Is-Was: Submarine Attack Course Finder; Mark I; Mod 3; 1915

[ElCid97]

Greetings!

Since I can't seem to get the slideruler to work, I thought I'd use the things I learned to get the Is-Was into the sim. I know it would be somewhat strange since we already have all the info we need with pop-ups all over the TDC/PK system on the left, but I thought it would be nice to have something for the S-Boats since they never had any fitted with TDC's.

The unit is basically the default TDC. All I'm doing is changing the interface so that you have a more "believable" thing to look at using some actual "equipment" furnished by Hitman in the form of a PDF if I'm not mistaken. I downloaded it so LONG AGO! All credit for the instrument goes to him (or the original author) who also gave us a wonderful manual we can download here as well.

The screenshots have a few things/quirks that will be relevant to the mod. Basically, there are a few things that are still sticking out such as the text on the notepad, for instance. I was trying to do someting "a la Dark Waters" with the handwritten text using the "chalk" for the "writing" there, but it doesn't seem to want to work very well. At least it's "writing" of some sorts.

The Is-Was doesn't really function like the real thing. To begin with, you still have to put the info into the thing using the right-hand interface of the sim. I'll work on that one later.

One thing about the mod is that it will be geared to work without the PK. For now, there is no "switch" to turn the thing on, so you will have to enter/send all the data EVERY TIME you change one of the parameters. This includes moving the periscope, changing the range, changing the AOB, and changing the speed. In the case of the range, remember you will have to CLICK TWICE to send the info since "one" is for the range and the "second" is for the bearing off the periscope.

Eventually I may add the functionality (maybe) of the PK to "simulate" a tracking party doing the calculations for you with the data you put in, but we'll see. It would not be to difficult to implement based on what I've seen so far messing with this. I would just have to make sure it's a "written" thing on the notepad instead of a light or button. You would basically click on the words "Tracking Party" or whatever, then you would have something next to it saying "On Duty" for on and "Off Duty" for off, or something along those lines.

Enough "talk" for now. Here are some pics:

Jimmimadrid gets FULL CREDIT for the dials since I'm using his mod for the S-Boats. This should work fine with the default TMO/FotRSU dials as well.

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1476&pictureid=13737

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1476&pictureid=13738

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1476&pictureid=13739

Relaxing for Easter, so updates probably next weekend.

Saludos! :up:

ElCid97

[Bubblehead1980]

Greetings!

Since I can't seem to get the slideruler to work, I thought I'd use the things I learned to get the Is-Was into the sim. I know it would be somewhat strange since we already have all the info we need with pop-ups all over the TDC/PK system on the left, but I thought it would be nice to have something for the S-Boats since they never had any fitted with TDC's.

The unit is basically the default TDC. All I'm doing is changing the interface so that you have a more "believable" thing to look at using some actual "equipment" furnished by Hitman in the form of a PDF if I'm not mistaken. I downloaded it so LONG AGO! All credit for the instrument goes to him (or the original author) who also gave us a wonderful manual we can download here as well.

The screenshots have a few things/quirks that will be relevant to the mod. Basically, there are a few things that are still sticking out such as the text on the notepad, for instance. I was trying to do someting "a la Dark Waters" with the handwritten text using the "chalk" for the "writing" there, but it doesn't seem to want to work very well. At least it's "writing" of some sorts.

The Is-Was doesn't really function like the real thing. To begin with, you still have to put the info into the thing using the right-hand interface of the sim. I'll work on that one later.

One thing about the mod is that it will be geared to work without the PK. For now, there is no "switch" to turn the thing on, so you will have to enter/send all the data EVERY TIME you change one of the parameters. This includes moving the periscope, changing the range, changing the AOB, and changing the speed. In the case of the range, remember you will have to CLICK TWICE to send the info since "one" is for the range and the "second" is for the bearing off the periscope.

Eventually I may add the functionality (maybe) of the PK to "simulate" a tracking party doing the calculations for you with the data you put in, but we'll see. It would not be to difficult to implement based on what I've seen so far messing with this. I would just have to make sure it's a "written" thing on the notepad instead of a light or button. You would basically click on the words "Tracking Party" or whatever, then you would have something next to it saying "On Duty" for on and "Off Duty" for off, or something along those lines.

Enough "talk" for now. Here are some pics:

Jimmimadrid gets FULL CREDIT for the dials since I'm using his mod for the S-Boats. This should work fine with the default TMO/FotRSU dials as well.

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1476&pictureid=13737

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1476&pictureid=13738

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1476&pictureid=13739

Relaxing for Easter, so updates probably next weekend.

Saludos! :up:

ElCid97

Love it! Always found not having alternative for SBoats in the sim an immersion killer.

The PK to simulate s tracking party in S-Boat is a great idea.

I thought some S-Boats did get TDC's later on in 1943/1944? Although their frontline service was fairly limited by then.

[propbeanie]

Time was, just a few short years ago, you could find a picture of an is-was banjo rather easily... now the best they can do is this??:

http://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Frju5dusi2ln01.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=dec68f3865e357c4eeb1a0cb4c7da768f2f33261d14748 fbde6b38fb062a4e3c

"AI" search results are so appropriate... bet you didn't know that is a "WW2 is-was banjo"...

Anyway, several US subs are documented to have used the TDC as their primary target tracking device, but also to employ a 2nd set of fellows using an is-was banjo and verifying the TDC results with that. Discrepancies were attempted to be rectified before shooting...

[ElCid97]

THAT'S HILARIOUS!!!!! :har:

On a more "tech" note, I seem to be having some issues with some "tech" stuff. Posting here in the hopes someone would be able to help out since it's probably something I'm doing wrong with regards to the entries themselves since it happens with pretty much any image I try to add to the entry regardless of the page I try to attach it to (changing the "0x##" sections as appropriate).

Here's what I have so far (let me know if this isn't supposed to be in the "code" brackets):



;================================================= =========================

;================================================= ====
;================ USN L10B-Slideruler ================
;================================================= ====

[G29 I20]
Name=L10B_SliderulerGroup_Main
Type=1026 ;Menu group
ItemID=0x29010000 ;hex number
ParentID=0x29000000 ;Clock page
Pos=0,0,130,768
Zone=0 768 130 768 2 1 0x29000000 0 0 0x29010000 0 0 0 0
Color=0xFFFFFFFF

[G29 I21]
Name=L10B_Slideruler_Background
Type=1031 ;Static bmp array
ItemID=0x29010001 ;hex number (next number)
ParentID=0x29010000 ;L10B_SliderulerGroup
Pos=0,0,130,768
Zone=0 768 130 768 2 1 0x29010000 0 0 0x29010001 0 0 0 0
Materials=1
Display=2 ;Linear
Mat 0=Data/Menu/Skins/American/Gui/IsWas_V1/USN_L10B_SlideRuler_Base.dds ;SlideRuler Background Image
Crop 0=0,0,1,1
MatFlags=0x29
TexFmt=0x9
Drag=false
BmpState=1
NeedFocus=true
SelOne=false
IdGroup=0
StatesColors=0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF, 0xFFFFFFFF

;================================================= ====
;================================================= ====

I'm just trying to add the image at this point as a static background and will add moving parts later. I'm just "sizing" and "fitting" at this point, but there's no sense in going forward if I can't get the image to work.

What's maddening is that it DID work a few weeks ago as a static. :hmmm:

Thanks for any input, and -- like I said -- I'm probably overlooking something completely simple.

Saludos!

ElCid97

PS: I'll post some more pics this weekend since I have a lot of work this week and I'm just using what little time off I have to work on graphics and, as stated, trying to get this little part to work.

[ElCid97]

Small update.

Did manage to get the sliderule thing to finally show up again, though getting it to work still has a lot of "teething" problems.

The left side of the TDC/PK replaced with an Is-Was is now pretty much done. Just need to try out a few more shades of yellow for the "handwritten" ID block and the range and speed numbers that are also available now as "handwritten" data using the chalk and pencil fonts that came with the sim.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a way to change the text to black or anything other than the default yellow. The closest thing I could do is make a sort of "blackboard" or "slate board" where the Targeting Party "writes" the info down for use. I'm using this in lieu of the notepad in the current screenshots.

The dial on top of the top index card is now positioned where it needs to be and the images replaced with "blank.tga" image so that you still have the pop-ups available over the index card without the dial in the way.

Same with the pop-ups over the Is-Was itself and the pop-ups just underneath the instrument. These are default, from what I can guess, and help a lot with getting info such as AOB, Gyro Angle for the torpedoes, Torpedo Course, etc.

I'll post some pics when I get the chance.

ElCid97

[ElCid97]

Good Afternoon!

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

I'm almost ready to release this, but would like some folks to test it out first. I'm still writing/putting together the instructions since you will still have to do some LIMITED hand-editing of the menu_1024_768.ini file in order to get this to work correctly. You can use the JSGME to get the images/graphics into the sim, however.

Basically, I was able to swap out most, if not all, of the parts of the PK in order to get one side of the Is-Was to function based on the PK dials on the left side of the scopes and targeting map. By just changing the graphics and their positioning, I was able to get something that will work like the original as long as the other information is entered correctly in the top-right dials (range, bearing, speed, and AOB, respectively).

I also managed to get a working version of the standard USN-issue Lawrence Slideruler, the military version of the L10. Known as either the Model S495 or S505, this was used by pretty much anyone that didn't have any type of specific tool for calculating values which were based on multiplication and division.

I also added the S-L-T scale as a part of the bottom/right of the slideruler. In a future release I plan on placing two rulers side by side with the B-C1-C scale being replaced on one of them by the S-L-T scale/slider. This will allow the user to more correctly use the slideruler and, possibly, even follow the online tutorial here on this site.

I'm going to now work on a type of manual or "readme" for this thing so you have a type of guide to follow in case the images are not too clear on it's use. Basically you can use this by downloading a manual on how to use a slideruler from the internet, but using it for things like what we are using it for (speed, range, etc.) may require a little bit extra.

NOTE: VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

You MUST be using the OTC corrections for the monitor resolution and aspect ratio you have installed, otherwise IT WILL NOT WORK!. If you are using the default or if you are using a Camera.dat file that changes the zoom in any way, you will HAVE TO USE the stadimeter to get the ranging of the target since the manual/observed portion of the process won't work.

If you have modified Camera.dat file, then just don't worry about the slideruler since the range will be off the stadimeter and/or the map with contacts. The Is-Was will still work fine and provide you something along the lines of an S-Boat in looks if not in practice.

After the readme/manual, I'm going to help out BH with some of the targeting stuff for the V3 update of TMO. I plan on trying to make some changes to the RecMan that will make things a little better for the user -- if at all possible. I really hope to be able to make it so that you don't have to keep clicking like a madman to find a ship, but that's the subject of another post.

Here are some of the screenshots:

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1476&pictureid=13749

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1476&pictureid=13750

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1476&pictureid=13751

I will make a link once everything is set along with the simple instructions on how to install.

If there aren't any issues reported back, I'll go ahead and upload to the file library so it's available to everyone.

Saludos!

ElCid97