How to convert and use 1.2 skins in 1.6
Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2023 12:37 pm
What's the difference between 1.2 and 1.6 aircraft files?
Essentially, none. The .tpc skinfiles and .3dz wire frame files in 1.2 and 1.6 are in exactly the same format. The only thing that is different is the filenaming convention. In 1.2 these files are still named for the original EAW slot in which they are to be used ie P109ETEX.TPC, P109EF.3DZ etc. In 1.6 all aircraft files are named simply PlaneTEX.tpc PlaneF.3dz etc.
How are these aircraft files used differently in 1.2 and 1.6?
To use a new skin/3dz fileset in 1.2 you could just simply drop it into the EAW root folder. The game will then use it in preference to the stock files in the CDF archives. Of course when you stopped using those files, to restore the default, you had to fish them out again.
One of the basic principles in the Code Group development of EAW is for players to avoid as far as possible the messy dropping files into folders, then having to remove them, and generally having swapping files in and out. The Group thinks that just gets tedious and ends up fragmenting your hard disk.That was why the "dir.set" system came in with EAW 128C in 2008, and the slotfree aircraft system came in principally with EAW 140 in 2014.
To use a new skin/3dz package in 160, you have to invest a little more time in the original setting up, but once it is done you can move your new aircraft in and out of the game with a couple of mouse clicks
How do you use a 1.2 skin in 1.6?
There are three steps. First convert the skin and 3dz filenames and the .3dz internal skin references, and find any other files that you need. Second load the new files into the Aircraft Inventory. Thirdly add the new plane to a planeset. Once you have the new plane in a planeset you can use the 1.6 Manager to load and unload the plane with a few mouseclicks. No more having to copy the files to the root folder, and then having to delete them, or move them to another folder afterward.
Contents of this thread
First find a skin you want to use and convert it. Find any other files needed
Find a home for newly converted files in the planes inventory
Adding your new plane inventory folder to a planeset
Fly your new plane
Essentially, none. The .tpc skinfiles and .3dz wire frame files in 1.2 and 1.6 are in exactly the same format. The only thing that is different is the filenaming convention. In 1.2 these files are still named for the original EAW slot in which they are to be used ie P109ETEX.TPC, P109EF.3DZ etc. In 1.6 all aircraft files are named simply PlaneTEX.tpc PlaneF.3dz etc.
How are these aircraft files used differently in 1.2 and 1.6?
To use a new skin/3dz fileset in 1.2 you could just simply drop it into the EAW root folder. The game will then use it in preference to the stock files in the CDF archives. Of course when you stopped using those files, to restore the default, you had to fish them out again.
One of the basic principles in the Code Group development of EAW is for players to avoid as far as possible the messy dropping files into folders, then having to remove them, and generally having swapping files in and out. The Group thinks that just gets tedious and ends up fragmenting your hard disk.That was why the "dir.set" system came in with EAW 128C in 2008, and the slotfree aircraft system came in principally with EAW 140 in 2014.
To use a new skin/3dz package in 160, you have to invest a little more time in the original setting up, but once it is done you can move your new aircraft in and out of the game with a couple of mouse clicks
How do you use a 1.2 skin in 1.6?
There are three steps. First convert the skin and 3dz filenames and the .3dz internal skin references, and find any other files that you need. Second load the new files into the Aircraft Inventory. Thirdly add the new plane to a planeset. Once you have the new plane in a planeset you can use the 1.6 Manager to load and unload the plane with a few mouseclicks. No more having to copy the files to the root folder, and then having to delete them, or move them to another folder afterward.
Contents of this thread
First find a skin you want to use and convert it. Find any other files needed
Find a home for newly converted files in the planes inventory
Adding your new plane inventory folder to a planeset
Fly your new plane