Su-17M4 (SU-22) Full Fidelity Research for Dev Started

Got tons of interesting pics from alieneye. Some cockpit pics with flood lights on I have never seen before. Thanks.

KLON-54 type laser range finder.

plan on releasing it as a 3rd party module if you are able to finish?

Mobius, I honestly want to make this the most realistic module ever with a good flight model. That is my first goal, as that is what I enjoy the most in DCS. If I ever accomplish that, like it, people like it, and ED ever likes it, I will release it just like other modules. It would have to be really really good. So I'm can't say as of now until I finish it. I'm not even thinking about it yet. If I ever fail I will give it away to whoever wants it.

I'm doing the instrumentation and pitot heads now.

Not sure if this is not too much detail though. I think once I finish modeling this I will start all over and do it the right away as I will probably be smarter at the end of the process.

ED accepts only high detail models so I think it's really good that you keep attention to every detail. I gotta say, it looks nice, and you learn really damn fast.

These things take years, but it’s worth the wait. The mig-21 went through hell in development, but it finally got done. If it hadn’t I think DCS would have failed. So do your labor of love, take the time it takes, and know there are plenty of us that would love to fly this thing. But I for one would love to see more Cold War mud movers in the sim.

Small Update.

I am flying my model in DCS, but I hit tons of modeling problems. Setbacks, tons of research, and looking for solutions.

Big mistake I made was not to use the ED Model Viewer, or the DCS itself right from the start. Now I know what it actually looks like in the SIM and what I need to work on. I have one major modeling problem and kind of have no solution for it.

But there are also good news. Tons of details, which btw got me in trouble, does look good in DCS. Other modules do not model flanges and small details (they paint them). I did that and I noticed it shows up nicely in DCS and gives a real feel to it. I will leave you with few pictures today and I will do a write up on the problems I'm facing and some approaches I'm taking.

I swear If I talked to someone for 10 minutes who has done a module for DCS, I would be done with mine. I am basically fighting the modeling tool and improvising, because I simply don't know better. I'll get there, but it feels like I'm doing this with an ax, and it takes so long.

Here I'm using SU-25T cockpit:

Looks amazing. Keep up the great work and thanks for adding this aircraft to DCS.:thumbup:

@aw33com,

Just in case, the PVD-18 is 4.458cm in diameter, and 67.5cm long.

That's the device on the end of the data boom with vanes.

Looks really good Aw33com, please keep at it!

Thanks for kind words.

I am looking for a good close up side picture of the ASO-2V Decoy Dispenser. The one that is most forward by the anti collision light. If anyone has it by a chance.

Can't find a single good pic online to see the exact details.

ASO-2V is also used on the Su-25. But on the Su-17M4 they are installed with locks (blue arrows) outward on both sides.

Thank you for the picture. You have no idea how close up pictures help in modeling.

You will call me crazy I started to reconstruct the parts:

Maybe this will never work, but I don't want the parts to be painted. I want them to be real.

WOW!!!! I like this way of viewing things. . . :-)

And here is the completed item with flanges:

Looks great

Thank you for the picture. You have no idea how close up pictures help in modeling.

 

You will call me crazy I started to reconstruct the parts:

 

 

Maybe this will never work, but I don't want the parts to be painted. I want them to be real.

Glad the photo came in handy. Please note that the distance between the holes at the ends is different. Immediately striking.

Glad the photo came in handy. Please note that the distance between the holes at the ends is different. Immediately striking.

You are right, I have different distance, but either not enough or showing the part from this angle changes everything.

And without full measurements it will never be perfect. I would need Su-17 in my backyard to get it right. The plans for this aircraft (all for this and other aircraft) are so eyeballed and off on the small parts. Nothing ads up to be honest, so I watch the real pictures and adjust.

This 3D stuff and computing is a bit stuck in the 90's.

You are showing a good level of 3D.

Working with scoops. Kind of difficult for me for some reason even though they seem simple.

Will look different after installation.

Installation of parts

I don'know....Maybe this thread could become the ultimate build thread of a simulator aircraft.

I don'know....Maybe this thread could become the ultimate build thread of a simulator aircraft.

haha, I'm really enjoying reading updates. Every now and then I'll come back to check if anything new has been posted.

Rounded irregular parts are difficult to create. It takes more art than science, and I'm not an artistic person at all. For those rounded parts I will probably eventually contract someone to create them. There is few of them around lights, M4 RWR front, canopy itself, or maybe even fuselage sections. Time consuming and kind of a blind date to adjust those.