There are already a few nice video reviews out from Carenado's latest payware addon, the C337 Skymaster.  I've always liked screenshots though.  So here are some of my thoughts along with a few simple liveries I've done - most of which are just changing colors to match real liveries, with some additional texture tweaks.  

I don't many words to say.  I do like the product and I think the asking price is reasonable.  I think Carenado started pricing too high initially for MSFS addons.  I believe I paid about 35 for the Mooney (which remains my favorite - especially with this Turbo mod: https://flightsim.to/file/21351/mooney-m20r-ovation-tubo-mod ).  This C337 comes in at 25 USD which is fair.  The C337 Skymaster is a non pressurized, normally aspirated piston twin.  There are variants around the world, pressurized and or turbocharged.  There are some with a 3 bladed prop - there are also a few rare turboprop versions.  Many people also know of the O-2 - the military's version of this aircraft which was used frequently in the Vietnam era for forward observation.  They were also armed with rockets and occasionally small bombs.  California Department of Forestry uses the 337 for aerial firefighting.  I've even seen a version on floats!  The downward visibility from the cockpit is very good - and this is relatively quick plane without a wing to inhibit your view.  It's a perfect plane for flight in the sim.

Flying it yields a decent feel - not that I've ever flown a real Mixmaster.  I have now quite a bit of time to hand fly the 337.  I still feel it's slightly underpowered.  Carenado charts say about 168 ktas at 5000, ISA, gross weight with 2600 rpm.  I can't seem to get much above 160 ktas.  I may attempt a turbocharged mod for this aircraft.  It does appear to hit its fastest speed near 5000-6000 ft.  The aircraft comes with a GNS530 but also an option of the GTN 750.  Meaning you can use the PMS version or the TDS GTN xi version (but you essentially require a 2nd monitor or hardware unit to manipulate the GTN).  I know PMS is actively developing a version based off the WT G1000 Nxi's flight planning system.  I also created a relay mod for the TDS unit in the C337 (which places a version of the TDS GTN Xi in the virtual cockpit) and it is displayed below in my shots.  Carenado have also added a weather radar pod.  Users of the old FSX and later P3D versions will feel right at home in the cockpit.  Not much has changed haha...  the pixels are a little clearer now though in MSFS.  I have read that there are some difficulties with some of the knobs and switches when in VR mode.  I have yet to try VR in MSFS though.

I am not particularly in love with the sounds on this addon.  The cruise sound almost sounds just like FSX.  I feel like with the new tech in MSFS you should get a different sound when panning external view (mine nearly sound the same).  Idle sounds and startup are pretty good though.  So maybe I'm not loving the addon as much as say, the Kodiak,  but it's got great cockpit visibility and flies reasonably quick.  The landing gear takes a little while to come down, don't forget it when you're coming in on a short approach haha!

1 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

2 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

3 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

4 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

6 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

(Coming out of C81 airport - amazing freeware on flightsim.to)

7 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

This was also on of the rw paints I've done

8 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

13 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

A retro green I found on an old plastic model box

9 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

N69S - cool tail number!

10 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

The old farts around here (I mean experienced amazing people haha) seem to love the 1970's Retro paintjob

11 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Another real world one (real ones has blue on the bottom of the vertical stabs - I may address this at some point)

12 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Default Cockpit

cockpit1 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

GTN setup (note this is my TDS GTN Xi relay mod - works almost like the old RXP/Flight1 versions for P3D etc)

cockpit2 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Decent panel lighting (panel floods and gauge backlighting are dimmable - overhead is on/off)

cockpit4 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Tablet tucked in lower right pocket of cockpit gives the usual options, chocks/towbar/cowl plugs - plus controls GTN/GNS switching and checklists.

ground1 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

This one's a simple color swap from the default - you can change the tail number to anything you want in the sim or by editing the ATC ID line in the aircraft.cfg

ground2 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

ground3 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

sunset1 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

sunset3 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was on the fence with this one , but your review and shots tipped me over the edge Ryan ; honey can I get a early Birthday present for myself ......LOL

Nice!!  Thanks for your thoughts and Pic's. Very cool paints also.

Great review Ryan, and many colorful screenshots (liveries).  I will be adding this 337 when my MSFS Marketplace paid-addons self-imposed 7-day holding pattern is over!  Ha! 

I will likely use it some during my late January, early February Caribbean trek.  It will be great for island hopping when only part of my traveling party is partaking.  Overall the trip will be Kodiak 100 focused!

Ryan, I reckon you've just about covered the whole C337 livery range. Good job.👍

Now can you make the Carenado logo disappear from the yoke boss? word not allowed, I KNOW it's a Carenado I don't need to be reminded of all the time!

'Word not allowed' looks far worse than the word it replaced. 🙄

2 hours ago, Ron Attwood said:

Ryan, I reckon you've just about covered the whole C337 livery range. Good job.👍

Now can you make the Carenado logo disappear from the yoke boss? word not allowed, I KNOW it's a Carenado I don't need to be reminded of all the time!

Ron, chance you could bring N2QD to this sim?

56 minutes ago, ryanbatcund said:

N2QD

Ah yes, I remember that one. I was thinking N409TH first. I still do paints old style so I have to work out 'stuff'. None of that 3D thing whose name I've forgotten.

5 minutes ago, Ron Attwood said:

Ah yes, I remember that one. I was thinking N409TH first. I still do paints old style so I have to work out 'stuff'. None of that 3D thing whose name I've forgotten.

That one is fun.  I like those O2's.  I love the curves on 2QD too though 🙂

Someone did a Turbocharged mod already woohoo!  That means I don't have to haha

https://flightsim.to/file/26491/ccm-s-cessna-t337g-mod

Great screen-grabs & review Ryan!

Darryl

On 1/18/2022 at 1:52 AM, ryanbatcund said:

Ron, chance you could bring N2QD to this sim?

I'll upload it very soon.

32 minutes ago, Ron Attwood said:

I'll upload it very soon.

Ooooooh!  Very nice.  You painted it the old school way or using Blender?  If the old way was it easier to paint than FSX/P3D?

Edited January 24, 20224 yr by ryanbatcund

Ryan, you have no idea how I tried to come to terms with Blender. I went back to what I know. It's possible a bit more laborious what with going in and out of the sim, but what the heck, I have the time. The trickiest thing is organising the the file order etc. FSX/P3D was very much easier due to ModelConverterX.

Hmm, I wonder if they've updated that.