F/A-18 Improvements/Modifications
-
Hello to all Hornet BMS Lovers,
After some time, got more free time to make some another improvements in cockpit, pls check this out and do further changes or corrections if you interrested in or you have some free time )).
Here is the short list of some changes i made.-some textures improved again (dedication to previous thread https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?40238-F18-cockpit-skins,
but rather moved it here to new thread for hornet improving because it’s not about textures only)- lights, hud, corrected illuminations and many more - i hope it looks much better than stock
- added description to some switches but some of them are not illuminated - check around OBOGS
-overall improvements of 3dbuttons.dat (basically there are two kinds of file, in folder 1890 is for cockpit F/A-18A, in folder 1799 is for cockpit F/A-18C)
- reworked files (i think it was little bit messed up before, sorry)
- now all sounds of buttons and switches are reordered to their obvious sounds - i hope more real sounds (also made same changes to keyconfig.key file for keyboard sounds)
- knobs has now ability to be controlled by mouse wheel, in other words spinning arrows pointer added when anchored
- all switches now follows the same logic, 1=UP=left_mouse, 2=DOWN=right_mouse
so don’t wonder to for example launch bar switch of flaps switch if they extending by right click
-added some new hotspots
- Fire Test - It is on the place where it has to be (lost animation after change function but no matter for me, it works)
- Light test - Is also on it’s place (right console, under illumination knobs)
- FLCS bit - switch has no animation but now it works, check flaps, wings, flcs page on mfd
sometimes flcs fault appears (FLCS/DBU) but i think that is eyecandy only like written in RedDog’s manuals - DED panel brightness knob - knob appears only in off position (but illuminated)
BTW, some easter egg - in ramp start, turn battery on to first position and turn on instrument light knob ) - Volume knobs hotspots corrected
(two same functions to rwr volume - rwr audio knob vs. rwr volume knob? I did not find the difference in the manuals - or maybe i missed something?) - RWR bit (In BMS has ALR-67 Raytheon more simple way how to do that than ALR-56 so don’t wonder…or it’s unfinished, decide yourself)
- Other RWR functions (unrealistic in hornet jet but ground priority and launch test will be usable for someone)
Search, unknown search, missile launch button (test), ground priority
Check the OSB buttons 1-4 on 3RD MFD - FACK button
hotspot moved to the I/P button left from PFL
unrealistic but formerly unused button is used at least, previous position was in the middle of PFL display which is unrealistic - IFF master switch reworked - left click EMERG, right NORM
- IFF audio switch (just eyecandy)
- IFF stby/low mode at iff lower, upper antenna switch (unrealistic but works)
- Wing lights - Flash/steady button and hotspot added (left click flash, right click steady)
- Emcon button has new function (radar snooze - normal, quiet, silent)
- maybe something more which i don’t remember, try to look…
-Another buttons discovered undocumented in F-18 docs but working
Up front controls area
- drift c/o button
- warn reset button
- icp list button but it’s obvious what it does when you click it
-Recommended color settings
- put this on your callsign.ini and load colors on DTE page
[COLORS]
ColorConfig=78 0 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 0 12 0 0 3 12 0 2 3 3 12 0 3 0 -1 12 12 12 12 0 0 3 0 12 0 0 0 3 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 12 3 0 0 12 2 3 0 -1 0 0 0 3 -1 3 -1 0 3 3 0 12 0-
dedcolor ff00fecc; -> to 3dckpit.dat
-
Greetings and big up to Sunrrrise
certain member of this forum who has/have similar ideas about hornet restoration some time ago and who kicked me up i started thinking about this progressing actually.
So i would like to thank him this way…THX BRO
Maybe something important to the end of this contribute.
Pls keep in mind i don’t or have never wanted to offend anyone if something doesn’t work… Just wanted to share my personal opinion.
But rather make some real disscusions than hates and trolls and want some more people to pull them in, those who is still interrested in.
I’m sharing and fully understanding… same opinions with people who says that it’s built on /and for/ F-16 aircraft sim. They are right of course. This is what it comes from.
So imagine that and keep in mind what we actually trying to building on. Like many times was mentioned there are some limitations in that code but although i believe that a few corrections more it’s possible to be done about f18 cockpit.
Even if you don’t want learn hardcoding.
BMS supports dozens of good hardware which makes everything looks really good (in a frame of possibilities of this game). Remembering and comparing with Jane’s F-18 …WOW!
If we would think about it serious…We also should have to be able to add or rework some code to fully improve and finish up these naval ops projects.
However so far so good anyway…amazing job so far everybody! Now we have quite good hornet mod playable.
Carriers have to be rather stopped moving in editor. Sometimes it is too glitchy on the deck and various strange things happens when carrier underway, apparently or probably code limitations.
Btw It’s unclear for me why are the cockpits unfinished for so many years when this was born in 2014? and so much works done then quit…? Answers and reasons may vary here…
So if anyone right now or in future is serious to making some progress and would need some help with some dirty hard work, count me in for sure.
Don’t forget to give a feedback. Thx.Happy flying!
cheersEdit: New version. Control lights around UFC got final color layout, will no more handle with that. Now i will aim for more important details and just to F-18C cockpit, F-18A variant will be handled later.
Try also my sound mod included which i’m using. Backup first of course. -
Great work. Simply: Wow!
-
Amazing work, Im not sure why did you modified those changes for 4.33 eventhough almost no-one fly this version
If is was for 4.34 - i would consider to include it into future ITO ver.About your question - Falcon BMS is officially a F-16 sim, F/A -18 is an add-on. The guys which worked on that aircraft stop supporting it, therefore - if you wish to modify it and improve in further - you can contact the Devs.
-
yes, please share with devs and it will be added to standard install.
-
Looking forward to having it working in 4.34.4
-
thanks!!!
-
That’s great!
There is some general discussion in the main forum at the moment:
https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?40501-Project-BugThese changes were made, tested and working in earliest version of hornet cockpit (BMS 4.33.0)
-
The reason why i chose this version is that i found it paradoxically works better then newer ones (gauges, rwr lights, other things…)
(it may be matter of opinion for someone but for me it’s obvious) -
Disadvantage of this version is disability to use smart scaling (personally i don’t need that - there are two camps of people in the forum here, yes or no)
because digital IFEI displays then are screwed up and unreadable (fixed on later versions).
I can understand your position and your work is really valuable. Consider if you can bring it up to the latest version, even with some things left undone for the time being. I think there would be more people who use the hornet if your changes were implemented in the latest official BMS version, even if it wasn’t as perfect as you might hope. I think, especially with the community mods, incremental changes in the latest version are the way to go - we all understand that the 18 is not the focus of the sim and will never have the same level of attention for the BMS devs, but getting it up and running on the latest version should get it more attention.
I don’t know what is involved in bringing it up to the latest version, perhaps a dev or modeller out there may have some helpful comments/tips.If we would think about it serious…We also should have to be able to add or rework some code to fully improve and finish up these naval ops projects.
I’d love to see an improved version in BMS, but I think the devs would be more likely to implement simple ( ) code changes if it was in the latest build, and even then perhaps they would only make quick changes.
That is wonderful work!
-
-
Hello all
sorry, maybe i missed somthing or i explained it wrong. I extracted cockpit from 4.33 only but i’m playing and using it in 4.34.4 latest ! Just extracted lod model and put into 4.34.4, do you know? Post the feedback how it works when using latest cockpit, i think it will work like usual.
For example: Even if u have messed up gauges this mod will still work i think. Now clear?Include it, share it, implement it into theaters installs, whatever…and what more…improve it or correct it if u can or if you are real hornet or ex-pilot and got more info about hornet cockpit. I’m not dev and i don’t know devs guys, i’m just helper. There are more things on the forum to be added into standart install (carrier textures, aircraft model skins/textures etc…)
Anyway when i got some new realisable ideas about further progress, i will post it here ofc. -
ok, got you. I will install here then.
Please send to devs and tell them explicitly that it can be included in the next release.
Good work. -
Short video here but can’t figure out why it’s always little bit desatured, maybe it does fraps…. while in game it’s ok… ?
-
try OBS maybe.
-
Hi all,
after longer pause i’m coming with new updates for BMS F/A-18 (4.36.1).
Included in zip pack:Updated hotspots for A-type cockpit for CF-188A
Updated hotspots for C-type cockpit for F-18CKneeboard switching hotspots not included since it has no effect for F-18 in BMS. There is only one static page. (Correct me if i’m wrong.)
Ils volume added (ILS on/off) beside RWR power. Important to mention here one thing. You all probably noticed over years there is a little bug in this F-18 cockpits. Threat volume has two spots (beside intercom volume and beside rwr power), so don’t wonder when you turning by threat volume, the knob beside rwr power turning also.
But ils volume and even threat volume works both. It is influenced graphically only, just such side effect.
Both jfs starts 1 and 2 added. (Another bug? Don’t close canopy during jfs is active, it will spoil jfs activity. Close it either before jfs start or after engine is fully on.)Some hotspots position improved
Adjusted DED color
Updated cockpit textures
Some of you might be excited with Updated engine sounds and some canopy soundshttps://www.mediafire.com/file/3tnltkb32oqd11v/Data.zip/file
[Last updated Thu Aug 25 15:41:40 2022 UTC]I’m really sorry i’m not providing updated pdf file with descriptions to ilustrate hotspots by pictures. It’s a time difficult job, so maybe later when i have enough time to do that. But if you fumbling or missing something, just ask me.
External F-18 skins are not included. A quite huge pack to upload and i believe you have your own. In case you can’t find or download them, contact me, i can share my collection of external skins for F-18.Enjoy!
P.S. Feel free to add this to the standart install or to theaters.
-
@FoxBMS Hey, dude…
Are you working with the Other Jets Mafia group…?
-
@Aragorn nope, i’m working alone afaik
btw, pack will be updated periodically when i gather some more ideas or suggestions -
@Aragorn said in F/A-18 Improvements/Modifications:
@FoxBMS Hey, dude…
Are you working with the Other Jets Mafia group…?
Popcorn?
-
@LorikEolmin said in F/A-18 Improvements/Modifications:
@Aragorn said in F/A-18 Improvements/Modifications:
@FoxBMS Hey, dude…
Are you working with the Other Jets Mafia group…?
Popcorn?
Fox played a huge part of getting the Mafia started, but he hasn’t been active with us for awhile. Buddy, it’s good to see you back, and we would love to work with you again.
One thing- The Art files we made way back when do have multi-page kneeboard hotspots -
Hey! )) Really thanks for that. Yea, i don’t have much free time but i recently installed BMS 4.36.1 to test it how it looks and yea, cool, F-16 great improvements and great overall game improvements. Really impressive but at the same time (what is logic) i found many misconfigurations in F-18 pits or hotspots missing completely, so i decided to help again. Yes Sir! )) Please if someone will test the last version of this zip pack, please let me know if something wrong there or any other suggestions. Thanks.
Btw, Let’s ommit attention about F/A-18 A/B since it has no datalink, digital flcs, etc, etc…and servers will kick you out when try to change sim/acdata files. Happy flying gentlemen.
-
@FoxBMS ,
Welcome back! I am really enjoying learning to fly the Hornet, thanks to your work and that of @drtbkj at the OFM. Well done, gentlemen!-
I took the liberty of updating the cockpit documentation for the F-18C. Its available for download in .pdf format here: F-18C Cockpit layout
-
FoxBMS, is there a way to “enlarge” the F-18 HUD slightly so that when info from the DED or PFL is displayed, it can be visible, along with the STPT and timing info in the lower right corner of the HUD? I can provide a screenshot of what I mean if you wish. Being able to see that info is really useful and valuable to the pilot, but right now, the info is mostly cut off at the bottom of the HUD. If HUD enlargement can be done by altering a .dds file (a mask, perhaps) and if you let me know the filename, I’ll give it a go to try to fix it myself.
-
What file(s) would need to be altered to change the lights on the Carrier’s island? I have changed the stencils to be for the USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70) rather then USS ENTERPRISE, to match training scenarios I developed for Carrier Air WIng 2, but the lights on the island overlaying the “70” are still in the shape of “65” (USS ENTERPRISE). If I know the files, I might be able to make that change myself. Though I am not too adept at 3D artwork, I know someone who is very good at it who could give me a hand.
-
Is it feasible to develop a color moving ground map for the MPCD? I’d help on that if it is possible.
Once one gets to know the knob-ology I the pit, the aircraft is a lot of fun to fly! I used to enjoy doing carrier traps for fun in Jane’s F-18, but this is so much better in Falcon, especially when combined with @Tyrant 's outstanding LSOBot Carrier Landing Grading Program.
Thanks for your great work on bringing the F/A-18 to FalconBMS.
Regards,
Tomcattwo
(VoiceClone) -
-
@Tomcattwo Thanks, T2. The F-18 E/F/G is also now a more flyable option, too
-
@drtbkj
My pleasure. Cockpit layout for the C/E/F are pretty similar, so my Cockpit Layout .pdf is still usable for those aircraft.On my #2 above, I altered the Y position of the F-18E/F HUD in 3Dckpit.dat for …Add-On OMFKTO\Art\CkptArt\F-18E-type and 1958 to move it up (by 618 units), and the DED lines became visible. However, when I did that, the steerpoint diamond was also raised (should have been right on the carrier when the homeplate steerpoint was selected, but it was displaced upward on the HUD). So was the waterline (though flyable). So, unfortunately, that solution did not work
Regards,
Tomcattwo
(VoiceClone)