FastCargo

In answer to your questions: 1. As far as I know, 3ds Max 7 models can be exported to the LOD format. The exporter is available for download from ThirdWire. 2. I'd help you out as much as I can...but I'm learning myself. I'd recommend if you have no modeling experience, start out with something other than an aircraft. Otherwise, you might get frustrated early and quit. 3. I've never heard of it...but don't let that stop you. If you aren't intrinsically motivated to finish an aircraft, no amount of external motivation will help you...especially if you're doing it for free. 4. Not I...my skinning still sucks. Welcome to the world of modeling... FastCargo

Actually, I remember that picture!!! Yep, just looked it up. In Janes All The World Aircraft, 78-79, page 449. From the text: VOUGHT V-529D "Vought has proposed a twin-engined development of the A-7E to the US Navy. The single TF41 engine of the current A-7E would be replaced by two GE F404 turbojets, each producing approx 16000lb st. Structural changes to accommodate this new power plant would include an increase of (1 ft, 8 in) in fuselage length to provide static balance, a local fuselage width increase of (2 ft 5 in), and a new aft fuselage structure with bifurcated duct." I'll see if I can scan in the picture later. Also, found out about an alternative to this proposal...using a single F101 engine!!!!! That jet would have been HOT! FastCargo

Fubar, How about both if able? Not like there is a rush ya know...take your time brother. FastCargo

I was going to write a long story about a couple, with their own quirks, falling in love, having an offspring that is eventually terminated by the government agency they work for. It was going to be full of pathos, humor, political intrigue, irony, double-entendres... ...but I'm just too damn tired to flesh out the story. Super short version: What do you get when a ALCM and a HARM have a drunken night together? Answer? This: And the little rascal on his first day out... Ain't he just cute? Just got to finish the skin and figure out a decent way to draw the mounting plyon. FastCargo

Yep, sure can. If you look at the ini entries for the various systems, there is an entry for 'BoosterNodeName='. Basically, you're telling the engine what 'part' of the missile to drop off after the boost phase. As Capun noted though, the 'booster' has to be a 'child' of the main missile mesh. The stock SA-3 and SA-2 are two-stage weapons. So the engine can do it just fine... FastCargo

Capun, You sir, are a steely eyed missile man! That was the exact problem. As soon as I made the boosters a 'child' of the missile...worked like a champ!! That's two I owe you now! Some other images while I was testing: A Mystere about to get hit...don't ask me why he would be going up against a SA-5! Did you see that? --- See what? Didn't know the AI could do something like this...talk about eating hot rocket death! And finally, while I was at one of my SAM sites, waiting for an engagement so I could check out the booster sep, I saw a small streak. Sure enough... It's really cool to see stuff like this, totally unexpected! Some pretty cool moments the TW engine can generate. Anyway, after some final testing, I'll release the missile with a tentative WeaponData.ini entry. However, someone better than me will have to build/adapt a launch rail/system for it. FastCargo

Okay, Lexx, thanks for the site...was able to get a few details on the missile there (picture-wise anyway). The SA-5 missile is basically done. Anyone wanting to make a launch rail and radar system is more than welcome to. However, I've run into a snag. The booster works as advertised, then cuts out, and you see the SRB "pack" detach and eventually disappear. However, the missile disappears as soon as the boosters cut out! Anyone got any ideas? Something I'm missing? Does the 'main body' of the missile have to be named something specifically? FastCargo

What gave it away...the 4 Solid Rocket Boosters? :) FastCargo

Work in progress...but I'll need someone to make a launcher/system... FastCargo

Well, you could do the Tacit Rainbow like a slow...LONG range ARM. As far as the 'cruise missile' profile...there is one in the Weapons Editor...but it doesn't appear to actually work. I tried to implement this for the ALCMs, but it didn't have an effect. FastCargo

My post was a little unclear...it's supposed to read 'ALARM, AND the air launched version of the Tomahawk, AND the ACM, etc, etc'... FastCargo PS You know, it's damned hard to find good 3 view drawings of weapons. Aircraft, sure, but weapons? Pain in the butt...

The long term plan is the JSF taking over the F-16's mission. Back to Israeli F-16s....back in the summer of 1987, I managed to get a tour of the (at the time) General Dynamics plant in Fort Worth, TX. Interesting building, over a mile long...and you can see from one end to the other inside. You even saw the far end fading a bit due to atmospheric attentutation. Anyway, so we get a tour, using a golf cart to get around. Seeing a line of Vipers in yellow was pretty cool. Now, I was about 19 years old, and had grown up in high school a mile away from MacDill AFB. I knew exactly what F-16s looked like, could even tell you the difference between the A/B/C/D models. Knew vaguely about the CCV and AFTI models they were playing with at Edwards. Well, as we progress along the line, I see some Vipers that have spines. Now, I knew about the AFTI F-16, and it had a similar spine, so that's why they stood out to me. At the end of the tour, as they're giving us the outbrief, I ask about the 'Spiny' Vipers I saw. Of course, everyone looks at me like 'What spiny Vipers?' (Amateurs...sheesh). However, the GD rep kind of gives me a surprised look, and very matter of factly says they can't comment on the those particular aircraft. Only later on did I learn they were the F-16 Block 30s destined for Israel. Cool stuff! FastCargo

Well, the ALARM, the air launched version of the Tomahawk (the one in the WeaponsPack is incomplete), the ACM, maybe the Tacit Rainbow. Either cruise missiles (Tomahawk, ACM, Tacit Rainbow), or the unusual flight profiles (ALARM). Just wondering if the interest is there. FastCargo

Hey guys, As I start modeling more and more weapons, I'm starting to run into limitations of the game engine...things such as only BOMB, LGB on a TER, no terrain following for cruise missiles, etc. My question is for deciding if I spend time building these or move on to something else. Note, the question is NOT 'Do I want a weapon to employ in the correct manner as in real life'. I figure everyone wants that to be a yes. Please take the poll. If you want to post in the thread with comments, that's fine. FastCargo

View File Vietnam PGM Pack (Pave Knife and GBU-12 Paveway I)(Version 1.1) *********************************** Version 1.1 Update Changelog *********************************** 1. Texture for Pave Knife improved. 2. Textures resized to save disk space. 3. Pave Knife LOD file changed with additional laser sensor detail. 4. Reference JPGs included. 5. Nose.TGA included for transparent part of laser sensor. 6. If you have already installed the initial version of this release, all you need to do is Step 4 of the Instruction block (Copying the Objects directory allowing all overwrites). No other changes are needed. 7. Changed to RAR compression format to save upload/download bandwidth. ************************************ Version 1.0 Initial Release *********************************** Version 1.0 Thanks to the following folks: TK - For the ThirdWire series of sims. Bunyap and Wpnssgt - For the original Weapons Pack and their GBU_USAF.bmp file from which the GBU-12 paint scheme is derived. Mustang - For the great video tutorials. To my fellow Combatace moderators - For helping me beta test and work out bugs. Any errors or mistakes are entirely mine. What you will need first: Bunyap's Weapon's Pack - http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autom...p;showfile=2672 Thirdwire Weapons Editor - http://www.thirdwire.com/downloads_tools.htm Copy of SFP1/WOE/WOV patched to the latest standard (as of 14 Nov 07) Notes and limitations: Aircraft weapons stations must have LGB to be able to carry the GBU-12, and LP to carry the Pave Knife. Also, note the Pave Knife was available for only a very few years and was daylight capable only (which can't be simulated in the TW engine). Dimensions and capabilities for the Pave Knife are notational. Detailed information on the Pave Knife pods was VERY hard to find, so the external model size/dimensions/sensor window size/paint scheme is a lot of TLAR (That Looks About Right). Also, this paint scheme was the first skin I've done from scratch...so there will be errors (hopefully, small ones). In reality, only a few F-4Ds and A-6s were wired to carry the Pave Knife. So it's a lot easier to get them in game than reality would specify. The GBU-12 Paveway I model is based on the picture I was able to find on designation-systems.net. It was VERY difficult to find good information on the 500 lb class Paveway I model...most info concerned the 'folding fin' model, which is a Paveway II. I decided to redo the model differently from the stock Thirdwire one, because I felt the stock model was too short and had wrong fin diagrams to be correct. However, the paint scheme was a guess (using the Weaponspack GBU_USAF.bmp as a basis). Speaking of GBU-12 models, this one's fins, because they are bigger, will cause visual conflicts if mounted with one on the center station on a TER. Best thing to do is carry them one to a pylon. This is FREEWARE only, NO money is allowed to be made on the contents of these files, in whole or in part. Feel free to redistribute, as long as the original authors are given appropriate credit. Questions? Contact me at Combatace. Submitter FastCargo Submitted 09/29/2007 Category Single Ordnance Files