Chief CaptainSoon on my site i'll be reviewing stuff, so here is a little preview of the kinda thing i'm gonna do:
MODEL/TEXTURES
I only recently discovered this 737-200 model by eric cantu. I know he has produced many good quality models - but i can't remember ever downloading one, thus producing my interest when i saw this one.
The 737 isn't a plane i care to fly too much, however the little engines on the 200 make this plane quite attractive in my opinion, so i bit the bullet and downloaded it. it downloaded pretty fast (even for my 8mb broadband), and i did think maybe it was poor quality AI plane.
The sounds and panel are aliased to the default 737-400.
When i unzip planes i always check out the various file sizes, all fine and dandy; the textures came out at about 15mb in 888mip-map format. Before trying it out i converted the textures to DXT3, now they weigh in at a whopping 5mb - surely that means they're crap?
I think it's pretty blatent to see these textures by Henry William are awesome. If only every plane managed the rare balance of file size and quality - in this department this texture is perfect, i really can find no faults at all!
The model is also very nice, and best of all everything is easy on the precious frame rates. The fuselage, wings and engines are all smoothly modelled and the shine really looks great.
One of my favourite things about this plane is the movement. Everything that should move does (very well) and even includes cargo doors. i hope there are others but i'm yet to look properly.
FLIGHT MODEL
Every 737 i've flown in flight sim has been very pilot friendly and not really much fun. This model however is a lot more fun. The plane has so much more power than i expected, i got a full load to 10,000 feet before i noticed and had to decend, and it manouvers pretty nimbly about, the rudder and banking is quite light for a 737, and i think it really adds to the experience. Landing is a little strange, i found i was hitting the runway at 150-60 instead of the usual 130. The plane taxis neatly about the place, however the brakes are more realistic than normal and fairly weak.
FAULTS/ISSUES
The only little annoyance was the view position - between the wings. obviously this is way too far back and needed some editing in the panel config, not really major but for people with little experience in editing it may be a problem. I did also find the main door opened jerkily - but had nothing to do with framerates (not that that is important either)
THE PERFECT 737-200?
Well this model is wonderful. All it needs is a great panel and sounds:
panel: (dead link removed)
- this panel is pure payware quality. must have.
sounds: help there please?
model: https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/2872/fs2004-aer-lingus-boeing-737-200/
CONCLUSION
With the panel and some good sounds this package is payware quality: great looking, very easy on the pc, fun to fly...just get it.[/b]
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