FS2004/FS2002 'DC-3 Airways' classic and 1940's liveries for the M.A.A.M. DC-3A - PASSENGER VERSION
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This freeware download includes official repaints for the virtual airline 'DC-3 Airways', intended primarily for use by 'DC-3 Airways' pilots.  If you are not already a member, check out 'DC-3 Airways' at www.dc3airways.com


File name: DCAMAAMP.ZIP

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FEATURES:

Designed to be in keeping with those liveries already released for the default FS2004 DC-3, this download offers two more full texture sets in 'DC-3 Airways' colours.  These textures are specifically for use with the GMAX FS2004/FS2002 model released by Mid-Atlantic Air Museum Simulations (MAAM-SIM) in June 2004. They will not work with the default aircraft, or with any previous versions of the MAAM-SIM product. 

Also included are optional files for a refreshed version of the 'old' classic livery.

The base aircraft models can be operated in either FS2004 or FS2002, although please note that some of the design features are non-operational in the earlier sim. 

The MAAM-SIM GMAX FS2004/FS2002 aircraft, released on the anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 2004, are sold in support of the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's activities in Reading, PA.  These include the intended re-engining of the Museum's famous Douglas R4D-6 50819, around which this project was originally conceived several versions ago. Priced at $30 and sent anywhere in the world for $4.95, the MAAM-SIM CD product includes three base aircraft models and a wealth of supporting documentation.  In addition to the R4D-6, the CD offers a commercial DC-3A in both passenger and cargo configurations.  The R4D-6 flight dynamics are based on that aircraft's powerful Pratt & Whitney 1830-94 1350HP engines, whereas the DC-3A models use dynamics for the more common 1200HP 1830-92s.  All aircraft are four-tankers.

The base package on CD is available from www.maam.org

Our classic livery is intended to continue the great tradition of the legendary N1776 and carries that N number in this download. Trim has been extended over the forward edges of the wings, vertical and horizontal stabilizers.  Seats and carpets are trimmed in colours appropriate to this comfortable 21-passenger aircraft.  The end result is intended to offer 'DC-3 Airways' pilots a timeless livery that would look as appropriate on a 1950's DC-3 as it does today.

Files are included which offer, alternatively or additionally, the older style N1776 for those who prefer it.

The 1940's livery, registered here as NC1776, was created in response to those who suggested that an optional, earlier style would be popular with members.  This has proved to be the case with the repaint for the default aircraft. This design is designed to be typical of the simple, yet stylish liveries that adorned the bare metal fuselages of pre and post WW-II civilian aircraft, many of which were converted military C-47s.

All of these new liveries are based on the 'UAL' passenger model with a starboard stair door and port side baggage hold.

Base textures - in fact, most textures - are by Jan Visser and MAAM-SIM. The conversion of these aircraft to 'DC-3 Airways' colours is by Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumont, Vice President Fleet, DC-3 Airways.   

To operate this aircraft, refer to the User's Manual with instructional videos on the MAAM-SIM R4D/DC-3 CD as well as the detailed kneeboard reference pages and checklists. Additional manuals and reference materials may be obtained on the MAAM DC-3 Multi-Media CD from www.maam.org.

Note that to get the full effect in flightsim of being able to walk around the aircraft externally and throughout the virtual cockpit and full cabin found on these aircraft, you will need 'Active Camera', by Guillaume Darier and Serge Baye.  Visit their website at www.anticyclone.be/active.html for more details of this excellent add-on.  You can even take a passenger seat and watch the world go by over the wing!  It doesn't make the coffee, though.


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INSTALLATION OF THESE TEXTURES:

Before installing, please ensure that you have correctly installed the base aircraft as per the instructions in the MAAM-SIM installer.

Then:

1. Unzip DCAMAAMP.ZIP to a temporary folder, retaining folder names. 

2. Within your download, look for the folder 'MAAM-SIM DC-3 Passenger'.  Within that, you will find two texture folders, 'texture.N1776' and 'texture.NC1776'.  Simply move these texture folders to the corresponding 'MAAM-SIM DC-3 Passenger' folder found within your Flight Simulator 9/AIRCRAFT directory.  If you are using FS2002, this folder will be found within FS2002/AIRCRAFT.  

3. Now you must add appropriate [flightsim.xx] entries to the AIRCRAFT.CFG file within that base folder, in order that your new aircraft will be recognised.  Back up the file first if you are not familiar with this process. 
 
4. Cut and paste the entire contents of whichever 'AIRCRAFT.CFG entries' file (as supplied with this download) is appropriate to your sim installation.  If you are running FS2004, use the FS2004 file.  Use the FS2002 file if you are running FS2002. The entries should be inserted into the base model's AIRCRAFT.CFG file just below the existing entries you will find there and above the [General] section.  

4. Be sure to number the [flightsim.xx] lines sequentially for each new aircraft entry.  For example, if you have previously added no other texture sets to the base model installation, the first entry you make should be listed as [flightsim.2], the next [flightsim.3] etc.  Check this carefully, then save the file.

5. Start the sim.  Your new aircraft will appear in the Aircraft Selection Menu under "Douglas", "MAAM-SIM DC-3 Passenger".  Go flying!

Note that there also a number of illustrative screenshots included with this download, for your interest.  Do with them what you will, as they're not prizewinners: that's up to you!  It is suggested that you retain this README file for future reference.


OPTIONAL FILES:

If you would prefer to fly with a new rendition of the original style of Jan Visser's N1776, which has no curved cheatline on the nose, no fairing on the wings and rear stabilizer, an arrow through the airline name and a DCA logo and eagle on the tail, then refer to the folder 'Optional N1776 files'.

Within that folder, you will find a folder named 'texture.N1776old', some more illustrative screenshot JPGs and two more AIRCRAFT.CFG entries files.

If you want to use these textures, you can either copy or move the files within 'texture.N1776old' to your installed folder 'texture.N1776', above, in which case you will overwrite the textures for the more modern livery style; or, you can create a new texture folder to install to the base aircraft, in which case you will have the choice of either livery style within the sim.

To install both, make a copy of the installed folder 'texture.N1776' and rename it 'texture.N1776old'.  Carefully copy or move the files in the downloaded folder 'texture.N1776old' to this folder, saying YES to overwriting.  

Lastly, add the new AIRCRAFT.CFG entries supplied, changing the [flightsim.XX] numbers to be the next in sequence as you did with the previous entries.  Save the file.  You're done.  This will give you a choice of 'classic' liveries for your new passenger aircraft.


32-BIT OR DXT3 TEXTURES?

The three main exterior textures are saved in high quality 32-bit format.  Each of these files is 1024x1024 and 4MB. In the separate download DCAMAAM3.ZIP, these three files for each aircraft above are saved as DXT3 images, without mipmaps, reducing their size to 1MB each.  Image quality, although of lower resolution than 32-bit,  remains excellent. Users with slower computers may prefer to replace the key 32-bit textures with these alternatives in order to maximise their texture refresh rate.  See DCAMAAM3.ZIP.


FURTHER OPTIONS:

For those who can't resist further fiddling, the following mix 'n match livery options are possible:

1. 'bm_fuse_2_t.bmp' offers the faired, plain tail in the 'texture.N1776' folder, the logo tail in the "texture.N1776old" folder.  They can be switched seamlessly if desired (but NOT with the sister cargo aircraft).

2. 'hsurf_t.bmp' has faired wings in the "texture.N1776' folder, plain wings in the 'texture.N1776old' folder.  They can be switched if desired, or the plain wings can be used on the cargo aircraft.

3. The 'texture.N1776' folder has cloth passenger seats in tartan pattern, the 'texture.N1776old' folder has brown leather.  To interchange all related furnishings (excepting curtains: don't switch this file) swap the files 'cabin2.bmp', 'r4d_cabin_stoel.bmp', 'r4d_cabin_stoel2.bmp' and 'r4d_entrance.bmp'.

Such work is not for those unfamiliar with file management. If you make any such changes, please do so very carefully so as to avoid accidental texture overwrites.


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CREDITS:

These repaints were designed and created specifically for 'DC-3 Airways' by Mark Beaumont, with much appreciated input from all good friends at 'DC-3 Airways' and elsewhere in the flightsim community. 

Kudos to Bill Rambow, Jan Visser, Fred Banting, Rob Young, Bill Womack, and Howard Sodja at MAAM-SIM.  Without this highly talented team, there would be no aircraft on which to base this work.  I also recognise the keen input from the hard-working MAAM-SIM 'beta-testing' team and the special skill of taskmaster Bill Rambow in pulling all this together.  The result, after enormous work, is arguably the best aircraft in flight simulation today.  Sorry, the best THREE aircraft!

Particularly, I would like to thank model and texture master, Jan Visser, whose creation of this model and its beautiful base textures is quite simply a work of genius. There are further configurations to come. You may see the release of a paint kit for all these models presently, which promises to encourage a wealth of interesting repaints of the legendary DC-3!

MAAM-SIM has an open repaint policy, but please refer carefully to their documentation in the main package before uploading any work of your own.  This is important.  On their behalf, thank you.

Enjoy your 'DC-3 Airways' DC-3s.  Look out for more developments in due course!


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June 6th 2004


Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumont

Vice President, Fleet, DC-3 Airways
DCA-1054
www.dc3airways.com

Beta team, R4D and DC-3 package, MAAM-SIM
www.maam.org

MABeaumont@aol.com
www.swiremariners.com/dc3.html

