I have other footage of a 96 nm Phoenix shot with an onboard missile camera, with a confirmed hit on a Panavia Tornado at 30,000 feet. I'll probably upload it sometime.
Music is "Phoenix Rising" by Meteor, from Heatblur's Tomcat album for DCS.
Wow, this is a really clean, well flying F-5, probably the best I've found so far on SimplePlanes. Do you mind if I use this as a basis for a full replica buildup? I'm thinking custom missiles, a fleshed out cockpit, custom landing gear, and maybe some other stuff, but I'd be more than happy to credit your build!
Little update, I've been working on the Tomcat build for a few weeks, been making tons of progress on deep modifications, because honestly, the more I flew the V4.0, the more little problems I found. It's a big continuous learning experience for me, I'm learning ridiculous amounts of information about the Tomcat LOL.
Things you can expect to see in the upcoming release include:
-Completely reworked flight model, correct weight and much more realistic aerodynamics/handling. Also working on modeling stall buffet.
-Automatic wing sweep/glove vanes/maneuvering flaps, including manual override/oversweep
-Split throttles and compressor stalls
-Afterburner zones and shock diamond exhaust plumes, along with nozzle actuation upon entering burner
-Fuel dump mechanism to facilitate safer carrier operations
-Completely reworked main gears with proper suspension and scissor links
-All sorts of lights, interior and exterior
-Misc custom interior guages and revised HUD
-Deep airframe reshaping, focused in the tail end
-Missile masses added so that launching weapons lessens weight properly, less dead weight in airframe
There's many other things that I didn't feel the need to mention in this list, but I'm taking my time on this next iteration, it's going to be not so much an evolution as a revolution.
I also intend to create at least 1 or 2 liveries to go with it, as well as a much trimmed down mobile-friendly version!
I've been tinkering away at my Tomcat design like crazy for awhile, updates that I have ALREADY INCORPORATED into the next version include:
-Automatic wing sweep/maneuvering flaps, as well as system interlocks
-Landing gear suspension (early version shown, still working on beefing it up more and cosmetics)
-Split throttle inputs
-Reworked engines, giving linear performance, realistic fuel consumption, and afterburner zones
-No more useless AIM-9M Sidewinders (they originally were outperformed by the Sparrows in turn rate, not realistic at all)
-Refurbished cockpit with functioning RPM guages and no more unsightly ribs
-Airframe tweaks
Haha yeah you gotta watch both Top Gun movies if you're building a Tomcat. There's a lot of systems, feel free to look at my Tomcat build and reverse engineer anything you need.
I might as well drop the main resources I use in here.
First up is MATS: MATS F-14 Database
MATS is a very comprehensive database with great pictures and details of how Tomcat systems worked and what the parts looked like.
Next up is the F-14D Super Tomcat NATOPS: NATOPS Manual
This is the actual flight manual issued to aircrews that details just about everything you'd ever need to know, it's 1000+ pages long and extremely detailed. I highly recommend you study it.
And last up if you ever find anything else pertaining to the F-14 or have any questions or ideas, please post it in my F-14 thread! Tig's Tomcat Hangar
Feel free to shoot me any questions you might have, I'd love to help out on this project!
Your G-force cam is awesome, also just thrilled to be able to fly an RVNAF F-5, my family is South Viet, so this is extra cool.
Only thing I might change for the sake of my own gameplay is the afterburner power, it's wicked fast!
Also look at the Paveway guided bombs on Maverick09's F/A-18 Super Hornet, if you figure out how to integrate them, they could greatly boost your Tomcat's strike capabilities. You can tweak the guidance strength with Overload, they're a little too inaccurate for my taste. I use these on my personal F-14 Bombcat build: https://www.simpleplanes.com/a/l3d9D8/Top-Gun-F-A-18E-Super-Hornet-Maverick
With these two combined you get precision strike capability with a first rate view of the impact
@Robomo119E I had them set up like that before, but upon reviewing Tomcat photos, there's a slot for the missile fins to stay inside the pylon, so they're oriented in a plus sign style, as opposed to an X style.
Definitely shoot me any questions or ideas, I'd love to help out on your build! Also check my posts, I made a forum post specifically for Tomcat information and ideas! 👍
I think as far as me sharing Tomcat insight with you, I'd say use other flight sims like MSFS and DCS if you can to get 3D views of whatever you need and compare accuracy. Also I have meetings weekly at a museum with an F-14D Super Tomcat from VF-31 Tomcatters, if you ever want close ups or different angles of the Tomcat, I'd be happy to get them for you!
Also look at this website for tons of VERY detailed info on the Tomcat and how it was built: http://www.anft.net/f-14/index.htm
@LoneSpaceGaming Yeah Bounty Hunters are cool, personally I'm more of a Wolfpack guy, although I use a VF-2 skin on my F-14D in MSFSX. I do feel a bit of a connection to VF-31 Tomcatters though because my JROTC unit is designated 031 lol.
Oh also my pfp is of Dave "Bio" Baranek, a Tomcat RIO that published lots of Tomcat materials. Definitely look him up, he's got some cool stories and cooler pictures!
As for my callsign, it's mostly a placeholder, I used to be really active on a flight sim called Aces High 3, and I had to pick a callsign to go by (kinda cheating but it is what it is). I picked Tig because at the time I had a really short temper at school, it's short for Tiger.
As far as making better looking builds, I'm not sure what to tell you man, it's just an attention to detail thing for me, and I have previous experience with industrial CAD modeling software, so I work quite well in SP's 3D modeling studio. My advice is to use Overload and absolutely abuse it. You can do essentially anything you want with it, even making parts invisible. Also make sure to keep the centerline of your plane on zero, otherwise making it symmetrical is a nightmare. Fine adjustment tool is your friend, it took me a whole day to put together my Tomcat's cockpit with all the buttons and guages.
@Robomo119E Thanks!!! You know your F-14A Tomcat was one of the first planes I downloaded for SP. The decals on this bird are off of yours, and for awhile I used your roll spoilers! I tried to find your Tomcat to give credit in my bird's descriptions, but couldn't. I'll add credits to you for the decals :)
I have other footage of a 96 nm Phoenix shot with an onboard missile camera, with a confirmed hit on a Panavia Tornado at 30,000 feet. I'll probably upload it sometime.
Music is "Phoenix Rising" by Meteor, from Heatblur's Tomcat album for DCS.
Hey this is what you crashed into my GT earlier on the server LOL. Chasing this thing around in my AH-1 Cobra was tons of fun.
Best mod in game tbh
+4ONLY 246 PARTS FOR A GOOD LOOKING FLANKER??? UNREAL
+1Oh hell yes.
+1Holy cow dude! Your Crusader flies so nice! Absolute beast!
+1Oh HELL YEAH! This is nice! The airframe shaping and weapons are just MINT. Bravo!
oooh I'm not the only one tinkering with a Tomcat build! Tag me when you release it!!
Oh heck yeah I'm always here for rocket builds!
+1Honestly that's pretty accurate, Russian fighter tactics basically consist of "TURN OFF GRAVITY" anyway
Ha nice, if you use Overload you can make it way smaller! Just change the "Scale" values for all parts and go crazy!
+1Ain't no way you managed to build this on Android, this is insane!!!
+1So, when I use this, it outs it out in "waves", like it stutters, sometimes there's a heat haze, but intermittently there isn't. Is this normal?
So glad I found the original! I use your design on my F-14 Tomcat build, it's amazing!
+1For when you need it like RIGHT NOW
Iconic
+1Wow, this is a really clean, well flying F-5, probably the best I've found so far on SimplePlanes. Do you mind if I use this as a basis for a full replica buildup? I'm thinking custom missiles, a fleshed out cockpit, custom landing gear, and maybe some other stuff, but I'd be more than happy to credit your build!
+1Little update, I've been working on the Tomcat build for a few weeks, been making tons of progress on deep modifications, because honestly, the more I flew the V4.0, the more little problems I found. It's a big continuous learning experience for me, I'm learning ridiculous amounts of information about the Tomcat LOL.
Things you can expect to see in the upcoming release include:
-Completely reworked flight model, correct weight and much more realistic aerodynamics/handling. Also working on modeling stall buffet.
-Automatic wing sweep/glove vanes/maneuvering flaps, including manual override/oversweep
-Split throttles and compressor stalls
-Afterburner zones and shock diamond exhaust plumes, along with nozzle actuation upon entering burner
-Fuel dump mechanism to facilitate safer carrier operations
-Completely reworked main gears with proper suspension and scissor links
-All sorts of lights, interior and exterior
-Misc custom interior guages and revised HUD
-Deep airframe reshaping, focused in the tail end
-Missile masses added so that launching weapons lessens weight properly, less dead weight in airframe
There's many other things that I didn't feel the need to mention in this list, but I'm taking my time on this next iteration, it's going to be not so much an evolution as a revolution.
I also intend to create at least 1 or 2 liveries to go with it, as well as a much trimmed down mobile-friendly version!
Oh heck yeah, I'm always here for SP cinematic edits
@pohhhhhhum Heck yeah! If you wanna add me on Discord we can coordinate, my Discord is toxicfruit2000
I've been tinkering away at my Tomcat design like crazy for awhile, updates that I have ALREADY INCORPORATED into the next version include:
-Automatic wing sweep/maneuvering flaps, as well as system interlocks
-Landing gear suspension (early version shown, still working on beefing it up more and cosmetics)
-Split throttle inputs
-Reworked engines, giving linear performance, realistic fuel consumption, and afterburner zones
-No more useless AIM-9M Sidewinders (they originally were outperformed by the Sparrows in turn rate, not realistic at all)
-Refurbished cockpit with functioning RPM guages and no more unsightly ribs
-Airframe tweaks
That's a lot of flares LOL
I love me some aggressor planes!
Hooooly cow that's CLEAN! The stall buffet and everything is absolutely incredible!
What the heck dude, this thing is such a riot LOL
+1Absolute BANGER design, I love flying this thing so much!
+1@32 Thanks for the recommendation!
Haha yeah you gotta watch both Top Gun movies if you're building a Tomcat. There's a lot of systems, feel free to look at my Tomcat build and reverse engineer anything you need.
I might as well drop the main resources I use in here.
First up is MATS: MATS F-14 Database
MATS is a very comprehensive database with great pictures and details of how Tomcat systems worked and what the parts looked like.
Next up is the F-14D Super Tomcat NATOPS: NATOPS Manual
This is the actual flight manual issued to aircrews that details just about everything you'd ever need to know, it's 1000+ pages long and extremely detailed. I highly recommend you study it.
And last up if you ever find anything else pertaining to the F-14 or have any questions or ideas, please post it in my F-14 thread! Tig's Tomcat Hangar
Feel free to shoot me any questions you might have, I'd love to help out on this project!
+1Your G-force cam is awesome, also just thrilled to be able to fly an RVNAF F-5, my family is South Viet, so this is extra cool.
Only thing I might change for the sake of my own gameplay is the afterburner power, it's wicked fast!
Now THIS is a cool build. Looking at your list of variables, you put a crapton of work into this. Epic build!
+1Best flying and best built Lightning I've found so far, an absolute riot to fly!
+1@Robomo119E Nope, it's been cleared for release, I checked haha. This ain't War Thunder XD
@LoneSpaceGaming Fixed! Thanks!
@Randomplayer If you find the title send it to me, because there's pitifully little information on the internet for this thing!
Found a copy of the F-14D NATOPS!
F-14D NATOPS
This plane is simply epic, I LOVE flying this thing!
+1@Robomo119E If you're going for air recon and attack, I highly recommend you consider this camera tracking pod, similar in function to the F-14D's TARPS and LANTIRN pods: https://www.simpleplanes.com/a/9izMd4/Surveillance-Camera-Pod-With-Auto-Tracking
Also look at the Paveway guided bombs on Maverick09's F/A-18 Super Hornet, if you figure out how to integrate them, they could greatly boost your Tomcat's strike capabilities. You can tweak the guidance strength with Overload, they're a little too inaccurate for my taste. I use these on my personal F-14 Bombcat build:
https://www.simpleplanes.com/a/l3d9D8/Top-Gun-F-A-18E-Super-Hornet-Maverick
With these two combined you get precision strike capability with a first rate view of the impact
@Robomo119E
https://i.ibb.co/4ZRBWZJ/F-14-Tomcat-USSHM-starboard-side-1-2652618052.jpg
Found a great close up of the mounting system!
@LoneSpaceGaming Haha I felt that girlfriend part. It's just pronounced phonetically, like Tigger (which some of my cadet pals call me lol).
@Robomo119E Definitely not off topic! Share your progress if you're willing!
@Robomo119E I had them set up like that before, but upon reviewing Tomcat photos, there's a slot for the missile fins to stay inside the pylon, so they're oriented in a plus sign style, as opposed to an X style.
Definitely shoot me any questions or ideas, I'd love to help out on your build! Also check my posts, I made a forum post specifically for Tomcat information and ideas! 👍
I think as far as me sharing Tomcat insight with you, I'd say use other flight sims like MSFS and DCS if you can to get 3D views of whatever you need and compare accuracy. Also I have meetings weekly at a museum with an F-14D Super Tomcat from VF-31 Tomcatters, if you ever want close ups or different angles of the Tomcat, I'd be happy to get them for you!
Also look at this website for tons of VERY detailed info on the Tomcat and how it was built: http://www.anft.net/f-14/index.htm
@LoneSpaceGaming Yeah Bounty Hunters are cool, personally I'm more of a Wolfpack guy, although I use a VF-2 skin on my F-14D in MSFSX. I do feel a bit of a connection to VF-31 Tomcatters though because my JROTC unit is designated 031 lol.
Oh also my pfp is of Dave "Bio" Baranek, a Tomcat RIO that published lots of Tomcat materials. Definitely look him up, he's got some cool stories and cooler pictures!
As for my callsign, it's mostly a placeholder, I used to be really active on a flight sim called Aces High 3, and I had to pick a callsign to go by (kinda cheating but it is what it is). I picked Tig because at the time I had a really short temper at school, it's short for Tiger.
As far as making better looking builds, I'm not sure what to tell you man, it's just an attention to detail thing for me, and I have previous experience with industrial CAD modeling software, so I work quite well in SP's 3D modeling studio. My advice is to use Overload and absolutely abuse it. You can do essentially anything you want with it, even making parts invisible. Also make sure to keep the centerline of your plane on zero, otherwise making it symmetrical is a nightmare. Fine adjustment tool is your friend, it took me a whole day to put together my Tomcat's cockpit with all the buttons and guages.
@Robomo119E Thanks!!! You know your F-14A Tomcat was one of the first planes I downloaded for SP. The decals on this bird are off of yours, and for awhile I used your roll spoilers! I tried to find your Tomcat to give credit in my bird's descriptions, but couldn't. I'll add credits to you for the decals :)
Nice Tomcat! I've had this one almost as long as I've had SimplePlanes lol
Best Skyhawk in SP without a doubt!
@ToeTips will do!
@Carsonkiddy2 Really glad to hear it!!!
Whew that's a really well done airframe!
@L1nus 76.185.73.180 is the IP address
@L1nus You down now? I can host now, just say the word.