The A2A Simulations Community

This is from the recent 8th AF magazine, telling about their B-17 simulator. I was hoping that they'd comment on the software in the article, but there is a placard with the simulator that gives credit to A2A for their work in developing this wonderful simulation software.

The simulator is positioned so that it looks down on the exhibit hall where the recently acquired B-17 "City of Savannah" now resides.

http://www.whistlework.com/401/8th_AF_N ... h_2009.pdf

Thanks to all of you who provided help, guidance, and hand-holding while putting together this simpit!

Regards,
Joe

That's very cool Joe especially to have it featured in the museum as well as the publication.
You must be very proud.-Jon

Very cool Joe. Do the yhave my Shark Tooth textures I had did for you in there? If so I gotta take a trip down there and give it a whirl.

Hey Scotty. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure which version of Shark Tooth is on the simpit. I'm pretty sure it's yours. In the rush to get everthing finalized though, I'm afraid I may have gotten some of those details mixed up. I'll be taking another trip down there in the not too distant future, and will be sure to check on that!

...by the way, I have to encourage everyone to support the 8th Air Force Historical Society. For a $30 annual membership, you'll get a subscription to their magazine which is an incredible value in itself. And you'll be helping to preserve the history of the 8th.

Here's their website: http://www.8thafhs.org/

I'm thinking about asking "Doc" Brown, the editor of the magazine, if he'd be interested in doing a story about the warbird afficianados here and the group flying that goes on. I think a lot of people would be interested, and including some screen shots with the story would make it a lot of fun.

We'll see...

Cheers!

This whole thing warms my heart every time I think about it. Such a great honor to be amongst those men. Keep up the great work!

Very very nice.

I was looking back at one of the old threads here of the keyboard mod, and i was wondering perhaps if you guys might have or make a guide on how to make one? or perhaps make available the decals/templates for the keys?
Because it looks great and i would love to make a mod like that myself to get some extra authenticity without having to spend 100's if not 1000's of $$$ on special switches ect.

Hi Alex:
The keyboard mod was done by laminating a couple layers of heavy black construction board. I then printed out the keyboard overlay on label sheets, adhered them to the board, then cut them individually with an x-acto knife. Once cut, they are then "laminated" using clear heavy duty packing tape to protect the label and give it a finished look.

Then you have to map the keys within the FSX configuration set up. The actual out of pocket cost for materials is probably under $25 - depending on how much you spend for the keyboard. You can get by with a basic $15 keyboard as I did. You really don't want anything more than a basic kb.

More than the cost is the time. I'm not sure exactly how much time I put in to keyboard mod alone, but figure 15 minutes to fabricate each key/switch.

One of these days, I'll make another for myself!


P.S. Glad you like the looks of it! Thanks!

Great thanks!

Actually sitting on an old very basic compaq keyboard that i replaced because some of the keys were starting to stick.

I don't suppose you happen to have the keyboard overlay on file?

I think I used Avery Label Maker, so you'd have to have that program. It's a free download (I think) off their website. Then I could send you a bunch of the files I used to make the overlays

Let me know..

I'd like that very much!

Joe, have you loaded B-17 Flying Fortress "The Mighty 8th" into your simulator? Tho it's the sim/"game" of the ETO over Europe, it will give those using your simulator the "feeling" of what it was like. Not sure how it plays on Vista but it works fine on XP. That's it you can find it..... tho I do have an unopened package of it somewhere around here.

About 4 years ago I went to the 8th museum in Savannah ... I should probably schedule another trip soon ... it'd be nice.

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Gary, you need to revisit B-A ... there's some discussion going on you might want to check out.

I recently got the roger dodger keyboard mod for ww2 fighter and the IL2 template. I've made one for IL2 and it works great- much easier not having to remember countless key combinations. I plan to do one for FSX, which I have recently reinstalled! http://www.rogerdodger.net/ He's a helpful chap and as I ordered the wrong keyset I received the IL2 set for no extra cost. Really recommend it.
Hello Snuffy!- It has been a while, what happened to the B17 game? I still get the mighty 8th out now and then. Do you use IL2 at all?

I just found these pictures inthe gallery over at rogerdodger.net. I was wondering if you have a close up of the keyboards Joe? Are they the ga ones from rodgerdodger?





A tidy looking setup! Has anyone flown it?