F-14 A/B feature follow-up, wish list and beyond

[captain_dalan]

On 9/7/2024 at 6:57 PM, Viper33 said:

So I guess we won't see the early A and A-6 AI this year either now? Why all this silence after F-4 release?

I've written off any further F-14 related improvements regarding expansion of the variants available, or even just pending features the old RWR for that matter. I think the Tomcat we have is largely considered feature complete at this point. 

Edited September 9, 2024 by captain_dalan

[draconus]

3 minutes ago, captain_dalan said:

I've written off any further F-14 related improvements regarding expansion of the variants available, or even just pending features the old RWR for that matter. I think the Tomcat we have is largely considered feature complete at this point.

https://trello.com/b/HsMiJggJ/heatblur-public-roadmap

[Viper33]

2 hours ago, captain_dalan said:

I've written off any further F-14 related improvements regarding expansion of the variants available, or even just pending features the old RWR for that matter. I think the Tomcat we have is largely considered feature complete at this point. 

 

Yeah I disagree. Not what I paid for.

[scommander2]

Just wondering that F-14 is still in EA.... means something are still going... 

[draconus]

31 minutes ago, scommander2 said:

Just wondering that F-14 is still in EA.... means something are still going... 

Duh - we have a whole list in OP

[Convoy]

Very simple wish list. 

F-14B(U) built from the ground up using F-4E techniques (Jester 2.0, Crew Chief, Aircraft Systems, Graphics, etc) for full price $80

 

F-14D same as F-14B(U)

 

Graphical update to F-14A/B (especially cockpit lighting in VR, F-4E is MUCH prettier) akin to A-10C II and Black Shark 3 for $25-$50

[scommander2]

6 hours ago, Convoy said:

F-14B(U) built from the ground up using F-4E techniques (Jester 2.0, Crew Chief, Aircraft Systems, Graphics, etc) for full price $80

HB will definitely love it.... lol...   

Come back, I did ask about B(U) in HB discord, and it may be like the A-10C II  upgrade from A-10C since B(U) is based on the "B" model with some upgrades.  But it is just the people talking.... not from HB.

Edited September 10, 2024 by scommander2

[Naquaii]

22 hours ago, captain_dalan said:

I've written off any further F-14 related improvements regarding expansion of the variants available, or even just pending features the old RWR for that matter. I think the Tomcat we have is largely considered feature complete at this point. 

 

The earlier F-14A is still in the pipe, it's more or less the major reason for the F-14 being in EA still. Not sure why people think that would change or why people are expecting updates or even release of these things just after the major release and push that the F-4E was. Back to back releases of major stuff like that from the 3rd parties have never been a thing in DCS.

[scommander2]

Hi @Naquaii, how are you and thanks for the comments.  

@Naquaii is it possible to help me for the following items?

1. https://trello.com/c/7kf2N5Nq  and has it been deployed in the today DCS yet?

2. B(U) will be in the pipe soon?

Thanks  

 

[Endline]

41 minutes ago, Naquaii said:

The earlier F-14A is still in the pipe, it's more or less the major reason for the F-14 being in EA still. Not sure why people think that would change or why people are expecting updates or even release of these things just after the major release and push that the F-4E was. Back to back releases of major stuff like that from the 3rd parties have never been a thing in DCS.

There haven't been much news and development on the Tomcat since before the Phantom's release. It's understandable that your resources and attention would be focused there, but sometimes it does feel like nothing is going on behind the scenes, even though that's not the case.

It'd help if you guys were more active here and in Discord. You are basically the only HB developer still engaging with F-14 users.

[Naquaii]

34 minutes ago, scommander2 said:

Hi @Naquaii, how are you and thanks for the comments.  

@Naquaii is it possible to help me for the following items?

1. https://trello.com/c/7kf2N5Nq  and has it been deployed in the today DCS yet?

2. B(U) will be in the pipe soon?

Thanks  

1. No, there's still more work to do that needs help from ED, I don't really have an update on that.

2. Not something I can or will talk about, I'm not the one deciding those kinds of things, I'm just the one of the researchers/SMEs.

19 minutes ago, Endline said:

There haven't been much news and development on the Tomcat since before the Phantom's release. It's understandable that your resources and attention would be focused there, but sometimes it does feel like nothing is going on behind the scenes, even though that's not the case.

It'd help if you guys were more active here and in Discord. You are basically the only HB developer still engaging with F-14 users.

If you're gonna assume there's something going on every time there's no news all the time then you're going to be disappointed. It's always been the case that there are updates when there are updates, for some reason people started expecting much more detailed and frequent updates when the F-4E was nearing completion, that's really something the community invented. If you look back at earlier releases this isn't something that has changed. Going around and assuming stuff isn't progressing just because there isn't constant and frequent updates just isn't constructive, I can promise you jumping up and down and screaming "are we there yet?" won't change anything. 

The truth is that as long as you hear nothing else you can assume that it's being worked on and when there's something to share it'll be shared.

[captain_dalan]

21 hours ago, Viper33 said:

Yeah I disagree. Not what I paid for.

I don't think there's anything to agree or disagree about really. I'm not developing it, nor decide what gets implemented or not. I'm just saying that if nothing gets added, i wouldn't be surprised, nor would i ask for more. Take that for what you will

[Viper33]

2 hours ago, Naquaii said:

The earlier F-14A is still in the pipe, it's more or less the major reason for the F-14 being in EA still. Not sure why people think that would change or why people are expecting updates or even release of these things just after the major release and push that the F-4E was. Back to back releases of major stuff like that from the 3rd parties have never been a thing in DCS.

Because you literally said the F-4 would not affect F-14 development. It's also not a complete module release but part of an EA roadmap you started 5 years ago. 

[Naquaii]

1 hour ago, Viper33 said:

Because you literally said the F-4 would not affect F-14 development. It's also not a complete module release but part of an EA roadmap you started 5 years ago. 

"I" have not literally said anything, nor have "I" started anything. Like I've mentioned before I'm not part of any of those decisions. I just do F-14 research and SME help with that information.

That said it has also been very clearly stated that the RWR for the earlier F-14A will build upon what was developed for the F-4E but it's not the same RWR so it still needs to be implemented.

I'm still not sure where this whole "Omg, dev xyz hasn't updated us in a few months! They must've stopped development!?!?" thing is coming from, it didn't use to be a thing and DCS was never a game where you got monthly updates on anything. If anything I think you can see if you look back that all 3rd parties tend to want to take their time and get things right, these aren't major software companies and expecting back to back major releases is a bit strange and nothing about this has changed for like ever with DCS.

I appreciate wanting things now and being excited for them but raging about not getting them "now" won't change anything.

[Wavehopper]

Is there any intention to increase the brightness of the Tomcat's external night lighting? 

It has been very dim in comparison to all the other airframes since release and it's making life difficult for night flights in MP.

[scommander2]

Hi @Wavehopper, it seems that it is a feature enhancement, any chance for posting it on the HB discord channel yet?  

[scommander2]

On 9/10/2024 at 10:17 AM, Naquaii said:

https://trello.com/c/7kf2N5Nq  and has it been deployed in the today DCS yet?

With @Naquaii's comment, I got an ideal that I can try to post this AIM-54 topic at the DCS core feature and hope someone can help me up there.

There is the link of my post (as well as the update at the TODO/wish list):

 

Edited September 12, 2024 by scommander2

[Gunslinger22]

I’d personally really like to see more visual things be fixed/added. Such as wing flex, tails waggling and improving the external pilot mode to be of the same quality that ED products have. While I think the Tomcat still looks stunning, it’s already partially showing its age compared to what the bar has risen to. 

[draconus]

6 hours ago, scommander2 said:

With @Naquaii's comment

It's not what he said, please edit the post/quote. Sometimes forum messes this up.

[Northstar98]

Something else for the to-do list (albeit minor) - the AA1 panel for the AN/APX-76 interrogator currently isn't present (blanked off).

Of course, without wider IFF functionality (though RAZBAM have implemented a system that does everything required for their aircraft, which Aerges' F1 also uses) I'm not expecting functionality, but the equivalent for the F-4E (which is similarly non-functional outside of LotATC) - the AN/APX-80 (which includes the AN/APX-76), exists.

The panel is rather simple and is described in HB's own manual. There have been mentions of it being planned but low priority on Discord.

Edited September 12, 2024 by Northstar98

[scommander2]

On 9/10/2024 at 8:11 PM, Wavehopper said:

Is there any intention to increase the brightness of the Tomcat's external night lighting? 

Hi @Wavehopper, I posted the question @ discord (hope don't mind).  Please see the following feedback:

Any suggestion?

Edited September 12, 2024 by scommander2

[evanf117]

On 5/28/2024 at 11:46 PM, scommander2 said:

Thank @draconus and @Fliegerkalle, updated the list with the @draconus categories: 

The updated list is available at:

https://forum.dcs.world/topic/349953-f-14-ab-feature-follow-up-and-wish-list/

 

 

 

hole in the external model under one of the wings, i think the right one

[Wavehopper]

6 hours ago, scommander2 said:

Hi @Wavehopper, I posted the question @ discord (hope don't mind).  Please see the following feedback:

Any suggestion?

 

Much appreciated.  Nothing to add really, just that the lights are too dim (the Hornets really outshine the Tomcat).

[scommander2]

15 hours ago, draconus said:

It's not what he said, please edit the post/quote. Sometimes forum messes this up.

Ops... my bad (@draconus, thanks for reminding me).  I was too focus on Trello and the DCS core feature editing, and totally forgot what @Naquaii meant here (sorry about it) ... updated another posting.

Edited September 12, 2024 by scommander2

[Slant]

On 9/12/2024 at 11:59 PM, Wavehopper said:

Much appreciated.  Nothing to add really, just that the lights are too dim (the Hornets really outshine the Tomcat).

Truth. But this has been pointed out a long time ago already. It's one of those low priority things, we can presume. They'll get around to it eventually. I remember the Viggen having miserable lights for most of its existance, then at some point almost out of the blue they get all bright and shiny with ground reflections and all that... one can only hope the same will happen for the Tomcat eventually.