stingray77

Yup, that fixed it! Thanks!

Thanks for your input - helped me a lot!

Okay, more testing and screenies (I know - everybody loves them! ) The AC-130 didn't show those very strange shadows - but the tanks did not cast shadows either... (Something you can do about? Or is it my J-files not perfectly fitting?) The C-130A is perfect (but it doesn't carry any tanks - at least not in my test-layout) - and what a BEAUTIFUL texture she has! (I once built a plastic model with about the same looks......) Same with the E-model - and that one even has the tanks casting shadows, too! Now, what the **** is THAT? But enough of testing now - let's get back flying my campaign....... Later, buddies!

Nope - really seems to be some glitch... See the two screenies (on both, my wingman and my own plane) with the original .shd-data in the .INI... Please (try to) take this up. I do not know how this is with the other Herc's - by now I only tried the AC-130_SP... Thanks for all your support!

Yup, went flawlessly (well, almost)... One hint and a glitch found. The hint: I just copied all the LOD and SHD from the C130J .INI and put them into the 4 .INIs to overwrite the existing data... There's a big difference only in the "Special's" (AC-130A_SP) INI - the shadows are different: [shadow] CastShadow=TRUE ShadowCastDist=10000 MaxVisibleDistance=500 this is what the others have: [shadow] CastShadow=TRUE ShadowLOD=C-130A_shadow.shd ShadowType=1 ShadowCastDist=10000 MaxVisibleDistance=500 ...somewhat more contents and the link to the .SHD... Is this intentionally or a mistake? As said: I overwrote the original (kept a back-up of course! ) - does this maybe have to do with the glitch, I ran into? Here it comes: See the strange shadow/negative shadow from the "bombs" on the wings to their respective position in the shadow... Can I remedy this by changing back to the "original" (lesser) INI (I will try in a minute), or is this some bug you need to address to?

Let me pick up Eric's post #19 from the "File Announcement" area here (not to spoil that one more than necessary). I want to "activate" the A/C130's from the "Extra_Aircraft" without having access to the previous TW games where I need to get some data from. Eric proposed to download this C-130J http://forum.combata...s&showfile=1703 instead and said "You'll need to edit the main .INI file for each of the A/C-130 variants so that they point to the LODs and .SHD files from that package, as they're named slightly differently." That's where I am. I can open the A/C130 .INI-files from the "Extra_Aircraft" like this: [AircraftData] AircraftFullName=AC-130A Spectre AircraftShortName=AC-130 AircraftDataFile=AC-130A_data.ini LoadoutFile=AC-130A_loadout.ini UserList=AC-130A_USERLIST.INI CockpitDataFile=AC-130A_cockpit.ini HangarScreen=AC-130A_hangar.bmp LoadingScreen=AC-130A_Loading.bmp LoadoutImage=AC-130A_loadout.tga LoadoutFile=AC-130A_loadout.ini AvionicsDLL=Avionics60.dll AvionicsDataFilename=AC-130A_avionics.ini [LOD001] Filename=C-130A.lod Distance=150 [LOD002] Filename=C-130A_lod002.lod Distance=350 [LOD003] Filename=C-130A_lod003.lod Distance=500 [LOD004] Filename=C-130A_lod004.lod Distance=1000 [LOD005] Filename=C-130A_lod005.lod Distance=8000 [shadow] CastShadow=TRUE ShadowLOD=C-130A_shadow.shd ShadowType=1 ShadowCastDist=10000 MaxVisibleDistance=500 [TextureSet001] Directory=USAFSEAcamo Name=USAF SEA Camo Nation=USAF Specular=0.60 Glossiness=0.40 Reflection=0.40 Okay, now what exactly do I need to change and how? I guess I' need to exchange the data marked bold above with some "values" from the downloaded aircraft - but which? In the downloaded [1703]C_130J, I find this in the main .INI: [AircraftData] AircraftFullName=C-130J Hercules AircraftDataFile=C-130J_data.ini LoadoutFile=C-130J_loadout.ini CockpitDataFile=A-4F_cockpit.ini HangarScreen=C-130J_hangar.bmp LoadoutImage=C-130J_loadout.bmp AvionicsDLL=Avionics60.dll AvionicsDataFilename=A-4F_avionics.ini LoadingScreen=C-130J_Loading.bmp [LOD001] Filename=C-130J.lod Distance=150 [LOD002] Filename=C-130J_lod002.lod Distance=350 [LOD003] Filename=C-130J_lod003.lod Distance=500 [LOD004] Filename=C-130J_lod004.lod Distance=1000 [LOD005] Filename=C-130J_lod005.lod Distance=8000 [shadow] CastShadow=TRUE ShadowLOD=C-130J_shadow.shd ShadowType=1 ShadowCastDist=10000 MaxVisibleDistance=500 [TextureSet001] Directory=RAAF37SQN Name=RAAF Low-Vis Grey Nation=Australia So shall I put in (example) "C-130J.lod" taken from the [1703] where the "C-130A.lod" was in the LOD001 and the others similarly? I guess I need to copy the LOD0001 and following from the [1703] into every of the Extra's variants then, too? Is THIS how it has to work? Willing to learn.....

Is there a key to open doors and/or canopies? I saw screenies showing them open, but cannot find anything in the manual.....

Nope - at least not in the A-7......

Phew, anyone to confirm the rattlesnake-RWR-sounds coming with the XP's Extra-sounds? Sounds like the real "Crotalus" - giving me the creeps....... If it's realistic I (of course) would like to keep it.... Any opinions?

That's strange - the "VPAFSilver1"-file should come/be generated by the (original) game... So, I do not know any reason, why you cannot get it. Taking a look into both "Texture Set"-files (J-6 and MiG-19S) both have the same contents - just copying it might work..... Good Luck!

Exactly my findings: there should be a folder "VPAFSilver1" in the J6 including a texture set, and all your other named files need to go to a folder "Pilots" in "objects"... Moving them there should do the job just like the optional download Eric mentions (but leave you without the "waste" in your "objects... ). Next I'll try the EA-6-fix (although I guess I won't be able to spot the difference......... So, never mind if I don't come back to report any "breakthrough" ).

I'll check when home later today....

'kay - at least something to try out...

Should be noted in the ReadMe's then, right? Hum, don't recall ever having read something on that... Too bad!

Is that one better/more fitting (in terms of realism) that the como'ed B from my link? Thanks for your input, Soulfreak!

Cannot check that right now, but can it be, that these are the files coming with the "Pilots"-folder to fix that OWL-problem? The file's names sound so VERY familiar to me....

Yeah, I am amazed, too! Very good job... Just had to fix that prob with the OWL..... Only thing I lost was my campaign-data - but as I only started it two days ago, it was not too much to grief over.... Started a new one already... And/but I have to do without the Extra A/C 130's. I don't have a source to get the needed .LOD and .SHD-data from... Thanks again!

Thanks for your reply - I'll wait and see, if Erikgen will take this up, or I'll address to him directly...

Ooops - well, we will see..... And (IF it occurs) a glitch to live with...

Oh, there's still one question left: I just started a Campain a few days ago. From where in the back-up can I restore my progress? Is there a "Campaign"-folder in my mods holding all the data (unfortunately I don't have it before me now), or are there other sources to copy data from?

copied from the "File Announcements" - guess it fits better in here! Hi Malibu43 - and Eric! Wow, now THAT reads promising... And from the first glimpse it appears that all the goodies from your Expansion Pack v1.0 seem to be in again (I was looking for "SF2-adapted" wideskies and green hell). Up to now I was running SF2V with only a few mods: - your XP v1.0 - sundowner's great Phantom-skins of that era and scene - F-100 "Pretty Penny" - A-5A and RA-5C Vigilante - RF-101 Voodoo ("Fly Them All" still to get implemented - I was reluctant to search for all the MiG's cockpits...) Sorry for this "newbie-questions", hope you can easily answer them: my approach to upgrading to your XP v2.0 would be 1) backing-up the existing "ThirdWire-folder" in my Vista's "Saved Games" to some other folder and deleting it from "Saved Games" 2) start SF2V anew (I think/hope, the freshly started game will create a new "basic/virgin" folder under "Saved Games" again - right?) 3) installing your XP v2.0 4) re-installing my a.m. mods except for your XP v1.0 ( - or can I just copy my F-4, F-100, A-5a, RA-5C and RF-101-files from the back-up? No, this would end in the result lots of things like "effects" and "weapons" coming with the add-ons missing, then... So, re-install is a must, I guess.) 5) re-installing my Pilot's data from the back-up 6) forget about anything that MIGHT have been in your XP v1.0... Guess there will be nothing anyway - at least nothing I would be able to spot.... Main difference to your installation guide is that I'd love to avoid re-installing the basic and patched SF2V (although this would be the "cleanest" solution) - because it takes quite a lot of time... I would try to and rely on the game itself creating a new/clean folder if nothing can be found in "Saved Games". (Well, I will find out when I try it this way this evening and can/will post the result...) Reading your description, I get it right, that only the planes denoted as "flyable" will really be flyable, right? Hum, when I add FOTI's A-6 cockpit not only to the A but to B and EA-6A/B, too, I should be able to fly those, too, right? Finally (and without having it already seen "in action") a big thanks, and for your work. Seeing that mass of added planes (Skyraider! Intruder! Herc! Provider! Bronco!) I hardly miss anything (except for choppers, maybe ) anymore. Oh, one proposal, if I may: I was lacking the possibility to create own missions starting from the carrier's deck (all my "own" flights take of from shore AB runways) - it THIS something that could be added in a mod like your's maybe? Would be the "final touch" for me! Thanks again and very much looking forward to seeing it this evening Oliver edit: you can find the answer to my post in the "File Announcements"!

When SF2 ist started in Vista for the first time, there is a folder "ThirdWire/StrikeFighters2" generated in your (user's!!!) drive under "Saved Games". In there you find a folder "objects" which holds addt'l aircraft and decals... Adding new aircraft and skins is as easy as it gets.

Hum, wouldn't it be possible/a way out if one just installed v2 over the existing files (a backup of the old folder should be a no-brainer)? Any file already existing would be asked if it shall be overwritten, right? I guess it would be quite troublesome to identify all those mods that came with v1, as they have been extracted into all those folders (like "objects" for example) already... Anyhow: I am already VERY curious what will be in your v2!

Oh, must have been sleeping: it's you yourself (malibu43) working on this new enhancement....... So, is it fair to say both will fairly well work together/v2.0 will be an "easy dub-install" to v1.0? Would be awesome..

Can you say something how well your enhancement might work with malibu43's great SF2V Air and Ground War Expansion Pack v1.0 already installed?