comrpnt

VMFA-531 Mission Pack III is now posted and is awaiting approval before being publicly available. When approved it should be available here: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=7314 Regards, comrpnt.

View File VMFA-531 Mission Pack III (20-24 April 1965) for WOV VMFA-531 Mission Pack III, for Wings Over Vietnam (WOV) This pack covers missions flown by Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 531 (VMFA-531) between the dates of April 20 through April 24, 1965. Where possible I have tried to keep as close as possible to the historical write-up of Mike Wanamaker and Lee R. De haven, given the constraints of the publicly available aircraft and ground objects in WOV. Where necessary, certain pre-requisites are used. Update to V1.1 Set all drone ground targets to use Nation=DRONE value, to stop game engine automatically (randomly) using them in VietnamSEA terrain on some missions, other than gunnery practice mission. Updated installation instructions accordingly. Update V1.20 This mod has been updated on request to remove direct links to any Capun and A-team prerequisite models. Instead please contact Capun for access - details enclosed. Missions Included in this Pack This pack contains the following missions: 1. [650420]#94605 – target a troop concentration and knock out a ‘possible’ gun emplacement 2. [650420]#94606 – target houses and trucks either side of a river 3. [650420]#94607 – target buildings and trenches either side of a highway 4. [650420]#94608 – target buildings, trails and VC troops in a wooded area 5. [650420]#94674 – target a VC hamlet 6. [650420]#94675 – target a separate VC hamlet 7. [650421]#94684+ - carry out in-flight refuelling training due to bad weather in target area. Also practice a bad weather approach and landing 8. [650421]#94686 – target a network of trails in a heavily wooded area 9. [650421]#94687 – carry out a Flaming Arrow helicopter escort mission, then divert to assist a FAC and attack a suspected armament repair building 10. [650421]#94687b – act out the role of the FAC in the previous mission in a ‘bird dog’ O-1E, returning to Phu Cat 11. [650422]#94688 – take part in another Flaming Arrow escort mission and clear the LZ by attacking VC troops dug in along a ridge line 12. [650423]531 Formation Training – carry out squadron-level formation flying training due to heavy ordnance restrictions 13. [650423]531 Gunnery Training – carry out live gunnery training on a specially prepared practice range, again due to heavy ordnance restrictions 14. [650424]#94982 – target VC transportation assets 15. [650424]#94983 – target VC-controlled buildings For each mission NAV waypoints are defined to guide you to the target area and back to your home base. Acknowledgements, Disclaimer and Terms Thank you to all those modders that have provided the prerequisites I have used in my mission packs. If there are any problems with these missions and my own mods, then please contact me directly, not the authors of the prerequisites. Released under the CombatAce Fair-Use terms: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=26131 Contents This Pack includes the following: 1. 15 x Missions taken from the historical accounts of VMFA-531 for the dates April 20 through April 24, 1965 2. Detailed installation instructions 3. Detailed Mission Briefings (as .jpg files) containing more details about each mission 4. Static aircraft definitions for F-4B, O-1E, F-100D and A310 MRTT 5. New loadout definitions for the F-4B, O-1E and F-100D 6. Target definitions for each mission 7. Set of drone enemy ground vehicles - for use with gunnery training mission Any problems, please let me know. Good luck! comrpnt. Submitter comrpnt Submitted 09/18/2008 Category User Made Missions

VMFA-531 Mission Pack III is on it's way... Here's a quick taster... Missions Included in this Pack 1. [650420]#94605 – target a troop concentration and knock out a ‘possible’ gun emplacement 2. [650420]#94606 – target houses and trucks either side of a river 3. [650420]#94607 – target buildings and trenches either side of a highway 4. [650420]#94608 – target buildings, trails and VC troops in a wooded area 5. [650420]#94674 – target a VC hamlet 6. [650420]#94675 – target a separate VC hamlet 7. [650421]#94684+ - carry out in-flight refuelling training due to bad weather in target area. Also practice a bad weather approach and landing 8. [650421]#94686 – target a network of trails in a heavily wooded area 9. [650421]#94687 – carry out a Flaming Arrow helicopter escort mission, then divert to assist a FAC and attack a suspected armament repair building 10. [650421]#94687b – act out the role of the FAC in the previous mission in a ‘bird dog’ O-1E, returning to Phu Cat 11. [650422]#94688 – take part in another Flaming Arrow escort mission and clear the LZ by attacking VC troops dug in along a ridge line 12. [650423]531 Formation Training – carry out squadron-level formation flying training due to heavy ordnance restrictions 13. [650423]531 Gunnery Training – carry out live gunnery training on a specially prepared practice range, again due to heavy ordnance restrictions 14. [650424]#94982 – target VC transportation assets 15. [650424]#94983 – target VC-controlled buildings Available soon, here at CombatAce. Regards, comrpnt.

Cool! BTW, I'd be grateful for more details w.r.t your generic cockpit work on the Lightning model, such as offsets you used etc. - now that is impressive stuff Lexx. Regards, comrpnt.

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View File The Curious Tale of the Lightning and the U2 The Curious Tale of the Lightning and the U-2 This simple mission pack allows me to share with you some interesting experiences I've had carrying out ultra high-level interceptions with the English Electric Lightning F.6 and the Lockheed U2-A. From my observations, using Wings Over Vietnam as a base game engine, the behaviour of both aircraft seems very close to what was experienced in real life – a testament perhaps to the quality of the Thirdwire platform and the flight models of the test aircraft. Choose from two mission profiles: Fmk6-U2@60k IC or Fmk6-U2@70k IC for Lightning intercept missions at 60,000ft or 70,000ft respectively. This download consists of the original illustrated article that I posted at SimHQ and the mission files. Installation instructions and prerequisites are included. Released under CombatAce Fair-Use terms (See here: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=26131) Regards, comrpnt. Submitter comrpnt Submitted 09/11/2008 Category User Made Missions

Excellent - I guess it's time to update this mission to make use of it: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=6779 Cheers. Regards, comrpnt.

Yes, but no one has yet to mention the RAF Museum in Hendon, North London, and they have a collection that's worth the trip - especially if you're short on time. Save you driving further around the world's largest car park - the M25 - towards Cambridge and Duxford! Hendon is here: http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/index.cfm The collection is here: http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collect...-collection.cfm Map location is here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=...757813&z=10 BTW, perhaps you could bring some Sun with you, if it's not too much trouble. Cheers, regards, comrpnt.

Guidelines for starting a mission in a Hangar This guide was originally posted in one of the forums, but the details here might prove to be more useful if they were easier to find, so I've elevated it to an entry in the knowledge base. I thought that I'd just pass on some info on how you start a mission from a hangar (the details here can equally be applied to ramp starts too). The following details can be ported between SFG/SFP1, WOV and WOE. Hangar Starts First, you need a hangar. For this example let's use the Stock GroundObject 'ShelterA'. One caveat though, you need to be aware of a mesh collision bug that exists with ShelterA which prevents your aircraft from starting deep inside the hangar (as detailed in a previous post, here: http://bbs.thirdwire.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=2785. BTW, YAP solves this problem by shipping an alternative ShelterA which allows your aircraft to move safely inside. The rest of this guide assumes that you're using the stock TW ShelterA. It's a fairly long guide but the results are worth the effort. As an example, for WOV, Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) sheds - a RAF term - can be placed at the Southern end of the runway at Da Nang by inserting the following lines in the 'Da Nang Air Base' entry of the WOV/Terrain/VietnamSEA/VietnamSEA_targets.ini file (reset the index numbers accordingly -- the next available number in my install was 096): // //Da Nang Air Base QRA support buildings and vehicles // // QRA crew quarters Target[096].Type=building2 Target[096].Offset=127,-1276 Target[096].Heading=270 // Q-shed for A/C-1 Target[097].Type=ShelterA Target[097].Offset=99,-1276 Target[097].Heading=180 // Q-shed for A/C-2 Target[098].Type=ShelterA Target[098].Offset=154,-1276 Target[098].Heading=180 // A/C 1 generator Target[099].Type=powercart Target[099].Offset=89,-1283 Target[099].Heading=185 // A/C 2 generator Target[100].Type=powercart Target[100].Offset=144,-1283 Target[100].Heading=190 // A/C 1-1 Target[101].Type=bombtrailer Target[101].Offset=109,-1286 Target[101].Heading=190 // A/C 1-2 Target[102].Type=bombtrailer Target[102].Offset=109,-1280 Target[102].Heading=195 // A/C 1-3 Target[103].Type=bombtrailer Target[103].Offset=109,-1275 Target[103].Heading=185 // A/C 2-1 Target[104].Type=bombtrailer Target[104].Offset=164,-1286 Target[104].Heading=185 // A/C 2-2 Target[105].Type=bombtrailer Target[105].Offset=164,-1280 Target[105].Heading=190 // A/C 1 Target[106].Type=oildrum6 Target[106].Offset=109,-1270 Target[106].Heading=180 // A/C 2 Target[107].Type=oildrum9 Target[107].Offset=163,-1271 Target[107].Heading=180 // A/C 1 Target[108].Type=fueltank3 Target[108].Offset=99,-1255 Target[108].Heading=90 // A/C 2 Target[109].Type=fueltank3 Target[109].Offset=154,-1255 Target[109].Heading=90 // //South buildings and vehicles // Crew quarters Target[110].Type=building2 Target[110].Offset=154,1275 Target[110].Heading=270 // Generator Target[111].Type=powercart Target[111].Offset=110,1280 Target[111].Heading=355 // Bomb trailer Target[112].Type=bombtrailer Target[112].Offset=112,1270 Target[112].Heading=345 // Fuel tank behind hard stand Target[113].Type=fueltank3 Target[113].Offset=100,1250 Target[113].Heading=270 To light up the QRA complex add the following to the /Terrain/VietnamSEA/vietnamSEA_airfield1.ini file (re-index accordingly): // QRA anti-collision lights [LightSet0xx] LightOn=1.25 Color=1.0,0.0,0.0 Material=LightMaterial Height=13.0000 Size=00.2000 Directional=FALSE Direction=360 Prefix=ESPoint ESPoint001=99,-1262 ESPoint002=99,-1290 ESPoint003=154,-1262 ESPoint004=154,-1290 // QRA Hangar interior lights x3 [LightSet0xx] LightOn=1.25 Color=0.88,0.88,0.88 Material=LightMaterial Height=9.5000 Size=00.5000 Directional=FALSE Direction=360 Prefix=ESPoint ESPoint001=99,-1264 //Front ESPoint002=99,-1276 //Middle ESPoint003=99,-1288 //Back ESPoint004=154,-1264 //Front ESPoint005=154,-1276 //Middle ESPoint006=154,-1288 //Back This will result in the following additions to the Da Nang airfield...(minus the QRA aircraft for now)... Now that the QRA complex is complete, we need to write a mission to place our aircraft just inside the hangar. Alas, just inside is the best you'll get with the stock ShelterA due to the aforementioned Collision Bug (see above link). Below is a simple mission that does just that, using F-4Es (a flyable one and a static*) *Details on creating static aircraft for SFG/SFP1, WOV and WOE can be found in the following uploads: SFG/SFP1: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=4313 WOV: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=4314 WOE: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=4315 Save the following as a .msn file in your WOV/Missions folder and load it into WOV: // Sample mission starting from QRA/Alert sheds at Southern end of Da Nang airfield. // // Taxi out, launch and head North-East towards following patrol area waypoints. // // Waypoints are set for intercept point and then return to Da Nang. // // Good luck! (comrpnt) [MissionHeader] AircraftType=F-4E MissionMap=VietnamSEA MissionType=INTERCEPT StartDate=10/20/1969 StartTime=08:30 [Weather] WeatherType=RANDOM WeatherAlt=1100 WeatherThickness=1000.0 HasHighLayer=FALSE HighLayerAlt=12000 FogAmount=0.6 ContrailAlt=12000 StartWindDirection=090 StartWindSpeed=3 WindGustingAmount=6 [MissionData] FriendlyAirActivity=1 EnemyAirActivity=1 EnemyAirDefenseActivity=2 FriendlyAirDefenseActivity=0 PlayerMissionID=1 PlayerPositionID=1 MissionNumber=1 AdjustStartPosition=FALSE AdjustBaseWaypoint=FALSE //******************************************************************** //Players QRA Aircraft (Shed 2 - furthest from runway) [AircraftMission001] AircraftType=F-4E Name=Tiger FormationType=Single Texture=USAFtng1 Squadron=555TFS AircraftNumber=1 Size=1 ObjectiveID=1 RatingForSuccess=50 StartOnGround=TRUE // Note: nose of aircraft MUST be slightly out of shed // to avoid collision mesh bug with ShelterA ground object Position=636154,490700,0 StartTime=0 Heading=180 Speed=0 Alignment=FRIENDLY AmmoPercent=100 FuelPercent=100 Loadout=AirToAirLongRange TracerMixRatio=50 PilotTrainingStandard=EXCELLENT TargetArea= Nation=USAF // Take off (mandatory WP) Waypoint[01].Command=TAKEOFF Waypoint[01].Position=636000,492000,0 Waypoint[01].Size=50 Waypoint[01].Speed=90 // Depart airfield airspace (mandatory WP) Waypoint[02].Command=DEPARTURE Waypoint[02].Position=636000,502000,800 Waypoint[02].Size=50 Waypoint[02].Speed=180 // Intercept point Waypoint[03].Command=WAYPOINT Waypoint[03].Position=720000,632000,7620 Waypoint[03].Speed=220 Waypoint[03].Size=50 // Waypoint[04].Command=WAYPOINT Waypoint[04].Position=636000,570000,4000 Waypoint[04].Speed=220 Waypoint[04].Size=50 // Da Nang approach (from the North) Waypoint[05].Command=WAYPOINT Waypoint[05].Position=636000,530000,2000 Waypoint[05].Speed=180 Waypoint[05].Size=50 // Waypoint[06].Command=APPROACH Waypoint[06].Position=636000,520000,1200 Waypoint[06].Speed=180 Waypoint[06].Size=50 // If you made it this far, then you win! Waypoint[07].Command=LAND_LINEUP Waypoint[07].Position=636000,510000,800 Waypoint[07].Speed=150 Waypoint[07].Size=50 Waypoint[07].Objective=TRUE // Waypoint[08].Command=LAND_TOUCHDOWN Waypoint[08].Position=636000,492900,0 Waypoint[08].Speed=10 Waypoint[08].Size=1 // Static F4-E (canopy open) in QRA/Alert Shed 1 (nearest runway) [AircraftMission002] AircraftType=F-4E_StaticC Name=Static F4-E on Alert @Da Nang FormationType=Single Texture=USAFtng1 Squadron=555TFS AircraftNumber=2 Size=1 ObjectiveID= RatingForSuccess=50 StartOnGround=TRUE // Note: static aircraft is safe deep within the hangar // as it has no active collision mesh Position=636099,490724,0 StartTime=0 Heading=180 Speed=0 Alignment=FRIENDLY AmmoPercent=100 FuelPercent=0 Loadout=AirToAirLongRange PilotTrainingStandard=EXCELLENT Nation=USAF The result looks something like this, as soon as the above mission opens... Hopefully this info should help you create your own hangar-starting missions. Regards, comrpnt :-)

Do you mean the ones that I did - based on the stock WOE aircraft? (http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=4315) If so, then simply add them to your Objects/Aircraft folder and copy in the skins from the originals for each one you want. Instructions for installing the statics are included in the readme. For placing them in Single Missions see this new article: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=31586. If, on the other hand, you're using the Static Aircraft available from Capun's site, then these are Ground Objects and you can place them on your airfields by defining their location in the _targets.ini file. I used this technique extensively here:http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=6299. Have a look at the _types.ini and _targets.ini file additions that are enclosed in that download to see what to do. Let me know if you still have any questions. Hope this helps, regards, comrpnt :-)

Using Stock Static (Parked) Aircraft for the TW Series Static aircraft, also known as parked aircraft, are special non-flyable aircraft derived from the stock aircraft in the Thirdwire series of games. For SFP1, WOV and WOE packs of the essential INI files required to create static aircraft already exist in the CA downloads section (see here: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...amp;showcat=303). Installation instructions are provided with each download. All static aircraft live in the Objects/Aircraft folder and usually have the word _static appended to their name. This short tutorial will explain how to place static aircraft anywhere on the ground, for use with Single Missions. Using WOV as an example To place a static aircraft on an air base you will need to find the x/y coordinates of the airbase in the current terrain. For this example, let's use the Vietnam terrain of WOV. Locate the file VietnamSEA_targets.ini inside the WOV/Terrain/VietnamSEA folder. Inside this file all of the air bases are listed. (Search on "Air Base") Let's work through a simple example, placing an F-4E_static on the ramp at Da Nang, next to your own F-4E flyable plane. Hopefully this will help you see the steps you need to take to place one on that air base. 1. Find "Da Nang Air Base" inside the VietnamSEA_targets.ini file. The entry lists the airport as Position=636000.00,492000.00. We'll use this x/y coord temporarily, just to get us to Da Nang when we test the mission. 2. You'll need a new mission file (these live in the WOV/Missions folder). I tend to copy a simple one and delete what I don't need. Use the following as a skeleton: [MissionHeader] AircraftType=F-4E MissionMap=VietnamSEA MissionType=RECON StartDate=10/20/1969 StartTime=10:00 [Weather] WeatherType=CLEAR WeatherAlt=2000 WeatherThickness=50 HasHighLayer=FALSE HighLayerAlt=4000 FogAmount=0.6 ContrailAlt=4000 StartWindDirection=0.0 StartWindSpeed=0.0 [MissionData] FriendlyAirActivity=1 FriendlyAirDefenseActivity=0 EnemyAirActivity=1 EnemyAirDefenseActivity=2 PlayerMissionID=1 PlayerPositionID=1 MissionNumber=1 AdjustStartPosition=FALSE AdjustBaseWaypoint=FALSE 3. Next add an entry for your flyable plane - again just to get started (we move it later to it's proper place on the ramp). Add the following to the mission file, using the coordinates for Da Nang we got in step 1. // Player's flyable aircraft - Phantom F4-E // NOTE - lines starting with a // are comment lines, ignored by the game [AircraftMission001] AircraftType=F-4E Name=Tiger FormationType=Single Texture=USAFtng1 Squadron=555TFS AircraftNumber=1 Size=1 StartTime=0 MissionType=RECON TargetArea=Da Nang Air Base ObjectiveID=1 RatingForSuccess=50 StartOnGround=TRUE // notice the initial coordinates Position=636000,492000,0 // notice the initial heading, facing up the runway Heading=0 Speed=0 Alignment=FRIENDLY AmmoPercent=100 FuelPercent=100 Loadout=AirToAir TracerMixRatio=50 PilotTrainingStandard=EXCELLENT Nation=USAF 4. Save the mission in the WOV/Missions folder with a .msn extension 5. Next edit the WOV/Flight/HUDData.ini file* and add the following lines to the top (to enable debug mode in the game when running). *Note that this file resides in the FlightData.CAT file. You may need to extract this file to your Flight folder first (use the SFP1 Extractor utility http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...mp;showfile=343). [Debug] DisplayDebug=TRUE Debug=TRUE 6. Now run the game and open up the Options/Controls panel. Go to 'Customize' and make sure that you have a key set to "HUD Toggle" - I use CTRL-H. This key will toggle through the different HUD and debug information text that is displayed on the screen. See here for an example of what this looks like: http://bbs.thirdwire.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3876 7. Now load the mission. When it starts your F-4E should be lined up in the centre of the Da Nang runway facing North. 8. You should also notice lots of text on the screen, similar to the screen shots referenced in step 6. For placing aircraft, the top "Cam Pos" value is the most important. Press CTRL-12 to go into 'roving camera view'. Zoom out from your flyable plane (use the zoom keys) and then use the camera keys to face the Da Nang ramp, East of your current position. Point the X cross hair where you want to go and use the zoom keys to get there. For this exercise, simply 'fly' the camera over to the ramp area and point the cross hair where you'd like your planes to be located. Zoom down to ground level for an accurate x/y reading of the location pointed to by the X cross-hair. 9. Let assume that you've zoomed over to where you want to place your static. Make a note of the Cam Pos value and exit the game. Edit the mission file and add a new entry for the static F-4E, like so... // Parked on the ramp. Facing runway [AircraftMission002] AircraftType=F-4E_static Name=Static F-4E #1 on Da Nang ramp FormationType=Single Texture=USAFtng1 Squadron=555TFS AircraftNumber=2 Size=1 StartTime=0 MissionType=RECON TargetArea= ObjectiveID=1 RatingForSuccess=50 StartOnGround=TRUE // notice the new coordinates, where you pointed the roving camera view Position=636400,491966,0 // notice the new heading, facing the runway from the rampHeading=270 Heading=270 Speed=0 Alignment=FRIENDLY AmmoPercent=100 FuelPercent=0 Loadout=AirToAir TracerMixRatio=50 PilotTrainingStandard=EXCELLENT Nation=USAF 10. Now change the original entry for your flyable plane, to place it next to the static on the ramp. You entire mission file should read as follows... [MissionHeader] AircraftType=F-4E MissionMap=VietnamSEA MissionType=RECON StartDate=10/20/1969 StartTime=10:00 [Weather] WeatherType=CLEAR WeatherAlt=2000 WeatherThickness=50 HasHighLayer=FALSE HighLayerAlt=4000 FogAmount=0.6 ContrailAlt=4000 StartWindDirection=0.0 StartWindSpeed=0.0 [MissionData] FriendlyAirActivity=1 FriendlyAirDefenseActivity=0 EnemyAirActivity=1 EnemyAirDefenseActivity=2 PlayerMissionID=1 PlayerPositionID=1 MissionNumber=1 AdjustStartPosition=FALSE AdjustBaseWaypoint=FALSE // Player's flyable aircraft - Phantom F4-E [AircraftMission001] AircraftType=F-4E Name=Tiger FormationType=Single Texture=USAFtng1 Squadron=555TFS AircraftNumber=1 Size=1 StartTime=0 MissionType=RECON TargetArea=Da Nang Air Base ObjectiveID=1 RatingForSuccess=50 StartOnGround=TRUE // notice the initial coordinates Position=636400,491999,0 // notice the initial heading, facing up the runway Heading=270 Speed=0 Alignment=FRIENDLY AmmoPercent=100 FuelPercent=100 Loadout=AirToAir TracerMixRatio=50 PilotTrainingStandard=EXCELLENT Nation=USAF // Parked on the ramp. Facing runway [AircraftMission002] AircraftType=F-4E_static Name=Static F-4E #1 on Da Nang ramp FormationType=Single Texture=USAFtng1 Squadron=555TFS AircraftNumber=2 Size=1 StartTime=0 MissionType=RECON TargetArea= ObjectiveID=1 RatingForSuccess=50 StartOnGround=TRUE // notice the new coordinates, where you pointed the roving camera view Position=Position=636400,491966,0 // notice the new heading, facing the runway from the rampHeading=270 Heading=270 Speed=0 Alignment=FRIENDLY AmmoPercent=100 FuelPercent=0 Loadout=AirToAir TracerMixRatio=50 PilotTrainingStandard=EXCELLENT Nation=USAF 11. You can now calculate the position of other aircraft on the ramp, given the ones you have here. For other parts of the airport, use the roving camera to give you the "Cam Pos", then include that for each new static aircraft you define. comrpnt (09/2008)

Hi Snapper 21, from my experiences so far, the ActiveDate and InactiveDate settings only work on Single Missions, not Campaigns - see here: http://bbs.thirdwire.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5522 I use these settings a lot in my single missions but for, say, the Falklands campaign the _targets definitions I used got in the way when playing in campaign mode (actually, I hadn't noticed this bug in the game engine until it was pointed out to me, as I never play campaigns). As yet, no fix available I'm afraid. Still, a useful feature if you play a series of single missions, such as the VMFA-531 missions throughout April 1965. Regards, comrpnt.

Some of the Vietnam tiles contain vague impressions of trails. For the VMFA-531 mission packs I've done and am working on I try to use these trails if they appear in the vicinity of the target area, as described in the historical mission log. For the recent gunnery range training mission (http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=7189) the island located at grid ref (621,513) has such a trail, so I used it to position my mixed drone target convoy, as shown below: For the target area, a simple definition, such as follows, is all that is required to make the site a 'live' enemy area when the mission executes. This gets added to VietnamSEA_targets.ini: [TargetAreaXXX] Name=reported Ho Chi Minh trail, with suspected large enemy convoy Position=621675,513330 Radius=500 ActiveDate=04/01/1965 InactiveDate=04/30/1965 Location=1 Alignment=ENEMY Target[001].Type=enemyPosition Target[001].Offset=0,0 Target[001].Heading=0 The target type is defined in VietnamSEA_Types.ini as follows: [TargetTypeXXX] Name=enemyPosition FullName=reported enemy position TargetType=MISC ActiveYear=0 TargetValue=0 UseGroundObject=FALSE GroundObjectType= RepairRate=0.555 StartDetectChance=0 StartIdentifiedChance=0 IncreaseDetectChanceKey=0 MaxVisibleDist=8000.0 DestroyedEffect=VehicleFireEffect SecondaryEffect=MediumExplosionEffect SecondaryChance=50 I tend to opt for ARMED_RECON for the overall mission type and CAS for the specific mission of each aircraft involved in the mission. For example, for a CAS mission the following extract would be used to engage targets on the 'trail': [AircraftMission005] AircraftType=F-4B ... MissionType=CAS TargetArea=reported Ho Chi Minh trail, with suspected large enemy convoy ObjectiveID=9 ... Where the value of ObjectiveID denotes GroundMission009 in the mission definition (.msn) file, such as: [GroundMission009] GroundObjectType=gtBRDM Name=BRDM gunnery target FormationType=Single Size=1 StartTime=0 ObjectiveID=0 RatingForSuccess=50 Position=621435,514599,0 Heading=134 Speed=0 Alignment=ENEMY Nation=NVietnam Texture=WhiteWashed Regards, comrpnt.

For RSR and WOE, if you can get all of the pre-reqs, then you might want to give this scenario a try: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=6299 (Screenies here: http://bbs.thirdwire.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=5209) Regards, comrpnt.

View File Squadron Training Missions - Gunnery and Formation Flying (WOV) Gunnery Practice and Formation Flying Training Missions for WOV Welcome to a small set of training missions for WOV that concentrate on Air-To-Ground gunnery and formation flying, using the F-4B from USMC VMFA-531 and the F-100D from USAF 416th TFS respectively. The action takes place on a squadron training day in April 1965 at Da Nang air base, South Vietnam. Update v1.10 This mod has been updated on request to remove direct links to any Capun and A-team prerequisite models. Instead, please contact Capun for access - details enclosed. Missions Included in this Pack This is a small mission pack containing two missions: 1. [650423]Sqn Gunnery Training – fly a F-4B and engage drone enemy ground targets on a specially prepared gunnery range. 2. [650423]Sqn Formation Training – fly a F-100D as part of a diamond-9 formation and take part in a fly-past of Da Nang air base. Acknowledgements & Disclaimer Thank you to all those modders that have provided the prerequisites I have used in my mission packs, with special thanks to Sundowner for providing me with the TriRack definitions used in this pack to complement the F-4B weapon loadout. If there are any problems with these missions and my own mods, then please contact me directly, not the authors of the prerequisites. Contents This pack contains the following: Detailed installation instructions Mission definition files Detailed training mission briefings New training target areas Experimental Tri-Rack loadout for the F-4B (courtesy of Sundowner) Formation definitions to allow you to take part in a Diamond-9 formation Definition files required to create Static (parked) F-4B and F-100D aircraft to populate the dispersal area at Da Nang air base A full set of inert enemy (NVA) drone ground objects, white-washed for use as gunnery practice targets Released under CombatAce Fair-Use terms (See here: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=26131) Regards, comrpnt. Submitter comrpnt Submitted 08/22/2008 Category User Made Missions

I expect that you'll get lots of personal choices on this topic - this question has been seen here before. For myself I use the CH Products USB FighterStick and ProThrottle (http://www.chproducts.com/retail/index.html), which I've found to be simple to program and robust in construction. Also they give me a fine level of control, especially useful for simulated A2A refuelling and carrier landings. I researched the opposition at the time of my purchase as, I'm sure you know, most HOTAS systems are not cheap. The alternatives at the time were the Thrustmaster Cougar HOTAS (http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/) and Saitek X52 HOTAS system (http://www.amazon.com/Saitek-X52-Flight-Co...4664&sr=8-1) - the Saitek Pro system not being released at that time (http://www.amazon.com/Saitek-X52-Flight-Sy...4664&sr=8-2). In the end I shortlisted the Cougar and the CH setup. For me, the reviews I read on problems with the Cougar's build quality won the day for the CH Products lineup, and I've been very happy with my choice. In summary, the CH kit I have is comfortable to hold, has a solid feel, is stable on the desktop, has plenty of programmable buttons (I rarely touch the keyboard when flying these days), and is responsive to my smallest inputs. So for me it gets the job done admirably. If you get the chance to get your hands on all of the competitors before you buy, then I guess that would help you choose, together with what fits into your budget. As I said at the start, it's a very personal choice. Regards, comrpnt.

Hi Jack, you were too quick off the mark for me with this public request before I had a chance to respond to your PM. No matter. Here is the response in the public forum. As you can see, since these packs were posted things have moved on. Capun's models are now only available at his site. Email him at "capun1950 at yahoo dot com" requesting access. You highlight a good point though - as you no doubt appreciate by now, it's like building on shifting sands. At the time I wrote these two mission packs I had to make use of other 3rd party models to get the level of realism required to simulate these historical USMC missions. My intention now though is to clean up these packs and possibly use public models where possible to avoid this happening again. Mostly I've found over the past few months that some of the ships in the fleet are difficult to come by. Here's what I suggest... Download the following from Capun: CV-59 Forrestal carrier FFG OH Perry FFG OH Perry Helo carrier SS Jeremiah O'Brien Spruance DDG Notice that SumnerFRAM2, as referenced in Pack I, is no longer available :-( ... so ... ...change references in the VMFA-531 mission files #94422 and #94422b from "SumnerFRAM2" to "Spruance" instead. For example... [GroundMission001] GroundObjectType=SumnerFRAM2 Name=USS Allen M Sumner FormationType=Single ShipNumber=1 Size=1 StartTime=0 NavalObject=TRUE Carrier=TRUE Position=720000,174000,0 Heading=180 Speed=0 Loadout= ObjectiveID=1 Alignment=FRIENDLY Nation=USN ...becomes.. [GroundMission001] GroundObjectType=Spruance Name=USS Allen M Sumner FormationType=Single ShipNumber=1 Size=1 StartTime=0 NavalObject=TRUE Carrier=TRUE Position=720000,174000,0 Heading=180 Speed=0 Loadout= ObjectiveID=1 Alignment=FRIENDLY Nation=USN As far as the fleet is concerned, this should at least get you going. You'll also need the UH-1D static Huey and the H-34 Choctaw, both also available from Capun, as used in Pack II in missions 94593, 94594, 94603, 94604 and 94604b. Eventually I'll collate the missions packs for VMFA-531 and clean up the pre-requisite issues - I hope - until then the 'fix' described above should help. Let me know if you still have problems setting it all up. Regards, comrpnt.

This collage came out ages ago for SFP1 - I can't remember who posted it though*. I keep a copy so that I can place targets and lights on various objects - it works fine for SFP1/SFG, WOV and WOE. The sizes are grid points in the game which are more useful than ft, inches, mm or cm measurements. *(Credit to the original creator - this really is a useful guide. Thank you.) Regards, comrpnt.

Many thanks MK2, you're support has been very much appreciated here. All the best, kind regards, comrpnt

Many many thanks. Glad to be a part of this happy family! I am now officially the age of the "Answer to the Ultimate question". If you haven't got me anything yet, here's what I'd like... Thanks in advance Kind regards, comrpnt

You could also try here: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=6299 Again, there are lots of prerequisites, but I think it's worth the investment. Regards, comrpnt.

I've now posted my airfield lighting mod for SFP1/SFG. It adds approach lights, and buildings & structures lights to ALL friendly airfields in SFP1/SFG (similar to my earlier work on WOV and WOE airfields). This mod now completes the original set of three - if I ever get around to getting WOI and do the same, then I guess that will become the set of four! Find it here: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=29476 For example, airfield type 4 (layout 1 of 1): Regards, comrpnt.