I've downloaded the Seafire MkIII British Pacific Fleet from Flightsim.com.  The file is sfcfs2.zip.  I've also downloaded the spitfire weapons pak, spitwep.zip and I cannot get the slipper tank to show up.  I've double and quadruple checked that all the required files are in the right folders.  The funny thing is, the SAAF spitfire, I believe by the same author, also will not show the slipper tank.  File is spitpak1.zip.  I've looked at the damage profile files and cannot see anything wrong with them.  I'm stumped and going bald from tearing my hair out.  Could you take a look at it and see if you can find anything?  If necessary I can e-mail the files to you.

Thanks,

Investdude

investdude wrote on Apr 28^th, 2012 at 11:56pm:

I've also downloaded the spitfire weapons pak, spitwep.zip and I cannot get the slipper tank to show up.  I've double and quadruple checked that all the required files are in the right folders.  The funny thing is, the SAAF spitfire, I believe by the same author, also will not show the slipper tank.  File is spitpak1.zip.  I've looked at the damage profile files and cannot see anything wrong with them.  I'm stumped and going bald from tearing my hair out.  Could you take a look at it and see if you can find anything?  If necessary I can e-mail the files to you. Thanks, Investdude

I suspect that this is the Spitfire weapons package by Martin Wright. http://www.mwgfx.co.uk/cfs2/spitpak.htm

I haven't used CFS2 for a very long time. Martin's instructions are usually very clear, concise DP tutes in their own right. I'll check it out later.

Update. I tried the Seafire & SAAF Spitfire packages you mention. The tank works fine on both straight "out of the box".

http://www.simviation.com/phpupload/uploads/1335756481.jpg

http://www.simviation.com/phpupload/uploads/1335705270.jpg

I can't understand why you're having problems. Did you use the auto-installer to install the Seafire?

Thanks for doing this Hagar.  Yes, I had to use the auto-installer into CFS2 because it won't let you install to any  place other than CFS2. Like you, I don't trust auto-installers and try to avoid them as much as possible.

OK, I tried again.  I installed the SAAF Spitfire from spitpak1.zip which does not have an auto-installer and can be installed manually.  Then I installed the files from spitwep.zip into the objects_dp and scenedb folders (although they were already there).  But no change.  The slipper tank just won't appear.

Do the other payloads display? There are only two loadouts with the tank, Guns Only Long Range & Bombs Medium Long Range.

http://www.simviation.com/phpupload/uploads/1335767478.jpg

Yes, all the payloads display perfectly except that the slipper tank will not show with the Guns Only Long Range & Bombs Medium Long Range.

Hmmm. Very odd. I can't figure this one out at all. Sorry.

As I said earlier, it's been a long time. If I think of anything I'll let you know.

Thanks Hagar.  I sure can't figure it out.  All the files are present in the correct folders.  Even the mdlnames.txt file is correct.  And the DPs must be correct if they work for you.

And you are sure y've added these models names

"spit_bomb_250lb"=General Purpose Bomb - 250lb
"spit_bomb_500lb"=General Purpose Bomb - 500lb
"spit_m10_rocket"=M10 Triple 4.5" Rocket Tubes
"spit_rocket"=Ground Attack Rocket
"spit_smokefloat"=Smoke Float - 250lb
"spit_triplex"=Triplex 7.2" Rocket
"spit_slipper_tank"=Slipper Droptank - 45 gal

and this

Installing Spitfire Pack 1
10
media\spit1.bmp
media\spit2.bmp
media\prop.wav
;
;
;
;
AC
3
Weapon Library
objlib
Scenedb\weapons\scenery
0
Weapon Textures
objtex
Scenedb\weapons\texture
0
Weapon DP Files
objdp
objects_dp
0
spitVis.bak
*Spitfire Pack 1*CFS2 Version**By Cryingtoto/MW**(c)2000
0
0
0
1
mdlnamesadd.txt
mdlnames.txt
1
Aircraft\F6F3_HELLCAT\panel\panel_background_1024.bmp
Aircraft\Spit-IX SAAF\panel\panel_background_1024.bmp

Thanks for your reply Bass.  Yes, all these models names have been added to the mdlnames.txt file...

"spit_bomb_250lb"=General Purpose Bomb - 250lb
"spit_bomb_500lb"=General Purpose Bomb - 500lb
"spit_m10_rocket"=M10 Triple 4.5" Rocket Tubes
"spit_rocket"=Ground Attack Rocket
"spit_smokefloat"=Smoke Float - 250lb
"spit_triplex"=Triplex 7.2" Rocket
"spit_slipper_tank"=Slipper Droptank - 45 gal

and they all work except the last one, spit_slipper_tank.

These files:

Installing Spitfire Pack 1
10
media\spit1.bmp
media\spit2.bmp
media\prop.wav

don't have anything to do with the weapons so there's nowhere to install them to.

All these files have been installed correctly:

AC
3
Weapon Library
objlib
Scenedb\weapons\scenery
0
Weapon Textures
objtex
Scenedb\weapons\texture
0
Weapon DP Files
objdp
objects_dp
0

Don't know  what this is about:  spitVis.bak

*Spitfire Pack 1*CFS2 Version**By Cryingtoto/MW**(c)2000
0
0
0
1

The weapons pack I have installed is from Martin Wright:  Spitpak1.zip

As indicated above the model names have been added to the mdlnames.txt file:

mdlnamesadd.txt
mdlnames.txt

These files have to do with the panel, nothing to do with the DP:

Aircraft\F6F3_HELLCAT\panel\panel_background_1024.bmp
Aircraft\Spit-IX SAAF\panel\panel_background_1024.bmp

So am still stumped as to why everything works except the slipper tank.

Note: You only need to add those entries to mdlnames.txt if you wish to use the weapons in the Mission Builder. I didn't do so & the tank and all other weapons in the package work perfectly as shown in my shots which were taken in Free Flight.

Read this, and be aware of the air file on other ac
----
SpitPak Additional Weapons

This package contains a library of additional weapons designed
particularly to fit the SAAF Spitfire.

These weapons may be utilised in Payloads for other Aircraft
by appropriate editing of the DP file of a Default or MdlPatchW
patched Aircraft. Some of the objects have been designed so that
a Hardpoint location of 0,0,0 will place the object in the
correct location on the Spitfire Model. These are marked ** in
the descriptions below. To mount these on a different aircraft
a suitable Hardpoint location will need to be created.
Some Mounts are "Handed" - Different objects for Left and Right
wing mounting. This is because they are angled to match the
wing Dihedral for better appearance. These may not perfectly
match the Wing angle on other aircraft but should still work
better than the "straight down" alternative.

The Weapons :-

spit_slipper_tank **

    A 45 gallon streamlined underbelly Droptank.
    Note that a suitable Air file that includes correct settings
    for Auxiliary fuel tanks will be required for this to function
    correctly regarding Fuel capacity, weight and "dropability"
    with other Aircraft

raf_pilot **

    This is the pilot shown in the Spitfire Cockpit. Note that if
    you add or edit the Spitfire Payloads you will need to have
    the raf_pilot entry in each Payload for the pilot to be visible
    when that payload is selected

spit_mount_std_L
spit_mount_std_R

    The Left and Right standard mounts for the carrying of bombs
    or Smoke Floats

spit_bomb_mount **

    A central bomb mount on the centreline just behind the Air
    intake

spit_rocket_mount

    A tall, thin mount for mounting Rockets in a piggyback arrangement.
   

spit_m10_tubes_L
spit_m10_tubes_R

    The Left and Right 3-Tube M10 "Bazooka" Rocket Launchers. These
    should be used in conjunction with a spit_m10_rocket Mounted
    as described below

spit_m10_rocket

    This is the "Firing" part of the M10 setup. It should be placed
    so that it is hidden by the 3-Tube launcher and the Payload entry
    should be in the form :-

         [PAYLOAD.4]
         mount.0=raf_pilot, 1, -1
         mount.8=spit_m10_tubes_L, 1, -1
         mount.6=spit_m10_rocket, 3, 7
         mount.9=spit_m10_tubes_R, 1, -1
         mount.7=spit_m10_rocket, 3, -1

    with a "3" as the second parameter. This is the Ammo-Level and will
    allow 3 rockets to be fired from each 3-Tube mount.
    These fire very quickly but using the keyboard Ordnance key allows
    enough control to fire singly if required.

spit_rocket

    An Alternative to the normal US 5" Rockets

spit_triplex

    Triplex Rocket - these were made by putting 3 rocket motors from
    the 3" rocket into a single rocket then using a 7.2" Howitzer shell
    as the warhead

spit_bomb_250lb
spit_bomb_500lb

    Alternative Bombs

spit_smokefloat

    Visually a 250lb Canister that was used to drop smoke on water.
    For the moment this will act the same as a 250lb Bomb

---

Bass wrote on May 1^st, 2012 at 7:37am:

Read this, and be aware of the air file on other ac ---- SpitPak Additional Weapons

bass. I know you're trying to help but that's copied direct from the instructions with the SpitPak weapons package. This was specifically created by Martin Wright for the Seafire III & SAAF Spitfire by Cryingtoto that investdude is having problems with. The DP & AIR files have already been configured for the slipper tank. I've checked this out in AirEd & also proved it in CFS2 itself. See the screenshots in my earlier reply. As I said earlier, mdlnames.txt does not need editing for the weapons or tank to display.

The only possible reason I can think of for the tank not displaying on either aircraft is that the AIR files have been modified/replaced after installing the packages or the wrong aircraft are being selected in CFS2.

Hagar,

The air files for both aircraft, the SAAF Spitfire and the FAA Seafire are exactly as installed by the auto-installer.  If the wrong aircraft was being selected I don't think the other weapons in the DP wouldn't show either.  I think there must be something wrong with my CFS2 installation.  I'm going to do a fresh install of CFS2 and see what happens.  I'll report back.

Investdude

If memory serves me right adding the Aux fuel tank entry to the AIR file will only affect whether you can drop the tank. It should still display without it.

what are the DP entries?


try deleting the filelist.dat file in the SCENEDB/weapons/scenery folder. don't worry CFS2 will make a new one.

not sure what else to do. i'll add the plane and see what i get.

ok after installing the Spitfire MKIII i had no issues.

but if you installed the SAAF Spitfire then you will need the file Spitup.zip from MW's site.

check that and it should be good to go.

verify that you have these DP entries as shown,

[PAYLOAD.1]
; Payload = Guns Only Long Range
mount.1=spit_slipper_tank, 1, -1

thats all i've got.

Tried deleting the filelist.dat file.  Made no difference.  Yes, I have
[PAYLOAD.1]
; Payload = Guns Only Long Range
mount.1=spit_slipper_tank, 1, -1

on both SAAF and Seafire DPs.  All weapons show up on both except the slipper tank.  Since they work for everyone else there has to be something wrong with my CFS2 installation.

investdude wrote on May 2^nd, 2012 at 1:34am:

Since they work for everyone else there has to be something wrong with my CFS2 installation.

I can't think what that can be unless it's the old "100 plane" limit. You could try a duplicate install of CFS2. Simply rename your existing CFS2 root directory folder to another name & Install in the usual way.

Whatever you do don't use the Uninstall/Install method. Please read my CFS2 FAQ page first. http://www.simviation.com/lair/cfs2faq.htm

Thats ok, i'll just step back.
But i did have an old xp backup on cfs2. Copied it all into my win7 cfs2 setup, and it is working fine!

Hagar,

It's definitely not the 100 plane limit, I'm way, way below that.  I do have 4 different installs of CFS2 and the slipper tank won't work on any of them so there has to be something wrong with it.  I am going to try your suggestion of a duplicate install from the discs as soon as I have time.  I'll report back.

investdude wrote on May 2^nd, 2012 at 1:30pm:

I am going to try your suggestion of a duplicate install from the discs as soon as I have time.  I'll report back.

It's worth a try. However, if it doesn't display in your existing 4 installs I don't hold out much hope. I must be missing something but I can't think what.

To avoid confusion may I suggest you try just one of the aircraft to start with, either the Seafire or SAAF Spitfire. If that works you can install the other one later.

While I understand your frustration I'm wondering if a drop tank is worth all this bother. Do third party drop tanks display on your other aircraft? For example the Fox Four Sea Fury.

Hagar,

Yes, other 3rd party drop tanks install fine, this slipper tank is the only one I have a problem with.  Also, the extra installs of CFS2 were not installed from the CDs, they are all copies of my original install, done that way because CFS2 doesn't require a registry entry.  I suspect the tank will work with a fresh install from the CDs, I just haven't had time to try it yet, lots of things going on in the real world at the moment.  Thanks for your interest and all your help.  I'll report the results when I can get to it.

Hagar,

I did as you suggested, renamed my CFS2 to something else and did a fresh install from the CDs.  The slipper tank works!  So now I am slowly copying files over from my original install in an attempt to determine at least in what folder the problem lies.  I suppose it's not unreasonable that my original install would have some problems because I have had it for 12 years and been constantly adding to it and upgrading in various ways.  If I can ever track down exactly what the problem was I will report it for everyone's benefit.

Success!  The problem was in the SCENEDB\WEAPONS\SCENERY Folder.  A file called Seafire.bgl was conflicting and causing the slipper tank to not show.  I'm not sure what Seafire.bgl relates to, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the Martin Wright Seafire, possibly some other model.  Anyway, I deleted it and the slipper tank works fine now. :D

Glad you finally figured it out. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Now, thats a good job ;)