MiG-21PFM's hidden surprise

[Fubar512 1,350]

When Strike Fighters: project 1 was first released in November of 2002, it included the MiG-21PFM in its plane-set, as an AI-only model.

 

Originally, the SF '21PFM came equipped with an integral GP-9 gunpod (integral in the sense that it was setup as a node of that aircraft's 3D model). Over the course of the next few years, as more titles were added to the series (and as the developer sought to find a happy medium between those seeking historical accuracy, and those that were simply interested in game-play), the '21PFM seems to have lost its gunpod. In reality, it did not. It was simply left out, by deletion of any callouts for it in the model's data.ini.

 

When Third Wire released the second generation of its Strike Fighters series (SF2), almost all of the 3D models were revamped, with most sporting higher poly-counts, better texture mapping, and the addition of new "nodes", intended to add eye-candy, such as afterburner rings. The MiG-21PFM was no exception.

 

Back in the day, those of us who sought at least a modicum of realism in our game-play, discovered a way to effectively remove the GP-9 pod from the '21PFM'ss fuselage. It was, afterall, seldom carried by that aircraft under real-life conditions. Having kept notes on the "removal" process, I attempted to see if that same node was still included in the '21PFM model's .lod file, and if so, to see if it could be summoned back into service

 

The original removal process did not entirely eliminate the weapon, it simply turned it into an optional store that could be easily added to that model's loadout list. By incorporating the necessary changes to the '21PFM's data.ini file, and by adding the node as one would a weapons model in SF2, I was able to bring it back....Third Wire had not removed it when they'd updated the PFM's 3D model!

 

The process to add it is quite simple. First, extract the MiG-21PFM_data.ini and Mig-21PMF_loadout.ini files from the ObjectData002.cat file, using Gerwin's CatPack.exe (available in our downloads section). Then, place both files into the MiG-21PMF folder in your mods folder (the location of said folder varies with ones operating system, but it's always a sub-folder of your Thirdwire/StrikeFighters2 or "StrikeFighter2 X" folder).

 

Next, open up the relocated MiG-21PFM_data.ini file, scroll down to the weapons stations entry. Copy and paste the following right above it

 

// Internal Guns ---------------------------------------------------------

 

[internalGun]

SystemType=WEAPON_STATION

StationID=3

StationGroupID=2

StationType=EXTERNAL

AttachmentPosition=0.0,1.5,-0.58

AttachmentAngles=0.0,0.0,0.0

LoadLimit=320

AllowedWeaponClass=GP

AttachmentType=SOVIET

ModelNodeName=GP-9_Gunpod

BurstAmount=12

TracerLoad=2

MaxAmmo=250

EjectShells=TRUE

 

Next, go into the objects/weapons folder, and create a folder for the gun pod. Name it GP-9 (there is a comprehensive knowledge base thread just on adding weapons in SF2 that I suggest you read).

 

Inside of the GP-9 folder, one must add a .ini and a data.ini file. They are to be named GP-9.ini and GP-9_Data.ini.

 

In the GP-9.ini file, add the following data:

 

[WeaponData]

ObjectDataFile=GP-9_data.ini

 

[LOD001]

Filename=gp9.lod

Distance=350

 

[shadow]

CastShadow=TRUE

ShadowCastDist=2000

MaxVisibleDistance=100

 

Make sure that you name it GP-9.ini and save it as type "all files".

 

Next, open the GP-9_Data.ini and add this data to it:

 

[WeaponData001]

TypeName=GP-9

FullName=GP-9 Gunpod

ModelName=gp9

Mass=300.000000

Diameter=0.260000

Length=3.074000

AttachmentType=WP,SOVIET

NationName=SOVIET

StartYear=1968

EndYear=0

Availability=2

BaseQuantity=1

Exported=TRUE

ExportStartYear=1968

ExportEndYear=0

ExportAvailability=2

WeaponDataType=3

GunTypeName=23MM_GSH23

MaxRounds=250

MuzzlePosition=0.000000,0.000000,0.000000

LightPosition=0.000000,0.000000,0.000000

AimDirection=0.000000,2.300000,0.000000

EjectShells=1

EjectPosition=0.000000,-1.800000,-0.250000

EjectVelocity=0.000000,0.000000,-2.000000

 

Again, make sure that it's saved as type: all files and that it's named GP-9_Data.ini.

 

To test the gun-pod, I suggest that you make the '21PFM flyable, by adding Mago/Paladrian's excellent MiG-21PF cockpit (again, follow the steps outlined in either the knowledge base, or in the cockpit's readme file).

 

If you've followed the steps outlined above, you should see this when go to the loadout screen :

 

 

To add the gunpod as a regular, fixed load-out, open up the MiG-21PFM_loadout.ini file, and add the following to your mission-type loadout of preference:

 

[Attack]

Loadout[01].WeaponType=UV16

Loadout[01].Quantity=1

Loadout[02].WeaponType=UV16

Loadout[02].Quantity=1

Loadout[03].WeaponType=GP-9

Loadout[03].Quantity=1

 

One of the nice things about having this gun-pod setup as a model node, as opposed to a load-out, is that it's mapped to use whatever skin-texture you select for that model.

 

Soviet Silver:

 

DDR Camo:

Edited July 22, 2010 by Fubar512