A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 3 American Aircraft

Description: UPDATED Release CFS3 oriiginal model. Curtiss SB2C-1C Mod.III Helldiver.
Two planes in this set.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO DOWNLOAD THE FIRST SET, THIS IS THE COMPLETE UPDATED SET. original set did not have the Turtleback animation included, also took the opportunity to add in Nav lights.

Original external model is converted from an FSDS model by Wolgang Faber
Model rework by Steve (Sdsbolt) Seybolt
Textures by John (Bravo/4) Whelan
Mos File by Rob (Capt. Winters) Stevenson
XDP compilation, research by Rob (Capt. Winters) Stevenson
Help files by Rob (Capt. Winters) Stevenson
Flight Model By Ted (Nachtpiloten) Kaniuk
Weapon updates by Joost and frosty.
Engine sounds by Lawdog. (see original readme in SJ_SB2C-1C_VB17_43 sound folder.)

Note: if installed into stock CFS3 it will require the following addons to be installed:
*NEK redux edition by Rick Rutherford. this will give you the extra countries required for the aircraft set.
If installed into ETO, Rising Sun or MAW addons then no extra files are required.

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
Unzip to a temporary folder:
Place aircraft folders into games main aircraft folder.
Place Pylon files into games main pylon folder. (allow to overwrite if asked)
Place weapon files into games main weapon folder. (allow to overwrite if asked)

In game player views.
Pilot Views- using F6 to cycle through:
Defualt view - Close Pilot view.
2nd view - gun sight.
3rd view - Instrument view.
4th view - Pilot Wide view.

Gunner Views using F8 to cycle through:
1st view -lower the turtleback.
the first gunners position you get to will allow you to lower the trutle back by pushing your joystick forward, then hit F8 to go to the next gunners position which is the close view and if you hit F8 again you'll get a wide view gunners position. hitting F8 again will take you back to the turtleback position were you can raise the turtleback by pulling back on the joystick ready for landing.

2nd view - Close gunner view.

3rd view - Wide gunner view.

Dive Brakes are activated and deactivared with the "D" key.

Note: the rear gunner position will remain closed while the wheels are down. once the landing gear has been retracted the rear gunner hatch will open.

Freeware Item not to be loaded onto any web site without the written permission of Steve Seybolt.
copyright 2012.

Curtiss SB2C-1C Mod.III Helldiver
=====================================
Unit: VB-8. (Bombing Eight)
Serial: White B-16
East Coast United States.
July 1943.

The first production SB2C-1 flew June 30, 1942 and in 1943 replaced the SBD Dauntless as the USN s main dive-bomber. Four years after it was first ordered there still wasnt one plane manufactured and when the planes finally started to arrive they were so poorly made that some would break in half upon landing, some would lose tail-wheels or some wings would fail in dives. The aircraft were refused by Great Britain and several other countries because of these problems and poor performance. The aircraft under went improvements, MOD II saw over 800 technical changes to each plane. After many MODS and variants the Helldiver became an effective plane and was nicknamed The Big Tail Beast referring to its over sized tail that was needed to correct control problems. Some referred to it as sum bitch second class .
This is an airplane that never would have gone into full production if WWII hadnt necessitated doing so. Even the USAAF cancelled their order and the planes that they did receive never saw battle. The captain of the Yorktown refused to sail with the Helldiver and went to sea with the Dauntless. Only after hundreds of changes and modifications did the SB2C go on to become one of the most effective dive-bombers of WWII. VB-17 was the first unit to take the new SB2C-1 MOD III into combat on board USS Bunker Hill.
VB-8 was formed on the East Coast in July 1943. The depicted markings on this aircraft date from late that year owing to the red border around the 'star and bars'. The Alpha-numeric squadron identification was used only on US-based aircraft assigned to a carrier air group, as such high visibility markings would have been a liability in combat. Bombing Eight relieved VB-17 aboard Bunker Hill in March 1944, and remained aboard until October - one of the longer SB2C deployments of the war.


Curtiss SB2C-1C Mod.III Helldiver.
=====================================
Unit: VB-17 flown from the carrier U.S.S. Bunker Hill.
Serial: White 4
Rabaul.
November 1943.

The first production SB2C-1 flew June 30, 1942 and in 1943 replaced the SBD Dauntless as the USN s main dive-bomber. Four years after it was first ordered there still wasnt one plane manufactured and when the planes finally started to arrive they were so poorly made that some would break in half upon landing, some would lose tail-wheels or some wings would fail in dives. The aircraft were refused by Great Britain and several other countries because of these problems and poor performance. The aircraft under went improvements, MOD II saw over 800 technical changes to each plane. After many MODS and variants the Helldiver became an effective plane and was nicknamed The Big Tail Beast referring to its over sized tail that was needed to correct control problems. Some referred to it as sum bitch second class .
This is an airplane that never would have gone into full production if WWII hadnt necessitated doing so. Even the USAAF cancelled their order and the planes that they did receive never saw battle. The captain of the Yorktown refused to sail with the Helldiver and went to sea with the Dauntless. Only after hundreds of changes and modifications did the SB2C go on to become one of the most effective dive-bombers of WWII. VB-17 was the first unit to take the new SB2C-1 MOD III into combat on board USS Bunker Hill.
MOD III seemed to fix the weak fuselage structure that formerly would buckle or break on landing. CO LCDR James Moe Vose was a veteran and was assigned B-4 aircraft. On November 11, 1943 as part of Task Force 38 the USS Bunker Hill was directed to strike the main Japanese base at Rabaul. This would be VB-17s first combat mission and test under fire for the Helldiver. Vose led 23 SB2C-1s and when the force arrived at Rabaul they were greeted by Zeroes. Immediately the escorting Hellcats engaged the Zeroes allowing the Helldivers to attack the Japanese ships maneuvering to avoid them. After 20 minutes it was time to return to the Bunker Hill but not before the SB2Cs damaged a cruiser and three destroyers with one destroyer being sunk. VB-17 lost 4 Helldivers that day, one crashed on take off and one was jettisoned after landing because it was so battle damaged.

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit Updated_SB2C-1C_Helldiver_set.zip
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.