The Great Catalina Experiment

[Welmux 4]

It would be interesting to have this dutch Catalina modelled, because it seems to be used for some sort of passenger flights. You can also find pictures from inside it.

I looked at the photos in Airliners and it seems that majority of the Catalinas flying today are restored millitary planes as Catalina originally was mentioned for military purposes.

Btw in my opinion a Catalina with a modernized cockpit should contain a GPS, because according to pictures many do in reality.

- Ville -

[Nick C 110]

Pictures of that CN-300 dominate Airliners. I think if there is to be one modern variation included that needs doing it's that one. Polished aluminium...mmmmm

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1151474/L/

[MCDesigns 2]

I also agree we need more than one WWII version, especially a Black Cat

http://www.daveswarbirds.com/blackcat/

Some more PBY links

http://www.pby.com/

http://pbyma.org/

I'd also like to request other areas modeled and camera points set up for them, such as the nose blister and one of the back blisters.

She's looking amazing, can't wait!

[Nick C 110]

I also agree we need more than one WWII version, especially a Black Cat

http://www.daveswarbirds.com/blackcat/

Some more PBY links

http://www.pby.com/

http://pbyma.org/

I'd also like to request other areas modeled and camera points set up for them, such as the nose blister and one of the back blisters.

She's looking amazing, can't wait!

I'll second the Black Cat and the additional camera points. It will make for interesting multiplayer....not that I've tried this as it would mean logging onto gamespy, ugh! :wink:

[Kofi 0]

I also agree we need more than one WWII version, especially a Black Cat

http://www.daveswarbirds.com/blackcat/

Some more PBY links

http://www.pby.com/

http://pbyma.org/

I'd also like to request other areas modeled and camera points set up for them, such as the nose blister and one of the back blisters.

She's looking amazing, can't wait!

Yep - A "Black Cat" would rock :!: 8)

[ChrisB 11]

Except that Alphasim do a "Black Cat"

I don't think it would be right for Aerosoft to duplicate someone else's work... Too unprofessional.

[Kofi 0]

Except that Alphasim do a "Black Cat"

I don't think it would be right for Aerosoft to duplicate someone else's work... Too unprofessional.

Guess it's "slim-pickins" for a Cat-Warbird then from Aerosoft since AlphaSim has done quite a few of them...

And to be brutally honest speaking from a personal view, I don't think I'll buy the Aerosoft Catalina if a warbird version isn't included..

But then again, you already know my aircraft of choice are warbirds 8)

[MCDesigns 2]

Except that Alphasim do a "Black Cat"

I don't think it would be right for Aerosoft to duplicate someone else's work... Too unprofessional.

Huh? that makes no sense, that is like saying they shouldn't do a Catalina because AS did one. I guess every developer should go thru AS's catalog to make sure they don't duplicate an aircraft that has been done already, LOL.

Here is a cool site dedicated to a Black Cat squadron with some amazing stories on being shot down and saved by PBY. Some WWII ocean rescue scenery would be a great addon for this aircraft.

http://www.fortunecity.com/millenium/redwood/372/cover.htm

[ChrisB 11]

Paints not models.

Sorry, don't get me wrong - there's nowt wrong with three companies producing the same aircraft... that's just "Fair game" and good competition. I was on about the skins. I was a bit leery about the request to do a Kenmore for the Beaver, but in the end I found photos of a Kenmore Beaver that operates out of Sausalito and submitted that. But even so it was still a bit too close to the Microsoft Kenmore Beaver for my liking. We now have two Kenmore Beavers. But I'd have uploaded my paints on Avsim anyway, so.

Imitation may be just a form of compliment, but I really do feel that it lacks a certain amount of style (and yes, I am guilty of that by doing the Kenmore ). This is ONLY a personal opinion and I am wholeheartedly sure that even without Aerosoft "selling" a Black Cat, there'll be one from us painters before long.

Let Aerosoft just "do" a few model variants with NOT TOO MANY skins - leave something for us painters to do please. If you do us a good paintkit you'll get all the other paints soon enough.

[IanP 0]

Well I suspect that the Aerosoft model will possibly be a little more detailed than the admittedly aging Alpha package, which will counterbalance the similarities to a degree.

Ian P.

[ChrisB 11]

Well I suspect that the Aerosoft model will possibly be a little more detailed than the admittedly aging Alpha package, which will counterbalance the similarities to a degree.

Ian P.

ermmm, that's true too, of course, so there is no competition...

[Kofi 0]

Nevermind...

[Aerosoft Team [Inactive Account] 51558]

Yeah, the cockpüit size has been causing some discussion in the other Cat thread here, although I would dare suggest that the high level of zoom in the photo above does affect appearances too. OTOH, yes, the pilots do appear small - or is the model too big? But also: looking at that photo points out a feature that the Aerosoft Cat WILL need - the manhole cover on the nose Very nice colour scheme there too, Simon, which plane is that?

On the subject of noses - some of the versions appear to have a sharp "hook" or "roman" nose, and others appear to have a chiselled off tip of the nose too...

Just observations.

On the nose... You will find as many different noses as there are Cats as almost all had the nose gun removed and some bodywork was put on the hole where it was. Some companies made it smooth, others with a bump to allow for some more headroom.

The pilots are going to be replaced of course, they were not the right size.

[Aerosoft Team [Inactive Account] 51558]

ermmm, that's true too, of course, so there is no competition...

I'll be honest, I have not even looked at the others and I will not do so, I never do, makes no sense. So far we have never felt direct competition for a project with the exception of the Beech 18 , Miltons version was not as good, but free and that hurt us bad.

[Aerosoft Team [Inactive Account] 51558]

This may not be the place to say it, but the windscreen shape on that beta still needs a fair bit of work! The scale of the pilots also seems wrong, unless flown by dwarves!

Also, the Duxford (Plane Sailing) Cat is one of the most famous examples still extant - and has that faded grandeur that matches the panel!

I am not sure about the front windows. The image you show makes the front look very flat while in reality they are almost smoothly curved (hope I make myself clear)

[Aerosoft Team [Inactive Account] 51558]

Except that Alphasim do a "Black Cat"

I don't think it would be right for Aerosoft to duplicate someone else's work... Too unprofessional.

We'll sure do a full black one. As said I don't give a hoot what Alphasim done, we do our own models and we'll select exactly the ones we and you guys here want.

[Aerosoft Team [Inactive Account] 51558]

I have video of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Canso starting up on the ramp at CYHM (VERY loud). Shall I upload it?

http://secure.warplane.com/pages/aircraft_canso.html

Yes please, contact me on info@aerosoft-shop.com and I'll send you an FTP login!

[Aerosoft Team [Inactive Account] 51558]

Two things,spring to mind.

1) i would like to see a 100% cockpit,as per original aircraft,if it aint real enough,i aint interested.

2) its a shame you are ignoring fs9,as at this time,i have no intentions of going for fsx,to many problems with it at present.

regards alan. 8)

P.S. other than that its looking very good,and is one of my all time favorite aircraft. 8)

Okay, but what is an 'original' cockpit? We find it very hard to find images of one that I would call original.

[Aerosoft Team [Inactive Account] 51558]

Pictures of that CN-300 dominate Airliners. I think if there is to be one modern variation included that needs doing it's that one. Polished aluminium...mmmmm

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1151474/L/

Actually painted grey, they must have had it cleaned for that image as she normally is a rather dull looking old lady. But this one has a good change of making it in, if only as a 'thank you' to the Aviodrome where she lives these days and who do such a good job of helping with the yearly weekend of simming there.

[so666 0]

kimdahl on page 2 posted some pics of the flight deck,which shows the inst layout,i know this is of a later aircraft,as the radar fitted looks to much like a 1960`s type of radar,the one you posted was showing basic ms radios,these did not exist when the cat was done,so lets see some period radios,also do away with the map in the panel,this aircraft should have period nav equipment,not modern ones,and your warning lights look wrong.

The copilots side should have basic flight inst in the positions where you have the ms radios and map.

I know it is not easy to get pics of early aircraft,but some are still about that i am sure you could visit and take pics of.

regards alan.

P.S. PLEASE MAKE THIS MODEL FOR FS9 AS WELL AS FSX 8)

[Aerosoft Team [Inactive Account] 51558]

kimdahl on page 2 posted some pics of the flight deck,which shows the inst layout,i know this is of a later aircraft,as the radar fitted looks to much like a 1960`s type of radar,the one you posted was showing basic ms radios,these did not exist when the cat was done,so lets see some period radios,also do away with the map in the panel,this aircraft should have period nav equipment,not modern ones,and your warning lights look wrong.

The copilots side should have basic flight inst in the positions where you have the ms radios and map.

I know it is not easy to get pics of early aircraft,but some are still about that i am sure you could visit and take pics of.

regards alan.

P.S. PLEASE MAKE THIS MODEL FOR FS9 AS WELL AS FSX 8)

Sorry, no way this will be an FS9 aircraft, it means totally different tools, conversions back to older aircraft and we are just not doing that for a the few sales FS2004 will bring us. Besides, as with the BeaverX, it would be hard to make the FS2004 people happy, they will see the FSX version and would consider the FS2004 looking bland and not very impressive.

[kimdahl 0]

Hi Mathijs

I have just uploaded my PBY pictures etc. to the Catalina folder on the ftp server, filename "RDAF PBY Aerosoft.zip". And to so666 I would like to say that I posted the pics of the radar because I felt it natural to have the choise to put in a radar in a model equiped with a radar dome. At least that makes sense to me

Regards

Kim

[Thorsten42 12]

Hi,

what about the PBY 6A used by Jacques Cousteau. The images I found show a different nose but it would represent a well known civilian version of the Catalina. Last registration was N101CS.

Some info can be found here: http://cansonet.free.fr/Utilisateurs/Coust...y_cousteau.html

[edited]

Sorry Chris, I should better read the complete post as the N101CS was mentioned by you already, but the link provides at least some more info ;-)

Regards

Thorsten

[Thorsten42 12]

Hi again,

and what about a non blister version like some/most of the firebombers?

Like http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0993262

Btw I think the paint scheme looks interesting...

And it would offer some nice options for missions.

Regards

Thorsten

[Guzzi 0]

How about an Aussie model ?

Catalina flying boat 'Frigate Bird II' VH-ASA, 1944

This bird currently resides suspended from the ceiling in the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. It has a great history and although the web site does not have many images. As the model is restored and in a public museum I'm sure the admisistration/curator would have detailed images that they may provide for a promise of appropriate credit.

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection...ase/?irn=207900