mppd

Thank you very much for taking the time, it is greatly appreciated. I'll try to keep this in mind. Mike

Sorry, I see no such explanation, just the inquiry about fixing it. I was looking for specific information as to why it appears. But that's O.K. thanks anyway. I'll try and figure it out for myself.

Can anyone please tell me what causes this and how the file must be altered to eliminate a line like this?? Thanks, Mike D.

Happy happy birthday to you my friend. Hope it's the best one yet. Mike D.

Just bought all new CH Products goodies today - is there an "Idiot's Guide" to programming this thing??? (The old SpeedKeys utility seemed easier to understand for the feeble minded). Thanks, Mike D.

The flare effects as I have them for pre-SF2 seem to poop out once they hit the ground. Some flares were made to act as markers - they'd be dropped near convoys and draw incoming air. Can this be duplicated in the WOV-series by someone who knows more about effects modding than myself?? Thanks, Mike D.

If you can make up an effects file for one that doesn't die when it hits the ground, that would be super. I can make a visual model - it's only a cylinder really. I toyed with the idea of showing the deployed parachute, but besides the fact that I don't know how to animate munitions, the flare illumination as it floats down would pretty much obscure it anyways. I'll be happy that it doesn't look like a 2.75 inch FFAR as it exits the pod! I experimented one night trying to modify the illumination effect, and I only succeeded in screwing up the effect. Obviously I'm no expert at lots of aspects of this sim. I just wanted to update a few weps, and the flare deal popped up. (I have a few more weps projects going on - detailed AIM-4A/C/D, the flares, SUU-42, new nape shapes, SUU-7, and triple and double 2.75in pods and LAU-10 without end caps (thanks to Ravenclaw for references) for use on TERs (an idea you already covered in your weps package!). If I could only figure out cylindrical mapping for Max I'd be in real good shape... Thanks again for the help, Mike

As part of the ongoing F-4 packs I'm doing, I'm putting together a 25th TFS pack - this unit flew the first D-model F-4s with tapelights in SEA, and all aircraft had a distinctive fuselage spine antenna offset to one side (and later had the LORAN towelrack antenna added as well). These birds specialized in supporting the Igloo White program and deploting various seismic/acoustic sensors. I'd like to add some of these, but photos are scarce and dimensions even more so. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Mike D.

SUU-42 or -42/A Flare (or sensor...) dispenser - for F-4 or AC-130... Mike

Thanks Storm, but the historical stuff seems to be about as popular as the make-believe stuff for the Third Wire series. I'm just trying to get the USAF F-4 variants done with at least one markings/decal package each before I take a break. The 25th TFS birds were sort of distinctive, so I guess they deserve a separate pack - they received the LORAN "towelrack" in 1971 or so as well. Mike

BINGO!! Outstanding!! Exactly what I needed - I can't guarantee I'll do every one, but several at any rate. No one else will probably ever fly a mission dropping them anyway... Thanks again, owe you a favor! Mike

Thanks KB, That's more than I had found for dimensions. The photo I had found. I had a feeling that you'd have something on 'em. Thanks again, Mike

File Name: F-4C 8thTFW Operation Bolo File Submitter: mppd File Submitted: 26 Aug 2009 File Category: F-4 Phantom II F-4Cs – 8thTFW Ubon Operation Bolo - By Crab_02 and Mike Druzolowski 53 F-4C serial numbers which actually operated with the three squadrons of the 8th TFW at Ubon as of 01 January 1967. From these were drawn the aircraft to fly Col. Robin Olds' famous Operation Bolo mig killing mission the next day on 02 January. Description: This package is two parts – a texture add-on for the 1966 F-4C pack available at CombatAce for the 433rd/497th/555th TFS which is the bulk of the serial numbers assigned in Jan 67, and a separate aircraft representing the "slicknose" variant of the F-4C seen at this time. Enclosed are two QRC-160 ECM pods attached to the left outboard pylon (the pylon does not appear when the ECM pod is assigned in a mission as it does when A/G ordnance is selected, so the pylon is attached) – one is camouflaged and the other white. Wing tanks are available in the 1966 F-4C pack. Also enclosed is an update to the 1966 base .LOD and wing tank texture updates. (Hey…I said that this was an ongoing project didn’t I….?) The new loadout.ini files have a [AirToAirLongRangeBolo] entry that can be used for a Bolo mission. Oh, and I made the ECM pod/pylon match the same weight/drag as the opposite wing tank so the bird flies straight – although when the tank is jettisoned you’ll be loaded asymmetrically again….. Historical bit: FY1964 USAF F-4Cs coming off the production line for USAFE had the F-4J-style nose radome installed, and these started to become available to PACAF units late in 1966. This radome gave a small performance enhancement due to a bit less drag, but was removed early in 1967 as the AN/APR-25 radar homing and warning system was installed into the old IR-sensor housing. It is estimated that perhaps a quarter of the F-4Cs at Ubon at the time of Operation Bolo were configured this way, so the airplanes are not broken down by squadron. The airplanes flown for Bolo from the Wolfpack still retained the 1966-style Navy LAU-17 inner pylons (although one source that I found said that only F-4Cs with the new MAU-12 pylons were flown for Bolo, but photographic evidence tends to disprove this). All of these planes were modified to carry a single QRC-160 ECM pod on the right outer pylon (seen on the USAF A/G weps pylon as well as the early Navy pylon with the adapter (the latter is not presented here), and a single 370 gal drop tank on the left outboard station for the mission, and this became standard in Southeast Asia during much of 1967, until the inboard pylons were modified to accept the pods later in 1967. As before, I made this package for the post-October 08 patched version for Wings over Vietnam (which is what I'm flying). Textures are again 1024 pixel resolution to help frame rates on modest systems (like mine) - so view the external views at arm's length, not extremely close-up please. Versions for SF2 with higher resolution textures are sure to follow. My sincere thanks (in addition to Crab and TK) go to Sundowner - who originally shared his F-4 texture templates with me and what I started with originally, and also to drdoyo for his 1024 templates which helped, Ravenclaw_007 for the kind permission to include his super Martin Baker ejection seat in this package, and to Old Diego for kind permission to include his superb pilots, and to X Ray who did the superb pilot repaints (and whose name keep forgetting in the readmes).. Also my thanks to Mike France and Alan Howarth who know more about F-4s than I ever will! Please contact me for any problems or issues - we'll do our best to correct them and make this even more authentic for what's to come. PM me at Combatace or E-mail at mppd@att.net please. Click here to download this file

Quite a project. This looks like a must-have for WOV fans. Downloading now. Thanks very much. Mike D.

File Name: F-4C_8thTFW_1967 File Submitter: mppd File Submitted: 24 Aug 2009 File Category: F-4 Phantom II F-4C 1967 – 8thTFW Ubon - By Crab_02 and Mike Druzolowski 80 F-4C serial numbers which actually operated with the three squadrons of the 8th TFW at Ubon during 1967. Historical bit: The three squadrons of the 8th TFW at Ubon RTAFB adopted tailcodes on their F-4C Phantom II aircraft from at least July 1966. By early 1967 the F-4Cs within the theater had been modified with the addition of AN/APR-25 RHAW gear visible as a housing on the vertical stab above the rudder, and had received the new Air Force MAU-12 intermediate (inner) wing pylons. Some serial numbers are repeated for the different squadrons as many transfers between squadrons occurred during the year – so be careful that you don’t fly the same airplane numbers at the same time if interested in being historical. Some aircraft were seen carrying all olive drab 370 gal wing tanks, so those are presented here. Also a camouflaged centerline 600 gal tank sometimes seen is here too. Almost all airplanes seem to have had the original 6-inch serial number on the vertical fin painted out with olive drab paint. Mig kill markings were carried over from previous units (the 497th eventually ending up with most of them). Some 497th TFS planes seem to have had red nosewheel door numbers, but photos show that most other squadrons had none. I made this package for the post-October 08 patched version for Wings over Vietnam (which is what I'm flying). Textures are again 1024 pixel resolution to help frame rates on modest systems (like mine) - so view the external views at arm's length, not extremely close-up please. Versions for SF2 with higher resolution textures are sure to follow. Description: The airplane depicted is the Air Force F-4C as it appeared in early 1967 or later in Southeast Asia – Air Force MAU-12 pylons, tail fin tip radar homing and warning antennas and several other small antennas added, three tone camouflage and tailcodes. New features include: - New vertical stab and rudder shapes - New nose radome and IR sensor housing shapes - New detailed pylons and Sidewinder rails - New 3D model cockpit (mostly invisible though...) - New nose wheel doors - Animated air refueling door (Sift + 8) - Opening canopies of course (Shift + 3) - New horizontal stab bases - Camouflaged Fletcher wing tanks (with pylons that correctly jettison along with the tank) plus new centerline 600 gal tank with retained pylon - Numerous small detail changes Note that all textures for the stock Thirdwire F-4s can be made to fit with minor alterations - watch leading edge flap, vertical stab/rudder and intake splitter plate locations mostly. Issues: I used many parts that I already had built, so separate bmps are included for the pylons, nose and rails - these should have been combined into one I guess. My sincere thanks (in addition to Crab and TK) go to Sundowner - who originally shared his F-4 texture templates with me and what I started with originally, and also to drdoyo for his 1024 templates which helped, Ravenclaw_007 for the kind permission to include his super Martin Baker ejection seat in this package, and to Old Diego for kind permission to include his superb pilots. Also my thanks to Mike france and Alan Howarth who know more about F-4s than I ever will! Please contact me for any problems or issues - we'll do our best to correct them and make this even more authentic for what's to come. PM me at Combatace or E-mail at mppd@att.net please. Click here to download this file

This looks great - it will revive some interest in the European theater for me as the Germany terrain in WOE did not interest me that much. Nice work, and thanks. Mike D.

Hey, I AM using a post Oct 08 patched version of YAP2 - just that the helo flight models don't quite cut it yet, but I'm working on it (in between F-4 decals). Mike D.

I'm interested in this too! I love the -105 almost as much as the F-4. Remember you guys though, as I've been told by several drivers of fighters over there, that there were a lot of airframe and engine hours on all these airplanes by the mid to late 1960s, and it was a rare bird that could get up to factory specs in performance - especially with all the stuff they hung on the airplanes also by then - including add-on antennas and such. I am no expert and have no first hand knowledge though... I was told that one of the reasons the IR housing was ditched on many F-4C radomes in late 1966/early 1967 (slick radome photos) was the bit of performance increase in the bird. (It was added back on to house the AN/APR-25 RHAW gear then coming into use). In my opinion also, the weps packs for post Oct 08 versions of the sim could use some increased drag, especially the drop tanks. Mike D.

F-4Cs of 8th TFW, Ubon RTAFB - 1967. Mike D.

File Name: F-4C_1966 Da Nang & Phan Rang AB File Submitter: mppd File Submitted: 5 Aug 2009 File Category: F-4 Phantom II F-4C 1966 – Da Nang & Phan Rang AB - By Crab_02 and Mike Druzolowski **Notice - this package is for the die-hard rivet-counting historian. No colorful squadron markings or tailcodes onthese planes as they flew during 1966** Please contact me for any problems or issues - we'll do our best to correct them and make this even more authentic for what's to come. PM me at Combatace or E-mail at mppd@att.net please. I made this package for the post-October 08 patched version for Wings over Vietnam (which is what I'm flying). Textures are 1024 pixel resolution to help frame rates on modest systems (like mine) - so view the external views at arm's length, not extremely close-up please. Versions for SF2 with higher resolution textures are sure to follow. My sincere thanks (in addition to Crab and TK) go to Sundowner - who originally shared his F-4 texture templates with me and what I started with originally, and also to drdoyo for his 1024 templates which helped, Ravenclaw_007 for the kind permission to include his super Martin Baker ejection seat in this package, and to Old Diego for kind permission to include his superb pilots, and to X Ray who did the superb pilot repaints (and whose name was forgotten in the original readme of the 1965 version). Description: The airplane depicted is the Air Force F-4C as it appeared in 1966, after the first USAF three-tone camouflage scheme was field-applied - Navy LAU-17 pylons with adapters for A/G ordnance were still in evidence (as per the 1965 package), no radar homing and warning antennas nor all of the small antennas added later on. Four styles of 370 gal drop tanks are available - both old McAir and later Sgt Fletcher style, in either all-white or camouflage. The planes have the initial camo paint scheme applied to the early F-4Cs (still with the Navy-style LAU-17 pylons) and typicaly had the rear fuselage camouflaged all the way to the drag chute door. Aircraft often carried a minimum of stenciled markings. New features include: *New vertical stab and rudder shapes *New nose radome and IR sensor housing shapes *New detailed pylons and Sidewinder rails *New 3D model cockpit (mostly invisible though...) *New nose wheel doors *Animated air refueling door (Shift + 8) *Opening canopies of course (Shift + 3) *New horizontal stab bases *New early McAir and later Fletcher wing tanks (with pylons that correctly jettison along with the tank) plus new centerline 600 gal tank with retained pylon *Numerous small detail changes (Note that all textures for the stock Thirdwire F-4s can be made to fit with minor alterations - watch leading edge flap, vertical stab/rudder and intake splitter plate locations mostly.) Issues: I used many parts that I already had built, so separate bmps are included for the pylons, nose and rails - these should have been combined into one I guess. Historical bit: TAC's 366th TFW at Holloman AFB, NM transferred one Phantom II squadron to PACAF in 1965, the 390th TFS (officially transferred to PACAF's 6252nd TFW at Da Nang as of 29 October 1966), and arriving ca. 17 November (moving with grey/white F-4C aircraft, which were soon field-painted in the new three-tone T.O.1-1-4 camouflage scheme). Photos of these recently camo'ed aircraft show undersurfaces untouched and still retaining the large star and bar and USAF. The unit was joined at Da Nang by the 480th TFS as of 01 February 1966, which arrived already painted in the new camouflage scheme. As of 08 April 1966 the 390th TFS was assigned, and the 480th TFS was attached to the 35th TFW at Da Nang. Due to overcrowding at Da Nang, the other Holloman F-4C squadron - the 389th TFS, (which had been deployed TDY to Elmenfdorf AFB, Alaska in late 1965) moved with already-camouflaged F-4Cs to Phan Rang AB along with the transfer of the 366th TFW to PACAF as of 14 March 1966 (although with none of the same airplanes it flew in Alaska). As of 10 october 1966, all three squadrons were again re-united at Da Nang under the 366th TFW. Color photos are somewhat rare for these airplanes during 1966, but it seems that the last two serial number digits may have been painted in red on the front nose gear door for all three squadrons. (It is possible that the squadron color was eventually used during 1966, but I have no evidence of this yet). There is some variation from plane to plane as to vertical spacing on the tail of the "AF" and the serial number, so I have tried to reproduce this. Several 480th TFS F-4Cs had the serial presentation as "USAF" instead of the more common "AF" as well. Stencilled markings varied from a lot to a little. Notes about the flight model: Basically the default post Oct 08 patched data.ini, but I have modified the landing gear rolling coefficient to have a bit more drag (the plane will not move by itself and take off like a rocket when the brakes are released!), I have reduced the wheel braking effect so that a few taps will not make the thing stop on a dime (however they will not hold the plane in place when the power is brought up to over 78% - adjust as desired), I have increased the nose gear spring factor to give it a bit more of that “springy” feeling when the brakes are applied, and I have increased the speed brakes effect to a more realistic effect (to me). The original values have a triple slash in front of them, so modify as desired if you don't like my changes. Cockpit notes: Uses the stock post Oct 08 patch WOV cockpit, but I have added a sight reticle which is a brighter orange - matches photos I have seen a bit better I think. Click here to download this file

File Name: F-4C_1965_Version2 File Submitter: mppd File Submitted: 5 Aug 2009 File Category: F-4 Phantom II F-4C 1965 Version 2- By Crab_02 and Mike Druzolowski ***This corrects several small issues. I have also included serial numbers for a third unit – the 45th TFS, which is famous for getting the USAF’s first mig kills in Southeast Asia. Please overwrite all previous files. Sorry for any inconvenience!*** This project started out with my early attempts to make the stock WOV F-4s a little more authentic. Crab_02 eventually contacted me and kindly shared his Phantom II update project with me, which is what this is based on. All credits go to him, without his basic work, help and guidance in learning 3D modeling, I never could have come this far. Our continued thanks to TK and Third Wire to allow us continued freeware development of his work. This first model will form the basis for every subsequent F-4 variant that flew in Southeast Asia (and hopefully, beyond). Please contact me for any problems or issues - we'll do our best to correct them and make this even more authentic for what's to come. PM me at Combatace or E-mail at mppd@att.net please. I made this package for the post-October 08 patched version for Wings over Vietnam (which is what I'm flying). Textures are 1024 pixel resolution to help frame rates on modest systems (like mine) - so view the external views at arm's length, not extremely close-up please. Versions for SF2 with higher resolution textures are sure to follow. My sincere thanks (in addition to Crab and TK) go to Sundowner - who originally shared his F-4 texture templates with me and what I started with originally, and also to drdoyo for his 1024 templates which helped, Ravenclaw_007 for the kind permission to include his super Martin Baker ejection seat in this package, and to Old Diego for kind permission to include his superb pilots, and to X Ray who did the superb pilot repaints (and whose name was forgotten in the original readme of the 1965 version). Description: The airplane depicted is the Air Force F-4C as it appeared in 1965 during its combat debut in Southeast Asia - Navy LAU-17 pylons with adapters for A/G ordnance, no radar homing and warning antennas nor all of the small antennas added later on. New features include: *New vertical stab and rudder shapes *New nose radome and IR sensor housing shapes *New detailed pylons and Sidewinder rails *New 3D model cockpit (mostly invisible though...) *New nose wheel doors *Animated air refueling door (Shift + 8) *Opening canopies of course (Shift + 3) *New horizontal stab bases *New early McAir and later Fletcher wing tanks (with pylons that correctly jettison along with the tank) plus new centerline 600 gal tank with retained pylon *Numerous small detail changes (Note that all textures for the stock Thirdwire F-4s can be made to fit with minor alterations - watch leading edge flap, vertical stab/rudder and intake splitter plate locations mostly.) Issues: I used many parts that I already had built, so separate bmps are included for the pylons, nose and rails - these should have been combined into one I guess. Historical bit: Five USAF F-4C squadrons of Tactical Air Command rotated TDY to Southeast Asia during 1965 as follows: *45th TFS, 15th TFW MacDill AFB TDY to Ubon RTAFB April to August 1965 *47th TFS, 15th TFW MacDill AFB TDY to Ubon RTAFB July to November 1965 *68th TFS, 8th TFW George AFB TDY to Korat RTAFB August to December 1965 (acft remained to form the 433rd TFS at Ubon) *431st TFS, 8th TFW George AFB TDY to Ubon RTAFB August to December 1965 (acft remained to form the 497th TFS at Ubon) *43rd TFS, 15th TFW MacDill AFB TDY to Cam Rahn Bay AB October 1965 to January 1966 All originally carried the gull grey/white scheme as factory applied - similar to the Navy F-4B but with markings differences (especially no intake walkways or splitter plate turbine warning markings). The FJ- "buzz" numbers were removed from all aircraft USAF wide from ca. September 1965, and then the three-tone camouflage scheme was locally applied in SEA from November 1965 through ca. January 1966. The 68th TFS aircraft are depicted as they arrived at Korat (with FJ- fuselage buzz numbers and TAC vertical stab insignias). The 431st TFS is depicted as aircraft looked at Ubon late in 1965, after the buzz numbers were removed and several had the TAC insignia removed as well. Few personal or squadron markings were seen. Notes about the flight model: Basically the default post Oct 08 patched data.ini, but I have modified the landing gear rolling coefficient to have a bit more drag (the plane will not move by itself and take off like a rocket when the brakes are released!), I have reduced the wheel braking effect so that a few taps will not make the thing stop on a dime (however they will not hold the plane in place when the power is brought up to over 78% - adjust as desired, and I have increased the speed brakes effect to a more realistic effect (to me). The original values have a triple slash in front of them, so modify as desired if you don't like my changes. Cockpit notes: Uses the stock post Oct 08 patch WOV cockpit, but I have added a sight reticle which is a brighter orange - matches photos I have seen a bit better I think. Click here to download this file