1) CalClassic modification of the Default DC-3 with correct lettering on vertical tail.

2) CalClassic modification of the Default DC-3 to match the Awesum4sum/Awesome 4some texture mapping

3}  Improved wheel shapes for the default DC-3 model.

******************************************

FSX to FS2004 conversion, vertical tail, and texture mapping modifications by Tom Gibson

5/2018

Version 2.  Improved wheel shapes and correct prop blades for all models (including default) and minor texturing and mesh improvements on the Awesum4sum model.

I obtained the FSX DC-3 GMAX files from this page:
http://archive.msdn.microsoft.com/FSXGMaxDC3/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=1329

The original FSX Awesum4sum/Awesome 4some texture mapping was created by James Eden and Jon Murchison.  I have not used any of their work in these models, other than matching up their textures to my CalClassic modification of the default DC-3.  The liveries I have converted so far use model=reg.  I have not tested it with any of the other 3 versions.

NOTE:  There are a few FS2004 liveries available for the Awesome 4some/Awesum4sum model - these are textures painted by Gary Harper for FSX and converted to FS2004 format by Tom Gibson, by permission.  They can be downloaded from:

http://www.calclassic.com/dc3.htm

Other than these available downloads, any modifications requires some work with a paint program.  In these instructions it is assumed you can use such a program for at least selecting, copying, and mirroring portions of BMP textures.  More complicated liveries will require much more skill than that.  


INSTALLATION of Modification #1 (default DC-3 with extra tail texture; for #2 - Awesome 4some, and #3 - default DC-3, see below)

NOTE:  If you have downloaded textures already designed for the CalClassic FS2004 default DC-3, you only need to perform steps 1 through 4.  Use the livery section (if provided) in the text file of the texture package for step 2, but check step 3.

1.  Copy the model.cc folder found in this archive into the FS2004/Aircraft/Douglas_DC3 folder.

2.  Add the fltsim.x section(s) into the aircraft.cfg file in the Douglas_DC3 folder.

3.  To specify that you want to use the CalClassic model for a certain livery, edit that livery's section in the DC-3's aircraft.cfg file to read model=cc

4.  Copy any texture folder you want to use with this model into the Douglas_DC3 folder.  Rename this folder (if desired) as texture.airline, where airline is the name of the livery.  Then edit the texture= line in the the fltsim section of the aircraft.cfg file to texture=airline

5.  For those liveries, add the three night textures (ending in _L.bmp) found in the textures_cc folder of this package to avoid the plane becoming transparent at night (if it is reflective).  Do this for every livery that uses the CalClassic model.

6.  This modification requires an extra texture for the left side of the vertical tail.  I have named this extra texture Douglas_DC3_1_Rudder_T.bmp.  See below for details on how to create one, if needed.

7.  If you wish to see the plane before you decide to convert any liveries yourself, I have included one of these extra textures for the cargo version of the default DC-3.  Place the Douglas_DC3_1_Rudder_T.bmp file found in the texture folder of this package into the texture folder of the default DC-3 (FS2004/Aircraft/Douglas_DC3/texture folder).  Add the _L textures from step 5 as well.  Then in the aircraft.cfg file, find the livery section at the top of the file that has the line texture= in it (nothing after the equals sign).  In that section, change the line model= to model=cc

Now load the Cargo DC-3 and you can examine the model.  This livery does not have any lettering on the tail, however.

8.  For other liveries you will have to create the extra texture by:

a.  Load the Douglas_DC3_1_T.bmp into DXTBmp.
b.  Image/Send to Editor (set up DXTBmp in advance to use your paint program for this).
c.  Select an area from 0,369 to 512,625 (512 x 256 area).
d.  Copy this, and paste as a new image.
e.  Mirror this image from right to left (flip horizontally). This becomes the left side image.
f.  Mirror any lettering on either image back so you can read it.  Both sides (right side on the original Douglas_DC3_1_T.bmp image and the left side on the new image you just created) should be readable and not flipped.
g.  Save the image as Douglas_DC3_1_Rudder_T.bmp into the texture folder you got the Douglas_DC3_1_T.bmp file from in step 8a.
h.  If you have edited the original Douglas_DC3_1_T.bmp image (named norm.bmp in your paint program), save that file and in DXTbmp choose Image/Reload After Edit.  Edit the alpha channel as well, if the box in the upper right of DXTBmp is anything but pure white (Alpha/Send Alpha to Editor, edit the image, save the image, and then back in DXTBmp Alpha/Refresh Alpha).  Save that file.
i.  Load the new Douglas_DC3_1_Rudder_T.bmp file into DXTBmp and save as a DXT3 or other FS format.
j.  If the tail uses an alpha channel (the box in the upper right of DXTBmp is anything but pure white), you will also need to do the following:
aa.  Alpha/Send Alpha to Editor.
bb.  Repeat steps 8c through 8f above.
cc.  Save as Douglas_DC3_1_Rudder_T_alpha.bmp
dd.  Before you save the new file in step 8i above, use Alpha/Import Alpha Channel and select your  Douglas_DC3_1_Rudder_T_alpha.bmp file you created in step cc above.


INSTALLATION of Modification #2 - Awesum4sum/Awesome 4some

NOTE:  If you have downloaded textures already designed for the CalClassic FS2004 Awesum4sum DC-3, you only need to perform steps 1 through 4.  Use the livery section (if provided) in the text file of the texture package for step 2, but check step 3.

1.  Copy the model.cc_awe folder found in this archive into the FS2004/Aircraft/Douglas_DC3 folder.

2.  Add the fltsim.x section(s) into the aircraft.cfg file in the Douglas_DC3 folder.

3.  To specify that you want to use the CalClassic awesum4sum model for a certain livery, edit that livery's section in the DC-3's aircraft.cfg file to read model=cc_awe

4.  Copy the texture folder provided in the texture package you downloaded into the FS2004/Aircraft/Douglas_DC3 folder.   Rename this folder (if desired) as texture.airline, where airline is the name of the livery.  Then edit the texture= line in the the fltsim section of the aircraft.cfg file to texture=airline

5.  For FSX liveries available on the web, delete the following texture files (if present); they are not used:
Douglas_DC3_1_t_spec.dds
Douglas_DC3_FuseTC_T.dds
Fresnel_Ramp.dds
texture.cfg
Thumbnail.jpg

6.  For that livery, add the four night textures (ending in _L.bmp) found in the textures_cc_awe folder of this package to that livery's texture folder to avoid the plane becoming transparent at night (if it is reflective).  Do this for every livery that you use the CalClassic awesum4sum model.

7.  If there are DDS textures in that folder, they will need to be converted to DXT3 BMP textures using DXTBmp:
a.  Load one of the DDS textures into DXTBmp (File/Open or drag it onto DXTBmp).
b.  Image/Send to Editor (set up DXTBmp in advance to use your paint program for this).
c.  In your paint program, flip the image vertically.  Save the file.  Close the file.
d.  In DXTBmp use Image/Reload After Edit to bring the flipped image back into the program.
e.  If there is anything but pure white (or a solid color) in the alpha channel (the square in the upper right), use Alpha/Send Alpha to Editor to bring the alpha channel into your paint program.
f.  Flip the image vertically.  Lighten this alpha channel image to reduce the overly bright reflections.  I start by making it brighter by 50% and reducing the contrast by 50%, and then modify it from there.  
g.  Save the file.  Close the file.
h.  In DXTBmp use Alpha/Refresh Alpha to bring the flipped alpha channel into the program.
i.  Use File/Save As/Extended Bitmap (drop down box set to DXT3) to save the image as a DXT3 BMP image.

8.  Repeat step 7 with all the DDS textures found in this texture folder.

9.  Check out the plane in FS2004 and make sure all the texture conversions are correct.

10.  You may now delete all the remaining DDS textures, if desired.


INSTALLATION of Modification #3 - improved Default DC-3

If you want to have a default DC-3 with improved wheel shapes and correct prop blades, follow these instructions:

1.  Copy the model folder found in this zip archive.
2.  Paste it into the Douglas_DC3 folder.  Windows will ask if you want to overwrite the existing folder.  Say Yes. A backup of the original default DC-3 MDL file is included as Douglas_DC3.mdl.orig.
3.  For each livery using the improved MDL file, add two night textures (Douglas_DC3_1_L.bmp and Douglas_DC3_2_L.bmp) found in the textures_cc_awe folder of this package to that livery's texture folder to avoid the plane becoming transparent at night (if it is reflective).  Do this for every livery that uses the CalClassic modification of the default model.
4.  All liveries using the default DC-3 will now have improved wheel shapes and correct prop blades.
5.  If you want to go back to the original DC-3 model, inside the model folder rename the Douglas_DC3.mdl file to Douglas_DC3.mdl.cc, and rename the Douglas_DC-3.mdl.orig file to Douglas_DC3.mdl.  Reverse this process to go back to the CalClassic version.

Enjoy,

Tom Gibson

