Accuracy of new P-40 external models

[Stoney]

I have... Neither P-40 is as accurate in shape as what it replaced.... Moreover, I cannot understand why they didn't look at the performance model....

Ok, I see it now--your photo comparisons highlight the problems better.  As far as the performance model, who knows?

[Guppy35]

Judge for yourselves...

IMHO, it isn't even close.

Upper photo is actual AVG Tomahawk, below is new P-40B...

(Image removed from quote.)

My first reaction is the painting P40 is too short, and the AH model is too long.  Seems from the photos it's somewhere in between.

[Krusty]

I flew the P-40E for a short while tonight.

The top scoop extended all the way up almost touching the center aimpoint of the gunsight on default head position. That is NOT right...The scoop was level and the nose curved down. There is no/almost-no line of sight obstruction on the real thing.

[Krusty]

As to the performance model, there is evidence the P-40E received a higher boost rating (a WEP rating for our purposes) but this was later on in 1943 or so. So our WEP is accurate... just not for an early model.

[Noir]

*waves hand* These are not the droids you are looking for.

[Wmaker]

P-40B line drawing. Hard to vouch for the accuracy of the drawing but it looks pretty good to me.

[oboe]

Wow those tires look ridiculous.   I agree too with the nose section being off and the spine rake angle being too shallow.   But those tires--they look like Walt Disney cartoon tires.   Same on the P-40E?

You know, errors happen--it's just a fact.  And sometimes they make it through to Production.  But I think I'd probably pull the P-40s with a patch and go back to the old models.   It's a setback but not the end of the world, and you demonstrate a commitment to quality by doing so.

I wonder could they keep the new cockpits but go back to the old 3D external model (and skins?)

[Krusty]

They won't be going backwards. All the stuff tied to the 3D shape (lift points on the wings, where the airflow is modeled, damage zones mapped out in 3D space, bullet hits here it's a gas tank, here it's a tire, etc) would no longer apply. Too much to do to reverse the change.

Unfortunately, knowing a lot of effort went into this end result, I'm not seeing HTC all that willing to double it to do it over again. they are probably remodeling the Ju88s or B26s by now (or fill in whatever model next in line for revamping)


P.S.... Is it me or is the dark grey ammo counter against a black text box against a nearly black cockpit EXTREMELY hard to see even in sunny conditions?! I'm not even at massive resolution which makes things look smaller. I'm running 1280x1024.

[bortas1]

*waves hand* These are not the droids you are looking for.

 

[Wmaker]

Tomahawk IIA drawings with cross sections:

[PJ_Godzilla]

Looks to me like the scoop might be too far back as well.

That was my first read - distance bettween scoop and spinner is too great. I think this causes the scoop to appear stuck on and also makes the nose appear finer than it is.

[Krusty]

A very nice resource with various technical drawings of all parts of the airframe (including the whole) for various variants:
http://www.p40warhawk.com/Models/Technical/Technical.htm

That's also a great resource for modelers.

But here:
http://www.p40warhawk.com/Models/Technical/P40-3.GIF
(link because it's a HUGE image)

We see that line-of-sight of the reflector gunsight should be totally clear of the scoop on the P-40E. Also we see that the gunsight should be about 50%-60% up the front glass, rather than as low as possible as we see in our in-game cockpit. I tried pulling lead on a few targets last night in a P-40E. It was impossible. Unless the target was above your or flying level you had very reduced visibility. Shifting the head position up did nothing as the gunsight disappeared and head movement was limited.

At this point the Fw190 has a better over-the-nose shot than does the P-40E.


EDIT: Size and shape of the E's top scoop:
part 1: http://www.p40warhawk.com/Models/Technical/Nose/E-K-M-N_Top_scoop_1.gif
part 2: http://www.p40warhawk.com/Models/Technical/Nose/E-K-M-N_Top_scoop_2.gif

[Soulyss]

Looks like the shapes are getting a tweak of some sort.

We're making some alterations to the P-40 shapes.  We won't be accepting skins for the P-40s until the revised shapes are out, I don't have a timeline on that now.  I would recommend holding off on making P-40 skins until then so you don't end up having to redo a lot of work.

[oboe]

Looks like the shapes are getting a tweak of some sort.

Score one for quality and getting the job done right.  wtg HTC.

[Krusty]

Very good news. Glad I was wrong on them not getting to it soon.