DH88 Question

[Swanoir]

Hello Chaps

Bought myself the Airfix Dh88 Comet the other day and it inspired me to dust off the Microsoft version and have a quick spin. The external modelling isn't too bad for a bog standard MS effort. Handling in the air isn't too bad either, but on the ground it's a real pig! I've had a poke around in the cfg, fiddling with the differential brakes, but nothing seems to work. I either go straight over a bend in the taxiway or spin around like dog chasing its tail! Anyone know of a tweak I could make to get the turns a little more user friendly? Ideally just using the rudder for turns would be perfect (I know it's probably not realistic for this a/c, but I'm willing to overlook it this time!).
Any ideas much appreciated.
Thanks.

[AllanL]

If I recall correctly the little beast has a tail skid, so I replaced the reference in the contact points with a small diameter castoring tailwheel. I don't currently have access to my FS PC, but I'll dig out the settings if know-one else has done the same.

If you fret over hysterical accuracy, the DH.88 at Old Warden currently has just such a setup.

[Garry Russell]

De ja vu...

I'm sure I've read this all before on some other forum with a similar fix as a compromise.

Can't think where though

[Tomliner]

De ja vu...

Trouble with DejaVue Garry is that we've seen it all before. EricT

[Garry Russell]

Very true Eric

[Dev One]

The steer angle of the tailwheel (7th set of figures) is the culprit in the aircraft.cfg file. Its 180 ° in my version, so reduce it to 30° or even less. Funnily enough I think it will still taxy & turn on quite a small radius. If it wont then adjust the angle a bit until it meets your requirements. Lots of other taildraggers have too great an angle loaded, most of mine are in the 30° bracket.
HTH
Keith

[Garry Russell]

Lots of other taildraggers have too great an angle loaded, most of mine are in the 30° bracket.

180 degrees for tail draggers will be correct for most older types including the DH.88...that is the figure used when the tailwheel is free castoring

[Dev One]

In theory it should be 360°, but it makes taxying almost impossible! I have been playing a bit with both the .cfg & the air file, but so far the comet is still a pig when taxying, unless one goes very slowly - there must be something fundamentally wrong somewhere & my usual tricks dont work!
Keith

[Garry Russell]

180 is the right figure for free castoring set up allowing it to be 180 either way which gives 360

I would think the Comet was in real life, often these purpose built racers were fast in the air but poor at most other things maybe due to simplified equipment to save weight.

[Swanoir]

Thanks for the tips guys. I haven't got time to have a fiddle tonight but I will tomorrow and let you know how I get on.