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Guest tgabriel

R4D - DC-3 Progress Report

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Guest allcott

>Nice photos, Allcott, although I think you'll find that Bill>and Jan have many hundreds more of the exact R4D that they are>modelling, taken from far less acute angles... :-)>>Well, I've looked at a lot more images than the ones I posted here and the shape of the fuselage is just plain `odd` (as in it jarrs), leading to the extra off-vertical angle on those side panes. It's made worse by the flag behind the windows as it just draws attention to how `wrong` I see it. It was that `wrongness` that got me looking at images, not the other way around.I am hoping that it is just my monitor or that with this project being underway for so long the model has been superceded, but comparing like-for-like across dozens of images it does look like there IS something wrong with the shape of the fuselage. Those windows and side struts don't even match to the side angles of the panel views in the beta. The top of the fuselage is too pointed, more abbreviated circle than open-ogival. The `squashed` oval so redolent of the front view shape of the DC-3 is not present.For me, for my eye, there are several key design points to making a successful DC-3/R4D-6 - the wing root fillet, the ratio between the diameter and shape of the engines and the fuselage, the nose shape and the merge of the lines of the empennage with the increasing circular cross-section of the aft fuselage, the `sit` of the aircraft on the ground. A biggie for me is the `old world` charm of the vertical windows of the cockpit. Others may `see` those key features differently, but given the bigger engines mark out the R4D-6 from the standard DC-3, the fuselage should be consistent, I would have thought. I just don't think this model yet meets my interpretation of how it should look, although it might just be me as no-one else seems to have noticed this. It's not a `no-go` item for me, but for a team that trades on its faithfulness to the original real world aircraft, this seems a bit curious. Does the R4D-6 actually have a different fuselage or is it a limitation in modelling in FS?Allcott

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Guest ftimm

LOOKIN' GOOD!I am waiting (since Thanksgiving) patiently.Don't skimp on the sound package!...love the sound of those radials...even on my cheap speaker system.My wife gets mad at me when I sit there and crank up the Briefing Timeat full volume. Man, what a rush!

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Guest sapper42

Gday Bill, what will be thelimitations on repaints for this bird as there are a few Aussie skins that would benefit from this excellent package that are still flying the airshow circuit here Down Under !Allso, due you have an update on projected availability .best rgds Jeff

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Hi Jeff,Taking last things first, I'm waiting to hear from Rob on the latest news concerning the flight model. Hope to let everyone know a bit more soon.As for the repaint restrictions, the only restriction will be that any repaints must be posted as freeware and that they must require the full R4D / DC-3 package from MAAM. In other words, textures only can be uploaded. Jan will assist and we want to make the repaint procedure as easy as possible. Obviously, repaints like this will help us sell more CD's, and that means more money to get the real R4D back in the air and firing on all 28 cylinders.Bill Rambow MAAM-SIM - Rambow, Visser, Banting, Young, and Womackhttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/maamsim_logo.gif


Bill Rambow

MAAM-SIM

www.maam.org

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Guest sapper42

Sensational Bill, cant wait, i have 3 x Oz birds in mind. looking forward to its release.Jeff

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Guest Moghdad

When can we expect this bird?

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Guest allcott

>When can we expect this bird?The first thread has the answer: When it's done.I'm sure when the time is near the team will be broadcasting the imminent release all over the net, even this forum, so if you log in ever day or every other day you shouldn't miss out.Allcott

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Guest Moghdad

Any hints from the developers?

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Guest racartron

Just to let ya know we haven't forgotten you. MY sticky note on my monitor, albeit getting rather tattered and worn, still reminds me the R4D6 is coming. (course the hand scribbled date is Oct/Nov LOL)I'll keep on flying other stuff until it finally arrives.BTW, I'm still on FS2002. Will there be a FS2002 version? I know I might have to swap out the airfile and maybe sub a few gauges if y'all are using those pesky xml jobs as some don't work in FS2002 but I know how to do that. ;)-------------------Racartronit means something, but I just can't remember what

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Guest allcott

>Any hints from the developers?That WAS from the developers! Didn't you go look?Allcott

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As promised, better late than never, here are some screenies of the R4D as she is at the moment. A bit of clarity is lost in the reduction of the shots to 700 x 525, but I think you'll get the picture - pun intended. ;-)http://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/1.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/2.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/3.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/4.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/5.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/6.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/7.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/8.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/9.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/10.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/11.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/12.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/13.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/14.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/15.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/16.jpghttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/R4D1231/17.jpgSince a deadstick belly-landing is a bit of a negative note to leave you on, Jan will post some more screenies soon of his work in progress. Also, to bring the progress report together in one place, I'll pull a reply to an earlier post in here, with just a couple additions...I'm a fair panel designer and manual writer, but a very bad predictor of release dates. It's embarrassing to hear myself say "by Thanksgiving" in the just released interview on FSTV, videoed at the AVSIM convention in September. Call it positive attitude, wishful thinking, good intentions, or just plain incompetence in prediction. In my own defense, there a million and one things which conspire to complicate the development process, most, if not all of them pretty unpredictable. I won't list the tale of woes which has delayed the Gmax R4D's take off, as the various monkey wrenches (or spanners, if you prefer) that have been tossed into the works are all water under the bridge. At this point, with January racing down upon us, even the most recent prediction of February 1 is beginning to look like more pie in the sky, instead of a Dakota in the blue, which is what we at MAAM-SIM want even more than you folks - I promise!! We are working hard and as fast as we can to get the bird out. The museum desperately needs the income, perhaps as never before. We still have a number of tasks to complete, but much, much more is complete. Believe me, we are not trying to give anyone the runaround, and all those earlier predictions were never meant to do so. In the future, I think I'll just say that it will be done when it's done, and we'll give progress reports as we go. So here is another:On my end, the 2D panels, all of the gauges, and the 2D views are complete. The only pop-up yet to be done is the flap and gear controls. I have not yet begun to write the user's manual, nor have I gotten the vintage manuals scanned. I am giving the Sperry a facelift from newer photos to blend it better with the new panels.Fred has completed all the programming of everything I have sent him, and all is working as it should. It's brilliant! We are hoping against hope that the SDK will come around and reveal the secret of the tail wheel lock, among other things, (MS guys, are you reading this? - please) so we can make that feature active.Rob is hard at work on the flight model, and we expect to begin testing that soon.Jan V. is making a few improvements to the already complete VC, including the new hydraulic gauges on the copilot's side wall and experimenting with putting the new overhead electrical panel in. Again, hopes are high that we will get the SDK info that will allow the controls, such as the throttles, props, and mixture to be mouseable. He is also putting the finishing touches on the two civil DC-3 versions that will be included on the CD. He reports he has a fair amount of work yet to be done in the VC's of the civil DC-3's.As shown in the screenies, Jan R. has done some great new effects for her, and I suspect is working on more.Howard has written the history article and is working on the checklists and reference pages for the kneeboards.The sound package has yet to be done, but we have a good basis to work from in the way of recordings.I'll ask Jan to put some up of the UAL and BEA versions, along with any others he'd like, just to show you we have not been sitting on our hands. People have been very understanding and patient, if eager. We thank you all for your patience and will try to do a better job keeping everyone informed.Happy New Year to all, and we swear the Gooney will be released in 2004 - how's that? Bill Rambow MAAM-SIM - Rambow, Visser, Banting, Young, Womack, and Hamblyhttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/maamsim_logo.gif


Bill Rambow

MAAM-SIM

www.maam.org

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OK, something peculiar is going on with the forum. I actually answered this the other day and gave a progress report, but the damn thing disappeared into the ether, apparently. But that's not the weird thing. I posted this second try a minute ago, and not only did it show up, but so did the original reply! So I quickly deleted the second one and guess what? Yup - they both went away!! I give up. I'm posting again and if they both show up, you can read through both and see how many times I contradict myself! Sorry for the repetition. Strap in tight, here we go....Hmmm. Seems to be just one now. Go figure...The major hold up right now is the flight model. I got a report from Rob the other day explaining that he is on the cusp of a Real Air release that is taking priority at the moment. This is perfectly understandable when you consider that is what pays his rent! The charity work for MAAM has to take a back seat on occasion and we all have to exercise patience. Personnaly, I think that's a reasonable accomodation to have the top flight dynamicist on our unpaid team. Rob promises, though, that he will have a DC-3 flight model update ready for us within a few days.Fred has just issued the newest R4D gauge set to the beta team, #54. This one incorporates my latest "gauge", the radio control box.http://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/rcb.jpgThe RCB pop-up is called with the headset icon in the center of the radio stack. You'll have to wait on the user's manual, which I'm working on, for all the details. Speaking of manuals, I have scanned the 300 + page DC-3 Flight Manual that was taken from the radio operator's compartment of our R4D. It will be available in PDF format on a DC-3 Multi-Media CD, like the one we produced for the B-25. Like the Mitchell disc, the DC-3 MM CD will include lots of photos, videos, and other historical documents that will delight any Gooney Bird fan.Jan is hard at work finishing and refining the VC's for all three of the package's Daks, and I'm happy to report that it sounds like the VC's will have as much functionality as the most dedicated 3D freak could want. You all better bone up on your locking tail wheel procedures. Howard Sodja is working on the interactive checklists, also borrowed dircetly from #50819's cockpit.So when will all this be done and in your hands? Wouldn't you like to know? !!! Yes, and so would we! But there are so many variables and unknowns that anything I say would be no more than a W.A.G., and as I have said earlier, I have gotten out of the release date prediction business, for obvious reasons. The official introduction will be live at MAAM's World War II Weekend on Friday, June 4. http://www.maam.org/maamwwii.htmlBut before the moans mount to P&W 1830-94 decibel levels, let me say that we earnestly hope to have it out and on sale well before then. Please hang in there and know that we are plugging away at it and even more anxious than any of you to launch this long delayed lady.Bill Rambow MAAM-SIM - Rambow, Visser, Banting, Young, and Womackhttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/maamsim_logo.gif


Bill Rambow

MAAM-SIM

www.maam.org

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Guest Javis

Hi,Allcott,Late reply because i only just now saw your post. ( hope you still will read this! ) You have some good remarks.Fuselage *is* a little pointy indeed, to 'have something large and heavy sitting on top of the oval' 32 or even 64 points would be needed,givin the high detailed internal that'll mean large hit on the framerate. Since this 'pointyness' will only be noticable from head on view i choosed only 16 points for the fuselage. Made up for that with the nose which you'll find properly 'squashed'and not pointy at all.http://www.avsim.com/~maamdev/squassed.jpgBtw,even on the real DC-3, the point where the left/right windscreens meet *is* actually pretty pointy... >Well, I've looked at a lot more images than the ones I posted>here and the shape of the fuselage is just plain `odd` (as in>it jarrs), leading to the extra off-vertical angle on those>side panes. It's made worse by the flag behind the windows as>it just draws attention to how `wrong` I see it. Don't quite follow you here,Allcott.. the DC-3 fuselage is round or atleast oval, nothing vertical there when you look head on or there about. If i understand you correctly you mean the cockpit side windows along the lateral axis, right ? Look closely at the photo you choosed yourself for comparison ( http://www.airliners.net/open.file/426083/M )in your mind's eye grab the horsshoe antenna's pole, that's about the verticalest item in this particular picture, and shove it right next to the starboard cockpit side window. You must sure notice the large gap between the pole's top edge and cockpit side window top edge.....nothing vertical about that window there.. Btw, you bet i know this particular photo by heart. Focus on the left and right windscreens ( which do not feature the common secondary windscreen windows )you could easily swear that the starboard windscreen is bigger then the port..... like this purdy lady is winking at you. ;) Just a case of there can be more in a photo then there actually is in the RW.If you take a screenshot from FS at a certain angle of view sometimes it's hard to tell if it's the real thing or a model, shoot it from another angle and it can become obvious.My DC-3 model is reaching about 60.000 poly's including the highly detailed internal cockpit and cabin, that should be enough for now i guess...Nontheless, good 'points' , Allcott ! ( apart from the cockpit side windows.. :( ) Best regards,JanP.S. there's absolutely no difference between the fuselage or vertical surfaces or engine nacelles ( apart from the elongated air scoops )of the R4D compared to any other P&W equipped DC-3 type.

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Guest allcott

Jan, Thanks for the detailed reply! Least I know it's not my eyes - or my monitor! Just as a point of interest, what resolution did you design this aircraft on? The 1.33 or 1.25 ratio makes an interesting comparison on many aircraft in FS, some are obviously designed on one ratio, others on the other. The Caravan, for example, looks more realistic in 1.25:1, as does the default DC-3, whereas the Baron and the King Air look awful in anything other than 1.33:1. I've grown accustomed to using 1280x1024 on my 21" CRT and adjusting settings to suit, but as I probably will only fly the MAAM aircaft and a couple of others I could create a couple of monitor presets to use when switching.My guess is you're using 1.25:1... 1280x1024? Allcott

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Hi Bill,Great news ! We've all waited this long, so a little more time isn't going to kill anyone, especially as this is likely to be one of the very best of the forthcoming releases.One suggestion - and I'm sure you're way ahead of me - but I seem to remember that you were a little innundated with orders when the "Briefing Time" CD was released, so maybe you should stockpile the odd 10,000 or so of written CDs before actually announcing the release !Best wishes to the Team and patiently counting the days,Alastair

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