mppd

File Name: 56th SOW repaint for the Razbam Skyraider Volume 2 File Submitter: mppd File Submitted: 25 Aug 2007 File Category: A-1 Here is my repaint of the Razbam A-1H Skyraider Package Volume 2, and my first contribution to the WOV modding community. It contains no proprietary files from the payware package, only my art and ini files (but not including the A-1H_data.ini file). Please read the enclosed Readme to add it. A total of 53 historically correct aircraft are included with at least 16 aircraft for each of the three squadrons at NKP: White Belly A-1Hs TC 39-665 TC 39-780..."Firebird" TC 37-597..."Miss Judy" TC 34-609 TC 34-472 TC 34-526 TC 34-570 TC 39-738 TC 35-472 TC 37-543 TC 39-618..."Magnet Ass" TC 34-526..."Little Prince" TC 39-608..."Blood, Sweat & Tears" TC 34-494 TC 34-257..."Hell Bender" TC 39-791 TC 37-616 TS 34-609 TS 39-638..."Miss Noreen" TS 39-789 TT 39-791 TT 34-555 TT 37-593..."The Mighty Red Baron" TT 34-570 TT 35-275 TT 37-517 TT 35-314 TT 35-257 TT 34-471 TT 37-539 TT 37-543 TT 39-668 TT 39-678 TT 39-690 TT 39-713 TT 34-508 Black Belly A-1Hs TC 39-730 TC 35-257 TC 39-770 TC 37-618 TS 37-628..."Balls A Fire" TS 34-551 TS 34-609 TS 34-565 TS 39-799 TS 39-789 TS 39-730 TS 39-579 TS 37-546 TS 37-524..."Nancy Lou" TS 35-356 TS 35-336 TS 34-555 I have more in the works if this is of interest to Skyraider fans. Mike Druzolowski Click here to download this file

Not sure what you are using for a graphics program, but I would say the pros are using any version of Adobe Photoshop. (I still use the old version 4.0 - it still works fine for my flight sim art needs). I take any photo scan or created piece of art, and save it as a 32-bit TGA format. In Photoshop I open up the Channels window, and when I click on the last (Alpha) channel, the color palette for foreground/background is black and white. Go to the normal image, select the actual art part of the decal to appear, go to the Alpha channel and knock out that area in white on the black background. The knocked out area will be your decal, the black background area will not appear. Make sure that the art canvas area is square and leaves an un-used border of at least 4 pixels or so or you can get goofy results. Oh, I have also found that some of you knocked-out art area seems to bleed into your decal area, so it works best for me if my background area matches your aircraft texture. From descriptions in this forum, not so easy in Paintshop Pro or Corel. Not possible in real basic programs like Paint... Mike D.

I also recommend the Razbam A-1H/J package. It looks great, flies super and the cockpit looks great also. It has been the item I am flying most lately, and also spending some time playing with textures and markings. Mike Druzolowski

I have no working knowledge of 3-D modelling, but can anyone come up with a centerline tank for the A-1 without the fins? I know, a minor detail... Thanks, Mike Druzolowski

Has anyone else noticed that these birds tend to take off like a shot? Most can be airborne in 4 seconds. Any easy way to slow this down? Reducing engine line "ThrottleRate" in data.ini has no effect. How about increasing wheel drag a bit? I know this is pretty subjective, but drag seems less than I think it could be (like when descending to land). Anyone try a cross-control slip? Airspeed doesn't seem to bleed off much like in a real light single. Increasing all drag and increasing corresponding engine power to bring airspeeds back up would probably really foul up the flight model...and would probably not help the super takeoff abaility. Tried both normal and hard modes. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks, Mike Druzolowski

I extracted the HUDDATA.INI to make changes as I saw fit, (set text size to 10pt for info in lower left corner of screen, ideal for the 800x600 res and small monitor I use), however when giving wingman commands, the comms text size in the upper left corner is much smaller. Can this be adjusted? Thanks to anyone who can help, Mike Druzolowski

Also new to this sim, but has anyone created missions/skins based on the movie? Hey, I know it was just a movie, but I just loved all those lozenge camoed birds. How about George P. behind those goggles too! Thanks, Mike Druzolowski

Thanks ever so much tou you guys! i did a search but could not come up with anything! Nothing but good things to say about the entire flight sim community. My best, Mike D.

Sundowner, What are you using for skins on your F-4s? Is this a hi-res skin available here? They look great. How about the decals too. You should release them as a package or something! Mike Druzolowski Phantoms Forever!

Sorry if I'm the only one who doesn't know this, but didn't I see once how to exclude a specific weapon from showing up in the drop-down list by excluding it from the specific aircraft data.ini? I know you can change the attachment type, weapon start/end year. I tried a few added lines to the attachment type line, like "no_AIM-4D", etc. but this isn't doing it. Am I mistaken on this? Second weapons question..Can I modify something to allow 2-3 rocket pods to load on a TER/MER? As the sim is right now, you may only load a rocket pod directly to a pylon, but it was typical to load 2-3 on an F-4 intermediate pylon TER or an outboard MER. Can this be done? Thanks everyone. Mike Druzolowski

Recently downloaded Kesselbrut's Infantry Pack to WOV. The troops look great, show up in missions, have weapons INI/dat installed as suppled in the mod (plus the 2005 weapons pack), but no one is shooting...I'm running WOV after the third patch (before the first "all-inclusive patch" which slows the frame rates of my meager system...) You can troll low and slow with no worry about getting hit, the bad guys simply ignore me? What am I doing wrong? Thanks, Mike Druzolowski

Bingo! I changed the INI files to be "targettype=air_and_ground" and now they are throwing up a wall of lead! Thanks very much, Mike D.

Just wanted to add my own two cents worth on this subject. I am a confirmed Vietnam-era aviation enthusiast and historian, not a real pilot, and Wings over Vietnam is really the perfect sim for me. Its modability is just outstanding, it's got a smooth flying flight model, super graphics, and runs great on a modest system like mine. I gladly purchased a copy of Yankee Air Pirates, as it seemed like a great idea that I certainly have not had the time to try to duplicate, working two jobs lately. Have not had the chance to install it yet, but if I saw the exact same thing in a boxed CD at Best Buy I'd have bought it in a heartbeat! Mike Druzolowski

Please post how you did it! Also, where did you find the B-52 D in SEA camo for SFP1, or is this from WOV? Mike D. mppd@worldnet.att.net