We started this year with a bang thanks to the release of the F-4B/C Phantom II mod by VSN and their Century Series of mods. It has been quite a while since then, over a half a year as a matter of fact. In that time, a couple of updates have been released for this fantastic mod, but none are as big as this upcoming version.
I have been given access to a preview of this new version, so let's take a look at some of the features that will be included with it!
COCKPIT ADJUSTMENTS
The first change you will notice, even if you are not into the little details, is the difference in the cockpit's positioning and seat placement. Previously, on older versions, the pilot was sitting at around shoulder height of the proper sitting position. It will take you some time to adjust, but once you have, you will appreciate the clearer sight lines and viewing angles.
Personally, the most difficult aspect to get adjusted to was the new gunsight position, which can make some tasks a bit more difficult, specially with weapons like rockets. The gun pod is zeroed to 55deg of depression with this new position, which means that the pipper will be clearly visible for ground attack operations. Additionally, the A/A mode sets the proper depression automatically, so you won't have to worry there.
NEW RADAR MECHANICS AND IFF
This update also brings a revised radar that now includes closure circles and even IFF functionality. This means that now you will know, depending on your weapon, when you are inside that optimal engagement zone. It also goes hand in hand with the new IFF system that is simple to use and allows you to stop that blue on blue action that we all hate.
The radar is still pretty simple mechanic-wise, specially compared to official modules, yet what it is, it's clear that we do not need any of that complexity to have fun. It might not be the most complex or the most accurate, but I find it exciting when I have to deal with jamming to the level that locking or even spotting the target through the clutter is impossible. I think that it is awesome to have a standalone air-to-air radar in a mod like this, no matter the compromises.
TACAN NAVIGATION, REVISED WEAPON RELEASE ORDERS AND NEW SUU-23 MODEL
The VSN devs, with the help of what was learned during the development of the A-4E-C by the Scooter devs such as JNelson and Farlander, have finally managed to add TACAN beacon navigation to the module as well as steer point navigation! This opens up an entire world of semi-imprecise navigation for the Phantom!
Another change that will come with the update is a new SUU-23 20mm gun pod model! It is much more accurate than the one that was previously used, and I helped with the textures! The textures used by the new pod were made by me with the aid of Substance Painter and Blender, which helped me make them look better than they would have without said tools.
It will include four different textures, so pick the one you like the most for your liveries.
Last but not least, many of the problems with the ripple, pair and even single bomb modes have been solved. This means that the racks will eject the ordnance in the correct order, leading to some clipping issues and ejection issues being corrected. It might not sound like much, but it is important for the mod to be consistent to these subjects.
About the writer:
Santiago "Cubeboy" Cuberos
Longtime aviation fanatic with particular preference towards military aviation and its history. Said interests date back to the early 2000s, leading into his livelong dive into civil and combat flight simulators. He has been involved in a few communities, but only started being active around the mid 2010s. Joined as a Spanish to English translator in 2017, he has been active as the co-founder and writer ever since. Twitter | Discord: Cubeboy #9034
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