AH-64 Pack

[franze 196]

There hasn't been much to report on; I've been working on missions, scripting, and documentation (including the online manual) while Nodunit has been working on the heavy and catastrophic damage models. I'm sure talking about all the troubles with scripting bugs and developmental arguments between me and Nodunit would get old real fast here. ;)

The external model hasn't changed much but I'll humor you with a few screenshots:

[noubernou 77]

Hopefully when this is released model makers see the capabilities of in model interfaces. If we can just push BIS to make render to texture canvases then we'd have a really high quality engine on our hands.

[Raafatah64 0]

franze what about the idf saraf model will u guys release the other versions after the release since they dont need work after u guys finish with this

[ei8ght 11]

i love it:bounce3:

[DJankovic 401]

Perfect. :) No coment on this.. but thank you guys for not leting Arma 2 comunity and pass on Arma 3 as the most of the modelers..all the best with this.. and when u have time if u can post more pictures i enjoj watching the progres of building something from scratch to perfect helicopter :)

[franze 196]

Hopefully when this is released model makers see the capabilities of in model interfaces. If we can just push BIS to make render to texture canvases then we'd have a really high quality engine on our hands.

There's a high cost associated with the in-model interface but like everything else there's always a trade off. I agree with render to texture canvases - it would make creation of digital instrumentation in the cockpit so much easier. The HUD system has been in there since FP so there's already an existing baseline if they were to expand on it.

franze what about the idf saraf model will u guys release the other versions after the release since they dont need work after u guys finish with this

So far the initial release will just be the AH-64D Block II. We have other models planned but the Block II is the baseline we're working from.

Perfect. :) No coment on this.. but thank you guys for not leting Arma 2 comunity and pass on Arma 3 as the most of the modelers..all the best with this.. and when u have time if u can post more pictures i enjoj watching the progres of building something from scratch to perfect helicopter :)

This has been in progress for almost 3 years now and we designed it for ArmA2, that's where it's going first. ArmA3 may be the next big thing but it's not finished yet and we have a promise to keep to the ArmA2 community. I will try to get some more pictures the next time we do multiplayer testing.

[Bravo 1]

Hello Franze,

May I ask, When do you both think that, the AH-64 will be out to play with? This is one of the best Addons I have ever seen. I think that you are in the top 3 Mod makers in the Arma Community.

[nodunit 397]

I'm not Franze but I'll say that it will be a while still. We still need to finalize the damage model, originally I was a few pages behind and didn't have the same understanding so I was working on an incorrect basis which requires a bit of an overhaul. There are also many screwups I need to correct on the model such as the partially distended and floating M230, as well as some texture fixes such as the CPG window lining, the splinter on the main rotor blur and a few things such as that...good news being however that the majority of files were able to be recovered so that is a massive chunk of time saved.

Given that the majority of work for this project best occurs on the weekends, I do not wish to give out any information of any possible release dates, the set time would be too fragile..and while I can say that we only have a few hurdles left, how long those hurdles take will be the decider.

I would like to see a more interactive oriented interface in A3 but I suspect it will never happen, not even when BI have a fully dedicated system from TKOH..

Though what is a Render to Texture Canvas and how would it make page creation easier?

Perfect. :) No coment on this.. but thank you guys for not leting Arma 2 comunity and pass on Arma 3 as the most of the modelers..all the best with this.. and when u have time if u can post more pictures i enjoj watching the progres of building something from scratch to perfect helicopter :)

While the majority of images from the very beginning of the project have been deleted, you can still see it in its very early "concept" birth here and several pages back including ideas that never were or were never thought to become real http://s229.photobucket.com/user/NodUnit/library/Model%20work/AH-64D/Work%20In%20Progress?sort=3&page=7 along with other national variants such as the UK, Saraf and Netherlands birds.

Edited May 14, 2013 by NodUnit

[ESheppard 10]

I'll be ecstatic when the version for ArmA 2 is released, but when it's converted to work with Take On, well... I'm going to feel on top of the world. Let's just say that weaving down tree-lined lanes and between towering Seattle skyscrapers in an H-6 will have lost much of its charm.

[franze 196]

I promised I'd do this earlier but only just now remembered to take a few pics during MP testing. This is from last night with me and Hellcat.

First scenario is Night Strike, involving the destruction of an EWR and a hostage rescue.

Sneaking up on the EWR site after escorting the CH-47 to it's hold point, we managed to take out the site and destroy a bunch of armor, but Hellcat got shot down and the ChDKZ executed the hostages due to the rescue squad moving too slowly. We made several attempts at this one but usually something went horribly wrong; once the CH-47 collided with me and took out my FCR plus my #3 station, leaving me with little combat capability. Another time we managed to clear out the hostiles but a stray 30mm round on my part killed the hostages. Clearly we need more practice at night ops.

Next was Insertion, a scenario we've gone through quite a bit but still proves to be a challenge each time. A Russian-controlled airfield is to be taken by two AH-64Ds and a pair of UH-60Ms with a squad of infantry each.

Me, followed by Hellcat, moving quickly to try a northern approach against the airfield. It didn't work out so well and Hellcat only managed to take out two SA-19s before being shot down. I got a few armored vehicles but eventually an SA-19 took me out with a well-placed missile.

Another attempt, this time from the start, looking through PNVS. Without PNVS it's kind of dusty. On this attempt, I stuck with the UH-60s long enough to see them get shot down, plus managed to take out a SA-19 before another one gave me quite a missile hit. Hellcat picked me up before shortly being blown away himself.

We gave up and loaded up a simple shooting range scenario after our last failure at Insertion.

I chose to head out with a Longbow, Hellcat picked something different. En route to the target, I tried locking him up with FCR Air mode. At the range, I played around with my missiles and trajectories while Hellcat practiced his strafing. I then switched to gun and did a little bit of manual aiming practice. I then did some Bob-Up practice (poorly) with LOAL-LO mode. Hellcat managed to nose dive into the sand and turn a multi-million dollar helicopter into a new part of the landscape, so I went to pick him up.

A good night to fly, even if we managed to lose every scenario we tried! :cool:

[max power 21]

TI maps pl0x kthnx.

[DJankovic 401]

This was nicee. Pictures are awesome i cant wait to take a ride..you guys are best in what you do keep it going guys..i love that picture where "Hellcat pick you up" i love that sitting position can u just tell me what the controls woud be when u have guy on side of helo??? because i dont think he have place to hold him self..and it woud be little unreal to AH-64 take sharp turns or will it be like normal just with guy on side??

Regrads

[franze 196]

There were a few incidents over the past 10 years where it was used, the guys on the side secure themselves to various points with straps and hooks to keep from falling off. In rare instances guys just sit on the side but this is very rare. You can see the straps in use here: http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?126443-Riding-Shotgun-AH-64-Apache-Style

In our case, taking on passengers will limit usage of wing stores - using wing stores will injure the guys on the side.

Edited June 3, 2013 by Franze

[noubernou 77]

Hopefully there wont be no artificial limit. Would love to see people try to be high speed/low drag carrying spec ops into battle while launching FFAR and Hellfires... Woops, there goes your Delta team members face.

[ESheppard 10]

Well, Apaches aren't rated as transport choppers to any degree - Most conventions of operation agree that the side/strap method is a rescue procedure meant to be used only in extreme emergencies - Like, for example, if the other aircraft in your flight goes down in hostile territory and no other rescue could arrive in time to save them.

[metalcraze 290]

IIRC FLIR cannot show what's behind cockpit's glass.

[nodunit 397]

That is correct, thermal maps just haven't been implimented in any form or fashion yet. I'll be using this as a reference.

http://simhq.com/forum/files/usergals/2011/05/full-18733-12453-467677132_29b18dcf68_o.jpg

http://simhq.com/forum/files/usergals/2011/05/full-18733-12454-467677138_9c94fa989f_o.jpg

[purepassion 22]

Here is another picture, showing the tail rotor etc which might be useful for you, if you haven't seen it yet :)

[nodunit 397]

Damn that is a hot tail. Yes that will help me, thank you.

[max power 21]

yeah, I guess the exhaust hits it and there's also all kinds of spinning crap in there.

[islesfan186 83]

May look different for the ASPI aircraft since the exhaust is pointed upward as opposed to aft. But that's for future reference

[scfan42 0]

There were a few incidents over the past 10 years where it was used, the guys on the side secure themselves to various points with straps and hooks to keep from falling off. In rare instances guys just sit on the side but this is very rare. You can see the straps in use here: http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?126443-Riding-Shotgun-AH-64-Apache-Style

In our case, taking on passengers will limit usage of wing stores - using wing stores will injure the guys on the side.

Ah, Camp Bondsteel. I can't even imagine how bored the Apache crews were there. Though obviously bored enough to practice that.

Aircrew equipment vests are loaded with straps and designed to allow rescue via hoist, or strapping themselves to the Apache like so. Crew chiefs on other helos will tether themselves inside so that they can move freely without worry of falling to their death if they fall out.

Also curious if you guys have any CMWS scripts set up. Just got to do some work on a system the other day, so wanted to see if I can help with anything on it.

[franze 196]

I have the hooks in place for CMWS but the Block II that will be for the initial release won't have CMWS. It does have limited automatic ASE functioning but it only works against active radar threats, not passive IR threats.

[scfan42 0]

I have the hooks in place for CMWS but the Block II that will be for the initial release won't have CMWS. It does have limited automatic ASE functioning but it only works against active radar threats, not passive IR threats.

Awww, I was looking forward to seeing your AH-64 randomly pop flares at all the false positives the system gives. :P

[johnnygitarr 7]

hi franze,

i wished your mod would now be ready to use.

i love your sneak peaks.

can you bring your mod to dev-heaven.net

so all fans could follow te ongoing developement?

cheers johnny