The Trooper

I guess heavy metal fits right here...

Actually, there is a way - this is from my old Su-27_avionics.ini, back in the day when I was using Marc's cockpit:

[HUD_BreakX]
SymbolType=BREAK_X
ImageFilename=cockpit\hud\HUD_OTB.tga
ImageSize=0.04
ImagePosition=0.00,0.152
AwayImageFilename=cockpit\hud\HUD_LA.tga

HUD_LA.tga is the SHOOT cue

Thanks mate! This is exactly what I was looking for.

I guess it is off limits then.

Do you guys know who made this cockpit? It's a better match for the early  C-130's.

Masterpiece!

May I suggest a better alternative to the "No gun" station trick? Just add "HideNodeName=LeftHatch" under [GunnerL] and "HideNodeName=RightDoor-Top" under [GunnerR], and remove the fake pylons. It removes the listed node, when a weapon is loaded in the station.

SystemName[017]=//FakePylonR
SystemName[018]=//FakePylonL

...

[GunnerL]
SystemType=WEAPON_STATION
StationID=7
StationGroupID=3
StationType=EXTERNAL
AttachmentPosition=-2.33,3.808,-0.11
AttachmentAngles=-75.0,-8.5,0.0
LoadLimit=500
AllowedWeaponClass=GP
AttachmentType=USN,USMC,USAF
ModelNodeName=M2Gunner_Left
HideNodeName=LeftHatch
PylonMass=0.0
PylonDragArea=0.00
SpecificStationCode=GunnerM2
MinExtentPosition=-1.92,2.804,-1.143
MaxExtentPosition=-0.399,3.926,0.591

[GunnerR]
SystemType=WEAPON_STATION
StationID=9
StationGroupID=4
StationType=EXTERNAL
AttachmentPosition=2.33,4.11,-0.11
AttachmentAngles=55.0,-8.5,0.0
LoadLimit=500
AllowedWeaponClass=GP
AttachmentType=USN,USMC,USAF
ModelNodeName=M2Gunner_Right
HideNodeName=RightDoor-Top
PylonMass=0.0
PylonDragArea=0.00
SpecificStationCode=GunnerM2
MinExtentPosition=-0.413,1.985,-1.143
MaxExtentPosition=2.214,4.576,0.591

Like this?

Thanks guys! I've set the the doors as pylons for a "no gun" weapon using the same StationID as the gunners. Now it takes only one slot in the loading screen and you can't forget to remove the doors, when loading a gunner. The only drawback is, that the Gazelle has no doors, when parked on the airfield.

Yakarov, it's not really that important, just trying too keep my mind busy by messing with the game engine.

I've had some (limited) success with bleeding decals, by making the image upside-down (or sideways) and correcting its orientation in the .ini. It's worth the try.

Not exactly what I want. I need the doors removed only when the door gunners are loaded in the weapon station, but I want the doors installed back at their places if the gunner station is empty. HideNodeName does exactly what I need, but accepts only one node entry and I need to remove 4 doors. What I did was adding a weapon station for each door and loading a dummy "remove door" weapon each time I wanted to use a door gunner. It works, but... I kinda don't like that you have to manually remove the doors...

Currently I have this:

[GunnerL]
SystemType=WEAPON_STATION
StationID=6
StationGroupID=3
StationType=EXTERNAL
GunGroup=7
AttachmentPosition=-0.85,0.8,0.85
AttachmentAngles=0.0,0.0,0.0
DiameterLimit=0.35
LengthLimit=3.0
LoadLimit=250.0
AllowedWeaponClass=GP
AttachmentType=USAF,USN,NATO,UK,USMC
PylonMass=2
SpecificStationCode=GUNNER_L
HideNodeName=LeftDoor
ShowFromCockpit=FALSE

I want to add some more nodes to the "HideNodeName" entry. I've tried:

HideNodeName[001]=LeftDoor
HideNodeName[002]=LeftDoor_Rear
HideNodeName[003]=RightDoor
HideNodeName[004]=RightDoor_Rear

HideNodeName[000]=LeftDoor
HideNodeName[001]=LeftDoor_Rear
HideNodeName[002]=RightDoor
HideNodeName[003]=RightDoor_Rear

HideNodeName=LeftDoor, LeftDoor_Rear, RightDoor, RightDoor_Rear

...but no joy. I guess it doesn't accept arrays. Is it possible to hide more than one node, when I load something in the weapon station?

Currently I am using this workaround:

[GunnerL]
SystemType=WEAPON_STATION
StationID=6
StationGroupID=3
StationType=EXTERNAL
GunGroup=7
AttachmentPosition=-0.85,0.8,0.85
AttachmentAngles=0.0,0.0,0.0
DiameterLimit=0.35
LengthLimit=3.0
LoadLimit=250.0
AllowedWeaponClass=GP
AttachmentType=USAF,USN,NATO,UK,USMC
PylonMass=2
SpecificStationCode=GUNNER_L
ShowFromCockpit=FALSE

[GunnerR]
SystemType=WEAPON_STATION
StationID=7
StationGroupID=3
StationType=EXTERNAL
GunGroup=7
AttachmentPosition=0.85,0.8,0.85
AttachmentAngles=0.0,0.0,0.0
DiameterLimit=0.35
LengthLimit=3.0
LoadLimit=250.0
AllowedWeaponClass=GP
AttachmentType=USAF,USN,NATO,UK,USMC
PylonMass=2
SpecificStationCode=GUNNER_R
ShowFromCockpit=FALSE

[RemoveDoorL]
SystemType=WEAPON_STATION
StationID=8
StationGroupID=5
StationType=EXTERNAL
GunGroup=7
AttachmentPosition=-0.85,0.9,0.85
AttachmentAngles=0.0,0.0,0.0
DiameterLimit=0.35
LengthLimit=3.0
LoadLimit=250.0
AllowedWeaponClass=EP
AttachmentType=USAF,USN,NATO,UK,USMC
PylonMass=0
SpecificStationCode=RemoveDoor
HideNodeName=LeftDoor

[RemoveDoorLR]
SystemType=WEAPON_STATION
StationID=9
StationGroupID=5
StationType=EXTERNAL
GunGroup=7
AttachmentPosition=-0.85,0.9,0.85
AttachmentAngles=0.0,0.0,0.0
DiameterLimit=0.35
LengthLimit=3.0
LoadLimit=250.0
AllowedWeaponClass=EP
AttachmentType=USAF,USN,NATO,UK,USMC
PylonMass=0
SpecificStationCode=RemoveDoor
HideNodeName=LeftDoor_Rear

[RemoveDoorR]
SystemType=WEAPON_STATION
StationID=10
StationGroupID=5
StationType=EXTERNAL
GunGroup=7
AttachmentPosition=0.85,0.9,0.85
AttachmentAngles=0.0,0.0,0.0
DiameterLimit=0.35
LengthLimit=3.0
LoadLimit=250.0
AllowedWeaponClass=EP
AttachmentType=USAF,USN,NATO,UK,USMC
PylonMass=0
SpecificStationCode=RemoveDoor
HideNodeName=RightDoor

[RemoveDoorRR]
SystemType=WEAPON_STATION
StationID=11
StationGroupID=5
StationType=EXTERNAL
GunGroup=7
AttachmentPosition=0.85,0.9,0.85
AttachmentAngles=0.0,0.0,0.0
DiameterLimit=0.35
LengthLimit=3.0
LoadLimit=250.0
AllowedWeaponClass=EP
AttachmentType=USAF,USN,NATO,UK,USMC
PylonMass=0
SpecificStationCode=RemoveDoor
HideNodeName=RightDoor_Rear

but I am looking for a more elegant solution.

I don't think it was service related. Judging by my experience with Russian/East European factories and repair facilities, it was entirely dependant on what kind of paint was currently available in storage. Economic situation in these parts of the world wasn't very bright in the 90s, so no one really cared about paintjob uniformity within the squadron.

Snailman, grey was often used on MiG-29 and MiG-23 too.

I see... I was under the impression you had the source 3ds max file.

Actually MiG-15/17's attitude indicator is quite different from that used on the more modern Russian jets. It is somewhat similar to the western approach, but verticaly inverted. The sphere is fixed relative to the ground and the aircraft "rotates" around it, so when you pitch up, you see more of the bottom half of the sphere. That's why the top is painted brown and the bottom - blue. We've discussed this earlier in the SF1 forums:
 
 

You know the funny thing about this whole discussion is that even as a western-trained flyer, I can see why this was done from an engineering standpoint.

Now, in the ADI that's being discussed, the idea is that the horizon on the 'ball' is ALWAYS level with the horizon on the planet. In 2 axes (roll and pitch) control, that makes perfect sense. If you think about the ball being 'fixed' in space, and the aircraft rotating around it, it makes sense why it reads the way it does.

It's funny, but when you think about western designed ADIs, they do the same thing...but in only one axis.

Think about it. A western 'ball' has the blue on top, brown on bottom...when you roll, the ball rolls away so it's always level with the horizon, exactly the same as a eastern 'ball'. The horizon's match (inner and outer).

However, when you pitch, the ball 'over rotates' to give you the pitch picture needed. An example...if you pitch 10 degrees nose high, the ball 'pitches' 10 degrees relative to the aircraft datum line...meaning the ball actually pitches 20 degrees upward relative to the horizon.

Which would make no sense on first reading of it, until you thought about it for a bit.

With the Soviet design, at least it's consistent in both axes.

Ironically, the early Su-27 HUD did the exact opposite of western designs. It behaves like you'd expect in the pitch axis, but 'over rotates' in the roll axis...ie in 90 degrees of bank, the aircraft symbol is 180 degrees to the horizon.

Weird stuff I think about while jogging...

FastCargo

Something like this?

rus_ships.7z

Trooper, I recollect you posting pics of very nicely done repaint of Marcelo's pit, is that the one by chance?

Yes, it is. YEYEYE realeased a much better model, so I never bothered to finish mine.

By the way, is there any chance of talking you into making some small modifications to your MiG-23 cockpits? Like adding the remaining warning lights and making some changes to the weapon stations panel?

Nice work, mate! It reminds me of an old mod for Marcelo's Su-27 pit, I started a long time ago. I can send you my files, if you think you can find any use for them.

 

I don't know if in the real life this is the case of the Fulcrum technology.

The "radar screen" actually displays the same image as the HUD. There are some options for target decluttering and that's all. It was also intended to display some tactical datalinked data, but AFAIK that was never implemented (it was used on Su-27 though).