General Category > Unofficial F/A-18 Acceleration Pack board
Sludge Hornet Modifications
Sludge:
To all...
I know this might be corny to some of you, but for me, this email I just got makes all of OUR efforts worth it. Yes, I know he was thanking me, but seriously... I'm just the name on the package. This goes out to all the fellas here that designed a gauge or two or three (JR, Serge), helped out (Orion, Raz), or even just gave inputs (Paco, Ave_Joe, Spaz) to make the Sludge Hornet what it is today.
"Hi, my name is Raul Aubele and y am from Argentina and y have to tell you that the work you have done with the Hornet is absolutly EXELENT and y have no words to describe your changes, for example the sound makes Turbine Sound Studios looks like a litle mouse under your work, All of the changes you have done are incredible real and makes so confused to know what is virtual and what real in real world. Please excuse for my English because y speak spanish and thanks you for ever and ever."
- Raul Aubele and Family.
Serge, I had to laugh because now you're making TSS seem like a little mouse! Its funny how some things dont get lost in translation.
Anyway, just thought Id share that as I had a good laugh and glad someone cared enough to write. Usually, we complain loudly about the bad things and dont praise the good things.
Later
Sludge
Mickey_Techy:
--- Quote from: Sludge on August 23, 2010, 11:53:59 pm ---....Usually, we complain loudly about the bad things and dont praise the good things....
--- End quote ---
Hey Sludge,
I am sure you already know, what a wonderful airplane you have created.
I am a part of a virtual military, and if it makes you feel any better, we have a whole squadron based off the 'Sludge Hornet'.
Mickey.
PS: I have always said, you guys are doing some wonderful job. Ciao
neutrino:
--- Quote from: Sludge on August 23, 2010, 04:37:59 pm ---JR...
Have you ever thought of doing a "weapons" panel to go along with HUD control panel? I mean, make a "left side armament panel" that would have a Master Arm switch, then an A/A switch (maybe get the A/A and A/G lights working), and a weapons select switch that would pull up a Gun Pipper w/cone "locked InLAR" logic, Heaters with proper sybology/growl, or AIM-120s and its wide-lock dashed line cone. Dont think the USN/USMC aircraft even use AIM-7s anymore, as the remaining ones have been reworked to be shipboard defense missiles.
If you did this, perhaps with some help from Scott, it could be the first stage of a whole Hornet avionics upgrade. Right now, I might have a guy who will re-animate and re-model the interior .mdl for the Hornet. Of course, HUD collimation is the first order of business for me, but if you already had the HUD Armament panel working along with weapons tracking, it would be a natural progression to integrate those functions into the interior model. Once it gets done.
Just an idea. Ill write Scott and see what he's up for as well.
Later
Sludge
--- End quote ---
Sludge, I don't know about this, it's a serious work, and I think the functions are not documented unlike the other HUD symbology which is described in the NATOPS. The math is not very difficult, but still, even if I do have all the necessary information, it will be a partial solution - you can't really carry weapons, can't fire weapons, can't shoot down some one in multiplayer. Flight Simulator was not designed to be a combat sim and going in that direction is not a cool exercise. Keep in mind that what we put in that HUD, cost me and Scott a lot of research and gathering background information, and when I put the adjective "realistic" this was not a marketing buzz word. You can see this from the recent TACAN distance discussion. How could I possibly know where the TACAN antenna is from the 20 antennas the carrier has? I could still be wrong about it's position. But I searched around, looked for close-up pictures of carrier masts, looked at diagrams of TCN antennas etc. What about the ILS antennas (we improved that a little thanks to you)? What about the glideslope angle - how do I know it's 3.99 degrees in FSX carriers and how do I know the angled deck is 8.496 degrees in Javier's carrier and 9.193 in the default carrier? As I said, it's a lot of work and I don't like to do partial solutions that are almost like the real thing - then it's not a simulation, it's a game. An exception would be the refueling gauge, but it's a separate gauge, not part of the HUD.
My personal opinion, is that we should keep the Acceleration Hornet realistic with the focus on carrier landings. This would include of course flight model, HUD collimation, sound, smoke, livery etc. Anything outside that, especially combat simulation, is IMHO a step in the wrong direction. Carrier landings are all about flight simulation at it's most difficult - it's about precision, discipline, understanding the fundamentals of flight, concentration, monitoring a number of variables at the same time etc. So is of course formation flying. Air combat is about situational awareness (TrackIR !), pulling hard G's, energy management, understanding of ACM etc. It's a different ball game and there are better sims for that :)
Sludge:
JR...
I definately understand its serious work. It takes a long time, you have to research, and also there is very little REALIZED reward for your work other than a thank you email, or someone telling you they liked your work. Personally, I just like upgrading the default to something better... that's why I'm gonna start the research on weapons/HUD parameters.
Now, here is where we disagree... that going down this road is NOT the wrong direction, nor will it end up with me wanting to have A/A or A/G weapons that actually work in FSX. I wont. First of all, my ONLY hope is to have avionics and associated HUD cues for the weapons; I don't need actual weapons to fly off the jet, blow up, or rake an "enemy" over the coals w/gun rounds. You'll NEVER HEAR THAT CALL FROM ME, nor would I release anything like that on the Sludge. I mean, if someone designs drop tanks, AIM-120s, AIM-9s, and gives them weight for a more realistic look and feel, ala the CAPTSIM Delta Hornet, I'm all about that... but not actual weapons employment. I'd be happy with just being able to have a lock box, a gun pipper, or missile cues w/correct symbology, or even locking up the tanker for air refueling and having the associated HUD lock box... and that'd be the end of this road for me and the Sludge Hornet. Then, we can incorporate that into a collimated HUD... if that ever comes to fruition.
If you're thinking about it, know that you wont be alone in doing the research. I'll also be working on this, and if you need, we can go over stuff that you need from me. There is obviously no timeline, I dont care if it takes months. Nor would this be a step towards the default Hornet into a full combat jet. VRS already did that, and I'm happy with this Hornet... as evidenced that I had to take back this thread from becoming a commentary on what is the "best combat sim" from you know who.
If you're not in, no big deal, just need to know if you dont wanna do it.
Later
Sludge
IRONDAN:
Agree with you my friend, just having external fuel tanks and the hud symbology would be amazing.
Dan
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