ALPHA Supermarine Spitfire

[homebrewer]

Props; Page 98. Downloaded this and installed it. Nice airplane. One problem: Tailwheel does not retract. Any ideas? Any fixes? Thanks...

[gypsymoth]

Don't think they do retract - they're fixed I think.  At least they are on mine.

[Hagar]

Props; Page 98. Downloaded this and installed it. Nice airplane. One problem: Tailwheel does not retract. Any ideas? Any fixes? Thanks...

I can't find a Spitfire on that page. http://www.simviation.com/fs2004props98.htm

Whether it retracts or not would depend on the Mark. The tailwheel is fixed on early models of Spitfire. If it has doors it should retract. This might take a small tweak in the [contact_points] section of Aircraft.cfg.

If you give me a link to the page it's posted on I'll check it out.

[commoner]

..mm..think that should be VINTAGE page 98.....

http://www.simviation.com/simviation/in ... =88&page=1

...that download has Mk 8 and 9 which I would have expected to have retractable tailwheels..........the Mark8 HAS the retractable tailwheel but NOT the Mark9 .....not sure if this is the way they should be but it is the way these models have been made.....

Just as Hagar said ...the contact points need attention.........but so as not to butt in I'll let Hagar sort

[Hagar]

..mm..think that should be VINTAGE page 98.....

http://www.simviation.com/simviation/in ... =88&page=1

...that download has Mk 8 and 9 which I would have expected to have retractable tailwheels..........the Mark8 HAS the retractable tailwheel but NOT the Mark9 .....not sure if this is the way they should be but it is the way these models have been made.....

Just as Hagar said ...the contact points need attention.........but so as not to butt in I'll let Hagar sort  it for you.....in the unlikely event that he can't sort it  ;D....just say the word.......commoner

Ah, thanks commoner. Now why didn't I spot that?*

I think I've come across this little problem before. It should be easily fixed. I won't be offended if you fix it.

*I know now. There's no FS2004 Vintage page 98 on the site map. http://www.simviation.com/sitemap.htm

PS. The Mk VIII has a retractable tailwheel. The Mk IX doesn't.

[ozzy72]

I can't see the Spit on this page....

[Hagar]

I can't see the Spit on this page....

Sorted. Read commoner's reply. I've downloaded it.

[ozzy72]

Do you mean the XIX http://www.simviation.com/fs2004vintage87.htm?

[commoner]

...mmmmmthe link I gave is right...page 98 it is

Here's what will make the Mk8 tailwheel retract.......not sure of the number , I just guessed at 5 seconds each way but some Spit buff might know the real time ....change the red numbers in the contact points section of the Aircraft.cfg.....commoner

[contact_points]
static_pitch = 12.89
static_cg_height = 5.53
max_number_of_points = 7

point.0 = 1, -14.0005, 0, -3.331, 1500, 0, 0.45, 45, 0.3, 2.5, 0.7,5,5, 0, 0, 0
point.1 = 1, 6.7, -3.0833, -7.3, 2000, 1, 1.1, 0, 0.429504, 2.5, 0.862796, 7, 5, 2, 0, 0
point.2 = 1, 6.7, 3.0833, -7.3, 2000, 2, 1.1, 0, 0.429504, 2.5, 0.862796, 5, 7, 3, 0, 0
point.3 = 2, 5.4166, -16.6716, -1.5146, 1500, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0
point.4 = 2, 5.4166, 16.6721, -1.4701, 1500, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 6, 0, 0
point.5 = 2, -14.5967, 0, -1.2059, 1500, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 9, 0, 0
point.6 = 2, 12.1, 0, -2.3213, 1500, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 4, 0, 0
gear_system_type=0

It controls the Extension Time

[Hagar]

...mmmmmthe link I gave is right...page 98 it is

Here's what will make the Mk8 tailwheel retract.......not sure of the number , I just guessed at 5 seconds each way but some Spit buff might know the real time ....change the red numbers in the contact points section of the Aircraft.cfg.....commoner

[contact_points]
static_pitch = 12.89
static_cg_height = 5.53
max_number_of_points = 7

point.0 = 1, -14.0005, 0, -3.331, 1500, 0, 0.45, 45, 0.3, 2.5, 0.7,5,5, 0, 0, 0
point.1 = 1, 6.7, -3.0833, -7.3, 2000, 1, 1.1, 0, 0.429504, 2.5, 0.862796, 7, 5, 2, 0, 0
point.2 = 1, 6.7, 3.0833, -7.3, 2000, 2, 1.1, 0, 0.429504, 2.5, 0.862796, 5, 7, 3, 0, 0
point.3 = 2, 5.4166, -16.6716, -1.5146, 1500, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5, 0, 0
point.4 = 2, 5.4166, 16.6721, -1.4701, 1500, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 6, 0, 0
point.5 = 2, -14.5967, 0, -1.2059, 1500, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 9, 0, 0
point.6 = 2, 12.1, 0, -2.3213, 1500, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 4, 0, 0
gear_system_type=0

It controls the Extension Time   and  Retraction Time  in seconds.

That will fix it. The entries in red are the tailwheel extension & retraction times which were 0 in the original CFG. It obviously won't affect the Mk IX as it has a fixed tailwheel & is not animated. This is as it should be.

[commoner]

...mmm...interesting....well here's the list for the contact points....

     

[Hagar]

...mmm...interesting....well here's the list for the contact points....

       //0  Class                        <0=none,1=wheel, 2=scrape, 3=float>
       //1  Longitudinal Position        (feet)
       //2  Lateral Position             (feet)
       //3  Vertical Position            (feet)
       //4  Impact Damage Threshold      (Feet Per Minute)
       //5  Brake Map                    (0=None, 1=Left, 2=Right)
       //6  Wheel Radius                 (feet)
       //7  Steer Angle                  (degrees)
       //8  Static Compression           (feet)  (0 if rigid)
       //9  Max/Static Compression Ratio
       //10 Damping Ratio                (0=Undamped, 1=Critically Damped)
       //11 Extension Time               (seconds)
       //12 Retraction Time              (seconds)
       //13 Sound Type
       //14 Airspeed limit for retraction     (KIAS)
       //15 Airspeed that gear gets damage at (KIAS)

...and though extension and retraction are 11 and 12.....the list starts with Class as 0 so this IMO makes the 12th and 13th along the line as the numbers to change.........another example is the good old steer angle which although no 7 on the list, is the 8th number along the line....
I could be wrong but that's how I see it.........commoner

You're quite correct. I'll edit my last reply. Strange how my example worked for me.

[commoner]

OK...have you tried yours at 0.5 ?...it shoots in and out like lightening .....I think half a second is too fast...5 seconds is more realistic maybe...commoner

[gypsymoth]

Well done - nice work!   I was sure my MkV tailwheel was fixed as it's always there when I get out & glance around.    I must promote myself to a retracable model!

[homebrewer]

Fantastic help on these pages! A full tank of simgas on me for all who jumped in and sussed it out. I'll get on the tailwheel fix in due time. Got things to do right now...