B-17G Hi-res version for European Air War.

This aircraft represents "Aluminum Overcast", a B-17G from the 601st BS, 398th BG, based at Nuthamstead, May-August 1944.  The pilot was Lt. Harold Weekly.  This aircraft was lost to flak on it's 34th mission, 13th August 1944.  All the crew safely bailed out, two became POW's and the rest returned to nearby allied forces with the aid of the resistance.

Pheeeewww!  At last it's finished!  I'll never complain about low res skins again - only one pcx file and one 3dz file to play around with!  This baby has 11 3dz's and 6 pcx's, and the workload increased immensely, but I think the results are worth it.  

I have taken Col. Gibbon's superb .3dz's and modified them for use specifically with the pcx files in this zip file.  Mainly some extra re-mapping of the textures, but also adding a non mirror panel for the LHS fuselage markings, modifying the tail to look more like a Cheyenne turret, adding the chin turret, a few extra guns, and some other details.  I have also changed the pbb17c.3dz (noseart) so that only one texture is used.  This provides higher resolution, but all the bombers look exactly the same.  If you don't like it, I have some other noseart files that could be used as a base - email me and I'll send you a copy.

Issues :-
1.  In the latter part of text editing the pbb17f.3dz, I somehow lost the ability to view it in 3dz Studio.  Although it still seems to work fine in EAW on my rig (Ge3ti200), it locks up Studio as soon as it's loaded.  This is a mystery I'll get to the bottom of one day, but for now I thought I'd get it out the door so I could get on with my life!  Sorry about that.
2.  During the addition of the chin turret I ran into some Rendering sequence problems, making some panels invisible.  I got around this problem by using sub elements, but there are still some rendering problems that you will notice, such as the guns on the chin turret.  Despite trying hard, I have been unable to get them to show up all the time.
3.  The Props.  Due to the way the model had to be constructed, it uses the pbb17p.3dz and assigns it to all four props.  The result is that if you knock out the no. 1, 3 or 4 engines, they continue to turn.  Conversely, if you knock out the no. 2 engine, all four props come to a standstill.  Also the props are drawn in position even when a wing is knocked off.  Hopefully one day we'll get a fix for it, but for now just put up with it!

Credits and thanks :-
Big thanks to Col. Gibbon for creating the Hires B17f, which was my starting point, 
Migge for the old pbb17tex which is used in the MDM, LDM and TOW models,
Alessandro Borges for 3dz Studio which was used extensively in the process,
The original creator of the chin turret ?(who was that masked man!?),
Mr. Johnson and Alessandro for advice and,
The EAW community at SimHQ for being such a great bunch, and making this amazing sim look even better every time I play it!

Usage :-
Just unzip all the files into your EAW folder, or if using stab, snm etc just follow the usual procedure which you probably already know....  :)   To uninstall, simply delete the files.

I hope you like these files, and feel free to use them however you like.  Please let me know of any problems or comments that you may have. 

John "Chompy" Masters
jdmasters@ozemail.com.au
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~jdmasters/
29/04/2002

 