Looking at videos etc for almost a year now I always though I'd be in BIG trouble with the Spitfire. Well I now have one (without Accu-sim) and you know what ? I didn't have the slightest problems flying or taxiing. Sure to taxi I had to weave a little or cheat and get external view but I know the airfield so it's no problem.
I took off and landed. No problems. Not sure if the accu-sim add on changes the base model sounds of engine start up. Probably not. From what I see on you tube, the engine sounds appear to be the same whether you have accu-sim or not. I am not 100% on this though. Only A2A would know for sure as most people would not even think of not getting accu-sim.
I of course noticed that whilst I can go to the maintenance hangar I cannot change the prop but there is a patch I can put on for that from A2A another user told me about, no biggie. I noticed some sounds are not there as they would be accu-sim however I still got things like the cockpit fogging up. I thought that was accu-sim only but nope, it's in the base model.
Like a real spitfire I had to be careful about overheating but just watching the Engine temp is all you need to be careful of. I kept the vents open. Everything seemed fine. "G" still works for the undercarriage. Not tried to use the "pump" yet. So I only really immediately noticed a few things missing due to accu-sim not being there (from watching you tube videos as all A2A Spitfire youtube vids seem to have accu sim of course). Have not put the aircraft into a situation where it would shake so I don't know if the base model does this. I shall soon find out.
Of course I have accu-feel but I will turn that off for the present as I want to see the base model completely "as is" for a good comparison. Then I will try accu-feel and then maybe accu-sim.
Everyone needs to make their own decision if adding accu-sim for that particular plane is "worth it" to them because it is an expensive combination. I'm not here to discuss the merits of what should or not be, each to their own. I just really want to have a good fly with the Base Spitfire and then with AccuFeel and maybe.....lastly accu-sim and see if, for me and me alone, is worth the cost of that add on for that particular plane and then base that on whether I would get accu-sim for others or not because the base would be enough. I might do some livestreams doing the comparisons. As accu-sim cannot be "turned off" I need to do all the tests with the base model first as I don't want to get into uninstalling accu-sim if I go ahead with that test (as it would probably mess up my other A2A planes that have accu-sim).
The only way to do the comparison is to not have accu-sim else you don't know what you are missing, it's all just "there".
From videos on youtube what I can see instantly are:
- Accusim will add vibration to the cockpit upon startup. Base model does not do this.
- When you turn off the fuel, with the base model, the engine stops immediately as does the prop. On videos I see on youtube, the engine does not immediately stop, it runs for a while still. Again this is how a real one would work I gather
Who knows. I might be quite happy with a non Accu-sim Spitfire. Remember, with a customer making a purchase, only 1 person has to be happy with what they have, the person buying it. Everyone is different with their needs and expectations. I know many people reading this would be in utter shock. Please don't be. Remember, whether I put on accu-sim or not I am still supporting A2A's amazing products. I will always make an informed decision and research and test things myself at every opportunity, I will never just "accept", I need to see and experience it.
Onward with the test. Stage 1. Base plane only.
I'll be saying hello to Duxford shortly !
Wish me luck chaps !