CL-44 Question for Tom

[Col7777]

Tom,

You mention in the Britannia thread you have created a CL-44, would there be a 'Tradewinds' paint included by any chance?

[richardegtd]

Col

Do you know that the existing CL44 [by Mike Stone] includes a Tradewinds texture ? Tom's upgraded one will obviously be better !

Richard.

[Tom/CalClassic]

Hi,

My model will most certainly not be better than Mikes - it's just a slight modification of the Britannia model. The nacelles are essentially Brit nacelles with upper and lower scoops added. So don't expect much... Keep in mind that this model is for *AI traffic* only.

And no, it will not have a Tradewinds livery - it was too late for our 1962 cutoff. The liveries included will be Flying Tiger, Slick, and Seaboard World. Mike has also painted up a Seaboard World C-46 to go along with it for the 1962 traffic.

[jaymom]

If your listening Mike I could sure use a Buffalo Airways livery for the C-46.

hint hint hint ;D

Harold

[Dennis the menace]

Hi,

Tom and I discussed using the Mike Stone's CL-44, but after reviewing it's hit on framerates, we made the decision it was wiser to modify the AI Britannia as a CL-44.

Most AI are viewed from 250 feet or more. Mike Stones CL-44, although more detailed, has no LODs, thus, it adversely affects the framerates just as hard when it is one mile away, as it is when its 100 feet away. Not a problem when you are at an airport with 2 or 3 AI, but when you run 100% traffic like Tom and me, and your at SFO or LAX or IDL, these non AI aircraft become nothing more than leeches dragging framerates into the gutter. I would rather have a less detailed model with several LODs and higher framrates, than a stuttering slide show that flyable aircraft when used as AI often cause.

Sometimes we have no choice, as in the IL-18 or TU-104. We don't have the model source to modify them as a true AI with LODs. However, these types usually appeared at lesser traveled airports, and thus their impact is not so severe.

I am happy to repaint any AI, so long as it was in scheduled service prior to June 1, 1962. A rare exception is made for something of significance, such as the TU-114, which actually didn't fly to Havana until July in regularly scheduled service, but, from Jan to July 1962, it did fly non scheduled flights and proving flights to HAV once a week or so.

Tom mentioned adding scoops to the Britannia's nacelles when making the AI CL-44. He didn't mention, that he also added a 6 foot plug into the fuselage fore and aft of the wings, to add a total of 12 feet onto the Britannia's length. He also added the swingtail door hinge blisters on the right side of the fuselage.

When dealing with AI, we really prefer to have the model source, and not just a model download. There is usually many changes that must be made, from LODs to lighting, to missing parts, etc. Without a model source there isn't much we can do about framerates and poor behavior.

I think that most people will be satisfied with the new CL-44. When you see it parked or taxiing, it won't appear as just a Britannia painted up as a CL-44, it actually looks different. The longer lenght is a dead giveaway.

If I remember correctly, the Seaboard flies to Europe, Flying Tigers flys across the USA and also to Europe, and Slick flys the CL-44s on Pacific routes from SFO to Manila, Seoul, Tokyo, Okinawa, ect. In 1962 Slick earned 100% of its profits from MATS contract freight runs.

cheers!
Mike

[Tom McEnteer]

Jaymom,

There's a Buffalo Airways repaint for the Libardo Guzman, Tom Gibson and Greg Pepper C-46 available at Flightsim. The zip is 46ga_buf.zip.

Regards,

the other Tom

[Deleted]

There are also Loftleidirs J models which were operated in pax configuration from the early 60s to the 70s from Kennedy and Logan via Keflavik to Luxembourg - if go outside of the 1962 parameters - besides Tradewinds, there was also TMAC , Heavylift, Aeron,Cargolux, Transvalair , Bluebell
(for a nice easy flight from Charlotte to San Juan hauling Jeans for Levi Straus), Aer Turas and IAS Cargo (again) plus several SOuth American operators. Although Valair was based at Gatwick operating obo of IAS they did occasionally sneak HB-IEN back to Sion -- there is a challenge for you.

Leif

[Col7777]

Thanks for the reply, I do have Mike Stone's CL 'Tradewinds'

There is a funny story about the Tradewinds CL-44 at EGCC (Manchester) When I worked on the Apron that particular aircraft used to fly in fairly regular, it's cargo was 'Bailey Bridges' and boy were they heavy.
They had to be hand loaded once inside the aircraft and stacked, you were on on it for ages doing the loading, I remember some men actually seeing it on the apron and going back home and phoning in sick rather than be sent working on it.
The funny story was once there was a news broadcast on the TV about an airport in Holland and the CL-44 was parked up, so the ground crews let off a cheer knowing it wasn't coming to Manchester.
What they didn't know was the news broadcast was a few hours old and within the next 30 mins some crews were given the job to work on it when it came in, apparently it was on it's way.

[Wolfgang]

Hi

He also added the swingtail......

Has Tom modeled a functional swing-tail to the CL44 ?
That would be "bombastic"

Wolfgang

[Tom/CalClassic]

No swing tail, sorry.

[birdguy]

I was using Mike Stone's CL-44 in Flying Tiger livery as a military contract ai aircraft after some modification of the aircraft.cfg file. It was a bit hard on frame rates.

A few days ago Tom sent me his new CL-44 and I tried it out. Works fine and it will be the aircraft used in my military ai program.

Noel

[Dennis the menace]

Flyable aircraft, made with no LODs, never make good AI unless one likes to look at an FS slideshow. Too many polygons to draw and the multiplier effect drags framerates into the gutter.

[birdguy]

Flyable aircraft, made with no LODs, never make good AI ...

That's true, but many times you have no choice. I had to use flyable models for my seaplane program and for my upcoming military ai program. Later computers have less of a problem and I have no problem at all with framerates with my Dell XPS.

I realize not everyone has the latest system but when I do these ai projects they are primarily because I want them for myself. I am willing to share them, though, for all who wish to use them. If you have a low end system that can't handle the converted flyable aircraft I wouldn't recommend using my ai stuff.

Noel