flameoutme

>>>> The HB F-14 is both a work of art and a home run in just about every way possible. But Heat Blur support, and the many many times Iron Mike has come across with no BS no excuse honest to the max responses to the community, is *the model* for all other module providers. All of them can benefit greatly from emulating HB and IM. My buying decision of any future modules and especially EA ones, starts with the question: Is it from Heat Blur? If the answer is yes, I will click on the BUY button without hesitation. They are proven. Are they perfect? Who is. Do I trust them? Absolutely.

I own a Buttkicker, bought from Amazon for about a hundred and a half. It completes the triad of realism that makes Heatblur F-14 the best module of any in DCS - the visual, the sounds, and with the help of the Buttkicker, the feel. No software needed, it works great on the '14 straight out of the box. I suggest to anyone that feels the shake is "wrong" that it may be because two of your senses are getting a certain feedback, but the third one - feel - isn't. From rolling down the runway, to kicking on the after burners, to the shake one gets when the plane is at the edge of its envelop, the feel is just as important as the eyes and the sound. It's kinda like VR. I've been "flying" since the before-time. Now with VR, flying is a new world and new experience. I could never go back to flat screen. Same with the "feel" now. Flying the '14 with the vibratory action coming from my chair is like flying in VR. Once you have a taste, you wonder how you ever got by without it. Heatblur please never take the realistic shake away!!! If real pilots faced that, I want it! And by the way, it's one of the reasons why the F-14 is so exciting to fly and not a flying computer like the F/A-18, F-16. I'm not trying to put down those later planes, just stating a fact. The F-14 is a rugged thing of beauty. And thanks for the BEST module in DCS, and I own most of them but it's the 14 that stole my heart and continues to amaze. ================================= Wanted to include Jabber's video on flying the f-14, it discusses the shake in detail and helped me embrace it and deal with it. Great vid.

If you use it out of the box, no. There is a Y splitter, and you use some sound controls on the Buttkicker amp to adjust the sound. It works better on some planes than others. Probably the best one it works with is the F-14. I also use it on the Mirage although nothing beats the '14 when it comes to those low rumbles. Then there is some software I think you can find it on Andres Blog that does require a 2nd card or built in sound. Assuming you are in VR, the headset counts as one sound card.

:) For the F-14, with it's low rumbling engine and massive afterburner sounds, the butt kicker works great right out of the box,no software needed. Enjoy! I do!

Well, here's the crazy thing - I went back to the campaign mission - in the same location I was unable to lock. Before that fine. This time, I decided just to punch through and after about 5-10 mins of the radar showing returns but no lock, the trigger in the mission said ok, time to move on to the next part of the mission, and then it worked fine for the rest of the mission. So go figure.

Thanks! I'll give that a try. Feel exactly like you do. The rest is awesome.

I don't mean to bump this thread, but I need confirmation - is it just me? It used to be easy to lock targets, the other day I ran a campaign mission and although I could see radar returns I could not lock a one. I tried the ACM modes same thing. In my own home made mission I can. I think I am going crazy... help

I think a better question would have been, will you buy the SC in early access, assuming it's features are as complete as those of the F-16 at time of release.. because in all likelyhood, "release" will mean "early". As soon as I am convinced SC is at least at the Beta stage, with all major features in place but yet to be totally smoothed out, I will not be buying it. It is a matter of principle, now.

First, I am preaching to the choir when I say that the world that ED has created is a dream come true for many of us. That being said, it's VERY easy for a business to seek "progress payments" on work ahead of its actual accomplishment. That money gets spent and to continue the work on what is real another progress payment is needed... and so on and so on. We saw this with Microsoft over the years. Their "progress payment" came from releasing a new version of Windows, even though the old version was full of bugs. But the cash infusion came with the release of a new system. All those arguments about ED being responsible for the core products, and having other contracts are true, but the world is not fixed in place and businesses are free to expand and contract as needed. The problem is once a new module is released, over time it changes from a source of profit to a source of expense, because after awhile the sales decrease and all one has left is the good faith of the company. I've no doubt there is good faith here. But the evidence suggests (years later waiting for promised features) that good faith may not be enough. I don't know what the answer is, not purchasing new modules may very well cause a failure cascade. On the other hand, paying for new modules to finance completion of old modules may be putting off the inevitable. I don't know. All I can say is enjoy each and every day of your life, and that includes your "sim life" and hope for the best, because that's all we in the community can do. Just my 2 cents

I really like the 'JF, and I find non-US aircraft frequently out engineering the US counter parts. The Mirage is one of my favorites it's just put together so well. Like they take what the US has done and think "how can we build a better mousetrap...". I think about the JF-17 the same way. That cockpit is layed out so cleanly. You just look at it and go Ah........ As far as negativity goes, I think the JF-17 is no where near the head of the class for that. The F-16 is the clear title holder for negativity with so much undone. There are even videos on that very subject. Fortunately ED is trying to bring it up to speed as fast as they can. But it still has a ways to go. I personally haven't witnessed bigotry about China but I don't frequent other hangouts besides watching tutorial videos. It would not surprise me however. But as far as the JF-17 goes, yeah!

It may be just me, but am having difficulty locking targets for both acm and non-acm modes. This is during mission 4 in the 1st campaign. Anyone else? When I fly my own missions I don't seem to have a problem.

:)

@Pikey thanks for your take. After reading, I got the module. Just playing free flight and am VERY impressed. Two things off the top, one serious one something else... The clarity of everything in-cockpit in my Oculus Rift S is just off the charts. If Heatblur F-14 gets the award for well worn grittiness and exact modeling, the team at Deka Ironwork Simulations takes the title for absolute clarity of cockpit gauges and instruments in VR, and I own all except the Russian modules. The other thing Deka takes the blue ribbon form is the sexiest "bitchen betty" voice. When she was saying "landing gear" I was thinking about dating her... :) I think this is the start of a beautiful relationship between the JF-17 and me....

Just wanted to mention that I see you are running an HP Reverb. I haven't used one, but I understand it has a higher resolution and refresh rate than the rift S. I'm only mentioning this to say that DCS is very smooth in my Rift S, not jerky at all, and most of my settings are turned up. I have a 1080 card and a 9900K Intel. Although not crystal clear, the gauges are acceptable for play. Overall, I'm still having a blast with the Rift S in DCS and especially the F-14. I think you are running up against the same problem I ran up against over the years with flat screen resolution - I would upgrade to a bigger screen, higher resolution, then notice that my games did not run as smoothly. I've been toying with the idea of going for a higher res VR unit myself but have talked myself out of it because I know it will inevitably lead to disappointment with smoothness. Maybe in a year or two when all the components are ahead of where they are now.

I don't see this much covered, but using VR means that some of the features of joysticks/throttles long and lovingly developed over years and years of flight sims are rendered practically useless. The reason is you can't see all the switches in VR. At best you become a 'braille reader'. This kills immersion while increasing frustration for the VR player. So a lot of people will hail a certain joystick/throttle but what's great for the flat-screeners is not necessarily great for the VR player. I'm a VR flyer in DCS exclusively. After consideration of what would really benefit me in VR, I stuck with the Thrustmaster TWCS throttle ($79 on amazon) but use the Thrustmaster warthog joystick. The TWCS throttle in my opinion is far superior for VR because it has only buttons, knobs and switches that you can easily feel and distinguish. On top of that, especially for the newbee it has a rudder paddle. He'll want foot rudders at some point but until then the paddle on the TWS works perfect. Tip: adjust the friction of the throttle via the underside adjustment screw. Very easy and makes the throttle smooth as silk. Now the joystick choice. The warthog joystick is expensive but there is nothing else like it in the universe. I've wasted a lot of money over the years on buying lessor joysticks. The warthog joystick may look more expensive but in the long run is cheaper. And the feeling of the stick is unmatched. It's also great in VR. So because you are cutting out the warthog throttle, you can get the overall set much cheaper than the standard warthog hotas. Got both of mine on Amazon. NOTE: The Thrustsmater 16000m joystick may look attractive price wise, but its not very good for VR. I'd even say it's poor for VR. The buttons you can work by feel alone are few and the flat buttons on the base literally have braille like markings on them for feel. They are almost impossible to effectively use in VR. Don't waste your money (like I did... before buying my Warthog Joystick). Finally, and this is the cheapest add on of them all, he should have VoiceAttack, which is a small piece of software for something like $15. A small learning curve to use, but it is GREAT in vr to take over for some of the keyboard commands that one can't see anymore. Really a great little piece of software. And tell your son it's easy to play music through it when flying. Yeah! Hoped this helped!

The 14 was GREAT in the original Top Gun. The 18, featured in the new Top Gun trailer, like all sequels won't be quite as good as the original. On a serious note, one thing that is extra special about the 14 is the afterburner, just by itself or especially when run through a bass shaker like "The Buttkicker". The 18, I have to be honest, the only way you know it's in after burner is the fuel flow. Within the cockpit it sounds the same mil power or after burner. Not so in the 14. The low frequency rumble still gives me chills whether running the buttkicker or not. Said another way - the 14 gives you the feelings, not just the data. If you feel the need to feel the speed, go with the '14.

Thank you all that have been involved in crafting (and recrafting) the Mirage and the 1st campaign. What an exciting experience. And thanks must also be sent out to the French engineers who designed this fighting machine in the first place. The Razbam Mirage is complex enough to be stimulating to learn and easy to fly at the same time. I know I am preaching the choir! It is hands down my favorite plane in DCS. 2nd would be the '14. But there's just something about the Mirage that combines fun and realism so well in one package. And that campaign. I am on mission 7 now, and I think they just did a great job building in tutorial play, as well as adding a bit of french humor. "I'm here to keep you kids from poking out your eye..."). I think that ought to be the standard approach to every 1st campaign on the other moduals. So many benefits. Also love the new radio. So much easier. Ok back to flying.

Talk about an early Christmas present. YIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! Lov'in it. Yeah, instructions would be good. But just experiencing the new cockpit is out of this world. THANK YOU. Yeah!!!

I'm a l*o*n*g time simmer. When I place my VR headset on (Rift S), and my headphones, and I activate my chair bass shaker ("Buttkicker"), and I turn on flight radio chatter, I *am* in the plane and I *am* both the hunter and the hunted. The only thing the simulation now lacks are actual g-forces and 360 degree physical movement. Ah maybe some day but for now I am getting a ride I never even knew could be. I know it stinks that one must have a powerful rig and that can cost. But if you can get there (read: built it yourself!), you will never look back. And looking at a flat screen is like looking at a photograph of a party. In VR, I am in the party. One definite downside to VR, and I say this with all sincerity. It killed my 2 d gaming. Again think party photograph vice being there. On a positive side, when a new game drops on steam, if it isn't VR, pass. Saved a lot of money so far. DCS in VR is the only way I fly.

WHAT A GREAT STORY!!!!!!!!! Love this F-14 sim!

Finally finished the 1st mission of Cage Bear - well almost. Ran out of fuel before reaching the carrier at 15,000 feet. Tried a dead stick landing. I achieved the "dead" part. Crashed onto the deck. Anyone ever make it in F-14 DCS? Or for real? BTW, it was a super exciting mission and 'recovery'.

I know this isn't exactly what you asked for, but I have a fall back position for you. Last year, I took a screen shot of both the F-14 and F/A 18, then used an online service to have it blown up to full poster size, 36" x 24". It came out fantastic. So what you could do is try to set up a mission with some clouds and load out like the original picture. Turn every graphic in DCS up to max. It's best to do this on a hi res monitor, I did mine on a 1440p. After the mission watch the track. You can manipulate the views exactly like when you fly. Use pause, take a screen shot. Make sure the lighting is right, fly around so that the sun is more or less on the bottom side as you turn. It cost me under $20 to use the online service shipping and all, and the frames were like $12 each. So for just over $30 each I got compelling poster size images. Stand back more than a foot and I dare anyone to spot they are not real. I really love how they turned out. Message me if you have any questions. I can't speak for you, but it may turn out that having the modern, DCS version in poster size can almost say even more than the original. It's a bit of then and a bit of now. See ya in the skies.

I can get the AG hud just fine in my own mission with MK 84's but in the campaign mission the hud won't change to ag mode. Done this a number of times.

JEFX could not agree more with what you said... the tutorials are wonderfully voiced and immersive in themselves. How they continue right into the campaign at first I was hesitant about - but after doing the missions (alas, I am stuck at mission 6 now), I've come to the conclusion that having a module launch campaign with such instructional yet immersive missions should be the standard. I own a number of other modules (especially love the '14) and the mirage tutorials and campaign is among if not the best of the lot. Speaking of mission 6, I am aware of the new protocols for dropping bombs, can drop them in my own mission editor mission, but can't get the HUD to change to ground attack in campaign mission 6. The bombs do drop, just not with the right hud which makes for great in accuracy... Hope that will be fixed... Sorry for the rant. Do love the module!

It needs something for the clamp to clamp to. Although I have found that the how the waves propagate in the chair is dependent on how and where it is clamped on. I'd guess it would work on your chair, but the waves could disperse more evenly on a central post chair.