Nyghtfall

"The Last of the Best!" The last of 2960 A-4 Skyhawk built...in 2 variations. The one with "Navy/Marines" was the first scheme used on February 1979. After delivery to USMC squadron VMA-331, they changed some bits of it and added the "The Last of the Best! A4's Forever!" - True words. The second part are Malaysian A-4PTM / TA-4PTM... I adjusted the colors and added the worn look. The single seater is dedicated to Lt. Khoo (callsign Frog) from the RMAF, who flew the real bird and that helped me out here with information about this somewhat shady (at least for me) Scooter-variant. Still working on getting all new Pylons and Rails skinned (Maverick- and Sidewinder-Rail, aswell as all Pylons are done yet). I hope you like it. Edit: Typo.

looks great! I really like the weathring-effects.

np, I had a similar problem not to long ago, so this was my first guess. :)

Nice to see this! After all those years....still active and good looking. :)

I wish you the best. Hope everything goes well!

Thanks LeL...that's the one, I meant....it's in the SF1 download section.

Incredible work!

Your cockpit looks interesting. Nice work! Which TA-4K are you using? I only found one for SF1 that could use a polish. The reason I ask: I play around with some foreign skyhawks these days (Malaysian A-4PTM/TA-4PTM currently, next could be Singaporean A-4S-1). And I always thought about doing a TA-4K some time as supplement for dtmdragons nice kiwi singleseater scooters. The cockpit could be a nice addidition, although the mainproblem I see is the missing details on the planes base models (brakechute fairing, bent refueling probe, squared fintip, some antennas maybe for the TA-4K for example). Seems like the SF1 TA-4K is missing all these. As I currently fight hard with Blender and Max to get a new set of pylons done for the TA-4 (also usable for A-4) with all possible launchrails, some of this fakepilot-add ons are simply beyond my skill (and would require some trial and error to get the needed size and shape -> Singapore) :/ I already tried to get in contact with some people that already did Skyhawk-Addons, but never got a reply. Maybe anyone has any interest in it?

New Wing Pylons for the TA-4/A-4 with additional Launchrails (LAU-34 for Shrike and Bullpup and LAU-7 for Sidewinder at the moment). A big thanks to RussoUK2004 for helping me with conversion, hints and improvements!

Thanks Dan! I'm doing my best. Still trying to find and create something new every day. :) An old Malaysian A-4PTM wearing the original delivery camouflage. I played with weathering on this one and tried to give it a somewhat worn look.

Unfortunately I only have Flight Manuals, so I can't help you with this. But I found Standard Aircraft Characteristics of several Planes. I don't have a clue how accurate they are, but I hope they are of any value for you. I had a look at planes, they are candidates for Aero 7D pods. At around 1970 these pods are listed under "Training Stores", with LAU-3A/A usually listed under "Rocket Launchers" on A-4C. In 1967 they are listed under ordnance on the F-4B without mention of LAU-3 (but LAU-10 are listed). And on the A-4E from 1967 only LAU-3A/A Pods are mentioned, but no Aero 7D (not even as training stores). And, to create more confusion, on A-1H/J from 1967 LAU-3/A and Aero 7D are listed unter Rocket Packs. Interesting is the fact, that in the F-4J file the rocketpod is mentioned as "Aero 7D(LAU-3A)" and "Aero 6A-2 (LAU-32A)". My guess is that Aero 7D was the original designation and at some time in the 60s they were renamed to LAU-3/A...without a variant-letter....and LAU-3A/A would be the second variant (with the change of the more pointy covers to the round ones), that came later and was then first used on USAF-planes. I only found > that < FlightGlobal issue from 1958 of an USAF-plane using Aero 7D Pods. Maybe this was just some sort of test to adapt the Aero 7D to the USAF? I'm guessing here, but maybe someone has more information. Planes I found, that are listed for Aero 7D or are mentioned in regards of that pod include: A-1 Skyraider (Navy), A-4 Skyhawk (Navy), A-6 Intruder (Navy and Marines), F-4 Phantom (Marines), F4D/F-6 Skyray (Navy, capable after refit with different Pylons), F-8H Crusader (SAC lists both Aero 7D and LAU-3A/A with the Aero-pod being somewhat heavier, maybe due to the different cones?), F11F (your Picture, although in the SAC pods are listed as "Aero 7A"...maybe a variation?), F9F-8 (your picture, testing of the pod, in the SAC as "Aero 7B"). It seems hard to find good pictures of that pod, but next weekend I can have a look at the Scooter!-Book. I think that there was some picture in.

First: thanks for your work! I like the new pods. I'm no expert at those pods. But afaik in Vietnam the Navy used 19-shot Rocketpods as a common loadout on their Skyhawks. Some of them even get damaged while firing the rockets. Those pods were called Aero 7D. Some sources list LAU-3A/A or LAU-3 in brackets for them, so I would guess they are either the same or close enough. I did a quick search and found a picture of those 19shot pods on a Skyhawk. I'm off to work now, but I will look for more and better pcitures later.

Inspired by kfrfge's new southeast asia map: Malaysian A-4PTM and TA-4PTM Skyhawks with ravenclaws new LAU-3 Rocketpods. Great work on the pods!

I tested several pods and combinations with unmodded planes and the tractor beam seems to be gone....so obviously it doesn't come from your great pods. Sorry for the confusion! :/

Hi Volker, impressive work! I really like those pods and the smoke-effects. :) I did a quick test and found 3 things (Screenshots attached): - if you look at the "exhaust" of the twin-pods 3 rockets on each pod are of different color than the others. It doesn't seem to be intended...the single-pods don't have that. - on certain angles you can tractor beams. They seem to be visible, if rockets are in the pod. If the pods are empty they aren't there. - all pods seem to have "Attachmenttype=USAF", "Nationname=USAF" and "Exported=false". I guess some sort of differentiation or "NATO" instead of "USAF" could be better here. If this is intended or still WIP just ignore my comment. :) Keep up the good work!

East meets West - TA-7C Twosair of VA-122 (West Coast Training Squadron) and VA-174 (East Coast Training Squadron).

Playing with Twosairs - TA-7C of VA-122. This is one really good looking plane! :)

Congratulations!

View File SF2 Scooters! Vol.3 Skinpack for TW A-4 Scooters! Vol.3 Skinpack for Thirdwire A-4 Skyhawks by Nyghtfall v1.0 ======================================================= *** SF2, SF2V required. Tested in full 5-merged installation *** *** DLC 019 A-4L for 1 Skin *** For this pack I used a somewhat different approach. While playing campaigns, your plane gets upgraded from time to time or the plane changes to a new variant. So I did skins for the upgradepath of some squadrons, that flew in Rolling Thunder Campaign in addition to the ones I already did for the following: VA-153 Blue Tail Flies (2 more in Redux), VA-155 Silver Foxes (completly new) and VA-192 Golden Dragons (2 more in Redux). VA-56 Champions is completely new and included upon special request. And last but not least I did 2 special skins for VMA-142 just for fun and these are included too. This pack contains new skins - VA-56 Champions, USS Ticonderoga, 9/1965 to 5/1966 for A-4E_65 - VA-56 Champions, USS Enterprise, 11/1966 to 7/1967 for A-4C_65 - VA-56 Champions, USS Enterprise, 1/1968 to 6/1968 for A-4E_65 - VA-153 Blue Tail Flies, USS Coral Sea, 7/1967 to 4/1968 for A-4E_65 - VA-155 Silver Foxes, USS Coral Sea, 12/1964 to 11/1965 for A-4E and A-4E_65 - VA-155 Silver Foxes, USS Constellation, 10/1966 to 12/1966 for A-4E_65 - VA-155 Silver Foxes, USS Constellation, 5/1966 for 9/1966 for A-4E_65 (experimental camouflage) - VA-155 Silver Foxes, USS Coral Sea, 7/1967 to 4/1968 for A-4E_65 - VA-192 Golden Dragons, USS Bon Homme Richard, 4/1965 to 1/1966 for A-4C and A-4C_65 - VA-192 Golden Dragons, US Ticonderoga, 12/1967 to 8/1968 for A-4F and just for fun: - VMA-142 Flying Gators, NAS Jacksonville, Florida in their '76 Bicentennial Aniversary scheme for A-4F_74 and A-4L Hangarscreens are included in 1920x1080 resolution as default and 1024x768 as optional. As always, feel free to read the readme and have fun with the skins! Sources ======= - Scooter! The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Story, Crécy 2011 - US Navy and Marine Corpse A-4 Units Of Vietnam War - Osprey Combat Aircraft Vol. 69 - A-4 Skyhawk Association, http://a4skyhawk.org/ - GoNavy.jp - Airliners.net - Google in general Installation ============ 1. unzip to a temporary folder 2. open "Put_Content_In_Your_Mod folder" and do as you were told, if asked to overwrite, say 'yes' :P 3. enjoy! If VMA-142 Squadron is missing in the loadout screen, you should add the following lines in the squadronlist.ini ("<mod>\pilotdata"-folder) with XXX changed to the next free number: [squadronXXX] Name=VMA142 DisplayName=VMA-142 'Flying Gators' Nation=USMC Credits ======= - Thirdwire and TK for a great game, models and the cockpit-parts I used. - Old Diego - usnpilot02 from his Diego's Pilot Pack - Alejandro - escapac seat - ???? - J52-Engine-Sound - me - all skins, decals, loadingscreens, ini-work, higher resolution skin for rockeye-cbu Please PM me, if I forgot someone! Thanks ====== - mue for his great LODViewer, which was a big help while creating the camos and placing stuff! - all modders at CombatAce for their work and inspiration! P.S. ==== If you have any problems with this skin or have suggestions and hints, feel free to PM me. 12_07_2015 Submitter Nyghtfall Submitted 07/12/2015 Category A-4

Back at base.

USMC VMA-142 Flying Gators in their Bicentennial Aniversary scheme in 1976