What's New on My Rig

[Charl]

There's been a number of threads about "What's the best...", "My favourite...", and so on.
I thought it might be interesting to hear what members have recently done to their flightsim.
Just a summary of latest things, could be a bit of hardware, or an addon, anything really.
Use the suggested format below, and keep it brief.
Here's my latest install

Flightsim: FS2004
What I installed: Fokker Triplane Repaints
Name, source: vondoe.zip and others, at flightsim.com
Cost: Freeware
Description: Textures for Frank Elton/Pegasus Aviation Design's Fokker Dr. I. By Zac Yates
What's good: Great for Omaka scenery
What's not good: Flies like a pig, you have to respect those early aviators for not groundlooping every takeoff
Happiness scale out of 10: 7/10 (Marked down because it's truly 'orrible to fly)
But good for a screenshot:



Nice one, Zac the full series will be a great complement to Robin's Omaka scenery.

[ardypilot]

Awesome idea for a topic here, can't believe I'm the first one to reply. Anyway, here goes for me:

Flightsim:
FS2004
What I installed:
RealAir Simulations - SPITFIRE MARK XIV
Name, source:
Download from SimMarket
Cost:
$60 (29.75 Euros), one of my most expensive addons but well worth the price!
Description:
The finest WW2 fighter model around, properly my most detailed addon aircraft in my collection. The exterior is sleek and smooth, and the VC is just beyond words. What’s more is that the whole package is extremely FPS friendly which makes it an utter joy to fly.
What's good:
Hooning around without an specific location in mind, shaking and rattling in the VC, and feeling like Douglas Bader
What's not good:
Nothing really to be honest. There is an extra 1940's styled West Malling airport with Spitfire AI that comes with the package, and that lags a bit on my sim- but not really important as I hardly ever fly in the UK.
Happiness scale out of 10:
10/10 (I can honestly say it is a pure joy to fly)

*no need for screenshot, just look at this month's banner*

[Naki]

Flightsim:
FS2004
What I installed:
Marlborough Sounds AI Ship Traffic
Name, source:
Avsim marlborough_sounds_ai_boat_pack_zip
Cost:
Freeware
Description:
Adds some nice boat/ship traffic (& some extra scenery) to Realenz Wellington & Marlborough
What's good:
Adds more atmosphere to some already good packages
What's not good:
Nothing really but the Endeavour seems a bit quick for an old sail boat
Happiness scale out of 10:
10/10

I post some screenshots in another thread sometime

[ardypilot]

Awesome idea for a topic here, can't believe I'm the first one to reply. Anyway, here goes for me:

Flightsim:
FS2004
What I installed:
Carenado Mentor
Name, source:
Carenado website: http://www.carenado.com/ecommerce/buscador...?id_producto=33
Cost:
$19 US ($27 NZ)
Description:
I won this addon in a competition, not something I was planning to purchase but I'm surprisingly satisfied with it. The T-34 is a duel seater US military crew trainer built in the 1940s and 50s which is still in service today. The cockpit has 360 degree glass views which makes VFR a lot of fun.
What's good:
VC glass, tinted slightly which is nice and realistic, easy handling, nimble performance, smooth on framerates
What's not good:
The VC and exterior model aren't exactly brilliant- rivals top of the line freeware at most. My second latest payware addon, the Real Air SF260 beats it hands down in every aspect.
Happiness scale out of 10:
7/10
Screenshots:

[Florian_S]

Very interesting thread indeed! Here's my latest

Flightsim: FS2004
What I installed: Abacus FS Repaint v2
Name, source: Purchased from www.abacuspub.com
Cost: US$29.00
Description: Simple repainting tool that allows you to customise your FS9 aircraft.
What's good: The fact that it is quite easy to use and the results aren't too bad. It's great for customising rego's etc to suit your personal needs.
What's not good: Can't really say as yet because I haven't had it long enough but it doesn't have the same level of options as something like Photoshop for example.
Happiness scale out of 10: 8/10, Still getting the hang of it a bit but after only a small play around I had already whipped up a modification of the Carenado 182RG into a fictional Kiwi aircraft for my adventures:

[Charl]

Good show Florian, you'll be a master painter in no time!
As you may know, you can select which paint editor you want to use (e.g. Photoshop) and use FSRepaint just as the excellent visualisation tool it is.

Now, to my latest bit of joy: the Terabyte Barrier is broken!

Flightsim: FS2004 (and a test FSX which I don't normally acknowledge)
What I installed: A second HDD
Name, source: 500GB Seagate SATA2 from Playtech in Albany
Cost: $315 which included a second WIN XP install plus drivers
Description: I didn't know it was possible, but I now have 2 computers in one, with the same Windows identity.
I select which disk to boot from (through the BIOS), and have available either a full-house absolutely loaded flightsim, or a bare-bones minimum install, along with minimum Windows bits, and no internet to suck in spyware.
What's good: The ability to mess around with the loaded-up sim and have the security of a working backup. And the pleasure on the other hand of a speedy fresh install with no frills, to test stuff on. (Which gets transferred, if good, to the "other" sim).
What's not good: My family will start introducing themselves when they occasionally see me, and call me "Sir"
Happiness scale out of 10: 11. No worries about headroom or corrupt files. Ah the freedom!

[VH-CC1]

Flightsim: FS9
What I installed: IRIS Pro Series T-6/A Texan II
Name, source: http://www.irissimulations.com/
Cost: $39.99aud
Description: A fun flick around the sky turboprop.
What's good: Not a frame eater, maneuverable, Amazing climb, heaps of repaints & the soundpack for it *drool*
What's not good: the size, 737mb
Happiness scale out of 10: 10

[ardypilot]

Have got a lot of new addons recently, not none as significant as this:

Flightsim: FS2004
What I installed: Milton Shupe's amazing freeware Dash 7
Name, source: d7vcmdla.zip at http://www.flightsimonline.com/Dash74
Cost: $0, but payware quality
Description: Rugged sort of aircraft that can go anywhere. I read an article in the December 2006 Airliner World about a ferry flight from Singapore to Toronto of C-FJHQ. I've been meaning to download this award winner for almost a year, but after more recently exploring the Nordic areas in FS again (after doing some Cold War spy route flying), then searching the locations I had flown over at Airliners.net, it reminded me that this was the plane was a popular commuter in the Artic Circle area.
What's good: Amazing model, STOL capabilities, detailed VC, great on framerates
What's not good: Nothing, thats why I decided to report on it here! (Although I can't find a panel readme file)
Happiness scale out of 10: A solid 10- expect lots more screenshots of this craft to be popping up soon

[bardos]

QUOTE (Trolly @ Nov 19 2007, 04:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have got a lot of new addons recently, not none as significant as this:

What's not good: Nothing, thats why I decided to report on it here! (Although I can't find a panel readme file)

This one?? http://www.flightsimonline.com/dash7-6

[ardypilot]

QUOTE

This one?? http://www.flightsimonline.com/dash7-6[/quote]
Just what I was looking for- thank you very much mate

Now I can get busy exploring all the Finnish scenery I have been downloading this afternoon, and maybe even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights of out the VC window!

Last edited by ardypilot on Mon Nov 19, 2007 8:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Charl]

Flightsim: FS2004/FSX
What I installed: Carenado Full Pack Cessna U206G Stationair 6 II Regular, Amphibian and Cargo FFull Pack Cessna U206G Stationair 6 II Regular, Amphibian and Cargo ull Pack Cessna U206G Stationair 6 II Regular, Amphibian and Cargo
Name, source: www.Carenado.com
Cost: US$29.95 which is not too bad given the state of the Greenback.
Description: See above, somehow I missed this aircraft previously, but it remains a stalwart. Good external model, panel, VC, great sound (Love the prop whirr). And it comes with a free FSX patch if you are so inclined.
What's good: It's a very consistent package - by which I mean everything is the same standard of Good. You sometimes get models that have a failing in one department or other - this is not one of them, it's a thoughtfully constructed item.
What's not good: Early days as I only installed it today! None so far.
Happiness scale out of 10: 10. I have their excellent Mooney too but this one may be better.
Screenshot (FSX):


And there are NZ paints too. They required a little massaging into DXT3 format, and some tweaks with texture folders...
Screenshot (FS9):

[Naki]

Charl thought you would of got the 206 ages ago considering all the NZ schemes for it - don't forget the jenks ZK-DOV Mountain Air scheme for it! Personally I like the Carenado Mooney & the 182Q Skylane better but that is just a personal opinion.

Charl what scenery is that in the third and fourth shots?

....and while I am asking questions what scenery is that in your Mentor shots Andrew?

[Charl]

Yeah these things happen - I also recently discovered some Carlos Santana songs I had never heard before...
You ought to recognise the scenery though - Soundsair, ferry, Picton...
The FSX one is Friday Harbour

[ardypilot]

QUOTE

....and while I am asking questions what scenery is that in your Mentor shots Andrew?[/quote]
Shoreham airport from Just Flight's Flying Club boxed addon