High Detail / High Resolution Kittyhawk MkI for EAW


P-40E-1  - Curtiss A87A-2 (USAAF serial number unknown)
9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, 5th Air Force - Darwin Australia July 1942
Pilot was Capt. Joseph Kruzel - scored 3 victories over the Japanese and later 3.5 more victories over the Germans in the ETO for total of 6.5 kills.

The dragon emblem on the cowling had previously been carried on the pilot's P-40 which he had flown with the 17th PS (provisional) during the earlier defense of Java. Capt. Kruzel was a flight leader and all 4 planes in his flight carried this marking. Capt. Kruzel was one of a handful of veteran pilots who were transferred into the green 49th Fighter Group to be the lead pilots during the successful defense of northern Australia. These pilots had gained combat experience in the Philippines and/or Java and survived to be evacuated. Kruzel was transferred back to the USA for R and R before the 49th moved to New Guinea and later was assigned to the 8th Air Force in England.

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 3 historically accurate high resolution 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), a 75 gal drop tank modified from Col. Gibbon's model, and a 500 pound bomb also modified from Col. Gibbon's model. 

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 P-40 ordinance 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 EAW 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 P40-E model folder into the EAW campaign folder and let them overwrite any existing files. Copy the files in the ordinance folder into the EAW 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 
January 28, 2006
