I've talked with Ripper about this and he gave me the following solution.. which works perfectly:
Using F4Browse:
- Open F-4E model
- Delete hardpoints 5 through 8
- add centerline hardpoint (visible, no rack)
- add hardpoints 5 through 8 again. (with only the outer 2 hardpoints requiring a rack).
For the F-4G, Ripper told me to replace the centerline hardpoint with the ALQ-131 hardpoint. However I've studied various websites and books on the F-4G and I came to the conclusion that one certain AIM-7 hardpoint (under the fuselage) is always used for the Jamming pod, which doesn't have to be the ALQ-131 btw.
So I did it a little bit different, I added the centerline hardpoint like described above but I changed one of the AIM-7 harddpoints to be an ALQ-131 harddpoint since we lack any other jammer. All the photographs (I use the one from FAS now because I don't have my books scanned) show these F-4G's carrying the jammer on the LEFT front slot. According to my books on the F-4 and various knowledgable websites, the F-4G uses no other slot for the jammer than this LEFT front slot. This surely match all the photographs I have because I never saw a F-4G carrying any sort of jammer on any other slot than this front left slot.
According to the F-4G article Joe Baugher's EXCELLENT website:
"For self-protection, the F-4G could carry up to four AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles on the sides of the inboard underwing pylons. In addition, four AIM-7 Sparrows could be carried in the underfuselage slots. However, the left front slot was often taken up by the installation of a ALQ-119 or ALQ-141 jammer pod. "
Out of the top of my head this will be slot 3 in Falcon 4.0.
Notice that the jammer is always on the FRONT LEFT slot (left for the pilot). I haven't seen photographs of the F-4G carrying this jammer anywhere else but here
Now I have the following question:
- How do I modify this slot so it can BOTH be used for the AIM-7 as the ALQ-131?
Okay now my F4Patch problem:
The fix I made works perfectly! The hardpoints now show up exactly where they are supposed to be! However because I edit the datafiles MANUALLY using F4Browse, F4Patch v4.0 refuses to apply any other patch under the "RP4.1" tree because the file data is mismatching. Ofcourse it is, I just changed it! I try to use persistent patching but then F4Patch gives me an error and crashes.
So how do I create a F4patch patch that allows me to correct Rippers F-4E/F-4G models and to enhance their realism (certain weapons assigned to the F-4G don't really match etc etc) and... works perfectly well with F4Patch and RP4.1 etc etc? A patch that one could add "on top of" Rippers F-4 patch.. that would fix the hardpoint problem and enchances realism or whatever needs to be done?
I have NO idea where to start with this so some help would be VERY appreciated. Ripper didn't released a fix for this problem because he also didn't know how to turn these F4Browse edits into a F4Patch patch.
[This message has been edited by Tazz (edited July 04, 2001).]
Lucky I escaped without a scratch (and no I don't have an ejectionseat! Would have come in handy btw.. I entered a flatspin and mowed down several roadside objects).
