P3D_V5 Vietnam War Project '2021 (preview)

[YoYo]

Perhaps you know this old project http://vietnamwar.project.free.fr/ (from 2009/10) of Xavier Carré and Jacques Godfrin, released for FS9 and FSX. Unfortunately, the project has never been updated and improved since then, especially for new simulators like the first series of Prepar3D (1-3v) and especially for 64 bits of platforms like P3Dv4-5. Because I still miss this project in P3Dv4-5, and there is currently no contact with the original authors some time ago I decided to update two airports for my own use only ... but finally I gained a lot of momentum effect and it went much further than I initially thought.

I certainly don't consider myself a scenery specialist, but I'm still learning and I'm already making a lot of progress in updating and designing sceneries. The project is already big and will bring you back to Vietnam in the 60's and 70's during the war (but also Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan and Japan). It is not only a major update, but also new facilities, situations, missions and places - so the tribute for this period but now for P3Dv5. I would like to publish the project in the one part for free use in 2Q 2021 (I will also have to get some approvals, but I hope that won't be a problem).



The new of "Vietnam War Project'2021" includes:

- update of all airfields for P3Dv5 (exclude default objects, add new ones, improve underlays, placement, etc.) for period of this war (there are over 100 airports, about 25% are finished, behind me),
- update of many textures for DX12 standard (DDS, especially old FS9 objects and transparency effects),
- improved AI models of traffic for P3Dv5 models (old ones caused CTD),
- some of new skins for war of this period for AI and static models,
- improved AI traffic (is already present and working, but I will add more traffic on the Vietnam People's Air Force side), perhaps I'll work with some of MAIW guys too,
- the new design ensures compatibility with ORBX Global, ORBX Vector and new terrain grid from P3Dv5 (these are quite big changes, especially on the shoreline),
- the scenery is created under the best mesh on the market (according me) FS Global Ultimate – NG 2020 (also includes Asia and it gives a lot here, you will probably have to own it),
- the project will bring some kind of "missions" so you can meet on the way smoke, fires, fights, wrecks of planes and vehicles (but it will be FPS frindly, I fly VR only),
- additionally, I try to convey the history of the places in this project (based on https://secure.afa.org/Mitchell/Reports/1204vietnam.pdf),
- carriers (USN stations) will be present too (if you want to ask about it ;>),
- I recommend using this landclass for Asia (until a new FTX is released) of SceneryTech, link for Simmarket (works very well in P3Dv5, it adds more and varied textures on the ground = Asia looks better!),
- manuals and general the order with files (I will delete what is unnecessary, currently there is too much info in FS9 version),
- dedicated sub webpage in English (with more info and screenies),
- special google map with airfields data ect. (making it easier to plot a route between locations in the whole scenery), see below,
- .... and Im also open for new ideas and... any kind of help (if someone would like to join this project, for example. It's a lot of work, I try to update two airports a day, so it's at least 50 days or more),

If you want to follow the progress of work, the scenery is added here (updated on a regular basis):

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?...&ll=16.844709018003922,100.64408911760509&z=6

Some of screenies:









Btw. I'll need few beta testers if the project will be near finish.

 

[YoYo]

 

[YoYo]

 

[YoYo]

I also add information on a regular basis on my FB profile: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010896696048.

Ok, that's all for now, thanks for your attention!

 

[jmig]

If there are B-52's in it, you will bring me back to my youth. Thanks for doing this.

 

[YoYo]

If there are B-52's in it, you will bring me back to my youth. Thanks for doing this.

Yes, it is and it will be in AI traffic.

 

[Corvette99]

Awesome! This is great news Yoyo! Will be following this for sure.

 

[awstub]

When I was working on the FSX@War Southeast Asia theater team, myself and others tried to make contact with the Vietnam War Project authors.
Hopefully you will have better luck than we did.
I have modified some of their scenery to work with P3Dv4.5, so if you do get their permission, I can pass what I have done on to you for release.... if you like.

 

[altack]

Very good news Yoyo,
Sorry for my rather dumb question but is your project back compatible with P3Dv4.5 ?

 

[YoYo]

When I was working on the FSX@War Southeast Asia theater team, myself and others tried to make contact with the Vietnam War Project authors.
Hopefully you will have better luck than we did.
I have modified some of their scenery to work with P3Dv4.5, so if you do get their permission, I can pass what I have done on to you for release.... if you like.

Thx! No any luck with this till now, its more than 10 years + (it passed already). I'll probably take responsibility eventually but the project is free and all credits will be included in the package, so I hope it will be ok : ).

Very good news Yoyo,
Sorry for my rather dumb question but is your project back compatible with P3Dv4.5 ?

Hard to tell me. Probably yes with 90% of airfields (as long as you have this 5m mesh from PILOT'S and FTX Vector for P3Dv4). The scenery is made and tested on P3Dv5 and there are some changes to the geographic grid here, LM has improved and updated datas that over FSX and P3Dv1-4. I think most airports will be fine, but a few may have a problem, especially those near the coast.

btw. Few new pictures from places near Hanoi (there were several Vietnam People's Air Forces airports):







I hope VRS will release TacPack for P3Dv5 finally, it will be nice for those targets ; ))).

 

[wombat666]

I have no desire to return, three times were enough.

 

[jmig]

I have no desire to return, three times were enough.

I enjoyed Thailand. The food was good and the beer was cheap and cold. What I didn’t like were the 14 flights from Guam and back. They were booring. I never flew in Linebacker, so I never was shot at with something that could damage us.

 

[YoYo]

I have a problem. Each next airfield Im doing more accurately ; ))).
Phu Cat AFB is ready too. Btw. do you see this CH47? It has own rotor sound also at the scenery.

 

[delta_lima]

Looks fabulous Yoyo and Stu/ et al who contributed.

Will there be a USMC base at Da Nang / Chu Lai? With the lovely A-4s, F-8s and F-4s from MAIW, it be super to reflect a little bit of fixed-wing Marine Corp aviation, if possible.

Really looking forward to this!

dl

 

[awstub]

Yoyo, what time period are you going for, as far as the bases are concerned?

For instance, Da Nang basically had three versions during US involvement. From about 1964-1966, it had one runway and one flight line and a few concrete/stone revetments (left over from the French when it was Tourane AB).
From 1966 to 1969 it had two runways and two flight lines and steel revetments (filled with sand & gravel).
From 1969 to 1973 it had the concrete covered steel "Wonder Arch" aircraft shelters that were constructed as part of Project Red Horse.

I have been working on Da Nang, early 1968 time period (just prior to the Johnson administration bombing halt) since it's about the busiest time period.... but I's like to also create a 1965 and a post 1969 version as well, since those are time periods where my dad flew from there. He also flew from Korat and Takhli, so I'm looking into what I can do with those bases as well.
.....and I'm also looking at Chu Lai, since I'm infatuated with how they used the SATS (Short Airfield for Tactical Support) system there. My goal is to rig the original runway with a working cat and arresting gear.

I have been doing a lot of research over the years and have about 70 gigabytes of data related to SEA..... 80% of which is about USAF and USN air operations..... so let me know if you need any reference info.

I have a problem. Each next airfield Im doing more accurately ; ))).
Phu Cat AFB is ready too. Btw. do you see this CH47? It has own rotor sound also at the scenery.

 

[expat]

Have always been a heavy user of the original Vietnam War Project - with others (e.g., Klaus's) subsequent mods, so looking forward to this (using P3D4.5).

 

[YoYo]

Thx for all for kind words.

Yoyo, what time period are you going for, as far as the bases are concerned?
....

I have been doing a lot of research over the years and have about 70 gigabytes of data related to SEA..... 80% of which is about USAF and USN air operations..... so let me know if you need any reference info.

About the period. There is no such thing as a "specific period", mainly I based an orginal ideas (but probably the nearest period is around 1970). It's more about presenting interesting places and operations (from the incident in the Gulf of Tonkin to Saigon evacuation ops). Im sure that many places can be done more accurate with better historical background and look .... but only that would be possible if the project will be consisted of 1-5 airports but not over 100+ like now (if that were the case, I'd have spent it before ... retirement , it's a compromise what we have now). In this case, quantity must prevail over quality (but I think it won't be too bad because there are big changes to the original anyway, see below, I always try to check historical photos of original places also). Example old vs the new one:



But I will definitely contact with you by PM, some things would be useful to me!

 

[awstub]

That's a good way to go about getting it all done.
Since all of the bases in the Vietnam War project are separate, it is easy enough to add/remove parts of it to achieve the time period desired.
The same is basically true for FSX@War scenery. For instance, on my system, I disabled certain bgl files so that all the SEA air bases (and Lima sites) are Vietnam War Project and everything else is from the FSX@War SEA theater. It gives the best of both options and coupled with FSCAI, the FSX@War AI (AAA and MiG's) creates a real threat environment.
Combine all of this with the fine Essex, Midway and Forestall carriers (and Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club ships and traffic AI pack) and you have a pretty complete theater....and one that can't be replicated (in size) via any other simulator besides FSX.
The Tacpack version of the RFN Crusader is going to be awesome in this environment

Thx for all for kind words.



About the period. There is no such thing as a "specific period", mainly I based an orginal ideas (but probably the nearest period is around 1970). It's more about presenting interesting places and operations (from the incident in the Gulf of Tonkin to Saigon evacuation ops). Im sure that many places can be done more accurate with better historical background and look .... but only that would be possible if the project will be consisted of 1-5 airports but not over 100+ like now (if that were the case, I'd have spent it before ... retirement , it's a compromise what we have now). In this case, quantity must prevail over quality (but I think it won't be too bad because there are big changes to the original anyway, see below, I always try to check historical photos of original places also). Example old vs the new one:



But I will definitely contact with you by PM, some things would be useful to me!

 

[YoYo]

That's a good way to go about getting it all done.
Since all of the bases in the Vietnam War project are separate, it is easy enough to add/remove parts of it to achieve the time period desired.
The same is basically true for FSX@War scenery. For instance, on my system, I disabled certain bgl files so that all the SEA air bases (and Lima sites) are Vietnam War Project and everything else is from the FSX@War SEA theater. It gives the best of both options and coupled with FSCAI, the FSX@War AI (AAA and MiG's) creates a real threat environment.
Combine all of this with the fine Essex, Midway and Forestall carriers (and Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club ships and traffic AI pack) and you have a pretty complete theater....and one that can't be replicated (in size) via any other simulator besides FSX.
The Tacpack version of the RFN Crusader is going to be awesome in this environment

Thats right! I hope we will see TacPack for v5 in this year, maybe to this summer? Fingers crossed.

Btw.
Next example. In this scenery you can find also camps of Squads of Vietnamese People's Army and be prepered for heavy FLAK in random places .
Example of 3 different camps and flak:

 

[YoYo]

At the weekend I prepared the new model for the scenery. I present - C-7 Caribou as static and for AI traffic also.