Sludge/Combat Hornet Integrator - Released

[Sludge]

Fellas...

No worries... I'll post the better contact points here, so all you have to do is cut/paste into your aircraft.cfg file.

Here ya go:

point.0=1, -18.00,  0.00, -6.475, 3600, 0, 1.0349, 75.0, 0.2200, 2.50, 0.9900, 3.0, 3.0, 0, 0.0, 0.0
point.1=1, -35.80, -8.00, -7.075, 3600, 1, 1.2349,  0.0, 1.1000, 1.15, 0.9856, 3.9, 3.9, 2, 0.0, 0.0
point.2=1, -35.80,  8.00, -7.075, 3600, 2, 1.2349,  0.0, 1.1000, 1.15, 0.9856, 3.7, 3.7, 3, 0.0, 0.0

Additionally, on the Sludge Hornets, go down to [tailhook] (its near the bottom of the file, just above [smokesystem]) and make sure this ONLY reads:

[tailhook]
cable_force_adjust = 0.70

You should be good to go, til I can get a full update running... I'll get you the CS Delta Hornet [tailhook] numbers when I get around to installing/testing the changes on it.  I'm still modding some really good changes, so thats why its taken a while.  I'll be golfing today, and have to finish up my taxes tonight, but if you have anymore questions, feel free to holler at me and I'll see what I can do.

Great work, Woogey.  Glad you got everything fixed, now we have additional information to use to troubleshoot.

Later
Sludge

[simaddict]

Sludge,
Thanks for the quick fix! Hope you have fun golfing!!

Johan,
What do you mean by a manual install of CS Weapons? How? That would be awesome to keep the Sludge effects!
Thanks,
Mike

[Victory103]

BZ gents, just moving over from FS9 and the VRS, didn't think much of the FSX/A Hornet initially, but I was wrong after seeing this mod. Strictly military only flyer and huge Naval Aviation fan, purchased the CS jet for $12USD. Having a few issues that I think I fixed with the Integrator, but what files need to swap into the CS folder adding the mods manually?

[Johan]

Sludge,
Thanks for the quick fix! Hope you have fun golfing!!

Johan,
What do you mean by a manual install of CS Weapons? How? That would be awesome to keep the Sludge effects!
Thanks,
Mike

Mike,

I PM'ed you the procedure.

Johan

[simaddict]

Johan,
Thanks for sending that! Awesome!
Mike

[Sludge]

Fellas...

Thanks for your patience.  It was a great weekend... great golf, got ALL my taxes (FED and STATE) done, AND got some really good mods/ideas installed and initial tested for the Sludge.

I'll simply post the numbers here that you'll enter into your AIRCRAFT.CFG and PANEL.CFG files respectively.  This will allow those of you that have prior Sludge installs to keep what you have without re-writing everything.  Also, for those of you with limited bandwidth, it will let you be included in this "beta testing" without the download hassle of a FULL Sludge install.

I also have some new HUD spacings.  This is done, so I can see the numbers more clearly at far widescreen zooms (.40 and back), while maintaining a semblance of F-18 HUD realism that is a staple of Jivko's/Scott's HUD.

Without further ado, here are the numbers...
Please read the NOTES.

AIRCRAFT.CFG:

[WEIGHT_AND_BALANCE]
empty_weight_CG_position = -34.20, 0, -0.6  // (feet) longitudinal, lateral, vertical distance from specified datum
// NOTE:  Make sure this reads as such.  Its important for contact points to be valid and workable.

[flight_tuning]
cruise_lift_scalar     =    1.0
parasite_drag_scalar   =    1.05            // slow down Hornet at high speeds
induced_drag_scalar    =    1.2             // higher AoA drag, more realistic for CVN Ops
elevator_effectiveness =    1.0
aileron_effectiveness  =    1.1
rudder_effectiveness   =    1.0
pitch_stability        =    2.2
roll_stability         =    1.5
yaw_stability          =    1.5
elevator_trim_effectiveness =    4.5
aileron_trim_effectiveness  =    1.1
rudder_trim_effectiveness   =    1.0

[contact_points]
;Gear
point.0=1, -18.00,  0.00, -6.475, 3600, 0, 1.0349, 75.0, 0.2200, 2.50, 0.9900, 3.0, 3.0, 0, 0.0, 0.0
point.1=1, -35.80, -8.00, -7.075, 3600, 1, 1.2349,  0.0, 1.1000, 1.15, 0.9856, 3.9, 3.9, 2, 0.0, 0.0
point.2=1, -35.80,  8.00, -7.075, 3600, 2, 1.2349,  0.0, 1.1000, 1.15, 0.9856, 3.7, 3.7, 3, 0.0, 0.0

static_pitch =             -0.01
static_cg_height =           7.0
gear_system_type =             1        //Hydraulic
emergency_extension_type =     2        //None=0,Pump=1,Gravity=2

[tailhook]
cable_force_adjust =   0.70
// NOTE:  Ensure this is the ONLY entry.  If you have tailhook length or position, delete them.

PANEL.CFG

[Vcockpit01]
gauge20=FA18_HUD\FA18_HUD_VC_R!FA18_HUD_VC_R, 585, 508, 428, 471

Thats it for the manual entries. Some of these are redundant but necessary to ensure standardized testing for all, so that I get good feedback.

In the PANEL folder, delete your old FA18_HUD folder... then copy/paste the one I've included in the .ZIP file here.  For the included FA-18.AIR file, copy/paste that into your main Sludge folder.  Overwrite?Yes.

Thats the FULL Install procedures for this most recent Sludge "beta".  Consider this v1.2 BRAVO.

Load em up, install it, fly it around... test out everything possible (such as the contact points on land, on carriers, taxiing, almost tipping over; the new flight dynamics, how it holds position, does it Over-G LESS, can you carrier land with them?, dogfighting; and the new HUD symbology, the placement, functionality), then get back to me with what you think.

Enjoy.

Later
Sludge

[Johan]

Thanks Sludge...Good homework for tonight.

Johan

[Sludge]

Johan...

Thanks man.  Looking forward to hearing your inputs.

Victory...

Thanks and glad you like it.  Several of us starting doing this for the same reason, Hornet infatuation.  Do I need an intervention?

Also, talk to Johan, I think he has a fix where you can use all the typical Sludge/Combat gauges, but then you put the FSX Weapons HUD on the 2D HUD?  That way you can still keep the Sludge/Combat mods/VC HUD yet still have the availability of the FSX weapons pack.  I havent tried it, just been too busy, but as much as I like to annihilate things (we all know Im a recovering FSX civilian airliner killer)... once I get un-busy, Ill give this a whirl.

One thing is certain:  DO NOT use CAPT SIM's FSX WEAPONS INSTALLER on the Sludge/Combat.  It will jack things up as it doesnt care about anything except putting its gauge/parameters in the panel.cfg in its own way.

FELLAS...

Feel free to post screenies and/or videos of stuff you liked, didnt like, want me to fix.  Someone else might've been thinking the same thing, but just didnt know how to word it.  Also, it helps me get a direct visual of what you are talking bout.

Later
Sludge

[Johan]

BZ gents, just moving over from FS9 and the VRS, didn't think much of the FSX/A Hornet initially, but I was wrong after seeing this mod. Strictly military only flyer and huge Naval Aviation fan, purchased the CS jet for $12USD. Having a few issues that I think I fixed with the Integrator, but what files need to swap into the CS folder adding the mods manually?

Victory,

Please confirm that you have both the Sludge Combat/Hornet (a clean version, not loaded with weapons) and the CSWeapon add-on, and I will send you a procedure to integrate both without losing any upgrade/mods of the Sludge.

Johan

[Victory103]

I can confirm that I have the following: Sludge 1.2, Combat Hornet, CS D Bug, negative CS weapons pack, all separate installs. Got FSX installed and went crazy installing prior to looking at this site for all the gouge. Trying  to search the forums for any issues already explained, turned off my AV and think I got the SCHI working with no errors.

[wilycoyote4]

elevator_trim_effectiveness =    4.5

This data in the [flight_tuning] section seems a helpful change.  My first coupla flights have been done using the above new aircraft cfg changes and the new air file.

The Accel Hornet is about 3.5 years old and getting better.

[Johan]

Without further ado, here are the numbers...
Please read the NOTES.

AIRCRAFT.CFG:

[WEIGHT_AND_BALANCE]
empty_weight_CG_position = -34.20, 0, -0.6  // (feet) longitudinal, lateral, vertical distance from specified datum
// NOTE:  Make sure this reads as such.  Its important for contact points to be valid and workable.

[flight_tuning]
cruise_lift_scalar     =    1.0
parasite_drag_scalar   =    1.05            // slow down Hornet at high speeds
induced_drag_scalar    =    1.2             // higher AoA drag, more realistic for CVN Ops
elevator_effectiveness =    1.0
aileron_effectiveness  =    1.1
rudder_effectiveness   =    1.0
pitch_stability        =    2.2
roll_stability         =    1.5
yaw_stability          =    1.5
elevator_trim_effectiveness =    4.5
aileron_trim_effectiveness  =    1.1
rudder_trim_effectiveness   =    1.0

[contact_points]
;Gear
point.0=1, -18.00,  0.00, -6.475, 3600, 0, 1.0349, 75.0, 0.2200, 2.50, 0.9900, 3.0, 3.0, 0, 0.0, 0.0
point.1=1, -35.80, -8.00, -7.075, 3600, 1, 1.2349,  0.0, 1.1000, 1.15, 0.9856, 3.9, 3.9, 2, 0.0, 0.0
point.2=1, -35.80,  8.00, -7.075, 3600, 2, 1.2349,  0.0, 1.1000, 1.15, 0.9856, 3.7, 3.7, 3, 0.0, 0.0

static_pitch =             -0.01
static_cg_height =           7.0
gear_system_type =             1        //Hydraulic
emergency_extension_type =     2        //None=0,Pump=1,Gravity=2

[tailhook]
cable_force_adjust =   0.70
// NOTE:  Ensure this is the ONLY entry.  If you have tailhook length or position, delete them.

Sludge,

I think that you need to leave those 2 lines in [WEIGHT_AND_BALANCE], otherwise the plane will not load...

max_gross_weight = 56000.0                  // (pounds), default fsx = 56000.0
empty_weight = 24500.0                      // (pounds), default fsx = 24500.0

then:
"empty_weight_CG_position = -34.20, 0, -0.6"
would become the 3rd line.

Johan

[Sludge]

Johan...

Yeah, I guess I coulda worded it different or clearer to make sure that people understood that this line just needs to have those specific entries and not delete the other lines.  Sorry bout that.  Sometimes I miss the obvious in pointing things out.

I should copy/pasted the whole entry, then highlighted what needs to be validated by the user.

Where it should read:

[WEIGHT_AND_BALANCE]
max_gross_weight = 56000.0                  // (pounds), default fsx = 56000.0
empty_weight = 24500.0                      // (pounds), default fsx = 24500.0

;Moments of Inertia
empty_weight_pitch_MOI   = 62300
empty_weight_roll_MOI    = 16645
empty_weight_yaw_MOI     = 71170
empty_weight_coupled_MOI = 0.0

reference_datum_position =  29.00, 0,  0    // (feet) distance from FlightSim Reference position, which is: (1/4 chord, centerline, waterline)
empty_weight_CG_position = -34.20, 0, -0.6  // (feet) longitudinal, lateral, vertical distance from specified datum

// NOTE:  Ensure this bottom line reads exactly as such.

Thanks for the point out.  Anything else during flying?

Later
Sludge

[Sludge]

Wily...

Thanks.  Also, what was your perception of the handing in G turns?  Were the gear contact points better?  How was ground handling?

Did you like the newer HUD setup?

Later
Sludge

[Johan]

Thanks for the clarifications Sludge, I didn't mean to be critical
I wanted to ask a candid question: what are the changes you made in the HUD? I know that you have made some subtle ones previously...If you could post a snap shot of the differences, that would be great.
I have been flying a little tonight with the new changes. I don't have any problems with the points of contact anymore. My EG-smoke and vapors are great. I made a few AC landings, and that is the extend (picture) of the nose dive (my speed and vsi are OK, my alpha a little high). I will do more in the next few days.
Thanks again for keeping improving this great plane.

Johan