Warning! Possible Virus threat?

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UPDATE - FILES ARE FINE

Myself, and several users, have checked the files with different antivirus software, and the files look OK. I believe the menace is in some malicious ads or pop-ups which may appear in the Mediafire page when downloading. So, seems there is no fault from my side, but please remember to navigate pages with an antivirus software activated and always check the file you download.

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Warning! I have received a second notice from a user that some my files could be potentially be infected by and unidentified virus. The first user reported a virus warning from the paintkit of the F-35, while another was just hit by a virus after downloading some of the F-35 quick fixes. I am not sure if there is actually a virus in my files or if the virus threat resides in a Mediafire ad or pop-up.

I always scan my files with my default antivirus, which is AVG (Free edition) and I have just installed also AVAST as a "second line" protection (Free edition, too) and they both report that my files and my system are free from viruses. 

I also, do not understand how a virus could infect an FSX addon without any .exe file... so I tend to believe that these threats could come from Mediafire...but I am not an expert in this field.

For the moment, I am not taking any actions as I am waiting to know more about this - I just wanted you to know.

F-14D Tomcat 2.00

Here are two screenshots of the new F-14D - external model still needs more work, especially in the cockpit area and in the animations (by the way, this time I think it is better to control the wing sweep manually with flaps controls...but still TBD).
Do not expect anthing to be ready before late Autumn, anyway, as there is plenty of work to do on the virtual cockpit.

F-35 Project - Updated to version 2.02 and clean textures for repainters

 

 

I have just uploaded a small update to the F-35 project to SimMarket - it should be available in few hours. It is a full install, 126Mb - as far as I understand, previous customers will be notified by email, while new customers will get directly the new installer.

 

Version 2.02

August 8^th 2012 – CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS VERSION:

• Added clean configuration to F-35C. This was left out from initial release due to poor quality of the modeling, but has been added due to popular request. We apologize for the lower quality of the model, which we do not consider up to part with the rest of the package.
• Fixed typo in VMFAT-501 texture set
• Changed landing gear strut textures
• Added AF-6, BK-1 and CF-1 texture sets
• Fixed minor bug on -C aircraft configuration that made the JDAM-only model unavailable to the user

Yes, I finally bent to popular will (vox populi, vox dei as the Romans said) and added the much awaited "clean" F-35. I still consider the quality of the mesh very poor, so I though it was better to leave it out of the package and provide it as a separate dowload. Then, I saw that most of the users did not download any of the updates - because probably they never visited this blog. And in the end, you cannot see the modeling defects from most of the angles (basically you see the bad polygons only if you fly upside down)... so I decided to include that in the package.

This update includes all the previous fixes, plus another repaint of the F-35A. Speaking of repaints, here is the link to the repaint "kit". It is not a proper repaint kit as I do not work with layers (yes I am a dinosaur in that respect) so they are basically "clean", uncompressed bmps. I hope they are enough for the repainters to work on it, although, I am not sure that we will see much color on the real F-35... apart from the very first prototypes, all the other schemes are gray only - maybe the radar-absorbing, robot-disposed paint used for the F-35 does not allow much in terms of colors... we'll see. Anyway here it is:

F-35 PAINTKIT (No layers, plain, uncompressed .bmp without nationality or unit markings)

As a note to repainters, I do not plan to do any more repaints - that is all from my side.
That's all for now...and probably for a while: I am in vacation, and, for what concerns my FSX hobby, I am moving full-time on the Tomcat. I hope I will have some great news for the old feline soon.

 

F-35 is available for download at SimMarket

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IMPORTANT!
I've been noticed that the installer has an issue and misplaces the files in the FSX folders (it places the model files into the SimObject folder, but they should go into the SimObject/Airplanes subfolder). If you know how to install FSX files manually, you are probably able to fix this.... but I've fixed the bug and an updated installer is being uploaded right now... sorry for the inconvenience!!!!

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It looks like the F-35 is already available at SimMarket...and I was the last one to know! Anyway, I had not given to SimMarket formal authorization to proceed - as I wanted to make a couple of changes to the webpage.

For one, calling the project "The Real F-35" is not an idea of mine, and I will ask SimMarket to change it. I believe it is a reasonable simulation - but it is far from being as "real" as other addons.

The product has still some bugs - sorry for that - but I hope that the quality level is acceptable for most users as the price - if my calculations are right, this will be just enough to cover the development costs. Again, this is not a job for me, nor I do not want it to be - still, I hope the F-35 is "professional" enough for most users to enjoy flying it. Have fun!

F-35 Cleared to taxi and hold short...

Just a quick note to announce that the F-35 is *almost* ready. That is, I have a build that should be good enough for distribution. There are still some bugs here and there, and I was not able to fix all the issues that were highlighted during the Beta tests. Still, I believe the build is good enough, considering the complexity of the project and the fact that, well, I could continue trying to fix minor issues forever....at a certain point it is better to stop, provided that the quality level is acceptable.

After a thoughtful consideration the project will be payware - but I believe the price will be definitely acceptable for most users. Final price has not been decided but it will be close to the previous F-35, possibly with discounts for previous customers (if technically feasible).

I am, and will be and I still consider myself, a freeware developer - this is just a hobby for me and I do not want greed to be part of my hobbies... nor I envision this activity will ever replace my real life job, nor I'd like to become a regular businness. But the F-35 project has been extemely expensive by my standards, and, frankly, I'd like to limit my loss (which is in the area of few thousands euros...mostly spent on acquiring the high-definition meshes I've used as starting point in the modeling).

Anyway, it is almost ready. Almost. I still need to complete the manual, pack the files etc. etc.... I believe that will require another week or two. I hope you will have fun with the Lightning II.

F-35 Beta 2 Testing is over

F-35 Beta testing is over - thanks to all the testers, commenters and contributors. I hope you had fun.
In the past few days I have been quite busy and I had not much time for FSX, so the "wip" post has not been updated - rest assured I have read all the comments and inputs.

I have to confess that I am quite happy with the general quality of Beta 2 - sure it was not perfect, but I have not seen any show-stopping issues, and many fixes have already been implemented.

I will dispatch some (optional) change requests to the contributors asap, and I am still looking to complete the release candidate build by the end of June.

F-35 Beta 2 Test WIP - Reporting and open discussion

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STOP TO APPLICATIONS - THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE F-35 PROJECT. I'VE RECEIVED DOZENS OF APPLICATIONS - I'VE ALREADY SENT MOST OF THE INVITATIONS, BUT I MAY ADD A FEW MORE AS I HAVE SOME MORE TO REVIEW. ANYWAY NUMBER OF INVITATION WILL BE LIMITED FOR PRACTICAL REASONS.
THANKS FOR YOU HELP AND UNDERSTANDING!
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This is a placeholder post for the Beta 2 testing of the F-35C project - if possible, Beta testers should add their comments to this post so that we can have a unique repository for the CR's.
A draft user manual will be posted here as soon as it will be available (provided it will be ready in the next week or so).

IMPORTANT! Testers, while evaluating the F-35 please consider that:

- F-35A flight model is set so that the weight of 2x2000lbs JDAMs and 2xAIM120s is taken in account. 

- F-35B flight model is set so that the weight of 2x1000lbs JDAMs and 2xAIM120s is taken in account. 

- F-35C flight model is set so that the weight of 6x2000lbs JDAMs, 2xAIM120s and 2xAIM9Xs is taken in account. 

- F-35B: STOVL mode is activated trough the button in the cockpit or through the button assigned to tailhook lever. STOVL mode cannot be engaged above 250kts.

- F-35B: AUTO-HOVER mode is activated either through the MFD (if relevant icon is cyan), or through the autopilot-heading hold function. To engage auto-hover, total weight must be lower than 42000lbs. Dump fuel if necessary.

- F-35B: AUTO-HOVER when in auto hover mode: stick L/R makes the plane translate L/R; rudder L/R makes the plane rotate L/R; stick F/A makes the plane ascend/descend; AILERON TRIM controls the forward/backward speed. If the avionics are tracking a carrier (default, Javier's Nimitz or the Clemenceau) the target speed will be automatically set to the one of the carrier.

- F-35C: launch bar and fold wings controls/graphics are missing. You will have to assign keys to those controls.

- F-35C: due to the payload, the plane is way too heavy to land safely on a carrier - you should dump fuel so that the total weight is below 50000lbs to have a suitable descent rate.

F-35 BETA TEST REPORT
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Last update 2012/07/10 h.23:50 CET

BETA WILL CLOSE ON 10th June 2012

GENERAL ISSUES (APPLY TO ALL MODELS)

1) MICRO-OSCILLATIONS WHILE ON THE GROUND [FM]. On most load conditions, whiel sitting still on the ground, the plane suffers from micro-oscillations which may lead to a heading change. This seems to be due to an FSX contact points instability - In version 1.0 was fixed by changing the gear contact points, but same fix does not work on 2.0, unless severe steering instability is reached. STATUS: OPEN. ACTION TBD - Anyway I am not willing to sacrifice general ground handling to solve this.


2) VC, RADAR/MAP MODE [VC]. Evaluating minor refinements to the interface: +/- click areas on radio frequency controls; open/close doors area correction; full screen radar/map view toogle fix. STATUS: CLOSED. Minor enhancements to radio controls and map modes.


3) HMD superimposed elements [VC]. Evaluate redo of superimposed elements (target designators etc): STATUS: CLOSED. Minor enhancments to HMD symbology. Tried to implement more accurate graphics but did not look that good and were useless in the sim.

4) MISSING C++ Runtime refenece in documentation [MISC] - Reminder for me: add reference (or inclusion) of the "Visual C runtime" in the manual - in its absence STOVL functionalities won't work. STATUS: OPEN

5) sswvtol.dll TYPO [MISC] - I made a typo on the name of the .dll. Sorry for that, my bad.
STATUS: CLOSED. Fixed in the WIP Manual.

6) HMD Projection plane visible under certain conditions - This seems due to DX shader effects under some specific weather and light conditions. STATUS: CLOSED - ACTION: The issue was not solved but was mitigated by creating small round edges at the corners of the projection plane.

7) Request to swap radio and GPS stack. STATUS: CLOSED - ACTION: Done on all models.

8) Request to improve readability of MAP mode. STATUS: CLOSED/MITIGATED. ACTION: Could not find a way to increase font size for readability, but enhanced color contrast and redone terrain colouring (now shaded grayscale, looks much more authentic).

F-35A SPECIFIC ISSUES

(none)

F-35B SPECIFIC ISSUES

B1) RIGHT/LEFT SIDE OF FCS PAGE DIFFER [VC]. STATUS: CLOSED. ACTION: copied .xml code changes from MFD1 to MFD2 (forgot to do that).

B2) LIFT FAN DOOR ANGLE  IS SMALLER THAN REAL PLANE [OM]. STATUS: CLOSED. ACTION: Lift fan door angle increased to 65 degrees. Model tested. - AMENDED ON 05/06

B3) TAILERONS TO MOVE DOWNWARD IN STOVL MODE [OM]. STATUS: CLOSED. ACTION: Changed external model, added animation chain. Tailerons now rotate by 12.5 degrees during STOVL conversion. Note: most videos of the real plane show this, but not all. Also, some videos show that the inner gear bay doors open while in STOVL/hover although I've mostly this in BF-1 test flights and does not seem to be the case in the latest footage. Still, it would be much more difficult to add...

B4) MINOR ANIMATION GLITCH TO LIFT FAN AND 3BSM DOORS [OM]. STATUS: CLOSED. ACTION. Fixed minor animation glitches.

B5) "BEWARE OF BLAST" DECAL TOO BIG. [OM]. STATUS: CLOSED. ACTION: Modified textures.

F-35C SPECIFIC ISSUES

C1) SMS PAGE UPDATE [VC] - Stores Management System should reflect default weapons loadout. STATUS: CLOSED. Default weight changed to 2xJDAMS+2AIM120s+Gunpod.


C2) CABLE FORCE [FM] - Ajust cable force for better dynamics during arrested landings. STATUS:CLOSED. ACTION: fixed aircraft.cfg

C3) "BEWARE OF BLAST" DECAL TOO BIG. [OM]. STATUS: CLOSED. ACTION: Modified textures.

C4) UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OVER 600kts. [FM] - Even if the user unloads the plane, the flight model does not allow to exceed approx. 600kts. - This is due to added drag to the FM which was introduced to better simulate the orndance. It may be better to lower the drag coefficient.  STATUS: CLOSED. Fixed with new FM.C5) PROPOSAL TO MOVE VIEW POINT AND CORRECT FM TO HAVE A PERFECT MATCH WITH LM SIMULATOR [FM]. As per JR suggestions it is possible to have an almost perfect match to real F-35 simulator on carrier ops, but changes should be evaluated carefully on the flight envelope. STATUS: CLOSED. Changed as per request.

C6) PROPOSAL TO CHANGE DEFAULT LOADOUT [FM][OM] STATUS: CLOSED. Default weight shall be 2xAIM120s + 2xJDAMS + gunpod, but such visual model shall not be provided (see comments for explaination)
C7) LAUNCH BAR & FOLD WINGS CONTROLS MISSING FROM MFD. [VC] STATUS: OPEN. ACTION:CLOSED. Added code to MFDs although it does not work properly on with "3 views" mode...C8) TAILHOOK BULGE SHAPE [OM] - Looks different from the real counterpart. STATUS: Improved, not completely fixed but looks better.

C9) AILERONS SHOULD WORK AS FLAPERONS [OM] - STATUS: Fixed.
Key:
[FM] - Flight model (main root cause is the aircraft.cfg or the .air file)
[OM] - Outer model (main root cause is the outer 3d model)
[VC] - Virtual cockpit (main root cause is the 3d model of the virtual cockpit or the associated .XML code)
[MISC] - Any other defect which does not fall in the above categories

Color key:
Green - issue solved, or mitigated to the point is acceptable or not perceived by most users.
Yellow -issue open, and could be perceived as product defect by many users. Awaiting action or investigation. Or issue open, mitigated to the best of my knowledge but will still be perceived as defect by users. Or issue open but appears easy to fix.
Red - root cause not identified as of today. Or the problem is beyond my knowledge or impossible or difficult to solve.