Eagle114th

Hello everyone, I am currently trying to re-size or re-scale the radar on the area of radar scope, so it will cover the specific area, instead of covering the whole radar scole. I want to know if it is possibel to do that in SF2 through ini tweaking? The reason why I ask is because some aircraft I am working on for avionics overhaul that requires radar re-scaling, so it does not cover the whole scope. The advice are always appreciated. Thank you Eagle114th

Hello everyone, I am re-creating the posts after hte ideas came up about the name of proejcts and what it is about. This project is to be known as SF2 Avionics Community Pack (SF2:ACP for short), because the purpose of this projects is to create the assets for anyone to usse for our mods, as well for customizing our SF2 installation. You will need to put them into aircraft folder and customize the .ini files, in order, for them to appear in-game. This is what I find so enjoayble and I noticed that not many simulation does this. This s project aims to bring the realistic, immersive expereicnes in cockpits with actual textures for radar scope, RWR, HUD, and any avionics that is currently moddable in SF2 and aircraft mods. I will exlpain the limitation of SF2 engine, so we can get better pictures of what we can and can't do for now. I said "for now, is becauuse I have the hope htat someday, somehow, someone manage to make it possible to make avioincs further moddable in SF2. 1) Texture issues: What can be done is chan ging radar scope texture. But the problem is that, the radar symbols / lines colors can not be changed. We are stuck with default green SF2 radar symbosl /lines / circles. And eve with new textures, the radar lines / symbols/ shapes will be applied on top of it. So it mean, if you have 'black line' on top of radar scope like A-4s as an exampe, the radar still overlap it. Another issues is that, most of SF2 default aircraft does not have texture-able radar scope for 'turned off' radar, so it seem strange how CRT (texture) would suddenly show up when turnig radar on. I wished that the radar scope woudl be texture-able, so that it seem taht only radar lines / symbols / shapes would appear, therefore preserving the immersive experiences. 2) Lighting, after attempting to use the actual colors of radar scope based on the pictures, as an example, they usually show upup too bright comnpared ot another instructments / avionics in cockpit. So they need to be darken, in order to blend naturall in cockpits. And another issue is radar colors of green, it need to be readable, therefore further darken the texture. So they might will appear darker compared to the photo. (I am currenlty wokring on this part on both F-89s and A-4s radar scope and RWR new textures). 3) Avionics DLLs, there are only two DLLs I believe, that we can use either one of Avionics DLL for early and modern aircraft. But I still have the hope. The reason why I have hope is because, I am part of the community that is modding Jane's series simulation. That simulation is almost 30 years old and people still mods it. It amazes me, therefore gives me hopes. Besides the lmitation, it does not stop us from wanting to create the mods that would improve the experiences in avioincs. What inspired me to do this, I was customizing SF2 installation for early cold war era (My favorite era), in Asia, midddle east, and other theatre, along with later cold war era, I noticed that there is always room of growth and improvement for cockpits. That is when I came up the awy to improve F-89 series radar scope, as you can see it in another theatre abou Stary's F-89 cockpits. Then here it is, SF2: Avionics Community Pack! What would be great help if we can share the pictures and information on the avioinics for various planes, so we can get busy with the avioniocs improvement. If anyoneo have the requests for radar scope, or any avioinics improvement, it would be great help if the resources can be provided too. The next posts will cover what I am doing with both F-89s and A-4s gunsights, radar scope, and rwr, along with F-89's radar scope. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DOWNLAOD: SF2 ACP v0.2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cheers!

New optical sight for F-106 I am not sure if this is exacltya ccurate, but it was found from one of youtube video about F-106. And I thought it is fitting with current F-106's cockpit. If there is an accurate F-106 cockpits being made, I am more than happy to include it in SF2 - ACP pack with updated avionics.

Heloe everyone, F-106's new radar scope is still WIP. After learning that F-106A uses MA-1 FCS and AN/ASQ-25 radar, the radar scope is made of DVST. That means the background is dark withi green outlines NOTE: I am unable to find what the layout looks like when radar is turend on.. The only source I can find is from DCS while I am continuing to look for more informatio. The youtube only show a litle of F-106 radar scope. I do not know if the layout that is created is accurate or not. I do my best everyday I hope that someday will find the picture and will re-work on the radar layout / scheme. UPDATE: Screenshots removed because the modders sent me the information on F-106's radar scope. The new texture is being worked on.

Hello everyone, The optical sight have been re-sized and re-adjusted after more research.

Hello everyone! New avionics overhaul for V2K's F102A are now completed for radar scop eand gunsight. I am still ucnertain which opitcal sight rectile used by F-=102s, so A-1CM gunsight recticle is placeholder for now. F-102A (Early - Hughes MG-3) F-102A (Hughes MG-10) Eagle114th

Hello everyone, It have been busy days, finally got to work on F-102A's MG-3 and MG-10 radar scope as well enabling the gunsight on folding reflector glass. there will be two versions, one without radar scope hoods and another without it. For now, here is version without radar scope hoods: Eagle114th

Hello everyonem, My wfie and I are contiuning with our excellent health recover. Ther is onething I have been wondering about and that is DLL files. The reason why I am asking about DLL files editing / modding; SF2 is not maintained nor update for many years. It is modders that have been keeping it alive. I am in the wonderful community that have passions as I do for Jane's combat simulation series and weare modding it. Even though I am on break from SF modding, in order, to allow my eye recover, I was wondering if it is possible to edit one of ancient simulation file, such as Jane's Fighter Anthology .exe files, because of awesome active modding community. We honor the ethics by keeping mods free and sharing our hobbies, as we do in here combatace. So I was wondering how can exe be understood? Out of curiousity, I took a look at HEX editing and then used x32dbg diseassebly and realized that the codes coudl be read in an assemlby langauge. However, I am not that experienced nor famliar with it yet. At the same time, by using AI to interpret the codes (Whiel being well aware that AI is currenlty still flawed and alwasy give geneic responses, still now is good time to experiment with it, due to the rapid advancement of AI technologies.) However, there is one thing that came up as an idea; What if we could edit the codes in DLL files that allow us to have unlocked moddability of avionics, enabling Gs limiters, and something like that. But again, I am concdenred about it becauser I do not know what combatace community feels about it. This is precisely why I haven't touched DLL files yet. I want to ensure it is done in ethical ways. If we contiune on the very limited methods of modding (Only iini. editing and adding 3D models), then we are stuck with the same limitatino of moddings. The community is currently small. We want for communty to be alive and become bigger again, therefore is why I want to ask about it. There is no another simulations out there that did excellent jobs as Thirdwsire did with Strike Fighter 2, as well as Jane's combat series did, what they managed to create; - Low Fidelity simulation that is semi-realistic This means we do not worry bout 'study sim', but we are required to learn about the limitations and characters of each aircraft, weaopns, avionics, etc.. IT is not arcade like ace combat nor too hardcore like "Study sim" DCS. It is just golden balance. Even though SF2 is missing air to ground radar veatures in avionics aspect. - Moddiblity, SF2 in heart, is desigend to be most moddable sim out there, it would be wasted potiental if DLL wasn't studied to allow expanded modding in ethical ways. EDIT #1: I talked with oen of modders, he / she gave me an excellent ideas. What I understand is that historically, TK do not mind the modding, however as long his files wasn't shared. So the idea is to create the installer that would modify the DLL files and allow us to add an external files that would enable DLL to read? EDIT #2: I realized we also could use Wrapper DLL, it intercepts calls to the original DLL and modifies them as needed before passing them on. I would like to know what combatace feels about this. Eagle114th

Hello everyone, Here is new (WIP) radar scope for MG-10 used in F-102A: I am still re-adjsuting the darkness level so the actual radar is readable. I am happy with how it come out. Eagle114th

I am sadden to hear that. I wish him speedy recovery. I hope he can come back and join us with our modding hobbies. Eagle114th

PERFECT! you have the picture what I NEEDED for more accruate radar scope overhaul! Here is what is included in Rambam F-102 update pack: You bought me a HUGE joys! I am now re-working on the MG-10 radar scope! The next version of SF2; ACP will have MG-3 and MG-10 radar scope for F-102s! You just made my day! By the way, when you said it is 'almost perfect'. With the fixes of gunpod and accurate radar scope (MG-3 and MG-10), it will become 100 percent perfect within the limitatino of SF2 sim. Do you have any plans on updating F-106s too because F-106s deserve to be polished and ujpdated like F-102s for SF2. And noteda bout V2K's F-102s. Eagle114th Cheers!

Hello everyone! The works on F-102's MG-3 and MG-10 FCS radar scope is almost completed. It is one of most challenging research, after being unable to find the exact color fo scope. If the color is incorrect, please let me know and I will fix it. What gave me clues about MG-3 and MG-10 is by tracking back to the older technology of Hughes E and MG series FCS used by F-89s and F-94s. By seeing how F-89A / B / C and F-94s used Hughes' E-1 FCS paired with An/APG-33 radar. The scope is gray. (I am starting to realize that the radar scope may be glowing grayish green when powered ??? I am stil learning more about radar.) Then F-89D, with more advanced E-6 paired iwth AN/APG-33 and another system, still shows gray radar scope. Then comes F-89H, which uses E-9 FCS, still show , which seems to be gray scope (I can be wrong, due to the an ture of black - white pictures from manual)). However, what is noted is that FCS after E-9, such as MG-3 and MG-12 is modified version of E_9. I noticed that MG-12 have dark olive-greenish gray scope while MG-3 used by F-102, shows dark gray ccovered by a radar lid that shows lines on top of it. Here is picture of what I think, could be MG-3. Because it makes sense, MG-3 is modifeid E-9 FCS while MG-10 is digitalized, more advanced that comes after MG-3. Then found next images, which I believe is MG-10 FCS: From flight manual: And based on what is seen form Rambam F-102s for DCS trailers, it makes sense that it looks like this: Finally, here is the MG-10 and MG-3 radar scope (WIP): Feedback nare always helpful and appreciated. Eagle114th

Thank you fofr the link! I appreciate all the files and supports! I am giong to look into the files. By the way, we can work togehter ot finish the F-102s proejct you worked on. You can use avonics that is being created for SF2 - ACP. I also would like to request to work with you on F-106s projects too, if you are interested. I am almost donewith the new texture scope for MG-3 and MG-10 for F-102s. I will post the spictures of it soon. I am happy that you like F-89 avioonics! Cheers! Eagle114th

Hello everyone, The new version of SF2 - ACP v0.2 is now rele3ased in combatace download. The link is posted in the first post. I am currenlty researching on F-102s and F-106s for avionics overhaul. I am still trying to find the color and desigsn they ahve on F-102s and F-106s radar scope. What I relearend is that F-102A started with Hughes MG-3 FCS, then upgraded to Hughes MG-10 FCS. F-106, in other hand, uses Hughes MA-1 FCS. What I noticed from Rambam's F-102 mdos for both SF2 and DCS uses oragne CRT scope. Veltro2K, at the same itme, uses orange CRT screen too. I awnt to find the sources of that too. The flight manual of F-102s always is in black and white color,s o Ican't tell the actual colros of radar scope. The actual picture of Ff-102 does not help either since there is alwyas radarr scope hood which blocks the direct view of radar scope. Anyone who have the information or pictures, please share here. I aim to work on F-102s, F-106s, and F-101 that uses Hughes FCS as well carries AIM-4 series AAMs. Thank you for enjoying the mods and for the supports! Eagle114th

SF2 Avionics Community Pack (SF2: ACP) - Alpha v0.2 View File ---------------------------------------------------------- STRIKE FIGHTER 2: AVIONICS COMMUNITY PACK (SF2: ACP) v0.2 --------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to SF2: ACP first release of alpha. Before I explain about the pack, I want to express big thank to the wonderful communities and modders of Combatace and Combat Flight Sim Tavern (Discord), including Thirdwire for the simulation. You all are the reasons why this pack exists. I want to use the passions to improve SF2 into higher levle with avionics. This requires a lot of research, reading flight manual, and tons of tweaking in avioincs and cockpit ini, along with countless of testing in-flight in SF2. The mods is not perfect, we do our best with the mods. We do it with the joys of our hobbies! This pack includes the following features: - New gunsight / optical sight - New texture for radar scope and another avionic equipment (See note #1) - Improved cockpit and radar through cockpit and avionics ini tweaks for semi-realism (See note #2) - Templates for gunsight and radar scope - Improves glass texture (If possible) - Accessibility - Optional, includes the AAM firing cue on gunsight for people who can not hear the sounds of missile locking on targets. NOTE #1: Due to the nature of lighting system inside cockpit in SF2 engine, I had to apply the darkness level on top of texture scope, in order, to prevent them from glowing. In templates, you will see "darkness" layer for this reason. NOTE #2: As mentioned in note #1, due to little resources (Information / data) on 40s to 70s radar, at least half or most of tweaks are based on an educated guess. For exampe, AN/APG-33 radar that is used with E-1 FCS in F-89B and C, there are some data on it, but no data on elevator nor azimuth angle limitation. F-89D, in other hand, with E-6 FCS and AN/APG-40 radar, there are several data, which is applied in .ini files tweaks. --------------------------------------------------------- TEMPLATES There are templates for gunsight, radar, RWR, and another type of avionics assets. It is there so anyone can use it to create their own avionics for any aircraft. --------------------------------------------------------- Avionics overhaul for Historical vs fictional aircraft I am dong overhaul for both historical and 'what if' fictional aircraft. For example, in this alpha version, there are avionics overhaul for F-8A to F-8K, along with France F_8s. It also includes 'what if' JASDF F-8EJ Crusader. --------------------------------------------------------- Installation: Inside each aircraft folder, there is folder "_AIRCRAFT COCKPIT FILES". Inside that folder, there are two folders "DEFAULT" and "ACCESSIBLITY". You can only use one of them. By default you should install the files from DEFAULT folder. However, if you are Deaf or Hard of Hearing that can not hear the growling sounds of IR missile, then ACCESSIBLITY is for you. NOTE: Make sure you make the backup copies of aircraft folders, in case something goes wrong during the installation progress. Inside DEFAULT or ACCESSIBLITY, for any aircraft you have in SF2, copy the aircraft folder and overwrite an existing folders and files. --------------------------------------------------------- Changelog v0.01 - First release of SF2: ACP v0.02 - Includes avionics overhaul for A-1s, A-4s, F-8s, F-89s, and MiG-15s --------------------------------------------------------- Current / Future plans I am currently working on next series of cold war aircraft avionics overhaul. If you have any feedback or request for aircraft avionic overhaul, please post in CombatAce forum discussion: https://combatace.com/forums/topic/99178-sf2-avionics-community-pack-wip-alpha-release-v01/ --------------------------------------------------------- CREDIT: - dtmdragon: F-8 packs for radar and other assets from cockpits - Stary: new cockpits for SF2 aircraft, including F-89s - Wrench: A-1s, A-4s, and another aircraft and cockpit tweaks - Wing over Korea: Gunsight textures. - Combatace and Combat flight sim tavern: feedback and supports - Thirdwire (TK): Strike fighter 2 simulation Thank you for enjoying the mods! Eagle114th / Flowing Dragon Submitter Eagle114th Submitted 11/14/2024 Category Avionics  

Hello everyone! the A-4s and F-8s HUD with missile firing cue is successfully implemented. You can see it in this link: F-89D, H, and J accessiblity HUD is working perfectly now. Instead of using inner circle, the outer circle is used for firing cue since it much easier to see it. If using inner circle and adot, it i smore difficult to see, unlike Mark 8 gunisght. However, F-89B and C with A-1CM gunsight are being worked on for firing cue verison. Deafult N-9 Optical sight N--9 Optical Sight with firing cue when switching to AAM: I am going to release the next version of SF2 - ACP in combatace download section as next vesion of alpha. the next version wilb e posetd in that place from now on. Eagle114th

Hello everyone, It is true that everyonoe have their own ways of using various tools for texture / graphic editing. I use GIMP, the finest tools that I gerw so used to. I use it for all texture and effect (texture) editing. By the way, I am getitng used to HUD editing, here is working 'IRM" tracking with inner circle in F-8 Crusader. The most important part is that when switching between gun and IRM, HUD system changes from native gunsight (LOCS) and custom sights (Main and secondary gunsight) EXAMPLE: WHen switching to 20mm cannons in F-8 Crusader And when you switch to AAM, the 'lead' small circle disappears while the inner circle will act as 'missile lock cue" From now on, I will start postin gin main avionics thread. Thank you everyone for the supports and shaing ideas that got this system working. I've decided to use HUD methods, it's most practical as stated before. Cheers! Eagle114th

Hello everyone! I have a question about the cockpit.ini ediitng. I want to add the 'shoot cue' taht tells me that IR and any kind of AAMs are locked and ready to be fired at enemy targets. The reasons of this is because the early cold war AAMs rely on the growling sounds for IR AAM as an example. I am deaf, so I can't tell if IR version of AIM-4s or AIM-9B and other IR are locked. so to overcome this issue, I want to do soemthign creative with it that still is 'lore friendly' or make it somehow seem like sem-realistic in an 'immersive' experiences without using modern avionics. What I am thining about is either; Have gunsight recticle change symbosl or colors when AAM is locked on targets. Which codes do I need, in order, to add in the cockpit.ini? If you have another idea I could use, please post here. I am also making this for anyone else who need it too. It wil be part of 'accessiblity' optional files in Avionics packs I am currently working on. Thank you. Eagle114th

That is noted, I also sw another hole in the cockpit; no polygon on front of gunsight reflector glass, which mean not possible to apply texture on the glass. I hope someday someone can build the cockpits for A-4s series. If that day ever come, I will be more than happy to work on glass texture. Cheers

Hello everyone, While workign on further improving A-4 series cockpit, I noticed that the gunisght, by default, always peek past the glass reflector. to fix this, I wanted ot re-adjust the view positio by editing offset, just like I did with MiG-15s. [CockpitSeat001] ModelName=A-4B_pit Offset=0.0,-0.10,-0.03 <------------ Changed the value Position=0.0,3.06,0.63 ViewAngles=0.0,0.0,0.0 MaxYaw=152 MinYaw=-152 MaxPitch=90 MinPitchFront=-43 MinPitchRear=-20 LightRange=1.5 After making the changes to Offset= and test in game, turns out that it does not make any changes. After seveal testing, it seem that offset have no effect on view position in cockpit of A-4s. Anyone have same issues?? Eagle114th

Hello everyone, I actually think it is more flexible and practical to go with 'HUD'methods for shoot cue. I am getting used to adjusting and udnerstanding the conversation between 256 to 'HUD size" in-game. Despite that the gunisght become less bright, it is only for IRM / AAM though. Other than that, the HUD is back to being bright. Here is screenshot of A-4s and Mark 8 gunsight When having a lock on MiGs with AIM-9B, the inner circle moves to MiGs ti infor me that there is missile lock: It is still more 'immersive' this way, therefore "lore friendly' ways of implementing accessbility. This is awesome! I also realize that I can re-adjust the seat position so the gunsight does not appear beyond the reflector glass. Eagle114th

Hello everyone! Here is updated gunsight, one is realistic and another is bright version, based on A-4s and F-8s gunsights: And based on the actual picture, noticed htat the gunsight is tilted a little darker Here is the result with deafult (bright) gunsight Anothe version with realistic gunsight Inside the cockpits, there are two options to choose for gunsights while it is defaulted to bright recticle. Thank you Wrench, EricJ, and Daddy airplanes for the advice> From now on, for any gunisghts that seem difficult to see with realistic colors / brightness, I will make two version, one with default (bright) and realistic. Cheers!

@Wrench @EricJ @daddyairplanes That makes perfect sense. Here is what I realized and decided to do this methods by default: Use bright yellow like used on another gunsight. This will be deafult for all sights. For anyonoe who want more realistic gunsight colors, there will be an optional folder to replace deafult gunsight. I, personally, prefer playability too. All of your feedback are excellent and very helpful. Ironically, I am in the same shoe as you all are, I have some challenges seeing certain things and I love the ywllow gunsight colors too. by the way, Wrench, amY I ask for your advice on cockpits since you have tons of experiences with it. I posted it (how to clone instrunment and change posiiton). By the way, I am also looking into adding the 'tilt' color to gunsight glasses. If it works well, I can consdier appplying it on another plane, if it helps wwith seeing gunisght even better, any thoughts on that? Cheers! Eagle114th

Hello everyone, MiG-15 new gunsight is being worked on, there are two colors. I am still thinking of which one to go with. Eagle114th