.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/104KY51R5MsIx5JnVadv6T2OrOdT47PLv/view?usp=sharing

[+EricJ 4,245]

ADuke's UH-1Y Venom

 

RC16
- Fixed a missing texture
- DAGR variant available via Zeus