New standalone models for G4
 

A couple of guys at the field were talking the other day and the topic of R/C simulators came up. It turned out that a number of the guys had purchased or upgraded to Real Flight G4 since it'd been released. And as we talked, it turned out that a number of us had been keeping up with the free models that are available for the sim. If you're not familiar with the Great Planes Real Flight sim, it's a fairly popular one you see in lots of LHSs. They have a setup that looks like an arcade game right there in the LHS. Got the controller hooked to a kiosk that has a good monitor and the sim is running on a pc that's inside the cabinet. There's usually somebody standing there flying one of the models available.

Anyway, we were talking about how we used the sim and one of our challenged modelers mentioned he had just found a Mr.Mulligan available for download. If you don't know what that means, the deal is pretty kewl. At the support website for the sim, http://www.knifeedge.com/forums/down...?do=cat&id=200 there is a section where users can upload models for the sim. They create the model themselves with 3D shape generating software, give it the physics needed to work on the sim and upload it for other RFlight owners to use in their sim. The models are free. And just about anything goes for what you'll find available.

For example, Mr.Mulligan is an early light plane from the 30s that had the reputation as being the prettiest airplane ever. It was a 2place highwing and was one of the first private planes that was fairly popular that had the performance that also appealed to busineeses. It was fast enough to also be used as a racer. Back then lots of planes were raced.

So it turned out that a almost all of us had noticed the R/C sim one right after it'd become available back a couple of weeks ago. And we'd all downloaded it and were flying it on G4.

For awhile after G4 came out, there weren't too many user created models for it. The ones that had been created for G3/3.5 didn't work on G4. So for awhile that itch for new, free airplanes couldn't be scratched if you had G4. And right now there seems to still be the idea around that there aren't free models available for the Real Flight G4 version.

Well, I figured to help get the word out.

You want to fly a 747 or B52 model? How about a Constellation, also said to be the prettiest airplane ever.

A flying buddy who is still learning to fly who is collecting a huge collection of models, "he'll be able to fly someday and the deal was too sweet to pass up" showed up with one of those E-flite Taylorcraft 450s. That is one sweet little electric. It's a built up, park flyer size that is georgeous. But it's not exactly a trainer. So I've flown it for him a couple of times. He bought it from somebody who had slapped the wrong prop on it and decided it sucked and unloaded it. Turns out that with that tiny prop, it did suck. And the next prop he wanted to try was too big and it still sucked. Well, turns out the sim version somebody did for G4 flies pretty good. We've looked at the specs for the sim one and plan to try that prop next time we get together. It's too pretty a model to not fly. I think some people consider that airplane to be the prettiest airplane ever. ;)

And turns out that there is a "H9 Arrow" trainer available now that has an OS46 on it. One of the newbies was pretty happy about that because it matches what he's learning on.

And the discussion at the field got around to flying off water. Turns out one of the younger guys was surprised by the Boeing 314 Clipper and had questions about it's history. It's a historical icon much like the Spitfire that's just become available. I think a lot of people consider the Spit as the prettiest fighter ever, right? hehehehe....... :)

The list of freebies in a rut? Just "the prettiest" models available? Nah...... There is one looks like a 3D called "Sharkbait". I'd say it was ugly. And the Flying Boxcar ain't very pretty.

There are a lot of them if you haven't noticed. Seems the dam has burst finally for G4 models. Check it out.

RE: New standalone models for G4
 

Just to clarify one point, de Rock, all of the models for G3.5, G3.0 are also downloadable for use on G4.0.

RE: New standalone models for G4
 

When I import models into G4 that were made for G3 or G3.5 it will import but gives errors at the bottom about parts not having any physics associated with them. They also dont seem to fly quite right. I have seen some G3.5 models actualy say they have been updated to work with G4 so while the older files may import that doesn't necessarly meen they will fly correctly in the newer version...

RE: New standalone models for G4
 

The Knife Edge swap site is an excellent resource for planes. I have found some work better than others on G4. One of the best planes I have flown on G3.5 is the SU-30K 15% RC. The people that created this plane are brilliant

http://www.knifeedge.com/forums/down...o=file&id=3768

I highly recommend that as a download. the thrust vectoring and high alpha flight is a blast and I have found myself on the sim way too long finding all kinds of ways to fly it outside the envelope. At first I thought it did not work as well with G4, but read the documentation on the plane so you can take advantage of the alpha features and vectoring.

Upper left 3 -way switch set to center, left switch set down to dual rates. wheels down extends a speed brake that only deploys when airspeed is slow. use the flaps and in the center three way switch setting it takes off great. after you rotate get rid of the wheels and flaps. with practice you will find out what the canards are doing for you as you crank back on the stick and the plane end over ends. cancel with some forward stick and place it into a flat spin. the smoke is a great guide. roll out and nose down to a high alpha recovery before you touch the ground. if it seems twitchy you have to work with it and you are over correcting. plane performs beautiful tricks at slow speeds. This a a plane I thought I would not be able to fly with G4 but it works great.

I recommend going to Window > Gadgets > Binoculars so you can keep the ground in view and still see the control surfaces.

RE: New standalone models for G4
 

Yeah, but lots of them don't work on G4. When I first got G4, maybe half the ones I'd grown to like from G3.5 gave problems in G4. I'm guessing everyone saw different proportions of that.

Anyway, it was easy to sit back and wait until the dam broke and G4 specific download airplanes flooded the market. After all, I think I had around 80 different models with G4 itself, and another 60 with the Expansion Packs I had. It's easy to wait for new stuff when you start out with more than you could ever use before the new stuff shows up.

I'm actually not a big user of the downloaded airplanes. I've probably only got 10-15 or so of them so far. Haven't gotten more than a few pages into all that're available now.

RE: New standalone models for G4
 

Good thing is that Knife Edge separates out the download models now. They've got the section for G4 models and that insures the model working without problems on G4. With the large numbers that're starting to show up, I don't feel any pressure now to even try a G3/3.5 one.

But lord knows there is a ton of them.

RE: New standalone models for G4
 

I've tried down loading planes off of G3 & G3.5 and I get the error message,and I guess this is due to not being able to down load the add on disk. Iguess once RealFlight gets an update going for G4 so the add ons can be down loaded then hopefully the problem will besolved. I was told by Hobby Services that they are working on somethig to make the add on workable with G4 and they hope to have the problem solved real soon.
NEDYOB

RE: New standalone models for G4
 

"...I've tried down loading planes off of G3 & G3.5 and I get the error message,and I guess this is due to not being able to down load the add on disk. Iguess once RealFlight gets an update going for G4 so the add ons can be down loaded then hopefully the problem will besolved. I was told by Hobby Services that they are working on somethig to make the add on workable with G4 and they hope to have the problem solved real soon.
NEDYOB..."

you are talking about the "add-ons" CDs right?

I saw da Rock's comment about Knife Edge downloads, and some can be screwy. I went back today and downloaded a bunch of 3.5 planes from the 3.5 section of the Knife Edge site onto my G4 and they are working fine. I talked about the SU-30 and I thought I was separated from that plane and it works well also.

da Rock needs to download a few of them (some are working better now on G4). I actually had an issue with a P47 that was written for G4 and the drop tanks stick up through the wings. dumped that highly rated bird in the trash. Even some of the ones written for G4 can be bad, so you just have to experiment. I downloaded their version of the E Flite Ultra Stick, and was able to change the engine and prop to something closer to what I fly and it is very close to my MUS.

Lots of good stuff out there

KP