Loading [MathJax]/extensions/Safe.js
Special Aircraft Service
Individual Mods and Packs for IL-2 1946 => Other Mods => WIP => Topic started by: Zflyer48 on March 18, 2018, 02:33:28 PM
-
A project to add to my list of WIPs and Hangers.
Zflyer48
(https://s13.postimg.cc/8v9dlpxuf/Airacuda-2.png) (https://postimages.org/)
General characteristics
Crew: five (pilot, copilot/navigator, radio operator/gunner, two gunners)
Length: 44 ft 10 in (13.67 m)
Wingspan: 69 ft 10 in (21.29 m)
Height: 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m)
Wing area: 684 sq ft (63.5 m2)
Airfoil: NACA 23018/NACA 23009 [15]
Empty weight: 13,376 lb (6,067 kg)
Gross weight: 17,333 lb (7,862 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 21,625 lb (9,809 kg)
Fuel capacity: 400 US gal (1,500 l)
Powerplant: 2 × Allison V-1710-9 liquid-cooled turbosupercharged V-12, 1,090 hp (810 kW) each
Propellers: three-bladed
Performance
Maximum speed: 277 mph (446 km/h; 241 kn)
Cruise speed: 244 mph (393 km/h; 212 kn)
Range: 2,600 mi (2,259 nmi; 4,184 km)
Service ceiling: 30,500 ft (9,300 m)
Rate of climb: 1,480 ft/min (7.5 m/s)
Armament
Guns:
2 × 37 mm (1.46 in) M4 cannons (110 rpg)
2 × .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns in front of nacelles
2 × .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns (600 rpg) in side blisters
Bombs: 20 × 30 lb (14 kg) fragmentation bombs in wing bays
(https://s13.postimg.cc/r9fbbfabb/Airacuda.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://s13.postimg.cc/fx2ptnwhj/Airacuda-1.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
-
That looks interesting. I'll have to look it up on Wikipedia. I look forward to downloading it.
-
Z,
I love you!
-
In real that was completely stillborn project.
Read here http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/fm1.html (http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/fm1.html)
(http://www.airwar.ru/image/idop/fww2/fm1/fm1-4.jpg)
(http://www.airwar.ru/image/idop/fww2/fm1/fm1-1.gif)
(http://www.airwar.ru/image/idop/fww2/fm1/fm1-6.jpg)
-
Very nice, That Airacuda will tide the war.
-
Nice! Wiki says there was an operational squadron of them.
-
This is such a gloriously stupid airplane and I love it. Can't wait to fly it!
-
I am super excited for this monstrosity!!! I hope it makes it into BAT at some point.
-
I remember reading somewhere that some of them were used on anti-submarine patrols in the days immediately following the Pearl Harbor attack. It's a vague recollection, but it could be possible. We used Piper Cubs for that in those early days.
Gil
-
Progressing
Zflyer48
(https://s14.postimg.cc/lpaidpbr5/Airacuda-2.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
-
coming along nicely.
That's very special golden age futuristic steam punky looking aircraft
-
I'm a big fan of this project, as a long time 'what-if' enthusiast :D
-
I have always liked this aircraft. It just proves that Concept and Theory always works on paper. Real World, not so much.
Zflyer48
(https://s14.postimg.cc/d4m8jkv0x/Airacuda-3.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
-
"Operational history
Despite these problems, one fully operational Airacuda squadron was eventually assembled, and operated from 1938 until 1940. Funds were appropriated, but never released, for the purchase of two groups of Airacudas. Continuing problems gave the aircraft a reputation as "hangar queens". Towards the end of the type's operational life, the aircraft were flown primarily for photo opportunities and always accompanied by a chase plane for safety. Eventually the decision was made to disperse the aircraft to various airfields to give pilots an opportunity to add the unusual aircraft to their log books. Airacudas were sent at various times to Langley Field, Virginia; Maxwell Field, Alabama; Hamilton Field, California; and Wright Field, in Dayton, Ohio. YFM-1 38-488 was displayed at the 1940 World's Fair in New York, finished in the markings of the 27th Pursuit Squadron. During this time, the aircraft saw limited flight time, as few pilots were interested in flying the unusual aircraft."
From here- http://axis-and-allies-paintworks.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?13408
-
Progress Shots.
Zflyer48
(https://s31.postimg.cc/y31ibq1or/28.03.2018_23-20-52.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://s31.postimg.cc/cgmhupxzf/28.03.2018_23-21-05.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
-
It's quite a good looker in it's own way. I look forward to it's appearance.
-
Using the A-20 Cockpit to look at the gunners
Zflyer48
(https://s31.postimg.cc/m40kifi3f/31.03.2018_3-32-39.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://s31.postimg.cc/j9xf4znmz/31.03.2018_3-32-47.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
-
Flying already! Awesome! Can't wait to get some engine overheat indications.
-
Will those gunners hit anything with that hig caliber gun?
-
Really unusual design, looks superb Mike, will look great in one of those 1930's all metal schemes. 8)
Wishing you all the very best, Pete. ;D
-
Hi ! It will be a great mod plane, it looks very well already. I just have a question about your project : what do you plan for the radio/gunner rear-facing guns ? The flat-window style position, as we can see for now, or the PBY-style one ?
-
I am leaning towards the the flat window layout as in the 1a model. Just to make it easier for me. Later on I can futz around and try the bubbles.
Just a note. Right now I suffering a sinus infection which has hampered my 'puter time. Projects are in slow mo for awhile.
Zflyer48
-
Looking forward to her. Always thought would make a good tac bomber instead of interceptor.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_YFM-1_Airacuda
-
Sitting on the ground. Still a lot of work.
Zflyer48
(https://s9.postimg.cc/fjwsqk7f3/14.04.2018_13-22-43.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
-
How comes the Airacuda? I have enjoyed watching the progress and I am very excited for this unique plane!
-
This aircraft is looking awesome! CONGRATS!
A very futuristic design for its time.
I´m also looking forward to fly in it.
-
Things are moving along. Slowly, but moving. There are many details in this aircraft to work out.
Zflyer48
(https://s8.postimg.cc/4sw349igl/21.06.2018_16-20-10.jpg)
-
Take your time in building it Zflyer48,
its looking excellent! I like the details you have done to it.
It just goes to show that even the Allied Air Forces had some crazy & wild ideas for airplanes too, not
just the Luftwaffe and their "Luft-46" projects ;D but this Aircuda dates back to the mid-1930s!
Imagine if they were available in large numbers at Pearl Harbor on that fateful December day?!
The Japanese attacking force would not stand a chance against those two 37mm M4 cannons ! AND 4 other machine-guns! :o
It´s a flying mobile anti-aircraft platform!
-
This aircraft looks like taken from a 30s pulp novel... :D
but here's a thing were there's a question about intended realism here. The plane was extremely unstable, prone to overheating and could not be controlled with one engine failing. You don't have to recreate these features necessarily :P
-
Looks Amazing Zflyer!!!
Thank you!!!
-
This aircraft looks like taken from a 30s pulp novel... :D
but here's a thing were there's a question about intended realism here. The plane was extremely unstable, prone to overheating and could not be controlled with one engine failing. You don't have to recreate these features necessarily :P
The gunners also had worries about bailing out with the props behind them. If you thought the tangleChute code was bad enough...
-
Keep up the great work Zflyer!!! I sure haven't forgotten about this monstrosity.
-
Starting back on an old project. Not following the addage "Back up! Back up!" I had to re-start from my 3d files.
But, things did come back together pretty fast.
Zflyer48
(https://i.postimg.cc/9MBdjG4w/2019-04-01-14-47-51.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/VkMb8jps/2019-04-01-14-48-02.jpg)
-
Holy cow, how cool is this?
Lovely plane, no matter how much it sucked in real life, the concept is fascinating!
]cheers[
Mike
-
What a strange looking plane, thing...never saw or heard about it before
Seems cute but double 37mm are not to joke about. Nice 3D zflyer :)
-
Very happy to see that this plane is still alive ; I'll definitely start to work on possible single missions for it ! :o
-
Like the original this is somewhat of a hanger queen. But, I am woking out as many kinks as I can.
Mike-Zflyer48
(https://i.postimg.cc/vZJknHws/2019-04-25-18-56-25.jpg)
-
This is just perfect for one of those what-if 1930's adventure campaigns.
-
Looks amazing!
Kick-ass aircraft ! ]headbang[
-
Really looking forward to this so ugly its pretty plane.
-
This is just perfect for one of those what-if 1930's adventure campaigns.
All ready thought of a "What If"
1 December 1941 a flight of 4 YFM-1 "Airacudas" dispatched to Hawaii to take place in practice air drill.
Drill is co-ordinating new radar unit and "Airacudas" in defending island from incoming B-17s on 7 December 1941.
Surprise!
Mike-Zflyer48
-
Keep it up Zflyer! Can't wait ;D
-
I have decided to go BAT with a side order of DBW. Things are moving a little slowly, right now. But, this mod is still proceeding.
Zflyer48
-
Thanks for the update zflyer, glad to hear that things are moving along ;D
-
I have decided to go BAT with a side order of DBW.
Oh no! :(
-
I have decided to go BAT with a side order of DBW.
Oh no! :(
Don’t Cry BK, some times the DBW is going to work or not, Just Relax ]sunny[
-
Works in BAT. Also DBW.
Still very buggy. If I can't get things to work as they should, I will post a Beta v1 soon. And, ask for help.
Zflyer48
(https://i.postimg.cc/tg7BMxtQ/2019-05-31-22-37-26.jpg)
-
Every time I add a new plane to BAT, I get a 70% crash. I'll wait until it is added to the next patch. I might try it in ULTRA SPAIN though. That's easily modded.
-
BETA Versions
DBW
https://www.mediafire.com/file/4lkkjky5e7ce94v/Bell_FM-1_Beta_DBW.zip/file
4122 (should work in BAT)
https://www.mediafire.com/file/q9o5hnh65cb6u00/Bell_FM-1_Beta4122.zip/file
These are presented to work out the kinks.
Notes:
1. No gunner positions. 37mm guns are locked into position as are 30s, fired by pilot. Rear 50s are AI
2. No bombs
3. Cockpit is A-20
4. See Read Me for air.ini
5. Skin is in the work stage
Zflyer48
-
Many thanks Zflyer48 works in my BAT!!!
-
Thank you sooooooooooooo much, it is amazing!!!
Below is a quick crappy skin by bastardizing other templates, my apologies :P
https://www.mediafire.com/file/zt6mtgxe987k6e6/FM_1+Airacuda+Test3.7z
(https://i.postimg.cc/2jB9FSrf/2019-06-10-at-22-30-11.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/rzM9qcDh)
(https://i.postimg.cc/hPLC6ZXy/2019-06-10-at-22-30-31.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qz7XCLXy)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Qdj63g5X/2019-06-10-at-22-33-49.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xcFGGzt7)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Mpt9Kcb1/2019-06-10-at-22-34-58.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FYdyTH6K)
-
Thanks a lot !
Downloaded and installed, no problem. Tried it in a quick mission (alone first), no problem at all. Then, tried a mission with opposition (bombers or fighters) to see how it behave as AI.
Seems there is still some work to do, because it did not attack the bombers (as a heavy fighter is supposed to do), ans against fighters, it did not have a chance because it seemed to act more like a bomber than a fighter...
-
I had a similar result. I made a quick mission on the Norway map v three Bf-110 Cs. It takes damage alright. Doesn't seem to behave like a fighter. And it doesn't like retournments. Definitely a worthwhile plane though.
-
It just doesn't have that killer instinct in AI. I am missing something. But, I am futzing the hell out of it.
Anyone have a suggestion?
-
zflyer what do you have it declared as in the java mate?
This is from the BF 110 java, if you want it to behave similar to that?
implements TypeFighter, TypeBNZFighter, TypeStormovik
If you based it on a bomber it may have something like
implements TypeBomber, TypeStormovik
in which case it will not try and attack other aircraft
regards
sparky
-
tested in 4,12,2m hsfx flew very well indeed great job and many thanks oh abd i was brave and shot up a couple of old bombers thus far great job
-
tested in 4.13.4m modded install-works
-
It's a very handsome, if a little weird, airplane. I have it running in 4122. As reported, it flies easily, but is a bit too placid for a fighter. A couple of minor things stand out. !. The nose gear does not steer. The nose wheel doesn't roll, and it digs a trench in the ground on a coral island while taxiing. The nose strut comes out at a sharper angle than the prototype, putting the wheel too far forward. When sitting on the ground the nose wheel is about a scale two feet off the ground. When the engines rev up for take off the nose wheel sinks into the ground, then rises as the plane begins to taxi. 2. Thick black smoke comes out of the bottom of the fuselage while taxiing. 3 The rudder doesn't move.
I'm sure your aware of most of this, and it may sound as if I'm complaining. I'm not. In the grand scheme of things I think these are minor, niggling little problems. I have no clue how to do any of this stuff, and frankly it all seems magical to me. I have all your planes in my game and I really enjoy your choices of planes. My hat is off to you, and all the other modders for your contributions to the sim. I hope some of the other guys can actually help you with these minor problems. I wish I could.
Thanks
Gil
-
Thanks to dona for his WIP skins. I used his generic to create a default skin. See link below.
Still working on fixing problems. Knowing my limitations, if those that can and are willing to jump in, be my quest in fixing.
Zflyer48
https://www.mediafire.com/file/69cb44s595wfp9c/summer.zip/file
(https://i.postimg.cc/h4MPW1Jc/2019-06-13-13-38-14.jpg)
-
Super Awesomeness. Would be a great addition for a future BAT update.
-
I have tried all this week to get this plane to dogfight in Autopilot. This dawg don't hunt. I am taking the weekend off and going fishing to get my brain right.
-
Default skin by Dona. ( ...early fix; temporary as model evolves... )
https://www.mediafire.com/file/mba6j3io6th8hh6/FM-1_summer.zip/file
-
I am at a lose as to why this mod does not want to fight against fighters. It will attack bombers but not fighters. I have spent the day at it.
I will leave it alone for now. If a java - FM guy can see my errors, please let me know.
Best Regards
Mike - Zflyer48
-
there is a strange file in your pack:
694020668
what is this, it looks like junk possibly as it makes no real sense. it is not a class.
-
on a second note, I have been test driving this Queen in BAT and found it to be attacking perfectly well.
my own plane on autopilot, and the wingman alike, they both attack on their own. But I am surprised at how little damage those cannons do.
So maybe it's something in your modpack setup... no idea.
edit:
I noticed it behaves like a destroyer: it attacks bombers but is not attacking single engine fighters. Maybe something in java is making it choose its opponents?
All in all it makes some sense at least as it is not a dogfighter at all.... but as bomber destroyer it seems to be willing to engage.
Given that it seems to be working to some degree in BAT I would take it on in the next pack :)
-
I had a look at the java and it seems to bet set up correctly for its type. Is there anything in the fm that would make it not engage fighters? Like maybe not enough power or manoeuvrable enough? Don't know enough about fm's and if they can affect engagement.
cheers
sparky
-
no, the FM is completely unrelated. behavior is a java matter.
PS:
you can order wingmen to attack any fighters, even your own autopilot will then engage
(of course this will be no success as the aircraft is just unsuitable for this. It will never be able to get behind a true fighter)
-
I have noticed with some mods, that if armed with MK103 cannon they do not engage. Maybe try replacing the cannon with machine guns as a test? Just a thought
-
Thanks, sparky. Anything above a 20mm, she won't dogfight. I will continue to try.
-
Nice to meet you Zflyer. The flight model might not actually be a problem for this hybrid of an aircraft. I believe that the "1" politically mandated squadron that deployed these aircraft would have run, helter skelter, in the face of aggressive singe engine attack. Against bombers? Well, if it works... Very good work, Friend. Just my 2 cents. Prost and cheers
-
The last week I have spent some time trying to get this plane to dogfight in Autopilot using QMB.
Somethings I have found out.
1. Wingman will dogfight, even when not told to do so.
2. Autopilot dogfight will work with one 37mm but not two. You can turn off right or left gun hook - dogfight.
3. Sluggish in Autopilot dogfight - But, one or two well placed hits. Deadmeat.
4. Flown agaist Ki-43-1c (3 ea) and Me110C4 (4ea).
That's the update for now
Zflyer48
-
it is strange how weapons determine behavior.
But there are airctaft with two or four heavy cannons so that must be solvable.
maybe the definition of the hooks is something?
If the hooks are attached to a turret maybe that defines something somewhere in contrast to the hook being attached forward firing to the man airfrme.
(no idea how this is done in the case of the FM-1...)
we know that an aircraft without any forward firing weapons on the main hull (just turrets) will never behave like a fighter.
-
Santa is going to ride ZFlyer's Airacuda this year!
What started as a harmless "let's make some metal skin here" exercise, got quickly out of hand and escalated to a bit of an overhaul of a hangar queen.
Task 1: all new metal skin with some painted details like the cooler inlets and outlets
(https://i.postimg.cc/YCP0mKJf/aira1.png)
Better coloring of the guns and some internal areas (where they can be painted). Some details into the wheel wells too.
A full set of nav lights and a pair of landing lights are on my list.
I will redo the classes and make the rear gunner actually work for his ride.
He will be rewarded by the heavenly sound of two Allison V12 engines coming from a new FM.
I already have the little sucker dogfighting and attacking :)
(https://i.postimg.cc/288ScSY7/aira2.png)
The secret here was in the naming of the weapon hooks: Large caliber guns must be assigned _CANNON hooks or the AI will be utterly confused.
-
It looks interesting
Good luck with your work ]thumleft[
-
nice cant wait