Within the main zip file are four files:
file_id.diz -- description file, universal format
P-38LRacer_readme.txt-- readme
please_do_not_distribute.txt -- a very explicit request, please read it!
P-38LR.zip -- contains all model files
In the following instructions, [FS2004] refers to the Flight Simulator 2004 main folder, whose location (path) may vary depending on your installation.
1) INSTALL THE PACKAGE "P-38L The Definitive Lightning" ver 2.2 (please note:
there is a minor enhancement patch 2.2.1 at my site. It is not required for the
Racer.)
2) Within the file P-38LR.zip is a folder called P-38L_Racer, which contains many
sub-folders. Using your unzip program, whether it be WinZip or the default XP zip
tool, unzip the file P-38LR.zip such that the folder called P-38L_Racer ends up in
[FS2004]\Aircraft folder, such that all the subfolders are contained within the
P-38L_Racer folder.
3) Please see P-38L_Doc.html
and p-38l-cockpit_and_operations.htm
for more information.
You are now ready to run FS2004 and load the model.
1) This package is meant to be a companion to my "P-38L The Definitive Lightning" ver 2.2. It is NOT stand-alone. You must have the P-38L installed for it to work properly.
2) This model is intended for FS2004 only.
3) The visual model makes use of so-called 'reflective textures.' Be sure this setting is ON. The setting can be found through the main menu by selecting Options / Settings / Display ... / Aircraft tab, "Reflections."
This setting may adversely affect display performance, but is required for the model to look as intended. I also recommend setting the aircraft textures size to Massive to see the details, but again, this affects display performance.
4) Landing light: Use the standard Landing Light command (Ctrl+L) to turn it on/off. Note that you can adjust the aim of the beam with ctrl+shift+[num pad number] (Num lock must be off).
5) Occasionally I experience unpredictable behavior with the light switches. If you have any trouble with them (such as the panel lights being turned off when you turn the landing lights on, or the tail strobe is not illuminating the tails) try the the all-lights-on command (typically the 'L' key) and then use the switches.
6) Use the spoiler command (typically '/') to deploy/retract the dive recovery flaps.
7) Please see documentation (P-38L_Doc.html and p-38l-cockpit_and_operations.htm in the
folder P-38L_Lightning for more details, including acknowledgments)
Be sure to visit www.kazoku.org/xp-38n
for the latest updates, other P-38 models, and lots of P-38 pictures!
| Having Trouble? Model doesn't work? The most common trouble users have with this package is not having ver 2.2 of the P-38L installed. |
Surplus P-38Ls and F-5's (Photo Lightnings) were popular racers right after the war. No two were alike after their pilots and crews let their imaginations and engineering skills run wild. This package represents two kinds: a generic P-38L racer and, without a doubt, the most famous P-38 Racer of all time: Lefty Gardner's White Lightnin'.
The following is a list of major changes from the 'civilian' P-38L (from my Definitive Lightning package ver 2.2).
- gun muzzles removed, holes plugged and smoothed over
- external stores pylons removed
- wing-tip fuel tanks removed
- fuel pump blisters removed (fuel pumps relocated)
- boarding ladder removed (generic racer, White Lightnin' has its ladder)
- engines uprated to 3200 rpm, 60-in manifold pressure, approx 1800hp
- other adjustments for low-altitude, high performance
Notes:
- The White Lightnin' model has even more changes to its external appearance, representative of its highly-modified configuration. However, its flight model is the same as the generic L Racer.
- the sounds are aliased to the P-38L model and as such, the turbosuperchargers are heard at high power. However, on most P-38 Racers, the turbosuperchargers were either removed or not used (sometimes superchargers were used) . To conserve disk space, minimize download times, and to keep these two packages tied together, I opted not to included a new sound set just for the Racer.
- gauges from the P-38L model are used, and as such the new red-lines for rpm and manifold pressure are not indicated on the dials (3200 rpm, 60-in respectively). You can think of the existing red-lines as those for normal flight, say ferrying to a race or airshow. For racing, you can push beyond for a limited time. (Until you run out of fuel!)
- the radio altimeter gauge -- a very useful addition for a racer -- was customized especially for this model by Eugene Heyart. I recognize that the digital readout is quite anachronistic compared to the rest of the panel gauges, but that's by choice! :-)
- many Racer P-38L's (including White Lightnin' did not retain their dive recovery flaps. I left them on my models though, because I like to use them as speed brakes.
Lefty Gardner's White Lightnin' (N25Y) is probably one of the most famous P-38s ever, and probably has the most flight time of any ever made. In almost constant service as a racer or show-plane since the war, this P-38 began as a F-5G Photo Lightning and was surplused after the war. It had several owners, who modified it -- sometimes almost beyond recognition -- raced it and showed it off. In the mid-60s Mr. Gardner purchased it in the early days of forming the "Confederate Air Force." He painted it in CAF colors -- white with red and blue stripes -- and its nickname soon followed: White Lightnin'. For nearly four decades, Mr. Gardner took White Lightnin' to Reno and elsewhere, keeping the memory of the P-38 alive in the minds of all who saw its unique form grace the skies. The P-38 wasn't the fastest racer by any means, but it always attracted a lot of attention.
In June 2001 White Lightnin' was returning home form an air show when it experienced engine trouble and was forced to make an emergency landing. The pilot, Mr. Gardner's son, skillfully landed the plane in a field and was not injured but the plane suffered some damage.
Since the crash, the Gardner family had been raising funds to repair it but in January 2005 decided it was in their best interest to sell it. The new owner is Red Bull, the energy drink company and sponsor of extreme sports events (including air races, aerobatics team, etc.). They apparently have several historic aircraft and the P-38 will certainly augment their collection. It is unlikely they will restore it as White Lightnin'.
This model is a tribute to this historic plane and to Mr. Gardner for sharing his beautiful P-38 with so many people for so many years. The model depicts White Lightnin's configuration and paint scheme during the mid-90s.
For more information about the real plane, visit p38whitelightnin.com.
Beta Testing/User Input
The following individuals have provided testing and technical assistance with the Project XP-38N version 4 models (XP, F, G, H, J, F-5, L, M and Racer).
- Dave Bitzer
- John Tami
- Jerry Lindell
- George Lindell
- Lowell Wiley
- "Willy"
- Brett Cotter
- Tom Clayton
- Dan Swart
- 'Soak'
- Milton Shupe
- RTW Team SOH 2005
- Bill MacKay
Thanks to master texture-artist Dan Swart for allowing me to use his "rivets and panel lines," which really enhance the look of the models. A big round of applause for master modeler Milton Shupe for some key pointers that helped bring the new VC alive.
Gauges
Many of the gauges are from CFS2's stock P-38 (gauge file is included in FS2004 but the bitmaps have been modified by me to look 'cleaner,' 'newer,' and 'less used' to fit with my 'restored warbird' motif. The dual-needle Manifold Pressure and RPM gauges are creations of Mike Wagner, which he graciously customized for my P-38 projects. The radio altimeter and diveflap indicator/dive-flap sound trigger gauges were custom programmed for me by Eugene Heyart (thanks Eugene!). The starter gauges are public domain by Chuck Dome. The XML basis for the Start Panel toggle is by Jorge Salas. A few gauges from other stock FS2004 planes are used as well.
This model is restricted Freeware. By that I mean I do not grant free use of it. Nor do I grant free distribution of it. You are granted a license to run this model if and only if you downloaded it from an authorized site or obtained it from some other authorized means. In addition to my web site (http://www.kazoku.org/xp-38n) I authorize avsim.com, flightsim.com and sim-outhouse.com to host this model. If any other site has it, the site must receive permission from me and explicitly state such.
I claim Copyright © 1998-2005 David C. Copley. This package, including each and every file, may NOT be included in a commercial package. It may be included in a compilation CD under the following conditions: no money is charged for the CD *AND* my permission is granted via email or other form of written communication *AND* my P-38L The Definitive Lightning version 2.2 package is also included (filename p38tdl22.zip).
You may modify and distribute textures (aka, 'skins' or repaints) of this plane without asking my permission. However, please distribute REPAINTS ONLY (not the entire model) and please clearly state in the file description that it is a REPAINT. I have posted my PSP source files on my web site for your convenience in repainting the model.
Please DO NOT modify and distribute any other part of this model, including but not limited to the flight model, VC, panel, etc. without my permission. Please do not upload/distribute this package or any file therein as is (unmodified). In other words, I want to retain control of all aspects of the model.
*** RACING ORGANIZATIONS PLEASE TAKE NOTE ***
Feel free use this model in your on-line racing and make repaints of it, but please do not
distribute it without my permission. Please do not distribute any flight model
modifications, panel modifications, etc.
16 Apr 2005 - P-38L Racer for FS2004, add-on to P-38L ver 2.2 (plus P-38L 2.2.1 enhancement patch)
5 Feb 2005 - P-38L: The Definitive Lightning ver. 2.2 for FS2004, update
25 Sep 2004 - P-38F-1 "Glacier Girl" ver. 2.0 for FS2004 major update, donationware
20 Mar 2004 - P-38L: The Definitive Lightning ver. 2.1 FS2004 update
2 Feb 2004 - P-38 Pair (J and F-5) ver. 2.1 FS2004 update
2 Jan 2004 - P-38 Triple Play (F,G and H) ver 1.2 FS2004 update
1 Nov 2003 - XP-38 ver. 1.3 FS2004 update
13 Oct 2003 - "P-38M Night Lightning" (P-38M-6 version 2.0, Project XP-38N version 4 phase 5) for FS2004
13 Oct 2003 - "P-38M Night Lightning" (P-38M-6 version 2.0, Project XP-38N version 4 phase 5) for FS2002
16 August 2003 - "P-38L: The Definitive Lightning" (P-38L-5 version 2.0, Project XP-38N version 4 phase 4) for FS2002
12 August 2003 - "P-38L: The Definitive Lightning" (P-38L-5 version 2.0, Project XP-38N version 4 phase 4) for CFS2 (Limited Release)
21 June 2003 - "P-38 Pair" (J and F-5 version 2.0, Project XP-38N version 4 phase 3) for FS2002
8 Feb 2003 - "P-38 Triple Play" (F,G and H version 1.0, Project XP-38N version 4 phase 2) for FS2002
1 Feb 2003 - "P-38 Triple Play" (F,G and H, Project XP-38N version 4 phase 2) for CFS2
20 Dec 2002 - XP-38 ver. 1.0 (Project XP-38N version 4 phase 1) for FS2002
14 September 2002 - P-38M ver. 1.1.0 (FS2002/CFS2)
14 June 2002 - XP-38N ver. 3.2 (FS2002/CFS2)
13 Apr 2002 - F-5E-2 version 1.0.0 (FS2002/CFS2)
11 Mar 2002 - P-38L 1.3.0 (concurrency with XP-38N ver 3.1) (FS2002 only)
26 Jan 2002 - XP-38N ver. 3.1 (FS2002/CFS2)
13 Oct 2001 - "Droop Snoot" variant from J-15 model (CFS2 only)
1 Oct 2001 - P-38J version 1.0.0 (CFS2 only)
29 Sep 2001 - P-38L 1.2.1 (CFS2 only) and P-38L 1.2.2 (FS2002 only)
11 Aug 2001 - P-38M ver. 1.0.0 (CFS2)
14 Jul 2001 - XP-38N ver. 3 (CFS2 and FS2000 versions)
21 April 2001 - P-38L: ver. 1.1.0 (XP-38N ver. 3 Phase 2) for CFS2
28 Mar 2001 - P-38L 1.0.0 (XP-38N ver. 3 Phase 1) for CFS2
22 Apr 2000 - XP-38N ver. 2 for FS2000
17 Jan 2000 - XP-38N ver. 1.1 for FS98/CFS
20 July 1999 - XP-38N ver. 1.0 for FS98
Sep 1998 - began Project XP-38N