FastCargo

It can be done... However, I'm not happy with how many times and by how much I had to over G to get this to happen. I'm thinking the StructuralFactor may need to be lowered. FC

Dave asked for a straight conversion to get shadows back, I wasn't under the assumption you were using both sides of the mesh. FC

Well, as long as he has the MAX files available, just go back into MAX and unselect 2-sided in the Materials Editor, re-apply and re-export. Takes 5 minutes per model at most. FC

I do notice in the P-51 a definite 'twist' if I 'goose' the throttle...weather that is because of the gyro effect, I couldn't tell ya. My experience in high power props is limited. FC

Note how this reads. It says very specifically the count should be limited for performance reasons, and for the current models for Project 1, the count is limited. It says nothing about rendering errors, merely performance. Most of this has been nullified simply due to the increase in CPU power (of which the TW engine is primarily dependent). Also, from the exporter notes (written in July of 2001): Note here that although it is supported, 2-sided is recommended to be kept off. There are no caveats for performance, and in fact, the notes warn of there being problems with normal and sorting. This to me was a much more serious consequence (parts not rendering properly) than slow frame rates due to high numbers of polygons. This is why I don't use 2-sided materials in my models...which means I accepted the consequences of things such as not seeing canopies when looking from the inside. Also, there was no assumption of this being fixed in future iterations due to performance increases in computers...the way this reads is that this could ALWAYS be true. This is a different issue than the 'props' because there was no warning in the exporter notes of future 'flags' being incorporated that would cause problems rendering older models, which is why TK issued a patch to fix it. There was no note that said "Hey, put these 'flags' in the mesh properties so the props are compatible with the future." And as far as shadows go, there is still not a fix (nor is there expected to be one) for the 'shadow spikes' of older models. Most of these were caused not by open meshes (as is the popular opinion), but by meshes that are sometimes welded where they shouldn't be. An example would be taking 2 coffee cans, and welding them together at a single point on the edges where they sit on each other. If you made such a mesh in MAX and exported it, you'd probably get a 'shadow spike'. Basically, because you have meshes welded at a single point with no dimension, the sim can't figure out what faces are 'out' and what faces are 'in' to create a proper shadow...resulting in a 'shadow spike'. Unfortunately, this can sneak in when building a model, and may not be noticed until exporting and running in a sim patched to Oct 08 or later...which means some models will always have it unless the modeler can find the original MAX file, and go in to find the offending vertex... Also, the current version of sim engine (as of Jan 2011) in fact does recognize older LODs, that's how the 'props' issue was fixed. I suspect the fix was the rendering engine, upon detecting an older version of a LOD simply applies the CatchShadow and CastShadow flags as FALSE to any transparent materials in that LOD. Look, this does not mean that those folks who built models using 2-sided materials screwed up...on the contrary, their stuff is usually way the hell better than the crap I put out. But, there will always be risks in doing things that the builder recommends you don't do, with resultant consequences. It is always a trade off in risk/effort/reward. Ini edits are one thing...those are easy to fix. MAX/LOD files are different in that the fix may not be easy, especially if the source file is lost. If TK can fix it, hey, that's great, but it won't kill me if he can't. If you notice, we already have models that don't use shadows because of the 'shadow spikes' (the RAZBAM EA-6B comes to mind) and there doesn't seem to be a big uproar about it. FC

Not if the patch puts anything else at risk of not rendering properly. In the original 3ds max exporter notes, it very specifically recommends to NOT use double sided materials. This may have been an anticipated consequence that was missed by the folks who created the models. FC

I have a suspicion how. But we'll let the creator tell us... FC

Yea...for a program that is a standard of the industry, it sure can be buggy at times. I've got mine set to save 5 previous copies at 5 minute intervals. FC

Make sure your animations are programmed to use TCB controllers. Make sure the animation is only 10 frames long (1-10 for weapons works pretty well). Make sure you assign the animation in the data.ini for the weapon. FC

There is something buried in one of the ini files. Try GroundObject.ini in the Objects directory. FC

Part of the problem is Erik isn't using those shiny IDC 900s like in the picture... FC

Yeah? Answer the question: "Where are they?" - The Fermi Paradox Or, for a more comprehensive example: The Rare Earth Hypothesis There may be other life, but it A) may be nothing more than pond scum or B) is too far away to be able to notice at all, and therefore irrelevant. Now, personally, I don't necessarily believe that, but simplistic "Its all in the math" statements ignore the realities of the universe. FC

I don't use the editor in SF2. FC

So? Not a big deal. Just like my SDBs, give them zero thrust for an infinite length of time with no effects. Works like a champ. FC

By Jason Paur, WIRED From the earliest days of aviation, pilots have relied upon paper maps to help find their way. Even in an era of GPS and advanced avionics, you still see pilots lugging around 20 pounds or more of charts. But those days are numbered, because maps are giving way to iPads. The Federal Aviation Administration is allowing charter company Executive Jet Management to use Apple's tablet as an approved alternative to paper charts. The authorization follows three months of rigorous testing and evaluation of the iPad and Mobile TC, a map app developed by aviation chartmaker Jeppesen. The latest decision applies only to Executive Jet Management, but it has implications for all of aviation. By allowing the company's pilots to use the Apple iPad as a primary source of information, the FAA is acknowledging the potential for consumer tablets to become avionics instruments. The iPad has been popular with pilots of all types since its introduction last year. But until now, it could not be used in place of traditional paper charts or FAA-approved devices such as more expensive, purpose-built electronic flight bags. The iPad was OK for reference, but not as a pilot's sole source of information. The new FAA authorization changes all that. To receive FAA authorization, Jeppesen and Executive Jet Management went through a rigorous approval process. It included rapid-decompression testing from a simulated altitude of 51,000 feet and ensuring the tablet will not interfere with critical navigation or electronic equipment. Executive Jet tested the iPad and Mobile TC in 10 aircraft flown by 55 pilots during 250 flights. The first thought many pilots, not to mention passengers, may have is: What happens if the iPad or the app crashes? Jeff Buhl, Jeppesen's product manager for the Mobile TC app, says the Apple iOS operating system and the app proved "extremely stable" during testing. In the "unlikely" event of a software crash, he says, it takes but a moment to get them running again. "The recovery time for an application crashing or the OS crashing is extremely rapid," Buhl says. During the evaluation period with the FAA, the production app did not crash. But even if it did, Buhl says it's ready to go again "in 4-6 seconds from re-launch to previous state." The FAA says each individual operator -- in this case Executive Jet Management -- must develop specific procedures for dealing with system or software crashes and other issues. Under the authorization, Executive Jet Management will require a second approved electronic device, which most likely will be another iPad, in the cockpit. Although this authorization applies to just one company, it is a milestone for all operators, including major airlines, because it opens the door for them to embrace the iPad. Though any company wishing to follow Executive Jet's lead will have to endure equally rigorous scrutiny by the FAA. Agency spokesman Les Dorr says the process is no different from what is required for any other electronic device used to display navigation information. "As far as the iPad is concerned, we do that on a case-by-case basis when an airline applies to be able to use it," Dorr says. The FAA is already seeing more requests to use the iPad in the cockpit. Alaska Airlines began testing the iPad back in November and there are about 100 pilots currently evaluating the device according to spokeswoman Marianne Lindsey. She says in addition to the convenience, there is a practical weight-saving aspect to using the iPad as well, "it's replaced about 25 pounds of manuals and charts." Jeppesen's director of portfolio management, Tim Huegel, says several carriers are looking into using the iPad and TC Mobile, and with the FAA granting one approval, it should become increasingly easy for others to follow Executive Jet's lead. "We'll be able to reuse a lot of the documentation and the lessons learned working with Executive Jet Management to help our commercial customers as they now begin to pursue FAA authorization," he says. The charts available with Mobile TC include charts for visual flight rules and for instrument flight rules, which are more commonly used by commercial operators. The app only shows an electronic version of the paper charts Jeppesen has been producing for years, but Huegel says future versions could incorporate the iPad's GPS capability. He sees a day when tablets provide "door-to-door management" of a pilot's information, from crew scheduling to weather information to navigation charts. Story at CNN.com

Looks like the way I would build it, overengineered so it would fly like a tank! Oh...wait... FC

The F-18 is a soft limit aircraft...it means you can go right past the G limit and destroy the aircraft if you do not fly it correctly. This mimics the real life capabilities of the F-18. In other words, fly it correctly. Some of the other aircraft I have worked on will do the same thing, again just like real life. The AI on the other hand will not exceed the G limits. FC

Ah...okay. Bummers...I had a plan.... FC

Hey, question, does the OTC map extend all the way to Cape Canaveral? FC

I don't think TK knows at times, because a lot of his business model is dependent on actual sales vs projected sales on previous projects. For instance, apparently the Suez addon was kind of an underperformer in sales, which may have thrown off his future timeline. Most of the information on future projects is from TK himself on his website (which is currently down). FC

Yea...you'd think 32 is a lot, unless you start constraining stuff...then you can run out in a hurry. I ran into this the first time when I started off with just ini mods, giving the F-16XL realistic limitations in amounts and size of weapons that could be carried...hit the wall there! More recently, I ran into the same limit on the Super Hornet getting into all the specific weapon types that required different rails. The F-4 doesn't surprise me really, considering just in hardpoints alone, it has 13. You start constraining stuff and it goes up pretty quickly! FC

Actually, there is a limit on weapon stations. 32. RC, best way to limit their years is to make a new aircraft (something like F-4M_75, F-4M_79, etc) FC

This is a big deal...the current Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) we have are big and clumsy, and the laptops we have for TOLD are the same...almost milspec in terms of ruggedness. And we are helping lead the industry...a lot of airlines still use paper products, heavy, bulky and paper intensive. A small, light, robust device to replace both the EFB and laptop would be a godsend...and something an iPad-like device would be tailor made for. FC

Read through the WHOLE data.ini. FC

Read through the data.ini...you will figure it out. FC