Friday, January 25, 2013

Evaluating the candidates for next projects...MB339PAN, S-3 Viking and X-47C Pegasus.


While I am testing and debugging the Tomcat, I am evaluating the candidates for my next project... it is always a difficult choice and it is based on many factors: documentation, development time and costs, need in FSX community...and personal taste of course!
I am currently considering three projects:

1) MB339PAN, that is the Aerobatic vesion of the MB339, used by our beloved Frecce Tricolori. In my mind it would be essential, for this project, to be graphically efficient and with very low impact on FSX to allow large formation flights. Some preliminary work done.

2) S-3 Viking. Because I believe we desperately need an up-to-date model in FSX and because it is one of those plane whose design reflects his purpose. Development costs and time would be by far the highest of the candidates, unfortunately.

3) X-47C Pegasus. Because it may well be shape of future military aviation. This is probably the easiest to make (well...mainly because there is no virtual cockpit to be modeled!).

I am desperately looking for flight manuals of both the MB-339 and the S-3. Should anyone have them in .pdf format and be so kind to send it to me I would really appreciate it.  I would also appreciate your opinions and suggestions.

64 comments:

Carss said...

Wow man your next candidates are amazing. I have one suggestion, can you make an F-16 package with different variants of the F-16 along with the experimental F-16XL which is a delta wing F-16 (kind of like the Mirage 2000) and since no one has made it, can you try making it, and also Dino I am desperately looking to contact you in some way cause I seriously wish to learn from you how to make such planes and scenery for FSX.

ScimmiaSpaziale said...

Varun,

There are some valuable F-16 packages for FSX...and it would be way too complex for me to make.

Also, I am really sorry but I honestly do not have the time to provide training on FSX development.
I suggest you read the FSX Software Development Kit manual (which has most of the information you will need) and visit:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/

which is an excellent community and source of information.

Anonymous said...

Dino, I'm for the S-3 Viking! ))

Carss said...

Ok thank you, however I am not free myself, but what I meant was in the future, so I just wanted to stay in touch. Ok thank you so much, and as a suggestion I think you should make the S-3B with different features to it along with mid-air refueling and maybe if you can then add droppable ordnance for bombing. Also we seriously need an E-2D Hawkeye. Thak you so much

Anonymous said...

Hello:

As a military plane suggestion that I like very much and there is nothing in FSX is the T-50 Golden Eagle, South Korea.

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/t-50/

It could be a continuation of his laureate BOEING T-45C Goshawk, but the T-50 supersonic jet.

Sorry for my English, Google translation is I'm Spanish

regards,
Jesus

Jiri said...

I'm voting for S-3. Everything you did was around naval aviation so it'll be great addition to current addons and your work. And there's no good S-3 in any simulator at the moment.
About other candidates, I have to say I'm not a big fan of 339 but 346 is a beauty! X-47 is a interesting machine, but I can imagine such plane only in DCS as AI controlled and not flyable in FSX. J.

Anonymous said...

He Dino, for your next projetc, i vote for the S-3 Viking, or E-2D Hawkeye or C-2 Greyhound, All this planes, not are good release for FSX.

Regards from Spain!!

EC-LPZ

André K. said...

X-47C Pegasus is definitly an interesting project. Quite new add-on gender for FSX.

If you do it, how do you plan to do its control? Kind of HUD on the main screen and popable instruments to drag on other screen?

Jenson said...

How about this manual for the S-3. Hope it is ok.
http://www.avialogs.com/viewer/avialogs-documentviewer.php?id=3609

Here is the manual for the Tornado as well, just a hint :) GR4 would be nice..
http://www.avialogs.com/viewer/avialogs-documentviewer.php?id=1694

Jenson said...

Oh, I forgot.

Here is a link for the MB-339 as well.

http://www.avialogs.com/viewer/avialogs-documentviewer.php?id=2249

Unknown said...

Dino, here is a link to a site that has just about every flight manual there is.

http://www.flightmanuals.com/ITEM_FM/pIndexT_FM.html

Anonymous said...

Dino,

Since you have some work done on the MB339, I'd say proceed with that! It would be a fitting tribute to the Frecce Tricolori. Alternatively, I'm a big fan of carrier-based aircraft. The Viking would be a welcome addition to your offerings!

As always, thanks for your contribution to this great hobby!

Terry

Rick said...

S-3 Viking. The link posted above has it available in HTML scrolling format only. But better than not!

Matt said...

I am deffenetly voting for the S-3 Viking, that is one cool bird that no one rely has for FSX. Thank for all the good work Dino.

Matt said...

I think you would be great with the X-47C and the S-3. Those are some great planes and are well deserved for FSX

SpazSinbad said...

A 204Mb PDF Macchi MB339A Flight Manual in Italian is available here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/80274659/Aviation-AMI-Flight-Manual-Aermacchi-MB-339A-Italian-Advanced-Trainer

The X-47B/C would be a great unusual addition (as well as the Viking) to your Naval Aircraft. Thanks for your good work Dino.

Anonymous said...

I vote for the S-3 Viking.
An E-2C/D Hawkeye would be great also, but I know it is difficult to simulate a turbo-prop engine properly is FSX.

A carrier based UCAV is interesting and you need not to develop a VC. But I want to have the feeling to sit in an aircraft, so this is not an option for me.

What I am really missing is a good tornado IDS and Eurofighter Typhoon in FSX. Don't know what happened to the IRIS Typhoon project, but is seems thousand of miles away. I know, dokumentation is poor on that thing ... and it's not carrier based.
But how about a F-4N?

PS: Thank you for you great work so far!!!

Anonymous said...

Folland Gnat, former mount of the red arrows aerobatic team, there isn't one for fsx yet, but i'd have any of them.

Unknown said...

Jason,

thanks for the tip. Actually I had discovered that site few days ago during a break while I was at work...but it did not seem to work from there (probably corporate firewall)...so I dismissed it, and I was wrong. It is a great source of info, although the pdf resolution of some schematics is not great. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Dino of the the three you propose I would vote for S-3. But C-2, E-2 but most of all the Prowler are badly needing your expert attention!!!

Ferg

Sierra26 said...

You do great work Dino! I would suggest an S-3 Viking. It's another plane who's life span was cut too short. We definitely need a native X model. I could even help you paint it!

Anonymous said...

how about "Tac Pack" for all of your airplanes?

Anonymous said...

In for the S-3, carrier capable always gets my first vote. The 339 is a great bird too. But I would rather see a T-45A with analog cockpit.

Anonymous said...

My vote is for the Macchi, with focus (if possible) on flight model.

The 339 is not only a great (even old) machine, it's a flag for our aviation.

Just my two cents :-)

Massimo

Anonymous said...

Sono con Massimo e SpazSinbad ti ha suggerito un manuale veramente completo

Giorgio

Anonymous said...

I'm voting for S3 Viking.
Perfect for completing fleet !

Anonymous said...

Dino, my vote goes for S3 Viking !
Thanks for your fabulous job, man !

Unknown said...

All, thank you for the feedback and the "votes" (although, of course, this is not a democratic process!).

I will take my time to decide, and there is still plenty of work to do on the Tomcat.

I have enough documentation for both the 339 and the S-3. Basically, the S-3 would be close to the "payware" limit in terms of development costs. The 339 and the X-47 have a much more affordable development cost.

In the end, my initial thoughts still stand, although Typhoons and Tornados are interesting too... We'll see. Developing an A/C for FSX takes no less than 6 months...so I have to choose carefully.

Anonymous said...

Per tutte le informazioni sul mb339
contattami. La mia email è didiano88 [AT] gmail [dot] com
Un saluto dalle frecce virtuali

Anonymous said...

As someone already mentioned, the 346 is much cooler than the 339, and probably will be its replacement.

But as you gave a choice, not asked for requests, I would go with the S3. Very cool aircraft and very interesting to fly on and off a ship.

It is very unique, I think you would do it great justice with your skills.

Please no drones, have no interest on that. Don't those things fly themselves? Either way, the type of flying they do seems kind of boring.

Carss said...

Hey Dino, also maybe in the future, can you try your hand at making a navy ship with a ski-ramp like the Admiral Kuznetsov, and maybe try some Russian planes like PAK FA, as no one has made it as yet.

Carss said...

Also Dino, the MB 339PAN is already available in FSX, so I don't really think that should be considered but its ok.

Nicolas said...

I think a S-3 will be welcomed on FSX. However, and like said people here, an E-2 Hawkeye miss to FSX!;)

Best regards,
Nicolas from France.

Anonymous said...

X-47 will be a Intersting project, as a previous poster stated, no vc to worry about. S-3 and mb339 have all been done in one way or another. In naval aviation terms it's quite pertinent as its being heavily tested both at pax river and recent sea trials

Growler Joe said...

X-47C and if you want perhaps the historic B & W Seaplane I wish was in FSX...

Alessandro Paroni said...

Hi Dino, i'm a fan of your works for FSX, i'm italian, and i live in Bertiolo...just 2km from the Frecce Tricolori Rivolto Airbase...so my suggestion is clear: mb339 :-)
It would be a great great tribute to our acrobatic team..and a great bird to fly in FSX..i think a Dino Cattaneo-quality Mb339 is needed! Thanks for you beautiful works for FSX...keep on with the exellent work!
Alessandro

Alex Vletsas said...

I vote for the Viking as well.
As for other suggestions, if you're interested in the hawkeye I have the fuselage of a Hawkeye model I started about 1,5 year ago, in case you'd like to take it over.

Unknown said...

All,
again, thanks for your interest and suggestions.

I am not much interested in making an Hawkeye, although I understand it would be very welcome to the community.

For the moment, I have plenty to do testing the Tomcat...but, my thoughts are as follows:

S-3 Viking: with flight manual at hand, it would be doable - but to achieve the best quality I would like to start from a model I spotted at Turbosquid - licence is however $490... this is the main stopping point.

MB-339: I will probably bring the preliminary work at conclusion (i.e. see how the current model looks in FSX). To make some sense, it should be substantially better than the existing MB-339 renditions which are not bad all - and most probably will not be better than the great 339 from Cloud9 for FSX...





Unknown said...

Aside, MB339 fans (like me) should look at these:

http://www.ipacs.de/forum/showthread.php/6110-aerofly-FS-Development-Status

If the Aerofly development team keeps it promises, it could be an interesting platform for the future...

rsgunner said...

S-3 Viking please!

Russ

Carss said...

So Dino, is it that you buy high quality models from turbosquid and then add flight dynamics and features to it and make it work on FSX??

Unknown said...

No, it is not as simple as that.
High quality 3D models are not suitable for real-time simulation for several reason (high polycount being one, lack of some details being another, lack of Virtual cokpit, different textures etc. etc.)...but they are a very good starting point as reference and they save you a lot of time and improve the quality of the final product. Even with a good 3D model to start from, you can estimate that 100-150 hours are needed for external modeling only. And then VC has to be done from scratch... and you should take in account anothe 100-150 hours of modeling. Flight model is usually faster, as 15-20 hours are usually enough to bring it to a good level.

I believe that a professional model is a great starting point - and it is my preferred way to start a project. But some of them are expensive, so you have to find the right balance: a good 3d model will save you some time. In some cases a lot of time. You need to tell if that is worth the money.

Anonymous said...

PLEASE S-3!!!!

Anonymous said...

F/A-18E an option? with the G variant?

daniele said...

mb339 for the gods sake, i dont want another stars and stripes plane, fsx is over satured, I hope to see a very and "purosangue" italian aircraft...thanks anyway for your outstanding job:)

Unknown said...

Hi Dino,

On the S-3 Viking... Have you thought about doing a Kickstarter to get the funds for the 3D model? I'd happily contribute to that!

I'd love a Viking, and the thought of one at your level of quality... Awesome!

Anonymous said...

Boeing F-15SE(silent eagle) can be considered in future fsx project.
I think the stealth fighter will be great!

Carss said...

Hey Dino, the MB339 is already there as freeware for FSX.

Anonymous said...

Dino, I have sent you a PM over at SOH with the links to the S-2 and the MB339 manuals, Bruce

Carss said...

Hey Dino, which software do you use for modelling??

rsgunner said...

I certainly would support a payware S-3.

Russ

Andy Muno said...

Hi Dino,
first of all let me say thank you for the great airplanes that you provide. I love the T-45, what a great airplane.
I would love to see both airplanes the S-3 and the MB-335-A, but an airplane that I always liked for its shape and look was the Fiat G.91.
Thank you again and looking forward to many more great airplanes.
Regards,
Andreas

Arkady said...

Well, being Italian like you I'd say go for the 339, but the Viking sounds like a very interesting subject too! Anyway, we all know that whatever you touch turns into gold, so just do whatever you like XD
Anyway, I might be able to help with the 339 manuals, I'll see what I can find in my stash.
Oh by the way, ever thought about an old italian classic, the SF-260, maybe the military variant (AM)? With your texture and modeling work, that bird would REALLY shine!

Unknown said...

Guys,

Thanks a lot for your appreciation and feedback!

I have received the flight manuals of both the MB-339 and the S-3 Viking, so now I have plenty of things to read - thank you!

For the moment, I'll keep on working on the F-14D - a Beta version is (hopefully) just few days away.

There are dozens of aircrafts I'd like to do - it is just that I do not have the time.

As I wrote, I did some preliminary work on the 339 (although I lost all I did few years ago due to an HD failure). Results are good, but not great.

S-3 is a very peculiar machine, and it is different from what I have done so far, so...it is really interesting. We'll see.

juan said...

Please....A-37B dragonfly...your next proyect...please...with Chilean air force textures...please...

Kind Regards.

Juan.

ixi80330 said...

Hard to choose between past and future of Navy..
But I prefer the X-47C ;)
Good luck !

ixi80330 said...

Hard to choose between past and future of Navy..
But I prefer the X-47C ;)
Good luck !

daniele said...

maybe is true, but we dont have a mb339 made by our dino, and we know his quality, so, I hope really to see an mb339 for fsx.

daniele said...

@ Varun Krishnaswami, fyi the s3 viking is already a freeware too:P

Unknown said...

I Vote S-3! I completely agree with you. The Iris Exterior model is ok, and it is fun to fly, but that Cockpit, argh! Hey Dino, is the freeware F-35 downgraded in any way from the one that I purchased from you? Or is it the same with updates? Just curious if I need to delete the payware one to save hard drive space?

pitijm said...

Hello Dino,

if you want to build a navy aircraft, why don't you try the A6 Intruder or de EA6 Prowler ?
If you don't want to, i vote for the S3.

Thank you for your great work.

Best regards

pitijm said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
pitijm said...

hello again,

you can find a manual for the S3 at this adress :

http://www.avialogs.com/en/list/item/4491-navair-01-s3aab-1-natops-flight-manual-navy-model-s-3b-aircraft

I hope it will help you.

Best regards

Unknown said...

helo... may I request for KAI T-50i Golden Eagle from South Korea?

Thats no developer for this aircraft and its so famouse and beautiful airplane :)

thanks