Solomons Carrier Traffic: Testers Needed

[dswo]

SOLOMON ISLANDS CARRIER TRACKS ver 1.0
Testers' temporary download: http://www.box.net/shared/d6m4ysmla2

This project was inspired by Mark Schimmer's World War II-era Solomon Islands scenery. See http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?32269-WIP-FSX-Solomon-1943-long.

This package will install (1) a traffic file and (2) the boat models that go with it. If you already have all of the boat models (see credits below for the full list), you can just install the one traffic file, trafficSolomonsCarriers.bgl. But the safest thing is to install the models in this zip file. The models called by the traffic file are AI only; you may have pilotable models by the same authors, but they won't work as intended.

There are two US carrier groups, comprised of one carrier, one battleship, and two destroyers. Yes, I'm sure the real groups would have had more ships. One group leaves Kula Gulf, north of Munda Field (AGGM), sails west to Vella Gulf and around Vella Lavella, pausing off the coast of Kumbolia. It begins at 2000 GMT and ends at about 0025; the return starts at 0030 and ends at 0455 GMT. Then it begins again. The second group starts in the Solomon Sea, south of Munda Field (AGGM) and sails south around Rendova Island and then around New Georgia, ending in the same Kula Gulf where the other group began. It begins at 2000 GMT and reaches Kula Gulf about 0351; at 0400 it sails back.

Plying the Santa Isabel Trough (a.k.a., "the Slot") are two smaller carriers: the light carrier USS Cabot and the escort carrier USS Bougainville. The Cabot patrols the northern shores and the Bougainville patrols the southern shores. The Cabot starts in the west, near AGGO and AGGE, at 0800 and 2000 GMT; it reaches the eastern end at 2336 and 1136, respectively, before turning west for the return trip. The Bougainville starts in the east, near AGGP, at 0800 and 2000 GMT; it reaches the western end of the slot, near AGGC, at 0037 and 1237, respectively, before turning east for the return trip. Both carriers are escorted by Fletcher-class destroyers.

No saved flights in this release, unless someone wants to make them...

CREDITS AND PERMISSIONS
USS Gambier Bay and Bougainville by Mark Fitch, distributed here by permission of the modeler
USS New Jersey battleship by Bruce Fitzgerald, distributed here by permission of the modeler
USS Enterprise carrier by Bruce Fitzgerald, distributed here by permission of the modeler
USS Fletcher destroyer by Bruce Fitzgerald, distributed here by permission of the modeler
USS Cabot light carrier by Alberto Garcia, distributed here by permission of the modeler

Tracks were created with Google Earth and Lamont Clark's AI Boat Traffic Compiler.

[JamesChams]

Mr. David "DSWO"

SOLOMON ISLANDS CARRIER TRACKS ver 1.0
Testers' temporary download: http://www.box.net/shared/d6m4ysmla2
...

Count me in on this... :salute: ...as time permits over the next month. Glad your doing another project like this; your Carrier Tracks 1 & 2 were a good addition to my Ship AI traffic and lots of fun to do a SAR for.

Later! :wavey:


Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (http://www.lionheartcreations.com/Spiritual_Journey.html)

Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
From,
James F. Chams

[roger-wilco-66]

Excellent work, David! :applause:

I'll try them out tonight!



Cheers,
Mark

[MartinM]

Cool. I'll give it a try tonight.

Cheers
Martin

[roger-wilco-66]

OK, I checked them out and it's great! Works like a charm, as far as I can see.
Thanks for the effort!

:ernae:

Cheers,
Mark

[MartinM]

Hi

I have flown a few sorties yesterday. I have not found a single carrier. Got to search again today ;)

Cheers
Martin

[dswo]

I have flown a few sorties yesterday. I have not found a single carrier. Got to search again today.

I have the same problem. The sea is big and ships are small. Try starting at 2000 GMT at one of the airports mentioned in the readme. The screenshot from Google Earth is somewhat helpful.

In real life, the USN sometimes had a good idea of where the IJN was going to be, because we were reading their codes. But if the sim is anything like real life, luck was still a factor. I've spent several hours on scouting missions, and the first glimpse -- esp. of the smaller carriers and their destroyer escorts -- is often very fleeting, even when you know where to look. A lot depends on weather, sun, and whether you happen to be looking out of the right window.

I am assuming, though, that in real life the big carrier groups (with Enterprise) had more ships and were therefore easier to spot.

[MartinM]

I have the same problem. The sea is big and ships are small. Try starting at 2000 GMT at one of the airports mentioned in the readme. The screenshot from Google Earth is somewhat helpful.

In real life, the USN sometimes had a good idea of where the IJN was going to be, because we were reading their codes. But if the sim is anything like real life, luck was still a factor. I've spent several hours on scouting missions, and the first glimpse -- esp. of the smaller carriers and their destroyer escorts -- is often very fleeting, even when you know where to look. A lot depends on weather, sun, and whether you happen to be looking out of the right window.

I am assuming, though, that in real life the big carrier groups (with Enterprise) had more ships and were therefore easier to spot.

The cool thing about this. Like in real life during WW2. You are flying a Catalina searching for the fleet ;) This time, however, the own one :icon_lol:

Cheers
Martin

[MudMarine]

For some reason I can't seem to get the add-on scenery folder to show up in my library?

Remember also that often the first thing searching aircraft saw was a ships wake which lead them to the actual thing. Just a thought

[dswo]

For some reason I can't seem to get the add-on scenery folder to show up in my library?

What happens when you try to add it? Also: are you using Windows 7?

[MartinM]

"Ship spotted - northwest of AGGM" !!!

On my last sortie yesterday i found a battle group northwest of AGGM with heading Vella Lavella. One carrier, two destroyers and a battleship. No support carrier.

Thats loads of fun!!

All we would need now, some Japanese battle groups!!

Cheers
Martin

[dswo]

On my last sortie yesterday i found a battle group northwest of AGGM with heading Vella Lavella. One carrier, two destroyers and a battleship. No support carrier.

I've been looking for a way to fatten up the main groups. There are two other carrier types currrently patrolling the Slot: light and escort. Which would be appropriate; and where in the group should it go?


All we would need now, some Japanese battle groups!!

Agreed: we just need some models!

[MudMarine]

What happens when you try to add it? Also: are you using Windows 7?

Yes, W7. It doesn't do anything when I click on it.........? Admin. rights thing?

[MartinM]

Agreed: we just need some models!

There are a few models over at fs-shipyard. Not all of them WW2, but would anyway give a good picture.

There is a WW hornet mission package for FSX that contains japanese AI ships.

Cheers
Martin

[dswo]

Yes, W7. It doesn't do anything when I click on it.........?

This is a known problem with FSX and W7. Fortunately, there's an easy fix: http://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?showtopic=265677.

[dswo]

There is a WW hornet mission package for FSX that contains japanese AI ships.

Do you have a link for this? I searched for hornet mission and fsx hornet at Flightsim.com and AVSIM but -- no joy.

[warchild]

David? Would you be so kind as to include me as a tester?? The Solomons are of major importance to me, and i've been flying around them in fs for about four years now. it would provide me a test bed for my own work, as well as helping you with yours, and provide a historical backdrop as well..
Let me know..
Pam

[MartinM]

Do you have a link for this? I searched for hornet mission and fsx hornet at Flightsim.com and AVSIM but -- no joy.

Sure.

http://www.fs-shipyards.com/index.php?ind=downloads&op=entry_view&iden=228

The great package was done by Ron Jeffers.

Cheers
Martin

[warchild]

Welll, i spent a couple hours flying around and didnt see them, but knowing me, i was probably flying everywhere but the correct place.. did a few runs up the slot, and around kuma gulf. i must have dived on a hundred yachts, but nothing a big a a battleship was there.. Checked out the area between vella and rendova too ( have a airport on rendova ) and there was nothing there either. i'm gonna go back in though and use a different search pattern and see hat i can come up with..

[dswo]

Welll, i spent a couple hours flying around and didnt see them, but knowing me, i was probably flying everywhere but the correct place.. did a few runs up the slot, and around kuma gulf. i must have dived on a hundred yachts, but nothing a big a a battleship was there.. Checked out the area between vella and rendova too ( have a airport on rendova ) and there was nothing there either. i'm gonna go back in though and use a different search pattern and see hat i can come up with..

Thanks for checking, Pam. The best way to locate the carriers is to start where they start (see readme for this) and when they start (a little after 2000 GMT).

Oh how I wish we had a utility to display boat traffic along with air!

I think the next step (for me) is to make some saved flights that begin on deck. Question is: using what aircraft? I've been doing my own flights in the Vertigo Dauntless, but for the saved flights I want to use something that's (a) free and (b) commonly installed.

I'd also like to fatten up the main carrier groups with another ship type, light carrier or escort, if that's historically appropriate.

[dswo]

The great package was done by Ron Jeffers.

Thanks, Martin. I've sent Jeffers an email.

[warchild]

ok, so maybe its time for some of them "stupid newbie" questions..

I followed the instructions for installing the carrier track files and effects. i also started at 2000 hours from aggm and flew northwest over the gulf, several times.. thinking that i had obviously missed something somewhere, i installed the new landclass as well as ai carriers and then re-flew the route. As an aid to help with scaling and visualization, i used ai carrier to place one carrier in the gulf so i could judge size and distance.. There was stil no battle group, so, this left me wondering..

Does the carrier track and battle group depend on ai carriers?? and if so, do the entries for the individual ships need to be placed in an ai carriers config file somewhere?? Or is the entire carrier track self supporting and self actuating?? Is there anything besides install the scenry and adjust my traffic sliders ( they are now at 100% ) that i need to do ??

Thanks :)
Pam

[warchild]

I'd also like to fatten up the main carrier groups with another ship type, light carrier or escort, if that's historically appropriate.

I found this little page while i was looking around. it gives descriptions of each of the solomons battles as well as ship strengths for both us and japan for each battle.. http://www.combinedfleet.com/battles/Solomon_Islands_Campaign#Vella_Gulf

[dswo]

Does the carrier track and battle group depend on ai carriers?? and if so, do the entries for the individual ships need to be placed in an ai carriers config file somewhere?? Or is the entire carrier track self supporting and self actuating?? Is there anything besides install the scenry and adjust my traffic sliders ( they are now at 100% ) that i need to do ??

You don't need AI carriers; the tracks here are all self-standing, so long as the files are copied in the right places, the proper folder is added to the scenery library, and boat traffic is >= 5%.

I really need to make at least one saved flight so that people can test whether the tracks are working. Any suggestions for a freeware plane?

[roger-wilco-66]

David, what about the FM-2 from the escort carrier package ( http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=144429 ) ?



Mark

[MudMarine]

This is a known problem with FSX and W7. Fortunately, there's an easy fix: http://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?showtopic=265677.


Thank you Sir! Working just fine now!:jump:

[warchild]

You don't need AI carriers; the tracks here are all self-standing, so long as the files are copied in the right places, the proper folder is added to the scenery library, and boat traffic is >= 5%.

I really need to make at least one saved flight so that people can test whether the tracks are working. Any suggestions for a freeware plane?
hmmm.. intersting, cuz i took all the folders and simply dropped them into my main fsx folder,.. With that ai carriers carrier at one end of the gulf, i was able to see it from the opposite end, and since it was a bit after 2000 hours, all i can think is that the boats simply didnt show up.. I wonder whats different on my machine that they dont show up for me, and yet knowing they show up for other people.

[dswo]

Ok, here's a quick and dirty sample flight using the freeware FM-2 mentioned above: http://www.box.net/shared/65qlk77ym8. Unzip it wherever you keep your saved flights (usually in the Flight Simulator X Files subfolder of My Documents). If everything's installed correctly, you should load on deck the Enterprise. I just landed, so if you want to take off again you'll need to clean up the flaps and tailhook first.

[warchild]

my plane dont have a tail hook.. apparently, something somewhere is not being copied corrctly, because i unzipped the folders to my fsx root directory, and well, a picture says a thousand words..

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k171/urushira/2010-3-13_14-57-44-338.jpg


No Big E.. I've gone through and checked file locations and made sure everything is where its supposed to be, I just dont understand why its not showing up..

[dswo]

Assuming all of the files and folders are in the right place, I can think of two explanations:

1. The new scenery folder hasn't been added yet to the scenery library. (I know you're an old hand, but I'm just running through the checklist.)

2. You have an FS9 traffic file installed somewhere. These will work in FSX, but they can block the boat traffic files (which this package is based on). It is possible to convert the old files to FSX traffic format, using the freeware AI Planner -- but I haven't done this myself.

[roger-wilco-66]

All is well here!

[Sieggie]

It seems to work OK for me. I have seen and landed on the carriers going both directions around Vella Lavella so far. Have not looked for the boats in the slot yet.

Dave
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[dswo]

I am going to follow up on Pam's suggestion for the larger groups later on. Meanwhile...nice screenshot, Mark!

[warchild]

I'm not aware that i've installed any traffic files, but i wont rule out the possibility that one was installed with some of the fs9 software i've installed into fsx.. Theres also a remote possibility that it may be a kerfuggled scenery file, as i have modified rendova using both scenery shortcut, and instant scenery.. oddly, my little airport shows up, as does the yacht and trawler traffic that are default, but then, i would expect them too. i'll try turning off rendova to see if that changes things.. maybe move it to anther directory for a test..
Thanks david..

[Lipra]

I just get the aircraft hanging in the that I chose the f-18 just for testing purposes. I also have the same problem in the package for the Nimitz in that most are OK but some IE.Cuba have no carrier. I would appreciate any help in this as I think 1 solution will correct the other I am unaware of any fs9 AI files but if someone could indicate the folder concerned I will move it out and start again.

[dswo]

I just get the aircraft hanging in the that I chose the f-18 just for testing purposes. I also have the same problem in the package for the Nimitz in that most are OK but some IE.Cuba have no carrier. I would appreciate any help in this as I think 1 solution will correct the other I am unaware of any fs9 AI files but if someone could indicate the folder concerned I will move it out and start again.

The main place where you'll find traffic files is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Scenery\World\Scenery. But they can be in any scenery folder (as this add-on demonstrates). Other than that, I'm out of ideas.

I do have a new version of the traffic file itself: http://www.box.net/shared/2noa90yvn6. Nothing radically different: after consulting Pam's website, I decided it was reasonable to add a light carrier and at least one more destroyer to the Enterprise groups. To my surprise, the saved flight still works.

[warchild]

yeahhh, i disabled all scenery except default, and theres a possibility that rex2 weather had something in memory even though i turned it off when it popped up.. I know other people arent having any problems at all, but for some unkown reason, it just wont show up on my system..
gonna keep investigating it though, see what i can figure out..

[dswo]

Version 1.3 is now available for testing: http://www.box.net/shared/tbk6p2ybdr (http://www.box.net/shared/p8m5zqih3f). It adds a bunch of US supply ships (the S.S. Adventure steamer courtesy of Phil Crowther) and IJN destroyers (courtesy of Ron Jeffers). Maps and more details in the readme. I'm basically following the outline provided earlier by Mark Schimmer.

Still looking for some FSX boat models: IJN anything (we now have a destroyer), US Liberty ship, US LST.

NOTE:

If you've installed a previous version, you should delete the earlier trafficSolomonsCarriers.bgl file. Because the package has now broadened, I have divided the traffic into two files, trafficSolomonsIJN.bgl and trafficSolomonsUSN.bgl. If you leave the original .bgl in place you are going to see weird duplicates.

If you've already installed a previous version, you do NOT need to delete any of the boat models. My advice, unless you have a customized setup, is just to copy the new set of models and overwrite the old ones. But if you want to be on the safe side, the new boats are "Japanese Destroyer" and "SS Adventure Steamer AI."

There are also some new effects, so be sure you copy those over too.

The saved test flight still works: see http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/32831-Solomons-Carrier-Traffic-Testers-Needed?p=374054&viewfull=1#post374054.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: If you see a ship that has run aground, save the flight and send it to me. This is most likely to be a problem with the US supply route, which travels through some narrow passages (where the FSX shorelines don't always match up with the Google Earth images that were used in plotting the route).

[expat]

Thanks Dave. Had no problems finding the ships with v1.0!

[dswo]

We're up to version 1.3 now; I just added some more USN destroyers around New Georgia, Gizo, and Bougainville; also increased the frequency for a couple IJN routes.

No need to redownload the whole 17 mb if you have already have 1.2, just some new scenery files: http://www.box.net/shared/3ci7lnvzj0 and http://www.box.net/shared/tnlyexmt8g.

[expat]

Dave,

Was just doing a dawn patrol in my P-38 near Munda. Spotted the supply steamer on its own - looked very period and authentic. Then, south of Munda I found the USN fleet. Only thing is that the battlewagons, CV's and DD's were all x 2, i.e. the NJ was followed by the NJ, the Hornet by the Hornet etc. Checked scenery folder and just have the three bgl's there (the 1.3 v is working since I spotted the supply steamer).

I have been waiting for someone to do this for a long time and it is very cool.

Thanks for your great work and regards

expat

[dswo]

Only thing is that the battlewagons, CV's and DD's were all x 2, i.e. the NJ was followed by the NJ, the Hornet by the Hornet etc. Checked scenery folder and just have the three bgl's there (the 1.3 v is working since I spotted the supply steamer).

That's easy to fix:


If you've installed a previous version, you should delete the earlier trafficSolomonsCarriers.bgl file. Because the package has now broadened, I have divided the traffic into two files, trafficSolomonsIJN.bgl and trafficSolomonsUSN.bgl. If you leave the original .bgl in place you are going to see weird duplicates.

When you're done, you should have two bgl files.

[expat]

Got it! Thanks!

[dswo]

If anyone's flying the Vertigo Dauntless in these parts, I've swapped in a Solomons chart for the map tray. See http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/31855-SBD-Dauntless-released.?p=379105&viewfull=1#post379105.

[oldpropfan]

Just wanted to say thank you for the nice addon and share some shots. I left the extra traffic bgl in as I like the bigger fleets the duplicate traffic gives you.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/oldpropfan/2010-3-22_0-8-2-787.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/oldpropfan/2010-3-22_0-4-10-86.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/oldpropfan/2010-3-22_0-4-35-839.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/oldpropfan/2010-3-22_0-1-40-81.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/oldpropfan/2010-3-22_0-1-57-959.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/oldpropfan/2010-3-22_0-1-3-891.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/oldpropfan/2010-3-22_0-11-15-72.jpg

[dswo]

I just noticed that my version 1.3 link was still pointing to the 1.2 file. Still not sure how that happened -- user error, no doubt -- but here's the correct link: http://www.box.net/shared/tbk6p2ybdr. No need to do anything if you already have 1.2 and have downloaded the newer .bgl files.

Again, I apologize for confusion and frustration.

[dswo]

Version 1.5 is now available for testing: http://www.box.net/shared/9ing89m5u3. The previous version has been removed.

Additions, changes:

+ Phil Crowther's Liberty Ship, recompiled for Ian Thatcher, has replaced "Adventure" steamer for USN supply runs
+ IJN supply ships around Bougainville (currently using default model)
+ PT boats, using a model provided by Jim Dhaenens, now patrol the same routes as the USN destroyers, plus the Blackett Strait where Kennedy was rammed
+ USN Cruisers, using a model provided by Bruce Fitzgerald, have now been added to the carrier groups and also patrol the same routes as the USN destroyers, but at a faster speed.

We have now filled in most of Mark Schimmer's original outline; the only things missing are LVCPs and USN submarines. Thank you to Mark and to all the modelers who allowed us to distribute their work as part of this freeware package.

[bruce448]

Here's a little something to help out, Vertigo Studios (Real Flight) F6F-3 Hellcat as VF-40 who were stationed at Barakoma I've done side Nos 1 through 7.

http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq305/WAFU448/VF40_01.jpg

http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq305/WAFU448/VF40_02.jpg

Bruce

[Shylock]

Great Carrier looks awesome and fantastic pics!!!

[roger-wilco-66]

Bruce, :ernae:

[dswo]

I've just uploaded what I hope is the last beta version of the traffic files: http://cid-24a84147c2763f11.office.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/Solomons%20Traffic%201.7.zip. Give them a try and let me know, good or bad, how it goes. If they seem to be working, I'll upload them to the usual sites.

The main change since 1.5 is a bundle of repaints for most of the ships. Schedules and routes are unchanged, but there should be some fresh faces.

[dswo]

This from another thread:


Don't know if it was just me, but the file name had a "_" after the ".zip", making it unreadable. If I renamed to ".zip" it was okay.

[Sieggie]

1.7 appears to be working correctly. I have landed on the carriers going around Vella LaVella and done a flyby of a carrier and gunship just east of Henderson in the slot.

Great Job

Thanks,
Dave

[dswo]

Thanks for the report, Dave.

[dswo]

I've taken the betas down from Skydrive and Box.net.

Now from the AVSIM file library, also uploaded to Flightsim.com:

<table align="center" bgcolor="#aaccee" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="left">Flight Simulator X - Miscellaneous Files (http://library.avsim.net/index.php?CatID=fsxmisc) </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" width="*"> New! Solomon Islands 1943 AI Boat Traffic </td> <td align="right" nowrap="nowrap"> http://library.avsim.net/images/ZipDive.png (http://library.avsim.net/zipdiver.php?DLID=153917) http://library.avsim.net/images/Download.png (http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=153917) </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td> http://library.avsim.net/sendfile.php?Location=AVSIM&Proto=file&ImageID=274496 </td> <td width="*"> File Description:
This project was inspired by Mark Schimmer's World War II-era Solomon Islands scenery, with routes are based on his outline. There are two US carrier groups, light carriers, destroyers, supply boats, PT boats, and IJN destroyer patrols. All ship models and textures are included, with permission from their respective authors.
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
<table align="center" bgcolor="#aaccee" border="0" width="50%"> <tbody><tr> <td width="25%">Filename:</td> <td width="75%">solomon_islands_1943_naval_traffic_18.zip</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">License:</td> <td width="75%">Freeware</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Added:</td> <td width="75%">26th October 2010</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Downloads:</td> <td width="75%">36</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Author:</td> <td width="75%">David Wilson-Okamura, Mike Barnes, Phil Crowther, Mark Fitch, Bruce Fitzgerald, Alberto Garcia, Ron Jeffers, and Ian Thatcher</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="25%">Size:</td> <td width="75%">29939kb</td></tr></tbody></table>

[noshadez]

Long live the memory of (Thatch!!) Ian would be proud.. He was my first inspiration for getting into Flight sim back in 1994 while learning FSDS:salute:

[dswo]

Yes, Ian did this for us just a few months before he died. When we corresponded, I had no idea he was ill.