LHC Diamond DA40 Released

**Lionheart** · July 21st, 2012, 19:21

Hey all,

It is time for my newest child to be released.

This is the Diamond Star DA40 single engine 4 seater, XLS Edition with 180 HP engine, constant speed prop, 150 knots cruise speed. Her instrumentation is the Garmin G1000 glass panel system with built in auto pilot. On this Garmin system, I was able to recreate the bazel shape far better, and the MFD now houses the AP controls console as like the actual system. The Garmins do not feature traffic nor weather but do have built in checklists and sample background setting pages to show people what all the Garmins can do (Settings soft key selection).

Flying the '40' is similar to being in a Helo cockpit, 'much glass' surrounding you. The canopy opens from the front and takes with it part of the dash top. Its a wild plane and I have always loved the instrument panels. They are so simple and cool looking. The center console or tunnel (between the front seats) has some nicely laid out controls. The back seats fold down for shipping cargo and this model has the optional extended cargo zone in the tail of the plane, (great for snow skis, etc).

If you like flying into rough airfields, you can remove the wheel skirts via the hidden switch at the far right, lower black plastic power plugin on the panel. Click that and the wheels are suddenly uncovered. Great for Canadian short airstrips. (Stall speed with flaps is around 50 knots).

There is a cool, picturesque 'checklist' and also 'references' file set on the Kneeboard. I have kept the manual simple, and as usual (now) it is in PDF format, in the manuals folder in the aircraft's folder in FS.

This is in FSX and Prepar3D format.

So.... If you are interested, there's more at http://www.lionheartcreations.com/Diamond

***glennc*** · July 21st, 2012, 20:14

Hmm, May have to fly that into Airventure.

Glenn

**Cag40Navy** · July 21st, 2012, 20:16

Oh yea! This is going to be a fun little plane! Thank you Bill!

***glennc*** · July 21st, 2012, 21:20

Attachment 69497

I have arrived.

Glenn

**Barnes** · July 22nd, 2012, 00:11

Would anyone who has got this please post a few screens - it looks fantastic other than the cockpit glass in external view does not look quite right to me in the official screenshots (i cant describe why - perhaps the shine is too light). Im hoping that its just the angles and time of day and perhaps the settings.

Again - i have a feeling this will be LHC's best yet but i just dont want to get another plane i wont fully enjoy.

**flaviossa** · July 22nd, 2012, 05:36

Very nice Mr. Bill! It appears to be a great model.

I´ll get it in August, because my $$$ FS quota for the month ran out already

**italoc** · July 22nd, 2012, 08:12

Originally Posted by flaviossa

Very nice Mr. Bill! It appears to be a great model.

I´ll get it in August, because my $$$ FS quota for the month ran out already

Mine too .... saving for next month

Italo

**dvj** · July 22nd, 2012, 09:39

Stunning work!

**Barnes** · July 22nd, 2012, 10:27

I have given in and purchased and am very impressed so far - your best yet Bill. :salute:

Went for a dusk flight

**Lionheart** · July 22nd, 2012, 11:20

Thanks guys.

Note that you can detach the wheel skirts via clicking on that black power coupling on the instrument panel, bottom right.

**Barnes** · July 22nd, 2012, 11:32

Yes - i found the manuel very interesting and discovered that feature thanks

***Roger*** · July 22nd, 2012, 14:07

Excellent model

**whitney17** · July 22nd, 2012, 14:58

It looks like each one is better than the last! And that's saying something. I know, I've got nine already.

Thanks Bill, for your excellent work.

Joe

**Dexdoggy** · July 22nd, 2012, 16:38

A beaut new addition Lionheart, think I will have to go get it!

**Lionheart** · July 22nd, 2012, 17:26

Thanks for the kind words guys.

Note there is a paint kit 'inside' the aircraft folder; PSD format.

Happy Flying.

**Lionheart** · July 22nd, 2012, 17:28

Awesome screenshots Roger! Goodness man.

**hairyspin** · July 23rd, 2012, 11:33

You build 'em, he screenshots 'em. That VC is a marvellous piece of work, and I just know you built the lot in Gmax. Kudos!

**Lionheart** · July 23rd, 2012, 12:05

Originally Posted by hairyspin

You build 'em, he screenshots 'em. That VC is a marvellous piece of work, and I just know you built the lot in Gmax. Kudos!

Hey Tom,

Many thanks Sir. The mesh model was actually created by John MacNeil in Lightwave. I then went in and finished it. I did bring it into Gmax and animated and mapped/painted with Photoshop.

John does amazing work. We were fortunate to get some drawings for the panels for him to work from.

Bill

**skyhawka4m** · July 24th, 2012, 06:15

Glad to see you haven't totally switched over to P3D....I'll be buying this this week.

**Lionheart** · July 24th, 2012, 17:00

Originally Posted by skyhawka4m

Glad to see you haven't totally switched over to P3D....I'll be buying this this week.

Oh, I did switch over fully to P3. It takes the same files, so its nothing for FSX to run in P3, and vice versa.

**Lionheart** · July 24th, 2012, 17:04

Hey all,

I have discovered a bug, I am sorry to say.

I found that a missing file entry in the panel config file will cause sound not to work 'if' you do not have any of the latest LHC planes. People who download the Diamond as their first plane from LHC will have no cool interior sound effects and click sounds.

The fix is easy. A new panel config, dropped into your Diamonds 'panel' folder and Voila, 'crickie crickie' sounds....

Download the fix file here;

Sorry about that. I massively hate bugs.

The Diamond is being modified and will now be Build 1.01 with the fix carried out in it. Files will be dispersed to all vendors in the next 2 days.

Bill
LHC

**Barnes** · July 24th, 2012, 23:06

Thanks Bill - you and team have done a great job on this one

**italoc** · July 26th, 2012, 05:03

Thanks Bill, great job

I'm ready for your next effort :salute:
Italo

**Dain Arns** · July 26th, 2012, 09:29

Bill, this is just an FYI.

I downloaded and installed the 1.01 version from Flight1.
Install went fine, but when I selected the DA40 from the FSX aircraft menu, I got an never ending batch of error messages like I posted below, for each sound.

I went back to version 1.00, and everything is working fine, again, (as I already had your other aircraft installed, anyway).

Attachment 69725

Attachment 69724