16 replies to this topic

[Steven Beeny]

Hello all,

My name is Steve Beeny and I'm a member of the Flying Stations.com team that brought you the Westland Wyvern for FSX and Hawker Sea Hawk for FS9.  For those that are interested in classic British cold-war era jets, well, we're currently releasing a new series of EE Canberras for FS9 (with good FSX compatibility before anyone asks!).  For those that know the Canberra, you're probably aware that it served for over 50 years in the RAF, as well as numerous other air forces around the world, including the USAF, SAAF, Indian Air Force, RAAF and many South American air forces.  For those of you that don't know the Canberra, well let's just say that 50 years of varied and reliable service is a tough amount to achieve for any aircraft, and is testament to this absolute classic (in my opinion, but then I am a Canberra nut!).

But enough rambling.  Up until the start of December, we are offering the Canberra B.2 pack as a freeware taste tester, after which it will join the ranks of the rest of the payware series.  This pack is not beta; it has been tested and ready for general release.  Two other payware packs are currently available for download at economic prices, and cover the B.1 prototypes and second-generation bombers, the B.6, B(I).6, B.15 and B.16.  Several more packs are planned, including the T.17, TT.18, American-built B-57A/RB-57A, Australian B.20, Argentine B.62 to name but a few.

Full details and download links are available through our web site; www.flyingstations.com.  I hope you stop by and check them out.  

Best regards and happy flying to all.

Steve

[CBris]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the heads up. But while we're at it, why not send us that post as a press release for the simFlight home page? I'm sure Sebastien will thank you for something to do

[CBris]

By the way, you really ought to do an FSX export of the model too, you're missing out on a big market segment already.

[Ian P]

If it was as simple as re-exporting, Chris, everyone would be doing it.

Unfortunately there's a lot of work to convert a complex FS9 model to FSX. Converting a standard material takes seconds. Converting all the animations, connect points and suchlike can sometimes be next to impossible. I know a few developers who have fallen foul of that issue.

That said, the FSX market is now outselling FS9 models by quite a large number from what I understand, so it probably would be worth looking at and sending it as a news item is definitely worth the effort.

Ian P.

[CBris]

Well, yes of course, but then they would be selling it to an enlarged market But I am trying the FS9 model in it's portover mode in FSX jut to see how nice she is - the "freebie" does look good, doesn't she?

Now back to something new - how do I get this 377 off the ground without my Co telling me them engines is hot... (It's annoying when the crew talk back and don't let you get away with the usual EagleSkinner mayhem!

[Ian P]

Tsk. Hijacking threads, Chris?     

Seriously, Turn off Accu-Sim. Otehrwise, there's some settings in my review of it over at Nick's site which may help. They work from taxi through to climb.

It's the enlarged market that makes it worthwhile for most developers, but not all can do so. It depends as much on what tools are used for development as how the modelling is done.

Ian P.

[Steven Beeny]

Ian P, on 13 November 2010 - 03:20 PM, said:

Tsk. Hijacking threads, Chris?     

Seriously, Turn off Accu-Sim. Otehrwise, there's some settings in my review of it over at Nick's site which may help. They work from taxi through to climb.

It's the enlarged market that makes it worthwhile for most developers, but not all can do so. It depends as much on what tools are used for development as how the modelling is done.

Ian P.

Morning all,

thanks for the interest in the models, even if they are for humble old FS9.  I get that question all the time, and yes, it is a good one, why are we not doing these for FSX? Well, I think at some point a proper FSX version will happen.  Basically it's like this; the other guys in the team are the FSX builders and users; I myself am a FS9 die-hard, and have invested almost two years into the project for that sim, hence, for now at least, that's the market I'm going for.  Smaller market, granted, but there are still some of us out there believe it or not!  Mind you, I am not that inflexible or pig-headed to appreciate the FSX market is bigger, and during the course of the project, have finally got a copy of the Dark Side and will be developing for that in the future.  As Ian P said, it aint all that easy as flipping a switch to code properly for X, but from here on out that will be the direction.

ATB,

Steve

p.s. you are more than welcome to use my first post as a press release; I did actually want to do that, but it was late last night and I couldn't find a link for submitting releases anywhere!

Edited by Steven Beeny, 13 November 2010 - 04:32 PM.

[Ian P]

just e-mail it to news@simflight.com, Steve - one of the front page editors will pick it up. The link itself is at the top of the front page, underneath the simFlight logo, where it says "Send YOUR News To Us" or something similar.

In the meantime, I'll poke my front page account and see if it still works. Not tried it for a long time, unfortunately.

Cheers,

Ian P.

[Steven Beeny]

Ian P, on 13 November 2010 - 08:10 PM, said:

just e-mail it to news@simflight.com, Steve - one of the front page editors will pick it up. The link itself is at the top of the front page, underneath the simFlight logo, where it says "Send YOUR News To Us" or something similar.

In the meantime, I'll poke my front page account and see if it still works. Not tried it for a long time, unfortunately.

Cheers,

Ian P.

Cheers Ian, looks like it got picked up by one of the editors and made the news section - good stuff!

[Ian P]

That'll have been me, then.  

I had to give myself a crash course in the updated management software, but fortunately the buttons are still the same, even if they look a bit different and got moved around a bit. Phew.

Ian P.

[Steven Beeny]

Well, I'm hard at work on the next pack - Tugs and Trainers- and getting close bar some annoyances with the TT.18, but I will not be beaten! For some sneak peaks on the pack, see below.  This includes the TT.18 (not shown) with working winch so that should be quite fun.   I grew up right next to RAF Wyton, where among others, we had 360 Sqn which was the sole operator of the T.17 Canberra.  Many a time I used to plane spot these as a kid, and fell in love with that lumpy, curiously friendly-looking nose.  A lot of folk think it's ugly, but I say it has character by the bucketload, in addition to being an extremely useful aircraft to the RAF and one not really replaced.

As you can see in the last shot, the T.17 did not have an opening bomb bay door in the normal sense, but had eight access panels, four on each side to allow maintenance access to its mysterious black ECM boxes.  Hitting wing fold key will remove this for those who are handy with a spanner (erk!)

T.4:





T.11:





T.17:






Cheers all,

Steve

[Steven Beeny]

Hello all old and new Canberra pilots!

We're pleased to announce the next installment of the ongoing Canberra series for FS9 is ready for download at the still princely sum of $10.00 USD from the link below. This pack forms the fourth in the series, following on from the B.1, B.2 and Bomber Power packs recently released, and covers the T.4, T.11/19. T.17 and much-loved TT.18. The models all feature the same quality you've seen so far, along with working winch gear, opening hatches, bays and more. You can download the new pack at the link below:

http://flyingstation...s-trainers.html

Pilot's Notes are available in PDF from the main download page, and an ongoing support thread has been set up on our forum here:
http://z13.invisionf...hp?showtopic=96

Repaints will be coming out very soon via our web site, as will a paint kit.  Thanks to all for your continued interest and happy training!

Steve



A few snaps to whet your appetites:

T.4 in RAE 'raspberry ripple' scheme (one of the all-time greatest paint schemes...





VC view:



TT.18 in FRADU colours:



T.17s:





T.11/T.19:

[CBris]

You have just got to admit it... The cranberry was (and is still)  a real eye catcher! And more to the point, Steve, your work does her really proud.

[Steven Beeny]

Cheers, Chris, and yes, being a massive Cranberry fan, I DO think she is an eyecatcher.  Character by the bucketload.  Perhaps not as 'sexy' as some of the modern fighters, but once you take in that bubble canopy and DV panel 'eye', you're won over.

[Steven Beeny]

Hello all, and happy new year -  I hope it's going well enough for everyone.  Over the last few weeks I've been putting the finishing touches on the latest Canberra pack release, which in this case the  first of three packs dedicated to overseas sales, starting with South American bomber canopy versions.  This covers the B.Mk.62, T.Mk.64,  B(I).52/82 and T.Mk.74 of the Argentine, Venezuelan and Peruvian air forces. The even better news is that models now feature lightened VC glass, more accurate red-tint night-lighting for 2D panels, an autopilot, and a revised 'parked parts' system to beat the Multiplayer/FS Recorder bug some users experienced.

If you download the Bomber Power pack, you may be familair with some of the features, such as rocket pod and gun pack fire.  

http://flyingstation...th-america.html

Anyway, enough of the blatant advertising, here is a sampling of screens.  If you're a Cranberry nut like me, the foreign versions are equally interesting, but these may not appeal as much to fans of the UK versions.   ATB everyone,

Steve

[Steven Beeny]

Hello all,

Flying Stations is pleased to announce the next Canberra export packs is out now for download.  This pack focuses on the Australian GAF B.Mk.20, Swedish Tp.52, Rhodesian/Zimbabwean B.2 and Ethiopian B.52.

All models feature a new 2D Stores Release panel to allow easier dropping of payloads and drop tanks, along with autopilot, improved 2D panel night lighting and more realistic bomb dropping intervals. Firing rockets and gun packs are also fitted to some versions. This is in addition to the usual host of parked part features and repaints you've seen in previous packs.  

Head over to our web site for full details and screens:

http://www.flyingsta...s-fire-ice.html



It's time to grab your keys, choose your chariot, and get airborne!

Aussie B.Mk.20s:







Rhodesian B.2 with natty sun shade:



Ethiopian B.52 armed to the teeth:



and a more sedate, but pointy looking Swedish Tp.52 if you feel like it:



Happy flying,

Steve

[Steven Beeny]

Hello all,

well, at long last the final pack in the bubble canopy series of Canberras for FS9 is ready for download:

This pack covers test-bed, experimental and photo-reconnaissance Canberra roles. There are 9 total models in the pack, including the PR.3, PR.7, B.6 (mod) and T.22. Full details available here:

http://www.flyingsta...r-of-tasks.html

Support thread available here:

http://z13.invisionf....?showtopic=209

Happy flying and thanks to all those that have supported Flying Stations and in particular, this series of models. This was a rolling release of 8 packs, started Nov 2010 and ending here now in Feb 2012! A bit of a slog, but we got there in the end and lots learned along the way. While I do not have any plans to abandon FS9, my focus is now going to shift over to FSX development.