Image files from abandoned projects . . . .

[britgliderpilot]

I'm trawling through the .dds files looking for the menu images, and on my travels so far I've come across two rather interesting sets of pictures . . .

 

 

The first is a menu screen for Flanker Attack - interim project between Flanker 2.5 and Lomac that was never released.

 

The second is a series of .dds files with the header "Dynamic Battle Generator" - it looks like it was part of the originally planned Dynamic Campaign.

General interface looks similar, but as well as the coalition selection screen, there's a screen entitled "Territories" which looks like it would have tied in to a feature allowing you to pick which bases were allied, and which were enemy.

 

I knew there was a DC planned for Lomac before the programmer had to leave - but these menu graphics just hint at what we could have had, had things gone slightly differently.

 

 

Reminds me of the full-motion rendered videos that were hidden away in the Flanker 2 folders - never got to see them in the game, but there was a video showing you actually climbing, first person perspective, into the cockpit of your Su27, starting up, and watching a fighter next to you taxi away.

 

Ahhhhh . . . . nostalgia.

 

 

Oh, if anyone knows which file dictates the background in the payload editor screen, I'm sure I could do something useful with that information ;)

Cheers!

[Alfa]

I'm trawling through the .dds files looking for the menu images, and on my travels so far I've come across two rather interesting sets of pictures . . .

 

 

The first is a menu screen for Flanker Attack - interim project between Flanker 2.5 and Lomac that was never released.

 

Nice find Britglider :) .

 

I havent seen that screen before - what is the name of that .dds file?

 

Cheers,

- JJ.

[britgliderpilot]

Nice find Britglider :) .

 

I havent seen that screen before - what is the name of that .dds file?

 

Cheers,

- JJ.

 

 

Lomac\FUI\Common\sc*.dds

 

There's four files, supposed to be pieced together into a background file for the main menu - looks like it was going to be a development of the Flanker 2 menu at that stage.

 

 

While you're here, do you happen to have a list of the tail numbers of aircraft deployed on the Kuznetsov?

 

Been piecing together a list from the videos and photos I've seen - so far I've got twelve Su33 tail numbers, and four Su25UTG tail numbers.

 

And do you know of a skin which has the tiger-head tail art for the Su33? One of the default skins has the Eagle which appears on a couple of the tails, but none have the tiger-head art.

 

Any info on the story behind the tail art?

[Force_Feedback]

Virtual Tiger Meet?

[britgliderpilot]

Virtual Tiger Meet?

 

What, the pilots of the 279th are in actual fact computer geeks, and one wanted a tiger on his tailfin?

 

 

Yup, I'll accept that explanation - now if someone would do a 2048 skin for it . . . . . mmmmn . . . .

[Witchking]

Britgliderpilot, can u upload that video of the first person view of taxing from flanker 2. WOW....I did not find that in flanker 2.

[britgliderpilot]

Britgliderpilot, can u upload that video of the first person view of taxing from flanker 2. WOW....I did not find that in flanker 2.

 

Now that I come to look for it in the Flanker folder, I can't find it - I have a copy, and it is clearly of the same style as the other rendered videos in F2 . . . . but it's not there, my apologies.

 

 

If I can find a host, I'll try and get it online - it's just under a megabyte in size.

[Guest ThomasDWeiss]

send it to me - I'll do it.

[britgliderpilot]

send it to me - I'll do it.

 

I'm sure I have an email address lying around someone, but I can't immediately lay my hands on it - can you PM it to me and refresh my memory?

[504MrWolf]

yeah i found these some time ago whilst editing the dds files for my in-game menu :)

[Alfa]

Lomac\FUI\Common\sc*.dds

 

There's four files, supposed to be pieced together into a background file for the main menu - looks like it was going to be a development of the Flanker 2 menu at that stage.

 

Ok thanks - I will give it a look :) .

 

While you're here, do you happen to have a list of the tail numbers of aircraft deployed on the Kuznetsov?

 

Heh - not really. I believe that the in-service airframes are numbered in the 60 and 80 range, but I dont have a list or anything :)

 

Been piecing together a list from the videos and photos I've seen - so far I've got twelve Su33 tail numbers, and four Su25UTG tail numbers.

 

The four Su-25UTG numbers would seem to cover all of them - AFAIK the Russian navy only has four of them(unless they have recieved more recently).

 

And do you know of a skin which has the tiger-head tail art for the Su33? One of the default skins has the Eagle which appears on a couple of the tails, but none have the tiger-head art.

 

Any info on the story behind the tail art?

 

As you know the total number of Su-33s in service with the Russian navy amounts to some 24 airframes = one air-regiment(279 KIAP) which again equals 2 squadrons. I believe the 1st squadron of the 279 KIAP is numbered in the 60 range and has the eagle as squadron badge, while the second is numbered in the 80 range and has a tiger head as squadron badge.

 

Examples:

 

bort # "60" of the 1st squadron:

 

bort # "80" of the 2nd squadron:

 

I havent seen a lock-on skin with the tiger tail art - maybe we should make one :)

 

Cheers,

- JJ.

[Guest ThomasDWeiss]

Here they are

 

 

 

LOCKONFILES web page

[britgliderpilot]

Here they are

 

I just found those and went and took some screenies - only to come back and find the pics already posted - what timing!

 

Heh - not really. I believe that the in-service airframes are numbered in the 60 and 80 range, but I dont have a list or anything :)

 

The four Su-25UTG numbers would seem to cover all of them - AFAIK the Russian navy only has four of them(unless they have recieved more recently).

 

As you know the total number of Su-33s in service with the Russian navy amounts to some 24 airframes = one air-regiment(279 KIAP) which again equals 2 squadrons. I believe the 1st squadron of the 279 KIAP is numbered in the 60 range and has the eagle as squadron badge, while the second is numbered in the 80 range and has a tiger head as squadron badge.

 

Examples:

 

bort # "60" of the 1st squadron:

 

bort # "80" of the 2nd squadron:

 

I havent seen a lock-on skin with the tiger tail art - maybe we should make one :)

 

Cheers,

- JJ.

 

Between 60 and 80 covers most of them - 79 and 109 both fall outside the usual ranges.

79 appears to have been the original - appears in the photos of the Kuz with both the MiG29Ks, and also appears in airshow videos.

That appears to have the Sukhoi logo on the tail, though.

Also interestingly, they both appear in a promotional video being refuelled - wonder if Sukhoi kept them as test pieces rather than service airframes.

 

Wonder what the story on 109 is . . . .

 

Oh, and I've got a photo of an Su33 landing with a grey radome (service aircraft all appear to be white) and no number markings.

 

 

I think I've found all the Su25UTGs, at least - it's getting there!

[Alfa]

Here they are

 

Nice! :)

 

Are those 2048 x 2048 skins?

 

Cheers,

- JJ.

[Alfa]

 

Between 60 and 80 covers most of them - 79 and 109 both fall outside the usual ranges.

79 appears to have been the original - appears in the photos of the Kuz with both the MiG29Ks, and also appears in airshow videos.

That appears to have the Sukhoi logo on the tail, though.

Also interestingly, they both appear in a promotional video being refuelled - wonder if Sukhoi kept them as test pieces rather than service airframes.

 

Wonder what the story on 109 is . . . .

 

Oh, and I've got a photo of an Su33 landing with a grey radome (service aircraft all appear to be white) and no number markings.

 

Yup the "blue 79" has been around for a long time - there is also a "blue 69", which has been on static display at several MAKS airshows. I think you are right that these are kept by Sukhoi for test/display purposes :) .

 

Cheers,

- JJ.

[SwingKid]

I believe the 1st squadron of the 279 KIAP is numbered in the 60 range and has the eagle as squadron badge, while the second is numbered in the 80 range and has a tiger head as squadron badge.

 

Actually that's the first time I ever saw Red #80, thanks.

 

It seems that operational squadron aircraft all have red side numbers - which is unfortunate since three out of the four Lock On Su-33 skins use blue side numbers.

 

My records include,

 

Red:

60, 61, 64-68, 72, 76, 77, (now 80) and 81-88.

#70 and 73 were destroyed in accidents,

#82 was the first Su-33 upgraded with new avionics.

 

Blue:

39 - prototype T-10K-2, first carrier landing

59 - second "serial" prototype T-10K-4

69 - third "serial" prototype T-10K-5

70 - unidentified prototype

79 - fourth "serial" prototype (gray nosecone) T-10K-6

no number? - fifth "serial" prototype (gray nosecone) T-10K-7; remained in Ukraine

109 - last of the first serial production batch T-10K-9

 

I only saw the tiger-head so far on Red #80 and #86

 

Cheers,

 

-SK

[britgliderpilot]

Actually that's the first time I ever saw Red #80, thanks.

 

It seems that operational squadron aircraft all have red side numbers - which is unfortunate since three out of the four Lock On Su-33 skins use blue side numbers.

 

My records include,

 

Red:

60, 61, 64-68, 72, 76, 77, (now 80) and 81-88.

#70 and 73 were destroyed in accidents,

#82 was the first Su-33 upgraded with new avionics.

 

Blue:

39 - prototype T-10K-2, first carrier landing

59 - second "serial" prototype T-10K-4

69 - third "serial" prototype T-10K-5

70 - unidentified prototype

79 - fourth "serial" prototype (gray nosecone) T-10K-6

no number? - fifth "serial" prototype (gray nosecone) T-10K-7; remained in Ukraine

109 - last of the first serial production batch T-10K-9

 

I only saw the tiger-head so far on Red #80 and #86

 

Cheers,

 

-SK

 

Cheers, much appreciated :)

 

 

Is it possible to mod the colour of the numbers at all? Any idea where they're determined?

[britgliderpilot]

I'm also particularly interested in that "upgraded with new avionics" statement - any further info there? ;)

[SwingKid]

The bort number colors appear to be "hard-coded," unfortunately.

 

The new avionics come as an "emergency" result of operational experience. The crash of several Flankers into mountains in bad weather led to a GPS system being installed, and the inability of the RWR to detect approaching Israeli fighters during the Med cruise led to installation of new Pastel RWR. No new radar or weapons capability, no R-77.

 

-SK

[DarkStar]

how can you view a .dds file?

[ALDEGA]

Loman utility?

[britgliderpilot]

Loman utility?

 

That'll let you preview and extract .dds files that have been compressed into a .cdds file, but won't let you edit individual .dds files.

 

 

I'm currently using a utility called DXTBmp - find it here:

 

http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/programs/dxtbmp.htm

 

Nevermind the text at the top of the page saying what it's for, it works perfectly for Lomac as well.

[Ironhand]

Britgliderpilot, can u upload that video of the first person view of taxing from flanker 2. WOW....I did not find that in flanker 2.

I assume we're talking about taxi.avi. In case you haven't gotten it yet, here it is: Taxi.zip . I didn't notice anyone in this thread mention that they'd found it. I happened to have a copy hanging around on my hard drive.

 

(Post edited to change file name to Taxi.zip)

 

Rich

[169th_Dredd]

Nvidia also has a .DDS plugin for Photoshop. :)

 

http://developer.nvidia.com/object/nv_texture_tools.html

[Witchking]

thanks rich. I am grabbing it away right now. :D