Stary

Description:
This is optional high resolution repaint/treemod for SF2:V VietnamSEA map, I call it "Green Hell 3.5" ;)
 
SF2:Vietnam required for Vietnam map (doh!) SF2 all-merged install preferred
made and tested im May 2013 environment
 
-included both 1024x1024 pixels and smaller 512x512 pixels versions for those with older computers
-repainted hangars/base objects from my WW2 hangars pack, fits this particular scenery ok in my opinion
-city textures by Brain32 from his excellent Vietnam repaint, used under freeware license
-full TOD coverage included
 
Installation:
Backup your Vietnam folder, unpack and move/copy new VietnamSEA to your Vietnam folder, overwrite when asked.
 
Legal mumbo jumbo:
Freeware license apply, no to be used as part of any payware
 
have phun
Stary

Update:
I forgot to mention in readme there is optional "icky green" textures set in it's folder for those who find this shade of blue not to their taste. Matter of copying that one into main cockpit folder and overwriting
 
This is fairly detailed cockpit representing somewhat "generic" MiG-23 interceptor cockpit. Fits well or "close enought" MF ML MLD etc interceptors series 1 and series 2 of Floggers.
 
Build for and tested with Eburger68&Team Floggers Pack:
http://combatace.com/topic/66562-sf2-mig-23-mig-27-floggers-part-1/
and subsequent parts
 
By default pre-set for use in MLD variant, so feel free to adjust to your favourite Flogger of choice. Do not use at the moment in the ground attack versions as dedicated BN cockpit is in the works
 
Read the included readme for more informations.

This is updated version of Mig-15 cockpit
This package is preset to be used with stock Thirdwire Mig-15 bis. "Expansion Pack I" required for Mig-15
 
several things changed in version 2.0 among them:
stick added
pedals added
corrected gunsight a bit
slightly adjusted, smoother canopy framing
new slightly better and higher resolution textures for baked materials
more real-size lamps
other tweaks here and there
 
original mod description:
 
Credits:
TK,Thirdwire
CrazyHorseB34 -betatesting
Crusader, Ravenclaw_007,RussoUK, Zurawski -for max examples and help on the way
 
Mod description:
This is simplified Mig-15/Mig-15Bis cockpit. Very similar to non-radar equiped Mig-17 one. Please note there are some issues with some instruments despite my battling with the ini horror -feel free to tweak and share!

SARCASM sky/clouds mod version 1.5
 
what's new?
 
-new experimental sky lightning (HighAlt sky pushed down from 5 to 3.5 kilometers, try 2 km if you want things go odd!)
-modified, more fluffy clouds (finally!)
-smaller clouds texture (no need for 2048 ones really), and now only one
-small changes to clouds distribution pattern for scattered and broken
 
unpack to your Flight folder, overwrite when asked
 
(previous installment of SARCASM mod not required)
 
have fun

Unified Effects Pack
 
For Strike Fighters Series 2
 
version 1.0
26 FEB 2011
 
 
This effects pack is a compilation of many effects I did over the years for Strike Fighters and First Eagles series of flight simulators by Thirdwire.
 
Build around "Desert Storm FX Pack beta" released in early 2009, this pack replaces most of the stock effects with new ones, most of them volumeric or "3D" in appearance. Also used are few reworked/tuned down effects from my "Hollywood Explosions" mod, aswell as several never before relased ones.

Version 1.2 of my "Unified effects pack" which is compilation of various effects I did through the years of Strike Fighters and Strike Fighters 2 modding.
 
Various effects from earlier versions of UP that I tweaked or reworked through time included.
 
Please note several legacy effects graphics by Master Deuces, used in any of my FX works with his permission.

This is version 2.0 of my Green Hell mod for WoV. Main goal of this mod is to add dense tree coverage to the Vietnam map. New in the 2.0 are the heavily populated city tiles. Most of the files from 1.0 have been remade, adjusted or added.
 
Quick summary:
 
-Three levels of detail for you to choose from.
-All new jungle graphics
-Cities, the way they should be. More or less :-)
-Objects numbers per tile vary from x2 up to x4 more than in GH.
-All foliage graphics replaced by new, better blending with the terrain textures, and in higher resolution.
-More detail added to the villages, as an attempt to create better looking settlements, but still limited to what Terrain Editor can offer.
-Generally nicer views, lower framerates ;-)

"GREEN HELL 3"
 
Strike Fighters2:Vietnam map modification.
 
Designed for stock SF2:Vietnam VietnamSEA and Modern Darwin map by Wrench
 
Apart from these, should work with older maps using WoV/SF2:V tileset -Burma, Philippines etc in every sim from the series apart FE.
 
Credits:
Wrench, for Modern Darwin map, that forced me to do something with stuff dusting on my hdd
Also for screens templates, used to create optional menu screens.
ShrikeHawk -I think ajusted environmentsytem is based on his work.
Combat Ace -self explanatory, you guys rock!
TK, Thirdwire -for still giving me fun and bugs altogether.
 
This is version 3.0 of my Green Hell mod for SF2:V
After doing some work for Wrench's Darwin map, I decided to go fullscale, re-use my older tileset, finish the tod files, adjust several things and release this as part three.
 
In comparision to previous incarnations of the mod that relied on fabulous tileset by Brain32, this one uses different tileset, based on stock one, thus changing the look significantly if you're familiar with GH series. My goal was to create universal tileset for South East Asia terrains.
Also, as with every new patch old rendering bugs remain unchanged [:(] I decided to change the way of populating tiles, whidh is clearly visible in the jungle areas. No more large clusters of trees, replaced with smaller individual trees to minimize the possibility of rendering errors.
 
As a bonus included are new environment system (based on great fork by ShrikeHawk) with reduces size of clouds and increased minimum altitude of these, to further minimize famous "trees vs clouds" rendering errors. Also I added new menu screens with GH3 theme I use in my SF2V install.

Korea (V3) visual update and enhancements pack.
 
This is new tileset, treemod, objects, targets enhancement mod for Wrench's Korea(v3) terrain.
 
Version 1.1 update:
Added missing graphics files for the village type objects, added three graphics to main folder (were in seasonal ones) just to be extra sure
 
Why:
Kevin's Korea V3 terrain was released with temporal f***ing ugly test set I made for KAW team back in early 2010, despite me having some other nicer fittable sets at my disposal. Yes I have been angry about that. Very very angry. But now I am ok, good doctors care for me here ;)
 
This work is done to fix that omission of mine and I tired hard to make Korea nice place to fly in.
 
What's this:
 
-new summer and winter tilesets
-new tile layout-following dedicated TOD objects, with densely placed and rather real-size objects
-new era-themed ground objects (barracks, fuel tanks, tents, HQ, fire houses, misc buildings etc) to replace the stock TW ones, be it in airbases or targetareas
-some older target objects have their textures tweaked or repainted under fair use license; that is mostly various "halle" objects by either Gepard or Gocad
(various runways are yet to be repainted)
-lots of targetareas have re-positioned targets to avoid i.e. barracks in the middle of tree cluster or factories sunken within tod buildings -but there is still LOTS of places to redo. You have been warned.
-lots of targetareas expanded with additional eyecandy civilian village-type objects (though these are still a bit of WIP and bit "generic asian" in appearance; also these are old, like 5 years old)
-the tiles are specfically tuned to work best with SARCASM 2 beta 2 update 1 lighting and sky
 
Installation (read carefully!):
 
-given the amount of objects this pack replaces you are advised to keep archived full current Korea terrain you use (it's called BACKING UP and it's really healthy, trust me)
-this pack assumes you do have working Korea (v3) terrain installed and tested in your installation -dedicated Korean War installation in of course preferable
-before installing content of this 7-zip archive, go to your Korea3 folder and delete EVERY SINGLE TOD file there (the files with .tod extension) -otherwise you might end with trees in wrong places of houses in the sea. Yes, really.
-you can delete the seasonal tiles folders (winter, spring, fall, late fall etc) as this pack has new unique seasons in their new folders with new naming (fade_summer and fade_winter; why "fade"? This months-long project I kept under such code name to confuse my better half or possible Insky-related hacker bot that keeps attacking my emails. Ohh wait, where's my tilfoil hat?)
-extract this archive to a place of your choice and move the Korea3 folder to your terrains one overwriting all files when asked. Overwriting IS vital of course.
-you shall test my Sarcasm 2 beta (2 update 1) with this pack, really. i have my own, ohh well "art style" for SF2 series these packs represent; you might not like this but well, you can't change me can you?
-in SF2 WW2 forum I released some new or updated effects, work well with this pack
-you're pretty much good to go at this point
 
Licensing:
CA Freeware license apply -not to be used in any payware project; But you are encouraged to repaint and tweak the tiles, objects and associated graphis, tods to fit your own tileset or terrain.
 
Credits:
The author of the original decade old SFP1 Korea mod terrain as I tried to replicate it's general green-brownish tones.
Wrench and KAW team for Korea3 and everything-Korea related. Than you guys. KAW mod is not yet dead. Or I'd rather say quite alive and kicking.
Do335 for his work invested in putting the KAW team work and available assets back together. Much appreciated.
Luk1978 for sharing with us his interesting repaint of my Taiwan/Korea set that gave me few ideas about the general feel of the set, thank you. Be back to SF2 please as you quietly do interesting stuff IMO.
All the good and bad souls at Combat Ace and around :P
 
Happy flying
Stary

High Resolution (1024x1024) SF2E GermanyCE terrain update part 1 of 2
 
This package, split into two parts, is full visual update to SF2E Germany map. Created from scratch, includes high resolution (1024 x 1024 pixels) seasonal tilesets to create 5 distinctive seasons in game (6, actually). Many areas of Germany, aswell as airbase areas were retiled with new custom seasonal tiles.
 
Included is also newer high resolution, high density treemod with updated graphics.
 
!!!PLEASE NOTE THIS MOD WAS DEVELOPED FOR STRONG COMPUTERS!!!
 
You need 512MB Dx10 capable card to run it without slowdowns on full resolution.

This is cockpit for North Atlantic's native Yak-38 Forger carrier-based VTOL fighter.
 
for SF2:North Atlantic -fully merged installation preferred
 
Made in and tested with >>MAY 2013<< installation, should work ok with older or newer ones though.
 
Won't work in Series1.

This is cockpit for MiG-23BN ground attack jet fighter of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pack countries from the 1970s -I think usable in vast array of either MiG-23 or 27 dedicated ground attack planes (sans the TV display equipped ones...)
 
Build for and tested with Eburger68&Team's Flogger-H found in the great Floggers pack here:
 
http://combatace.com/files/file/12149-sf2-mig-23-mig-27-floggers-part-3/
 
I have supplied modified data that makes the small pressure air tubes and antennae just slightly visible from the cockpit, other than that no other alterations to that file have been made.
 
Have fun
 
Stary

My third approach at modyfying explosions to give them that familiar hollywood-style exaggerated look: new graphics, new emitters, brand new look for the series. And YES, they are best looking when combined with the HDR/Bloom plugin.
 
New for the series are generic nuclear effects.

UPDATE 8.03.2008
 
v2.01
 
-included missing 23mm.tga and pinky.tga used by 23mmobjecthiteffect -thanks to Canadair for finding it
-included flareflash.tga, available in separate fix download
 
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This is a major update and extension of my "Enhanced Explosions" effects pack.
 
If you've been using original Enhanced Explosions, you know what to expect -Hollywood style cinematic explosions, created to give TK's sims
a blast. Also I still enjoy old "Jane's ATF" very much, and I missed some of it's spectacular fire in the sky lately.
 
New stuff included is mostly about ground strikes and various air2ground weapons effects.

tiny additon, if you use Green Hell 3.5 here are slightly modified trees graphics
also buildings textures made a little little darker
 
unpack to your Vietnam map, overwrite
 
enjoy

This is simplified Mig-17PF/PFU cockpit. Right now it is released as final beta so there are some issues with this pit, but generally it's working.
 
Avionics are slightly what if, but works ok given the limitations in portraying of Red side birds.
 
Read included readme for requirements, credits and instalation info!

HOLLYWOOD EXPLOSIONS
 
(Previously announced as "Enhanced Explosions 4")
 
by Stary
 
For Thirdwire series of Flight Simulators
 
both Gen1 and Gen2 titles
 
Note:
This pack was made for, and heavily tested in SF2:Israel merged with all SF2 gen titles. Dec09 patch installation.
No warranty for Gen1 Series/HDR Mod usage!
 
-----------------------------------------------------
 
Hollywood Explosions f/x pack is my 4th edition of effects modding. I decided to name it this way, as a tribute to Longbow/Longbow 2 series of simulators -there was such an option there...
 
And ideology besides, as EE4 sounds kinky, new name for the pack... ok, RAMBO 4 was good, ALIEN Ressu-whatever was not...

MiG-19P / MiG-19PF cockpit
 
please read the readme.txt for more informations

IL-28 Beagle cockpit v1.0
by Stary
30.05.2013
This is cockpit for soviet Il-28 jet bomber.
Comes with build-in experimental, yet working and accurate bombsight. An evolution of idea I had back in 2008 or so...
The bombsight switches on automatically when you select air to ground ordnances (including guns).
Selecting caged mode switches you back to pilot's seat.
Minor changes to data.ini to make guns separate for the ammo counters to work etc.
Made and tested in Jul12 full-merged installation, so it's preferable setup. Anyway you'll need stock Il-28 Beagle for this (but can be used with other planes, as fits you taste)
Has NOT been tested in latest May13 install, you have been warned. Should work ok though
Credits:
TK,Thirdwire for keeping the PC series still alive
CombatAce community for being great bunch of people
Installation:
Unpack to your stock IL-28 folder, overwrite.
Legal info etc:
CA Freeware License apply. Feel free to tweak/repaint/re-release in other mods, just give me credits.
Not to be used in any sort of payware.
Have fun
Stary

This is my second attempt in giving default map a better, rich-environment look.
 
This mod adds thousands of trees and bushes in the open farmlands, new, dense jungle in the mountains, little vietnamese huts (ok, not really), paddy-fields, ruins, temples, buffalos and so on.
 
I focused my work on variety of trees and bushes, not the buildings. City set WILL be released later.
 
________________________________________________________________________________
YOU NEED Brain32's high resolution VietnamSEA repaint for this to work properly!
________________________________________________________________________________

Version 1.3 posted, read the changelog.
 
I strongly suggest you keep the 1.2 version backed up in case you don't like certain aspects of changes introduced in 1.3 (specular effect you might find too excessive)
 
--------------------------------
Super Mystere B2 cockpit
 
To install unpack to your Super Mystere folder, overwrite when asked
 
have fun
Stary

Kamchatka Peninsula 250m heightmesh update with corresponding tweaks and rejuvenated/extended tileset and layout
for Strike Fighters 2, best fully-merged installation
v1.0
by Stary
July 2016
 
 
 
^^^^----------------------------------------------^^^^
 
This is test rebuild of Baltika's and Wrench's Kamchatka terrain, based on Kamchatka v2.0 which is major update to original Baltika's
terrain by Wrench.
 
This is semi-experimental update aimed at demonstrating and testing in wider userbase usage of denser resolution heightmesh.
I can >>not<< guarantee the stability of this terrain due to engine limitations and what I observed and what seems to be slight memory handling issues of the SF2 engine
 
Credits:
Baltika and Wrench for their work on Kamchatka map.
Gerwin for TFD tool and BMP2TFD
Combatace and Thirdwire
All the nice people around here
 
Extended information, please read carefully!
 
The height mesh:
 
The stock Thirdwire .hfd terrain format uses publictly available DEM (digital elevation model) databases to produce 500 meters vertex
spaced terrain meshes with 2000 meters tiles covering them. This is proven, easy to use system but 500 meters is awfully 1999 technology
for 2016 systems. Thus given my efforts into NA LOD-based terrains creation stalled due to lack of knowledge and tools I decided to
reproduce one of more interesting yet obscure maps available, the Kamchatka Peninsula.
The mesh in this download currently uses 250 meters resolution which is twice the density and detail* compared to original terrain.
Please note that due to being based on low resolution hfd file output the actual height representation is somewhat off compared to real terrain!
Not much and not that it really matters much. "If it looks good it is good"
 
New heightmap was created in several steps which I now describe to help other more advanced terrain modders possibly use this method:
 
First steps -Gerwin's TFDTool and Photoshop:
-I used Gerwin's TDF tool to output the heightmap via F9 key
-Also created the textures bitmap as a helper file via F7 key
-The created file in grayscale is 3000x3000, which corresponds to 500m resolution on 1500000m map (3000/2=1500! Magic!)
-Thus I rescaled the file to 6000x6000 pixels, the same with the texture bitmap which I copied to greyscale file for reference
-The 6000x6000 or twice the original is the 250m per pixed heightfield file
-I filled the blue water areas TFDTool creates with pure black 0,0,0
-Then I spent some time in Photoshop working on several layers and using several brushes and tools to slightly tweak the grayscale height
image, mostly to brighten the higher areas and adjust some more interesting places. Mostly blur, stroke tools and some slight wave-y
filers to add some detail to now ARTIFICIALLY pumped up resolution (further on this below)
-Pro tip: to get rid of any water/shore artifacts is easy way, the so called tsunami waves or coast areas on slopes I selected the
texture map layer, selected all water areas (select by pixel color) and created another pure black layer on top of the main height layer,
that drops slight shadows around it (2 to 4 pixels black shadow) -this way the heightmap gets toned down for few pixels (two is good
value) when near the water areas; think smart not hard as The Ancient One says :P
when the heightmap was considered ready I flattened it and converted to 8bit palleted file using the stock Thirdwire terrain editor
palette (you can do this palette by exporting any heightmap as bitmap from within the TE and saving it's palette to file, most programs
allow palette saving)
 
Second step -Thirdwire Terrain Editor, the 042106 version:
so now I had the TE-format palleted 8bit heightmap but to import it without further data loss I needed to adjust the TerrainEditor.ini
settings via notepad:
-the line that specifies the min-max scale of height present in the file is this line:
 
[bitmapImport]
HeightScale=15 <---- this line, by default uses value of 10
MinLandHeight=0 <---- by default 1
 
experimenting with this value gives you the similar results as using PGUP/PGDN keys when using Gerwin's bmp2tfd tool, basically sets the global vertical scaling of min-max values in file
 
To create new 250m resolution the values at creating new map are as follows:
Terrain Map Size: 1500 (km, like original Kamchatka terrain)
Texture Tile Resolution: 2000 (meters, like all common SF2 maps and tilesets)
Height Field Resolution: 250 (meters, compared to defaul 500 meters)
 
Then if you do have the texturelist loaded yo ushould get new flat terrain with textures filling the areas, just impor t he
heightmap from the created 6000x6000 paletted bitmap and save.
This is basic procedure, same can be used to create 125 meters resolution terrains (I did so for Korea3 terrain so far) BUT those are unstable and I am still trying to get
perfect values in BOTH flightengine.ini and given terrain's _data.ini
*now the heihgt information/detail gets lost every time we index the heightmap so one must then increase the HeightScale= value to get
more or less proper -OR GOOD LOOKING height values. Also be warned that Gerwin's TFDTool doesn't properly translate non-standard maps
(1000 kilometers ones go ok though) that is why the TE hassle
That said -the height scale is a bit OFF in this map so if you are a purist complain all you want, I wanted better looking mesh more than
geographical accuracy. To have the latter we need to come up with otehr height data sources for denser terrains. I have yet to look into
the tools and programs I own what could be of use.
 
Installation:
 
Before installing this mod BACKUP your Kamchatka terrain!!! There is possibility you won't get this terrain working at all so I warned
you!
 
To install this exctract the zip and move the content of the included folder to your Kamchatka terrain, overwrite when asked.
 
This way now you have new terrain tfd and hfd files, new inis, TODs and new reworked tileset in both summer nad winter flavours in their respective folders.
The mod has all the nedded tweaks into kamchatka.ini and kamchatka_data.ini already present,
HOWEVER to use this terrain in efficient way (ie, not to experience CTDs when loading the map every signle time) please do adjust few
 
things in your installation:
The essential is making small adjustments to your flightengine.ini file
 
[backgroundSceneClip]
FarClipDistance=70000
 
by default uses value of 80000, and while I now use the original value to prevent possible memory crashes use the 70000 value which lowers the loaded terrain "bubble" around the camera.
Also if you do use very extended trees/objects drawing distances (with or without additions of Mue's extra distance fading shaders) I
recommend lowering the DetailMeshSize= values, start with something like 8 or 10 and try if the map loads for you, can then increase this
further, it might be very VERY system-dependent
 
Known Bugs:
YES this is test and YES you might get constant CTDs when loading missions; might be very computer or installation dependent. I have
medium-high system and work ok with the values I use in inis. Also can't guarantee if some crazy large scale missions wouldn't prevernt the
terrain OR textures to load, as I have hit some engine limitations during more brutal force tests. That is why the tileset, albeit I have
it in 1024px resolution too, is 512 version.
 
Also you should have much less of issues when using ObjectsFade=TRUE and not using Mue's extender draw distance shaders. That is because
the sim engine apparently does not have to load ALL the TODs at once during mission loading, just later when need be.
Anyway that is my assumption, I might be totally wrong
 
Legal stuff:
CA Fair Use license apply, not to be used as base or part of any sort of payware
 
That should be all,
have fun (I hope) and if you are terrain modder, try my method. Again, 500m res is soo 1999 :P
 
Stary

This is repainted, enhanced tileset of GermanyCE terrain from SF2 Europe.
 
Version 1.1 -check changelog for list of updates.
 
All roads have been darkened, now appear as medium gray; opposite to previous yellowish -white.
All seasons have been replaced by new ones, slightly different than before. New seasons added -thaw before spring and early summer.
All TOD files are new, taken strictly from "trees, buildings graphics, TODs update" recently released.
Main G-type fields layout has been corrected and organised. Now layout is back more like it was in original TW tileset. Corresponding modified TODs included.
As an experiment all bmp files have been replaced by jpg format for HDD space conservation.
Tiles are 512x512, downsampled from 1024x1024 templates.
 
This pack FULLY replaces any of my GermanyCE 4 seasons mods. You don't need to have previous version installed -if you do, all old files will be replaced by new ones.
 
 

Ejecting pilots mod update.
 
Includes new great parachute graphics by Luk1978. Thank you! Also thanks to Epizikl for additional info. Wish we could use 3D chutes.
 
Now you can chose one from three aircraft fire effect versions:
 
1 -stock Thirdwire one, with original fire and smoke materials
2 -"Enhanced Explosions 3" version
3 -napalm-like one from beta release
 
Also the size of chute scaled to fit the new graphics.

This is highly detailed, high poly cockpit model of iconic soviet jet fighter MiG-15 Bis.
 
Thanks to Do335 and Coupi for some very nice tweaks to my previous MiG-15 cockpits which were incorporated into this mod; also to Swambast for some reference materials.
I made my best to make most of the instruments working; possibly includes some new never before seen creative solutions ;)
 
Read the readme for the boring stuff and additional info.
 
Have fun
Stary