F/A-18 Improvements/Modifications
-
I am an user of the EF-18M, the modified version of the F-18A in service with Spanish Air Force. For several versions of Falcon BMS we have detected in my virtual squadron (www.edavirtual.org) several failures that we have been in charge of correcting. We want to put our work at the service of the entire BMS community, so we would like to share the list of errors we have found and how to fix each one, so that the BMS developer team and theater creators can fix what is necessary.
-
- The TGP in stations 4 and 5 is not correctly positioned, so a continuous masking was created as if the pod was inside the fuselage. To fix this you have to edit the BMS database ( KoreaObj.LOD in ) by changing the EF-18M PARENT.dat file (1091) with the following text overriding the above:
Dimensions = 37.000000 -16.000000 26.000000 -8.600000 8.600000 -3.000000 3.000000
TextureSets = 3
Switches = 255
Dofs = 255
AddDynamicVertex = -35.475487 -1.663028 1.046186
AddDynamicVertex = -35.475487 -1.682572 0.441114
AddDynamicVertex = -35.475487 -1.935107 0.588256
AddDynamicVertex = -35.475487 -1.951244 0.879784
AddDynamicVertex = -35.475487 -1.417479 0.594166
AddDynamicVertex = -35.475487 -1.394687 0.888453
AddSlot = -7.091570 -19.175900 -1.495770
AddSlot = -6.807470 -10.731999 -1.356760
AddSlot = -6.742920 -6.232190 -1.340810
AddSlot = -7.905200 -2.837600 3.636040
AddSlot = 0.727520 0.000015 3.574251
AddSlot = -7.905200 2.837600 3.636040
AddSlot = -6.742920 6.232190 -1.340810
AddSlot = -6.807470 10.731999 -1.356760
AddSlot = -7.091570 19.175900 -1.495770
AddLOD = Model_0.LOD 100.000000
AddLOD = Model_1.LOD 500.000000
AddLOD = Model_2.LOD 1000.000000
AddLOD = Model_3.LOD 4000.000000
AddLOD = Model_4.LOD 15000.000000
You can find the PARENT.dat file fixed here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19hwCEI6FTqQtkzKV61TqOqKuUeGi_49v?usp=share_link
- The TGP in stations 4 and 5 is not correctly positioned, so a continuous masking was created as if the pod was inside the fuselage. To fix this you have to edit the BMS database ( KoreaObj.LOD in ) by changing the EF-18M PARENT.dat file (1091) with the following text overriding the above:
-
- The textures of the EF-18M are also wrong, the fuselage numbers are not located correctly, so one of our colleagues ( @Fresco ) has made some HD textures more similar to real life of the 3 Spanish fighter wings of EF- 18M with the previous failure already solved. You can find the new HD textures here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fI2GW019Kk8e_vrEsRjWg3H8nxlf6QeW?usp=share_link
-
- HMS doesn’t work in EF-18M but in RL the EF-18M of Spanish Air Force has the Helmet Mounted Coueing System-HMCS “Scorpion”. This is easy to fix editing the Falcon4_VCD.xml file. To do this, you should to open the Editor, find the EF-18M in Vehicles/Aircraft ( Index 352) and open it, click “has HMS” and click the Save buttom.
-
- Cockpit doesn’t have many of the switches working, the fonts of the UFC doesn’t look right and the kneeboard in the legs of the pilot doesn’t work. I have edited the files 3dButtons.dat and 3dCkpit.dat that are located in …\Data\Art\CkptArt\EF-18M . You can find the new files here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PTBf9UfWOeNUDndukfa41HWH62T2vC2l?usp=share_link
-
- Auto Throttle Control (ATC) doesn’t work . I have edited the file EF-18M SPAF.dat which is located in …\Data\Sim\Acdata . You can find the new file here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1T-rLbhdPSTDmrOqEwZwZ2lLaj04KBopY?usp=share_link
These are all the changes. From EdAv, we wish that BMS dev team and others theater makers follow the steps that I have commented in this message in order to fix the EF-18M and they include them in their theaters and next updates.
Thank you in advance.
-
-
Will be tested and integrated if ok
-
@Dardo_01 said in F/A-18 Improvements/Modifications:
Auto Throttle Control (ATC) doesn’t work . I have edited the file EF-18M SPAF.dat which is located in …\Data\Sim\Acdata . You can find the new file here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1T-rLbhdPSTDmrOqEwZwZ2lLaj04KBopY?usp=share_link
ATC (autothrottle) needs nasa model switch enabled in xxxx_afm.dat (I’ve had success with F18E)-
from mem, think value for F18 family is 2 (so nasa model 2)Cheers
-
@white_fang said in F/A-18 Improvements/Modifications:
@Dardo_01 said in F/A-18 Improvements/Modifications:
Auto Throttle Control (ATC) doesn’t work . I have edited the file EF-18M SPAF.dat which is located in …\Data\Sim\Acdata . You can find the new file here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1T-rLbhdPSTDmrOqEwZwZ2lLaj04KBopY?usp=share_link
ATC (autothrottle) needs nasa model switch enabled in xxxx_afm.dat (I’ve had success with F18E)-
from mem, think value for F18 family is 2 (so nasa model 2)Cheers
To be more precise the ATC function is dependent on:
1.) AC.dat hasATC 1
2.) AC.dat TEF needs to be enabled
3.) AC.dat TypeAC must be 9 or 10 (8probably works as well)
4.) AFM.dat hasNASA 2 must be enabled.All of that needs enabled to activate ATC for an aircraft.
-
@Scorpion82
Yep. Thnx.
Btw, TypeAC = 9 for EF-18M (-18C/D). (10 is E/F/G(rowler) )
TypeAC = 8 F-18A/B ? … not sure -
@Fox_518 thanks for reply brother
-
Hi, good news for F/A-18D pilots. If you want your female co-pilot eyes and visor texture back, copy the proper material from 2714.dds to 0.dds to the same place…voila
(F/A-18D)
https://postimg.cc/7G3KMDjp
https://postimg.cc/hQKp26Bh
https://postimg.cc/MvyqKX98
https://postimg.cc/nM9ng37r
https://postimg.cc/ppNPHKYZshared here for the convenience
https://www.mediafire.com/file/2tfa0tw9jzjtr06/0.dds/fileTheory with messed up texture numbers confirmed, it reads from different source than it should.
In addition, issue with no xmit modes feedback solved in F/A-18, so i want to thank you guys who developed helios software and thank you guys who made F-16 and F-18 profiles which was the source for my custom profile and finally found my old smartphone very handy to place it below my main monitor, just on the screenshot it looks it’s on the right side
-
Hello Fox_518! First of all thank you for your dedicated work and contribution to the community, and our beloved Hornet.
Unfortunately the latest link to the mod doesn’t work - would you mind kindly updating it, please?
Thank you again.
@Fox_518 said in F/A-18 Improvements/Modifications:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/3tnltkb32oqd11v/Data.zip/file
-
@HornetFGR Really sorry man, project discontinued some time ago, i sent you PM.
-
@white_fang said in F/A-18 Improvements/Modifications:
@Dardo_01 said in F/A-18 Improvements/Modifications:
Auto Throttle Control (ATC) doesn’t work . I have edited the file EF-18M SPAF.dat which is located in …\Data\Sim\Acdata . You can find the new file here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1T-rLbhdPSTDmrOqEwZwZ2lLaj04KBopY?usp=share_link
ATC (autothrottle) needs nasa model switch enabled in xxxx_afm.dat (I’ve had success with F18E)-
from mem, think value for F18 family is 2 (so nasa model 2)Cheers
Hi, Fang. You are certainly right about HASNASA 2. Plus there is the fact that typeac in the dat file is a big part of it. Believe me, we have put a LOT of effort into getting the auto throttle and manual flaps while keeping the performance (particularly G performance). Unfortunately , when you try HASNASA 2 with other TYPEAC’s bad things happen. So, it seems you have to go to TYPEAC 9 or 10 (with HN2) . And, it seems that 9 and 10 have hard code G restrictions put in . We had previously requested those restrictions be removed, if in fact they are there. Meanwhile, we made the decision to opt for autoT and manual flaps for the carrier landing environment at ,the cost of approx. 1.5-2G at the “other end” of the envelope.
The good news is it flies , and fights, very well, as at least 100 hours in Dogfight can attest You just fly it, well, like a Hornet, and not a Viper
You are invited to check out our current files. https://www.mediafire.com/folder/1bygx0jp35co0/F-18C
There are other jets to try, as well-
https://www.mediafire.com/folder/zb5x9n9n69y4k/BMS+4.37+Data+Files -
The G-limit is driven by HN2, not TypeAC 9 or 10, at least not with the current code. Select a different HN type (0 or 1) and you’ll get a higher than 7.5 or so G, ofcourse given it’s appropriately set in the limiters section.
-
@Scorpion82 said in F/A-18 Improvements/Modifications:
The G-limit is driven by HN2, not TypeAC 9 or 10, at least not with the current code. Select a different HN type (0 or 1) and you’ll get a higher than 7.5 or so G, ofcourse given it’s appropriately set in the limiters section.
Hi, Scorpion. Thanks. We had surmised that. What I meant by “bad things happening” was when we have combined HN2 with other typeac’s, we get things like the jet snapping to an unrecoverable inverted flat spin and other fun stuff. With Type 9 or 10 and HN2, the issue only becomes the G restriction.
Is there a way to make other typeac’s more compatible with HN2? -
@Tomcattwo - the Hornet Series does not have a DED…so you should just eliminate the DED from any Hornet Series avionics.