[Released] Flight Replicas Douglas DC-4 Skymaster (freeware)

[ravenwings27]

Flight Replicas has graciously allowed the community to convert its DC-4 Skymaster (along with its B-24) from FSX/P3D to native 2020. Now the DC-4 has its own discussion space. It is available as freeware on flightsim.to:

DC-4_Skymaster FSX/P3D | Converted to MSFS - MSFS Add-on - Flightsim.to

Note copied from the joint announcement thread:

A conversion by third-parties of the original Flight Replicas B-24 Liberator and DC-4 Skymaster made for FSX/P3D, for use in MSFS. Conversion not commissioned or done by Flight Replicas. Please note: not perfect, expect some anomalies, and some items won’t work, but very useable. As Flight Replicas will not be re-visiting these aircraft, we have given permission for the conversion to be made available for all.

Work has begun on an improvement mod, which spurred me to make this thread:

@Alacran48

For the DC-4/C-54 fans on this thread - @lagaffe has begun work to upgrade that plane. He has opened a new thread on Sim Outhouse regarding the project.

DC-4 Skymaster | SOH Forums

[Pilotfirst9999]

Will this come to 2024 eventually?

[ravenwings27]

Quote from lagaffe at the SOH link above:

Hello,

To be clear about the objectives of the project:

• the two current team members have agreed on an FS20 version initially while reflecting and selecting technical choices compatible with a possible FS24 version (choice that is not ruled out but simply under study). Bazzar explained his point of view on this subject a few weeks ago and as a developer, I completely approve him because he is an expression of common sense.
• I have on other projects accepted too quickly extensions/functions that made ongoing projects grow too quickly, making them very difficult to manage, therefore we start with a single model while keeping the possibility to easily add other versions or/and extensions.

The code I developed for the PBY has been made modular and the XML files have been grouped in a single directory. Each variation calls two basic XML files and then depending on the specificities of each variation, others are called to respond to special functions. This method was successfully initiated on the Stearman and then on the PBY, so there is no reason not to repeat it for the DC-4.

[Editer]

It works fine in 2024.

[Stardrifter2232]

Not my experience. The DC-4 doesn’t work at all for me in 2024. It’s also listed as incompatible on fs.to. The B-24 does work though, especially with the repack.

[Editer]

Oh… I remember having to tweak something to get it to work on '24. I think it was just dragging the layout.json file onto msfslayoutgenerator.exe, if I remember right.

Here it is in FS2024:

That said, the good news is that Lagaffe (of PBY and GAS Stearman fame) is working on a much more detailed port of the Flight Replicas DC-4. He’s been documenting the process over on Sim Outhouse.

[Flak99]

Yes I have high hopes that Lagaffe will do a fantastic job of this. I’ll be following with interest, while also continuing to work on the B-24 Repack!

[Stardrifter2232]

Ah, thanks for that tip!

[BumpierBoot9]

Waiting pmdg dc6 in fs 2024 meanwhile…with this ,)))

[LagaffeVFR5476]

It’s not an improvement mod but a complete creation starting from Mike’s 3D model (Flight Replicas) who gave us his agreement for a complete rebuild of the plane as a native 2020 model and maybe 2024 if that goes well.

To start the project, a DC-4 of type Liner will be the first variation, then will come the other C-54, R5D, Firefighter and Cargo. The DC-4 Liner will be the core of the projet 3D ans the oters variations will be objets added to this core.

At the moment, the exterior 3D model has been completely reworked and decomposed. Each element has been cleaned of excess vertexes, which will allow adding details that did not exist on the initial version or even improving certain details.

All the exterior animations have been redone and additional details have been added: effects on the propellers in profile view, flame effects on the exhaust outlets, smoke effects during the start-up and during starts. The effects on the flames are adjustable depending on the values of mixture used on each engine independently of each other.

This week the interior 3D model was also dusted, the crew and passenger door animations were fully animated with a few small extras.

This weekend the interior controls (yokes and throttles) were reworked and ready to be used via the mouse.

The XML code will no longer use the old codes inherited from FSX (Partinfo) but ModelBehaviors already proven on my old creations. In this way, it will be possible without too much difficulty to resume the project to move it to the 2024 native version.
The XML code is yet decomposed in modular files which will permit to decrease the amound of code to be written. A simple modification to a file will allow it to be reflected in all the planned variations.

All the textures will be upgraded and the aim is to obtain PBR textures in 4K for exterior model:

This work will be do with ShaderMap4 and PBR Painter.

The current version (WIP v0.030) is yet usable under FS20 and also FS24:

Exhaust effects on each engine:

[Apollon0011]

I am really happy that you do this, @LagaffeVFR5476

Can’t wait to replicate these Berlin Airlift flights in their full glory.

Really appreciate your effort.

[FndrStrat06]

Thanks for taking on this project!

@LagaffeVFR5476

…native 2020 model and maybe 2024 if that goes well.

I know that FS24 is more difficult to develop for, but I really think it’s time to move on from FS20. It’s disappointing to see that FS24 is still the afterthought even though it’s in a good place now.

That said, I have no idea the effort that goes into development, so I’m probably completely ignorant of the challenges.

[LagaffeVFR5476]

Let’s be clear, I have been making planes for FS for almost 20 years so I am starting to know the SDKs delivered by Microsoft well and this is not my first aircraft !

The plugin delivered for Blender was considered really operational only since the beginning of the year by RonH (one of the developers of Blender plugins), which explains my wait-and-see attitude towards this simulator version.
Then what is a native plane 2024? There are several answers to this question:

• it can be an aircraft whose file structure is the same as on FSX and MSFS but which has been compiled with the 2024 SDK (so the importance of having a plugin that works well),
• it can also be an aircraft represented according to a modular structure as described in the new SDK and compiled with the 2024 SDK,
• it can be a plane that allows the career mode …

I have been following the release of MSFS 2024 since Oct 2024 and I read at least once a week the questions & answers forum from Microsoft. On FS20, there was a handy function called QuickReload that allowed to make changes in the XML files and reload the aircraft for maximum productivity.
On FS24, this function has been abandoned and Microsoft refuses to incorporate it, arguing that it is enough in the simulator to perform a rebuild operation to have the same thing. That said, in the past under FS20 I used this possibility and many times I lost my configuration files of the plane so I am a little skeptical. Moreover, this requires debugging with the simulator loaded …

As far as I’m concerned, whether the aircraft is created with the S20 or FS24 SDK, as long as its use in both simulators is smooth and free from graphical bugs, the rest is trying to satisfy a trend.

I intervened on this thread because my post on SOH and my name had been mentioned but since it is a separate development and has nothing to do with the porting carried out and described in this post, I think I will open a separate post in the coming days to detail the progress of my project.

[ravenwings27]

Just to provide a different point of view (without dismissing yours), I myself, am mostly moved over to FS24 at this point, but I still appreciate that this is including FS2020. I have things that do NOT work in FS24. Specifically, some planes (including the whole line from one developer) and scenery that are either untested or confirmed not working. I use FS2020 as my “vintage” simulator, including the old Berlin airport that this plane will be perfect for. So I very, very much appreciate that this is for FS2020, with the option open for FS24 in the future.

[FlyingsCool5650]

From my point of view, and some knowledge of the SDK and what it takes to develop an aircraft, let’s remember a few things,

1. 2020 aircraft, if developed well, work perfectly well in 2024. Developing aircraft for 2020 let’s everyone have their cake and eat it too. I still use 2020 because I can’t get past 2024’s UI to get into the sim. To me, an FS user for nearly 40 years, the UI is a disaster. I can imagine younger whippersnappers likely are fine with the UI since it follows current standards for entertainment products. To me, the UI design is extremely lazy, following form without considering function. If they took the time and thought a little, they could have had both (and still can). But I digress.
2. The cost to the developer for developing for native 2024…. Huge
3. The only advantages of developing a native 2024 aircraft are:
   1. Possible slightly better performance after a lot of work figuring out what to do and what not to do, and this is different for every aircraft.
   2. The possibility of adding walk around features (that Lagaffe has already been doing for 2020 aircraft long before 2024 came out)
   3. The possibility of using it in the extremely small amount of available careers, that barely work today. I see a great future for them eventually, but, it’s not there yet.
   4. Maybe some additional flight model features, kind of, when they work.

What is it about a native 2024 aircraft are you afraid you’ll be missing?

[SOMEWITH3568]

I ABSOLUTEL!!! agree with your post. Flight simulator 2024 could have been DEVELOPED better!. Yes, it does have a LAZY tone to it’s CREATION.

I truly wish the DEVELOPERS of FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2024 would just go ahead a fix the issues most folks are complaining about.

[FndrStrat06]

I never said it should be native, just compatible. That’s perfectly acceptable for freeware. His post didn’t read that way but it seems based on the other newer thread, FS24 is being included. It’s a moot point.

[FlyingsCool5650]

1. You literally said developers should move on from 2020. That directly means you’re asking it to be 2024 native. No ifs ands or buts, I’m sorry you didn’t understand that.
2. All 2020 planes are compatible with 2024. Yes, some have issues because of some bugs in 2024, but, they should work. Lagaffe has designed several planes now for 2020 that work in 2024. He knows how to make it work.