LanceCriminal86

Shame, I use them for AI only. I wonder if there are FC3 entries that are trying to overwrite the F-14A.

Nah, there are so many places it gets asked I lose track. I had an excuse to post anyways though as I've been going through making tweaks and corrections to the template to properly fit the A model. Lots of small things will change eventually but for now there's a few things to do to get the skins passable.

I'll eat some crow, looks like that is indeed correct. The F-14B Lantirn tests in 1996 timeframe were with PTID. https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a309772.pdf I think unfortunately we are stuck on the PTID thing because as mentioned, nobody can seem to find documentation on all the menus that went along with it. Sounds like we'd have to find some avionics techs and RIOs with a photographic memory to get anywhere close to a real representation of the PTID and lantirn. But A models were used with the Lantirn as well, so that still leaves a question if the As received PTID or were still using the fishbowl. There is mention on Wiki that the B models that did the tests still had analog BUS, so perhaps some were running the LANTIRN without the PTID? "This effort was done under the auspices of Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic Fleet (COMNAVAIRLANT) using a fleet aircraft to integrate the digital 1553-based pod on an analog F-14B. In March 1995 a VF-103 fleet aircraft successfully dropped the first laser-guided training rounds (LGTR) and quickly laser-guided bombs (LGB). Due to the early success and interest from Fleet Commanders, NAVAIR began to procure pods and control units for deployment, resulting in VF-103 receiving the first LANTIRN pod June 14, 1996 in time for its upcoming deployment." Need to track the above comments down and see if VF-103s jets were running LANTIRN but no PTID I guess.

It's been asked everywhere, but AFAIK no for now. Most B skins can be moved over but you will have to make some tweaks if you know what to look for. FYI for those who want to skin the A, here are some things to look out for and future proof on: In the B model template, remove the two vents above the NAVY stencil, they're supposed to only be on one side and are not present on the A at all. On the A and B: Remove the NACA duct on the right engine nacelle, from the diffuse, roughmet, and the normal. That way whenever it gets fixed you have less work to do. Check your stencils. There are some subtle differences in stenciling between the A and Bs, and even within A model squadrons over the years they got further and further from the original Grumman stenciling. The intakes tend to be different, locations of some of the nose stencils, different BuNO fonts, different location for the fire punch-in panel on the engine nacelles, etc. [i highly recommend Bert Kinzey's two F-14 books in digital format, for Atlantic and Pacific squadrons, via Detail and Scale] For the As especially, look at the leading edges of the vertical stabilizers. @_YaeSakura_ has made some of his own masks that more accurately follow the reinforcements on the leading edges which should taper from the base to the top. Y'all really should go grab his high-vis and prototype skins, he's put a lot of work into them and will probably be re-doing them as the A model comes out and includes the older versions of the jet. Can't wait for the bullet fairing! Definitely need those for the 80s and various reserve jets from the 90s like the ones I'm trying to do. Here's a quick link to some screenships of the above: https://imgur.com/a/NF6LHce

It seems to be plenty accurate to the B models of the 90s. The upgrades you mentioned didn't really get going until into the 2000s from what I've read. Just because the first jet got tested with stuff like the digital bus and PTIDs in what 1997? doesn't mean the whole fleet of Bs had all that. The PTID, DFCS, new Lantirns, Sparrowhawk, all that jazz really happened in the 2003s where it has been beaten to death that HB has no access to documentation on those upgrades. Again, this is the exact same reason the D model isn't happening. We have the B model as adopted, the 3 portions of the B Upgrade programs don't have enough documentation (digital bus/PTID, GPS/INS upgrades, JDAM, DFCS). That's a 2003+ B model.

It is, it's supposed to be the 80s/90s variant that was contemporary with the B model we have. The Early A model would be earlier 80s and late 70s, where some had no TCS still, or bullet fairings, older RWR, no Lantirn. Both work great for me because the reserve squadrons I'm most interested in either had Block 140 jets, early jets rebuilt to Block 140, or early block jets that somehow made their way in as replacement jets. So having the old vents and stuff will be nice for properly representing them. What I was hoping for is that the TCS can just be a setting in the livery lua file, so we can mix and match some of the different configurations out there like upgraded jets that still had old vents, or the bullet fairing on the F-14B prototype, stuff like that. But I've no idea how HB intends to implement the A model visual model, separate shape file or just using one Tomcat model with lots of custom arguments, etc. May have to bribe them to sling the bullet fairing or a no-TCS no-ALQ100 version under the B model just for Prototype fun.

A has Lantirn, it's the older A that they're adding later that doesn't.

I feel like to get the full enjoyment from the Tomcat I need a proper floor mounted Virpil or VKB stick with the curved extensions, and some rudder pedals. I don't feel like regular joysticks even with curves can let you be as precise as the Tomcat seems to want to be a smooth stick. What setup are you using and how does it compare to the original?

It needs a rework, I never did post the one for LtJG Hudner but it's almost identical with the nose number from the famous painting. I did those, I also did a VF-31 Tomcatters of ENS Webber who had a MiG kill. I had an A-4E-C skin of one of the attack squadrons and briefly dabbled with a VA-35 one for the Hornet. Hell, even had the E-2D in dark blue for the EW squadron that was onboard flying the radar AD Skyraiders. A HDD death killed everything and I started over, with like I said just ENS Brown's jet. With the A coming out I'm getting back into skinning so maybe there will be a v 1.1 with better details and some additional cleanup work, LtJG Hudner's markings, etc. https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3307191/

The best we can hope for is that maybe, just maybe, HB at least sneaks the -D TCS/IRST housing in as a model argument. At least then you can have an AI -D model or just pretend it's a D.

So the Sparrowhawk upgrade seems to have happened in parallel with the other -B upgrades such as PTID. First Sparrowhawk and updated VDI flew in 99 and process completed in 2003. So which Bs specifically did have the HUD and didn't get the rest of the -B Upgrade stuff? Got actual BuNOs and data on those or are we just guessing? Because the previous posts and discussions on the F-14B Upgrade programs, aka OFP 317, OFP 320, and OFP 321 seem to indicate that the BUS upgrades included the PTIDs on the first upgrade path (317) testing completed in 1997 and was then pushed to the fleet. Sparrowhawk apparently came from somewhere between 99-2003. And in there as well were the 320 and 321 that added GPS, updated the INS, and added JDAM. All those things are where the documentation is missing for the -B Upgrade, Same story for the -D, and why HB aren't doing the -B Upgrade at all at this point. It doesn't seem too much like you can cherry pick just the HUD but not have PTID and the other upgrades.

Do decades now end on the 00s? Was year 2000 not the beginning of a new decade, century, and millenia?

Steam effects from the cat should change depending on weather and humidity no? In regards to real photos or clips people may be trying to reference you might get one day where it's light and whispy but a colder day might be more voluminous and hang around longer. Steam seems to me if it's not actively being changed by ED in the engine for weather effects, one could have a few versions of steam for light and wispy all the way up to thick and long lifetime. The latter might be nice for moody screenshots and videos.

@IronMike I think it's time for a pinned "THERE WILL NOT BE A -D THIS DECADE" post

The Leyte is the boat VF-32 was on in 1950. I did some historical "CONA" skins for VF-32 of ENS Jesse Brown and LtJG Hudner's Corsairs on the Tomcat.

It seems that historical and plausible skins probably stand the best chance here. I plan on submitting some separately for consideration of less well known Tomcat squadrons but I have a pretty neat idea for the competition, if you guys haven't done it already.

I use the Autopilot On with my X56 throttle on the row of no-off-on toggles. Works pretty well. The On else Off would have to be used with either a static switch or like the real ones that were magnetic or had solenoids or whatever that held them in position.

@IronMike have you guys looked at how ED have done the F-18's MODEX? I think there are a few different patterns/locations that can be switched in the liveries for different countries. But, I think I also heard it considered that would increase resource usage if it has to render all of those, even if they are masked or disabled in a skin. I think for the online crowd you could get away with the somewhat common MODEX of nose numbers, flaps on the inner edge of the middle flap panel, and then the tails up top above the rudder. Us nerds that don't mind having 20-30 gigs dedicated to just skins won't care if the dynamic MODEX are wrong because we are disabling them anyways. Squadrons that do their own events usually have custom squadron skins with MODEX and everything. Another thing, what about the BuNOs? I see folks bothered by MODEX all being the same but the BuNO won't be dynamic, if you're in close formation that's just as obvious to my eyes. Dynamic MODEX but all same BuNO seems just as silly to me.

As soon as OP can provide a full listing of all of the MFD functions in the PTID and added MFDs of the D and B Upgrade Tomcats, plus everything about the IRST, then maybe something could get done. But since those don't exist or are still classified, see the previous mountains of responses about why the D and B Upgrade with Sparrowhawk and JDAM capability aren't coming.

If anyone seems to be upset here it's you Gary. He's not wrong, a LOT of US fighter jocks over the years have responded exactly the same when asked minutea about their jets. They were too busy working the jet, looking for drips and things out of place on their preflights. Just like all the Special Forces guys I've been asking for the last 10 years who couldn't tell you much about the rifle they carried except they were smoking Taliban with it from 700 yards off in 2002. It's not actually that unusual to find military professionals at the highest levels who are not that interested in the minutea of their tools, only that they worked or didn't work. And you've been told by no less than 2-3 other people who have been keeping track of these visual issues here that it's on the list, and yet here you are. Am I bothered about the wrong NACA ducts and the misalignment of the engine nacelle textures? Sure. But I also know how much the model guy(s) have on their plate right now in terms of priorities, so I'm just going to skin around it and come back whenever it's fixed and update my skins.

At some point, would you be willing to put together some bullet points for fighting in the A ? With the B's extra thrust I believe that the vertical fight was often an option but I'm wondering how the A's differs in terms of tactics. I take it preserving energy will be more important? Would also love to see some of those best practices!

There's a few model corrections that have been put in through the year, they've been acknowledged and I suspect that as some of the continuing model work happens they will be added to the workflow to be corrected. Right now the big fish is get stuff in, then corrections to tailerons, NACA ducts, engine vents on the B, the textures on the engine nacelles where the landing gear locks in, and some UVWs that are assigned the wrong textures will come as they're working through the list. Remember they're also in there doing new pilot models and all of the additions to the A model for early/late like the alternate TCS options, GPS antenna, and RWR/ECM antennas along the wing gloves. I'm fairly certain their model guy hasn't just been sitting around waiting for random model corrections to come in here or there for the last year. Oh, don't forget the same guys is probably working on the A-6 and Forrestal which we are also all clamoring for. I'm fairly sure we're going to see the corrections and changes, they'll just need to come when at the right stage in the workflow.

And how convenient, I should have all this school wrapped up this weekend, so I'll actually be able to sit down, enjoy it, and finish painting some proper Hunters and Superheats with all the wear, tear, and corrosion control paint a guy could ask for!

^^ I'm pretty sure the above was taken from this video of the 2003 Nellis air show. Sound quality wise I think this is a really good benchmark of my expectations for ultimate F-14B sound. I know the challenge here is DCS and how it handles sound, having to synthesize or digitally recreate some of it etc. All kinds of things like distance and angle of the plane are going to translate into time delay of the sound and doppler effect and stuff like that. But really, this video has so much more bass and depth to it. I'd really like to see the sound for the A and B have more *oomph* and base to them.

I've been strongly considering trying to make a faux ejection seat using an aluminum drag racing seat, something like a Kirkey 55 or similar. At least something that with a pad setup like the link would give a similar feel. May have to chop the bottom side bolsters off but keep the ones along the back