question on payware/donationware for CFS2

[tonybones2112]

In the coming months I'm gonna be aa few bucks ahead, is the donationware thing here still going?

Right now the only large selection of payware planes for CFS2 I have found is Alphasim and Icarus. Are there any others?

Thanks

Bones

[Rami]

Bones,

All Donationware has now been made freeware, so you can save your wallet on that one. As far as where to get the most bang for your buck, I would recommend Alphasim.

Some of their models have been made freeware, such as those found on this page...http://www.alphasim.co.uk/as_freeware.html

The only trouble is they don't make a lot of models for CFS2 anymore. The one model I can recommend to you is the Fairey Swordfish. I have a weapons loadout for her that give you the same setup as the Groundcrew model. The airfile is more realistic...taking off with a torpedo or a spread of 250lb bombs is literally walking a tightrope...you have a 50/50 shot of hitting the water. Also, doing a torpedo run at 85 knots is extremely discomforting.

http://www.alphasim3.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=43

Their models are pricey, though...

As far as Icarus is concerned, I've found some of their stuff hit-or-miss. I like their Westland Lysander and the Fiat Br-20 Cicogna (which is useful for CAI / Chianti, the prop textures notwithstanding) I was less impressed with the Cr-32, and the Junkers Ju-86.

http://www.icarusgold.com/RAF.htm

We've also reached a saturation point where most of the aircraft choices (especially for WWII) have a quality freeware counterpart.

There are two excellent models from Sky Unlimited that can be converted...

http://www.skyunlimited.net/re2005.htm

http://www.skyunlimited.net/mig3_fs2004.htm

While the MiG-3 now has a comparable freeware counterpart, the Re-2005 does not.

And of course, there's always DamBusters...

http://www.justflight.com/product.asp?pid=66

I've already done Mustang Vs Fw-190 and Mosquito Squadron...plus Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Pearl Harbor are severely outdated and not worth it.

[tonybones2112]

Bones,

All Donationware has now been made freeware, so you can save your wallet on that one. As far as where to get the most bang for your buck, I would recommend Alphasim.

Some of their models have been made freeware, such as those found on this page...http://www.alphasim.co.uk/as_freeware.html

The only trouble is they don't make a lot of models for CFS2 anymore. The one model I can recommend to you is the Fairey Swordfish. I have a weapons loadout for her that give you the same setup as the Groundcrew model. The airfile is more realistic...taking off with a torpedo or a spread of 250lb bombs is literally walking a tightrope...you have a 50/50 shot of hitting the water. Also, doing a torpedo run at 85 knots is extremely discomforting.

http://www.alphasim3.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=43

Their models are pricey, though...

As far as Icarus is concerned, I've found some of their stuff hit-or-miss. I like their Westland Lysander and the Fiat Br-20 Cicogna (which is useful for CAI / Chianti, the prop textures notwithstanding) I was less impressed with the Cr-32, and the Junkers Ju-86.

http://www.icarusgold.com/RAF.htm

We've also reached a saturation point where most of the aircraft choices (especially for WWII) have a quality freeware counterpart.

There are two excellent models from Sky Unlimited that can be converted...

http://www.skyunlimited.net/re2005.htm

http://www.skyunlimited.net/mig3_fs2004.htm

While the MiG-3 now has a comparable freeware counterpart, the Re-2005 does not.

And of course, there's always DamBusters...

http://www.justflight.com/product.asp?pid=66

I've already done Mustang Vs Fw-190 and Mosquito Squadron...plus Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Pearl Harbor are severely outdated and not worth it.


Thanks buddy. I was just wondering. Do you have aa direct link to this freeware Mig-3 at Skyunlimited?

For conversions I'm going to see if I can find the link to Tom Wood's Beech D7 Staggerwing, all 75 meg of it. Formidable task on dialup, I'll have to use a download "accelerator" in order to keep the file in one piece, my ISP disconnects after 4 hours for my "security". I'm going to stash this back for furture, I might find someone to convert it for me. I'm still amazed there is not a CFS2 version of this popular plane, there are so many much more obscure aircraft out there. I'm also on a very profitable little barter deal, I may spring the 21 bucks for Flight Simulator's Czech 109. Fascinating plane. I'm also suprised no one has done the Spanish Bf-109 with the Merlin engines. The 109 at the USAF Museum was originally a Merlin-equiped 109. Over the years it was converted by the restoration guys, I think it's been redone as a G-10, one of my favorite models of the Gustav. This plane was a gift from the Spanish govt. My parents and I were there in 1966 when it was unveiled. I understand the postcards from the gift shop showing this plane in it's original Spanish markings and natural metal finish are collector's items.

I have the Alpha P-47. It's a great deal at 16 bucks US. I got it for Valentine's Day and for 4 reasons: 2 German and 2 Soviet textures posted by I believe Evan, Revrev, on Flightsim.com and AVSIM. I'm pleased with it.

Overall I am very pleased with Icarus. I had download problems, their service was prompt and and very satisfactory. The prices are very good too, I guess the misses even out with the value of the hits. I have their Cr-32 and -42, mostly for the variety of textures. I was hoping for German skins for the -42, Japlance kindly provided us with German skins for Thicko's -42, so it's cool. I have their I-15 and I-16, again, so the collection can be complete and for the varied textures. we have many fine freeware versions of these craft. I'm hoping the restoration here at SOH can be completed, I'd like Hsu's tipo 28 and 29 models of the I-16, I can't locate them anywhere else. My favorite from Icarus is the Soviet TB-3 bomber with the I-16s under each wing. My only critique' is the engines on the I-16s don't run on my machine. It would be cool too to have 3 I-15s strung across the top wing/fuselage. Another future loadout project.

I'll check out the dambuster maybe someday. I'm looking for a copy of Combat Aces. I have the observation balloons from Aerocrate, but I want to pop zeppelins.

Thanks for the info, you have a great weekend.

Tony

[oldwheat]

Does anyone have the Icarus Vickers Valentia? Probably won't be seeing a freeware version anytime soon but it is something that would probably appeal to a number of model builders. Also the Caproni 310, any opinions?

Also Tony, are you thinking about the FS9 Staggerwing? I have it converted already, a lot of the megs are in the textures which could probably be saved in another format to trim them down a tad.

[tonybones2112]

Does anyone have the Icarus Vickers Valentia? Probably won't be seeing a freeware version anytime soon but it is something that would probably appeal to a number of model builders. Also the Caproni 310, any opinions?

Also Tony, are you thinking about the FS9 Staggerwing? I have it converted already, a lot of the megs are in the textures which could probably be saved in another format to trim them down a tad.

Hm, I was not aware there is a Stag in FS9. You ever decide to upload it let me know or if you are on a highspeed sometime I might bum one from you. File size is not a big problem for me, I got the Classic Aces Dora collection, all of it from the Archives with no problem. I want to run the missions but I need to put in the hanger some planes so I don't go over the hundred limit. The Dora collection by CA has a high number of textures. I think this has the Soviet capture I was looking for and definitely has Priller's.

OW, I don't recall exactly the spot for the 75 meg Stag of Crashwoody's, I thought it was Flightsim.com. I do have the 30 meg version. As I remember the 75 is just several versions(one is a floatplane) and the meg count is taken up by textures. Paul Clawson did a beautiful one for FS2002. He has one for FS2000 at Simviation that runs straight out of the box in CFS2 but you have to shop around and try the different panels from Flightsim. Within the limitaations of FS 2002 it's still a hot little airplane. I know it's not historically accurate but he has like 4 guns in it and I grease Zeros regularly in it.

The US Army ordered 260, I'm researching those. The US Embassy version, The Traveller, best I can make out was in pre-WW2 blue and yellow. It was used in China as an ambulance and Spain as a light bomber. If I have to I'll go to the USAF Museum Research and also contact Beech.

Thanks for the info, my missus is in the hospital but it's more routine than anything. I've been scarce lately because of that.

Bonesimoto