Black Widow II over Edwards

[Mach3DS]

73698

[tommieboy]

Real nice angle, nice exhaust heat effect too.....:cool:

[Chuck_Jodry-VJPL]

Still my favorite ride when i get some quality time with FSX, although that one is the Grey Ghost , did you ever try the ejection seat sequence ? it was an amusing bit of code to author , give it a try sometime ...

[Mach3DS]

I'll give it try! I still think that this one should have won the ATF competition :). As far as heat effects go, I'm still looking for a good set of actual FX for fsx. This is a little post editing obviously.

[tommieboy]

I'll give it try! I still think that this one should have won the ATF competition......

Me too, but you have to wonder why China or Russia hasn't copied the design since? I'm thinking it's was not all that it was cracked up to be. The one interesting comment that Lockheed made after the competition was that if they had know that the requirement for vector thrust had been removed as one of the requirements from the program; the height of engine humps on the top side of the aircraft could have been reduced. I think that would have made the aircraft even better looking.

Tommy

[Sundog]

There never was a requirement for vectored thrust. They could use it or not use it to meet the requirements. The YF-23 didn't need it to meet the requirements. I believe you're thinking of the thrust reversing. Thrust reversing was removed, but the YF-23 was already being built when they removed it. Since Lockheed-Martin was given time to completely redesign their original ATF submission (It was too heavy to meet the requirements), they were able to make sure the YF-22 wasn't built for the no longer required TR requirement.

The YF-23's performance is still classified, but one of the reasons Northrop ran into trouble was because the B-2 wasn't meeting it's LO signature requirements and the NATF was used as an excuse to choose the YF-22 over the YF-23, even though it was never going to be and in, in fact, was cancelled within about a month of the ATF down select. I think it was partly viewed that Northrop had the bomber contract and the F-22 would meet the requirements so give the fighter program to L-M.

The production version of the YF-23, the F-23, had much slimmer smaller nacelles than the YF-23 that were also moved inward toward the centerline. That, coupled with the longer fuselage for the redesigned weapons bays (From one deep bay in the YF-23, to two tandem shallower bays in the F-23) gave the F-23 a higher fineness ratio. In fact, the production F-23 was so clean looking it almost made the YF-23 look clunky by comparison, and the YF-23 was already a beautifully clean aircraft.

[Mach3DS]

@chuck, true it is called grey ghost but I figured most would identify with black widow 2 in the title.

One thing I'm not skilled enough to do is repaints. Still looking for a more Grey version of no.800 rather than the stock and very black leaning paint scheme which is included. Most photos clearly show this light grey for 801 and a much darker grey for no.800, but not as dark as the included paint scheme.

This is by far my favorite of modern designs and the FSD-Milviz team did an outstanding job recreating her.

[krazycolin]

We are considering re-releasing all of the products that we did with FSD... updated and upgraded... would that be of interest?

(P-38, YF-23)

[tommieboy]

We are considering re-releasing all of the products that we did with FSD... updated and upgraded... would that be of interest?

(P-38, YF-23)

Yes on the YF-23.......:cool:

[tommieboy]

There never was a requirement for vectored thrust......

Thanks for the clarification Sundog.....

Tommy

[Mach3DS]

We are considering re-releasing all of the products that we did with FSD... updated and upgraded... would that be of interest?

(P-38, YF-23)


I purchased both so a HUGE Yes from me. If the YF-23 incorporates some of the techniques used in the F-15E and T-38 it will b one of the great Addon's for FSX IMHO. Same goes for the P-38. It's currently THE addon if you want a P-38. And it's still a great addon that I fly regularly.

[Sundog]

We are considering re-releasing all of the products that we did with FSD... updated and upgraded... would that be of interest?

(P-38, YF-23)

Yes. Any chance of a getting the production versions of the F-23 in both single seat and two seat variants? If so, PM me for info.

[Stickshaker]

We are considering re-releasing all of the products that we did with FSD... updated and upgraded... would that be of interest?

(P-38, YF-23)

Yes!!! I would absolutely buy the P-38 and most certainly the YF-23, if in the latter case the HUD-symbology would be in the proper place (now it sits too low so that, for example, the horizon line is way beneath the real horizon).<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Good idea!!!

[Montie]

Count me in for an updated YF-23:salute:

[Scratch]

We are considering re-releasing all of the products that we did with FSD... updated and upgraded... would that be of interest?

(P-38, YF-23)

Yes indeed!!

[Mach3DS]

73759


73760


My Personal Favorite...

73761

[tommieboy]

.....Still looking for a more Grey version of no.800 rather than the stock....paint scheme which is included.

Not much of a painter myself, but the grey camo scheme that is included with this product is very nicely done, and has a lot of potential for "what if" repaints. I plan on doing one "easy" repaint based on the grey camo scheme soon. I just revised the engine impeller blade texture to remove the wobble that was apparent in the hub / fan blades. I might release this on avsim this weekend. I used my hub / fan blade texture fix for the RAZBAM EA-6B Prowler as a placeholder; but it looks good on the YF-23 too.......:costum:


Tommy

[Mach3DS]

Not much of a painter myself, but the grey camo scheme that is included with this product is very nicely done, and has a lot of potential for "what if" repaints. I plan on doing one "easy" repaint based on the grey camo scheme soon. I just revised the engine impeller blade texture to remove the wobble that was apparent in the hub / fan blades. I might release this on avsim this weekend. I used my hub / fan blade texture fix for the RAZBAM EA-6B Prowler as a placeholder; but it looks good on the YF-23 too.......:costum:


Tommy

Very cool. Can you PM me if you do? Very interested in any/all schemes for this one as it's been neglected in the paint scheme department. I can see why seeing as it's a Flight Demonstrator aircraft, but it's worthy of a few! :jump: I still hope to see the PAV1 Dark grey redone by some telented painter out there (hint hint) with the glossy factor reduced, as it's more of a matted finish.

[Mach3DS]

Playing around with heat effects, trying to get it right and slowly, very slowly learning to use basic photoshop skills... :P Maybe one day I'll try a repaint, but I have no idea where to start with that...

This one has a F-35 in the background, blurred out as an allusion to it's roots in the failure to select a suitable ATF/NATF....if only the
"F-23" could have been!


73764

[tommieboy]

Just a little progress on my one "easy" repaint......damn, I can't find the paint kit from FSD??? So I have to do it the old school way; but it's not a big a deal, as I plan on keeping this one simple by keeping the colors and camo pattern as is.

I like it already......:cool:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~tommieboy/YF-23_995.jpg

http://home.roadrunner.com/~tommieboy/YF-23_996.jpg

[b52bob]

One of my favs also

[Mach3DS]

@Tommieboy, looks fantastic! Looks like you've reduced the shine on the skin?

@B52ob, what scenery are you using?

[tommieboy]

....Looks like you've reduced the shine on the skin?.....

No, it's just the lighting angle.

Tommy

[tommieboy]

Cleaned it up a bit, to look real plain and boring like the F-22's.......:sleep:

I think the color of the pilots flight suit is all that has to be done for this repaint, then it's done.

Overall, it's pretty much what I was looking for.....:cool:

Tommy

http://home.roadrunner.com/~tommieboy/YF-23_991.jpg

http://home.roadrunner.com/~tommieboy/YF-23_987.jpg

http://home.roadrunner.com/~tommieboy/YF-23_989.jpg

http://home.roadrunner.com/~tommieboy/YF-23_967.jpg

http://home.roadrunner.com/~tommieboy/YF-23_986.jpg

[Mach3DS]

Looks great to me! Would be cool to see this bird is some flashy U.S. Navy CAG colors eventually...in honor of the NATF of course! Which by the way if anyone is interested was recently revealed for the first time in 2010.

visit YF-23.net for more info.

http://www.yf-23.net/Pics/F-23A/NATF-23%20diagram.gif

Another one also from YF-23.net
http://www.yf-23.net/Pics/F-23A/NATF-23%20impression.jpg

[Mach3DS]

Thinking about it, I would LOVE to see the NATF version above find it's way into the FSX world...:) I don't think the market is there for it on it's own, but if it were mated to a re-release sharing the same performance.... :kilroy:

[tommieboy]

Got the pilot's flight suit color revised from blue to green today, so this repaint is pretty much done.....

http://home.roadrunner.com/~tommieboy/YF-23_984.jpg

[b52bob]

@Tommieboy, looks fantastic! Looks like you've reduced the shine on the skin?

@B52ob, what scenery are you using?

Stock fsx + acceration

[Mach3DS]

Fabulous! An actual repaint! I think you are aside from the stock repaints, the 2nd repaint ever (that I can find) for this one! :) Where are you uploading it to?

[tommieboy]

Fabulous! An actual repaint! I think you are aside from the stock repaints, the 2nd repaint ever (that I can find) for this one! :) Where are you uploading it to?

I typically upload to the avsim library.......

Tommy

[tommieboy]

AVAILABLE NOW!

TEXTURES ONLY.......

Available on avsim.com; search for:

fsd_yf-23_fsx_v1.0.zip

The zip file contains a Hawaii Air National Guard paint scheme, an alternate engine fan blade texture to address the wobble in the default aircraft engine fan blades, an alternate light olive drab flight suit color, an alternate larger black widow hourglass logo for the belly of PAV_1_800, and alternate thumbnails for a more consistent look among the various paint schemes.

Tommy

http://home.roadrunner.com/~tommieboy/YF-23_987.jpg

http://home.roadrunner.com/~tommieboy/YF-23_978.jpg

http://home.roadrunner.com/~tommieboy/YF-23_977.jpg

[Mach3DS]

Looks great! DL now...

[tommieboy]

Looks great! DL now...

Tell me if my instructions made any sense, and how the manual installation went for you.....:isadizzy:

Just wondering.....

Tommy

[Mach3DS]

I understood it, and worked first attempt. I like the additional alternate Thumbnails. Nice touch!

[tommieboy]

I understood it, and worked first attempt. I like the additional alternate Thumbnails. Nice touch!

Thanks for the positive feedback......

I'll have a look-see to see if I can reduce the shine on PAV 1 too...... might have to wait for next weekend though as I want to jump back onto Just Flight's Constellation (Expansion Pack B) EC-121-K "Warning Star" tweaks that I have been farting around with; the default USAF paint scheme needs a little TLC.

Tommy