CFS1 Still Lives

[minuteman10]

~S~ All...The forum is getting more and more quiet! The game is still alive and well. The AAC still gathers every Sunday beginning at 11A.M. for a fun-filled mission. Anyone can play and there are no requirements to join the Squadron. If you have the urge, feel free to stop in. We meet at our TS channel for a furball to warm up and then the formal mission takes place...usually lasting for 2 hours or so. If you haven't experienced Multiplayer...you're really missing out. Here is a link for the necessary programs (Comms, Head to Head,etc.). We would really like to grab some of you fellows from the sidelines and get you involved in the game. Post questions here or at our forum and someone will aid you in getting setup. Our members range from the West Coast to Britain and Sweden (Elsa doesn't fly too well, but nobody really notices!!!...nice pair of goggles, you know?). Take the game out of your drawer and have a go at it...you'll be hooked!

http://www.freewebs.com/alliedaircor...ntialfiles.htm (files)

http://alliedaircorps.proboards.com/index.cgi? (our forum)

*posted on Mission days* (Team Speak channel)

[Ivan]

Yes, CFS still lives. Some of us are even still doing development for it.

- Ivan.

[smilo]

so much to learn,
so much to do,
so little time.

have you ever noticed the opening screenie?
there's an American gunner with an A20 Havoc dressed up in D-Day stripes behind him.
then, to top it off, there are only two add-on A20s of marginal quality available.

oh, the humanity
oh, the cruelty of it all

[minuteman10]

Ivan is quite correct. We have a beautiful Homebase, an armada of ships, and of course, the Refuel Zones addon. Our members design and build scenery, aircraft, panels, and missions to keep things quite interesting!!! The base game is only the starting point...it has grown into a much greater presentation....

[Pratt&Whitney]

I see smilo also has a hankerin' for some HAVOC!

There aren't many A-20's around, but oh, what a gal!

And no, CFS is not dead.

Keep 'em flyin' guys :ernae:

[Ivan]

The A-20 is on my build list, but no idea when that will happen. Sorry, Smilo.

- Ivan.

[smilo]

don't worry about it.
it's on my list, too.
the difference is that I have no AC production skills,
so I have to learn the program first.
although, I was able to find some very nice drawings by John Alcorn.

[Ivan]

Hey Smilo,
It really isn't all that difficult to build an aircraft. I also have some pretty good dimensional drawings for the A-20. My reason for building it would be to have a VERY fast low level bomber. How good are the drawings you have? Perhaps we can share?

The actual visual model is what most folks get hung up on, but relatively speaking, the model isn't any more difficult than the rest of it. I probably spend more time on the AIR file than anything else.

- Ivan.

[smilo]

my reasons are pretty much the same.
plus, I really like the look of it.
not to mention, I think it would be a fun AC for Multi-Player missions.
I have several sets of drawings, but I prefer those by John Alcorn for the Historical Aviation Album.
I just zipped them up.
send me an email so I can get your address and I will send it to you.
if you can't remember mine, PM me.

[Ivan]

My email address isn't a secret.

Ivan1GFP@yahoo.com

[smilo]

check it...
is the fcc. one still active?

so, today while working I was thinking about the above post.
I guess I am one of those that is "hung up on the visual model",
especially in Multi Player.
imagine being in or seeing a formation of stock bf110s, do17z or what the game creators call a mosquito.
it is a major distraction, to say the least.
way back when, I wanted to be an AC builder just so I could replace some of the God awful stock visual models.
I never got around to it, other things came up. but I was able to find some decent textures which helped a lot. remember P J Dunbar?

anyway, another thought popped up. I recall downloading AC that were "frame rate killers".
the question is, just what makes a model a frame rate killer and how does one avoid it?

[minuteman10]

...stay low to the trees.....

[Ivan]

Hello Smilo,
Got your email. Haven't schlepped the file over to a machine with a zip utility though. FCC email is still active. I still work there. I remember PJ Dunbar. He is one of the best aircraft painters I know.

My reasons for starting to build aircraft way back was about the same as yours. The stock models were just plain ugly for the most part and back in those days, most folks building using AF99 were not terribly good at it. I believed I could do better. It also came at a time when my hobbies needed to be instantly interruptible because of kids. Plastic models interrupted meant dried out paint brushes and trying to adjust parts after the glue had set.

I originally figured I would build about a half dozen models, get bored and quit. I believe I have about 25 aircraft in various states at this point and still haven't quit yet. I have only released about half of them though. Each project teaches me something new. There are perhaps another dozen planes out there that I want to "own". I used to start building as soon as I could and the results were not great. These days, I spend the time doing a LOT of research before starting anything and I believe it helps.

If you have the inclination to build a plane or two, don't give up. Also, don't pick a complicated project. There are plenty of attractive single engine planes out there. If you need some help, I'll be glad to assist.

- Ivan.

[Ivan]

Hey Folks.
Here is my current project: a Mitsubishi A6M2b Model 21 Zero.

With this project I tried out a technique I have been working on to adjust the high altitude engine power to adjust the service ceiling. It seems to work:

Altitude Power Speed
500 915 293
2500 931 303
5000 952 309
7500 973 316
10000 995 324
12500 1001 335
13500 961 332 <-- Critical Altitude.
15000 906 330
17500 820 325
20000 735 321
22500 656 315
25000 583 311
27500 517 305
30000 452 298
32500 392 281
35000 339 261

Service Ceiling: 36500 feet
Climb Rate: 3485 ft/min @ Sea Level
Climb Rate: 3695 ft/min @ 12500 feet

Still have a few things to tune, but the basics are there.

- Ivan.

[smilo]

as usual,
the class of the field.

[Ivan]

Thanks Smilo.

Glad we're back.

- Ivan.

[smilo]

yeah, me too.
I was going through major withdrawls.

so I've been thinking about what you said above...
how do you feel about doing an Ivan's First Class A20.air file?

[Ivan]

A-20 Air File? Don't know about First Class, but I will give it a shot. I figure I'll need one anyway eventually.

BTW, the Flight Testing for the A6M2 Zero had to start all over again. There was an issue that came up during testing of general handling when I tried to plant the propeller into the ground. Hopefully things won't change much but there is certain to be a change.

- Ivan.

[Ivan]

Hey Smilo,

Check your email. BTW, which version of the A-20 are you interested in? I have done nearly no research on the plane other than to observe that it is one of the fastest around at low level.

- Ivan.

[smilo]

I got the message....downloading it now.
thanks.
most of my best drawings are for the G-30, but I am leaning toward an earlier model. I like the plexee nose and the simpler aft gun station.
but honestly, I haven't decided yet.

[smilo]

I just had a quick look at the Boston Pilot's Notes.
what an excellent gift!
thank you
I am anxious to spend more time with it.

[langshan]

Smilo,

It's been a long time, but I will be able to start to fly once again in the second Sunday in September. See you again for a few hours. =S=

[smilo]

Smilo,

It's been a long time, but I will be able to start to fly once again in the second Sunday in September. See you again for a few hours. =S=

yes, it has been a while.
time flies when you're having fun...or getting old.
I had heard from MM that your schedule would be changing in September.
we'll be looking forward to seeing you on Sunday's.

[minuteman10]

~S~ Lang...I never knew that you were a retired Master Chief! I just met a fellow at a 4th of July BBQ....retired master Chief with over 10,000 hrs in P-3's...had some interesting stories to tell...

[Ivan]

Hello Folks.

What is the commonly accepted default bomb load in a DP file for a bomber? From what I can tell, the typical bomb load for a A-20 is about 2000 pounds. It CAN carry up to 4000 pounds though.

Does it seem reasonable to have 8 x 500 pounders as a max load with a default load of 4 bombs? Or is it better to default to 0 (zero) bombs?

BTW, I figured the A-20 flight model would not be terribly different from the B-25, but what I am finding is that although it is a lot faster, it doesn't move quite as well. Also, even though both aircraft have the same basic engine, the altitude ratings are quite different with the altitude advantage going to the B-25. Time to do some engine tuning!

- Ivan.