PMDG DC-6 and search

[Javis]

Well, this ol' Flying Dutchman not so much flying anymore. It's the Swimming Dutchman now...



Yes, it's Ok more or less start on the runway ready to go (flaps work with a key assignment, not flaps handle) but there's all sorts of secondary stuff not working and after a pause *everything* is not working anymore, luckily we could still swim to the shore.. ;-)

It's now at the top of my 2024 wish list for PMDG to get it 100% FS2024 compatible ! Even not working correctly the quality is still unsurpassed ! (IMHO) The flight dynamics deffinately have that typical 'Rob Young feeling' . He might not be on the crew list but he's on board, i know it, i feel it.

 

[Hollister56]

Did you land yet? What issues do you see?

 

[Javis]

Hollister56: Did you land yet?

Nope ... ;-)

I need more time to test. Atm flaps not working anymore. There seems to be a workaround by binding the flaps to prop control but atm i can't figure out how to go about that trick.

What i *can* say is that i have working flaps with the Shrike F-86 (latest version) both with a lever on my stick and also via keyboard (flapslever on board doesn't work). Like the DC-6 this bird flies like an angel in 2024.

 

[Hollister56]

Javis. I agree the Shrike F-86 flies very well in FS2024 and everyhing worrks with version 1.1.1. Including the flaps now with this latest version. It is my go to airplane. All of my paints for the F-86 that worked in FS2020 do not work in FS2024. Not sure why at the moment? Still looking into it as time allows. I wish and hope they get the DC-6 working in FS2024, that is a beautiful airplane and PMDG really produced a great airplane when they created their DC-6. Back to the F-86, I modified the system.cfg file and have an autopilot that I use FSRadioPanel to work it. I also have the PNS-50 program too. The Inibuild T-33 is a really nice jet too, especially the one with the Garmin G3X. I'm going to move my DC-6 into the Community folder and see what happens. How did you install it into FS2024 if I may ask?

 

[Javis]

The F-86 and T-33 are about my most fav 50's jets (together with my 'SectionF8' colleagues we did a freeware F-86 for FS9 and i was working on the T2V-1 Seastar ( Lockheed's seagoing T-33 derivative capable of carrier operations) when MSFS2020 arrived and all my work gone to the dogs...) (luckily i love dogs ;-) Milviz/Shrike's F-86 is a true wonder, i can't think of another dev making a better one. That goes for the Inibuilds T-33 as well. Fantastic job ! (i know i can forget about the Seastar, that's why i started my own T2V-1/T-1 project. I presume it's just a too niche and rather unkown aircraft for a dev to warrant a full MSFS2024 project. It is just about a total different mermaid compared to her T-33 mother ).

It is certainly a pity that your FS2020 F-86 liveries won't work in 2024, are you planning a compatibility project for your F-86 repaints ?

I think, apart from the texture malaise, we should call ourselves lucky to have such a wonderful looking and flying F-86 model in MSFS2024 today ! Still some work to do ( f.i. trimming does work but rather strange...) but it's the best start we could wish for. The PMDG DC-6 is sadly enough another kettle of fish. I always end up frustrated after a test flight. No wonder with the flaps not working of course. Frustrating thing is that some days ago the flaps *did* work but atm they don't. Curious about your experience !

I just copied and paste the complete FS2020 DC-6 folder to my FS2024 Community folder and there she is..... Apparently looking fantastic inside and out, upon engines start sounding quite well too (i can imagine gonna be a lot better once it's in the PMDG hangar for 2024 overhaul..) but it doesn't take long to find that there's a lotta bugs zooming around in the amazing looking cockpit ( i was granted access to a L-749 Connie for a while which was used for bug spraying years ago. I could only stay in the cockpit for 10 minutes before i got completely sick of the unthinkable foul stench that was probabely impossible to ever get rid of. I have never understood how the crew that flew this particular bug sprayer from the US to the Netherlands for restoration survived this trip !

Btw, she belongs to the Aviodrome Museum at Lelystad, Netherlands. Probabely will not fly again but it is said that the stench is just about gone. ;-)

 

[fliger747]

Unhelpful to say that the DC6 works pretty well on my rig. Many have said and I agree that it flys better in 2024. I live ion a remote colony where the DC6 still flys on a daily basis. I have a number of friends with quite a bit of time in the six. Somewhat of a ground effect plane compared to the jets. All that said everything changes with each sim update, advertised or not. It's coming slowly, though PMDG has maybe more irons in the fire currently than they can handle.

 

[Javis]

Thanks Fliger ! You mean your flap handle *does* work ? It never worked here in my DC-6 VC but all of sudden the flaps worked via a handle on my stick and with a key binding as well. Next time not anymore.... That's awfully strange, isn't it. It's kind of a tantalus torture, it's an absolute gorgeous model inside and out but you can't fly it because the flaps don't work. And more very strange things too, f.i. after i pause the sim and come back literally nothing works anymore... You don't have that awkward behavior then, Fliger ?

'Remote colony' and DC-6..... so that must be Afrika or South America, right ?... ;-)

Thanks

 

[fliger747]

Alaska is a functional Federal Colony. My flap control bindings worked OK.

 

[Javis]

Ah, Ok! Maybe the DC-6, like me, doesn't like the heath around here..

 

[Priller]

Greenland seems like a nice place to retire. I retire in four years.

Priller

 

[Hollister56]

Hello Javis,
Yes, I certainly do remember the Section 8, F-86. It was an amazing release and for free. Thanks btw for your efforts in that project. Shrike did a nice job, but I wish they put in a little more time to model some of the systems and offer an advanced avionics package like Inibuilds T-33.
I also remember the MAAM, B-25 and C-47. Did they do an TBF Avenger? Can't remember. Those were amazing airplanes. I wish we had a good B-25 and C-47 for FS2024. Since I'm wishing, PMDG can do a L749 and L1049 and L1649, either of the three would be fine, a DC-3 and a Convair 340 too. I did install the DC-6 in FS2024 and it flies like a dream. I assigned all of the gyropilot functions via FSUIPC via Rotor_Brake to the toggle switches on the back of my CH Throttle Quadrent. It flies a beautiful coupled up ILS approach down to minimums. The flaps work fine assigned to the native FS2024 flaps key bind. The only issue is getting the PMDG paints or Liveries to work as in FS2020. I have the Pan Am paint as default. Remember CalClassic. or California Classics? I'm sure you do, silly question. http://www.calclassic.com/ We are so lucky PMDG did the DC-6. It is a masterpiece and a tribute to all the talented people over there at PMDG. So far I haven't experienced any real issues with just a copy and paste install. Keeping fingers crossed nothing changes. BTW do you have any issues getting different liveries to work in FS2024? MAAM is doing an incredible job on their P-61 restoration. https://maam.org/the-widows-web/ Thanks, Ed

 

[Javis]

Hello Javis,
Yes, I certainly do remember the Section 8, F-86. It was an amazing release and for free. Thanks btw for your efforts in that project. Shrike did a nice job, but I wish they put in a little more time to model some of the systems and offer an advanced avionics package like Inibuilds T-33.

With my SectionF8 project i had the audacity to put the whole F-86 family into the pipeline. Pure out of enthusiasm but completely unrealistic of course....hehe..Yes, (almost) nothing would suit me better than a Shrike 'Extravaganza' edition of their marvelous F-86 including in the first place automatic leading edge slats for the the A, E and later F versions to improve low speed performance ( both Hansi Naegle and Rob Young did a superb job on that with our own FS9 Sabre), along with that how about a D and K version and 2 types of Fury.... Now, with FS2024, even more ultra unrealistic. Too bad, huh...

I also remember the MAAM, B-25 and C-47. Did they do an TBF Avenger? Can't remember. Those were amazing airplanes. I wish we had a good B-25 and C-47 for FS2024.

Thanks Ed, yessir, we did the TBM and TBF Avenger as well. Like with the others it was extremely great fun to work on that beast simply because we got to crawl all over it inside and out and pilot boss Strine could explain every inside and out to Rob about flying it (fun fact: unconventional take off: no flaps, full power, at about 80 kts (maybe less, can't remember..) drop down full flaps all at once and the ol' Turkey will leap into the air right away). I think somewhere somehow a B-25 must be in the pipeline for FS2024. I believe there's nobody in the aviation hobby department who doesn't have some kind of feel for the B-25. I know many call it the most beautiful warbird ever, even some tubeliner fans... ;-) There's gonna be a B-25 for FS2024 come hell or highwater, maybe even still this year, believe me...( there's quite a bit of work involved but quite a bit of money too ! Devs *know* that !....;-)

Since I'm wishing, PMDG can do a L749 and L1049 and L1649, either of the three would be fine, a DC-3 and a Convair 340 too.

Yeah, that's one heck of wishlist, Ed ! ;-)

Must say i was just a tiny bit dissapointed with the A2A L-049, in the first place because they left it at that. It wouldn't have been that much work to develop atleast the L-749 from the 049 base model. I was also never able to disregard the little bit of smell of 'rush' particularly in the VC. While the A2A B-17 belonged at the top of aircraft modeling during the FS9/FSX periods the A2A Connie always felt a bit short, IMHO of course.

Manfred Jahn's Connies and DC-3/C-47 were at the top of the freeware department during those days. Still Wow!! ;-)

Big fan of the Convairliner family. Pitifully neglected after a few very nice models from the earlier era of FS. ( i was particularly at awe with a CV-240 model by Belgian gentleman modeller Pierre Ardichvilli, he was ( sadly i lost contact with him already many years ago, i worked with Pierre in the 'VIP Classic Wings' team during the FS95/FS2K period ) both a superb modeller as well as a texture artist and a great inspiration on top of that. His CV-240 model in bare aluminium and AA livery was truly a sight to behold certainly in those days already (resembled Greg Pepper's CV-240 model (California Classics) of course but i always thought Pierre's model was much more refined)

Still blatantly missing in FSX i thought that's it, there's GOT to be a Convairliner in FSX, it's now or never ! Well, i certainly started with 'now' but again pitifully still ended with 'never' due to the arrival of MSFS2020... This's all that's left :







While i was very happy and very enthusiastic working on one of my first native FSX models ( i had 3 others in the FSX pipeline) i am sorry to say that i haven't got the stamina anymore to get it into our new virtual flying toys.

I did install the DC-6 in FS2024 and it flies like a dream. I assigned all of the gyropilot functions via FSUIPC via Rotor_Brake to the toggle switches on the back of my CH Throttle Quadrent. It flies a beautiful coupled up ILS approach down to minimums. The flaps work fine assigned to the native FS2024 flaps key bind. The only issue is getting the PMDG paints or Liveries to work as in FS2020. I have the Pan Am paint as default. Remember CalClassic. or California Classics? I'm sure you do, silly question. http://www.calclassic.com/ We are so lucky PMDG did the DC-6. It is a masterpiece and a tribute to all the talented people over there at PMDG. So far I haven't experienced any real issues with just a copy and paste install. Keeping fingers crossed nothing changes.

Amazing what you say about the DC-6 on *your* system, Ed ! That's like we're talking about two different models ! Because overhere MSFS2024 keeps on acting strangely, i just can't depend on it acting the same as it did yesterday.... One day it seems like nothing much is wrong the next day i can't even get an engine started, that's why it's no use doing some serious 'flying' in 2024. All i can do is see what happens today... If i want to do a more or less serious flight it has to be FS2020.

I could try and install FSUIPC but i have not much confidence it will solve all the funny quirks i encounter. I think i can say i'm just fooling around with 2024 atm, just like i feel it is fooling around with me. ;-) Not that i *don't* like FS2024, i *love* it, the way the aircraft models look and the scenery and every now and then i can even enjoy a flight from take-off to landing without anything going wrong. But that's usually in one of my fav simple biplanes. I'll wait and see what happens with the DC-6 once i have SU3 installed, if it's still as unreliable as it is now i might wipe my MSFS2024 install off of my SSD and start over new. Maybe something i should've done already..

BTW do you have any issues getting different liveries to work in FS2024?

You can understand with the current issues i have with 2024 sofar i haven't even thought about trying repaints or anything like that.

Btw, that's a fine screeny of the PMDG DC-6 you've got there, Ed ! I'm sure i'll enjoy flying the DC-6 without any issues sooner or later too !

In ending, Oh-Yes, MAAM is doing an incredible job at restoring the P-61 ! Almost unbelievable, isn't ! An almost desintegrated wreckage rescued from the brutal claws of the unforgiving jungle to a brandnew P-61 in the works ! Totally amazing !! If only Maam-Sim was still around....
Cheers,
Jan

 

[Hollister56]

Hello Javis,

Thanks for that very interesting reply. It's hard to believe 3 decades have passed since I bought my first version, FS95. So much has changed. Simbrief, Navigraph, satellite imagery and 3D modeling, the complexity of the aircraft being offered by developers, the list is long. The powerful computers we can build to run these programs and how well they all seamlessly work together in the background to give us our flight simming experience we enjoy today. I really favor the propliners, but certainly enjoy the jets too and PMDG has really developed amazing aircraft over the years from their DC-6 to their B747-400. The Warbirds are great too.

A few days ago I bought the Red Wing Connie and have to say it is an amazing plane that the developer over there produced. The latest version 2.5 has been a big improvement over earlier versions from watching YouTube and reading the Forums. Do you own their Connie? The AI features are nothing short of amazing. They are on the same level as PMDG in my opinion and very much worth the price, about $45 USD. Once you take the time to learn how to operate this complex propliner the more you will appreciate what these developers at Red Wing have produced.

Have you ever read or purchased the magazine Propliner? Propliner magazine and California Classics were a great combination back in the day. Now with the Red Wing L-1049G we are back in business again. It should be updated to run in FS2024 some time this year as is the PMDG DC-6B. Both run in FS2024, but with a few small glitches. The point is, I am so happy I bought the Red Wing L-1049 and I recommend it to anyone interested in this type of flying in an era long gone. There are literally days of YouTube videos out there to watch on the subject of the Propliner. Great stuff for sure. MAAM and their flight sim department back then was so cool too. I enjoyed all of their aircraft they offered.

Have a great weekend.
Ed

http://www.propliner.co.uk/

 

[Tom Clayton]

You should see the Bataan's interior!

 

[Hollister56]

Thanks Tom, it was an amazing restoration and Rod Lewis has very very deep pockets. Check out this video. I had seen it decades ago and thought I would search for it on YouTube and guess what, I found it. I recently purchased the RedWing L-1049G and I have to say if you like the old propliners this is a must have. The Redwing team is refining this plane with every new version. They are working on the FS2024 porting and hopefully will complete it later this year. I keep reading people comparing it to the PMDG DC-6 and I can say without a doubt that this Connie is on the same level as the DC-6. The systems of the Connie are more advanced than the DC-6 and are all modeled and work. I am very happy I bought this plane on SimMarket, worth every penny, just like the PMDG DC-6. There are several part to this video series.

This is a cool video too.

 

[Tom Clayton]

RedWing L-1049G

I looked at it when it first came out, but passed. I guess I'm the odd one out, but I prefer my vintage airframes to be restored with modern avionics inside. I still like steam instruments, but I also like to have a GPS to get me to the many airports that don't have NDB's or VOR's, and a working autopilot for long flights.

 

[DennyA]

I just use the GTN750 for navigation, and its autopilot, to get the best of both worlds. I figure it's not really cheating -- the GTN750 is taking the place of my navigator, and the autopilot is telling my copilot he has the controls. Works with virtually all classic planes.

 

[Sweetd31]

Thank you, Forest ! Hopefully they won't forget about their 'once' masterpiece. It still looks gorgeous in MSFS2020 it's just that i am too spoiled by 2024 ( i have always been a sucker for eyecandy), i can't get my kicks on 2020 anymore ( load up 2020 takes ages compared to 2024 for one thing...). Just for the heck of it i installed my 2020 copy in 2024. Sadly, yes, just about nothing works...

Ok, then, back to the waiting room, fingers crossed !

Thanks again !

There was a list of planes Blackbird was planning. Ive been crossing them off like a list haha. Looking forward to the T38a, and oddly enough the F16C block 50/52 was on the list of things blackbird was planning. Some on this list would probably surprise you.

Blackbird Simulations provides update on current and upcoming projects: the SR-71, C-130, Huey, T-38, Zero, and more! - MSFS Addons

Blackbird's "State of the Sim" reveals development progress, expected release timelines, and plenty of status updates on more than a dozen products!

msfsaddons.com

 

[Javis]

A few days ago I bought the Red Wing Connie and have to say it is an amazing plane that the developer over there produced. The latest version 2.5 has been a big improvement over earlier versions from watching YouTube and reading the Forums. Do you own their Connie?

Yessir, i'm almost sure i am the biggest fan of the Connie around here ( just kidding.. maybe.. ;-), but that's about Red Wings' first iteration of their L.1049 model of which i wasn't impressed very much sorry to say. I did try an update a while later but that wasn't enough to get the spirit going for RW's Connie model. I need the Full Monty when it comes to the Connie. A Connie model should at the very least be able to stand proudly in the shadow of the PMDG DC-6, preferably the other way around and i don't see that happening with the RW L.1049.

Yes, i am quite the purist when it comes to the venerable Constellation. To begin with, for a Connie purist like me it is already difficult to accept the fact that a developer releases the already very advanched L.1049 Super G version of the Connie while there's no L.049 or L.749 in sight. No doubt the L.1049 is the devs favourite version and nobody has anything to say against developing that specific model. For me it just feels 'unnatural', that's all. ;-) Sure, if it would be in the same league as the PMDG DC-6, i'd kiss the ground that the dev walks on but since that is nowhere near the case i'll have to leave the RW Connie in the hangar.

To me the Constellation is not just another airliner. It is an 'Institute', a famous icon in aviation as ever there was. Even a Connie *model* deserves the greatest respect and no effort should be left out to try and make the best of it, wether it be a physical or a digital model. (years ago already i covered a complete 1:72 Heller model of the L.749 Connie in aluminium foil after having sanded off the original raised panel lining to replace with engraved lining)... I must go all the way when it comes to the Connie and i need to see that aspect very much in a digital model as well.

That's also why i was a bit dissapointed with the A2A L.049. I loved their B-17 of course, who didn't, and expected the same quality with the Connie but just couldn't find it... Still of course the best ever L.049 Connie we've ever had in our virtual flying world although Manfred Jahn's amazing freeware external collection of various Connie versions could easily match A2A's. If Manfred would've provided a VC of the very same quality as his external models it could've very well turned out that we would've never seen A2A's L. 049.....

There also was a gentleman by the name of John Howard White, completely new to the FS aircraft modeling department, who released an extraordinairy beautiful freeware model of the Lockheed L. 049 Constellation. It happend to be 'just' the external model though. IIRC Manfred gave permission to use his Connie VC to fly John's amazing model for the time being. John would've been working on his own Connie VC to complete his model but, like his wonderful Connie model was released 'Out of the Blue', all of a sudden he passed away before he even could start his VC work.....

(the release of John's beautiful L.049 model was the reason for me and a couple of friends to abandon our own L.049 project, we were not even half way by that time. We *did* have full access to the Aviodrome's L. 749 that was under restoration (photo above..))

As you can see, better not ask me about the Constellation because i could go on about it forever and ever...

Say, Ed, what about the Red Wing Connie and MSFS2024 ? Does it work ??.....

The AI features are nothing short of amazing. They are on the same level as PMDG in my opinion and very much worth the price, about $45 USD. Once you take the time to learn how to operate this complex propliner the more you will appreciate what these developers at Red Wing have produced.

Are you talking about the MSFS2024 version ??.... What do you mean with 'AI features' ?..

Have you ever read or purchased the magazine Propliner? Propliner magazine and California Classics were a great combination back in the day. Now with the Red Wing L-1049G we are back in business again. It should be updated to run in FS2024 some time this year as is the PMDG DC-6B. Both run in FS2024, but with a few small glitches. The point is, I am so happy I bought the Red Wing L-1049 and I recommend it to anyone interested in this type of flying in an era long gone. There are literally days of YouTube videos out there to watch on the subject of the Propliner. Great stuff for sure. MAAM and their flight sim department back then was so cool too. I enjoyed all of their aircraft they offered.

Thank you, Ed, and sure i know Propliner Magazine ! Loved it while it lasted ! ;-)

I can still see the face of my then local bookstore owner when i had to ask him to cancel all my subscribtions to various magazines. I had piles of them, mostly aviation and railways (steam), the inevitable computer mags and the odd comic book. Once internet really got steamed up all these paper mags were not needed anymore. I was my bookstore owner's best customer. The shop is looooong gone now.... Sure is a pity nontheless....

About flying in an era long time ago, Ed, propliners, early GA and warbirds is what i always have been virtually flying and still do. No glass cockpits for me, i hate 'em, analog all the way.

Thanks for the video's links ! I know i will enjoy that !

 

[DennyA]

The current Connie seems to work okay in FS2024, though I've only done quick circuits with it. Redwing said a native FS2024 conversion is planned later this year.

Love your enthusiasm for it, Javis! I think realistically you might have more fun if you temper your expectations, though. Sadly a lot of the market for study-level planes seems to be boring FMS/auto-everything modern airliners. Not sure if there's be a big enough market for a detailed L.049 with Redwing's already available. I'd love to be wrong! I wish A2A would get back into classic planes.