F-5E Wing Tip Tanks Mod

[Stratos]

Thanks a lot!

[SkateZilla]

I'm putting final touches on the VOR/ILS Antenna. I've also added it via 8th "AUX" Pylon,
Which will allow me to include the lines for the Refuel Probe mod items, user would just have to enable them.

Also made custom loadout graphics for the wingtips and VOR/ILS

 

Edited July 24, 2024 by SkateZilla

[Stratos]

Beautiful!

[SkateZilla]

Slight delay in first revision,

I made some adjustments to lighting that has some unwanted side effects, So I need to revert those changes and try again.

and I want to add a few more things, so I'm not adding Aux pylons for one item, lol.

Edited July 26, 2024 by SkateZilla

[SkateZilla]

Still working on some small issues, but I have added some more attachments:

Edited July 26, 2024 by SkateZilla

[SkateZilla]

Right now i have the ILS/VOR and VHF squeezed into the PTB-50 Texture file.

I may separate them to their own texture map, as that texture has no room for anything else,

Which would allow me to add ADF Dorsal attachment, Skyspot Spinal Attachment etc. *(still gathering reference material for those)

I also want to do AAR Probes,
But quality reference images are in short supply,
As I know there's multiple variants of the probe as well. *(Std Export on Right, and F-5C Skoshi Tiger on the left w/ different connectors, Blank off Paneled probes, glass panel probes etc etc)

I have *Usable* reference images of the Skoshi tiger probe,
but these images are High resolution staged poses of High LoD/Scale Models. their accuracy to schematics cannot be 100% verified. and they also lack in close Sub 6 Inch details *(Panel lines, rivets, internal details behind the glass panel etc).

I also scoped the static displays I could, which do not have the items to capture reference data.

Edited July 27, 2024 by SkateZilla

[Stratos]

This mod is growing in size and features! Thanks a bunch mate!

[SkateZilla]

Apologies I forgot to update last night,

I have ILS/VOR, VHF, and ADF Antennae done, I still haven't gotten enough reference images for the sky spot antenna.
*ILS/VHF Maps were moved to the new Antenna texture, so I just have to transition them on the models themselves and re-export.

I also have to do some fine tuning passes to the antenna maps, and check some normals *(I saw some weird shadowing while flying around in some instances)

I am going to try and get the AAR Probes started and integrated in the next few days, along with the Dual VHF E/M Antenna.

Edited July 28, 2024 by SkateZilla

[Stratos]

Two questions:

1- Is possible to move the central hardpoint forward?

2- Is possible to add a "part" to the pilot helmet? Or will not follow the head movements?

[SkateZilla]

2 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Two questions:

1- Is possible to move the central hardpoint forward?

2- Is possible to add a "part" to the pilot helmet? Or will not follow the head movements?

1. which hardpoint? the fuel tanks can't be moved as the pylon is part of the external model, I've tried removing the pylon and using a element configuration, but it did not work. *I may look into trying again after everything else is done using some alternate methods.*

2. not that I can see, there's no connector on the pilot head, so the item would not move with the pilot's head movement.

[Stratos]

2 minutes ago, SkateZilla said:

1. which hardpoint? the fuel tanks can't be moved as the pylon is part of the external model, I've tried removing the pylon and using a element configuration, but it did not work. *I may look into trying again after everything else is done using some alternate methods.*

2. not that I can see, there's no connector on the pilot head, so the item would not move with the pilot's head movement.

1- Central, fuselage one, to make the position closer to the F-5A/C

2- I imagined that, thanks!

[SkateZilla]

Textures were moved to the new map for the antenna this morning,
I spent some time tweaking the ADF shape to better line up with the existing panels, also re-mapped it for the 5th or 6th time to fix some alignment issues and edited the normals again to resolve some shadow issues on the sides.

Aside from minor color correction and adjustments to panel lines and weathering, they are pretty much done. Dual VHF Antennae is planned, but I have to get started on the AARs.

 

[SkateZilla]

Today's update,

Started building the shape for the Skoshi Tiger AAR Probe attachment,
It was a bit tricky, as the reference schematic was not properly scaled, and in individual sections.

However, I was getting creative I built the base fuel transfer pipes first, then built the Skoshi specific items on top of the pipes,

Once all the pcs were shaped, I only had to assemble them and place them,
From there I have to do some tweaking passes to get the shape position and size correct, then unwrap and texture them.

I also decided to not have the AAR probe light enabled, as it would not be controllable by player or AI, unlike the 50 Gallon Tank lights, it would be pretty intrusive to have it on all the time.

I have both general shape in DCS as Skoshi and Export, Skoshi will be on the left, and the Export will be on the right once I finish tweaking and texturing it.

This would pretty much complete the Package, I decided to not do the dual VHF antennas, as I only found 1 reference image of that setup.

 

 

Edited July 29, 2024 by SkateZilla

[HiJack]

On 7/28/2024 at 2:52 PM, SkateZilla said:

I have ILS/VOR, VHF, and ADF Antennae done

That is great but are there any VOR stations to use on any DCS map? I thought they removed all that, no?

[SkateZilla]

55 minutes ago, HiJack said:

That is great but are there any VOR stations to use on any DCS map? I thought they removed all that, no?

The antenna is only cosmetic anyway.

[SkateZilla]

Debating if I should change the name to F-5E Expansion.. lol

[SkateZilla]

Today's update,

Finally finished unwrapping and painting the surfaces, approaching the finish line, just tweaking and color corrections left.

Then cleaning up and getting everything packed.

[Stratos]

Gettin there.

[ebabil]

this is looking very good. I don't understand why ED ignored this bird this much though

[SkateZilla]

[SkateZilla]

Update for today is pretty much all under the hood things,

I have a few goodies being added that I want to cook a little bit *(more under the hood stuff).

[VZ_342]

I downloaded this a couple days ago, looks great! I also downloaded the fuel probe, and that caused a "did not pass" check in multiplayer (it did say it would in its description)...are you planning on including the fuel probe, or will it stay a separate mod?

[SkateZilla]

2 hours ago, VZ_342 said:

I downloaded this a couple days ago, looks great! I also downloaded the fuel probe, and that caused a "did not pass" check in multiplayer (it did say it would in its description)...are you planning on including the fuel probe, or will it stay a separate mod?

I built my own fuel probes that will be in the next update.

[SkateZilla]

[MadKreator]

Excellent work! Stoked for the F-5 love!