OK, even more good news...
Last night, early morning (1-2am), I get two emails, one giving me permission from Charlie "Skippy" Bing to modify/use his Carrier Trap Gauge (basis for JR's carrier trap gauge) and I get a repsonse from Rok Dolenec saying its OK for me to use his KC-135T aircraft model/textures. Ding-dong, the witch is dead!!
mildly bad news...
Im at work and wont be able to release the KC-135T til tonite. As well, I will need to update the Sludge README and start working on Sludge Hornet v1.1 wide-release (Carrier Trap Gauge, FSXNP Sound Pack and BlackBox Gauge) when i get home.
Bad news (but not a showstopper), just a roadblock that I think can be worked through...
In talking with Virtuali, he said he wont be able to give me the original model files due to legal/contractual issues pertaining to his development of the Hornet. Understood. Dont bother Virtuali about this as he is right to protect himself/his work legally in this manner. And these permissions dont overwrite any contracts he had with Microsoft.
However, as we are allowed to decompile the RTM FSX Hornet model, and according to Scott Printz we need access to the model, here is my request to all FSDT forum members. Go to all the boards, pull in all your assets (programmer friends, knowledgeable people) and find out means to decompile the "default" Hornet model into workable source code. If you find anyone that is hesitant due to percieved legal restraints, send them my way and I will discuss IN DETAIL my conversation with Microsoft.
Additionally, IF you are ever given any grief for doing this, the buck will stop with me on this!! Refer them to me... I can be reached via this forum, personal email, my personal cell number, person to person, whatever it takes. I will take all flak for this (if any comes out of it) and will answer any questions as to the discussion I had and the permissions given to me (and essentially US, as legitimate PRODUCT PAID FOR, users). The SPECIFIC WORDS: decompile, modify, and recompile the default FSX F/A-18A Hornet model files were used in asking for permission and the answer was yes.
This is where I am at now. I can wide release both JR's Trap Gauge and KC-135T Navy Drogue Tanker. And, since there are alot of good ideas (especially Ray's auto-flap logic FIX), please help me find a way to decompile the FSX Hornet, so we can start with modding the Hornet HUD. No ideas are off the table at this point. If you just have an idea but not sure how to accomplish it, write it down... how youd like to implement it... any NATOPS backing (not necessary, but would help). Then bring it up once we get the model decompiled into a workable source code.
Later
Sludge