Ok guys a little update. The Pumas are taking a bit longer than I thought. I will release 2 versions.
1. The AS330 PUMA version in Fire Force/COIN configuration with an FNMAG mounted on port side and capacity for 12 soldiers and 3 crew.
2. The South African uprated version of the PUMA named the ORYX in a CASAVAC/Search and Rescue configuration. Capacity 6 soldiers, 4 wounded, 2 crew. (Injured can heal at heli as well as arm and rearm). I am looking for a winch script to use with the ORYX. If anyone knows of such a script please inform us.
Here is a screen of the PUMA before I start applying normal maps and fresnel glass. Will also add proper damage extures and wear and tear.
This one is in the colours of the SAAF no 19 Squadron (1984)



I am including a hi res internal texture for the PILOT VIEW and will include animated cargo doors and wheels. The FNMAG version will include 2000 rounds of 7.62mm and an FNMAG I specialy made for the PUMA.

Will anounce a release date within the next 2 weeks after we've beta tested and fixed all bugs. Will also release the final version of the Alouette IIIs

I have updated the last screen with the latest update of the work I have done on the PUMA. Cockpit is nearly done. I have started painting the panel as I was waiting for a South African pilot who sent me detailed photos of the Panel, here is a screen...



I am a little behind schedule due to my personal work also the detail takes a lot more time. The Puma will have all working instrumentation. The following screen is a cut away showing actual panel detail..



The pilot view has Hi-res texture 2048 x 2048 and is impresive ingame. Will update the screen as soon as I have done the normal maps.

I know of a winching script, but can't seem to find it again. I saw it on armaholic.com somewhere.

I also take it you'll be using the realistic ballistics script for the mortars?

Here's an inflight pic of this Beauty during the Border War days. Note: No visible national markings or roundels.



Pilots used same gear as Allouette pilots including the Mk.1 helmet (early), the Gueneau / Elno 316 helmet (middle), and Alpha 550 helmet, (Later years incl. Oryx) ...as posted in the Allouette forum topic.

I have some interior pics of the Oryx from search and rescue operators who are currently operating on them out of AFB Ysterplaat in the Cape if interested. This includes cockpit view (+ nighttime) and aft cargo area pics.

Pictures of Squadron patches operating the Puma & Oryx:


19 Squadron


17 Squadron


16 Squadron (Loc: Bloemfontein. Currently operates new Rooivalk hellicopter)


15 Squadron (Loc: Durban. Sea- and Mountain rescue)


Oryx type crew patch

These babies flew LOW & FAST!!!




...a Good reference to get the feel of these choppers, (and how low to the surface their crews operate them) is the videos on youtube that depict these aircraft operating with the French Air Force in Chad. (These guys have more than a few screws loose :blink: --> Check it out!)

Would like to see some internal pics if possible. I am nearly done with the PUMAs and am making the normal maps at the moment so need some good references.. please

Incoming!

B) LOVE these machines!:



Handstand in the bushveld! HELL YEAH!! :D Watch those poor grunts eating dust...



Oryx wench detail...



Aircraft detail:

Thanks for the pics and info. I will alter the cargo area textures on the model after looking at these pics

Ok guys I am finally reaching the completion stages of our PUMAs had to change a couple of texture art after looking at FALCON 1's pic hope I do justice to the PUMAs with this add-on. Here are a couple of screens prior to finalising the normal maps and binarizing the add-on.



PUMA AS330L with side mounted FNMAG in the Fire Force/COIN configuration. With the tube filters. 2 crew, 1 gunner and 12 passangers


Detail screen of FNMAG and gunner position


PUMA AS330C general utility CASAVAC/REARM configuration. This one I made with the special dust filters developed by South Africa and fitted on most PUMAs operating in SWA (Namibia) after 1982


ORYX this one is in the Search and Rescue/General Utility Configuration. The ORYX is a South African Uprate of the PUMA AS330L with some minor alterations and dome radar utility.


I have included a winch and am hoping that someone can develope a script for us. Maybe we will become the first mod with something new and inovative like a proper working winch.


So far I can get the winch to extend down to about 30 meters ingame. It is a model animation and am hoping that a proper script will make the simulation appear more realistic


Panoramic view of the cockpit, need to complete a few things but all instruments are working


Cargo view screen just to give a general feeling of what it will feel like ingame.

NOTE: the ingame resolution is much higher and more detailed than in the O2 tool. The Pumas look almost real in the game.

Hopefully by the weekend I will have it ready for the team to test so I can fix all the bugs. Note the lovely shadows, I finally found out what the trick was. Once testing starts I will complete the pilots properly as FALCON 1 sent me all the info I needed. So we will have proper pilot models with the Star Pistol and the R4 rifle. Will be releasing the add-on to the public 1st week of December once the pilots are done and Raptor has made the new readme files.

SH!T A BRICK !!! :o

Obmar those screenies look FANTASTIC!! 5 Stars my friend!! ;)

Can't wait to get behind the wheel of one of those... drool droooool :P

FALCON 1 : "Can I take her for a spin Pa? ...I'll be careful ...PROMISE !!!"

You gave me a lot of work after I saw the pics you posted I changed the interior textures.

Hell yes.............. the weekend you can fly her to the limits and tell me what needs fixing and changing.

I'm actually eager to get some units finished so that the boys can start making some missions.

Hehe, me too mate, me too.

Nice work mate :) Trully nice work. I love the PUMAs :lol:
Can't wait to fly them over Sahrani for the first time!

That looks fantastic and a release soon is an exciting thing. early Christmas for us over here :D

My Donner ! :o

Obmar that is just awesome !!! Can even smell the interior :rolleyes:

:D

eish cant i cant believe !

:lol:

Dit sal baie lekker wees

Here's some live-action of just what the old Puma can do. Pretty cool video.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7930953813736214253

Damn man!

This flying beats what I've done ingame!

:lol:

This bird brings back sooooo many memories! It looks awesome! Looking forward to it!

ok guys just doing the final touches and the readme's for the new Pilots, Pumas, Star Pistol and AlouetteII and will be releasing them on the weekend, Saturday.

I will be releasing the new version of the AlouetteIII's in 2 weeks time.

After beta testing by the team and testers some requests where made so I have added the seating positions to the Puma doorway (riding shotgun). The CASEVAC Puma transports 1 pilot, 9 troops and 2 wounded. You can now also heal at the helicopter.
The FIREFORCE Puma transports 1 pilot, 1 copilot, 1 Gunner (FNMAG) and 10 troops.



This will add a little bit of realism to movie and missionmaking. I could only fit 2 troops on either side, 3 troops just looks too squashed. I must say it does look better.

I have also made some minor adjustments to the flight dynamics and a few edits to the textures. Otherwise they are ready for release.

RELEASE DATE: SATERDAY the 5th JANUARY

Sorry for the slight delay in the release of the Pumas but I had some last minute texture updates due to an error which was pointed ot to me by Falcon 1. I have reworked the textures and removed the dark exhaust protector layer so that they reflect the Puma 330 and not the Oryx. They look more authentic now. While I was doing that I redid some other texture problems that where bugging me, so now no mirrored or backward writing. Hope you all like the final paint job.





It was quite a bit of work as I had to remake the normal maps, specular maps etc as well as the readme pics and the website renders. I will upload the add-ons tonight so they will be available as from Monday morning.

Once again sorry for the delay..............

I promise I'm going to keep my big mouth shut from now on... :rolleyes: lol

;)

Very very sexy!

It's just me or the enemy AA soldiers don't atack it?
Also, the AA missiles don't lock the Puma, i don't know why, not even with the "dofire" command.

Everything else is fine, just a little too "flexible" in the fly model, but i have never being in one of these.