DCS: World

Friday April 18, 2014 Development Update – Landing the 109

Hey everyone,
Here’s some more on the Bf 109K-4.

We’re pretty much done with the cockpit and external animations. The last remaining set of cockpit tasks should take no more than 2-3 days; plus we’ve compiled a final list of fixes and updates needed to the cockpit and external models based on internal testing, which should take no more than 10 days or so for the modeler to implement.

We’re having an internal discussion on what exactly to consider an alpha stage for the 109. Obviously we owe our backers an alpha version. My own feeling is that we’re pretty much at alpha, while some at ED feel that this is very far from a version that can be given out. Next week, our plane will look like a 109, sound like a 109, and all the gauges and internal systems will operate as those of a 109. However it will not fly exactly like a 109. The engine model and the aerodynamic model is what takes the most time to perfect in DCS.

We’ll have another big internal discussion on this on Monday.

For now, here’s some screenshots of some more cockpit animations, working AFN2, and a near-perfect three-point landing.

(please note that the new render is still in development, so you're seeing some glitches in trees and shadows and other components)

Small Update 17.04.2014
some screens of the current state of work. Today I remodeled the circuit breaker panel of the front console (screens below).
I also applied AO's to some objects... since the mental ray texture baking brought out some results which I don't understand (as usual ), I switched to Vray and/or Scanline Light-Tracer which showed
much more better results. Thanks again for your patience

Después de unos meses de duro trabajo, el proyecto sigue avanzando, y antes de presentar el proyecto oficialmente (próximamente), queremos traeros un pequeño teaser, donde mostramos el comportamiento del arranque del sistema TARSYN en nuestro C-101. Estad atentos!

Originally Posted by BeachAV8R View Post
Thanks to Chris for participating in the PC Pilot article. I've made the comment to him and publicly that the way VEAO handles community relations is second to none. They have a great team assembled and are very open about where they are, and where they are heading. Chris made my job easy.. <g>

It's my understanding the magazine is on newsstands in Europe already (it is a UK based magazine after all..) but I haven't received my mailed issue here in the United States yet. There is always the option of buying online the digital copy:

http://www.pcpilot.net/view_issue.asp

When I submitted the questions, I was surprised at some of the answers we received too - and excited! The possibility of a tanker and the future WW2 platforms is pretty cool. Of course, I'm a button pusher, so I'm positively salivating about the Typhoon. Bring it on!

And as a big fan of realism and training type stuff..I think the Hawk is going to be a big hit with both single players and online squadrons.

Exciting times ahead.

Thanks again to Chris and VEAO for their assistance with the article...

Regards,
BeachAV8R

Announcement: DCS Warbirds Collection

VEAO Simulations Ltd, London, 22nd April 2014.

VEAO Simulations are pleased to announce that we are in contract to develop the “DCS Warbirds Collection” for the DCS World flight simulator.

For the first iteration, the following aircraft modules are being developed:
HA-112 Hispano Buchon
Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV
F8F-Bearcat
Curtiss P-40F

All aircraft will have the External Flight Model (EFM) and Advanced Systems Modelling (ASM) to DCS fidelity standards. As with all of our modules, we will develop these aircraft to military specifications.

The modules in the collection will be released separately, as they are developed, and will be sold for $39.99 each.

We expect the first module to be ready at the end of this year (Q4 2014) with the remaining modules expected for release up to Q2 2015.

Future aircraft in the collection are being discussed, as well as terrain maps, and further details will be announced at an appropriate time.

A separate team is working on these modules which will not affect development of any current module.

We would like to thank the Fighter Collection and Eagle Dynamics for their continued support, as well as you, the community, for the overwhelming support you give us.

Chris and the VEAO team.
__________________

Hi,

Wanted: Flight model developer to create advanced
flight model for C-101 AvioJet and future projects.
Must have strong engineering background. Please
apply via Private Message.

Buscamos: Desarrollador de modelo de vuelo, para crear
un modelo de vuelo avanzado para el C-101 y futuros
proyectos. Se requiere una base sólida en ingeniería.
Por favor contactar vía mensaje privado.

Deseable buen nivel de inglés, hablado y escrito.

The C-101 project is developed by AvioDev who are officially
licensed DCS developers. The aircraft is in the advanced
stages of development, and we will make an official
announcement soon.

El proyecto del C-101 está siendo desarrollado por AvioDev,
desarrolladores oficiales para DCS con licencia. El avión se
encuentra en un estado avanzado de desarrollo, y realizaremos
un anuncio al respecto pronto.

Best regards,
Tango.

DCS World
IR missiles. The lock range increased.
AI aircrafts: The killed pilot will not disappear from the cockpit.
The uncontrolled aircraft on the ramp will not ejecting the nonexistent pilot after taking damage.
TF-51D. Quick Start missions corrected.
Su-25T. Cockpit. Autopilot lamps are working now.
Su-25T. Autopilot override key commands changed to [LAlt + A].
Su-25T. Glideslope error ring and director ring are placed correctly.
FFB function with ALT-TAB corrected.

DCS FC3
Added English flight manual of F-15C.
Some issues with copy protection of A-10A and FC3 are fixed.
Fixed some FFB issues.
The blackout at high G is fixed.
Su-25. The plate of airbases list in the cockpit are corrected.
Su-25. Missed cockpit textures behind the right shoulder was added.
Su-25. The gaps in the gunsight are removed.
Su-27/33, MiG-29. HUD. Glideslope error ring and director ring are placed correctly now.
F-15C. 3D models of pilot and parachute are corrected.
F-15C. Added hydraulic failures influence.
F-15C. Ailerons maximum deflection angles are increased.
F-15C: Elevator maximum deflection angles are corrected.
F-15C. Obsolete autopilot commands are removed.
F-15C. Added engine destruction by fire.
F-15C. Added working fuel quantity indicator.
F-15C. Flaps are down at hot start on ground.
F-15C. Wing fuel tanks can be damaged.

DCS Combined Arms
Missing lifebar for ground units on F10 view fixed.
Tank’s fire solution issue are fixed.
Command bar. After target designation the aircraft will attack units if even they are moving.
Aircraft can be activated from Command Bar in Uncontrolled mode.
Fixed options “Computer firing solution”.
Helicopters can easily destroy heavy tanks colliding with them is fixed


DCS Mi-8MTV2
Fix TV3-117 engine start failure (after engine cut-off, and then again engine starting)
Impact of a surface to the helicopter wheels is corrected.

DCS UH-1H
Flight manual corrected.
__________________

Today I finished the Magnetic Compass (Schnapsglas Kompass)

Hello folks,
Today’s update is a small miracle.

By late night Moscow time, as we decided to take some screenshots, we realized that the game’s WIP render stopped working for everyone. Programmers responsible had already gone home hours before. I began writing an apologetic update, and then, somehow, someway, our ingenious junior aircraft programmer managed to get the game working on his machine.

So, I’m very happy to present to you the 109 in combat.

(please note that his version of the 109 has many animations not working, such as landing gear and propeller arc, and has a lot of other system stuff showing. We decided not to mess with his development environment because time is very precious)







On the development front, most of the tasks this week had to do with the cockpit and the sound. The 109 is beginning to sound very mean and very authentic. Our wonderful sound engineer also wrote an incredibly rousing theme for the 109, but I won’t be posting it just yet. The wonderful composer, talented but naïve in the ways of the world, submitted the latest version with a background sound effect of a certain historical leader reading a speech to a rousing roar. We’ll make sure it is removed of course, but this being late Friday night in Moscow, it won’t happen today.

Other than that, the tasks remaining for the 109 are, in that order: finalize and test cockpit procedures; finalize sound; DB 605 engine tuning for medium and high altitudes; finalize manual; overall testing; finalize external animations; finalize damage model visuals; finalize flight performance; create game interface.

The plan will likely change, especially in the smaller sub-tasks that I am not listing for each major step. However, the first two tasks (sound and cockpit) should complete next week, and DB 605 tuning, unless something goes horribly wrong, should take be done, well, so quickly that I cannot even force myself to write out the task duration publicly. And then, ladies and gentlemen, we’ll just need to test this here thing for serious and crash bugs for as long as it takes that to ensure they do not exist.

The biggest task for the coming days for me personally is to finish up the 109 manual. There’s not much work to be done, just write out all cockpit procedures and make sure all the buttons and checklists are correct. Shooting to have the manual finished by, oh, May 10th.

I’ll wrap this up with a couple of beaaautiful diagrams done for the 109 manual by our very talented graphic artist.




The manuals are looking very spiffy. Cannot wait to see them in print!

Have a great weekend!

Continued work on lighting.

DCS 1.2.8.27203 Change Log

DCS World
Added FREE TF-51D for DCS World! This is the P-51D with the weapons, radios and rear tank removed with a jump seat added in the back. This does not include dual controls.
Added Su-25T 6 DOF cockpit.
Added initial Oculus Rift support, this does not include front end GUI yet.
AGM-114L/K: Increased speed to about 1.4M.
TACAN added to Lochini International (25X; TBS).
Corrected detection ranges of ground target by aircraft sensors. This can determine spotting of enemy ground units when Fog of War mode is enabled.
MQ-1 Predator: The radar has been removed.
Corrected wingtips vortex position for flyable aircraft.
Corrected HE warheads for unguided rockets.
SAM Hawk: Decreased altitude detection range from 25 to 22 km. Increased missile battery control time from 60 to 80 seconds.
SAM SA-11 Buk. Increased max speed from 3.2 to 3.4M.
MPQ-53 and SA-10 SR radars: Decreased minimum RCS detection level of target from 0.15 to 0.04 sq.m.
Fixed client crash when attempting to add task 'Fire At Point' for a dynamically created group.
Su-25T: SPO-15 sound is now muted when electric power is OFF.
"LockOn" label has been deleted from FC3 module description in Main Menu.
User images in Kneeboard will no longer disappear after window switching.
ME: Fixed toolbar becoming inactive in some conditions.
ME: Corrected location of the buttons in mission goals window.
Added internal cargo trigger.
Reworked chaff and flare rejecting logic for AA and SAM missiles.
Improvements to the multiplayer scoring system.
Fixed Command Start not functioning for AI aircraft.
GUI Error, when you try to Record video is fixed.
Fixed flashing icons on F10 map.
Aircraft can be activated from the Command Bar if selected Uncontrolled mode.
Fixed setLandObject - now sets ID for all objects.
Fixed several issues in the input system.
Radio for ground units now works.
Fixed crash if allocation was made in third party code.
AI aircraft. Pinpoint strike. Fixed attack of map objects.
AI planes will no longer land on occupied runways.
Corrected Tu-22M3 model bugs.
Fixed saving of failures during the mission for clients.
IR missiles. The lock range increased.
AI aircrafts: The killed pilot will not disappear from the cockpit.
The uncontrolled aircraft on the ramp will not ejecting the nonexistent pilot after taking damage.
FFB function with ALT-TAB corrected.

DCS Mi-8MTV2 Magnificent Eight
Corrected campaign and single missions.
Emergency jettison switches are now wired correctly.
Fixed swapped buttons on the UV-26.
Hardpoint racks and additional armor can now be disabled.
Full function ADF (MV) ARK-9, ADF (UHF) ARK-UD.
Added instruments: magnetic compass, G-metr, outdoor thermometer.
External electric power supply bugfix.
Blade of main rotor gone off when runway start from a ship is fixed.
Taxi light switch command added (‘RCtrl + L’ by default).
Fixed right landing light.
Additional equipment weight will be accounted in total weight.
Fixed incorrect track replay with pedal trimmer.
Landing lights retract and rotate using key commands.
Fixed crash in en_SpringMi8-12.miz of campaign.
Fixed automatic rectifier engaging.
Fix TV3-117 engine start failure (after engine cut-off, and then again engine starting)
Impact of a surface to the helicopter wheels is corrected.

DCS: UH-1H Huey
ADF AN/ARN-83: Audio signal can now be heard in all modes.
Fixed animation of control lamp on flare dispenser control panel.
Fixed side M134 bracket arms clipping with side doors.
Added 3D model for wipers motor in cockpit.
Barrel block of M134 minigun now rotates in correct direction.
Pilot and co-pilot sights are now removed from the "civilian" variant.
Added additional armor option to the ME.
Fixed blurred texture of the tail rotor when damaged.
Added Sling Load mission capabilities
Update DCS UH-1H Flight Manual_EN
Cargo camera can be enabled after cargo hooking.
Cargo rope disappear Bounding box edited.
Helicopter will not destroy tank after colliding with it.
“Beta” label removed in the Main menu for UH-1H.
Removed gunsight reticle in civilian variant.
3D. Fixed gaps in cockpit model.
3D. Windows glass shape edited.

DCS: Flaming Cliffs 3
Added F-15C Advanced Flight Model (AFM)
Added Su-33 6DOF cockpit.
Su-25: SPO-15 sound is now muted when electric power is OFF.
A-10A: "Minimum Speed" sound is no longer heard during repairs.
MiG-29: EOS has had its detection range reduced to realistic performance levels.
Russian fighters. The angular size of HUD indication was reduced to real volumes.
A-10A: Bombs fall with undershoot in CCRP mode is fixed.
Su-33. Mirrors will have an image reflection.
Russian fighters. BVR. Corrected range of target marks on the HUD.
Fixed issue with Su-33 take-off from carrier.
Su-25. The plate of airbases list in the cockpit are corrected.
Su-25. Missed cockpit textures behind the right shoulder was added.
Su-25. The gaps in the gunsight are removed.
Su-27/33, MiG-29. HUD. Glideslope error ring and director ring are placed correctly now.

DCS: P-51D Mustang
Left smoke generator will no longer be present when user added to loadout through in-game menu {LAlt + '}.
Decreased count of tracers in the guns.

DCS: Ka-50 Black Shark 2
Corrected gun shell cases appearance point.

DCS: Combined Arms
Corrected color of bullet tracers for 23 and 30mm SPAAG and 2A42.
Added SAM unit acquisition/search radar display.
Manpads controlled by players.
Added ability to control naval units from the Command Map.
Laser ranging and automatic barrel elevation for tanks.
Increase destructiveness of artillery rounds.
Control of air units now possible for clients in multiplayer.
All ground group shoots on one target.
Corrected time reloading for artillery.
New Main Menu theme.
Flyable AC can detect laser ranger emission produced by controllable ground units.
Minimum attack distance for ATGMs has been fixed.
BTR-RD. 9M113 missile model reference corrected.
Corrected infantry descent on helicopters.
3D. Added new model and animation of ATGM 9M113.
The lock and tracking range of SAM radars is increased.
Elevation of missile launchers corrected to prevent sinking missiles after launch.
Added Command Panel for tactical commander to the F7 View.
Command bar. After target designation the aircraft will attack units if even they are moving.
Aircraft can be activated from Command Bar in Uncontrolled mode.
Fixed options “Computer firing solution”.
Helicopters can easily destroy heavy tanks colliding with them is fixed.

Regarding the F-100D:

3D Cockpit:
Work on this has been pretty much minimal due to availible time for a while.
Other than Limited time, I also wanted to study and experiment with several methods to aid in building the cockpit.

Once Time allows I will begin using these methods in a trial basis in a separate 3D scene before moving them to the F-100D Cockpit Scene.

Like I've stated before, Cockpits arent my thing, I'm used to building external meshes. So I'm having to learn and re-evaluate things as I do them.

In December I had started re-building over the external shape, (side panels, floorboards etc),
The Methods I'm studying will be used to re-build the canopy frame, canopy, and adding details to the cockpit once it's basic shape is completed.

Once that's all done and Texturing is finished, I will resume work on the panels, switches, gauges, and their animations.

Once the cockpit is in a basic functional state (All gauges/switches animated and imported to DCS), It will be passed onto the system coders to integrate systems.
While Systems are being coded, I will continue to Building up the details in the cockpit and also resume external Mesh.

External Mesh:
Still havent 100% decided if I want to continue using the one we licensed or start dedicating the time to building up from scratch
(which I had started to reference using XSections in Max).

I've also been planning/working on Improved Afterburner Effects for Vietnam Era Afterburners, which I will move into testing sometime in the next 2 months.

AI Only/MIG-21 Adversary Release?:
I'd like to do it, If I can get time to finalize the external mesh and stuff, But it's not 100% my decision.
External mesh needs some work and I need to modify the Pylon Permissions some more, as well as Gear/SFM for AI.
If Anything I'll put whatever free time I have in the next few weeks on getting the External Module Ready for that just in case.
__________________

Another work-in-progress preview prior to the official presentation.

Found by some very attentive community members before ready for primetime; there is not much point in closing it down anymore.

It is in a BETA stage at best; so do expect some errors and issues.
Feel free to report any you might find though.

A lot of content will be added as we go along (or rather; as we get some more time on our hands). It's fairly meagre at the moment. Videos, support system and so on.


www.leatherneck-sim.com


Known (major) issues:
- Incorrect (or total lack of) rendering of HTML5 content on various browsers.
- Broken padding and layout on various mobile devices
- Various grammar / spelling errors
- No localization
- Lack of content
- Hosting/Bandwidth issues (failure to load, slow loading times)

Cheers!
LS

VEAO Simulations and Leatherneck Simulations are pleased to announce that in partnership we will be showcasing the MiG-21 by Leatherneck at the IWM D-Day Anniversary Air Show on May 24th / 25th 2014 at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, England.

Along with the VEAO Hawk, you will be able to get up close and personal with the MiG-21 and try her out in the Fighter Collection's hangar 2 during the weekend.

For details of the air show and to purchase tickets, please visit here:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-duxford/the-d-day-anniversary-air-show

We are pleased to be presenting the MiG-21 to the public during this air show and future air shows at Duxford and look forward to seeing you there.

The VEAO and Leatherneck teams.

Update Time

Hey guys,
Well it's been a little while since the last update so I thought I'd bring you up to speed on what's been happening over the past few weeks.

As you know we're gearing up ready to release the Hawk to you and that involves the testers trying to break things and we fix them for them to break them again so we can fix them a little bit more. Boring right, well that's what makes the perfect DCS aircraft so that's the process we go through and have been going through since we gave the 1.2.8. version to the testing team.

Suffice to say we're having a little issue with certain navigation systems that Tango is working through with the testing team.
We opted to create our own navigation system for our aircraft. There were a few reasons for this that have been mentioned already, for current and future aircraft.
With this brings inherent problems that I'm confident Tango can work through.

Work on the rear cockpit has been ongoing for a while now and I've shown off some eye candy recently showing that. The rear cockpit modelling is almost finished and will be handed over to our cockpit texture artist very soon.
We will then start work on the switch implementation system in tandem allowing for front and rear control of the aircraft via seat switching.
Multiplayer control and dual sharing of the cockpit will come down the road later either using ED's system or our own.

Which brings me on to the re-texturing of the front cockpit. The textures you currently see and will get at release are our basic textures. Very soon after public release we will release the high-res pack as part of a patch. I'll post up some comparison shots soon but want to let the team get on with it a little bit more before I do that.

We're working with ED to implement the Hawk into core DCS as an AI aircraft.
This means that even if you haven't bought the Hawk, you can still see it flying around in the sim negating the need for a multiplayer patch.
We're also working together on fixing a few key bugs that are preventing public release.

I have a military tech demo this coming Friday so have been busy mission writing and fine tuning a few things for that.

When I'm back next week I'll be finishing off the manual, training missions and missions that will ship with the public release.
We also have a few volunteer translators that will first translate the quickstart manual, followed by the full manual.

The voice overs for the training missions are also being recorded and will be updated into the training missions at a later patch.

Which nicely leads on to the patching system. We are in discussion with ED on how best to patch the aircraft in future. As I've mentioned the Hawk will be part of core DCS but that opens up discussions on SFM/EFM versions and we're working through that at the moment.
We can guarantee that it will be the least inconvenience to you that won't affect the version you have bought.

And on to the CRM system, this is the front and back end processing for taking orders and payment from our web site. Work has started on the back end and front end pages and we'll be letting our testers have a little play with that soon.
Part of that system are the product pages which are almost complete for the Hawk.
We've elected to mirror the ED website product pages so it is familiar to you, and so we can easily implement the product within ED's own website and Module Manager.

Licensing issues with BAE are ongoing with our lawyers but hopefully we can get to a resolution quickly.

That's a pretty good snapshot of what we're working on and I hope to bring you some more eye candy really soon.

As to when we will release, well you'll just have to wait and see....

Thanks,
Chris.

Hi Guys,

With everything that is going on with the Hawk I thought I would show you guys one of the other models that we are developing.

For those who are unfamiliar with it allow me to present the Shorts Tucano.

A Twin seat trainer aircraft in primary use with the Royal Air Force as the stepping stone between the Grob Tutor and the BaE Hawk.

We hope you like the way this aircraft is shaping up as much as we do!

I am sure you will see more of this aircraft in the future

All the best wishes to everyone

Pman

Guys! promised screenshots DCS: F-86F Sabre.

Was someone talking about a Grob Tutor?



How does this look for early WIP...

Pman

Lens and dept of field effects WIP

Some new WIP images from the Black Sea map. Nothing new to see in the NTTR map until it is integrated into DCS.

This is stock Hawk in 1.3.0 with HDR on Normal. Haven't played with any other settings yet apart from Depth of Field On as in the pictures.

And the pictures really don't do EDGE justice. Of course this is all WIP...disclaimer, etc...

Thought I'd share a slightly newer render of the model as it is now

Obviously still very much WIP

Pman