RFN F-8 Crusader is out!!

[Navy Chief]

Silly question, but you're remembering to throw the master exterior light circuit switch on over on the left side of the cockpit as well, not just the individual light switches on the right, correct?

The master ext light switch (just fwd of the landing light switch) is on left side, on a bracket parallel to the canopy rail. Shown on p.14 of the manual, switch # 9 - needs to be in the fwd position.

I'm running the latest version in P3DV4.5 and as of last night, and since day one of the first release, all lights have worked fine.

That was it! I do remember reading that in a previous post, but I only JUST got around to taking a look at the aircraft in sim. Thanks!!! Pete

[delta_lima]

Glad you're sorted.

Also, regarding the individual light switches on the right, they're 3-position switches: fwd/up/rear, with map to "bright"/off/"dim". Kind of like how both SWS and Milviz light switches work, only front to back, instead of side to side.

Personally, I'm pleased that this little detail was added, as I find might models' nav lights way too voluminous. So, in essence, it's either off or "massively bright balls of light". On this model, the "dim" is just the right level of subdued lighting you'd expect in real life.

Little details that really make the model enjoyable.

dl

[expat]

Personally, I'm pleased that this little detail was added, as I find might models' nav lights way too voluminous. So, in essence, it's either off or "massively bright balls of light". On this model, the "dim" is just the right level of subdued lighting you'd expect in real life.

With you there DL. I do wish - in fact it's the only thing I can think about the RFN F-8 to "improve" (besides my strange AP problem which I only seem to have) is that I wish the top and bottom red beacons were a lot smaller or on a dimmer. Look at Hiroshi's SkySpirit/TDS Boeing FSX models. He has the good eye to see IRL you can barely see external lights that are turned on in daytime, and they are small pinpoints - not big fireballs - at night. If the beacons could be made as dim as the dimmed nav and slime lights I would be a happy camper indeed! Love this machine and the endless superb paints!

[delta_lima]

With you there DL. I do wish - in fact it's the only thing I can think about the RFN F-8 to "improve" (besides my strange AP problem which I only seem to have) is that I wish the top and bottom red beacons were a lot smaller or on a dimmer. Look at Hiroshi's SkySpirit/TDS Boeing FSX models. He has the good eye to see IRL you can barely see external lights that are turned on in daytime, and they are small pinpoints - not big fireballs - at night. If the beacons could be made as dim as the dimmed nav and slime lights I would be a happy camper indeed! Love this machine and the endless superb paints!

Yeah, fair point about the anti-collision beacons. The ANT T-28 has about the best I've seen, and the TDS Boeing was good too. Which reminds me, I need to try that one in P3D to see if ti works. I don't think that's the only 727 I see having any time soon.

What USN boats are you flying this off? I've done all my flying off the lovely Gaz CVT-16 Lexington. Shy of getting the CIMOGT Essex boats (not sure I can stomach paying for the privilege of looking at those pretty basic static models, especially the F-8 with dual (A-7???) nose wheels.

I'm dying for an updated Gaz Oriskany. I might even give Laz's CVN-65 - I totally forgot about that one, but if I can squint past the F-4 on deck, it might do the trick.

Curious how you've used these in their USN duties ...

dl

[expat]

Mostly use my Yankee Station setup with the following on CarrierTracks:

Gaz's Oriskany - (deck pack via panel pop up I think by CIMOGT)
Gaz's Midway with FPS fix by Hooky
Team SDB Enterprise - use empty deck

Also for Yankee Station have on separate tracks the WombRaider Forrestal/Kitty Hawk series. All above have two escorts and/or rescue helo and run on usual AI cycles. F-8, A-3, A-4 ops use mostly Gaz's O boat and Midway; sometimes Big E; Viggie on Big E or Kitty Hawk boats.

Korea era AI setup also have Klaus's excellent straight deck Essex and Midway class carriers on tracks. I really, really would like a generic angle deck Essex to make your own Hancock, Intrepid, Tico, Bonnie Dick, etc.

Big thanks to al the generous modellers who kindly share their hard work and make carrier ops simming a whole different experience!

[Mike71]

Silly question, but you're remembering to throw the master exterior light circuit switch on over on the left side of the cockpit as well, not just the individual light switches on the right, correct?

The master ext light switch (just fwd of the landing light switch) is on left side, on a bracket parallel to the canopy rail. Shown on p.14 of the manual, switch # 9 - needs to be in the fwd position.

I'm running the latest version in P3DV4.5 and as of last night, and since day one of the first release, all lights have worked fine.

Actually it was probably missed or too hard to model, but all the Navy carrier jets I flew had a toggle switch on the outboard face of the throttle handle (or left throttle handle for 2 engines). This was a master ON/OFF, and was needed for night cat shots and landings.

In real life, a night cat shot was signaled by turning on the nav lights (no beacon as I recall) instead of the day hand salute, meaning the pilot/crew was ready for the shot. The plane was at that point in tension, full power, throttle(s) hand holding them against the cat grip bar, head back against the headrest, and the shooter giving the full power (and burner signal if required). At that point - at night - the pilot used his/her left hand little finger to switch this toggle switch forward, and the cat would be fired. Airborne, beacon/strip lights etc would be set up according to the pre-flight briefing or NATOPS.

After a night landing, as the plane came to a stop, it was "stay off the brakes", hook up, light switch off (again with the pinkie finger), stop the arrestment rollback by braking on the director signal, fold the wings, follow the directions of the "yellow shirt" FLY 3 guy to parking.

It would be dangerous and hard to hunt for a master switch in these situations, or take your hand off the throttles/grip once in in tension and at cat "final ready"--. I am pretty sure this was a NAVAIR spec for all carrier aircraft. However, in the A-3 (and maybe the 2-engine recips), the throttles were on the pilots right and the switch was on the right outboard throttle face.

CV jets all seemed to have a speed brake switch and radio/ICS switch on the inside face of the throttle handle(s).

[Cees Donker]

I've done all my flying off the lovely Gaz CVT-16 Lexington.
dl

Where can I obtain that Lexington?

Cees

[fsafranek]

Where can I obtain that Lexington?

Cees

Possibly elsewhere but mentioned here:

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...ight=Lexington

[simulloyd]

You might try this payware:

https://secure.simmarket.com/cimogt-...-fsx-p3d.phtml

[expat]

. . but all the Navy carrier jets I flew . .

Love that. Has to be quote of the year!

[gp183601]

Late to the party as usual.....I've been following this thread on and off whilst getting back into actual virtual flying after a ton of money spent in the Carenado sale. The F-8 has never really been my thing but I thought i'd give it a go today......





Addicted!!!

Awesome piece of work by Sylvain!

Cheers
Gaz

[delta_lima]

Late to the party as usual.....I've been following this thread on and off whilst getting back into actual virtual flying after a ton of money spent in the Carenado sale. The F-8 has never really been my thing but I thought i'd give it a go today......





Addicted!!!

Awesome piece of work by Sylvain!

Cheers
Gaz

Nice shots, Gaz!

That Hancock looks absolutely gorgeous. Eye-wateringly so, in fact ...

[DaveQ]

Hi Steve,
To fix this "shadowing issue", I had just redone some polygons as they were : no impact on the mapping neither texture. So your textures will fit exactly the same with the corrected mdl.

Regards,
Sylvain

Hi Sylvain. Is this fix available or do we wait for v1.2 with Zunis?

Thanks

DaveQ

[Cees Donker]

Nice shots, Gaz!

That Hancock looks absolutely gorgeous. Eye-wateringly so, in fact ...

It sure does!



Cees

[sparouty]

Hi Sylvain. Is this fix available or do we wait for v1.2 with Zunis?

Thanks

DaveQ

Hi Dave,
Good question! I'm trying to release the V1.2 in the coming days, Sunday should be great. But with the Zuni new payload stations, I'm trying the redo all the payloads organization in order to be onlined with Tackpack expectation.
It takes me more time than I expected, but nothing critical for my timeline.

Regards,
Sylvain

[sparouty]

Hi guys,
We've just release v1.2 of our Crusader.
In this version added Zuni capacities, sonic boom effect and sound and fixed the fuselage issue.
Regarding impacts on textures, the main change is that I improved the pylon texture by adding some more specific details into Fuselage-T texture so if repainters want to I updated the paint kit too.

Regards,
Sylvain
http://royalefrenchnavy.restauravia....ations.htm#Avi

[menef]

Thank you for v 1.2 ! Merci beaucoup just downloading !!!!

[menef]

Hi guys,
We've just release v1.2 of our Crusader.
In this version added Zuni capacities, sonic boom effect and sound and fixed the fuselage issue.
Regarding impacts on textures, the main change is that I improved the pylon texture by adding some more specific details into Fuselage-T texture so if repainters want to I updated the paint kit too.

Regards,
Sylvain
http://royalefrenchnavy.restauravia....ations.htm#Avi

GREAT !

[Cees Donker]

Thank you Sylvain and team!



Cees

[simtech]

Thank you, Sylvain and team...a superb job!...

[TARPSBird]

What a great airplane! Hats off to Sylvain and associates for some really outstanding assembly work on this jet.

[dggoofy]

Hi Sylvain,

Great job... BTW... is it possible (without too much work) to make the switches on the weapons panel moving... with any L:Var... so that this great bird could be tacpackized ? This is the only missing detail to made it 102% great ;-)

Cheers

Daniel

[sparouty]

Hi Sylvain,

Great job... BTW... is it possible (without too much work) to make the switches on the weapons panel moving... with any L:Var... so that this great bird could be tacpackized ? This is the only missing detail to made it 102% great ;-)

Cheers

Daniel

Hi Daniel,
I'm working on it, but it will take some time because I'm totally newbie on tacpack integration... I guess it 'll come with wing payloads in a v1.3

Regards,
Sylvain

[DaveQ]

Hi Daniel,
I'm working on it, but it will take some time because I'm totally newbie on tacpack integration... I guess it 'll come with wing payloads in a v1.3

Regards,
Sylvain

Wing payloads!!??

One of the best free add-on in the history of free add-ons just gets better and better. Thanks so much to Sylvain and all involved.

DaveQ

[expat]

That Hancock looks absolutely gorgeous. Eye-wateringly so, in fact ...

Bears repeating . . !!