FastCargo

Thing that it looks like to me is the trees don't have a proper alpha layer in the TGA. That would be my guess off the top of my head. FC

One thing to note folks with what Fubar has been doing...because the SF2 series in particular is single player, having an aircraft with extra capabilities does no good if the AI can't take advantage of it. Unlike other methods explored, Fubar's technique allows the AI to use those abilities...which makes things more interesting. Doesn't matter if you have a super fancy FM, if the AI doesn't use it...it remains a novelty. This is one of the reasons I had abandoned the rear firing AA-11, not because it didn't work (it did...not consistently, but it did), but because the AI wouldn't use it to defend itself. FC

Several of the tail numbers used to belong to the Nebraska ANG. But now that I've had a closer look, it's the Nevada ANG...which explains why the terrain looks very familiar. FC

Nebraska Guard boys... FC

Hey, she lied, you lied...it all equals out.... FC

Interesting, they bled a lot of airspeed while they were higher up (about 200 feet) before the final drop in. My practice dead sticks have been lots of airspeed until ground effect...of course that risks sliding off the runway... "You got any ideas?" "Uh, not really." Awesome calm under pressure... FC

Topic moved....we get to it when we get to it. FC

No. I'm pretty sure that in order to allow the use of certain Microsoft materials and software, the OFF team was required to have OFF use the CFS3 CD-ROM. FC

There is a parameter within the data.ini that allows you to assign cumulative Over-G damage to parts of the aircraft. In other words you can set the aircraft so that at some point, if you continue to pull too hard, you'll start breaking things off. Not too many folks have exploited this parameter though...I'm not smart enough on how it works to try it in my models. FC

The Flight Models are very complex and based on real world aerodynamics. It is not something easily explained. As an example, something someone else posted and gets brought up every once in a while: FC

Very strange....shouldn't do that at all. FC

Correct. Other than the hardcoded .dlls and .exe files, most everything else about the sim is controlled through the .ini files....which are editable in Notepad (basic text files). FC

All sounds are kept in the Sounds folder in the main sim directory. The sounds are referred to by various ini files. I would recommend starting here in the Knowledge Base: http://forum.combatace.com/forum/168-new-to-thirdwire-sims-sf-series-wov-woe-woi-first-eagles/ Specifically, note the threads on Basic Definition of Terms, Acronyms, and Basic Directory Structure. FC

You do not need to pay for downloads, however, we do encourage members to contribute to the operating costs of the site. FC

No, the sim doesn't have a standard naming scheme as far as I can tell (I used a custom one for the Super Hornets). Are you saying it didn't show up at all? Or didn't show up far away...wondering because each LOD is assigned a visual distance number. FC

Actually, you normally can't do what you are asking. The reason is that all LODs must conform to the same internal mesh heirarchy. That is to say, if you think of the heirarchy as a tree, with the fuselage as the 'trunk' then wings and tail as the 'main branches' then ailerons, rudders, etc as 'smaller branches', etc. All models listed in the basic ini must conform to that heirarchy, including the same names. You can cut branches from the tips inward and not cause problems for the farther away LODs...but if any LOD violates the heirarchy, NONE of the LODs will show. That's what you are encountering I suspect. FC

Try running the installer in Compability mode. That might get it to install for you. Also, you can try using the installer mentioned in rscjsuso5 link. It doesn't have a GUI front end, and will extract all the files in the CAT file (it will put them in it's own directory), but it should work in Vista just fine. FC

It's pretty simple. In the aircraft's main ini file (say SE5.INI), look for a line that says CockpitDataFile=. If there is a file, like CockpitDataFile=SE5_cockpit.ini, then it should be player flyable. If not, then it's AI only. Now, there are ways to make AI only aircraft player flyable....but that's a whole other story... FC

I'm curious because I've never explored the option of use USB powered devices for sound...does sound processing require a significant amount of CPU power anymore? FC

Ah...gotcha. Interesting... FC

Also, a quick note...the old sims will still work on Vista/Windows 7...you just have to patch them with the Oct 2008 patch. Just a thought. FC

You really have to wonder what they were thinking? I mean seriously, there wasn't ONE person in the whole chain who could have said "You DO know what's going to happen if you attempt this...right?" FC

Doesn't really look like a painting...looks like a Photoshop job. FC

Okay, lets try a logical answer. In every terrain, either within the CAT file it references or within the terrain's folder, there are several files that have specific airfield information. As an example, for VietnamSEA, you'll see files called VIETNAMSEA_AIRFIELD1.INI, VIETNAMSEA_AIRFIELD2.INI, etc. Within those files are entries that talk about where the taxispots, parking spots, and lights are for the airfield. As an example: Note the entries in bold. This allows you to not only determine the likelyhood of seeing parked aircraft, but how big those parked aircraft can be. You can even (for you advanced modders) change the locations of where they are parked. This might be useful for custom airfields. Also, there is only ONE reason to EVER attempt a repack of a CAT file, and that is if you trying to build a non-traditional merged install of the first generation of ThirdWire sims (SFP1/WOV/WOE/WOI) - say trying to make a SFP1/WOV/WOE/WOI combo install. Otherwise, there is NO reason to ever try this, especially not for the SF2/V/E/I series (Generation 2). It is very easy to end up screwing up something if you attempt it. FC

What's a NSA? That's the first time I've heard of such a thing in a drop. FC