Four Times CAP10

[Charl]

The latest version of the Recorder Module has landed, so time for a little play.
Woodbourne again, because there's nothing like it...

You can get pretty tight with these little aircraft, before the paint starts to rub

There's actually a movie, but I get despondent by the time it is Youtube size...
SAE if you want the widescreen DVD

More in the slideshow, just click below:

[Naki]

mmm nice shots Charl of an excellent aircraft - are the repaints something you have whipped up or are they freely available somewhere?

[ardypilot]

Awesome stuff Charl- I'm wondering the same thing as Naki!

[Charl]

Thanks guys, repaints are from Sim Outhouse
Cap10_4packv2.zip

[ardypilot]

Charl- could you please link me to the version I need to be able to edit text files for adding formation aircraft please?

[Charl]

Trolly you'll find the latest on Matthias' site.
You need the Recorder Module and also the Conversion tools for FS Recorder.
If you have any difficulty, post and I'll put up some examples.

[creator2003]

Nice shots charls , so is it the recorder doing the close formation with some sort of tricks with the play back ?,
ive always just tryed to fly each one as close as i could to get the shots i needed, but would never get them that close

[ardypilot]

Thanks for the quick reply- I've downloaded 'frcConv_1-0.zip' and had a flick through the manual, extracting 'frc2ascii.exe' and 'ascii2frc.exe' to a temporary folder as instructed. However, when I try to open 'frc2ascii.exe', it flashes the small back DOS prompt window then closes within a second. Any idea on what I've done wrong?

[Charl]

QUOTE (creator2003 @ Jan 14 2008, 08:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

... is it the recorder doing the close formation ...

Yes it's done in the text file, later.
Stay with us, Trolly is going to take the plunge

QUOTE (Trolly @ Jan 14 2008, 02:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the quick reply- I've downloaded 'frcConv_1-0.zip' and had a flick through the manual, extracting 'frc2ascii.exe' and 'ascii2frc.exe' to a temporary folder as instructed. However, when I try to open 'frc2ascii.exe', it flashes the small back DOS prompt window then closes within a second. Any idea on what I've done wrong?

Right you need a bit of DOS.
So you've saved a recording, and are ready to mess with it.
Mine go in a folder called "REC"
To make life MUCH easier, place the two conversioon .exe files in there too.
Open the Command Prompt (probably <Start>/accessories...)
This opens a DOS box

Navigate to that folder - use my keystrokes as an example, first go to the root directory (Type: CD\) then to your folder (Type: CD REC)
Then run the conversion tool to get the text file.
Once you've done that, just leave the Command Prompt open, and edit the text file in Windows Notepad.
Jump back into the CP and write the .frc file.
You can have FS running in the background with all this going on, because you will open the .frc file each time from the Recorder menu.
Experiment with different offsets, absolute and relative, and also try the time offset (which you can use together with position!)

This stuff is a true alltime FS great, right up with AFCAD and other brilliant programmes.
Have fun.

[ardypilot]

Ok I get the bottom part of that, it's just entering the directory into DOS that I don't get.

My recordings are stored in My Documents > Flight Simulator Files > Flight Playback Recordings, and when I try entering that into the DOS console, it says the path is not recognized. Could you tell me how I should enter it please?

[Charl]

Well now you know why mine are stored in C:\REC
And I would seriously recommend you do something similar, otherwise you will end up typing out:
cd\
cd My Documents\Flight Simulator Files\Flight Playback Recordings
every time you want to edit something!

[ardypilot]

Cheers for that Charl- it was the 'cd' command that I was missing.

Anyway, I recorded myself in the DC3 cruising along in a straight line. Here is the code from the conversion of that recording:

Code: Select all

// Track 1
#Aircraft: "Douglas DC-3 - Warbirds NZ3546 (flipped logo)"
#StaticCGtoGround: 9.90000
#Data:       latitude        longitude    altitude     pitch      bank   heading  onground    velocityX    velocityY    velocityZ  throttle1  throttle2  throttle3  throttle4  elevators  ailerons  rudder  spoilers  flaps  gear  lights  parkbrake  engine1  engine2  engine3  engine4   timestamp
       -43.3691955048   172.7071076456    1608.905    -1.577     0.154     4.624         0     40.01060     -5.19030    274.81440      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      0.0000
       -43.3691135841   172.7071240228    1608.733    -1.575     0.150     4.628         0     40.03060     -5.16623    275.01645      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      0.1681
       -43.3689856585   172.7071495891    1608.467    -1.573     0.142     4.633         0     40.06058     -5.12816    275.33035      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      0.3375
       -43.3688905300   172.7071685942    1608.271    -1.570     0.137     4.638         0     40.08256     -5.09982    275.56189      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      0.4633
       -43.3687660463   172.7071934555    1608.016    -1.568     0.131     4.643         0     40.11106     -5.06229    275.86293      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      0.6280
       -43.3686296606   172.7072206830    1607.739    -1.564     0.124     4.648         0     40.14209     -5.02025    276.19065      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      0.8082
       -43.3684963305   172.7072472895    1607.471    -1.560     0.118     4.653         0     40.17210     -4.97892    276.50858      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      0.9842
       -43.3683661148   172.7072732641    1607.212    -1.557     0.111     4.657         0     40.20105     -4.93651    276.81652      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      1.1561
       -43.3682325765   172.7072998908    1606.949    -1.553     0.106     4.663         0     40.22955     -4.89153    277.13054      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      1.3316
       -43.3680991196   172.7073264893    1606.688    -1.548     0.099     4.668         0     40.25648     -4.84630    277.44199      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      1.5072
       -43.3679656063   172.7073530870    1606.431    -1.543     0.094     4.672         0     40.28334     -4.80014    277.75085      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      1.6825
       -43.3678249159   172.7073811018    1606.162    -1.538     0.089     4.677         0     40.31169     -4.75086    278.07392      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      1.8671
       -43.3676976703   172.7074064282    1605.922    -1.534     0.083     4.681         0     40.33705     -4.70549    278.36373      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      2.0339
       -43.3675678672   172.7074322530    1605.679    -1.529     0.078     4.685         0     40.36259     -4.65846    278.65700      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      2.2039
       -43.3674333512   172.7074590039    1605.431    -1.524     0.074     4.689         0     40.38861     -4.60799    278.95853      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      2.3799
       -43.3673304060   172.7074794681    1605.242    -1.520     0.071     4.693         0     40.40700     -4.56968    279.18778      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      2.5144
       -43.3671897628   172.7075074140    1604.988    -1.514     0.064     4.697         0     40.43193     -4.51728    279.49824      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      2.6980
       -43.3670844652   172.7075283277    1604.800    -1.510     0.062     4.700         0     40.45066     -4.47832    279.72839      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      2.8353
       -43.3669829006   172.7075484929    1604.620    -1.507     0.058     4.703         0     40.46864     -4.44134    279.94909      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      2.9677
       -43.3668820301   172.7075685135    1604.443    -1.504     0.053     4.706         0     40.48647     -4.40545    280.16671      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      3.0990
       -43.3667813162   172.7075884962    1604.268    -1.502     0.053     4.708         0     40.50413     -4.37077    280.38257      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      3.2301
       -43.3666728913   172.7076100013    1604.081    -1.499     0.047     4.711         0     40.52263     -4.33445    280.61350      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      3.3710
       -43.3665714765   172.7076301087    1603.908    -1.497     0.044     4.714         0     40.53927     -4.30185    280.82823      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      3.5028
       -43.3664722428   172.7076497768    1603.739    -1.495     0.044     4.716         0     40.55536     -4.27119    281.03685      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      3.6316
       -43.3663686746   172.7076702967    1603.565    -1.493     0.040     4.719         0     40.57199     -4.24035    281.25316      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      3.7660
       -43.3662668880   172.7076904564    1603.395    -1.491     0.035     4.721         0     40.58836     -4.21100    281.46449      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      3.8979
       -43.3661670529   172.7077102228    1603.230    -1.489     0.035     4.723         0     40.60426     -4.18299    281.67049      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      4.0272
       -43.3660635822   172.7077307019    1603.060    -1.487     0.029     4.725         0     40.62074     -4.15486    281.88264      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      4.1615
       -43.3659641423   172.7077503766    1602.897    -1.485     0.025     4.727         0     40.63650     -4.12849    282.08528      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      4.2897
       -43.3658577314   172.7077714231    1602.725    -1.484     0.026     4.729         0     40.65258     -4.09971    282.30064      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      4.4272
       -43.3657515469   172.7077924169    1602.554    -1.482     0.024     4.732         0     40.66795     -4.07183    282.51433      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      4.5643
       -43.3656462526   172.7078132269    1602.386    -1.481     0.019     4.735         0     40.68285     -4.04513    282.72514      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      4.7002
       -43.3655386301   172.7078344887    1602.216    -1.479     0.021     4.737         0     40.69777     -4.01862    282.93905      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      4.8389
       -43.3654313058   172.7078556835    1602.047    -1.478     0.002     4.739         0     40.71305     -3.99279    283.15085      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      4.9772
       -43.3653272454   172.7078762261    1601.884    -1.477     0.010     4.741         0     40.72746     -3.96829    283.35521      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      5.1112
       -43.3652251276   172.7078963779    1601.726    -1.475     0.005     4.743         0     40.74196     -3.94469    283.55482      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      5.2425
       -43.3651156463   172.7079179751    1601.557    -1.474     0.002     4.745         0     40.75719     -3.91979    283.76738      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      5.3833
       -43.3650096489   172.7079388772    1601.395    -1.473     0.007     4.746         0     40.77134     -3.89573    283.97135      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      5.5195
       -43.3649091175   172.7079586941    1601.242    -1.472     0.013     4.748         0     40.78463     -3.87345    284.16359      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      5.6485
       -43.3647992592   172.7079803416    1601.077    -1.470     0.012     4.750         0     40.79904     -3.84953    284.37282      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      5.7894
       -43.3646555388   172.7080086491    1600.861    -1.469    -0.014     4.753         0     40.81747     -3.81823    284.64520      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      5.9737
       -43.3645550796   172.7080284272    1600.712    -1.467     0.000     4.754         0     40.83017     -3.79661    284.83381      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      6.1023
       -43.3644324604   172.7080525587    1600.531    -1.465    -0.010     4.756         0     40.84573     -3.77020    285.06258      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      6.2592
       -43.3643268877   172.7080733273    1600.377    -1.464    -0.017     4.757         0     40.85919     -3.74724    285.25843      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      6.3942
       -43.3642245640   172.7080934495    1600.228    -1.462    -0.011     4.759         0     40.87170     -3.72453    285.44712      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      6.5250
       -43.3641199970   172.7081140054    1600.077    -1.461    -0.014     4.760         0     40.88408     -3.70149    285.63894      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      6.6585
       -43.3639737009   172.7081427518    1599.867    -1.459    -0.021     4.762         0     40.90144     -3.66937    285.90528      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      6.8452
       -43.3638405629   172.7081689000    1599.678    -1.457    -0.013     4.764         0     40.91688     -3.64014    286.14547      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      7.0150
       -43.3636956627   172.7081973446    1599.474    -1.454    -0.019     4.766         0     40.93378     -3.60809    286.40541      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      7.2002
       -43.3635527670   172.7082253819    1599.275    -1.452    -0.020     4.767         0     40.95030     -3.57560    286.65938      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      7.3815
       -43.3634467729   172.7082461701    1599.128    -1.449    -0.026     4.768         0     40.96249     -3.55100    286.84597      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      7.5163
       -43.3633482059   172.7082654950    1598.993    -1.448    -0.025     4.769         0     40.97347     -3.52760    287.01853      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      7.6416
       -43.3632418630   172.7082863371    1598.849    -1.446    -0.023     4.770         0     40.98488     -3.50234    287.20378      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      7.7766
       -43.3630997014   172.7083141873    1598.657    -1.443    -0.030     4.772         0     41.00006     -3.46847    287.45013      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      7.9571
       -43.3629654372   172.7083404778    1598.478    -1.440    -0.027     4.773         0     41.01415     -3.43606    287.68056      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      8.1273
       -43.3628246555   172.7083680318    1598.292    -1.436    -0.030     4.774         0     41.02912     -3.40161    287.92017      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      8.3057
       -43.3627185343   172.7083887935    1598.153    -1.434    -0.032     4.775         0     41.04036     -3.37520    288.09962      13081      13081          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      8.4401
       -43.3625789962   172.7084160818    1597.973    -1.430    -0.032     4.776         0     41.05515     -3.33948    288.33397      13049      13049          0          0          0         0       0         0      0     0       0          0        1        1        0        0      8.6166

Now how do I add Harvards on each of my wingtips? Copy and paste the whole thing underneath and change the aircraft name and adjust the lat/long slightly?

Sorry for the many, many questions...

[Charl]

Great, don't give up now!
OK first a little sketch of how the offsets work:


You are right: first, copy and paste the whole thing underneath, as many times as you want wingmen.
Let's have two wingmen, so paste onto the end twice, a total of 3.
Number the additional tracks, 2 and 3.
Then, change the a/c name (use the "Title" from the aircraft.cfg file.)
Change the #StaticCGtoGround to match the plane (Look in the aircraft.cfg for "static_cg_height=")
Insert the offset line after the "timestamp" header:
$Offset: -30 0 15 for track 2
$Offset: -30 0 -15 for track 3
(The 0 is for zero height difference)
Save the file
Run ascii2frc

Done!
SAMPLE
// Track 1
#Aircraft: "Douglas DC-3 - Warbirds NZ3546 (flipped logo)"
#StaticCGtoGround: 9.9
#Data: latitude longitude altitude pitch bank heading onground velocityX velocityY velocityZ throttle1 throttle2 throttle3 throttle4 elevators ailerons rudder spoilers flaps gear lights parkbrake engine1 engine2 engine3 engine4 timestamp
-43.3691955048 172.7071076456 1608.905 -1.577 0.154 4.624 0 40.01060 -5.19030 274.81440 13081 13081 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0.0000
-43.3691135841 172.7071240228 1608.733 -1.575 0.150 4.628 0 40.03060 -5.16623 275.01645 13081 13081 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0.1681 etc etc
// Track 2
#Aircraft: "Trolly's A/C No 2"
#StaticCGtoGround: 3.20000
#Data: latitude longitude altitude pitch bank heading onground velocityX velocityY velocityZ throttle1 throttle2 throttle3 throttle4 elevators ailerons rudder spoilers flaps gear lights parkbrake engine1 engine2 engine3 engine4 timestamp
$Offset: -30 0 15
-43.3691955048 172.7071076456 1608.905 -1.577 0.154 4.624 0 40.01060 -5.19030 274.81440 13081 13081 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0.0000
-43.3691135841 172.7071240228 1608.733 -1.575 0.150 4.628 0 40.03060 -5.16623 275.01645 13081 13081 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0.1681 etc etc
// Track 3
#Aircraft: "Trolly's A/C No 3"
#StaticCGtoGround: 3.20000
#Data: latitude longitude altitude pitch bank heading onground velocityX velocityY velocityZ throttle1 throttle2 throttle3 throttle4 elevators ailerons rudder spoilers flaps gear lights parkbrake engine1 engine2 engine3 engine4 timestamp
$Offset: -30 0 -15
-43.3691955048 172.7071076456 1608.905 -1.577 0.154 4.624 0 40.01060 -5.19030 274.81440 13081 13081 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0.0000
-43.3691135841 172.7071240228 1608.733 -1.575 0.150 4.628 0 40.03060 -5.16623 275.01645 13081 13081 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0.1681 etc etc

[ardypilot]

Thanks for taking the time to explain that mate- I'm nearly there:


Is this section of code correct for aircraft #2, the number 15 Harvard flying in front:

Code: Select all

// Track 2
#Aircraft: "ALPHA T-6 Texan RNZAF  NZ1015"
#StaticCGtoGround: 5.44
#Data:       latitude        longitude    altitude     pitch      bank   heading  onground    velocityX    velocityY    velocityZ  throttle1  throttle2  throttle3  throttle4  elevators  ailerons  rudder  spoilers  flaps  gear  lights  parkbrake  engine1  engine2  engine3  engine4   timestamp
$Offset: -30 0 15

I've followed your instructions as per the diagram above but it seems to not be flying 30 feet behind but more parallel to the dak?

[Ian Warren]

Andrew ! now that is one wicked Random screenshot ... I no it only a test , but away from the camera , be the norm to float around in close formation .

Charl , The great formation leader

[Charl]

OK that is looking pretty good!
Not sure why the No2 isn't where it should be, may be your co-ordinate settings in the sim.

But this is the easy part, a few iterations and you'll be tight as a drum.
Start flightsim and start Recorder<play>to see what it does.
(you need to be in the lead a/c in the sim, prior)
Open your txt file and change those numbers a bit, save, & leave it open.
Open the command Prompt, run ascii2frc, leave it open.
Flip back to FS, run Recorder<play>to see what it does.

Open your txt file and change those numbers a bit, save, & leave it open.
Open the command Prompt, press F3/Enter (repeats the last command, neat huh?)
And so on, repeat until you are happy.
It's quite quick, try various combinations - they give interesting effects, especially if you originally fly a few banks and turns.
Here's one with the middle number fiddled (+ and - for tracks 2 and 3)

[victor_alpha_charlie]

Wait so with Recorder Module you can program other planes to fly in formation with you? Sounds too good to be true!

[ardypilot]

QUOTE

Not sure why the No2 isn't where it should be, may be your co-ordinate settings in the sim.[/quote]
Co-ordinate settings? Huh?

QUOTE

But this is the easy part, a few iterations and you'll be tight as a drum.
Start flightsim and start Recorder<play>to see what it does.
(you need to be in the lead a/c in the sim, prior)[/quote]
This may be my problem- I recorded the original flight in the DC3, then closed the sim, later loaded up in the default 172 at Meigs and played my recording. Suddenly I found myself above Christchurch with the two Harvards on my wing, so I had to swap into the DC3 to get the screenshot I posted before.. do I need to alter the way I play a recording in order to see the correct result? Love your ANZ trio by the way

QUOTE

Wait so with Recorder Module you can program other planes to fly in formation with you? Sounds too good to be true![/quote]
Yep, everyone has been doing that since the original version was released. You recorded yourself flying, then restarted the flight in another aircraft and flew along side as if your original aircraft was AI. (As seen here). However, all the effort has been taken away with this new converter tool that lets you edit your recoreded file and add more aircraft to your formation via simple copy and pastes, allowing the 'AI' to fly exactly in formation with your original flight.

Last edited by ardypilot on Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

ardypilot

NZFF Pro

 

Joined: Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:01 am

Posts: 6802

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[victor_alpha_charlie]

Ok so maybe it is.. I meant program the aircraft so they flew beside you wherever you went. Oh well, sounds cool anywho

[ardypilot]

QUOTE

I meant program the aircraft so they flew beside you wherever you went. Oh well, sounds cool anywho[/quote]
Yea thats what I meant:

Charl, this was with the setting '$Offset: -40 0 0' where I thought the camo Hunter would be following the yellow and black one at the same altitute, 40 feet to the rear of the tail. But for some reason it started at postion roughly at a 315 degree heading, and swapped all around the place during the twisty flight around Dubai, staying at that angle of 315 degrees no matter what heading it was flying... I reckon this something to do with the 'Co-ordinate settings' you mentioned?

Last edited by ardypilot on Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.