High Definition / High Resolution Kittyhawk MkI for the EAW Desert Air War Campaign


Kittyhawk Mk I  - Curtiss A87A-2 (USAAF P-40E)
112 Sqn  - No.239 wing  - 211 Group DAF - May 1942, at Gambut Libya.
Code letters: GA-Y, nicknamed "Pride of London" in small script above the left side fuselage roundel
RAF Serial no. AK 772 
Pilot was Sergeant Pilot H.G.Burney.
This AC was lost near Bir Hakeim on 30 May, 1942
Pilot status unknown.

Number 112 Sqn is credited with being the first unit to paint sharkmouths on the P-40. Members of the AVG (American Volunteer Group) in Rangoon, Burma saw a picture of 112 Sqd Tomahawks in a Life magazine and liked it so much they began adorning their P-40C's with shark's teeth too. 

This model represents my effort at a personal masterpiece in 3DZ modeling. The intent was to create the most accurate and detailed model that can be achieved in the 3DZ EAW format. 

With the help of the development team -- DeanH, whose artistry and hard work created the realistic looking skins that breath life into the model -- and Crashing Jack Baker, who created the working needles for the flight instruments, I think that goal has finally been reached. Months and literally hundreds of hours have been spent in the development.

This plane features a 3D photo-realistic pilot, detailed 3D landing and tail wheel gears, 3D tail surfaces, 3D wing roots, Col. Gibbon's style of spinning prop, 3D wing tips, 3D landing gear fairings, etc., etc., with a lot of attention to accurately capture the smooth shape of the P-40. Working features include an opening canopy, flaps, and an empty cockpit view when the pilot has to bail out (don't forget to kill the engine and open the canopy before you step out)

It also has a new 3D high detailed cockpit with new instruments / panel and gun sight. For the first time in EAW, AFIK, the cockpit has a number of working features, featuring opening canopy, working throttle handle and magneto switch. Watch for these when you fire her up for your first flight.

There are 2 historically accurate high resolution Desert Air War campaign ordinance loads included with the plane. There is a 52 gal. drop tank unique to P-40's (the game only has a 45 gal. option so it loads up with that identification), and a British 250 pound bomb. 

The plane is offered in specific Campaign packages with the plane slotted for the position it uses in the campaigns. A campaign loadout.dat file is included with each plane package, which will allow you to use the high resolution ordinance in the game. Each loadout file is specific to the campaign and should only be used in that individual campaign. It is designed to only change the Kittyhawk ordinance in Desert Air War, and does not affect any other plane's ordinance. - FYI in case you aren't aware, the loadout file defines the ordinance and external weapons loads for ALL the planes in the game. - ONCE THIS LOADOUT FILE IS INSTALLED IN THE DAW FOLDER, DO NOT OPEN THE ECA PANEL TOOL, WHICH WILL WIPE OUT ALL THE CURRENT INFORMATION IN THE LOADOUT FILE.

In any case, ECA Panel ordinance assignments will not work with this model as they are not historically accurate.

To install copy all of the files in the Kittyhawk MkI model folder into your DAW campaign folder and let them overwrite any existing files. Copy the files in the ordinance folder into the DAW campaign folder and let them overwrite any existing files. Do the same with the LOADOUT file. Go fly and have some fun.

If you would like to convert the TPC file to PCX files to modify or paint a new skin, simply place the files into the TPC conversion folder. Click on the tpc-pcx file, and the PCX files will be created.

Hope you all like it.

Credits:

Dean (DeanH) Hill - Aircraft painting

Brian (Crashing Jack) Baker - Flight instrument gauge functions and needle placements

Kurt (Captain Kurt) Schwabauer - Aircraft model, cockpit model, and painting the cockpit, flight instruments, pilot, and other small details

A special thanks to Gurney for his new 3DZ Studio, the modeling tool that made this kind of detailed work possible.


Cheers

Captain Kurt 
February 3, 2006
