SOH A-26 Invader, the story continues ...

**roger-wilco-66** · January 6th, 2018, 09:57

Originally Posted by IanP

Mark,

I've just created a PSP (Marston Sheet type) runway for my East Wretham scenery, which I created by modelling the PSP and rendering it, then applying that texture to a ground poly. It works. Not perfect, but it works. Because it's now a texture, not a model per se, I've been able to minimise the moire effect. When it was a MDL, the moire was horrendous!

If you want any of my files, I can get them to you within a few minutes.

Cheers,

ian P.

Thanks for the offer, Ian. I think I'm pretty far with the project - here's the last rendition:

**IanP** · January 6th, 2018, 10:24

Looking good, Mark!

Cheers,

Ian P.

***bob407*** · January 6th, 2018, 13:26

Just want to say thank you to all involved here. Really appreciate your awesome work. Please take your time and enjoy what you do. Things always seem to work out better that way in the end.

**gman5250** · January 6th, 2018, 18:52

Jens-Ole sent me his hand painted art for the fire panel today. I built the part and added it to the VC. The weapons strip will also be integrated. I'm refining the LM gauge lighting for brightness and color. The night shot here is using my custom VC lighting effect from the Tigercat.

Each addition develops the personality of this plane. That fire panel really brings that forward view to life.

**strykerpsg** · January 6th, 2018, 19:12

Very nice indeed Gman. Superb artwork each shot delivered.

**DennyA** · January 6th, 2018, 23:14

Quick question... While I await the awesome K, I've been flying the existing version in P3D V4. Works and looks great, except the mirror reflective wheels.

So I have a couple of total newbie questions on converting the textures:
1) Should convert them all, or just the gear?
2) Assuming I should convert them to DDS 32-bit?
3) Is DXTBmp or Photoshop (I have CC) the way to go, or is there a batch program if I should convert them all?
4) If there's a newbie's guide to doing this that I've missed somewhere, can someone point me to it? ;-)

Thanks for answering my "didn't everyone figure this stuff out in 2006?" questions. ;-)

**JensOle** · January 7th, 2018, 00:28

My advice would be to wait a few weeks and you will have a much more refined and complete replication of the b-26k. The old K has no K vc, but the generic original invader cockpit and it has the issue with very low resolution on the gauges. Pluss we are putting a lot of effort into other parts of the model to make it as close to the K model as we can manage. This includes all new HD textures and weapon loadout.

**DaveQ** · January 7th, 2018, 01:16

Originally Posted by DennyA

Quick question... While I await the awesome K, I've been flying the existing version in P3D V4. Works and looks great, except the mirror reflective wheels.

So I have a couple of total newbie questions on converting the textures:
1) Should convert them all, or just the gear?
2) Assuming I should convert them to DDS 32-bit?
3) Is DXTBmp or Photoshop (I have CC) the way to go, or is there a batch program if I should convert them all?
4) If there's a newbie's guide to doing this that I've missed somewhere, can someone point me to it? ;-)

Thanks for answering my "didn't everyone figure this stuff out in 2006?" questions. ;-)

You can get an Nvidia plug-in for Photoshop that saves files as .dds. Alternatively you could try saving as .dds with no alpha with DXTbmp. There is also a little routine I could send you to batch convert if you want - very useful for portovers. However, I have a faint memory of the tyre problem being related to the use of the FS9 model in FSX so it may not work. As JensOle said, we are working on a complete rebuild with tyre treads even bump mapped...!

DaveQ

**DennyA** · January 7th, 2018, 11:32

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the responses.

If we're weeks away from the B-26K, I can just patiently wait and fly more boring planes in the meantime. (Or just not switch to external views until I've retracted the goofy tired. Or pretend I'm in that episode of Amazing Stories. :-)

The work you're doing on the update is stunning!

**gribouil** · January 8th, 2018, 08:35

Originally Posted by ********

Jens-Ole sent me his hand painted art for the fire panel today. I built the part and added it to the VC. The weapons strip will also be integrated. I'm refining the LM gauge lighting for brightness and color. The night shot here is using my custom VC lighting effect from the Tigercat.

Each addition develops the personality of this plane. That fire panel really brings that forward view to life.

Wonderful job ********!!!

Cheers,

Stéph.

**Switchblade408** · January 8th, 2018, 10:10

This is looking absolutely AWESOME! Thanks to all involved with this project! The suspense waiting for this is almost killing me!

**sp762** · January 8th, 2018, 14:41

Yes. There’s so much excitement right now. I can’t pick between the B-26, C123 or C119 project to be most enthusiastic about.

**gman5250** · January 10th, 2018, 19:33

I think the basic improvements on the VC are at an acceptable level to hand it over to the team to do their final work.

I did some detailed modeling on the radios, TACAN and VHF, made some changes on the quadrant base and cut the Boolean cuts for the levers. I added a full cage with ribs and formers, and some other bits here and there. One thing to add is the overhead switch panel for the battery and other electronics switches.

The exterior and interior models are now mated and everything on the restored model seems to check out. The new model is current for FSX, FSX SE, P3D2/3 and P3D4. DaveQ and JensOle are going to take the model with the fixes and updates and finalize the package.

The interior re-model.

**gman5250** · January 10th, 2018, 19:34

**strykerpsg** · January 10th, 2018, 20:03

Just simply beautiful representation of a fantastic warbird Gman. I have to ask though, will it be possible to TacPack it?

**gman5250** · January 11th, 2018, 07:37

Originally Posted by strykerpsg

Just simply beautiful representation of a fantastic warbird Gman. I have to ask though, will it be possible to TacPack it?

That will be up to DaveQ and Jens-Ole. I still need to model the armament strip at the top of the panel, so I can code the switches as needed.

**awstub** · January 11th, 2018, 18:13

I sure hope it does get tacpacked....there is going to be a historically accurate Laotian theater for it to prowl around.

Originally Posted by ********

That will be up to DaveQ and Jens-Ole. I still need to model the armament strip at the top of the panel, so I can code the switches as needed.

**JensOle** · January 13th, 2018, 07:01

As of now dont think we have the skills or experience to make it Tac pack compatible (Gordon and Mark might have experience with this). As you know, the K is a rather weapon hungry lady and to bring new weapons into Tac Pack is not something I have experience with.

There are currently no plan to make it Tac pack compatible, but all stores will be selectable from the load out menu so that you can get the visual you want in the regard to weapons.

**JensOle** · January 15th, 2018, 11:32

I wanted to share a few previews of the outstanding work roger wilco 66 is doing for the K project, bellow are a few shots of the LAU-3a pod (with and without fairings)

**roger-wilco-66** · January 15th, 2018, 12:33

I'm eager to see these things on the aircraft! :-)

Gordon did an exceptional job on it, if I may add. This is one of the top highlights for me. A true american hot rod of the skies, the Counter Invader.

Cheers,
Mark

**Alky** · January 15th, 2018, 13:28

Originally Posted by ********

That will be up to DaveQ and Jens-Ole. I still need to model the armament strip at the top of the panel, so I can code the switches as needed.

I just came across this thread and became curious. Is this a rework of the A-26 VC along the lines of the C-47 and is pending release some time in the near future?

**gman5250** · January 15th, 2018, 18:49

Originally Posted by Alky

I just came across this thread and became curious. Is this a rework of the A-26 VC along the lines of the C-47 and is pending release some time in the near future?

This is a rework of the B-26K Counter Invader. I don't have the time available to create something that would compliment Jan Visser's C-47, but the remodel is a big step forward from the original. I came in to the project to straighten out some animation glitches and ended up restoring the entire Gmax model. The focal point of the VC is the panel, which has all new 3D modeling for the gauges and radios. I made quite a few changes on the quadrant, the cockpit frame and I upgraded the art to 4K.

I just handed the model off to the team to do their magic. They will keep everyone updated on a release date. Should be close now that the model is up to date.

**Alky** · January 15th, 2018, 19:05

Originally Posted by ********

Should be close now that the model is up to date.

I'm looking forward to it. Thanks for all the work you contribute to this sim!

**DaveQ** · January 20th, 2018, 05:19

We are still working through a number of issues with FSX in particular, and this week has been quite difficult. As always it all looks nearly done and you think it can go out in a few days, then beta testing starts throwing up the unexpected (this is why we do it...!). But we now have RW66's weapons pack to play with so here are a few shots.

DaveQ