F-35 Lightning II project update

**Dino Cattaneo** · May 5th, 2010, 03:21

A very rainy evening has finally given me the time (and will) I needed to complete the remake of the MFD, which was the major oustanding item in my F-35 to-do list. The cockpit now has all the planned functions - while are fewer than the ones of the real F-35, they should be good enough for most users.

So the package is almost complete, meaning it needs some very minor debugging and the external model need to be checked against the recently released pictures of AF-1 and AF-2.
Then I need to write the checklists and the manuals and then it is ready.
The major delay will probably come from the fact that I am moving to a new home during the next couple of weeks... so I really can't tell when I will be able to release it. But I hope that the pictures above show that the project is in a very good shape and VERY close to completion.

By the way,the Garibaldi STOVL carrier is visiting to my hometown - the fact that I'm seeing it every day driving to my workplace, is revamping my intest in making the F-35B, too. The conversion is not easy as it may seem - but I'll probably give it a try.

Some additional details can be found on my blog indiafoxtecho.blogspot.com

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***doublecool*** · May 5th, 2010, 03:36

***JensOle*** · May 5th, 2010, 03:46

The F-35 looks very good! Can hardly wait to put some Norwegian roundels on her

How has you solved the helmet display? I did some testing back in the days of the IRIS F-35 for FS9 and made the HUD gauge a 2d sub panel which I could bring up on top of the VC, worked very good with track ir.

***peter12213*** · May 5th, 2010, 03:49

Really nice looking, very much forward to this now Dino!

***MDIvey*** · May 5th, 2010, 05:46

That looks spot on to me as did your F-14...looking forward to release

Matt

**Lionheart** · May 5th, 2010, 06:55

Very nice work!

Some intricate detail you have been able to fit in there.

Love the panel with the new single piece giant screen.

Bill

***wilycoyote4*** · May 5th, 2010, 08:20

Originally Posted by Dino Cattaneo

......................

The major delay will probably come from the fact that I am moving to a new home during the next couple of weeks... ...........

Moving is real work esprcially if you've collected tons of stuff. Take your time. Get that move done. Have a party.

The F-35 will get here soon enough. Must be nice to have a carrier in your neighborhood.

raptor19 · May 5th, 2010, 11:09

Its looking great Dino, look forward to its release in due course.

MCDesigns · May 5th, 2010, 14:44

As someone that doesn't care for the F-35 styling, I am liking your project more and more, great textures.

***XLR8*** · May 5th, 2010, 15:16

Great work Dino ! Thanks for the heads up and pics.

tigisfat · May 5th, 2010, 17:49

perhaps some thunderbird and blue angel paints? You'd seal my sale...

**Dino Cattaneo** · May 6th, 2010, 01:52

Thanks for the appreciation!
The more I work on this project, the more I am amazed with the real F-35 program. Yes, it has suffered some delays, and the plane may not be the best looking and most powerful fighter ever...but it is definitely a quantum leap in aerospace technology.

@JansOle
My rendition of the HMD will be a combination of a 3d HUD and 2D sumperimposed information.
In the real F-35, the HMD works like a "Virtual HUD" -i.e. it appears as an exceptionally wide HUD fixed in space. Only few things follow the pilot's head movements.
In my model, the HUD (by Neutrino) will be fixed in space too... but there will also be a simple, superimposed 2D "panel" which will follow, of course, the VC viewpoint.

@Lionheart
Deteail comes at a price... the compiled MDL is almost three times above the size reccommended in the FSX SDK... Should not be a problem for most machines - but this model is far from being optimal for the the less powerful rigs.
The F-35 cockpit is indeed amazing.
Unfortunately, I was unable to replicate most of the more advanced functions of the avionics suite (e.g. the sensor fusion) but most of the functionalities are there.

@wilycoyote4
I admit I underestimated the efforts required... not to mention the time spent at IKEA...

@Tigisfat
I tried to do the Thunderbirds livery (based on LM promotional renderings) but the textures were not on par with the default... I will make another try before the release, but,if I fail,I am sure that a repaint will appear soon.
As for the Blue Angels, I assume they will be flying the F-35C....which is significantly different (it has completely different - and much larger - wings and stabilizers, apart from the landing gear, hook and refuel probe). Due to several constraints, for the moment, I am doing the F-35A only... I am still evaluating the F-35B and F-35C but the differences are not as small as one may think at first glance...

***Dave Torkington*** · May 6th, 2010, 02:56

Great work Dino, plastic is on standby

JamesChams · May 6th, 2010, 17:39

Coming along nicely, Mr. Dino Cattaneo!

By the way,the Garibaldi STOVL carrier is visiting to my hometown - the fact that I'm seeing it every day driving to my workplace, is revamping my intest in making the F-35B, too. The conversion is not easy as it may seem - but I'll probably give it a try.

Glad to see God always knows how to help keep you on track with nice motivational incentives, like the Garibaldi STOVL carrier.

Also, do you have any plans to add effects to the model? [ Like the water Vapor effects on High-G turns or the realistic strobe light (A2A 3D-Redux Lights), and, of course, Lotus' Modeled VC/Night-Lighting ].

I'm happy to see that the B & C are upcoming, now, as well; I'll wait patiently for them.

Grazie!

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."

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

tigisfat · May 6th, 2010, 18:22

Originally Posted by Dino Cattaneo

@Tigisfat
I tried to do the Thunderbirds livery (based on LM promotional renderings) but the textures were not on par with the default... I will make another try before the release, but,if I fail,I am sure that a repaint will appear soon.

Originally Posted by Dino Cattaneo

As for the Blue Angels, I assume they will be flying the F-35C....which is significantly different (it has completely different - and much larger - wings and stabilizers, apart from the landing gear, hook and refuel probe). Due to several constraints, for the moment, I am doing the F-35A only... I am still evaluating the F-35B and F-35C but the differences are not as small as one may think at first glance...

I didn't know it was that different. I sure wouldn't mind having the wool pulled over my eyes just to see a blue angels repaint, and I'll bet others would feel the same, like Shylock and Jim Dhaenans.