Comments on: Heidi High: The Accu-Sim Piper Cub

By: Smithee

Smithee — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:34:52 +0000

I like it – good to see someone model handpropping well. FYI, compression point refers to where the propeller needs to be in order to have one of the cylinders go through a compression stroke. You can definitely feel a “tightening” at the compression point when you’re pulling the prop through.

I do feel bad for Heidi, though. I hope she knows how to use heel brakes.

By: Smithee

Smithee — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:24:33 +0000

Torgen, that’s really cool. I love how they don’t have all the useful information you’d expect, like weight and balance.

By: Ffitz

Ffitz — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:06:25 +0000

Splendid. The Cub is one of my favourite aircraft in real life, so this is a dead cert sell.

Hope Heidi’s got a good singing voice for those long cross-country flights.

By: Rostock

Rostock — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:51:27 +0000

Hhaa… I loved making my tail-gunner shit himself… flying upside down close to the water.

By: terry

terry — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:39:04 +0000

Check the split pins on that!

By: nichevo

nichevo — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:56:44 +0000

You called him Ivan too eh? I suppose it’s the obvious choice. (Was your Stuka tail gunner called Jerry?)

But I doubt Heidi will cry “OHHH NYEEEETTTTT!” when you fly like a maniac.

By: pirate0r

pirate0r — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:56:09 +0000

I trained in Canada, I don’t think it was required but I had a LOT of fun doing it.

By: Caiman

Caiman — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:48:21 +0000

Is that camera shake in-game, or done in post-production for the video?

By: MrSnoobs

MrSnoobs — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:50:53 +0000

If you pretend he’s a brummie, every time he says Piper Cub, he actually says “paper cup”.

Much hilarity.

By: Tim Stone

Tim Stone — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:30:06 +0000

There are various custom views including one that simulates standing in the hand-start position. From there you grab the prop with the mouse pointer, find the compression point (?) at roughly two-o-clock, and pull down. I’m not certain about flooding, but I suspect it is modelled. On occasion I’ve been a bit over-enthusiastic with the primer and had to swing the prop a few times.

With throttle open and brakes off the Cub will start moving after the engine catches, but as you’re not physically outside the plane it’s not really a problem. No danger of Heidi doing an impromptu solo.

By: Torgen

Torgen — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:26:56 +0000

1946 J-3 Cub manual : http://wiki.flightgear.org/index.php/Piper_J3_Cub#Manual

(I used to have a photocopied manual, but gave it away when I gave away my Cub R/C kit I was working on.)

By: Smithee

Smithee — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:34:52 +0000

This looks impressive, especially since the stock Cub in MSFS is pretty terrible. I used to fly a Aeronca Champ in real life (which should have similar characteristics as the Cub, though old timers might get into fistfights over that), and was always disappointed with the FS Cub. It was impossible to taxi without groundlooping, developed Corsair-levels of torque from a 65hp engine, and was generally unforgiving. I tried a few mods, but they all made it feel like a tricycle gear and got rid of the fun dancing on the rudder pedals. I’m glad to hear someone may have gotten it right.

Question for Mr. Stone: How’s the handpropping handled? Do you actually have to be “outside” the aircraft to handprop it, or do you just click on the prop? In my dream sim I’d love to see some of the joys of handpropping modeled, like not starting after the tenth throw and flooding the engine, accidentally leaving the throttle open all the way, or forgetting to tie down and having the plane taxi off all on its own. Or maybe Heidi could a good passenger and handle the gas and brakes while the pilot throws the prop.

Also, checking out the website, I noticed that this comes with a “118-page, full sized Pilot’s Manual,” which is pretty hilarious considering that real J-3′s probably didn’t have any manuals at, or at best a single page.