My layout of Vulcan's Aircraft Carrier

[jcardana]

It may be old news to you, but I just found it and haven't slept in two days! I'm really having to concentrate right now just to type this correctly. I find it difficult to "Lay track" with the ground so far under the flight deck. I dug a hole so the flight deck would be at zero level.

I give Vulcan a lot of credit and praise. This may not be perfect, but I spent over 7 years on carriers and this is close enough.

I'm working on a complete "Flight Ops" session where the helo's launch and assume Plane Guard stations. Then the E2's launch and head out on station. Then the remaining 6 FA-18's conduct a launch and go out on their missions. When the FA-18s return, they "stack up" and one by one, commence recovery. Then the E-2s return and then helos. This is a sequence I've spent years watching. I'm a little disappointed the the F-14 models don't have manually folding wings and I'm miss having a "COD". I was pleasantly surprised to see the FA-18s displaying the running numbers I assigned. I didn't see that on the E-2 so I wasn't expecting it.

Anyway... I'm rambling. I've already run through a few cycles and this layout seems to work great. I haven't figured out what I'm going to do with the hanger bay. I did manage to create a "wave off" situation. If an aircraft is still in the landing area, it will get switched to the waveoff path... like a manual "bolter".

I managed to find a way to have the aircraft startoff with wings folded. That was tough. Because I didn't want them unfolding when they went back to park.

As you can see, these turns are tight. The FA-18s can take them at 8mph, but the E-2s need a slower speed. I've run this with realistic derailing... take it slow and the bird will fly!

I'm sorry for going on and on but I'm just so exited about this. I love trains and planes and I have BOTH!!!

Thanks for your time,

Joe

 

[4ndylloyd]

Joe,

You ramble as much as you want...I am right with you in your interest in planes and trains

Looks like a really interesting project - Well done

Andy

 

[jcardana]

I noticed Vulcan made a KC tanker but we actually used ES-3s and even FA-18s as recovery tankers. I'm also hoping to have an aircraft emergency... the land and the pushback tractor has to tow it off the landing zone.

I wish I could tinker with the carrier animations... The launch sequence seems just a tad short. But I'm just getting picky... it's still awesome!!!

 

[NormP]

A great challenge well met Joe.
Ian (Vulcan) is away on hollidays at the moment and I'm sure he will comment on seeing this thread on his return.

My challenge was doing the Lukla Airport at 9,000ft.and I thought that was hard.
NormP.

 

[Dermmy]

Joe that is SWEET! Love it

 

[SuperFudd]

I would love to see a video of "trainz" ( CVz? CVAz?) flight opz.

IMA Production Control, USS Kitty Hawk CVA-63 '65-'66.

 

[nzld]

excellent work, welcome to the club of planzers

nzld

 

[jcardana]

I cloned the Carrier and started tinkering with the script that runs the Cat animations. Vulcan has the sequence set to a 5kph speed but I think that's unrealistically too slow. I've been adjusting the timing for a 5-10mph. The Hornet pilots zip around the deck but the E2 pilots lumber around. Trying to find a good balance to accommodate both aircraft.

I sent Vulcan a email note. Since he's on vaca, I won't expect an answer yet. Thanks NormP.

 

[jcardana]

An interesting discovery... I don't find any "pilots" on the DS. Guess I'll make some. Train drivers don't fly multi-million dollar aircraft!

 

[Willem2]

An interesting discovery... I don't find any "pilots" on the DS. Guess I'll make some. Train drivers don't fly multi-million dollar aircraft!

Hi Joe,

Ian has made a pilot, it is listed as "Rega Helicopter Pilot" kuid2:60238:27219:1 it may be useful to you.
As NormP stated Ian is on holidays and is not due back till (I believe) Friday 21 Sept.

Also are you aware that the carrier has an external aircraft elevator lift table, kuid2:60238:60043:1 (Instructions are in the config file).

Looking good, and enjoy.

Cheers,

Bill.

 

[jcardana]

Hi Joe,

Ian has made a pilot, it is listed as "Rega Helicopter Pilot" kuid2:60238:27219:1 it may be useful to you.
As NormP stated Ian is on holidays and is not due back till (I believe) Friday 21 Sept.

Then the DLS search engine sucks. I got no results looking for "pilot". I've made 8 but I can't seem to upload them.

Also are you aware that the carrier has an external aircraft elevator lift table, kuid2:60238:60043:1 (Instructions are in the config file).

Yeah, I'm all over that $#!T!!! I wish I could detach the track going into the hanger and make many more parking spots.

 

[papou]

Hi Joe,

This layout is a so great news! I wish you success for this challenge.

We know that the airplanes have to be adapted to match the carrier's real life. I'm sure that Ian will help you for that.

Pascal

Pascal

 

[jcardana]

So far it took me over three hours to "build the stack" for 8 aircraft from 40m ASL to 180m. I made the error of using a single color track... oops! I'll be posting some "work in progress" shots tomorrow...

I've completed the flight paths for a bolter, waveoff and touch and go, which enter into the pattern. The "stack" is behind the ship and goes directly to the "final approach" point. I have yet to plot the "mission" paths.

I'm wondering if I should add a "Quarter mile, call the ball" statement?

OK, 2:30am... Gnite

Joe

 

[jcardana]

I would love to see a video of "trainz" ( CVz? CVAz?) flight opz.

IMA Production Control, USS Kitty Hawk CVA-63 '65-'66.

I think I still have Fraps installed... I'll see what I can do about a vid. 65-66??? I wasn't even born then LOL

 

[Jacobchgo19]

Nice job!
My grandfather was on the the USS Roosevelt right before Vietnam..
We are a armed forces family over here.....

 

[jcardana]

6 Pics 1024x768 (1.75mb total)

Port Quarter view of the ship & helo plane guard stations (yellow)

The "stack"

Aft view

Bow shot with stack in the background

Close up of the flight deck. The triggers set the wings to fold on startup. I'm setting this up to accomodate the FA-18 and E2D. The three aft parking spots are for the E2D (just a little wider) but either a/c can park in any space.

Stern shot showing the "landing", Waveoff" and "Touch n Go" paths.

I haven't quite figured out what to do with the hanger... any ideas?

I broke into the gs file for the F-14 and changed it from speed based wing sweep to manual. I also delayed the afterburner on the FA-18 by a sec to better sync with the deck animations. I hope Ian doesn't mind.

 

[jcardana]

Need a new Trigger Check Rule

There is a Trigger Check rule which allows me to select multiple triggers and will execute when any train enters any trigger. Which is helpful because there are six ways to fowl the deck. But I need something similar for when a/c LEAVE the trigger. I'm having to use the Check Trackside rule. It works but I must have six entries.

 

[jcardana]

For anyone following...

I've been having problems setting triggers and trackmarks so the aircraft begin the scenario/session with their wings folded. So I cloned the Aircraft Action Trigger and added 4 actions. So now 16 will fold the wings, 17 Extend wings, 18 retract the hook & 19 extend the hook.

However, I was planning to use Vulcan's E2D "Startupable" aircraft, but since he encrypted the script... I can't add those actions.

And since I've been tweaking. I lengthened the launch sequence by about 5 seconds.

If Vulcan ever reads this... why does it take about 8 seconds for before the hook on the F-14 drops?

I hit a little snag. It took me hours to realize that the Session Variable rule doesn't react to variables unless they change. It makes sense but I had to change the way the CAT is "reserved". So I have a fake junction setup for the aircraft to control and release. Unless anyone has a better way. I tried controlling a section of track, but it wasn't releasing.

Anyway... things are progressing. My aircraft can now launch and recover continuously and even waveoff if someone is too slow clearing the landing zone.

This is too fun!!!

 

[Dermmy]

I've been following this with interest - it's an application for Trainz I'd never really thought of. Great work!

 

[jcardana]

I've been following this with interest - it's an application for Trainz I'd never really thought of. Great work!

I also have a few routes with his boats and tanker ships!