F-14 Factory Clean Cockpit Mod

[speed-of-heat]

Practicality/usability vs realism is always a tough balance in any game/sim... I can't say your current pit isn't realistic,  but I think it is extreme, having seen photos of cockpit interiors that show readable interiors on a tiny image on the B and the D (source Haynes F-14 pages 56/57/58/90/128142/143/147/148/156), whilst this is hardly definitive, they show well worn controls,  but perfectly readable labels for each control, so I am glad that you are entertaining the idea of a less well worn cockpit, for the sake of usability...

[Rhrich]

3 hours ago, Naquaii said:

As far as we know that's not the case and as has been mentioned multiple times we've verified this. That's really the only point I've tried to make in this thread; the cockpit we have in game isn't unrealistic. That said the wish for a cleaner cockpit is ofc valid but calling the one we currently have unrealistic is not one we'll agree on.

Sorry, not sure if you’re referring to the rattling noises , the TID or the general worn down ness of the cockpit. 

I’ve never said your cockpit is unrealistic. 
 

I have no quarrel with you on any of these. The only thing I think is unrealistic is such a clear TID in a worn cockpit, I would expect it to be more worn and perhaps have some burn in. 

As for the rest, I’m sure you’re right if you’ll aim to portray the Tomcat when it was about to be phased out. I’m a witness that not all looked like this in the 70s, 80s or early nineties. 
 

I’ve made my point before about the ease of reading the instruments in the cockpit, so I won’t go into that again. 

[Rhrich]

2 hours ago, speed-of-heat said:

Practicality/usability vs realism is always a tough balance in any game/sim... I can't say your current pit isn't realistic,  but I think it is extreme, having seen photos of cockpit interiors that show readable interiors on a tiny image on the B and the D (source Haynes F-14 pages 56/57/58/90/128142/143/147/148/156), whilst this is hardly definitive, they show well worn controls,  but perfectly readable labels for each control, so I am glad that you are entertaining the idea of a less well worn cockpit, for the sake of usability...

Would expect the Ds to look much better. I think you’re right, especially about balance between usability and realism. And as I’ve said before, if you do a perfect copy of a worn cockpit, it will be harder to read the instruments in VR or on a screen than in the real thing. 
 

one thing though: Not sure how it is today, but in my time:

many of the pictures you will see in books of any planes are taken in the CAG planes or another especially good looking plane. They’re the ones that get shown at air shows and to politicians, journalists and other bothersome folks. So those will give a wrong impression of how to plane actually looked for those who operated it. It will look to clean and good. Just like those in museums usually will look too bad - and that last part is especially for the tomcat.  

[speed-of-heat]

1 hour ago, Rhrich said:

Would expect the Ds to look much better. I think you’re right, especially about balance between usability and realism. And as I’ve said before, if you do a perfect copy of a worn cockpit, it will be harder to read the instruments in VR or on a screen than in the real thing. 
 

one thing though: Not sure how it is today, but in my time:

many of the pictures you will see in books of any planes are taken in the CAG planes or another especially good looking plane. They’re the ones that get shown at air shows and to politicians, journalists and other bothersome folks. So those will give a wrong impression of how to plane actually looked for those who operated it. It will look to clean and good. Just like those in museums usually will look too bad - and that last part is especially for the tomcat.  

I honestly couldn't say, as i only have a single source, and it doesn't say if it is a CAG or demo bird or not. I agree something in the middle of factory Fresh "and worn to the point of needing a blindfold"  would be ideal 

[Naquaii]

On 11/10/2023 at 4:05 PM, Rhrich said:

Sorry, not sure if you’re referring to the rattling noises , the TID or the general worn down ness of the cockpit. 

I’ve never said your cockpit is unrealistic. 
 

I have no quarrel with you on any of these. The only thing I think is unrealistic is such a clear TID in a worn cockpit, I would expect it to be more worn and perhaps have some burn in. 

As for the rest, I’m sure you’re right if you’ll aim to portray the Tomcat when it was about to be phased out. I’m a witness that not all looked like this in the 70s, 80s or early nineties. 
 

I’ve made my point before about the ease of reading the instruments in the cockpit, so I won’t go into that again. 

Or the TID was just so bad it was replaced... And we never said we think all Tomcats looked like this regardless of timeperiod, just that we think it represents a reasonable in service F-14 in the fleet and like I said we've had this verified.

Edited November 12, 2023 by Naquaii

[CedricLFML]

Great mod for the VR user like me! Many thanks! I wonder if it was possible to have it in reduced textures?

Edited November 15, 2023 by CedricLFML

[Cougar747]

Same for me: much better fidelity in VR ( Valve Index ).

Thumbs up for the outstanding work!

Best regards,

Toto

[RustBelt]

On 11/9/2023 at 6:53 PM, MAXsenna said:

Well, then the cockpits should definitely be messy. Have you sent the inside of a car after transporting a bunch of kids....

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk
 

Any cockpit of any airliner in the United States. They make NYC subway cars seem pristine.

[DSplayer]

Small update released that incorporates the light fixes that Magic Zach made.

 

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

Edited January 19, 2024 by DSplayer

[Drofseh]

On 1/13/2024 at 5:26 PM, DSplayer said:

Small update released that incorporates the light fixes that Magic Zach made.

  Reveal hidden contents

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Screenshots look great, but when I download the update it doesn't appear to have any changes.

Edited January 15, 2024 by Drofseh

[DSplayer]

7 hours ago, Drofseh said:

Screenshots look great, but when I download the update it doesn't appear to have any changes.

 

I just double-checked the version on the UserFiles page, it is version V0.0.2 and the files I changed were present. Can you check again?

[Drofseh]

On 1/15/2024 at 1:20 AM, DSplayer said:

I just double-checked the version on the UserFiles page, it is version V0.0.2 and the files I changed were present. Can you check again?

Seems to be working for me know, but I'm confused about it.
I initially used the files in F14A_Cockpit so I could load in and contrast the new vs old version and changes nothing showed up.
This time I've tried putting it in again and it seems to be working, so it was probably some sort of user error on my end.

Thanks for the update!

[Ahogephilia]

Finally. I'm able to do master test in vr.

Thanks!

 

I love original cockpit also, but the ARA-63 and MasterTest knobs were always pain.

[Rankorn]

Is there any way to remove the Tape/Wire/Plate from the ACM panel?

[Spirale]

55 minutes ago, Rankorn said:

Is there any way to remove the Tape/Wire/Plate from the ACM panel?

+100%

[DSplayer]

7 hours ago, Rankorn said:

Is there any way to remove the Tape/Wire/Plate from the ACM panel?

Not at the moment unfortunately. I tried doing that with arguments but I don’t think they’re implemented for liveries yet.

[Cobra5087]

I tried to install it in my steam version of the game. Well that's the only version I play. It's doesn't show up. One because I have no idea how to do it. I've just started to attempt with this mod stuff and of course the first attempt was a fail and now I can't activate my radio menu to even get the ground crew over to get it started. Also, I'm doing a steam file integrity check. The game on steam squeaks in at just under one full TB! Amazing! Lastly, just looking at some pictures on the net of real and game sim F-14's and this damn thing is a disgrace that heat blur put out. There wasn't a need to make it look like a total pile of dog mess. When making a comparison, it looks like this thing was in a junkyard getting ready for the scrap heap when they pulled it out and stuck it in the game lol. I would love to have been a fly on the wall when the design captains were brainstorming this idea for what the cockpit should look like. I'm even not too please with the F-4. It should be standard that all modules from now on come with a 'worn and factory' cockpit look. Just my nickles worth. 

Edited November 20, 2024 by Cobra5087

[westr]

Couple of great real photos of an F14 cockpit. I’ve noticed in this picture the screws seem to be the same colour as the cockpit panels. Also the lighter grey sections of the pit look a darker shade than is often portrayed although I accept this could just be the lighting conditions when the photo was taken.
Looks like quite a clean pit I’m guessing it was a fairly new cat. 

[Zabuzard]

I tried to install it in my steam version of the game. Well that's the only version I play. It's doesn't show up. One because I have no idea how to do it. I've just started to attempt with this mod stuff and of course the first attempt was a fail and now I can't activate my radio menu to even get the ground crew over to get it started. Also, I'm doing a steam file integrity check. The game on steam squeaks in at just under one full TB! Amazing! Lastly, just looking at some pictures on the net of real and game sim F-14's and this damn thing is a disgrace that heat blur put out. There wasn't a need to make it look like a total pile of dog mess. When making a comparison, it looks like this thing was in a junkyard getting ready for the scrap heap when they pulled it out and stuck it in the game lol. I would love to have been a fly on the wall when the design captains were brainstorming this idea for what the cockpit should look like. I'm even not too please with the F-4. It should be standard that all modules from now on come with a 'worn and factory' cockpit look. Just my nickles worth. 

This discussion is a bit tiresome as the argumentation repeats, even within the same thread.

The worn look of the module is a realistic representation of what some Tomcats in service looked like, as confirmed by multiple of our real life Tomcat pilots based on their private photos and memory.
Of course the clean look that you saw on your own research is totally valid as well, which is why we already expressed interest in making an official clean cockpit version as well. We havent yet found the time, as creating a full cockpit texture set for two pits in "our quality standard" typically takes the artists several months full-time work. Which, btw, is quite expensive and currently behind other items on the priority list that we think you all will enjoy more, for example the announced Tomcat variants.

It will come eventually. Until then, its great that the community made mods for it that you can enjoy in the meantime

(All of this applies to the Phantom as well)

[westr]

35 minutes ago, Zabuzard said:

This discussion is a bit tiresome as the argumentation repeats, even within the same thread.

The worn look of the module is a realistic representation of what some Tomcats in service looked like, as confirmed by multiple of our real life Tomcat pilots based on their private photos and memory.
Of course the clean look that you saw on your own research is totally valid as well, which is why we already expressed interest in making an official clean cockpit version as well. We havent yet found the time, as creating a full cockpit texture set for two pits in "our quality standard" typically takes the artists several months full-time work. Which, btw, is quite expensive and currently behind other items on the priority list that we think you all will enjoy more, for example the announced Tomcat variants.

It will come eventually. Until then, its great that the community made mods for it that you can enjoy in the meantime

(All of this applies to the Phantom as well)

 

Yeah that’s fair enough my post was aimed more at seeing if the cockpit mods could be adjusted to make them slightly darker and to make the screws less prominent as opposed to any criticism aimed in your direction

[JesseJames38]

Hello,   I much appreciate what the mod community dose for this game.   But for the life of me, for months i have been trying to install this mod and have been unsuccessful so far. I am trying to understand the instructions to the best of my ability. And as much as i like to think i understand and am doing this correctly. It is apparent i am not.  I believe i am getting hung up on step #2  "Replace all the files that you need." , as i am unsure what this really means.   What files are i suppose to replace?  Where are these files at that i need to replace?   I have copied the F14A_Cockpit and F14B_Cockpit folders into the liveries  in the user saved game folder.  Thanks for any help

 

Jesse.

[DSplayer]

1 hour ago, JesseJames38 said:

Hello,   I much appreciate what the mod community dose for this game.   But for the life of me, for months i have been trying to install this mod and have been unsuccessful so far. I am trying to understand the instructions to the best of my ability. And as much as i like to think i understand and am doing this correctly. It is apparent i am not.  I believe i am getting hung up on step #2  "Replace all the files that you need." , as i am unsure what this really means.   What files are i suppose to replace?  Where are these files at that i need to replace?   I have copied the F14A_Cockpit and F14B_Cockpit folders into the liveries  in the user saved game folder.  Thanks for any help

 

Jesse.

Hi, there appears to be an issue with cockpit texture mods in general for all modules (ex: English Cockpit mod for the Mirage F1) that causes them not to work at all so until then, I would wait for a fix or word on something changing. If you don't want to wait, I believe the file structure that I had used is similar (but not the exact same) to the one used in the DCS Root Folder but it would be in some place like Mods/F14/Textures. There you can use OVGME (which I advise since this mod is pretty extensive on what it changes but you would have to modify how the file structure is a little bit), or you can manually install the mod by placing the folder I described earlier and replacing the files there with the ones from my mod.