Editing 'crash bubbles' of non-stock CFS2 aircraft

[Padser]

~S~ all

Anyone have any experience of modifiying crash bubbles of non-stock aircraft for CFS2, and if so could they give me some advice on how to do it?

Mdledit allows adjustment of the stock and ai flyable aircraft, but nothing else

I notice that DpEdit will allow you to change 'scale' to 0.5 but I wonder if this is the model that is being changed or the damage boxes - or are both necessarily linked?

Don't know how this works, so any input would be greatly appreciated

All the best

Pads

[Hagar]

Hi Pads. It depends on the model. If it's one of the older FSDS1 types Tcdfsview should do the trick. http://www.simviation.com/fs2000utilities_ess2.htm Set the zoom factor according to the aircraft type. 7 or 8 would probably suit a single-engined fighter. A larger number, let's say 10 for a twin & so on. It's mainly a matter of trial & error & different aircraft vary. You can judge the results in the Free Flight preview window,
I don't think it works on FSDS2 or Gmax aircraft. Maybe they don't need it.

[Padser]

~S~

Dang... don't you ever sleep?

Thanks for the prompt reply. Actually, it's the model of one of the stock ships I want to adjust.

I have been able to locate air and aircraft.cfg files that will allow them to 'fly' (see previous posting), but the crash bubble is simply enormous. During test flights this evening, we were registering collisions between the Essex and MdlEdit-fixed stock aircraft (set to 3) at around 140'-150'.

Will experiment with the program you suggest

Thanks again

Pads

[Hagar]

I am up a little late tonight but I had a nap earlier on.

You said non-stock aircraft so I assumed you meant 3rd party designs. If it's one of the stock aircraft there used to be a utility posted somewhere. I believe it was created by an Aussie squad. I forget the name of it now but I'll have a search round tomorrow. In the meantime try a search for CFS2 collision bubble.

PS. Here ya go. mdledit Version 1-1a. http://www.raafsquad.com/CFS2_downloads.htm
Is that the one you mentioned trying?

[Padser]

Hi Hagar,

Thanks - I tried the TCDFSView utility you suggested but unfortunately it won't recognise the model file.

Actually, by 'ships' I really mean ships. I've managed to assemble flyable versions of the ship mission objects (USS Essex carrier, USS Indiana, etc.) for use as player-controlled targets in online bombruns, but would like to be able to reduce their collision bubbles.

In testing last night (I'll try and post some screenshots - they look pretty cool! ), we found that an aircraft coming within around 150' of the larger ships will cause a collision.

Do you know as well if there is a relationship between model and size of damage boxes in the dp file? The default dp for these ships works very nicely, I would be reluctant to mess it up while fixing the model issue.

Cheers

Pads

[Hagar]

Actually, by 'ships' I really mean ships. I've managed to assemble flyable versions of the ship mission objects (USS Essex carrier, USS Indiana, etc.) for use as player-controlled targets in online bombruns, but would like to be able to reduce their collision bubbles.

In testing last night (I'll try and post some screenshots - they look pretty cool! ), we found that an aircraft coming within around 150' of the larger ships will cause a collision.

Do you know as well if there is a relationship between model and size of damage boxes in the dp file? The default dp for these ships works very nicely, I would be reluctant to mess it up while fixing the model issue.

Cheers

Pads

Ah, all is clear as mud now. I see what this is all about. I haven't messed around with "flyable" ships myself so wouldn't know where to look. What is generally meant by the "collision bubble" on CFS2 aircraft is caused by something in the MDL file, the visual model, not the DP. This bug apparently affects both the stock & 3rd party aircraft when used online, I'm not sure it's so important in single-player missions.

Accurate damage boxes in the DP file obviously wouldn't hurt & I don't know how accurate the DP files are for the default ships.  It might be an idea not to use a DP file at all. Hmmmm. Maybe not.  I expect it would then use the default DP so that would be no use. I'm clutching at straws here.

[Padser]

Hi

It is my understanding that it is the model file that is the source of the collision bubble as well - glad you confirm this as I too am working in the dark here (though I suspect a darkness somewhat more impenetrable than the one you find yourself in... )

It's the online context that is important as the flyable ships are intended for use as targets in online bombruns using multiplayer 'Alpha' bombers. For this reason,

[Hagar]

Pads. The only thing I can suggest would be hex-editing the MDL file. I have no idea where to look or which values to edit. If you can find out how those utilities like mdledit work you will be heading in the right direction. There's also a little utility named MDLC used to convert FS9 models to work in FS2002 & CFS2. I've tried it myself & it works fine. I was reading somewhere that it's possible to edit the collision bubble with it although I didn't need to get involved with that. This makes me wonder if they experience the same problems online in FS. I think this is quite likely.

PS. The idea of the mdledit utility was originally based on Tcdfsview after its effects on 3rd party models were noticed by accident. This handy little utility does far more than it was ever intended for but it only works on 3rd party aircraft models & possibly only the early ones. mdledit is the equivalent for the stock aircraft.

PPS. http://www.combatfs.com/index.php?loc=downloads&page=downloads&FileType=cfs2-utilities

This is an update of the MK_mdlc to version 2.0 which runs Ivan Hsu's mdlc program in Windows. Convert FS2004 aircrafts to CFS2, set collision bubble, apply dynamic shine. Some new features: remembers last aircraft folder, shine effects guide, aircraft size guide

[Padser]

Hi Hagar,

I'm not near my game files to test this properly, but a quick few minutes in my coffee break suggests that the MDLC utility (and its GUI update) will be just the ticket.

Will try this just as soon as I can persuade my family that it is entirely justifiable for me to spend another evening cursing in front of the computer this week...

Thanks for all you help on this - and thank goodness for all those clever guys who program these utilities. Incredible! No wonder that the MS combat and civilian flight sims continue to go from strength to strength and that there are still people who enjoy flying what are by now really quite old games.

~S~

Pads

[Bombardier101]

Hi Pads

DPEd works fine for me, I like doing DPs with it in conjunction with Notepad. If you don't like DPEd, I don't know what you will like.

PS: Where do you get Mdledit, sounds interesting...and uh, watch out for my CFS2 Iwo Jima scenery!!!!

Regards,



Bombardier

[B24Guy]

Hi Padser,

Hop over to sim-outhouse ship forum. info on the hex offsets (3040)  and bubble size info for all stock ships.

B24Guy

[Padser]

~S~

Thanks for this B24Guy.

I've just been over to the sim-outhouse forum and posted a reply there - I'm working in the dark here, so please forgive my daft questions!

All the best

Pads