Cool. Not an urgent thing as I believe there is a lot of other stuff that people are busy with but if you have time then please go for it and let me know if. I am working from home so have a bit of time to test things if needed (or dig some info out if needed).
First thing is necessary to do - in Apache external object scene (AH64D_APACHE_LONGBOW.LWO), add extra WEAPON_SYSTEM_HEADING null objects, position them properly and set angles. I don't know is Rapota did it or not (example image is from scene with single dispenser), if he did - 50% of job is done. But, don't forget that his mod is not required, so default scene should be fixed as well. Also we have 2 Apaches, so it will be 4 scenes (original and probably from Rapota's mod)
Second - in code (weapon/configs/apache.h) add extra dispensers, like
I changed the amounts in the weapon configs, and it does change the amount in the game. But it can only be set using the hardcoded values.
So, should we change the amount to be more "realistic"? This would be for the base Apache model, not Rapota's one. Or maybe it could be set to something that's halfway, like 30 chaff, 60 flare?
I changed the amounts in the weapon configs, and it does change the amount in the game. But it can only be set using the hardcoded values.
So, should we change the amount to be more "realistic"? This would be for the base Apache model, not Rapota's one. Or maybe it could be set to something that's halfway, like 30 chaff, 60 flare?
just increasing amount - nope, not cool. dispensers should be inserted in the scene physically, so flares/chaffs will be launched from all of them, not the first one.
just increasing amount - nope, not cool. dispensers should be inserted in the scene physically, so flares/chaffs will be launched from all of them, not the first one.
Yeah, fair enough. I was forgetting that one dispenser can only hold so much.
Sounds like a fun mod. Anyway, original, bog standard model of AH64 had only one dispenser in the tail boom, poiting up, and it should only hold 30 countermeasures of one type so the whole chaff/flare count was a bit inaccurate. I had another look on the net and so far it appears that only one type (chaffs of flares) can be loaded into the dispenser). One dispenser = only one type of countermeasures available.
Rapota's model allows you to be more accurate with the actual amount and type of countermeasures as you have 3 dispensers therefore you can have 90 chaffs or flares, 30 chaffs 60 flares or 60 chaffs and 30 flares. Ok my head hurts now lol. I know, I could mess with the ini file and change countermeasures effectiveness but that would be less accurate.
Sounds like a fun mod. Anyway, original, bog standard model of AH64 had only one dispenser in the tail boom, poiting up, and it should only hold 30 countermeasures of one type so the whole chaff/flare count was a bit inaccurate. I had another look on the net and so far it appears that only one type (chaffs of flares) can be loaded into the dispenser). One dispenser = only one type of countermeasures available.
Rapota's model allows you to be more accurate with the actual amount and type of countermeasures as you have 3 dispensers therefore you can have 90 chaffs or flares, 30 chaffs 60 flares or 60 chaffs and 30 flares. Ok my head hurts now lol. I know, I could mess with the ini file and change countermeasures effectiveness but that would be less accurate.
I imagine in RL, they're even more configurable depending on the theater. For example, in Afghanistan, they probably carry mostly flares for all those stingers the US gave the Taliban in the 80's
I'm going to have a play around with the weapon configs. I don't think it'll be possible have configurable amounts without changing the code so it could be set on the payload screen. But I'll try increasing the amount in the configs and see if it works.
Looks like I'll need to do this mod on my Blackhawk project, so I could do one for the Apache at the same time, but make it a separate mod for use with Rapotas model. I plan on using Rapotas Blackhawk model in my mod too, and I found that the model I'm making has a chaff and flare dispenser on each side. Normally they're only on the left side, but I've found images with them on both sides.
Older countermeasures dispenser, M130 could hold up to 30 flares or chaff, and you were only able to load a single type of countermeasures per dispenser. M130 became obsolete, more modern dispenser now is AN/ALE-47. This is fitted to Black, Apache and other helicopters. 30 countermeasures that can be mixed in one dispenser so in theory you can mix the amount of chaff and flares. Now you just need to figure out how many of these dispensers are fitted to Uh60.
To make this even more complicated, Rapota's Ah64d model appears to have 3 M130 dispensers (they have a different shape compared to AN/ALE-47) and countermeasures can't be mixed so 30/60, 60/30 or 90 combo would be correct. Hope that this makes things clear...a bit lol 😁
Bottom line AN/ALE-47 - 30 chaffs/flares mix M130 - 30 chaffs OR flares, no mix
The blackhawk model I'm doing definitely has them. You can see the dispensers on this walkaround, and I've got cockpit photos showing the control panel
I think though, that the way the code is now, is that it is a mixed dispenser. The total flares and chaff by default is 10 chaff and 20 flare. So that fits with what you've said about the ale-47. That would be one ale-47 dispenser.
I'm not on my PC at the moment but ideally it would be good to see how this looks on the actual EECH model to be accurate.
Not sure what's the best approach - set the amount of countermeasures according to the amount of dispensers ignoring the models of the actual disepnsers or be super accurate and allow a specific amount of countermeasures based on EECH 3D model (how many dispensers and what models)
I can only do some info digging. Unfortunately my coding skills are non existent. Sorry
UPDATE:
Also found this that might be useful for your UH-60 mods:
"Defensive equipment includes the AN/APR-39 radar warn*ing receiver, AN/ALQ-144 IR-missile jammer, and twin M130 flare/chaff dispensers. The dispensers can be loaded with M206 flares and RR-170 chaff bundles." Source: http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=4872
The M130 dispenser can be loaded with 30 flares or chaff cartriges, seems as you can mix anyway you want. UPDATE, found this source: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/equip/m-130.htm that indicates that the dispenser can only be loaded with either flares or chaff, i.e. no mixing.
"The capability to dispense both flare and chaff decoys can be achieved by adding a second dispenser assembly and payload module assembly to the aircraft."
Hi, sorry for the intromission, but i've noticed that Rapota's OH58D is fitted with M130 dispenser (under the fuselage), maybe chaff or flares could be reintroduced to this aircrat also.
Hi, sorry for the intromission, but i've noticed that Rapota's OH58D is fitted with M130 dispenser (under the fuselage), maybe chaff or flares could be reintroduced to this aircrat also.
I think if a mod that updates model exteriors adds things like chaff/flare dispensers, then that mod should also include an updated exe to make them functional. Or someone creates an accompanying exe to the models to enable those features (i.e. if the person doing the models doesn't have coding experience). Otherwise anything added like that will be cosmetic only.
The base game can't be updated as it won't have those models in them by default, and I think from now on, any mods will be uploaded as add-ons rather than change the base source code. That's the way my Blackhawk mod will be distributed. And now we have the mod installer from thealx, it makes it easier to install them.
