Alphasim have updated their A-3 Skywarrior.

[noddy]

If any FSX fans stumble in here, Alphasim has ported over the A-3.

Some pics of the A-3 in FSX

 

[p3aewguy]

Thanks John!

Dave

 

[expat]

Stunning! May have to get the update for FSX after seeing these.

 

[Craig Taylor]

I've been wondering about that (FSX). Thanks! I am looking forward to bringing the whale aboard and scaring the crap out of my deck crews in Acceleration! :icon_twi:

 

[fsafranek]

Frank,

Just picked this up and love it! My question: Will the earlier version repaints work on this? I noted no paint kit when I D/L'ed the new one. Hopefully the new bits are on there own textures. Hope to hear from you soon!

Dave
P3aewguy

Thanks John. I was too distracted by Dave's avatar to answer.
:ernae:

 

[harrybasset]

Me too! I'm game for ear scratching or a tummy rub any time. It'sOK I'm only a hound dog so contact is allowed. Back on topic I like this revised Whale very much.

 

[expat]

Well, I couldn't resist and got the update. Extenal models look tremendous in FSX. Too bad the interior/VC is not what it could have been. Followed the lead here (I don't have the B-66 gauges) and have been fooling around with a mongrel mix of Grumman Goose, RAZBAM and SOH A-26 gauges to get a better look, LOL.

Anyone notice the roll rate/stability seems a bit excessive? Am cruising at FL41 and the strong winds are knocking it out of AP and into a spin - it starts with the wings rocking and then flipping over. Will tweak some more and report back.

 

[johndetrick]

That's pretty good, all the data I have says that the service ceiling of the whale was 39200 ft.

 

[p3aewguy]

The old repaints work fine.

I found a few differences in a couple of the models' texture mapping, mainly on the aft bottom fuselage. It appears to be mirrored on one side. I noticed this first on Pierre's VAH-4 KA repaint with the aft fuselage stripe. I loaded my repaint with the 5 stripes and confirmed it. Other than that the tanker bits are added on the main texture.

On the whole they do work. I'm going to rework my masters of the paint kit to add the tanker bits. Then I'll re-release some of my repaints. Love the new animations! Especially the overhead hatch! Havent trapped it yet, but soon!! A really great update! Many Thanks to the Alphasim team!!!

Dave

 

[TARPSBird]

You guys are gonna keep this thread going until I break down and buy this upgraded Whale! First of the month is coming up, I'll probably grab it then while I'm a millionaire for a day or two. :d

 

[fsafranek]

During research and testing of this project the beta testers determined that there were three external light arrangements that could be applied to the versions included in the release. That wasn't implimented but I thought I'd post this in case some of you wanted to include this yourselves. Because there are not separate switches for beacon and nav lights in this model both types are set as nav lights (turn on/off with the same Nav Lights switch) but function as they should. This has been tested in both FS9 and FSX.

First the default section applicable to the A-3B and RA-3B as included in the release:

[lights]
//Types: 1=beacon, 2=strobe, 3=navigation, 4=cockpit, 5=landing
light.0 = 3, -30.65, -0.45, 17.7, fx_navwhi 
light.1 = 3, -30.65, 0.45, 17.7, fx_navwhi
light.2 = 3, 6.89, 0.00, 4.75, fx_beacon
light.3 = 3, -4.60, 0.00, -3.12, fx_beacon
light.4 = 4, 28.26, -1.64, 2.11, fx_vclight
light.5 = 4, 26.11, 1.61, 2.66, fx_vclight
light.6 = 4, 23.10, -1.99, 3.05, fx_vclight

Then an arrangement with the green lights for the tanker versions (KA-3B and EKA-3B):
(I don't know if they are always on or not so I put the green lights in as strobe (type 2) so you can toggle them on and off with the "O" key)

[lights]
//Types: 1=beacon, 2=strobe, 3=navigation, 4=cockpit, 5=landing
light.0 = 3, -30.65, -0.45, 17.7, fx_navwhi 
light.1 = 3, -30.65, 0.45, 17.7, fx_navwhi
light.2 = 3, 6.89, 0.00, 4.75, fx_beacon
light.3 = 3, -13.0, 0, -2.6, fx_beacon
light.4 = 2, -4.5, -2.45, -2.71, fx_navgre 
light.5 = 2, -4.5, 2.45, -2.71, fx_navgre
light.6 = 4, 28.26, -1.64, 2.11, fx_vclight
light.7 = 4, 26.11, 1.61, 2.66, fx_vclight
light.8 = 4, 23.10, -1.99, 3.05, fx_vclight

Then an arrangement for the birds with the electronics housings underneath (EA-3B and ERA-3B):
The lights will usually correctly flash alternating when turned on. If they get in synch just turn them off and back on.

[lights]
//Types: 1=beacon, 2=strobe, 3=navigation, 4=cockpit, 5=landing
light.0 = 3, -30.65, -0.45, 17.7, fx_navwhi 
light.1 = 3, -30.65, 0.45, 17.7, fx_navwhi
light.2 = 3, 6.89, 0.00, 4.75, fx_beacon
light.3 = 3, -4.5, -2.45, -2.71, fx_beacon
light.4 = 3, -4.5, 2.45, -2.71, fx_beacon
light.5 = 4, 28.26, -1.64, 2.11, fx_vclight
light.6 = 4, 26.11, 1.61, 2.66, fx_vclight
light.7 = 4, 23.10, -1.99, 3.05, fx_vclight

And finally, I commented out the wingtip vapor trails in the FSX version because FSX makes it's own.
I left the flap vapor trail in because it only appears when the flaps are down and you are moving.

//light.7 = 7, -17.0, -35.35, 1.70, fx_ALPHA_B66_Wcontrail // Contrail_L 
//light.8= 7, -17.0, 35.35, 1.70, fx_ALPHA_B66_Wcontrail // Contrail_R
light.9= 8, -12.20, -20.15, 1.30, fx_ALPHA_B66_Wcontrail // Flap_Contrail_L
light.10= 8, -12.20, 20.15, 1.30, fx_ALPHA_B66_Wcontrail // Flap_Contrail_R

So to have all three versions you'll need to make two extra A-3 folders with unique "aircraft.cfg" files in each. Remove the [fltsim.x] sections from each "aircraft.cfg" file that don't apply to that particular lights arrangement or you will really confuse FS. And do a lot of aliasing back to the original if you want to conserve drive space. But doing all that is beyond the scope of this posting. Figure it out, it's fun and educational.
Good luck and good flights!

:ernae:

 

[expat]

Frank,

Thanks so much for this added bonus. These little additions and tweaks make FS so much fun. Really enjoying the "new" A-3 variants. Extra recognition goes to Pierre for his realistic and great looking repaints.

You guys are gonna keep this thread going until I break down and buy this upgraded Whale!

You gotta go for it TARPSBird!!

Expat

 

[Werwolf]

Bhà, tried on the PC of a my friend.
Usual what alphasim, beautiful outside,bogus and unclickable vc.