mppd

I was talking to someone about this the other day, but could not find an answer in the Knowledge Base or on the Third Wire Forums. What is the maximum number of targetlist areas allowable, and is there a known limit as to how many objects can be permanently placed on the map? Could one place an extra hundred or so random objects say in Route Pak One to do armed recon on instead of having to place them in individual missions? Thanks everyone, Mike D.

Holy smokes! TK basically said that there is no upper limit..is that mind boggling or what? Thanks again, Mike

Excellent! When the F-102A appears on the scene for the TW series, I'll be able to run intercepts with the 57th FIS from Keflavik on Soviet birds. Is there a TU-95 available yet? Thanks for the efforts, Mike D.

Is there a way to create a small add-on part which will "animate" (turn on or off) with a key command? I'm thinking of the F-4 refueling door on the fuselage spine... Not sure I have seen this done before, Thanks, Mike D.

Thanks for the reply - it seemed like an interesting idea which could open up even more possibilities. I am still amazed at what has been done by all the modders here! It is all appreciated, that's for sure. I guess I'm just impatient - the word is that the Mirage Factory is redoing all of the early F-4s, and I just hope that some of the things we are missing from the original WOV models will be included. Mike

Prowler posted a screenshot of the Razbam offering which looks just about complete except for textures. I also know of two others in various stages of completion. I'm afraid that whoever gets the first one out will mean the death of the others! I can't wait - it is still my all time favorite airplane. Mike D.

Upn a second look at the data.ini file - this is already a feature built into the .LOD file and a specified animation feature (just like the opening canopies) and not an add-on part. So...my original question stands - can an add-on part be made to appear/disappear via the data.ini file? thanks, Mike

Ummm, yeah, like that...I downloaded it, but have not installed it yet. See, it was such a good idea that someone else thought it up first! Thanks, Mike D.

I've been trolling around the Net and have not been able to find a resonably priced copy of this program, which I guess is the only one to get since it is required to be able to convert any other 3D item into WOV use. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks, Mike D.

Thanks for the info. I downloaded a copy of GMax today to play with. There is just something about asking someone else to convert a file for you, after they already spent a fortune on a piece of software themselves... I should be able to figure GMax out, I used to do it for a living when i had a real job. Thanks again, Mike

BadFrank found another mistake in the decals.ini for this. The two tape lite decals need a rotation of 0.0 instead of 4.0 ([Decal009] and [Decal010]). Download the revised file, or just make the text edit yourself. Sorry everyone - this decal project has gone thru an evolution, and it's too easy to have old files creep into the project. Hey, at least someone is looking at the file! Mike D.

Kevin, where can I get one of those updated Ds? Some of the Cs and Ds in Thailand had slick radomes with no IR seeker/RHAW housing, just like the birds sold to Iran. Hope the inboard leading edge flaps move like the B model!! A fix for the C and D LE flaps are driving me crazy - no one has anything to offer. I suggested an add-on 3D part for the C and D housing to fit over the F-4B IR sensor housing, and then live with the flat wing and thin MLG tires of the B model. I am not a 3D artist myself, but no one is interested in this idea. Mike

For anyone interested, I updated the textures with a few minor fixes pointed out by BadFrank. Thanks. Mike

Thanks, FastCargo did the hard part. The art was just a bunch of repetition. I'm doing all the rest just so I can have them all - and will share with anyone else who is interested. Next week probably. Mike

Well, was trying to hex edit an LOD file and came up with the ultimate stealth technology aircraft...

I was seeing if it was possible to hex-edit the F-4D.LOD to make the inner leading edge flaps move as it does on the F-4B, as all three models (F-4B/C/D) all have 3-piece leading edge flaps which move. I have not at all been successful with this. Has anyone come up with a fix for this. The F-4C and D have no mesh name part for this inner flap as the F-4B.LOD does. I have sent a couple of PMs out to see if anyone has come up with a fix for this that they'd like to share. I would pay to have a C and D model Phantom with 3-piece slats which move. I could even live with the thin wing/main gear tires of the B if someone could make a bulge under the nose to look like a D-model. Please give me a shout if anyone has a fix for this . This is the F-4B.LOD used as a D (with incorrect nose): Thanks, Mike D.

Thanks again, you're the best! MPD

Wags, One more bothersome question to you. I read a review once when the Strike Fighters series first came out (by someone with F-4 experience) that he thought that the airplanes did not have enough apparent drag when the power was cut. Does this seem to be an issue to you? Thanks again for all of the input, I'm sure everyone here appreciates your time. Mike D. again

Very nice, looking forward to another ADC bird (where my aviation interest really started). Would love to do some skins for this plane. Mike D.

Wags, One last question or two for now. I assume you climbout from the combat zone to a higher altitude for a more favorable fuel use rate - no ordnance now - to say 25-30,000 ft or so. (Is that right?) At what point do you begin the letdown to a slower airspeed and eventual pattern altitude. (No controller in the sim to tell you to). What kind of descent rate? Maybe I should break out and dust off that old F-4C Dash One I own and see if I can figure out some of what's in there and how it can be applied to this flight sim! Thanks a million, you've already helped make it more real already... Mike D.

Wag, Thanks again for the response, you are very kind. Formation takeoffs in twos should be workable in a mission flying as wingman, but the wingies will wait for you to get into the air if you fly as lead in the sim. Single ship landings are same as lead, but as No. 2 I guess you could try to hang on! I have spent way too much time modding textures and decals instead of flying this sim - now with 100 YAP missions on my PC I'm way overdue! Thanks again, and by all means keep posting anything that can help make this sim more real than it already is! Mike

Wag, Thanks again taking the time to write about all this. I know that it's probably a stretch trying to imagine a flight simulation being immersive enough to "feel" like you're in the real thing for a real world pilot of an F-4, and comparing joystick/rudder inputs to real-world controls that give real feedback and G- forces. My own real-world flying experiences translate to a couple of flights in the left seat of a Piper Cherokee and a Taylorcraft in the 70s. When you can, could you make a couple of comments about after-takeoff and then landing approaches in combat with the F-4. What did you guys use for power settings on the climbout - did you pitch for airspeed, or use a specific pitch angle? Seems the sim has the AI birds climbing out at rediculous AOAs, and no one waits for the flight to form up. I think that missions should be designed to allow the flight to catch up easier and at much more shallow climb angles than most use. How about landings - did you guys use the overhead tactical approach we always see at stateside airports, or did you come straight in? Another thing really missing is a TACAN system within the sim, which would make navigation a little more realistic. But alas, TK made it a "lite" sim. Thanks again for everything, Mike D.

I'm about a third of the way thru this with markings and decals for every F-4D which flew in Thailand with the AN/ARN-92 LORAN-D Chelton towelrack antenna (at least one unit each, many flew with several different squadrons). The antenna itself is the work of FastCargo, and a very nice piece or work it is! Anyone wishing to share any photo scans of any of these birds that they might have, please post or PM me and we'll include them in the project along with credit for the help. Thanks, Mike Druzolowski

I'm thinking that the bulged housing would fit right over the smaller square housing that comes with the stock WOV F-4D. Dimensions would be tough to obtain - but there are a number of photos that I could send you. Another mod would be the AN/ARN-101 housing on the aft fuselage spine of late model F-4Es and RF-4Cs - but this is a post Vietnam era modification of course. Lots of little do-dads that would be slick. I may have to get a copy of this 3D program and then try to figure out how to use it! Mike

No expert here, but I found that in the latest patched version of WOV, that F-4B flight model seems very unstable to me. An F-4C driver that I knew who flew with the Michigan ANG said that the F-4 was very stable at lower altitudes, that it took no finess to take off, and that at above 30,000 the airplane was barely able to get out of its own way - never mind being able to tangle with maneuvering migs. Those were his opinions a least. I find the MF F-4G is very stable, and worth a look from someone with real Phantom flight experience. Mike D.