Nick Tselepides

Thanks Pete boy, I have the Brian Douglas Vixen--the nose shape is wrong up front, and the color too blue. The best Vixen is the ALPHA sim one, which I must have sent you--look for it. It is for k2, but perhaps it also works in k4. The news on the Gannet is good. Take care, Nick

One of the greatest plane developers and painters for FS2002 and FS2004 must surely be David Maltby. Visit his site at: http://www.maltbyd.fsnet.co.uk/html/panels.htm and you can download some of the best aircraft ever produced. It took me 2 hours to download all of his versions of the VC10 and its panel--over 30 aircraft, and they are all a joy to fly and look at. With fellow Britisher Rick Piper, these two men have set out to produce all the British classics and so far they done a great job--and the projects are continuing. From their site, you can also find a link to the Shackleton Project (british classics) forum, which is very relevant and full of rich information. Rick's site is at: http://www.btinternet.com/~rick.piper/ Cheers NickTselepides aka Jink aka Bolter

One of the greatest plane developers and painters for FS2002 and FS2004 must surely be David Maltby. Visit his site at: http://www.maltbyd.fsnet.co.uk/html/panels.htm and you can download some of the best aircraft ever produced. It took me 2 hours to download all of his versions of the VC10 and its panel--over 30 aircraft, and they are all a joy to fly and look at. With fellow Britisher Rick Piper, these two men have set out to produce all the British classics and so far they done a great job--and the projects are continuing. From their site, you can also find a link to the Shackleton Project (british classics) forum, which is very relevant and full of rich information. Rick's site is at: http://www.btinternet.com/~rick.piper/ Cheers NickTselepides aka Jink aka Bolter

Armourdave, ;) You may think it is nonsense, but all the major a/c repainters and many flightsimmers in k2 and k4 share my opinion, and esp. many of the Britishers. And be sure that if in SFP1 we had bad skinners, they would be crticised as well and just as severely--we are just lucky enough in SFP1 to have very good skinners and modders--and that includes you--who do not make inferior quality stuff.... As for the Walrus, which is horrid to look at and painted in the wrong shades, I have taken care of the problem for myself and for a few friends at least by doing 4 or 5 acceptable repaints for my FS2004. ;) The fact though remains that not all flightsimmers can do repaints, and it is those guys which are helpless when faced with such bad-quality stuff. Cheers

You can the the F84F for 2002/04 at flightsim.com or simviation--it is by Kazunori Ito. http://www.aeroplaneart.com.au/Images/JB_R...amp;_RF_84F.jpg I know a Greek pilot, Yiannis, must be 75 today, who flew these and he told me that they were a great improvement over the F-84G, which was uncomfortable, unreliable, and hated by most pilots--according to what he said..He once flamed out near Rhodes, landed, the a/c broke the gear, and he was picked up two days later by a helo from the USS Randolph. While on Rhodes Island, waiting for rescue, he went woman-hunting and he had two married women whose husbands were off the house and was seen bolting out the rear window in a great rush and running gathering his pants up, with shoes and officers'cap in his hands, in the general direction of the airfield when the husband was heard turning the key in the front door. He got to his aircraft, past the mechanics, and into the cockpit, to finish dressing in rather tight and unsuitable quarters, and stepped down in smiling glory (almost falling off as it was a high plane to get off from), and once on the ground, asked the mechanics nonchalantly what they were staring at...and walked off towards the tower without waiting for their reply, determined not to lose face in the slightest...The Piasecki helo picked him up a few hours later, took him to the Randolph in blue water nearby, and sailed him to Piraeus harbor the next day...somewhat scruffier-looking, but contented. Yiannis had also flown Spitfires IXs ("one day in Crete we watched and laughed as the guys landed and broke the ends of the props when their planes tilted nose down" he said, and Helldivers ("You needed the force of the bull to land that beast..."). Haven't seen Yiannis since 1985, wonder if he is still alive....He was quite a ladies' man, flying what was a man's plane at the time...

Yesterday, I flew the default Curtiss Jenny to a landing in FS9, and marvelled at the aircraft, at how easily it lands. I just pointed my nose to the runway, went to chase view, lined up, full throttle,and when ATC cleared me to land, changed to Virtual Cockpit, pressed + twice, when over the threshold I cut throttle and landed smooth as silk in the center of the runway, watching the piston rod top pieces going clic-clic-clic, and the plane touched down perfectly. Replayed my landing and saw how nice it had settled. The experience was so nice, I repeated it twice with other aiports--one in bush country, one on a Greek island. I advise everyone one to do this with the Jenny--you will be elated, very pleased, and come away with the feeling of having achieved something. This led me to think that I, and I am sure many of you, probably spend too much time chasing after add-ons and testing them out, which means we ignore the simple pleasures we can have from the FS. How many of us have flown the default a/c more than twice? Not many. I will repeat the experience with the small default a/c, esp. the Piper, and the DH Comet and the DC-3. And perhaps I will come to my senses and start to see adding new planes as a tyranny to be avoided if I can, though I suspect I am past that to the point of no return to a simple enjoyment of the game. I have made some simple calculations and have come to the conclusion that it would take a year for anyone to go through all the experiences the default set-up of FS9 gives us, with the default aircraft. And if one adds learning navigation, instrument approaches, etc very well, it might take more. That, in itself, speaks of the richness of the sim compared to other sims-- in Strike Fighters, for example, one can do all the default setup offers in about a week, if not less. But that is a game, whereas FS9 is a simulation--a great difference that opens up another area of discussion which I will avoid like the plague at this stage, for the sake of peace of mind. :ph34r: Now, since I am on the net posting this, how can I stop myself from checking the sites for new add-ons after I am done here ????

Navychief, I have a nee email address, check you email later.

AIRFIELD In the slight spring rain the sky fades as the light falls. Old airfield. A bird wanders among an empty ammo box, a rusting rudder, silent, off-green, with part of the fabric gone and a discarded instrument from a panel. Tyre marks, disused, discolored runway marks, the sound of the wind swishing a cut wire. What do we know. ================================== Nikos Tselepides , March. 03, Athens ==============================

Good joke Chief. Othewise, is everything okay at the home front? Missed you.

I am looking for a game with WWII tank battles and armour battles which is generally historically correct, is not merely a strategy game, and in which I can place units and control them, make missions maybe, and perhaps have views from a turret as a tank commander or from the gunner's or driver's position in the tank. I am mainly interested in the Desert War--Rommel vs. 8th Army. Is there anything that has these things that you can suggest?

Many thanks pcpilot, Will look them all up and get a couple of games...

Remember the times?

:P Well, Here is my jobs: Private tutor in English as a student, artillery corps gunnery officer (Lieutenant)for 2 year in the Greek Army after 6 month's in Officers' School, 155 mm self-propelled guns and 105 mm towed howitzer, then teacher of English for 18 years. 2 years of highschool teaching, lecturer on American poetry and Professor of Creative Writing teaching American college students (71-72) on the island of Aegina. free-lance aviation writer for various aviation and modeling magazines, translator for international congresses, Examiner for Proficiency Exams in English, Teacher of Modern Greek at the American School for Classical studies in Athens, Poet with poems published in the US. Canada and South Africa literary magazines.. .and related such jobs in Academe. At one stage, for need of extra money, I sold furcoats to Russian girls in Athens making comissions of 100-300 dollars a piece in the summers of 92-95, in parallel with the teaching jobs--this was fun, dangerous (the Greek-Russians were after me but I out-tricked the bastards and stole their own clients from under their nose and they never knew it or suspected me) --also fun because I got me some of the best looking women from Russia then for quick sprees, aged 18 to 35. Professor of English at presnt and writing for magazines and doing translations.

Today is Orthodox and Catholic Easter Sunday. I take this opportunity to wish everyone in this forum good health, and all the good things they wish. And to soldiers everywhere the same, as they are the pillars on which democracy stands.

;) Can anyone help me on how to install skins in IL-2 and in IL-2FB? Is there a tutorial anywhere? I have downloaded some skins--there is for example a folder called "MS406" and in it there is one file (graphic texture file). No text or anything else, no readme either. What does one do with this in IL-2? :ph34r: I checked the stock a/c and each seems to have more than one file in its folder. I would appreciate some help. Thanks

Thanks for the info. Does the information also hold true for IL-2, the original game, or is only true for for the 2nd game, IL-2 FB?

If any of you like the Gloster Meteor, your heart will go to heaven if you visit: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/forums/showthr...15&pagenumber=6 Perhaps someone will do one for SF one day...

The Rick Piper-Roger Law Gloster Meteor T.7 for k2 and k4 is now available for download at simouthouse k4 aircraft downloads. Go get it while it's hot--it is certainly one the best things ever done for any sim...And it includes many aicraft in the textures.....

I have already downloaded the file and have great fun flyting these airplanes...Available at simouthouse.com, FS2004 aircraft downloads....

;) Some of you know me from the SimHqforums. Since I know a lot of the members here , and since great talent is here, I will be posting whatever I think is useful here a lot. You also have my picture--very tanned, as it was taken in summer... Cheers Nick Tselepides

So here you are friend. Glad I found you. Is the skin at the top yours? Looks great, with very nicely done texturing... :)

I drive a French Renault Megane , 2002 model, 1400cc motor. Very pleased with it... the French make comfortable and intelligent cars. Youcan change radio stations, AF, FM bands, and lower/increase volum of the music, pause the sound, or play a Cd without moving your eyes off the road ahead through a telecontrol stick on the wheel and that is agreat help. Before that I had the smaller Renault Clio 1200CC, also with the same feature, and also a great car. I was forced to change into my present car when someone stole my bag with all the Clio papers, keys, alarm keys, security bar key, my ID card, etc and changed for fear that the thief would also steal the car one day as he had all he needed to get it....

Here is something for fun: 180-Degree Turn - A sometimes difficult maneuver to perform; the degree of difficulty is usually determined by the size of the pilot's ego. A & P Rating - Enables you to fly grocery supplies. Aerial - That part of the aircraft most frequently broken off during the walk-around preflight inspection that pilots do to see if anything is broken off. Aero - That portion of the atmosphere that lies over Great Britain. Aerodrome - British word for airport. Exactly what you'd expect from a country that gives its aeroplanes names like Gipsy Moth, Slingsby Dart, and Fairey Battle Bomber. Aileron - A hinged control surface on the wing that scares the hell out of airline passengers when it moves. Airfoil - 1. Sword used for dueling in flight. Often used to settle disputes between crew members and passengers. 2. What pilots wrap their sandwiches in. Airframe - When the FAA inspector knows that you have only a student license and sends his kids to bum a ride with you in the plane. Air Mass - Impromptu religious service held on board an aircraft immediately following an announcement by the pilot that he is lost, having an engine problem, or running out of fuel. Airplane - The infernal machine invented by two bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio and perfected on the sands of the Outer Banks of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Precursor of the Frisbee. Airspeed - 1. The speed of an airplane through the air. 2.True airspeed plus 20% when talking with other pilots. Deduct 25% when listening to a Navy aviator. 3. Measured in furlongs-per-fortnight in student aircraft. Airstrip - In-flight performance by exotic female flight attendant. Air Traffic Control Center - A drafty, ill-kept, barn-like structure in which people congregate for dubious reasons. Alternate Airport - The airport that no aircraft has sufficient fuel to proceed to if necessary. Angle of Attack - Pick-up lines that pilots use. Arctic Frost - Attitude shown by uncooperative stewardess (also see "Horizontally Opposed"). Arresting Gear - Police equipment used for keeping order at airport parties. Aspect Ratio - 36-24-36. Autopilot - A would-be airplane pilot who flunked his checkride. Bail Out - Dipping the water out of the cabin after a heavy rainstorm.. Barrel Roll - Unloading the beer for a hangar party. Caged Gyro - Not much more docile than a wild gyro. Caging the Gyro - Easier with domestic species. Captain - 1. Any airline pilot wearing four stripes on his sleeve; often found strolling down Lovers' Lane holding his own hand. 2. Decorative dummy often found adorning the bridge of a ship. Carburetor Ice - Phrase used when reporting a forced landing caused by running out of fuel. Carburetor Icing - 1. Usually vanilla. 2. A phenomenon that happens to pilots at exactly the same time they run out of gas. Certificated Aircraft - One that has all hazardous features camouflaged. Cessna 310 - More than the sum of two Cessna 150's. Chart - 1. Large piece of paper, useful for protecting cockpit surfaces from food and beverage stains. 2. An aeronautical map that provides interesting patterns for the manufacturers of children's curtains. Chock - 1. Sudden and usually unpleasant surprise suffered by Mexican pilots. 2. Pieces of wood the lineboy slips in front of the wheels while the pilot isn't looking. Cockpit - 1. A confined space in which two chickens fight each other, especially when they can't find the airport in a rainstorm. 2. Area in which the pilot sits while attempting to figure out where he is. Collision - Unplanned contact between one aircraft and another. As a rule, collisions that result in the creation of several smaller and less airworthy aircraft from the original two are thought to be the most serious. Control Tower - A small shack on stilts, inhabited by government pensioners who can't hear. When they also become blind, they are sent to Centers. Course - Popular alternate landing field marked by fairways and greens. Curiously, pilots who land here are said to be "off-course." Crab - 1. A technique used by pilots to compensate for crosswinds, usually without success. 2. Pilot who has just ground-looped after trying unsuccessfully to use this technique. 3. Pilot who has been unsuccessful in finding a suitable landing site (also see "Suitable Landing Site"). Crash - To bed down for the night. What every pilot hopes to do once he has found a suitable landing site (also see "Suitable Landing Site"). Cuban 8 - A family of political refugees in Miami. Dead Reckoning - You reckon correctly, or you are. De-icer - De person dat puts de ice on de wings. Dive - Pilots' lounge or airport cafe. Drag Chute - Emergency escape slide near copilot's window. Opens automatically if eccentric male captain shows up in women's clothes. Engine Failure - A condition that occurs when all fuel tanks become filled with air. Exceptional Flying Ability - Has equal number of takeoffs and landings. FAA - Fear And Alarm Fast - Describes the speed of any high-performance aircraft. Lower-performance and training aircraft are described as "half-fast." Final Approach - 1. Last pass a pilot makes at the opposite sex before giving up. 2. Many a seasoned pilot's last landing. 3. Many a student pilot's first landing. Flashlight - Tubular metal container kept in flight bag for storing dead batteries. Flight Instructor - Individual of dubious reputation, paid vast sums of money to impart knowledge of questionable value and cast serious doubt on the coordination, intelligence, and ancestry of student pilots. Flight Plan - Scheme to get away from home to go flying. Glide Distance - Half the distance from an airplane to the nearest emergency landing field. Glider - Formerly "airplane," prior to running out of fuel. Grass Strip - Often performed by exotic female flight attendants while enroute to Hawaii. Gross Weight - 1. A 350-pound pilot (also see "Split S"). 2. Maximum permissible takeoff weight plus two suitcases, 10 cans of oil, four sleeping bags, four rifles, eight cases of beer, and the groceries. Hangar - Home for anything that flies, mostly birds. Heated Air Mass - Usually found near hangar, flight lounge, airport cafe, or attractive, non-flying members of the opposite sex. Horizontally Opposed - NO!! (Also see "Arctic Frost") Hotel - The letter H as pronounced in the phonetic alphabet. Most often heard in intercom conversations between pilots and flight attendants. Hydroplane - An airplane designed to land on a wet, 20,000-foot-long runway. Induced Drag - When a male copilot is persuaded by a kinky female flight attendant to put on women's clothes against his will. Jet-assisted Takeoff - 1. A rapid-takeoff procedure used by a general aviation pilot who suddenly finds himself taking off on a runway directly in front of a departing 747. 2. Takeoff by pilot who ordered enchiladas for lunch at the airport coffee shop. Junkers 52 - A collection of elderly airplanes that even the FAA can't make airworthy. Kilometer - A unit of measurement used on charts to further confuse pilots who already have trouble with knots. Lazy 8 - 1. Well-known fly-in resort ranch. 2. The airport operator, his four mechanics, and three lineboys. Log - A small rectangular notebook used by pilots to record lies. Magneto - 1. Spanish for, "What a cool-looking magnet!" 2. Not-very-famous Italian vaudeville magician, "The Great Magneto." Mode - Term used by pilots in the Lafayette Escadrille during WWI to describe what they had to land in during rainy weather. Motor - A word used by Englishmen and student pilots when referring to an aircraft engine. (also see "Aerodrome") National Airport - Inordinately congested airport in Washington, D.C. whose Potomac River approach was used by Korean War pilots practicing to bomb the bridges at Toko-Ri. Navigation - The process by which a pilot finds his way from point A to point B while actually trying to get to point C. Occupied - An airline term for lavatory. Oshkosh - A town in Wisconsin that is the site of the annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in. It is believed to have been named after the sound that most experimental aircraft engines make. Parasitic Drag - A pilot who bums a ride back and complains about the service. Pilot - A poor, misguided soul who talks about women when he's flying and flying when he's with a woman. Pitch - The story you give your wife about needing an airplane to use in your business. Pitot Tube - On long flights, something into which the pilot can pitot. Prop Wash - 1. Cleaning agent used by student pilots. 2. Pilots' equivalent of "hogwash." Pylon - All aboard! Radar - An extremely realistic type of video game, often found at airports. Players try to send small game-pieces, called "blips," from one side of the screen to the other without colliding with each other. Player with the fewest collisions wins. Range - Usually about 30 miles beyond the point where all fuel tanks fill with air. Roger - The most popular name in radio. Runway - 1. Place where exotic flight attendant starts her act (also see "Airstrip"). 2. Ramp extending from the stage into the audience area at all good burlesque houses in Vegas. S-turn - Course flown by student pilot from point A to point B. Safety Belt - Drink taken by instructor before flying with difficult student. Short-field Takeoff - A takeoff from any field less than 10,000 feet long. Skin Drag - Costume party in San Francisco. Slip - Apparel worn by some pilots. Split S - What happens to the pants of overweight pilots (also see "Gross Weight"). Stall - Technique used to explain to the bank why your car payment is late because you spent the money on flying. Stewardess - A pretty gal who asks you what you want, then straps you in so can't get it. Suitable Landing Site - An attractive member of the opposite sex; suitability may sometimes be affected by arctic frost (also see "Arctic Frost"). Tactics - What the instrument panel clock sounds like when it needs fixing. Taildragger - 1. An old pilot after a long flight. 2. A young pilot who over-rotates a tricycle gear aircraft on takeoff or landing. Tailwind - Results from eating beans in the airport coffee shop; often causes oxygen deficiency in the immediate vicinity. Trim Tab - 1. A device that can fly an airplane better than the pilot. 2. Popular diet beverage for fat pilots (also see "Gross Weight"). 3. A soft drink popular among female pilots who like to wear skin-tight red jumpsuits. Useful Load - Volumetric capacity of the aircraft, without regard to cargo weight. Wilco - Roger's brother, the nerd. Windsock - Well-perforated item of clothing worn inside the shoe by underpaid copilot who can't afford a replacement or a darning needle. Wingstrut - Peculiar, ritualistic walk performed by student pilots upon getting out of low-winged trainers following first flight performed without instructor yelling at them. Usually results in instructor yelling at them. _________________Aviation Definitions AIRSPEED - Speed of an airplane. (Deduct 25% when listening to a etired Marine pilot.) BANK - The folks who hold the lien on most pilots' cars. CARBURETOR ICING - A phenomenon reported to the FAA by pilots immediately after they run out of gas. CONE OF CONFUSION - An area about the size of New Jersey located near the final approach beacon at an airport. CRAB - A VFR Instructor's attitude on an IFR day. DEAD RECKONING - You reckon correctly, or you are. DESTINATION - Geographical location 30 minutes beyond the pilot's bladder saturation point. ENGINE FAILURE - A condition that occurs when all fuel tanks mysteriously become filled with low-octane air. FIREWALL - Section of the aircraft specifically designed to funnel heat and smoke into the cockpit. FLIGHT FOLLOWING - Formation flying. GLIDE DISTANCE - Half the distance from an airplane to the nearest emergency landing field. HOBBS - An instrument which creates an emergency situation should it fail during dual instruction. HYDROPLANE - An airplane designed to land long on a short and wet runway. IFR - A method of flying by needle and horoscope. LEAN MIXTURE - Nonalcoholic beer. MINI MAG LITE - Device designed to support the AA battery industry. NANOSECOND - Time delay between the Low Fuel Warning light and the onset of carburetor icing. PARACHUTES - The two chutes in a Stearman PARASITIC DRAG - A pilot who bums a ride and complains about the service. RANGE - Usually about 3 miles short of the destination. RICH MIXTURE - What you order at another pilot's promotion party. ROGER - Used when you're not sure what else to say. SECTIONAL CHART - Any chart that ends 25 nm short of your destination. SERVICE CEILING - Altitude at which cabin crew can serve drinks. SPOILERS - FAA Inspectors. STALL - Technique used to explain to the bank why your car payment is late. STEEP BANKS - Banks that charge pilots more than 10% interest. TURN & BANK INDICATOR - An instrument largely ignored by pilots. USEFUL LOAD - Volumetric capacity of the aircraft, disregarding weight. VOR - Radio navigation aid, named after the VORtex effect on pilots trying to home in on it. WAC CHART - Directions to the Army female barracks. YANKEE - Any pilot who has to ask New Orleans tower to "Say again". _________________

A wonderful Meteor T.7 is being made by Rick Piper and will be released soon. It will be for FS2004/02. Visit the site and see the panel being made by Rick for the Meatbox, and great pics of the plane. Not sure of the release date, but Rick's site is... http://www.btinternet.com/~rick.piper/

;) If you want the best Seafire (navalised Spitfire) go to the Aeroplane Heaven" website, register first--it is free-- and download the plane, panel and sounds. Warning: it is 27 mb, so you may need over an hour if you have a World War One modem which burns coal to work like I do. But it is worth it, as you get the best Merilin sounds existent, which you can then alias to your other Spitfires and many other Merlin-engined a/c like the Hurricane, Lancaster, etc.... Cheers