FastCargo

I was thinking that as well (the multiverse scenario of time travel). Of course, there's a version of me who was drinking beer instead... FC

Just a week ago, it came to our attention that a member here at CA had been reverse engineering aircraft models back into a modeling program (including payware models) to be ported over to the Civilization III strategy simulation. He was doing this without permission or attribution, basically acting as model provider to let someone else actually port the model to the CivIII engine. The person porting the models was not aware how the CA member had been making these models (he isn't a flight simulation guy)...he assumed the member was actually creating them, not reverse engineering them. Once he found out how the models were being produced, he along with one of the CivIII website admins, pulled down all the files (since he couldn't sure if ANY of them were original work). Basically, after some discussions with fellow moderators at both websites, we've concluded that the reverse engineer was the main culprit, and has since been banned by both websites. The person who was porting the models he received from the reverse engineer into the CivIII engine we don't feel was to blame (other than trusting the reverse engineer). As soon as any doubt was raised, he did the right thing and pulled them all down. So, after further discussion, I am initiating a project. I would like, along with the 'porter', to bring those aircraft back to the CivIII engine, but this time, with the proper permissions and attributions. I don't want to duplicate work...if the ported model exists already, I figure we get the proper permissions, and then it simply gets reposted with the proper credits. My plan is to try to get the list of aircraft that were ported over, have modders here look at the list to see what they might have done...and if they did it, to give permission to restore it to the CivIII database. This accomplishes a couple of things...first, I'm hoping it'll sooth any lingering anger about what happened. But secondly, it'll raise awareness of each other's communities, showing how cooperation can benefit both. What I would like is for my fellow modders to lend their support...I plan to give the 'porter' (TopGun at the CivIII website) a few of my models that haven't been released yet to show my intent, good faith and as an example for the rest of us to follow. I'll post more information as it becomes available. I hope I can get your support on this. FC

It gets even more problematic with the law of unintended consequences. Suppose while you are stalking your grandfather, you bump into someone. The person is delayed enough that they miss their train. Their train derails...however, they weren't on it, and so they don't get killed as in the original history. Doesn't sound like much, unless they end up being pivotal in history later on through themselves or offspring...you don't really know. Even if time travel backward (forward is conceptually easy - one way) were ever possible, I don't think you would ever WANT to...at least in a physical, I could affect history, way. The lever of change would get HUGE the farther back you go. Read Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" for a conceptual example. FC

It was pretty cool to find out in the special features that I've flown with a couple of guys who did the flying scenes for that movie. FC

Alright gentlemen, for those experiencing weird cockpit issues, I've found for some reason on some aircraft (not all), that the cockpit now needs to be moved exactly 0.5 backwards. (Hell, lucky guess). This affected all my Northrop 2 seaters (except for the F-5F, oddly enough), and all the F-111s. So, easy peasy, go into the cockpit.ini of that A-6, find the line that says Position=, take the middle number and subtract 0.5 meters and try again. As for my models, I've already fixed and uploaded them. FC

All F-111s updated. Combined into Super Vark Pack. Check download section. FC

View File F-111 Super Vark Pack (Version 2.4) Super Vark Pack by FastCargo ************************ Version 2.4 ****************************** Added - Proper serial numbers for Aussie F-111s by Dels. Compatible with SF2E Expansion Pack 2 and Jan 2011 Patch. ************************ Version 2.31 ****************************** All F-111s are considered to be at Version 2.31 (Compatible with the SF2 June 2010 patch). Works for all current versions of SF2/V/E/I as of the June 2010 patch. Due to significant changes, readme was combined, revised and simplified. Note on the F-111A, F-111C(Early) and F-111K: These three variants could carry an interal gun mounted in the BombBay. However, if you mount the gun, you cannot have bombs or a forward ECM pod. If you load bombs you can have a forward ECM pod as well, but no gun. Be aware of this when customizing your loadout screen. Note on the F-111A, F-111D, F-111F, EF-111A: These versions have been crafted to be specifically compatible with the SF2V Expansion Pack and NatoFighters 4 mods in their current state (as of 7 Nov 10). They should be able to directly replace the versions currently in those mods. Their capabilities have also been adjusted to reflect real world capabilities, which may affect gameplay. If you decide to use them in the mods, make sure to backup your old versions first! I've been testing them and they seem to work just fine, but obviously I can't say that it will work on every install. To use them, just copy the specific aircraft directories, specific aircraft decal directories, and everything in the Weapons folder (except for the AGM-69A). Various parts of this super pack done by the following folks: Skins - JAT81500, Nicky, Spinners, EricJ Decals - USAFMTL, Sundowner, Nicky, Spinners, Dels FM - Column5 MODUsaf Pilot - Deigo Pit - NormanKnight Original model by Paco and Wpnssgt Updated models by FastCargo Initial SF2 Upgrades (including RWR)- USAFMTL and STORM Avionics and Gunsight - MJ and The Mirage Factory Sounds - The Mirage Factory Hanger/Loading Screens - USAFMTL, FastCargo, Nicky, Spinners, Sundowner Drop Tank Tweaks - Sundowner Because this is a large and inclusive pack, there may have been things missed. Please post if you find something. FastCargo 06 Feb 11 Submitter FastCargo Submitted 01/11/2010 Category F-111

You're assuming he didn't Photoshop it...easy enough to do. While working on the Super Vark Pack, I did some testing... I love kicking it old school! FC

HAWX probably has bump mapping...TW sims don't support this. FC

Couldn't help ya on the tank issue...but as far as the wing fold...what I have noticed is that the MovingPylon and RotatingPylon parameters work, but only for items defined in the data.ini (bombbays, aerodynamic sweep sweep, etc). For pure animations, weapons will only stay in relative location...not maintaining any sort of alignment. We had this problem on the Super Hornet during the wing fold. We never did solve the issue. FC

F-15C/D/J/DJ are now updated to SF2 Dec 2009 patch levels. Also, chaff and flare counters now appear to work properly in cockpit. FC

All Northrop 2 seaters have now been updated to SF2/V/E/I December 2009 patch levels. Includes the T-38A, AT-38B, F-5B, F-5F, CF-116D. Just redownload the aircraft and reinstall them. FC

Eject, You posted BEFORE you even opened up the mod? You wasted Wrench's time looking up the information for you because you couldn't bother to try to look it up first? Just...wow. FC

Simple, look at the griffin that is the squadron symbol on the tail of that F-14. What does it look like he is doing? FC

Maybe try putting a laser designator on the aircraft and set the weapons to be a2g laser guided missiles? I'm not sure how well the 'sea-skimming' parameter seems to work anyway.... FC

Hold on. First, which sim are you trying to do this for....that will determine which weapon pack to download. Second, my recollection is that at least the F-15C can already carry the AIM-9X in the sim as long as you have the most recent version of the F-15C and weapons pack...no editing needed. FC

Well, as with anything else, there is more to the story. First, the IL-76 is a smaller cross section aircraft, similiar in size to the old C-141. The C-17 is far wider, capable of carrying outsized cargo and vehicles (cross section rivals that of the C-5). In addition, terms of gross tonnage, the C-17 can carry approximately 1/3 more troops, and almost double the weight. Plus, the IAF has had a hard time maintaining their fleet of IL-76s due to lack of a unified spares distribution channel. The biggest thing I noticed after doing some research is that there simply isn't any military type airlifter available on the market that matches the C-17 in terms of overall cargo size. All the other 'Super Heavy' lifters are out of production (C-5, An-124). A proposal to restart the An-124 production line would result in an aircraft that has more lifting capability, but would also run about 200 million dollars each and would require 50 BILLION dollars to restart production. The A330 is simply not the same class of aircraft. It really is apples and oranges. FC

Realize, there will be some parts of the aircraft that may not be able to be manipulated at all without the MAX file because the values were set in the MAX file. For instance, tires shouldn't ever be shiny, so a modder might manipulate the glossiness within MAX. At that point, you will not be able to change the glossiness of the tires at all without access to the MAX file. FC

Prove that the P-3 flew into Venezualan airspace and you have a case. Otherwise, it's 'he said, he said'. Bears would hover just outside the international line at 12 nautical miles. Which isn't dick at anything above 30000 feet. Ask Libya about that. Speaking of which, I notice the video of the F-16s intercepting the U-2 at 37k. Deuces operate at twice that altitude...so if there were any REAL recon going on, there wouldn't have been an intercept. More than likely, he was descending into an airfield and the F-16s wanted to take a look at it. It's called 'shadowing' and again, we did all the time when the Bears would come to play. The S-2 is an anti-sub aircraft...not a whole lot of use over land. And a EP-3 is a SIGINT aircraft...pretty sure if I wanted to know about gold and native people, I'd have sent something else. It's getting a little old hearing the 'US is in the wrong' chant without even doing a little bit of research to see what the truth is vs what someone said. FC

Well, the A330 and the C-17 are totally different aircraft. There are things the C-17 can do that the A330 cannot do...period. About the only thing a A330 can do that a C-17 cannot physically do is be an airborne tanker...and even that's a maybe. FC

Probably not...the Gen 1 series is probably on it's last patch. In addition, collision modeling for buildings and trees would require a rewrite of the terrain code, which costs time and costs money. From what I can tell, that isn't a priority at the moment for the Gen 2 series. FC

I'll disagree. I think it's been a damn busy year for aircraft and projects. Desert Storm, WOV and SF2V enhancement mods, NF4+...these are the major all-in-one mods released in the past 12 months. Not to mention dealing with the Oct 08 patch for Gen 1 sims, and the ENTIRE Gen 2 sim line (SF2/V/E/I) and patches, plus migration to Windows 7 and DX10 for a lot of us. Frankly, by the end of this year, I was worn out, especially having to deal with real life issues on top of that. Veltro, you yourself are sitting on a couple of models...you of all people should know what goes into a quality release. With the holidays, the economic blow up, the loss of the leader of the MF, the departure of several prominent modders from the ThirdWire scene, quite frankly, I'm amazed we didn't shut down the lights, close the doors, and call it a day. FC

Sure, use the SpecificStationCode=xxxx parameter(where xxxx is a four character alpha numeric code) within the weaponstation entry of the data.ini of the aircraft AND within the data.ini of the weapon. The weapon will only get loaded if the number matches the entry in the data.ini. This is only applicable for patch level Oct 08 or later. FC