Intruder7011

So here is what I did, nothing has changed.

DL 7zip, cleared everything I have done. Took each part, in order, Parts 1-4 then the Jan2012 update. Choose the file, hit extract and when it promted me a location to ectract to, I typed C:\Users\Chris\Saved Games\ThirdWire\StrikeFighters2 Vietnam

After that I opened that file up, and the following files (1_All_Patch_levels, 2_Dec2009_patch_level, 3_may2011_patch_level, 4_ExpPack2, For_dec2009, For_SF2I snd the To_Mod_Folder) were there along with the normal files pilot data, objects controls, etc that were there before i extracted.

I played the game and nothing. So then I grabbed all the new folders and placed them into the To_Mod_Folder, and got the same result. Im sure I am missing an easy step or something, this is the first mod I am doing so all this is a foreign language to me.

Thanks, I just DL 7zip and tried there, and am just getting errors now. I choose to unzip, then choose the SF2 folder as the destination, but after unzipping it says 2683 files, 2683 errors... should I just delete everything and try again?

Inruder7011:

 

If you're not seeing anything differnet -- no new aircraft, etc. -- then you're probably installing the files incorrectly. The most common error is that people grab the To_Mod_Folder folder and simply drop that in their Mods folder. The game will never see the files if you do that.

 

Instead, grab the CONTENTS out of To_Mod_Folder and move those to your Mods folder. the same holds true for the other major folders within the archives you downloaded.

 

Eric Howes

What I did was after winzip unzipped them all, I just selected the first one, scrolled down to the last one, shift select so I grabbed all of them... like thousands and thousands... and placed into the C/username/thirdwire/savedgames/SFV. I read about the "what is the mod folder" in the knowledge base and it said you dont create one, and when you run the game it makes one. So I ran the game, 'accepted' some missions, quit and tried again.. Nothing. I also made another folder to go in there to organize all the files, and that also did not work. Am I dropping them into a wrong location? I just dont know where else to put them.. and if it asked for permission to override, I figured it was replacing the old files... I guess I can try again? any other ideas.

I DL these ones:

http://combatace.com/files/file/10466-sf2v-air-ground-war-expansion-pack-v20-jan-2012-update/

That one said I need the other four parts from the previous SFV expansion pack found on that same link, with the hyperlinks to Parts 1-4

I DL all five, unziped them and moved them into what I said in the previous post, and over rid things when asked to.

DL SF2 Vietnam, Europe and Israel last night, installed and have played some. Now I am starting to get the mods I want and I started off with the Vietnam Expanison pack, DL the newest verison, and the older one parts 1-4.

I extraced all the files, placed them and overrided them in the C/username/savedgames/thirdwire/SFV and nothing was different when I lunched the game. I also tried creating a folder in the saved games and placed all the files there and nothing either. I am assuming since I DL last night the game is up to date patch wise... this is the first mod im installing so maybe im missing a step? Any help would be great! Thanks

Quick update... three shots. All wired up, installing the foam inserts and will cover them with a black denim like material tonight. All that will be left will be to install the switches, and I think I will slowly do that over the next few weeks, see what I really would want on the switch.

The keyboard placement worked perfect, I just go two adjustable braces (like the ones to hold up lids on boxes), and that holds it firm and can bend up and out of the way when you are getting in and out as you can see!

I'd suggest sorting out your seat padding before bolting down your controllers. A couple of inches behind and under you can make quite a difference to where your feet and knees end up. I'm looking forward to seeing it finished!

 

 

 

 

Cheers

For sure Alphadelta, I am going to Hobby Lobby tomorrow to get some padding, Ill cut it to shape and the ol wife said she would upholster it.. how nice. I took that additional few inches when placing the stick and the angles of the arm rests, so it should be close but I'll be making those minor adjustments before bolting her down... I also need to find the ideal location to store my open containers as well.... hmmmmmm

I really need to get going on what I want on the panel... im still trying to figure out good, general things to put so I can utilize them all in other sims. All I have done is fabricate the ejection handle... pretty simple but should work with a momentary switch.

Here is a few more shots of her, just need to finish the panel and install the G940, and it will be up and running!

I don't know how functional you are going, but if you are looking for some detail parts to add, I've got these available:

 

 

They are the sim panels from a F-16 egress trainer. I bought them back when I was going to rebuild my own pit. Never got around to it and they are just sitting on the shelf.

 

2 MFDs, 1 Up Front Unit, 1 CMDS panel, 2 artificial horizons, 1 engine nozzle posit gauge and 1 fuel gauge.

 

PM if interested.

 

-Jeff

Thanks Storm! I will get back with you in a bit... I cant PM anymore until I reach 50 posts or something like that.

Hey Intruder7011

 

Check out this guys site for some futher ideas http://www.rogerdodg...tsims/pacs.html they have a whole selection of keyboard layouts and mounting ideas.

Awesome! Thanks romflyer, ha yup. A project is never 100% smooth, and the snag I hit was the size issue... thats what she said... anyways it is 8 inches to wide to fit down the stairs into the basement.. but at least its an easy fix, I can just un screw the right arm rest/mouse panel and it should slide down perfect, I also put it on rolling casters so its easy to move to the TV and away. If I can finally start making more money I want to mount a three monitor system to it and then it could be stationary, but no plans for that for a while and I think I should put any extra cash I got into the garden and patio to keep someone happy ... she didnt even frown once or ask questions! Although I was laughed at several times for my excitement level but I'll take that.

Thats a cool link, interesting stuff. Not to expensive either, although I enjoyed this project very much and theres nothing quiet like sitting back, cracking a beer and admiring your custom creation, from a thought to a working machine is pretty cool.

there's a max limit on attached pic. YOu can just to to your Profile, Manage Attachements, and delete the older/oldest ones.

 

another way would be to upload to the CA Gallery, and then just link to them. Don't think there's a limit on that

Thanks Wrench!

Ready for sanding and paint. The middle panel is on hinges for now so I have access to wire up the panel. Id attach a couple pictures but Im not cool enough to do that anymore apparently. I guess I reached some limit since Im still too new to the community..

Think I have came up with something, nothing like a couple beers to refresh the mind.

Full working panel, keyboard can go right below the panel. Starting after the left side angles up to the lower horizontal part of the front panel, If I put a one way hinge there, then one at the next angle where the panel starts to angle back down, then one on the end, of the panel, all level with eachother, I could put the keyboard there and it would be accessible during flight, dont even have to lean forward!

Then after I am done, remove the keyboard, push the hinges up so they are out of the way to clear out of the cockpit. Should work... I think. The only part of the panel I would lose would be the bottom right, and the one way hinge would stop it at a 90 degree angle to the panel, so it would be easy to type anything on

Heres a crude CS5 of what I just horribly explained. The black would be the hinges, the red where the keyboard would go. What do you all think? Any other ideas? I like the idea of having a fully functioning panel as well as access to the keyboard.

This my sound silly but how bout an overhead keyboard mount that way you don't have to take your eyes from the screen of course it will have to fold able out of the way when not in use

That could work later on, as of right now I will just be rolling it up to my 47inch LED TV. Later down the road I want to do a three monitor system, but since I will be using my TV right now, Im leaving it all open.

What I am thinking now is to utilize the entire front panel for workable switches, and then putting an L bracket on the end of the front panel (once I finish off the nose so it wont just slide off) and just letting the keyboard sit up there, out of the way, then if I need it I can just grab it and put it on my lap.... The only thing I see with that is needing the keyboard during flight for view changes or commands that I wouldnt have access to .... argh! The G940 does have three modes but dont really like the idea of having to switch modes if I need to do a quick view change or something.

I liked my original idea of having the panel be switches on the left, then a cutout with an angled frame to hold the keyboard on the right side so I can use it in flight. All the keyboards are just to big. Im out of ideas for now. Maybe I'll regroup tomorrow

Before I can offer my 2 cents about keyboards and placement and so on.....I need to know a couple of things about your plan, what cockpit are you thinking about basing this on? What are your plans for switches? are you thinking something simple like my keyboard cheat, or are you planning to go a little more high tech like a "Leo Bodnar" board?......are you planning this out for more sims then just SF2?.....

If you plan it right there will be no reason to have a keyboard mounted at all.

 

 

 

 

I would stongly suggest you log in some serious combat time with the stick and the game before you go to far down the rabbit hole with your cockpit design.......once you have spent some time with everything you will probably discover that everything you thought would be the case is completely different than what you thought.......and also try to keep a perspective on being able to use your simpit with other titles.

 

The design I am using is my second set-up.....and even at that my MFD layout has been moved around about.......eight times, until I settled on a layout that worked the best for me......and that is workable with my other sims as well

I am going for more of the general controls to put into the panel, so it would go well with other sims, gear, hook, flaps, things like that. I dont want to get too detailed, just the switches you would find on anything from an F-16 to a Cessna. As far as modeling it, I dont really have anything in mind, I just kinda went with how things were going, so I didnt start out wanting an F-16 cockpit or anything like that.

Nope, it's all just for looks and show right now and no auto rearm/refuel. Everybody should remember that the Strike Fighter series made by three, yes 3 people, not a team of 50 for Lockon or so where they had the ability (and budget) to do such cool things. Unfortunately it may be never implemented... or it might...

Thats true, but couldnt it be written in as a mod if the right files were not locked away? Thats on them.

In the settings of the game for realism, Im sure there is an option for unlimited fuel, and then the next step up would be burn half as slow, is all that info in the locked files or is stuff like that accessible? I guess where I am going is if there is a key command to rearm, couldnt you assign that key command to automatically happen when you reach a certain area or get close enough to a certain object? If there is a key command to rearm why is there none for refuel? argh.

Sorry Stratos, guess this should be a new post.

So is A/A refueling 100% out in this game? No ways around it? Like doing something crazy with the files of the plane.

For example, when you land at an airfield/carrier, does it automatically refuel you and rearm you? I figure that would be a must, what if you need to rearm/refuel to finish the mission? If that is how it works, couldnt we assign that event to a plane...

So maybe assign that event to happen 5 meters around the plane, so you could act like your going up to the plane, and once you get close enough that event happens? It wouldnt be perfect but it would be something?

I dont know, just thinking out of my a**

Ill let you no romflyer, the controls feel really nice, good rubber like coating on the stick and throttle, it all seems well built. I'll let you know how it all works once everything is up and flying.

I was thinking about going with something other then the ply for the panel area, but had a piece that fit perfectly so I decided just to go with it... hopefully I won't run into any problems but we'll see. Thanks for the tip.. any ideas about keyboard placement? I wanted to put it in a cubby on the right side of the front panel, keeping the left side for the hot switches, but the keyboard is too damn big.

Right now Im mulling over some ideas about putting it on a hinged piece that I can move around.... maybe a cubby on the right side still, but have the board on a track that slides in at a 90 to the panel, then when you need it pull it out like a drawer and swing it so its parallel to the panel? Could work but I'd have to go back to the drawing board and start planning again... that and more money for a drawer slide..

Thanks guys, hopefully I can get her done by this weekend, although I promised to install the swamp cooler this weekend too..... I better not push it. I'll see what I can get done and post some updates, fun project so far, can't wait to test it out!

Im thinking the finishing part might take a bit longer, I plan to fill in the little cracks and stuff with wood filler and then sand it, coat it with some smooth rubber like finish then paint... maybe a couple weeks.. unless I get lucky with some more Colorado April snows and cant work on "the list" outside.

Heres what I got so far... just going with it. Hopefully I can update the finished cockpit this coming weekend, just got to finish the stick support and panel off the front, install the switches and wire them up to a USB input, print off my CS5 template for the panel, install that and spray a rubber/plastic coating over it all, then Im going with a two-tone grey paint job, dark grey on top, light grey on bottom. Also needs a beer holder but that will be last for optimum placement. I think its pretty dope, figured I'd share, hope you like....

even the wifey likes it and wants to try it out... whewww.. I was waiting for one of these....

If you want to do something like this I can help with questions, it was much easier than I thought it was gonna be and total amount will be about $85... total build time so far has been about 9 hours total.

Cheers~

Hope you can resolve the issue, she looks like a beauty, great work.

Yup... along with countless greats. A shame really.

Soon the pilot will be completely removed from the air. Nice HD video btw.

Interesting, I like that idea, didn't even cross my mind. I am going to look into maybe going that route. It would be a hell of a lot cheaper and easier... no interface exchange between the switches and the USB keyboard... Thanks for the post!

Nice, what do you use for the eject handle? A momentary switch... I was thinking about using one that is normally on, then when you pull the handle it moves off the button (turning it on).. but wasnt sure if it was worth it if you cant eject... sounds like you can.

Thanks for the tips, I'll post some photos when I am done, still planning certain things out right now and deciding what would go well on the panel

I don't think SF is gonna support a rotary switch the way you are hoping for, in SF you don't select a radar mode with a specific button ...... You cycle through various modes using one specific button ( page up ) and (page down) to cycle range

I use two buttons on my MFD to cycle forwards or backwards through range and two others to cycle modes.

Yeah, I have been thinking about that and ways around it. I just got my G940 in the mail and I think I might stick the radar modes/ranges on that, I ran into the same issue after reading the manual about bomb ripples and intervals... maybe put the radar mode/range and bomb ripple/interval on the throttle P buttons? ...maybe.

I made a quick template in CS5, its in no particular order or anything, not really to scale either, I was just seeing what I could do in the hour I had free last night. I think I want to still have a working panel, any thoughts about controls I could put in the panel? The ones I have are the ones I thought would be nice on a panel but with the issues above any thoughts?

Cheers