Tom's Cat
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The average life-span of the community modder is akin to the average life-span of the WWI fighter pilot.
Perhaps a Sopwith Camel external model is in order…?
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Always wanted to skin cloth and wood…I’m in.
@Ara’:
The average life-span of the community modder is akin to the average life-span of the WWI fighter pilot.
Perhaps a Sopwith Camel external model is in order…?
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LOL…that’s the funniest thing I read today…(spent the day studying at home so no real competition…)
@Ara’:
The average life-span of the community modder is akin to the average life-span of the WWI fighter pilot.
Perhaps a Sopwith Camel external model is in order…?
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@Ara’:
The average life-span of the community modder is akin to the average life-span of the WWI fighter pilot.
Perhaps a Sopwith Camel external model is in order…?
Not only the modders … but regular forum users too.
This forum is indeed very deadly … pay attention not to walk on a mine, we already lost a several registered users “accidentally” … without any apparent reasons!
EDIT:
I really wonder if I will not condemn this thread … it seems that there are too many mines around there. Don’t want to loose more good guys! -
All due respect there’s no one left to lose…
Let’s recap…
We got one guy who built an entire F-14D pit from scratch and he just commented on Ara’s epic idea.
We got one crazy ass guy who knows the F-14 envelope better than his living room and I’m quite sure he hasn’t had any illegal help except some female entertainment (just kidding Mike).
We got one Tomcatter by the book who always has original thoughts and input on the matter (Turkeydriver).
We got around 95.832 nostalgic crazies who can’t remember their own mother’s first name (Tomcat fans).
We got one certifiable skinner who’s skinned at least 72 Tomcats but never once managed to finish one skin for another jet (that’d be me).
Let’s face it guys - the only mine left to walk on is hairy, heavy, has two tails, a chatty RIO, a howling engine wine and a presence that comes with a hell of a lot of drama.
And no matter what you do it will always, always be there.
Not only the modders … but regular forum users too.
This forum is indeed very deadly … pay attention not to walk on a mine, we already lost a several registered users “accidentally” … without any apparent reasons!
EDIT:
I really wonder if I will not condemn this thread … it seems that there are too many mines around there. Don’t want to loose more good guys! -
Are those all Nizmo sams models included in some theaters ? Cause I remember someone asked me to create some dirt effect on that sa17 skins.
Regards
dema
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Are those all Nizmo sams models included in some theaters ? Cause I remember someone asked me to create some dirt effect on that sa17 skins.
Regards
dema
Please pm relevant BMS personnel or relevant users responsible for the theaters you’re referring to and keep this to Tomcat related topics.
Thanks.
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Also, I forgot to add to my earlier question, when the F-14 accelerates beyond the 250 knots, the RDC SPD message is posted on the HUD. Did any of you guys find a fix for that issue?
It works as intended, we just need an animated flap handle in the cockpit we can click on. Once you raise the flaps manually in the game the warning goes away. The indicator in the top left of the screen will show flaps and slats are up, as the .AFM automatically raises them but the RDC SPEED warning is tied to the manual key command. once you have pressed the raise flap key, the warning goes away.
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It works as intended, we just need an animated flap handle in the cockpit we can click on. Once you raise the flaps manually in the game the warning goes away. The indicator in the top left of the screen will show flaps and slats are up, as the .AFM automatically raises them but the RDC SPEED warning is tied to the manual key command. once you have pressed the raise flap key, the warning goes away.
You talkin’ about ‘Ctrl-F9’ (Flaps set to Null)?
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You talkin’ about ‘Ctrl-F9’ (Flaps set to Null)?
I was thinking ctrl-f11. But it may be ctrl -F9, don’t remember which one cleared the HUD caution.
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One more F-14 question. In BMS, I see the F-14A, the F-14B and the F-14D. In BMS is the A model an F-14+ model and is its capabilities the same as the F-14B? Also, what will your folks’ modes do concerning the differences between the A and B models? Finally, I am reconsidering scrapping the modern (2012) campaign in Somalia and creating a 1993 (Blackhawk Down) era campaign. Would a carrier equipped with F-14s be all D models, B models or a mixture of both?
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One more F-14 question. In BMS, I see the F-14A, the F-14B and the F-14D. In BMS is the A model an F-14+ model and is its capabilities the same as the F-14B? Also, what will your folks’ modes do concerning the differences between the A and B models? Finally, I am reconsidering scrapping the modern (2012) campaign in Somalia and creating a 1993 (Blackhawk Down) era campaign. Would a carrier equipped with F-14s be all D models, B models or a mixture of both?
In BMS as far as I know there is no real difference between the Tomcat variants, maybe someone from BMS can say sth more specific about this.
In RL the F-14A+ is the F-14B - only a question of different labels. There are F-14As, F-14A+ later called F-14Bs, F-14B ‘Upgrade’ (this is the socalled Bombcat) and F-14Ds.
Differences in terms of modelling would be a different AFM for A and A+/B/D variants. The AFM for the latter will of course only be partially accurate due to missing data and the unknown extent of a digital FCS in the D variant. It is based on the new vs. old engines which should make the biggest difference.
As for the composition of the airwing in 1993 in the Somalia theater of operations:
Squadron involved in Operation ‘Restore Hope’ was VF-213 with carrier air wing 11 aboard CVN-72 USS Abraham Lincoln. At that time VF-213 was the only Tomcat squadron with CVW-11, ususally it’s two but at that time the USN introduced the F/A-18C I guess that’s got sth to do with it.
Tomcats were all F-14A as VF-213 transitioned to the D only in 1997, the fourth squadron to receive the Delta version.
Interestingly, two years before the Somalia incident in the 90/91 cruise CVW-11 was the first airwing to cruise with SH60s replacing the SH-3 and F/A-18s replacing the A-7.
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I was thinking ctrl-f11. But it may be ctrl -F9, don’t remember which one cleared the HUD caution.
F11 is reduce Flaps which will lead to Flaps-Null in the final setting, F9 is ‘Set to Null’ regardless of where the Flaps are at the given time. F-11 is probably most equivalent to the cockpit switch I guess.
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In BMS as far as I know there is no real difference between the Tomcat variants, maybe someone from BMS can say sth more specific about this.
In RL the F-14A+ is the F-14B - only a question of different labels. There are F-14As, F-14A+ later called F-14Bs, F-14B ‘Upgrade’ (this is the socalled Bombcat) and F-14Ds.
Differences in terms of modelling would be a different AFM for A and A+/B/D variants. The AFM for the latter will of course only be partially accurate due to missing data and the unknown extent of a digital FCS in the D variant. It is based on the new vs. old engines which should make the biggest difference.
As for the composition of the airwing in 1993 in the Somalia theater of operations:
Squadron involved in Operation ‘Restore Hope’ was VF-213 with carrier air wing 11 aboard CVN-72 USS Abraham Lincoln. At that time VF-213 was the only Tomcat squadron with CVW-11, ususally it’s two but at that time the USN introduced the F/A-18C I guess that’s got sth to do with it.
Tomcats were all F-14A as VF-213 transitioned to the D only in 1997, the fourth squadron to receive the Delta version.
Interestingly, two years before the Somalia incident in the 90/91 cruise CVW-11 was the first airwing to cruise with SH60s replacing the SH-3 and F/A-18s replacing the A-7.
Very good information Stingray. Since the F-14A+ in BMS isn’t that different from the B, this is what I was thinking for my Somalia Carrier: 1 F-14B wing, 2 F/A-18A wings, 1 F/A-18C wing. Does that look resonable?
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Very good information Stingray. Since the F-14A+ in BMS isn’t that different from the B, this is what I was thinking for my Somalia Carrier: 1 F-14B wing, 2 F/A-18A wings, 1 F/A-18C wing. Does that look resonable?
Let me say again, A+ and B are one and the same. In BMS no matter what they’ve done the B is the A+ for all intents and purposes.
For the given timeframe the Tomcat would have to be an F-14A with the old engines and thus an F-14A in BMS.
Apart from that it would be era-specific and correct.
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F11 is reduce Flaps which will lead to Flaps-Null in the final setting, F9 is ‘Set to Null’ regardless of where the Flaps are at the given time. F-11 is probably most equivalent to the cockpit switch I guess.
There is also the alt-flap key command, but i am not sure if this is the cause of the RDC warning. As the flight model is designed to take into account the auto-flap feature of the Tomcat (controlled by the flight computer), i would recommend flying it this way. Alternatively in future, modding a manual flap feature could come in handy for added immersion.
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In RL the F-14A+ is the F-14B - only a question of different labels. There are F-14As, F-14A+ later called F-14Bs, F-14B ‘Upgrade’ (this is the socalled Bombcat) and F-14Ds.
I read on wikipedia that there were also F-14A ‘Upgrade’ - basically meaning a bombcat with old engines. I had thought the book “Black Aces High” also indicated VF41 was in F-14As flying ground attack and FAC-A (been a while since I read that though). Do you think this is correct or have I been mislead?
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Yeah, i think there were TF30 powered “bomb” cats as well. Though i don’t know how long they lasted into the 90’s or 2000’s……
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F-14A/B/C/D:
In 1973 one F-14A (BuNo 157986) was equipped with PW F401-P400 and designated F-14B Prototype. Tests were not satisfying and it was put into storage at Grumman’s Bethpage facilities.
In 1981 the same airframe was equipped with GE F101DFE engines. It could accelerate from Mach 0.8 to Mach 1.8 in under 90 seconds, launch from a carrier w/o the use of afterburners and climb in the vertical but the NAVY decided against it and the test program was terminated. In the same year a second F-14B prototype was built (BuNo 158630) but later converted back to F-14A standard.
In 1984 the original F-14B prototype was fitted with GE F-110 GE400 engines and testing proved highly succesful. This led to the production of the F-14A(PLUS), the NAVY later decided to redesignate all F-14A(PLUS) F-14Bs. The original prototype was part of the F-14A(PLUS) test program with the newer GE engines.
During the F-14B program Grumman also planned an F-14C, equipped with GE F-101DFE engines and upgraded avionics, improved radar and fcs compatible with A-6, E2C and F/A-18. All these changes were not put into production as F-14C but instead implemented in late production F-14A, F-14A(PLUS) and F-14D.
Grumman won a contract to upgrade the F-14A in 1984 which included the engines and
- Fatigue Engine Monitoring System
- ARC-182 UHF/VHF radio
- ALR-67 Threat Warning & Recognition System
- Direct Lift Control/Approach Power Control (DLC/AFC MOD)
- Hughes AWG-15 radar fire control system
- gun gas purge system
Production began in 1987 and in 1991 all F-14A(PLUS) were redesignated F-14B. All F-14As upgraded in this fashion have ‘Plus’ in the name. When the F-14D was put in production some F-14A/Bs received some of the same upgrades included in the D variant hence these F-14A/Bs carry the ‘Upgrade’ designation sometimes found in the name.
The F-14A(PLUS) had 60% more range, 33% more time on station, 61% improvement in rate of climb and didn’t need AB to launch.
The F-14D development began in the late 80s as well. To make a long story short, 37 F-14Ds were produced off the line and 18 F-14As were converted to F-14D standard known as ‘F-14D’. This means there ever only were enough jets for 3 deployable squadrons.
The F-14D included a wide range of system upgrades among others:
- AN/APG-71 Radar
- JTIDS
- ALR-67 and ALQ-165
- ASN-139
- IRST
- NACES Ejection seats
- Digital Avionics
- etc.
The F-14D is able to taxi within 5 minutes of a cold engine start with functioning systems, intertial nav and rear pit display work within 3 minutes.
The Upgrade program from F-14A to F-14B continued during the F-14D manufacturing and upgrade program hence the mixture of different versions especially during the 90s. VF-11 is the only squadron to have flown all three Tomcat variants.
BOMBCAT:
In December 1994 Lockheed Martin won a contract to develop a FLIR and stand alone laser designator solution for the F-14 in the form of a LANTIRN variant, installed as a pod system. The AN/AAQ-14 is not connected to the aircraft avionics, it instead sends images from the FLIR to the RIO’s PTID and the pilot’s vertical display indicator (VDI) in the F-14A/B or one of the two MFD’s in the F-14D. It includes GPS, ballistic tables and navigation aids. It cannot fly the aircraft to a pre-set target as is the case in the F-15 and F-16.
The first F-14B to test the system was BuNo 161608 from VF-103 - this is the famous operational ‘Bombcat’ or ‘FLIRCAT’ with the nose insignia.
LANTIRN ready squadrons were VF-2/11/31/32/41/102/103/154/211/213. All LANTIRN ready Tomcats are part of the ‘Upgrade’ program which integrated the D upgrades into A and B models and all these models carry the ‘Upgrade’ designation thus making them all ‘Bombcats’.
Since the mid 90s all F-14A/B/D variants had strike capability to different degrees.
The need for this arose during the transition time of phasing out A-6 and A-7 aircraft and the delay in going ahead full steam with the F-14 vs. using the F-18 to take over that role. We all know what happened in the end.
I read on wikipedia that there were also F-14A ‘Upgrade’ - basically meaning a bombcat with old engines. I had thought the book “Black Aces High” also indicated VF41 was in F-14As flying ground attack and FAC-A (been a while since I read that though). Do you think this is correct or have I been mislead?
To answer your question, it is possible that during the various upgrade programs some F-14As had the old engines while already having received some of the upgrades. In 1995 the NAVY planned to still have 24 TF30 powered Tomcats in the year 2004. As far as I know by that time there was no TF30 powered Tomcat actually left. I do not know the exact numbers and when they were phased out.
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The reason the F-14A+ was renamed F-14B was because the database used for supply and maintenance couldn’t handle the “+” to differentiate F-14A and F-14A+. Funny thing is, 10 years later, F/A-18As were upgraded to C equivalency as the F/A-18A+ and later the F/A-18A++(has APG-73 radar). Incredibly silly, lesson was never learned.