A) Given the events, the CL-215 project is put on hold to not say abandoned. There is already Rollus’s aircraft and DuckWorks’s mod so a third plane would bring nothing more.
B) The Canso PBY-5 project has been actively resumed for more than a week and I hope to be able to distribute the v0.9.0 in less than a month. This version will correct the different points that have been raised so far and prepare the future version to come.
correction of the ATTITUDE gauge which has a slight offset during stabilized flights,
correction of actions following a CTRL+E (magnetos and fuel selector)
transformation of the XML code into Model Behavior
creation of rivets on the exterior structure (PBR texture or 3D)
configure the engines and the flight model to better represent the actual performance
If you want a basic plane without any complexity, it will be better to keep this version v0.9.0
C) The v1.0.0 version should be available for distribution by the month of September and will contain major changes.
My wish would be to be able to make a ‘Study-level’ somewhat like what I have yet done with my Cessna 152 “TiBush” (2013).
My goal is the following:
It is not planned to make a military or historical version, the initial objective was to represent the SAGQ aircraft and the one restored by the Canadian association FARS/“Save the Canso” (http://www.savethecanso.com) with whom I am in contact.
the addon is planned for MSFS 2020 and will be usable in 2024
an advanced engine management module from the one I developed for the Super Stearman but that will need to be modified to adapt it to 2 Pratt & Whitney engines of 1200 Hp each; this module will require the user to follow the instructions of the POH, to warm up the engines before taking off and then to fly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
use of the new [FUELSYSTEM] and take into account the two oil tanks and their individual consumption
include a graphical interface (toolbar menu) to do the pre-flight visit and allowing access to the checklists
review the textures of the cockpit to use high resolution and PBR textures
I am in contact with at least two pilots from Canso (Canada) who worked with this aircraft and who should allow me to improve it.
As the plane is created with the SDK of MSFS 2020, I would not support MSFS 2024 and especially not on this post. In case of concern, send me an email on frenchvfr “at” free “dot” fr.
I really enjoyed flying this model, thank you for giving this gem to us to enjoy.
With regards to the engine performance improvements; my experience with the current copy was that the aircraft has a rather high speed in the water with engines idling, and I could not find a way to drop an anchor to keep the beauty in its place. Also, I had some trouble steering the aircraft while in the water; differential thrust nor rudder seemed to have much effect. The two issues together made operating the craft on water a rather perilous proposition.
I’m happy to see this post appearing on this forum and take the chance to ask other users of this add on whether I am missing something like a special command to extend the water rudder or change the pitch of the propellers to decrease thrust with engines idling?
Regarding the anchor, I have just developed some lines of code for the amphibious model of the Aeronca (which was release last week), which allow to fix its position in latitude and longitude. These lines of code are already in the current version v0.9.0.
<!-- ANCHOR SIMULATION ######################################## -->
<Component ID="Anchor_Simulation">
<Update Frequency="1">
(A:CONTACT POINT WATER DEPTH:4, Feet) 0 > (A:BRAKE PARKING POSITION, Percent) 100 == and
if{
(A:IS LATITUDE LONGITUDE FREEZE ON, Bool) !
if{
1 (>K:FREEZE_LATITUDE_LONGITUDE_SET)
}
} els{
(A:IS LATITUDE LONGITUDE FREEZE ON, Bool) if{
0 (>K:FREEZE_LATITUDE_LONGITUDE_SET)
}
}
</Update>
On this plane there is no water rudder so everything is done with the engine and with a reduced propeller pitch.
The RPMs at idling were a bit high (~ 1200 RPMs) but I will took over the entire power curve to reduce IDLE (400 ~ 600 RPMs), and check also that the 1200 HP were indeed there with the RPMs at max.
The manifold management will be also been configured to the best.
Regarding the turbocharger which was validated in version v0.8.0, it has been replaced by the supercharger version 2 which allows more adjustments.
This is good news, thanks for your work.
I read that there will be no military version but can I ask that you consider at least one livery that goes close - like a black version of the dark blue one, or camouflage, or ideally the RAAF “Black Cats” that flew out of Darwin, Australia in WW2?
For the moment I am in the process of re-appropriating my code that I haven’t read in 2 years, to bring some simplifications and recode all this into Model Behaviors. Most of the time I use my own models behavior which are which are based on simple models: using a Model Behavior which test if I am in a Airbus or a Boeing isn’t interesting in CPU time and efficacity.
So, additional repaints creation is not in my immediate objectives.
Only for the upgrade of XML code (water-bomber & blisters model) I spend three days if I count also the tests to validate my modifications.
Moreover, I had provided a fairly detailed paintkit so if you want to make a “Black Cat” you will have all the elements to do it unless Jankees does it because he has already made many liveries for the first versions of the Canso. (a number are exposed on the Sim-Outhouse forum).
A lot of people is reading this post, each one asking a different function so I cannot answer “Yes” to each question. One thing after the other (this project begins in 2013, so I have all my time to finish it )
PS: Searching on FS.TO with “Canso PBY-5” you cand find two RAF repaints for the Blister model
Great to see you working on this model again. Can’t wait to try out the update when it arrives. You may already know about these things but I will bring them up in case you do not. Last time I flew it, just a couple weeks ago, I had an odd texture flicker on the interior of the plane. It almost looked like a strobe light flipping on inside the plane every second. I tried turning all the lights off in case it was in fact some type of light bleed through but that did not fix it. I suppose it could be something on my end but just in case it isn’t I bring it up.
The prop rpm behavior is a little strange to me as well, when reducing manifold pressure the rpm drops as well, as if it is a fixed pitch prop. Perhaps this is as designed in the Catalina but all other radials with constant speed props that I have flown behave differently.
Keep up the good work. Really enjoy your Catalina and the Aeronca you just released. Thanks for the work you do.
Thank you for this information but I will repeat once again what I wrote in the head of this post:
if you have bugs to report to me, please send them to me via my email that I indicated in this first ticket
add the version of Canso you are using as well as the simulator version (FS20 or FS24)
For me, it is easier to sort and find this information after a few weeks.
For these bugs, they probably relate to the version v0.8.0 of 2023 knowing that I made corrections that had been pointed out to me at the time, that I compiled a version v0.9.9 and that I am in the process of building v1.0.0 by taking many things.
Notably the fact that to use certain functions, I will have to migrate from Blender 2.83 to Blender 3.6.18 to benefit from the latest export plugins to which these new functions are linked during integration.
At the moment, v1.0.0 already integrates:
upgrade all PartInfo XML instruction for “Model Behaviors” => OK
correction of the ATI gauge => OK
modify the Heading gauge by adding a configurable compass for the heading => OK
carry out the synopsis to integrate the new management [FUELSYSTEM] => OK
integrate specific cameras for the cockpit => OK
proofreading and study of all the PDFs retrieved from “avialog.com”
review the engines.CFG file and check the configuration of the manifold parameters to comply with Pratt & Whitney data
check the power delivered at max RPMs :
~1200 HP @ 48 " and 2700 RPMs => OK
METO Power : 1050 Hp at 2550 RPM - Manifold at Full Throttle 42.5 " Hg (Sea Level)
METO Power : 1050 Hp at 2550 RPM - Manifold at Full Throttle 39.5 " Hg (7500 ft)
check the IDLE: 600 ~ 800 RPMs => OK
review the engines.CFG file to use CFD parameters => OK
note the Speed References in the POH to fill in the flight_model.CFG file => OK
improve the flight_model.CFG file: calculations of the elongation (span/length), oswald’s coef and Cdo => 10%
Just two little precisions, the link given above is for the French downloads page and you don’t need to be registrerd on my site to download the add-ons.
However, all my pages are also presented in English. To access these pages, click on the flag at the top left which will switch you to the correct pages.
This is of some interest because if you use Google translate, the "account/password" (used to secure the link ) indicated just above the download links will also be translated and sometimes it blocks users.
Since July, a large number of modifications have been made to the project and two new PBY models have been added: a PBY-6A and a BlackCat (PBY military).
Here is an excerpt from the ChangeLog (the most recent changes are at the top of the list):
Model a GYRO SPERRY for the “Blackcat” model
Add to the BlackCat a military VC (change of funds for gauges’s background and rearrangement of gauges on thee VC according to the Consolidated manuals)
Addition of an animation on the hatches before PBY 702 and 712 from the code of that of the Calypso
Add the anchor and its support to the 6 models of PBY
Revise the 3D model of the BlackCat rudder (no balancing protuberance at the top of the rudder)
Clean the 3D of the BlackCat turret to be able to animate it in rotation
Check the lateral alignments of the various parts in the Military model (front windows, interior fuselage, etc.)
Creation of a 3D model “Passengers” for the Liners variations: some characters and 2 bars (wooden tablets provided with a bottle of Whisky and glasses)
Creation of a 3D model “Diving” for the Calypso including a diver and some elements: double air bottles, mask and holder of the 50s, etc
Review the attitude indicator which does not have enough keyframes (between keys 15 and 16, an animation key is missing)
Add two or three displayable PAX via the mass manager of MSFS
Add the safety belts on the seats- Update all the effects: splashing on water and releasing retardant on fires
Retrieve the paintkit modified by Marty to isolate the layers of rivets- Code to manage flight surfaces when CONTROL LOCK is engaged
Visibility code and mouse zone to activate the anchor script
Detail the interior of the different models by adding the structural elements of the aircraft (couples and ribs)
Anchor modeling (see the Consolidated manual)
Correct the assignment of switches for electrical generators: currently they are reversed
Review the FUEL selectors: 3D models and XML codes and use Mouse Zones to manage the movements of the fuel selectors
During CTRL+E, the FUEL selectors must automatically change position
Separation of the Blender template containing the 6 variations of PBY into 6 separate Blender files
Addition of two additional 3D models of Canso: a Calypso (PBY-6A) and a BlackCat (PBY-5Ac)
Encode the blocking of flight controls when CONTROL LOCK is displayed
Add a CONTROL LOCK to block the flight controls at the yoke level
Review all the XML code containing to replace them with
Optimize the codes (centralize the common codes and leave only the basic skeletons in each variation)
Schedule to code a timer at the end of which the button in the “Energizer” position automatically switches to “Starter”
Schedule a test that resets the Starter to 0 when the engine has actually started
Create the “GYRO Red Indicator” that is not coded on the ATI
A “Pull to Cage” button must be added and coded on the ATI
Management of the propellers: modification of the pitch and feathering
Change the ModelBehavior of the moving surfaces to Asobo_GT_ANIM (code) and reuse the codes of the parameters/conditional animation
Correct the animations of the wings that are reversed
Animate the trim (ailerons) on the dashboard
Review the XML codes of the central console switches for better ergonomics
Improve the 3D switches of the center console to add color caps (red, green, yellow, and blue)
Animate the rear bridge for the Blisters model
Engine.CFG and Flight_model.CFG have been revised to improve the behavior of the engines while respecting the manufacturer’s instructions and the FM has been deeply improved.
The list of work to be done for v1.0.0 is almost as long but I will publish a v0.9.0 in the coming days … a beta version will first be sent to the team of beta testers with whom I have gotten used to working.
This version v0.9.0 will contain the modifications mentioned above, with the “Calypso” variation but without the “BlackCat” (military model) which is in progress and still requires a lot of work .
Nevertheless, here are some recent captures of what has already been achieved:
In version v0.9.0, no modification of textures is planned; the textures provided will be at the same level as those in version v0.8.0.
The reason is very simple: at the moment I still allow myself to make changes at any time or to be able to work efficiently on textures, I need frozen 3D models.
In fact, for almost 2 years now, I have been working with PBR Painter, a paid plugin for Blender that I installed on a Blender 4.2 version (for the current works I am yet on Blender 2.83.x)
My operating method is as follows: from a frozen 3D model with UVs maps for each element, I export all the elements to be textured to OBJ files that I finally import into my version Blender 4.2 and then I can work on the PBR textures as I wish.
All the texturing tasks will be maded from the v0.9.0 to the v1.0.0.
The v0.9 version has been sent to the Beta team and I am waiting for feedback to make the latest changes.
To be very clear on this version v0.9, the textures used are most often basic unworked textures. I will take care of all the PBR textures when switching from v0.9 to v1.0
This beta release has been send to be tested and if all is OK it should be released the October 23 on FrenchVFR (http:frenchvfr.free.fr/en - the site is written in FR and also in EN)
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