Wrench

I like to look at the pretty airplanes, and the pretty clouds and the pretty ocean... and then dive down and blow the crap out of something... Mostly single missions; I don't think I've ever completed a campaing successfuely, all the back to the original in SF. In a side note, re: post-70s Flak, I'd just extract the data ini for each of the stock units (the Pasko SAMs and vehicle Pak are already there), and just change either the end service date to 2020 It's obvious that many 3rd World countries are/will still be using air defense systems that are long out dated in the 1 & 2nd world. Example: ww2 Bofor gun...it's too good a weapon to not have around for so long. KS series flak guns -- you can't think that the 85 & 100 mm versions aren't still in use somewhere??? The S/KS-60 was still in use in the 1990s during Desert Storm. Wrench kevin stein

On the runway, unless I doing terrain work, then you need to start 'near target', to eliminate all the excess flying. (is there such a thing???) Alt-N is ok on some terrains, but watch out for those with high mountain ranges .... SPLAT!!! BOOOM!!! Cumulo-granite sucks! Wrench kevin stein

Ah, guilty of that one, I think, Ed . I know I released a whole slew of landing light mods, about 2 years ago, and it's quite possible I stuck the light there. I know that mod is still here a CA someplace, and it should be at my site as well. And I'm sure I got most of the lights too bright. Wrench Kevin Stein

Actually, it seems to work both ways; either as WARSHIP or MISC; as least for having them show up on the map. [TargetType146] Name=OsaII FullName=Osa II FAB ModelName=OSAII-mod-R3a.LOD TargetType=WARSHIP [TargetType147] Name=GunBoat FullName=Patrol Gunboat ModelName=PBoat-mod18.LOD TargetType=WARSHIP [TargetType137] Name=CargoShip FullName=Cargo Ship TargetType=WAREHOUSE ActiveYear=0 You can see I listed the cargoship as a WAREHOUSE; this will tasked to a strike mission. So far, I haven't see any of the docked ships, when listed as WARSHIP being tasked. I haven't experimented with this too much, but I know in the Lybia mods, I typed the docked patrolboats as MISC, and you would get them as targets for strike. (which means I'll probably be changing all the docked warships here back) Since they don't move at a Convoy Station, the KreigFlakDestroyer can stay typed as "Static_AAA". Docked warships, wither set as such or MISC, will still shoot at you!!! (don't go too near those Gunboats -- they is NASTY mean) EDIT: Ok, in a quick test, I switched them BACK to MISC, and you DO get tasked with them for a strike mission. But, apparently, NOT when they're classed as WARSHIP. So, is looking like docked ships should be MISC in the terrain types ini, but their own, individual data ini should still be left as WARSHIP. And they DO shoot at you either way!!! Wrench kevin stein

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=12099 Also, have a look as some of the Phantom loadouts in the Loadout Thread (Iranian F-4E comes to mind) Should give you some ideas. Wrench Kevin Stein

don't we have Italy and Scicly in Edwards North Africa and Tunisia maps??? I distincly remember bombing somethng in Taranto Can't remember how high up the 'boot' it goes...Rome? Adriatic coast??? have to check when I get home (easy to just look at a planing map!) Wrench kevin stein

Yes, the types ini defines WHAT objects are allowed to be placed in the targets ini. Like in the original targets, you'll see "AAA". That allows the game engine to place any AA unit that is on the same side as the target area. You can further define that by editing the types ini, and listing specific objects (like Nick Bell did with the HAWK launchers). Adding a say, ZSU-24 and specificly pointing that to replace AA at an airbase or where ever I'm a work now, but when I get home I'll post some specific examples (ships/destroyers/Patrolbaots, etc) Look at the Lybia ver.3 types ini, and you'll see specifics Wrench kevin stein

Or,you could just create a fixed station in the ocean (see the WW2 maps by Edward and myself, and my 2 recently released Lybia's) via targets ini edits. You just pick a spot on the sea, noting its coordinates (cameraposition= -- they're added just like any other ground object), and create a 'CV Station'. Now, mind you , they won't move, but you'll have a fixed spot in the ocean where a carrier can be 'parked'. this can be done for anti-shopping missions ("Convoy Station" full of merchant ships and escorts) - may also show up in strike as well, as they are now a fixed target. You could even go so far as to tweek one of the CVs data ini thereby creating a new object, removeing the invulernabilty by removin the runway (flightdeck), classing them as a MISC object, and have them in port. Needless to say, you'll have to add each of the ships to the terrain's types ini. One of the interesting side-effects of this, even as a 'parked vessal', warships with guns and SAMs WILL engage you! Wrench kevin stein

No, but there are some 'tweeks'...check out Lexx Luthor's 'cockpits and strategic warfare' thread over that the 3rd Wire Forums ... some very interesting stuff over there... Wrench kevin stein

Well, since you're on Death Door, I"ll let you in on the big secret.... It's a very complicated process called... wait for it..... ready??..... copy and paste. If you read the readme that came with it, you'll see it states that I used the existing data from the stock 3rdWire F-15A Not very hard at all. But, unlike the Tornada, the 104S-ASA-M don't need an a-g radar. In theory, something like that could be appllied to the F.3 ADV, but the model itself is well, 'lacking'. The GR/ECR/whatever strike variants will still need their A-G radar, and be stuck with the avionics60.dll. But there ARE workarounds, I'm sure (AD Corsair II comes to mind right off, and the MF Hornets that have the HUD, semi-multimode radars, and AG) Wrench Kevin Stein

As the Worm Turns <-- Click Me!! Wrench kevin stein

They're doing a Elric movie!!!???? How did I miss that...cool!!! Ok, once you've got the HUD debug on, and you have the coordinates, two strings of six digits each, you'll need to adjust the RoutePosition= in the movement ini.... like below (from Iran/Iraq) [Route020] RouteType=SHIPPING StartArea=Khrak Island EndArea=Manama RoutePosition[001]=792849,352397 RoutePosition[002]=753908,253380 The break down as to what's what is like this: Route20 -- defines which number route. There are 3 types, GROUND_ATTACK, TRUCK, SHIPPING RouteType -- what kind it is (GROUND_ATTACK is you CAS missions; TRUCK is your Armed_Recon; SHIPPING is, well, anti-ship strikes) Start Area End Area -- both defined by the targets ini. Basicaly, beginning and end points. Hopefully, someplace offshore or out to sea RoutePosition01 RoutePosition02 -- these are the map grid coordinates. The way I do is, using the KMD, open one of the planning maps, and basically look for a set coordinates near which ever port I want to start from, and then follow a route (just like aircraft waypoints). I don't know what the maxium allowable wapoints are, but for the DS mod, you'll find this one: [Route029] RouteType=SHIPPING StartArea=Al Basra Oil Fields EndArea=Kuwait City RoutePosition[001]=715630,418154 RoutePosition[002]=717629,415520 RoutePosition[003]=722504,403936 RoutePosition[004]=711189,391720 RoutePosition[005]=688299,378005 RoutePosition[006]=669804,368930 RoutePosition[007]=662487,366013 This one starts 'upstream' inland, and follows the Tigris (Euphrates? -whichever river-) around the marshland, islands, out into the Gulf, to Kuwait City. Anyway, sorry for the digression.... With the KMD you can get fairly close, but I've found that you can be off in the start/end points a little as a few hundred meters to as much few thousand meters. And with rivers or islands to navigate around, that can be a problem Hence the need for the 2nd step... Fly an anti-ship mission -with the HUD debug still on. Also, change you start option to "Star Near Target" Then you can see the coordinates displayed. Make note of them, and adjust as necessary in the movement ini. Come to think of it, its no different than laying out any other target location, excepting you need more than one position coord to define the route. It goes without saying, that you'll need the planning maps, targets and movement inis IN the terrain folder in question, so they'll need extracting from the terrain's cat file (ie: Desert.cat, GermanyCE.cat, VietNamSEA.cat). They stay in the terrain folder. The beauty of this game engine system is, if you screw it up, you can just extract the in again. Wrench Kevin Stein

I was actually thinking along those lines yesturday.... For those that remember my ATF/FA mission sets, 'occasionally' there was something odd that would appear (Atomic Moth, Quetezalcoatals, whatever) We need something like that to pop in once and a while....wonder if I can convert Capun's Giant Turtle into a tank.....or maybe use the Super Eagle as "The Giant Claw"..... Or maybe we can get a 3dmodeler to make us Mutated Giant Cockroach?? Talk about bugs in the program!!! Set the availabilty to "VERy_RARE".....hmmmm Giant Turlte as a cargoship...... (Wrench runs off, the wheels in his head spinning furiously with ideas.....) Wrench kevin stein

Just some shots from yet another terrain upgrade I'm working on (while waiting for more DS stuff to show up) Without further ado.... Phantom 1, MiG 0 Singed my tailfeathers, and just missed...this time! Iraqi push towards an Iranian outpost under heavy fire... Recon over Khrak Island (southern end) --about 2 seconds later, I was missing my wings and in the drink, shark food. Flypast over Bander-e Khomeyni (note the shipwreck, a leftover of the Tanker War) The targets have been completly redone, with about 50 new areas, new ground attack, truck and shipping routes, a few dozen new objects (the usual stuff for the terrain - truck parks, industrial/chemical centers, power stations, etc plus artillery that works kinda and other surprises). Using Polak's new Desert Tiles; fully tested and SF and WoE (should work just fine in WoV as well) It goes out for testing soon to some teammates (as there are still a few little bugs). When it's ready, you'll get the word. Designed for use in you seperate, Iran-Iraq Install -- should NOT be use by itself, as you probably won't have the necessary ground objects and country specific aircraft and loadouts - that will be taken care of in the final release. There's a highly detailed, explicitlly instructed readme (that ain't quite finished) that wll explain all. Release Date: more than '2 weeks' Wrench Kevin Stein

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autom...ode=sst&id=4937 File Name: F-104 Starfighter series Recon PodFile Submitter: Wrench File Submitted: 8 Jul 2007 File Category: Weapons Mods/Skins This is just a littly quicky fix to create a generic Recon Pod for all the different Starfighters out there. It's alwyas bugged me we didn't have anything, and all the Zipper call for one in their loadout inis. The shape is pretty generic, too. Rather bullet like, as it's based off the BLU-27 napalm canister. Since we don't actually have a proper shape, especially for the Canadian Vikon pod, this will have to suffice until a 3d modeler steps up and creates a real one. I'm pretty sure I've got everybody covered, end user wise. You'll note the fairly complete listing of countries in the Attachemnt types: USAF, ITALY, W_Germany, Norway, Japan, WP - this is for Pakistani and possibly Jordanian Starfighters - if you've created a country specific version for Jordan. I figgured it couldn't hurt to add it, right? Dutch and Belgian users (of the Zipper, not players!) shouldn't have any problems loading it. I've also included the layered psd file, in case anyone wants to mess with it. I think I got a pretty good 'sampling' of camera ports; 2 vertical, 2 staggered oblique panoramic. I mean, after all, it don't work anyway; its just for show! Happy Photoing! Wrench Kevin Stein Click here to download this file

Dude!! That's insane!! Probably used an Kodak Brownie (like my mom still has -- 60 year old camera, probably would still work, if we could find 126 film!!) Wrench Kevin Stein

"The only time you have too much fuel, is when you're on fire" Fuel totals are listed in the data in, in the fuel tank sections (below weapons stations). Cant remember if it's in kilograms or liters. Wrench kevin stein

See, I KNEW somebody had backdated it!!! I just couldn't remember who or when. I'll have to go grab these for meselft too!!! Wrench kevin stein

No ground radar with avionics70. A pity too. And you can't swtich back to the 60.dll without rebuilding the avioncs ini, and all the little bits in the cockpit folder (although it might be doable by using stuff that avionics 60 compatable -- stuff that already exists for earlier birds) I guess we're all waiting for the projected "avionics80.dll", which will hopefully re-incorporate the ground mapping and terrain avioidance modes. I hope!!!! Wrench kevin stein

Always freeware...it's not a new map, it's a revamp of the original. Besided, I just tweek objects and targets. It's USAMTL & Co's from the Iran/Irag Total Conversion Mod. If you all WANT to send money ... well, I ain't to proud to take it!! But, I'd rather it go to a good charaity .... The Foundation for the Financial Relief of The Wrench or the American Diabetes Association. Wrench kevin stein

Those sounds come from the Tomcat. As for the blue bits, that's a know fault in the Deutchland terrain. Gepard posted a sort of fix for it, can't remember where it at the moment. You might have to search for 'Deutchland terrain' here in the threads. Installing the 'Varks is no harder than installing any other aircraft. As to your CAS mission, you were tasked with destroying 'camonets', right??? Remove them from the groundobject folder, or rename the folder "xcamonet'. It was a known problem. They should be terrain objects only, not in the 'vehicles' class. As for the Red Range, have you checked your cat pointers???? Remember, it needs the desert cat for the desert terrain tiles. That info should be in the associated readme. At worst, you'll need Deuces desert tiles as a replacement. Mine works perfectly in EVERY install I have (at last count, 17 of them) Wrench kevin stein

No idea why they read empty, when they've obviously got something loaded. I wouldn't worry about it, as long as the little circle is black, you got yourself some ship-killers. This happens on several other aircraft (which ones escape now), but I remember making note of it in the Loadout Thread. Probably on some Commie POS MiG I actually have those drop tanks sitting here ... they're Carlo's (Soulfreak), and I just haven't had a chance to get back to them and create/edit the lods for the matching bmps. Once I get my head and a$$ wired together, I can try and get those done for him, and he can release the to make everybody happy. Wrench Kevin Stein

You really need to convert the screenshot bmps into jpgs. Makes is easier to view, and perhaps get set up at Photobucket or one of the other free image hosting sites. Much easier to link back too. I think there's already an HUD update for the Toros, have you checked the 'Cockpit Mods' section here at CA??? On the subject at hand, I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you. Wrench Kevin Stein

Well, I can't get the missile to NOT load -- it's there every time, all the way back to 1968. What I think you're doing is paying attention to the 'Stores Available' screen on the left, and not the the diagram on the right. Are the little circles blacked out, even it if says "Empty"??? That means the missile is loaded. From what I remember, the stores available section is only for campaigns, not single missions. Have you actually flown a anti-ship mission, and looked at the outside view??? You should see this ... Like I say, it loads for me everytime, all the way back to the start date. I did, however, find a few other things wrong ... the missile is listed as "FRANCE" for the nationname. It should most definately be "WGERMANY". That needs changing. Also, the M117 750# bomb need the 'West Germany' box checked. Since it is a German aircraft, you can even go so far as to change ALL the "AttachmentType=" notations to "W_GERMANY". It dosen't affect anything, and will still allow the B winder to load. You can even 'upgrade' the winder the F models; see the adjusted loadout ini below: If you go eariler than the availibility of the F, it just reverts back to B's. Of couse, we still don't have a recon pod.... There dosen't seem to be a 'real' problem here ... just looking at the wrong thing. Wrench Kevin Stein