Mr_Burns

I never liked them giving the base module free, even a token 10 bucks/pounds etc would increase cash flow of a deservedly great product, there is nothing else out like it so ask people to pay $10 for the base game. I would consider a subscription but I think that is definitely a massive option that would seriously put off new players. In any case, we have no idea what is going on so its all purely speculation, the reality will come out soon enough.

F-16, regarding above 2 comments to consider but I the AV8 is a compromise for weapons vs STOVL which is bloody hard and the F-15 is a twin seater with a very small compromise for flying Single Seat but it’s supposed to be flown by 2, so you do the workload. I own both but the F-15 is a ground pounder or stand off missile truck, you will snap it in AA, the AV8 is fine, no issues but the Vertical Landing is a pig, I gave up (doesn’t mean you will) and the F-16 is ace, although its displays are hard to see if you don’t export and have MFDs in my opinion.

DCS Atilla the Hun? (My history lessons were garbage).

Sorry I know there are too many of these threads but damn, I am adding another. I buy most modules just to support this sim, maybe not an aircraft I would fly but maybe the next one is, I dont buy modules I have zero interest in flying though (WW2 and some other niche ones). I bought F-16 day one but at the time I was focusing on F-18 so flew a bit and that was it. Last week I thought I would give it a go and started the training missions, what a beauty! The training missions are very good, what i didnt like about the F-16 when I first bought it was the hard to read MFDs on the main screen but with the Thrustmaster panels and export displays it is perfect, some aircraft (A-10 and F-18) the main screen displays are usable so I would have to force myself to look at the external MFDs, with the -16 it is only usable with the external displays IMO. Please note, I said my opinion and although I have VR it makes me sick so I only fly Track-IR. I love the fact that the F-16 runs through the MFDs, eg, where is the switch to turn the TGP on....no its on the MFD select TGP..... Probably a really bone post for you F-16 jockeys but I have owned this module what, 5 years (dont remember when it first came out but i was day one) and for now, the F-18 is gone, this is awesome and now I am going to build a simpit!!

I love more terrain but I keep harping back to this, the Combined Arms/Ground vehicle/soldier/building interaction is woefully lacking IMO. Flight dynamics, dog fighting, anti armour/radar is all top notch, but there is something lacking in base terrain demolition. Runway cratering, setting up a UAV to watch for a vehicle and report in the building so you can PGM it just always feels lacking. for some reason I prefer ground pounding but it always feels scripted, a dog fight seems to have multiple outcomes depending on your fight, whether is is with the A-10 or F/A 18 or now F-15, it feels like there is a lower immersion for it. I am hoping the dynamic campaign will help but I would have thought decent destructible land scapes should come before Dynamic Missions.

Oh please don’t take that as any criticism, I get your layout and it is all for the builder! Love what you are doing. The front panel was the only one I couldn’t work out how to build in wood with my lack of skills and stopped me in my tracks! I have an old car seat ready for my mojo to wake up!

Its not straight forward, I managed to use the iPad as a display but never managed to get the touchscreen to work, I have also tried the free dcsufc app and whilst most people can get it to work, I can’t. That said, both of these problems really seem to be user based, I am useless at Ports, ITC packets or whatever, my dreams out stretch my capability!

Are those panels modelled in the sim? I didn’t think the Ground Power were when I first started which is why I wanted the win-wing with an optional panel which is what they offered I believe? Might be confused though, it’s been a couple of years since I packed up and just getting the bug again!

Nice, did you not fancy the openhornet plans? I made my own pre-openhornet and could never skin it as I made the curves too tight, seems you are not looking at making it look like a F-18 cockpit apart from obviously inside and all the panels, or do you plan on putting a rounded cockpit around it? im starting to think about building again but was thinking of starting with cutting their F-18 ‘skin’ whilst I decide if I want a F-18, F-15 or EFA Front Panel, I figure you could pretty much make any aircraft based on the F-18 skin/frame. look forward to watching your build!

Looking at your amazing work I just pulled the pin on that printer, should arrive in a few weeks. Never owned a 3D printer before so a bit of learning!

If WSO AI is not complete yet, is pilot AI, and could I play a mission as WSO?

I changed the multiplier to the finger paddle on the stick, force of habit thats always been my multiplier and i find it pretty solid, took a bit of modifying the profile but when you change the multiplier DCS highlights everything in the control menu with an ! so you can see the ones to change. I actually think its user error and misreading all the commands on your PDF, there is a ton of things and learning to fly whilst learning the controls is hard work. I will probably stick with it, I should probably print more versions of the control printout and mark them up for each lesson, I think I am just overwhelmed at the moment! I dont know about flying wizzo, I probably would if I knew the AI pilot was good, havnt tried it. Thats a good idea, I picked up greases profile as I knew nothing about the jet and do have a few favorites from A-10C and F-18 which does confuse me, ie. the castle to select soi rather than the one under the pickle button. Hrmmm, thanks guys, food for thought that I could compromise for single player from the front seat.

I have a Hotas Warthog, using a profile from @GrEaSeLiTeNiN (thank you). I have a crap memory. Its not the profile, but I get some odd behaviour with using a multiplier, are there enough buttons on the Hotas to have it operate the same as the jet without a multiplier? I want to try without, probably also the only chance I have of remembering them all as I have a crap memory, have spare keyboards I could mark up with stickers for additional controls. It maybe this F-15E is a beast, I couldnt learn A-10CII due to the extraordinary number of HOTAS controls so want to keep it simple. I have a crap memory

Does that mean export screens is now available?

Bob Marley approves this thread.

Guys I know I am late to the party here, and I mean very late! But as a long time user of Track-Ir and having only just bought a track clip, I would just like to say to anyone who is buying a track-ir for the first time, just buy the bloody clip too. It is like 1000% better and I am gutted I waited so long.

Recon its possible to get a "no haters" thread just for those who appreciate stuff! No me neither! Ahh well, as I was told, "Sir, this is the internet".

Thanks Rudel, They are interesting polls so thanks for that. Its interesting that DCS A-10 and Blackshark, being the oldest models, are not the most owned, of course it could be subject to the poll or that more modern platforms attract more users, which may or may not be obvious. If you consider like you stated, a statistic of 500,000 youtube subscribers to a channel could be extrapolated to 1 million users, Christen Eagle still sold a few copies!! Oh and no, I dont have a massive friends network who 'compute' anyway and I have a fair split between strategy, FPS and sports, just no flight simmers in my circle or colleagues!

Does DCS or any of the module TPs publish figures on usage/purchase? Steam does have the ability to track DCS Steam usage but I as many others don’t use Steam. Wandering what the player base is and module uptakes are, purely out of interest for me but maybe assist third party hardware manufacturers. My first selfish interest is just nosiness and my amateur interest in business economics, something which obviously no-one has to pander to being privately owned companies. My second, again, purely personal is to understand what kind of user base we have using DCS in 2023, I have many friends who play PC and console games and none of them are flight simmers, wondering how niche we really are in the scheme of things.

You can’t just invent a reason and then go with it!!

Mate you are probably going to have to search threads, it’s pretty vague saying wood and parts. Apart from a drill and jigsaw, the most technical tool I had was a scroll saw for cutting panels out of plastic sheets from the diy store (Perspex). You can get some idea of the size a couple of ways, download the Natops, it won’t be posted on here due to legal reasons, but you can find it. In there are scaled panels, you can print the at 119% or something and it’s ptretty close. I then printed them 3 times and used them as a template to cut out Perspex and drill, then dressed one up in PowerPoint or 3d draw and glued that to the Perspex for a panel, not very technical but I don’t have a CNC. Then design the wood to suit your panels. There are threads to teach you to use Arduino Code to wire every switch, or you can use arcade controllers like Leobodnar, how to make a panel sticky by tiger shark will show you that way. Easiest front panel is a 28” second monitor, Helios (Search) and cougar mfd or a touch screen if you can afford it. Hope that helps, but search will give you tidbits, if you want plans, maybe lookup the Viperpit, I know it’s not F18 but is a nice platform for a wood pit imo. You could just stick f18 panels on it. One last tip, some of the switches you may never need to use, they operate to simulate start up but do nothing, eg. fire warning test? So if it’s your first and you are not trying to make a study sim pit, just model the ones you want. You can also integrate a keyboard into the pit, especially some of the smaller USB ones. If you are wanting to make one like in the picture out of wood, you are probably going to need to be a master craftsman, most of that stuff is either bought from winwing or others, or 3d printed or laser/cnc types

Thanks for the tips, I didnt realise the cursor trick. I suppose more for my own interest, I get that aligning is important and difficult, but is it a trackir thing that makes lining up the concentric circles so time consuming, I dont mind, as long as its not me doing something wrong!

Can I ask, it takes me ages to line up, using trackir have to tilt my head, roll it then hold my dead still to mouse click the MFD button which creates enough movement to lose the boresight! I I concentrate so hard I hold my breath! Any tips?

Second that, not building anymore but great work and thanks for sharing. Keep up the creativity!

I asked it if I could drink the Holy Spirit, after a bit of to and fro I asked if I captured the Holy Spirit in a bag, coul I ransom it to grant 3 wishes from God! Its response cracked me up: God doesn’t grant 3 wishes like a genie, people seek gods Devine intervention (or something) by praying, I suggest instead of trying to capture the Holy Spirit in a bag you pray to god!