mppd

Hey, Come on Frank, just having a little fun. All friends here! Actually I'll try to set up some decal templates for serials for the A-1E. If someone else gets to a new skin before me that's great, I'll release a serial decals only mod. Just needed a little push to get back to the hobby after the loss of my Sam. Mike D.

Another vote here. Had an urge to try a WW2 sim again the other day, finally got CFS3 to work but not impressed. I bought BofB2 as a download online from Shockwave about a week ago, and it's the greatest thing since sliced bread! Multi-skin patch is superb. Flight model seemed a little twichy and sensitive for my present (interim) joystick, but the more I fly it, the better it feels. Highly recommended. Mike D.

Nicky, Why thanks so much for the compliments! I'll try to get going on it but it looks like Corktip will beat me to it. I'll probably work on some real serial number decals for starters. (Oh, and you look very pretty from the pics in your profile by the way). Hope the moderators don't edit that out, it was only meant as a polite compliment on the side! Mike D.

Very nice job. I took a little bit of saturation out of the greens, but that could be just the way my old monitor is displaying colors. Nice work - look forward to some more. (I was in the process of repainting a hun in camo colors, but I think that can safely be abandoned now with these skins available now!) Thanks again, Mike D.

Very nice! I was hoping to get to a repaint myself, but a family member recently passed away, and just could not find the time. Did No. 220 sqdn carry any different markings? I cannot even locate a photo of them. Thanks again, and can't wait to see the skin for download, Mike D.

Sorry Nicky, I am still hoping to start this project - I have markings and serial numbers lined up, but recent events at home have taken up a bit of time lately. I still want to do these though, both grey and camo. Are you in the military by the way? First gal I ever knew who was into flight sims! Mike D.

Downloaded the F-86F-40 the other day, and was trying a few things. (Beautiful acft and skins by the way - nice job) Can someone tell me why, in a single mission, all the weapons available disappear (except for the wing tanks) when one changes the NationName= in the acft .ini file from JAPAN to an odd nation (like PAKISTAN) but all reappear when that is replaced by JAPAN again, or USAF for that matter? I even added Exported=TRUE and ExportStartYear=1957 for a 1971 mission date. I would have expected the available stores to still be available no matter what nation is put there. The attachment type remains unchanged of course in the WEAPONDATA.INI and for each pylon in the acft data.ini? Just curious, does not seem to add up or am I missing something...? Mike D.

Well, thanks for all the effort, I really appreciate it...BUT... I still don't get it. Some type of mental block or something. Where is it coded that Paki takes WP wpns? I currently have the F-86F-40 with NationName=USAF, the hardpouint stations with AttachmentType=NATO,USAF,Pakistan and it works fine. Just for chuckles I cut and pasted all of the hardpoint data from this bird into the RAF nationname Sabre Mk4 - and open SFP1 and NO weapons show up!!! Changed the nantioname to USAF - nothing...changed it to Pakistan...nothing...tried RAF again...nothing! Obviously I'm missing something. I assumed you could cut and paste all of the hardpoint data from one bird to another (say all of the F-4D hardpoint info) onto an F-86, and you should be able to load sparrows, etc. (obviously they would be hanging in space with no pylon I would think) but I guess I really don't understand tthe mechanics of this... Mike

Thanks for the replies you guys. As I said, I've downloaded literally EVERYTHING to do with the theater, just have not poked thru it all yet. Found the ACIG site long ago, they list lots of serial number assignments for both sides as well during the 71 war. Ghostrider, can't wait for the release of your package! It will sure save me hours of work doing skins! I don't mind flying over the stock desert terrain for a while till something better comes along. Can I do anything to help you? Anyone have a copy of the Air Enthusiast articals on the Indian AF Mig-21s and the 1971 war? It had several good photos and , my copy was destroyed. I'd pay for a scanned copy of the articals by anyone who could share it! Mike D.

Thanks for the info. By all means, please, please release the package! The Type 77 I tried was the Eagles Campaign release, I only now see Howling's version had it installed already! Any chance I could get the fixed canopy bitmap? I was going to find it myself tomorrow on my day off, but if already done...! Thanks again, Mike D.

I'm still getting my feet wet with campaign files, but I shamelessly modified Melassal's Fiza'ya Eagles campaign into an Indian AF player side, just to try figure out how some of the campaign values work. I have poked thru all of the past messages for Campaign tutorial info. I currently have it flying over the stock desert terrain as Melassal did. I added the Marut with its two squadrons (just to play with my flight model). I finally figured out how to add the gunpod to the Mig-21FL (Type 77) and tweaked its flight model. Moving thru all of the different acft one by one now. Am playing with a new Sabre Mk.4 flight model now. Were these modified with AIM-9B rails/pylons? Ghostrider, I'd love to see your markings pack. Could you release it for all of us to enjoy? I have downloaded EVERYTHING anyone has ever made which could apply to the 1971 war. Lots of schemes to enjoy. Perhaps with it out for everyone, someone with the ability I lack can come up with a terrain. I'm really looking for all of the Mig-21 markings now for starters. Thanks, Mike Druzolowski

As I said, if everyone can hold their political views to themselves and just look at it as what it is intended to be - a clash of neat 60s vintage aircraft set in a historical setting - both 1971 and 1965, fly your favorite squadron (if you have one) and aircraft. I have been researching squadrons and markings and am about 80% perhaps for the 71 match-up. Markings info on the 65 conflict is more difficult to come by. Tell me you wouldn't want to either be flying that tiger-striped Type 77 (Mig-21FL - cum PFM) or have it in your sights, as the case may be? Anyone know what sqdn it was assigned to? I remember an Air International artical long ago that I no longer have (after a flood destroyed much of my aviation collection in my cellar) which showed photos of it, plus lots of neat hasty camo applied to Indian Migs and SU-7s. But how about a terrain? I saw screenies here some time (years?) ago which looked absolutely breathtaking! Somebody has it and is sitting on it. Will have to go thru back messages here or at SimHQ to find out who, and what it would take to shake it loose. I have melassal's Fiza'ya Eagles campaign installed and it is a great package for starters, but limited as to historical IAF sqdns and the stock SFP1 desert terrain and targets. Mike

I have sent out a few PMs trying to see if there is any interest in putting some life back into an accurate Ind-Pakistan campaign. Is anyone working on this and is looking for some help? The idea could use a new terrain - which I believe was started some time ago. Anyone want to share what they have so far? This is a neat theater with great match-ups of 60s vintage fighters, playable from either side if one has no political ties to either country! Thanks, Mike Druzolowski

Did someone post an alternative F-104A flight model? Can't locate it thru search functions on the site. Can someone help? Thanks, Mike D.

I think you guys are off a bit. I have read some accounts that the airplane was not such a bad sort to fly, or in a fight. Yes it takes off and lands very fast, yes the preferred tactic is bounce-n-zoom, no it will not turn with a mig-17, etc. but despite the small wing area, the airplane actually flies pretty well (or so I've read). The missile with a man in it phrase I would think refers to its dynamic performance for the late 50s - unmatched thrust-to-weight for the time period, superb climb, and more airspeed than you knew what to do with...but to think that it was such a dog in a turning fight because of the planform - I do not think is historically accurate. Hang fuel tanks on the wings and sling a couple of 750 lb bombs under it (as it was used out of Udorn in Southeast Asia) and it would probably fly like a truck. But in clean config with a couple of AIM-9Bs on the wingtips (as it was used for airfield defense at Da Nang) and by ADC at Westover, Hamilton, Webb and Homestead for point interception of incoming stuff from over water, I think that it was a serious interceptor. Also deployed to Europe during the Berlin Crisis and to Taiwan after the sabre rattling there. Just my two cents worth. Thanks for the files search also by the way. Mike

Cute... No, seriously, I thought I saw a post of a different flight model that was not necessarily accurate, but felt better. Cannot locate it for the life of me. Did I imagine it? Mike

I agree, we could really use an F-100C. WOV provides markings for the Air Guard units which were activated and deployed to Vietnam in 1968, but they were 100Cs not Ds. Very nice work on the Hun skins by the way, much appreciated by everyone. Curious why so many folks use bitmaps for so many markings though (such as the U.S. AIR FORCE, national insig, etc.) instead of higher-res decals? I sort of like the look of the decals from within the simulation - they don't blur as much as the aircraft angles away from the external viewpoint. Just curious, and thanks again for the nice work. Mike Druzolowski

Pretty sure the Mass ANG at Otis never marked their birds. I have one 8x10 glossy and its camoed with a serial number only. They probably found out the Huns wre going in a few months with the transition to the intercept mission and never marked up the birds with even a state name. I have serial numbers for all of them at Otis though from microfilm records from Maxwell I bought years ago. Mike D.

The Conn ANG flew F-100As in the intercept mission with AIM-9Bs until late 1965 conversion to deuces. In the spring of 1972 the 102s went to the boneyard and the unit picked up camouflaged F-100Ds from the TAC units at Luke and Cannon that were phasing the Hun out. (The Mass ANG at Barnes picked up 100s from the 35th TFW at Phan Rang, you could see the recently painted over "V_" tailcodes). Otis picked up 100Ds also for a few months before getting 106s in June 1972. The F-100A on display at the Air Museum I believe sat as a wreck on the grass at the base for years, and was restored by the Conn ANG guys. I have slides of it sitting in the sun in front of their maint hangar before it went to the museum I believe in 1979 - right when the 103rd received the ANG's first A-10s. Let me scan it and I'll post it here. Mike D.

In 1973-74 I was in my last year of high school, with several friends at the Connecticut ANG (with Huns at the time). I used to hang around the base every weekend, knew some of the maintenance guys, got to sit in the airplanes and took tons of photos. Sat with the mobile unit, watched the last chance checks. Lots of great memories. (Boy have things changed since those days). I was hanging around the life support shop one Saturday when a civilian, who had done some favor for the group C.O. I think, was given a back seat ride in an F model. I was there when they suited him up, and was there an hour later when they got back from the flight. Never will forget the smiles and look of absolute joy on his face from the experience. They did a loop with a 4-G pull-out they said. Never did join the Guard, but still miss the sound of those afterburning J57s from those days. The Hun will remain one of my all time favorites. Mike Druzolowski

What...not one comment from anyone? This looks like a great add-on! I am particularly fond of Marine Phantoms in Vietnam, and can't wait to set some time aside to install and try this. I know the effort that goes into putting missions together - I have not been very sucessful in that area. Can't wait for more like it. I especially appreciate the historical perspective. Thanks again for your efforts. Mike Druzolowski

Sorry, the copy I have is in paper and print. Can scan anything of interest. I'll check what I have on the alaskan units for sure. I find that adding a bit of blue tint makes the ADC grey look more like it appears under a blue sky in the sun, RGB values be damned. Used to do the same thing for the paints for 1/72 plastic kits. Kevin do I have your E-mail address to send you some stuff? I had to get a new hard drive for my home PC and may have lost some info. Mike Druzolowski

O.K. I'm in. Favorite is the F-102A Delta Dagger (watched them taxi by and fly from the Connecticut ANG in 1971-72), next F-4s and F-105s I think. Miss those old birds in 3-tone SEA camo. Still waiting for someone to make a WOV/SFP1 deuce - I have tons of serial assgnments and photos for reference. Mike Druzolowski

Kevin, I have a copy of this also: http://www.historicaviation.com/historicav...fwAAARPi)?ID=82

Super! Nice to see all the F-89 variants. Sorry, have been busy with work and computer repair issues. Still need to get some slides scanned for you. Any unit in particular that you are looking for? Mike D.