Official KC Flight Shop F4F Wildcat development thread.

[Gibbage]

Thank you to those who played the "guess that aircraft" game! Though it was rather short lived, it did allow me to announce the F4F Wildcat product that's currently in development at KC Flight Shop! This will be the official development thread were I will post progress, give information about the product, and hopefully get some community feedback!

First, let me tell you a little bit about the F4F project. This project started in 2003 as a true "museum" quality model, accurate to a very fine detail. Even down to modeling individual links in the landing gear chain and rivets on the aircraft's skin. The original model is over 10 MILLION polygons! To give you some perspective, many FSX models are around 50,000-150,000 for jumbo jets, or 250,000 for a super detailed model!!! The type of model that even rivet counters would be impressed by ;)

Here is a render of the high detail model showing off the engine and landing gear bay.

1873

That model was never fully finished and the project it was for was canceled, but I kept plugging away at it every now and then in hopes to one day finish it. Some people may have seen bits and peace's of it on the forums, but its been on the backburner for some time. Until recently.

Recently, I gave myself the ask of turning this model into something that is useable in FSX, but still try and retain much of the detail and accuracy of the original! The model is completely re-done to a more acceptable FSX standard (under 200K polygons) but still retaining the detail using normal maps derived from the high detail model!

With that said, I would like to present to you early concept screenshots of the KCFS F4F Wildcat!

Please note that these are early screenshots within 3D Studio's Max, NOT RENDERS. Textures are a work in progress and this is still a ways away from flying in FSX/P3D.

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Please note that the engine texture is very dark, since its mostly shrouded in the cowl. I may have a "lit" version and allow the pilot to take off the cowl for screenshots to show off the detail. It all depends on what the community wants!

Currently there is NO ship date, and at best are months away from that. I currently have a full time job, and its not modeling aircraft. Im a very small developer, so progress will be slower then normal, but it WONT take me another 10 years =) Im in final and there are no go-arounds on this one!!!

I would love to get some feedback and comments from the community. Also if you spot something is wrong, feel free to let me know! I cant promise it will get fixed, but I will do my best to make this aircraft as accurate as possible. If you want to get a good idea of the quality KCFS is capable, feel free to take a look at the Republic Seabee! Fun little aircraft that's very versatile and unique! http://www.kcflightshop.com/?page_id=245 http://www.aerosoft.com/cgi-local/us/iboshop.cgi?showd,6647689100,D12766

Hopefully I will be able to post some screenshots of the cockpit Friday.

[MudMarine]

AWESOME!! I can't wait!:jump: I'm a huge fan of the wildkitty!

[Skyhawk_310R]

Well, it's pretty amazing detail and it is hard for me to keep it in perspective. It was not too long ago when folks would have been more than happy just to see a single tube connect to the tire, but now look at this. I never dreamed I would see virtual designers replicate mathematically correct sag on a chain link connection to a gear sprocket!

You've actually got me studying the linkages to the gear mechanism to learn how it functions! My only curiosity is whether you somehow snagged a video that shows the actual gear operation cycle in detail?

We're reaching a point now where the stuff being put out by folks like yourself could be quite useful as training devices for service crews!

Ken

[tankerguy72]

That's just beautiful work right there!

[Gibbage]

I don't have any video showing the linkages in action. I had to figure out how they worked mechanically. The direction of the gear crank, how it relates to the transfer box, and out to the struts. The struts are broken in half, and fold inward, drawing the landing gear up. It took me weeks to get it animated correctly so that it didn't clip and worked out well. Its one of the more complex landing gear animations I have done yet! It ranks right on up there with the Handly Page Victor main wheels, and that's a MASSIVE bomber!

What I may do this weekend is make a video of the landing gear retraction so people can understand how it works.

[Skyhawk_310R]

Well, now you're really impressed me! Heck, far as I'm concerned, how well it flies is secondary to seeing just how you modeled that landing gear cycling!

Ken

[Skyhawk_310R]

BTW: I just thought of something you might be able to pull off. If you can communicate directly with the restoration team, or any other group that operates an actual airworthy F4F or derivative, it is a common part of an annual inspection on a complex aircraft to put it on jacks and perform a landing gear cycle test. You might be able to either secure a video of one they previously did, or at least coordinate some way for them to videotape their next one.

Then, you would have that tape and see how close your insights came to the true situation!

If you already knew all that, then please ignore!

Ken

[X_eidos2]

Back in the late 90's I worked at Eidos Interactive on their flight sim development team. One of the hardest models I ever worked on was the Wildcat for their massive multi-player game (never published) Confirmed Kill. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for anyone who makes a good working model of the Wildcat's landing gear.:applause:

[big-mike]

Great news------can`t wait!
Mike

[Deacon211]

I tell you flat out that I would love to see this model done right.

My old fleet squadron was VMA-211 Wake Island Avengers.

18961897


Deacon

[alehead]

Where are you based? I know that there is a flying example at Duxford. It flew at Legends this year in summer...

A


Andrew Entwistle

[Gibbage]

Im based near Seattle. They are restoring an FM2 for the Boeing museum of Flight that I have access to. I would love to find an F4F-3 local.

[hairyspin]

TFC's Wildcat at Duxford is also an FM2, but the Fleet Air Arm's museum at RNAS Yeovilton has an F4F-4 which is a recent restoration to original spec. I'm sure they would be happy to supply details of the restoration on request, they're very proud of her! http://www.fleetairarm.com/ I know there's an F4F-3 on display at Pearl Harbour...

[roger-wilco-66]

Great news, sold :-))

Cheers,
Mark

[Gibbage]

Any request's anyone wants to see? Like specific area's or details?

[Gibbage]

Here is some cockpit screenshots. Please note that it came out dark and I will be re-baking the shadows this weekend.

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[SADT]

Any request's anyone wants to see? Like specific area's or details?

Hi Kevin,

Perhaps a working simulation of the 2 speed supercharger (Ie, moving the lever from Low blower to High Blower changes the manifold pressure), payloads, such as underwing bombs and tanks, and firing weapons, and maybe switch/knob noises (When you click/move a switch, knob, or lever, it makes a noise)?

I like what I'm seeing here!! It does look very nice indeed! :-)

Craig.

[Deacon211]

Working guns would be awesome, even if they just flash and make noise. Beyond that, all realism I think would be generally appreciated like a nice gunsight and perhaps a little "wear" on the textures...Navy/Marine planes were never clean! ;)

Deacon

[PRB]

Love the F4F. If you have read Saburo Sakai's book Samurai, you might remember his telling of his first encounter with the stubby naval fighter, on August 7, 1942, the day the US invaded Guadalcanal. Up to this point in his career, Sakai had shot down many dozens of allied planes, few of which he considered challenging opponents. On the morning of August 7, he and his squadron took off from Rabaul, escorting G4Ms down “The Slot” to attack the US and Australian forces gathered around Guadalcanal. He had heard that US Navy pilots were professional and well trained, and was looking forward to the “meeting”. As his formation approached what would become known as “Iron Bottom Sound”, he saw a “Betty” explode in front of him, followed a second later by two blue Wildcats diving vertically through the bomber formation. Every time I read that story I ask the book in front of me “any more questions...??”

This F4F is looking really nice. Can't wait!

[Skyhawk_310R]

Sakai has a very fortunate early career, which even in his own book he acknowledged. In China, he never faced the P-40's flown by the AVG. Instead, he faced the overweight Brewster Buffaloes flown by the RAF and some truly derelict aircraft flown by Chinese pilots who's training was worse than their aircraft's performance.

By the time he met up with the US Army in the PTO, he found himself on the beneficial end of a combination of bad luck and bad leadership in the Philippines, where the US fleet was forced to turn back from a line of thunderstorms enroute to attack the known Japanese airfield in Taiwan. Then, the Japanese launched a very fortuitously timed attack following that line of storms as they passed from between their base and toward Clark Field. The Japanese attack arrived as the US aircraft were being refueled from their sortie launched earlier that day. The Japanese enjoyed a field day to destroy the bulk of US fighter aircraft.

From that point forward, Sakai enjoyed the luxury of attacking the earliest model of B-17 that lacked a tail gun! As it was, it took several attacks by Japanese fighters to shoot down a B-17. Among the many encounters was the one of Colin Kelly's attack on Japanese shipping which was made by just one B-17 against the entire might of the assembled IJNAF aircraft in the air. It struck Sakai as a suicide mission and that speaks all one needs to know about the overall situation.

Sakai's missions against the RAF and US Army in Lae and New Guinea were flown against mostly Buffaloes and P-39 Airacobras. The P-39 was a hideous aircraft, grossly underpowered and lacking an effective supercharger so the Japanese always had the altitude advantage and when you are already flying a fighter that's faster and more maneuverable, always having altitude advantage just skews it to an impossible challenge.

He rarely encountered any P-40's and the few times he spoke of them he talked about how they dived down (the P-40 had an effective supercharger and therefore could get higher than the Zeros) and conducted lethal slashing attacks. Sakai documented a couple of cases where he was totally helpless to assist those who were caught in the crosshairs of attacking P-40's. Sakai was fortunate enough never to find himself the victim of such an attack. By the time the P-38 Lightnings had gotten to that theater, he was transferred to Rabaul and was, as you wrote, engaging the Navy and Marine units on Guadalcanal. It was at this time that the P-38 units at Port Moresby were slaughtering Japanese fighters and bombers.

The bulk of Sakai's victories were scored in the early months of the war. His serious wound that he survived helped him survive the war as he was pulled home to train. When he was finally put back into the air to support Iwo Jima, he found himself fighting Hellcats and thought he shot one down, blind in one eye, he realized he was overmatched. Sakai, in his book, freely admitted he was an elite ace, flying with an elite squadron filled with other aces, enjoying a record of achievement not enjoyed by other squadrons in his theaters of operation. He also, again due to his blindness, was not selected to be part of the defense of the Marianas, which of course turned into the famous Marianas Turkey Shoot.

Further, he stayed in Taiwan flying against the Chinese during the time of Midway and Coral Sea. As he wrote in his book, Sakai was very lucky. He knew it.

As it was, the P-40 and Wildcats were a match for the Zero when flown using good tactics, which they were flown by for most of the war. The P-39 was a hopeless aircraft and the Buffalo was terribly overloaded when self-sealing fuel tanks, armour plating, and long range radios were added. This is why the Buffaloes flown by the Finnish Air Force against the Russians were successful as they were flown without this and therefore were light enough to remain very maneuverable. Hence the glowing report Greg Boyington wrote in his book about a Buffalo flown by a hot pilot. These pre-war Buffaloes were not weighed down.

The Japanese enjoyed a feast against poorly equipped early war air forces. The US Navy prior to the war enjoyed a level of logistical support that the US Army did not enjoy. In the inter-war years, the Navy was relatively lavishly funded as to be America's prime quick response unit. When the war shockingly happened, one had to fight with what they had, not what they wanted to have. The question that should scare many people is that the Buffalo won the initial development contest against the Grumman Wildcat! Imagine what would have happened had wise people in the Navy not seen the potential in the Wildcat and ensured sufficient numbers were available when the war started!

Ken

[Skyhawk_310R]

Any request's anyone wants to see? Like specific area's or details?

I would suggest some of the liveries flown by the Cactus Air Force off Guadalcanal. Joe Foss, Marion Carl, John Smith and those guys were studs who kept the thing in check against long odds.

Beyond that, Jimmy Thatch would be a good livery to draw up.

Ken

[Ian Warren]

PRB and Ken , a great summary and from the other side, 'Saburo Sakia' sure he'd be proud, for the memory and amazing the books we have to learn, now while's making this Wildcat who's going to make a script for a movie about the hero's from and of both sides :mixed-smiley-010:

[Skyhawk_310R]

I'm really surprised no one's made a movie about Sakai. It would make a very compelling story, especially if they included the true action that Sakai chose to omit from his autobiography when it was published in the 1950's.

Sakai was the lead pilot of a formation that observed a Dutch military C-47 aircraft. He was going to shoot it down until he decided to fly alongside and observed women and children looking out the windows and realized it was a military aircraft trying to fly an evacuation mission with civilian refugees onboard! In fact, that's exactly what the situation was as the transport was flying war refugees out of Java to Australia!

Sakai, in an action that could have easily resulted in his court martial had it been discovered he let the plane escape, waggled his wings as the pilot of the transport observed him and let the plane fly to its destination without attack!

It was one of the more remarkable acts of chivalry during the entire war! And yet, it had to be covered up at the time to protect Sakai! The man had so much respect from his subordinate pilots in the formation that they all agreed to keep the story secret. After the war, Sakai's wife died from the disease and malnutrition that plagued Japan for years after the war ended. His lone surviving daughter and he survived the war and she married a US Army officer and moved to America. Sakai's two grandchildren are from this marriage and it is very noteworthy how popular he became among American military personnel almost immediately after the war ended and how close that bond remained for the rest of his life. In many respects, he was more respected among former adversaries than fellow Japanese!

http://acesofww2.com/japan/aces/sakai/

When Sakai started his pilot training for the IJNAF in 1937, he was one of only 70 candidates selected from over 1,500 applications to pilot training!

How his life has not found its way to the silver screen in Japan is truly beyond my understanding. He was a truly honorable warrior.

Ken

[Bomber_12th]

Tons of wartime (and a few post-WWII) FM-2 photos, including some wartime FM-2 cockpit photos: http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=51080

As for surviving F4F-3 variants, these are all of the known examples currently in ownership. Note that all of these are also Lake Michigan recoveries!

http://warbirdregistry.org/f4fregistry/f4f-3872.html
http://warbirdregistry.org/f4fregistry/f4f-3956.html
http://warbirdregistry.org/f4fregistry/f4f-3969.html
http://warbirdregistry.org/f4fregistry/f4f-4039.html
http://warbirdregistry.org/f4fregistry/f4f-11824.html
http://warbirdregistry.org/f4fregistry/f4f-12260.html (only one flying at this time (currently owned by Rod Lewis/Lewis Air Legends))
http://warbirdregistry.org/f4fregistry/f4f-12290.html
http://warbirdregistry.org/f4fregistry/f4f-12296.html (flown in the 90's, now static)
http://warbirdregistry.org/f4fregistry/f4f-coam.html
http://warbirdregistry.org/f4fregistry/f4f-ohare.html

[Bomber_12th]

Also, there might be quite a few Wildcats flying in England, several years down the line. Apart from TFC's FM-2 Wildcat, which is currently flying, the Shuttleworth Collection has a, once airworthy, FM-2 slated for restoration to airworthy following the completion of their Spitfire Mk.V restoration (this aircraft, which was formerly on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, and flown previous to that (as N49JC), is currently on static display at Old Warden). There are also three other project FM-2's slated for or are currently under restoration to airworthy in the UK, registered to Bygone Engineering, Ltd. (these being the former N585FM, N750FM, and Navy BuNo. 55404 (a Lake Michigan recovered airframe)).

Photos of the unrestored Lake Michigan recovered FM-2 BuNo. 55404 can be seen here: http://wildwarbirds.squarespace.com/wildcat-bu-55404/before-restoration/
(http://wildwarbirds.squarespace.com/wildcat-bu-55404/before-restoration/)

And more Grumman Wildcat photos, galore (starting with the earliest concepts): http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13327&hilit=F4F&start=60

[Gibbage]

Just a small update. I didn't have a lot of time to work on the kitty this weekend. Holidays and all! Hope everyone had a great year in 2013, and hope 2014 is better!!!
http://www.kcflightshop.com/files/f4f-35.jpg

[MudMarine]

CAN'T WAIT TO FLY AS JOE FOSS KITTY OVER THE CANAL!!!:jump::jump::biggrin-new::very_drunk:

[Gibbage]

And yes, the Wildcatfish will be a reality.

2067

If you don't like it, don't fly it =)

[Mach3DS]

Gibbage, its looking great! My request is simple. A repaint in the restored version of Kermit Weeks' F4F. :)

[Odie]

I must admit that over the years I never really paid that much attention the Wildcat. However, upon diving into its history and
reading how it shouldered a lot in the early years of carrying the fight to the enemy, I developed a lot of respect for the a/c and
the men who flew it.

Looking forward to this release in 2014! As for repaints, I would like to see some of the planes that the Cactus Air Force flew
included. It's looking good so far!

[Skyhawk_310R]

Two most influential aircraft for the Navy in the PTO was the Dauntless and the Wildcat. For the USAAF in the PTO it was the B-25 and B-29. And I would put the P-38 as a very close third deserving honorable mention.

By the time the Corsair and Hellcat came along the tide was already turned though hardly anyone at the time knew it. The Dauntless and the Wildcat simply killed the vast majority of Japan's top echelon pilots, either by sinking their carriers or shooting them down in the air. Japan's best pilots were in the IJN. The Japanese Army never developed exceptional pilots. Yet, neither the navy or army in Japan ever had a pilot training program that could maintain their qualitative levels. So, while there's no question that the Wildcat was qualitatively excelled by the Corsair and Hellcat, it was already a different fight when they came online.

The reason why the Dauntless and Wildcat remain immortal is because when things were dire, those two aircraft stood on the line and delivered crushing blows that none of the other aircraft the Navy had at the time were able to deliver.

Ken

[Deacon211]

Since I was hoping for a Wake Island paint, would it be possible to offer a version of the F4F3?

I don't know all the differences, but the intake on the top of the nose cowling seems to be the most visible.

Robert Shaw painting from Cranston's and model borrowed from Bill Koppos

[Gibbage]

Most -3's had the intake on the cowling (carb air intake). If I recall, it was just the F4F-3A's that deleted the carb air scoop? Its really hard to tell. You cant tell a 3 from a 3A without looking into the wheel well's. The 3A had a single stage super and deleted the intercoolers located in the wheel well since the carb air on the single stage didnt get as hot. Can anyone confirm this?

[Skyhawk_310R]

Most -3's had the intake on the cowling (carb air intake). If I recall, it was just the F4F-3A's that deleted the carb air scoop? Its really hard to tell. You cant tell a 3 from a 3A without looking into the wheel well's. The 3A had a single stage super and deleted the intercoolers located in the wheel well since the carb air on the single stage didnt get as hot. Can anyone confirm this?

This is correct though you know more about the precise placements of the two types of superchargers.

The F4F-3A was really a lower performance aircraft than the F4F-3 and the reason was the use of a simpler and less performance capable supercharger on the F4F-3A. The F4F-3A used a 1,200 horsepower engine and a single-stage supercharger. The RAF used them more in the anti-submarine service of the North Atlantic, launching them off escort carriers. However, for the very reason of the lower capability supercharger, the US Navy and Marines got rid of them quickly. The F4F-3A was developed merely because of the shortage of the two-stage supercharger.

In addition, there was a slightly different engine in the two. The F4F-3 was fitted with the Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp R-1830-76, which produced a rated 1,200 horsepower. The F4F-3A had an R-1830-90 engine, which also produced a rated 1,200 horsepower, but this was deceiving. Because, due to the lower output supercharger, the -90 engine could only achieve its max rated 1,200 horsepower at sea level. Once the F4F-3A started climbing its ability to maintain this 1,200 horsepower output was stymied above 13,000 feet. Below 13,000 feet, the F4F-3A actually had the same horsepower reserve but better fuel economy to get it, resulting in slightly longer range. Above 13,000 feet the -3A had lower horsepower output than the -3 and with that all the associated drop off in aircraft performance, speed, climb, and altitude.

As far as any data I have says, the only difference between the two engines was the integration of the single stage two-speed supercharger on the -3A vice the double stage two-speed supercharger on the -3. Given that you know the precise differences in the internal location of the two types of superchargers, I think you are entirely correct in your thoughts.

Ken

[Skyhawk_310R]

BTW: Kevin I noted you were going to also include the F4F-3S, which is the Wildcatfish floatplane version. I suppose you long ago already knew this, but despite placing a production order for 100 of these types, the contract was cancelled. Primarily, this was because the US Navy committed itself to launching fighters off carriers and land bases. My understanding is that a few prototypes were built but none were ever put into service.

Ken

[Gibbage]

Ya. I know the F4F-3S never made it into production, but its still going to happen. There are plenty of photo's and references. I also made the Spitfire floatplane many years ago. I just love floaters, and it adds a lot of value to the product for not a lot of work. Plus it just looks so cool!

http://www.airwar.ru/image/idop/fww2/f4f3s/f4f3s-4.jpg

[Skyhawk_310R]

You certainly won't get any disagreement from me that it was very high on the cool scale!

Ken

[Deacon211]

Most -3's had the intake on the cowling (carb air intake). If I recall, it was just the F4F-3A's that deleted the carb air scoop? Its really hard to tell. You cant tell a 3 from a 3A without looking into the wheel well's. The 3A had a single stage super and deleted the intercoolers located in the wheel well since the carb air on the single stage didnt get as hot. Can anyone confirm this?

Interesting. Are you planning on doing the 3, 3A, and 4 or are you just going to stick with one model for simplicity?

I have my favorite (for obvious reasons ;) ) but I'd be happy to get ANY Wildcat!

My old flight jacket.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/Deacon211/GBFront_zpsae5565af.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Deacon211/media/GBFront_zpsae5565af.jpg.html)

Deacon

[SkippyBing]

The RAF used them more in the anti-submarine service of the North Atlantic, launching them off escort carriers.

It was the Fleet Air Arm not the RAF!

[Gibbage]

OK guys. I need your help! There are two objects on the left side of the F4F-3 I cant identify.

http://www.kcflightshop.com/files/f4f-q.jpg

The object circled in green. I think its a buzzer or some sort of alarm?

The object circled in red. At first, I thought it was the supercharger state selector since I don't see it in late F4F's, but that lever is on the left side. Can anyone identify this lever? I need more information so I can properly model it. Thank you in advance!!!

Kevin

[falcon409]

Hmmm "SELECTIVE" L&R "BAL". . .it's not for Flap positions is it?

[Brian_Gladden]

OK guys. I need your help! There are two objects on the left side of the F4F-3 I cant identify.

http://www.kcflightshop.com/files/f4f-q.jpg

The object circled in green. I think its a buzzer or some sort of alarm?

The object circled in red. At first, I thought it was the supercharger state selector since I don't see it in late F4F's, but that lever is on the left side. Can anyone identify this lever? I need more information so I can properly model it. Thank you in advance!!!

Kevin

Been a while since I watched em but there might be an answer in these vids...




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT0MET8DIAY

[Gibbage]

Thanks for sharing the video! It will be really helpful, but still didn't explain the lever. He's flying an FM2 and does not have the lever.

[bruce448]

I think its the bomb select levers. Fig2 page 10 item 14, and the landing gear warning horn page 10 fig2 item 2

http://www.spruemaster.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/manual/Pilot's%20Handbook%20for%20Model%20F4F-4%20Engine%20R-1830-86.pdf

[Daube]

Could it be the fuel tank selection ?
Or perhaps, the selection of pylons for dropping or jettisoning the load ?

[Deacon211]

Well, I'm no expert but...

The Just Flight Wildcat and Martlett manual states that the lever there is the "Ordnance and Tank Controls". They actually work in the sim. The tooltips are not displayed in the screenshots below, but if you hover over the black handle it says "External Stores Selector" and the bluish handle behind says "Drop [Left, Right, Both] Stores". I have no doubt that this is probably correct and I don't see anything else in the cockpit that would perform that function, so it seems perfectly reasonable.

The big circle I was actually going to guess was a cockpit pressure valve (it looks like some I've seen in other aircraft) but I don't think that the Wildcat was pressurized. If you look closely on the top of the second picture, you will barely see the text "General Purpose Alarm (horn?)". I don't know what it activates however.

22572258

[Deacon211]

Oh, I take it back. The Just Flight manual actually does say that it is the "Landing Gear Warning Horn".

[Deacon211]

Oh, and thank you to Just Flight for the source material!

[Gibbage]

I think its the bomb select levers. Fig2 page 10 item 14, and the landing gear warning horn page 10 fig2 item 2

http://www.spruemaster.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/manual/Pilot's%20Handbook%20for%20Model%20F4F-4%20Engine%20R-1830-86.pdf

Looks like we have a winner for red circle! The manual linked says its the bomb control, and reading the text on the lever it says L Sal R (Sal is for Salvo).

The green circle is left, but this is more out of personal curiosity then anything simulated.

[Bomber_12th]

It looks like you've got your answers regarding those items, but I thought I would confirm again that the item in the green circle is a (standard for the era) landing gear horn.

[Gibbage]

Oh, I take it back. The Just Flight manual actually does say that it is the "Landing Gear Warning Horn".

That sounds about right. Modern aircraft have the same thing. I have flown a Cessna 177RG and when your RPM is low and the landing gear is up, the alarm sounds. Its a very simple way of reminding the pilot to put down the landing gear! Its also very annoying since the alarm tends to sound often in normal flight. The 177RG is a very slick bird. When you need to drop altitude, you really need to crank the RPM down or you can overspeed it quickly, and that will trigger the horn.

[Bomber_12th]

Kevin, although I'm sure you know, the three-switch panel (and surrounding indicator lights) that is located in that photo, just above the gear horn, is a modern addition and wasn't present on Wildcats originally. The primer color that you see in that photo is correct for the F4F-3 (called dark dull green).

Note, too, that the photo I shared of the other side of that particular F4F-3 cockpit, that the gear handle is facing down - this is because on that particular restoration it has a non-authentic electric gear retract system installed, and thus the crank handle isn't used. On Wildcats with the original crank system employed, the crank will always face forward when the gear is lowered all the way.

[Gibbage]

Kevin, although I'm sure you know, the three-switch panel (and surrounding indicator lights) that is located in that photo, just above the gear horn, is a modern addition and wasn't present on Wildcats originally. The primer color that you see in that photo is correct for the F4F-3 (called dark dull green).

Ya. I went over the old thread and saw that posting. The F4F-3 will be painted in the dark dull green, with the later F4F-4 and FM2 (if its done) will be in the chromite green. I love these sort of details! Really brings in the authenticity, and im sure you guys go nutz over it ;) Thank you for the heads up. Every little bit helps!!

[Deacon211]

Hey, are you aware of the existence of this site? I was wondering if they had the Wildcat done and it turns out they did.

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/nnam/virtualtour/#MUSEUM/COCKPITS/F4F-3/F4F-3

[Gibbage]

Hey, are you aware of the existence of this site? I was wondering if they had the Wildcat done and it turns out they did.

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/nnam/virtualtour/#MUSEUM/COCKPITS/F4F-3/F4F-3

Thanks! This will help me out in many ways. It seems that this is a VERY early F4F-3 or a prototype, but still very useful.

[Bradburger]

Very nice work as usual Kevin.

Looking forward to this one.

Was thinking of picking up one of the JF Wildcat/Martlet, as for some reason, I feel the need to have an example of Grumman's stubby little fighter in FSX!

But I might well wait now until yours is complete.

Are you just doing one variant, or are you planning on doing a few more (F4F-3, Martlets etc)?

I must admit, I would really like to see a high quality FM2 in FSX. :encouragement:

[EDIT]

Just seen post #53! :jump:

Cheers

Paul

[Bradburger]

Thought I'd post this link to a video of the Fighter Collection's FM-2 on on jacks having a gear test.

http://fighter-collection.com/cft/tfc-diary/page/7/

It's in the the second article down.

Another video on YouTube showing a US based FM-2 on jacks having a gear test which might be of use.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0OSLUaqIzg

Cheers

Paul

[Bradburger]

And here's another showing it coming down, from a different angle.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfo_9k_28n8

Cheers

Paul

[Gibbage]

Thanks for the reference contribution! Every little bit helps. The F4F is on hold for a little bit as im working on a pilot training video (for real life pilots). I hope to have some cockpit texture up sometime next week!

[wallydog]

Any news on the wildcat?

[Gibbage]

Any news on the wildcat?

Yes and no. I have joined the VEAO team, and the Wildcat will be flying in DCS World with full armament! Good news for some, but I understand not everyone liked DCS World. I make the choice for a few reasons, but mainly making this aircraft a team effort will ultimately lead to a better product. If you watch the P-40F promo video, you will see a surprise cameo ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxMLKIFao8c&feature=youtu.be