Birds Of Gear

Moving Files to Google Sites.

2009-10-21T12:56:00.005-04:00

As my current file host spams users with pop-ups when they use the direct links, I'm moving all the downloadable content to a Google site, called, you guessed it,
NicQ's Workshop

Updates coming to the Stampe SV-4 any day now, as well as the first public version of my FDM for the zlin-50 in CVS.

Also a HUD patch (sourcecode) is forthcoming that puts diamonds over ground targets, instead of circles.

Tank Convoy AI scenario

2009-10-09T00:24:00.006-04:00

Vivian Meazza recently added a new AI vehicle type for FGFS in CVS, for ground vehicles, appropriately called, you guessed it, groundvehicle.
You need an executable from late September at least, NOT compatible with 1.9.x.
It's strictly "player side", so other fighter jocks in MP won't see the same convoy as you.
At least, you'll have things to do in the same neighbourhood, and a nice change from Alcatraz, hehe.

You'll find an AI scenario using the new ground vehicle class here, that uses the M1-Abrams AI model you can find in the Nellis Bombing Range demo.
For simplicity's sake, I've included it with the scenario.
Just uncompress the archive in your data folder, and if needed, let it merge folders.
You'll then have an AI scenario called BayArea-CA-Tank-Invasion1.xml (thanks to flug for reminding me of the Abrams, in this thread). Just load it up, and off you go.

It's a simulated exercise of an attack on the Stanford Particle Accelerator : the tanks start near the La Honda Creek Regional Space.

TACAN reference is 86X, albeit the convoy is a few miles further South Eastish than the station itself. No radial as it's a moving convoy, more or less following a road that's not modelled in FGFS.
At least, they have desert camo on, which makes them stand out in the green.

Google Map of the convoy (can be used to generate a Google Earth .kmz file)

Load up a plane with bombs, rockets or guns and get them.
Damage them enough and they'll start to burn (only slightly modified from the original files)
They'll keep moving 'though, but it's already quite a challenge.

Enjoy, and watch your six !!

Tank Convoy AI Scenario

Edit : didn't realize the file host had pop ups galore, will move my files asap.
Sorry.

21/10/2009 : Update to change links to new host.

Stampe SV-4

2009-10-01T14:25:00.003-04:00

There is a very nice Stampe SV-4 in CVS, a model made by Emmanuel Baranger (aka Helijah), with the default livery by Laurent Hayvel and beautiful additional ones by Brett Harrisson. I hope all of you find my modifications fit for your work ;)

I've been working on an alternate Yasim FDM for it, striving for more realism, as I practice some basic aerobatic manoeuvres with it. It's included in the nicq aerobatic set file.
Some changes are adding a pilot point mass to the cruise and approach tags, various tweaks on the surfaces (AOA was way too high).
The original FDM is intact in the package.

It's available in my workshop, and it'll be committed to CVS when ready.

It also includes the possibility of having the passenger model appear when it's weight is non null.
Simply go in the payload menu, and add some passenger weight. Maximum weight for aerobatics is around 1695 lbs (770 kg).
Solo flight is back only, so if you reduce the pilot weight to 0, you're just being crazy, hehe :)
The solver is only set with a 180lbs pilot in the back, no passenger, so when the latter is added, it then mucks up the weight distribution, impairing some manoeuvres and facilitating others.
Fun, polite plane, in the words of a pilot.
I'll eventually add dual control to the Stampe, as it would make a really nice aircraft to teach virtual aerobatics in.

I've changed the pilot and co-pilot, when present, for a WW2 style one from another of Helijah's plane, who I think better fit the bill of an open cockpit.

Those changes affect both setfiles included in the package, the original one (slightly modified for smoke and co-pilot) and my work on making an FDM more in line with the reported aerobatic capabilities of the Stampe.
So if you want to be able to merge with CVS, merge it with your local copy, or make a backup of your old Stampe, and install this one.

It's not a Zivko Edge or a Zlin, but it can certainly do intermediate level figures, even if it's real hard to score points in competition with it, according to another pilot, Don Peterson, who flew the Stampe in pro aerobatics competitions.

It includes an MP propagated smoke machine, toggled on and off with Shift-s.
Color can be toggled from white, blue, red with u and shift-u (reverse order).

Work in progress, comments and feedback welcome, as well as references, hard data, etc.. Eventually will make its way into CVS, bien sûr !!

You can find it here

21/10/2009 : Updated links to new host

Birds looking for tender loving care

2009-08-26T12:44:00.009-04:00

As some of you might know, Emmanuel Baranger, aka Helijah, is a big contributor of "official" aircrafts, meaning they can be both found in CVS and at his hangar.
What most of you probably don't know, if you haven't bothered to read the note at his hangar, is that Helijah doesn't really care about modelling the flight envelope of his birds, his main interest being 3d modelling.
He certainly welcomes fellow FGFS users adopting his aircraft to work on their FDMs.

If you're interested in the topic of Flight Dynamics Modelling (FDMs), and can't model (like me), he literally has dozens of aircraft waiting for your input :)

I'm already working on a couple of them : mostly the Stampe SV-4 and ZLin 50 these days, but also the SPAD-VII and the Ryan Spirit of St-Louis and PT-22, as well as continued development of the Lockheed NF-104A, using a 3D model he developed for me.

In the same vein, DCulp, maintainer of Dave's Hangar and a long time contributor to both jsbsim (maintainer of Aeromatic) and FGFS, is also requesting some help with a few of his newest aircraft projects.
There are both a P-47 and an A-4 waiting for tender, loving care.

Do the right thing and adopt a bird and give it wings !!

It begins...

2009-08-26T12:18:00.003-04:00

Following the example of my fellow FGFSer DCulp, who maintains Dave's Hangar, I decided to finally follow through on my previous reservation of two (!!) blog addresses for FGFS blogging earlier this year, by actually starting to post in one of them (after a name, url and content thematic change, hehe)
It will not be centred on modern air warfare as was my original intent, albeit it will touch on the topic on a regular basis, but rather, range across the whole spectrum of my aviation interests, simulated or not.

This is where I'll share my own modest contributions to the FGFS community.
Hope you find it useful,
Cheers !
Nic