NZFF

Well I know it has been awhile but I have progressed the VC and other stuff for the Sunderland to the point where I think it is now ok for release. I just have to find a suitable site for the upload first then I will post the link when that happens.

First let me say that all credit for the textures and paints goes to Adrian (aka AB) who did the repaints for the NZ MK V Sunderland. I have as closely as possible completely reworked the aircraft config to more accurately reflect the dimensions, power, engine types etc for the Sunderland and it is now as accurate to the real aircraft as possible. Performance is per the book with no surprises. The fuel system has been left for the time being with a three tank per wing arrangement although the original aircraft, the MK V had six tanks per wing, the fuel quantities are however as per (6 tanks) and the load position relevant to CofG as per the original aircraft data from the UK RAF Sunderland Operating Manuals as are all flight surface sizes, angles and types. Engines have been reconfigured to now have the the P&W 1830's. Doors all work as per original and front turret retraction for mooring is activated and usable (Alas no mooring ropes as this requires a boat object and nobody I have been in communication with at various developer sites thinks this is possible at the moment.

Some screenshots of the finished product, lets called it v.1




Now the Captains view from the VC:



Now the Co-Pilots view:



All the relevant guages and switches work. Flaps are controlled by the electric switch on the captains side and a flap position indicator is operative, just as the original aircraft had. Radar altimeter and RMI are working as are all other fitted switches for lights etc. All instruments have been placed as closely as possible to the positions on the panel in the remaining real example in the Auckland museum. There are old fashioned dial driven radios fitted to the left and right hand side of the pilots position near the pedestal, as per the original aircraft and which were made available by Just Flight to me with permissions for use and publication as are all other gauges etc. Feathering gauges are operative but not the fire extinguishers which are for the time being dummie swtiches. A fire warning light(s) have been fitted and will illuminate if an engine catches fire. Simi-cons are provided to bring up all sub panels. Note there are now Boost gauges fitted not MP gauges, Boost settings for operation are provided in the manual. The FE only got RPM gauges as per the original FE panels.

Flight Engineer Position:



The flight engineer station comes as a pop up and is also modelled on the Auckland Museum Aircraft. All guages and switches are operative. Engine start, electrical and fuel systems all have to be controlled from the FE position as per the real thing. A Carburettor Air Temp guage and Carb heat controls have been added as per the P&W 1830 engine fit.

Radio Operators Position:



Radar:



I have fitted a weather radar, this is a Captain Sim Radar and if you do not have this addon then it will cause no problems. The reasoning for this is to get the Navigator/ Radio Operator positions more authentic later once I have finished some facsimiles of the early Radar and other radio systems. As there is nothing off the shelf I could use so to speak I have left them out for the time being and preferred not to use photographic bitmaps in their place. Similarly some VC views Ihave operative are not included in this release until I can polish up the interior and the various crew stations, this is quite difficult and very time consuming but is being worked on.

Autopilot:



The autopilot is placed on the left hand side cockpit wall as per the original however the only similar and or identical autopilot would be the one fitted to the Lancaster and this would require extensive work to get the visuals right as it looks a bit like a dogs breakfast with pipes and lines etc. The autopilot works well.

RELEASE DATE I HOPE TO GET THIS PUBLISHED BY END OF MONTH but need to get a Beta Copy to AB first so he can critique it for me.

Anyways nearly there guys. I think it is ok given the limitations of the original JBK Model files and bitmapping of the VC etc.

OK AND ONE LAST THING THERE IS NO 2D COCKPIT OR PANEL

YES there will be a MANUAL which includes pilot notes from RAF and Shorts Operating manuals as well as first hand accounts and descriptions sourced from historical and other places (Including some old film and video) on how to properly fly the Sunderland on the water and in the air. Most of the gents who flew these have passed on but if you want to see probably the only and best clips of a Sunderland/Sandringham, which has a real good cockpit feel there are some videos on the web of the Ansett Sandringham pres-tart, taxy, take off and departure from Rose Bay and trip to Lord Howe. The captain was Lawrence Lloyd Maundrell, a former NSW Grade cricketer and RAAF C-47 pilot, did time in Catalinas and move on to the F27 after they stopped the Sandringham services.

Engine power graphs and fuel consumption tables are provided for the P&W 1830 engine.

The fuel system and standard operational quantitiies carried was a mystery for a long time until I worked out that a standard weight fuel load basically meant 3/4 full tanks not full tanks and full tanks is a maximum operational load that could be carried if required. The start up config gives the 3/4 load. The aircraft needs a lot of water space to get airborne with a full load and accurate technique to get it to unstick now just like the real aircraft was. I have not had the time to model the complexity of the six tank per wing system and if you look closely of some photographs on the net of the real FE position you will see why, way too many levers for me at the moment.

Similarly with the radio and other military radio gear. I have worked out what is what in the aircraft as it was and some gauges and switches in the middle of the real cockpit centre panel are depth charge weapons setting and switches, these are not modelled. Similarly the early Marconi HF radio and other radio navigation equipment were hard to track down and I now have good photos of these but they were complex and fiddly bits of gear and there appears to be no point in doing the gauges for these basically to twiddle knobs. There are no weapons fitted as there is no provision in JBK's original model to have the underwing bomb racking and load process from the main fuselage.

I tried a number of times to get a turret view active but this is also a lot of grief at the moment but will come later as will better wing views so to speak. I can add to the interior but as I have had no luck in contacting JBK with out the original model code I cannot add in a realistic interior which would have been nice and doable.

I have spent a lot of sim time in this and I am satisfied it is as per the book for a Sunderland now (That's why you now have carb icing indicators and controls) I had an interesting moment in deep Southern Ocean areas south of Milford Sound when all 4 quit because of icing before I modified them. Oh yeah how did I get them started then? I did a reduced power landing on the ocean and sat there with the engines at idle + until they were warmed up ready to go again. No airframe de-ice, the Sunderland did not have this either, you kept out of it or went a lot slower and lower to get rid of it. They were not notable ice collectors in real life.

All test flying was done in NZ and Pacific waters. Auckland, Wellington, Chatham Islands, Fiji, Tonga. I had forgotten how boring looking at the ocean for 6 or 7 hours could be.

Yeah guess I am a flying boat tragic!!

Looks Great Bendy , would have been great to score the JBK model files and really hok into it , Great Job

Bored with a 6 or 7 hours flight
Just checked my log book - 26th Dec 1960 we did a patrol 16.05 hours - 8.00 Day and 8.05 night.
Plenty of coffee and no doubt steak and eggs at some stage.

Norm

NormNZ wrote:

QUOTE (NormNZ @ Mar 13 2014,6:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Plenty of coffee and no doubt steak and eggs at some stage

Sound like first class passenger treatment to me, wish I was there.

Brilliant stuff, cant wait !!!

NormNZ wrote:

QUOTE (NormNZ @ Mar 13 2014,4:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Bored with a 6 or 7 hours flight
Just checked my log book - 26th Dec 1960 we did a patrol 16.05 hours - 8.00 Day and 8.05 night.
Plenty of coffee and no doubt steak and eggs at some stage.

Norm

All I can say is thank goodness for turboprops they made the trip and out and back a lot less tiresome, still coffee I can relate too but never a hot meal ours were always cold ones and we never switched the galley on except to heat the water. Bacon and Eggs now that would have been a treat over the Indian Ocean some mornings, chicken salad roll somehow did not cut it.

BendyFlyer wrote:

QUOTE (BendyFlyer @ Mar 13 2014,7:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

still coffee I can relate too but never a hot meal ours were always cold ones and we never switched the galley on except to heat the water. Bacon and Eggs now that would have been a treat over the Indian Ocean some mornings, chicken salad roll somehow did not cut it.

After having the op's to walk on board and explore MOTATS Sunderland , a Bacon and Egg sammy is something I could have done with, Love to get back into the hull with my new camera , so extraordinary, seemed to be so deep and areas that staggered.

BendyFlyer wrote:

QUOTE (BendyFlyer @ Mar 13 2014,7:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

All I can say is thank goodness for turboprops they made the trip and out and back a lot less tiresome, still coffee I can relate too but never a hot meal ours were always cold ones and we never switched the galley on except to heat the water. Bacon and Eggs now that would have been a treat over the Indian Ocean some mornings, chicken salad roll somehow did not cut it.

"Switched On" Gee that sounds 'HighTech' - all we had were two Primus's

Ian Warren wrote:

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Mar 13 2014,7:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

After having the op's to walk on board and explore MOTATS Sunderland , a Bacon and Egg sammy is something I could have done with, Love to get back into the hull with my new camera , so extraordinary, seemed to be so deep and areas that staggered.

And it was known to be quite deep at times Ian.
Pic below if it works!!!!



Done a small edit for you Norm
Doug

NormNZ wrote:

QUOTE (NormNZ @ Mar 13 2014,9:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And it was known to be quite deep at times Ian.
Pic below if it works!!!!

Good on ya Doug, , A great photo Norm, now ya sure your name is Bob

NormNZ wrote:

QUOTE (NormNZ @ Mar 13 2014,9:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And it was known to be quite deep at times Ian.
Pic below if it works!!!!



Done a small edit for you Norm
Doug

Thanks Doug - thought I may have done it wrong

Norm

The reason for the abnormally high water level.

Nukunono in the Tokolau Group




http://s228.photobucket.com/user/whatakrak...hehole.jpg.html

They are great photo's Norm, amazing aircraft to be on least I had a chance to explore, back then I did not think about taken inside photos silly me .