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Flight Replicas Heron released...

Posted: 17 Jul 2014, 20:27
by mgchristy
From famine to feast. No Herons for years, and now within months of each other we have the excellent CBFS variant as well as the newly released FR payware model. No complaints here, though!

http://www.flight-replicas.com/DH114_Home.htm

Re: Flight Replicas Heron released...

Posted: 17 Jul 2014, 21:08
by DaveB
This'd better be worth the $35.94 (inc taxes) I've just forked out (£21.71 through paypal in real money).

PK is by request due to its size. Has anyone told Milesman (PW) yet?? :worried:

EDIT: The PK is in their downloads section.. 142mb zipped :rock:

:lol: :lol:
ATB
DaveB B)smk

Re: Flight Replicas Heron released...

Posted: 17 Jul 2014, 21:56
by Garry Russell
Well..more pics would be nice

Model looks good..texturing looks very ameturish. Lacks detail and life. *-) :dunno:

Re: Flight Replicas Heron released...

Posted: 17 Jul 2014, 22:55
by DaveB
Perhaps you're right there matey. Here's a single shot I took on my first flight from Culdrose to Plymouth..

Image

I can't recall having any Flight Replicas models in my hangar so it's always a tense moment getting the first one.. especially as the subject matter is something I'm au fait with. Brief impressions of the first flight..
It's difficult to criticise anyone that gives an RN paint. Lets get that out of the way first :lol:
Nav lights are well done and appropriate to the model.
Frame rates are very good.
Inside the cabin is a bit too bright for my liking. I don't think you'd be able to see individual seats at anything more than close up and you can with this.
FR obviously had the same problems I had trying to get the Heron's 'short field' performance sorted. Speeds and performance are very close to the FD I did for the FS9 model.
The flight model is very stable.. it can be flown hands off with ease (no bad thing if you want to hand-fly over long distances).
The model 'feels' heavy to fly. Aileron response isn't bad but constant pressure on the stick is required to perform any sort of aileron turn. Release the stick and the model will 'centre' within a few seconds.
The 'round bits' are suitably round and the angled bits.. suitably angled.
I'm so used to seeing DP's model that this one doesn't look quite right. Can't put my finger on it mind you. Maybe DP's isn't quite right :dunno: It 'looks' right to me though.
Trim is very low geared. You need a shed load after take-off to keep it off the deck and once you've achieved that.. you need to work the trim to stop it climbing. Again.. not bad but something to look for. I'd sooner have it this way than have the slightest touch having you going ballistic or heading for the deck :)
Flightdeck looks suitably appointed. Hardly touched anything yet.. just the basics (nav lights and pitot heat!).
View behind shows an inspection hatch in the flightdeck door which can be opened.. not that you can see a great deal through it. Texturing on the FD (including the door) lacks definition. It looks like you're sitting in 'a model' rather than in the real thing.
This goes someway to agree with Garry's comment that the external maps lacked any sort of reality. It looks like a model.. IMHO. Not a bad one mind you but the textures lack 'life'.
Sounds.. if I were you, I'd take the soundset off the FS9 model made by Gary Jones.. they are superior.. as are the cockpit sounds Fraser made. I couldn't make out any pneumatic sounds when the brakes were applied... no pneumatic sounds at all in fact.

So.. very briefly.. the 'Pro's and Con's'.
Pro's: it's an FSX native model
It has a VC with loads of switches e t c
It's great on FR's
You get Srs1 and Srs2 models (or as they put it versions with and versions without retractable landing gear)
You get a fair number of paints to go with it

Con's: It doesn't look as good as Del's Heron
It doesn't sound as good as Del's Heron
At £21.71 (todays exchange rate via Paypal) it's not exactly cheap
I was expecting it to fly better than Del's Heron but I honestly can't say it does

I'll have another look tomorrow ;)

ATB
DaveB B)smk

Re: Flight Replicas Heron released...

Posted: 18 Jul 2014, 07:07
by DaveG
Thanks for the mini review Dave.
Personally, I really like it. I've flown it in P3d, and I think the lighting and shadows in P3d help it become more "real".

Re: Flight Replicas Heron released...

Posted: 18 Jul 2014, 08:34
by DaveB
Rgr that Dave;) I've noticed lighting and shadows in your P3d screenshots is definitely different to FSX. Perhaps that's what its really aimed at? As good or bad it may look in FSX, its certainly a keeper and will get fair use I reckon;)
ATB
DaveB:)

Re: Flight Replicas Heron released...

Posted: 18 Jul 2014, 09:21
by Garry Russell
Sound a fair comment Daves...the more specialised a flight Sim becomes (Better that is), the less likely it will work well in other Sims that is was not specifically designed for even if there is a version.

After all these years FS has two top quality Herons...but only one Dove :)

Re: Flight Replicas Heron released...

Posted: 18 Jul 2014, 09:23
by J0hn
Yeah, thanks very much for the opinions, Dave. I would very much like to have it, but I think I'll pass for now - with your comments in mind and the price tag.

Shame, really, with it having a VC (no VC = no thanks ;) ) but there you go. Maybe it'll appear in a sale at some point... *-)

As a footnote - the screenshot (BEA) on the shop page looks very, well, FS8. So that would be a 'no-go' for me, regardless.

Re: Flight Replicas Heron released...

Posted: 18 Jul 2014, 09:43
by Garry Russell
Indeed John :agree:

The BEA was what made me comment about the lack of life.

It may well be better in the 'proper'sim but I think it might just not be the best paint. Wrong colour too :lol:

Re: Flight Replicas Heron released...

Posted: 18 Jul 2014, 12:52
by DaveB
There's an irony in that I won't fly a model without a VC yet I still dislike them immensely. The knock-on effect of this is that I spend very little time actually inside models in FSX.. forced out by the awkward way you have to navigate your way around using the hat-switch (though I know there are alternatives.. at a price!) and, to a large degree, by the fact that 'outside' looks so much better in FSX.. once you've paid a few quid to hide the default stuff. You'd think that my dislike of VC's and there being no VC with Del's model would mean I'd fly his model all the time but the truth is.. I don't fly it in FSX. If it had a VC, I would even though I'd not spend much time in there.

Anyway.. lets dig the model out and take a look at that BEA paint you mention ;)
ATB
DaveB B)smk