4.13 development update discussion and feedback

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by P-38L

This idea is based on having less AI airplanes and more flyable aircraft. Maybe some of these can be implemented.

Ultimately, there is a limit to the total number of aircraft that can be added to the game, so the designers have to choose their models carefully. Every new variant of a popular plane like the Bf-109 or B-25 potentially prevents an entirely new plane from being added.

It's also useless (at least in the game) to add variants of an existing plane which varied only in minor details, such as positioning of a single turret or changing from 12-volt to 24-volt electrical systems.

It's arguably also not worth it to add variants which didn't see service or only saw limited service.

I believe that TD has a long-term project of adding cockpits and crew stations to existing non-flyable planes. The problem is that modeling a cockpit or crew station is as difficult as modeling the airplane itself, and in some cases references for cockpits and crew stations are hard to find.

So, unless some talented 3d modeler steps up to make the job go faster, it's going to take a while to get new flyable planes in the game.

[shelby]

How many mb will the patch be when it is out?

[KG26_Alpha]

Originally Posted by shelby

How many mb will the patch be when it is out?

Why ?

[shelby]

to write it on my old dvd? or i need a new one? i shall see

[IceFire]

Originally Posted by P-38L

This idea is based on having less AI airplanes and more flyable aircraft. Maybe some of these can be implemented.
The way to do it is to get on an AI plane and make it flyable based on the model that is flyable.

Thank you, and wishing that some of these ideas can be implemented.

There's a problem with doing it that way. You end up throwing accurately reproducing the aircraft out the window.If you want to fly all of those you can with HSFX as they don't mind so much.

With the TD patches the idea is to follow the design goals of the original product closely. Flyable aircraft are accurate or reasonably accurate. A Bf110C-4 would be great... but it needs a new cockpit. RAF Gladiators would have different gauges, gunsights, etc. The SB-2M-103 I think is probably getting a flyable in short order... with a revised and accurate cockpit.

[Buster_Dee]

void skins

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by IceFire

With the TD patches the idea is to follow the design goals of the original product closely. Flyable aircraft are accurate or reasonably accurate. A Bf110C-4 would be great... but it needs a new cockpit. RAF Gladiators would have different gauges, gunsights, etc.

Some conversions are likely to be easier than others, however.

For example, I don't believe that the layout of the cockpit in the J8A was any different from the Gladiator I, and many of the gauges that would have been used for the Gladiator already exist in the cockpit model for the early marks of the Spitfire or Hurricane. Likewise, the Gladiator would have used the same reflector sight (if it was equipped with such) as the Hurricane or Spitfire.

So, it wouldn't be as hard to transfer RAF gauges and gunsights to the J8A, repaint the cockpit, and call it a Gladiator I.

But, cockpit conversions where there was additional equipment added, or where the cockpit layout was changed are basically a whole new airplane.

The easy planes to add to the game are planes that have changes to armament or powerplant but few changes to external model and no changes to the cockpit or crew stations. For example, it's no surprise that the very first modded plane to appear was the Spitfire Mk I - same cockpit and engine as the Mk II, minimal changes required to DM, FM and physical models to reflect the switch from cannons to MG.

[IceFire]

Originally Posted by Pursuivant

Some conversions are likely to be easier than others, however.

For example, I don't believe that the layout of the cockpit in the J8A was any different from the Gladiator I, and many of the gauges that would have been used for the Gladiator already exist in the cockpit model for the early marks of the Spitfire or Hurricane. Likewise, the Gladiator would have used the same reflector sight (if it was equipped with such) as the Hurricane or Spitfire.

So, it wouldn't be as hard to transfer RAF gauges and gunsights to the J8A, repaint the cockpit, and call it a Gladiator I.

But, cockpit conversions where there was additional equipment added, or where the cockpit layout was changed are basically a whole new airplane.

The easy planes to add to the game are planes that have changes to armament or powerplant but few changes to external model and no changes to the cockpit or crew stations. For example, it's no surprise that the very first modded plane to appear was the Spitfire Mk I - same cockpit and engine as the Mk II, minimal changes required to DM, FM and physical models to reflect the switch from cannons to MG.

It's true... some types are MUCH easier than others while others are essentially requiring the construction of a whole new cockpit or aircraft model.

Remember folks... you don't just build one model. It's a dozen models per aircraft. Levels of detail, damage, pieces that break, the damage model, etc. And then you have to make sure all of the hooks to the engine are animated and done properly (so gear drops, flaps move, fire comes from the right spots).

I've seen just enough to know it isn't easy.

[_RAAF_Firestorm]

Whereas people once gathered here in hoards,
silence has descended upon these boards.
And there is a temper, a patient wait
as the B24 and its ultimate fate
are determined by those gracious volunteers
from whom a word would perk our humble ears
and set our ghastly fears aside
that the work has fallen by the wayside.

[Artist]