Then & Now Series

[VCN-1]

Besides the obvious of having 2 different paint schemes are there any significant differences between the 2 released packages?

VCN-1

[fsxar177]

Hi,
In terms to the difference, they each represent in unprecedented detail, the exact aircraft that's being depicted. The WWII, and the restored counterpart. The cockpit, as well as each and every detail of the externals, are matched to the real-life aircraft. So, the differences depend on the real aircraft. You can read all about it on the Warbirdsim (http://www.warbirdsim.com/) site. (Though, I might suspect the John will chime in, with the details!)

Personally, either one is awesome. I have been flying the Then and Now series featuring "Cripes A' Mighty", and it has been a joy. The "Twilight Tear" features several other skins though, available for free download. (Including a Factory Fresh livery, two Swedish AF J.26 paints, and one for IDAF 3506)

Best regards,
Joseph

[Bomber_12th]

With the attention given to the "Twilight Tear" product, regarding repaints, I'll be doing something similar with the "Cripes A' Mighty" product as well (for those who have it).

Between the two "Then and Now" products, each model is different, but the features are much the same:

- Detailed left gun bay
- Modern avionics on restored examples (quite different between the restored "Cripes" and the restored "Tear")
- Removable K-14 gun sight in all models (except for the WWII "Tear", which has a fixed N-9 sight - authentically)
- Configuration specific exhaust shrouds, canopies, external mirrors, cockpit equipment, etc. per the real individual aircraft
- All latest updates, including prop blades, gun sight reticles, materials, and oxygen hoses

In the case of the "Cripes A' Mighty, Then and Now" product, the wartime model is a P-51D-15-NA, with field modifications, adding the K-14 gryo gunsight and dual Spitfire mirrors, as was the case on the original. The mdern example is a P-51D-30-NA restored to closely match the original. However, being a P-51D-30-NA, there are a mixture of items that are early, appropriate to the P-51D-15-NA, and items that are later, and come from the aircraft being a P-51D-30-NA. Both models and texture sets (inside and out) were made to match the original example, and the one that flies today.

With the "Twilight Tear, Then and Now" product, the wartime and modern aircraft are one in the same, an early production variant of the P-51D-20-NA. Copied straight from wartime photos, the wartime version of 'Tear is un-touched from its factory form, and still had the N-9 reflector gun sight. The restored example includes items that were added to the aircraft late in the war, just before and after VE-Day. This includes the K-14 and the tail warning radar set. Again, both models and texture sets (inside and out) were made to match the original example, and the one that flies today.

[Bomber_12th]

If interested, I put together this comparison in another thread a little while back, that just covers the four models between the two "Then and Now" products alone. Pay special attention, when looking at the cockpit screens, as to which specific variant you are looking at, at any given time, and compared with another.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_1-2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_2-2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_3-3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_4-3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_5-4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_5a.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_6-2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_7-3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_8-1.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_9-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_10.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_11-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_12-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_13.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_14.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_15.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Cockpit_16.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Twilight%20Tear/Exteriors_1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Twilight%20Tear/Exteriors_2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Twilight%20Tear/Exteriors_3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Twilight%20Tear/Exteriors_4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Twilight%20Tear/Exteriors_5.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

At this time, there are no repaints for the "Cripes A' Mighty, Then and Now" product (as it is rather specialized, with that particular dual Spitfire mirror mounting setup - actually only seen on 352nd FG Mustangs), but I hope to release a few that actually would use the WWII "Cripes" model exceptionally well.

In the case of the "Twilight Tear, Then and Now" product, as Joseph mentions, I have released four repaints for it, to help almost completely tell the story of this one particular airframe (all of the repaints are of different paint schemes the particular aircraft has carried throughout its life). These can be found in the file library here, and at Flightsim.com.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/J26%20Mustang/tt_ff_7.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/J26%20Mustang/tt_ff_8.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/J26%20Mustang/stencils6.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/J26%20Mustang/GreenK6.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/J26%20Mustang/stencils2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/J26%20Mustang/IDAF_1.jpg

[VCN-1]

WOW!

Thank you for the detailed information.

I can only get one and I don't know which one to get.

VCN-1