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F-18 Skimmer model for GTA: Vice city
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Creator:		Phil from Philsfiles (verywildduck@mail.ru)
Modified:		Makis Tsilimigras (makis@kdiweb.net)
Category: 	Shoot'em Up
Updated:		02/12/2003
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Package Information:
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This Zip File (F18 Skimmer - GTA VC model.zip)contains the following files:
skimmer.dff
skimmer.txd
skimmer.col
sfx00461.wav
sfx00462.wav
gta3audio.zip
poster.jpg
readme.txt

Introduction:
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You' ve had it all playing GTA Vice City: cars, bikes, helicopters and...planes?? Well one plane actually, the Skimmer, and unfortunately not a good one. It is slow, noizy and lands only on water. What a drag! But wherever is a problem, there's a solution. And this F-18 model is the solution you where asking for...
Originally created by Phil from Philsfiles (verywildduck@mail.ru) for GTA3 and presented as a GTA VC mod at http://www.gtagaming.com by Switch Designs (switchdesigns@att.net), this model was recontructed by Makis T.(makis@kdiweb.net) to add a number of features like moving flaps and shining surfaces. 
The behaviour of the plane has completely changed and it will trully replace the old skimmer plane with an F-18 fighter with all the bells and whistles. It really feels like it's an original model from the game and you won't even miss the old skimmer!

Featuring:
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- Flying beyond the skyscrapers and see Vice City from above.
- Possibility to make amazing flips, rolls, turns in high speed.
- Reach the zeppeling that is rotating downtown and see it up close.
- Land on the airport and then take off from the ground.
- Marvel the look and feel of a true air fighter!

Install Instructions:
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tools needed
- IMG tool
- Note pad 
- Collision File Editor
- GXT Editor
- Lithjoe's GTA3 audio editor (contained in this package)

NOTE: these tools are easy to find in any major GTA fan site, for example you get it here:
http://www.gtagaming.com/mods.php

1)  Open IMG Explorer and click Open. Browse to your GTA Vice City Directory, select gta3.img in your .\models folder. Scroll down to find skimmer.dff and skimmer.txd (use the find feature). You can backup them if you like by renaming the files or exporting them in a folder on your hard drive (ex. remane skimmer.dff to skimmer.dff.bak or export and delete the files from the list). These options are revealed when left-clicking on a name on the list. Import the new skimmer.dff and skimmer.txd files from this zip file.

2) Open handling.cfg which is in your vice city .\data folder with notepad, find the line that begins "SEAPLANE" and replace it with this: 

SEAPLANE       5000.0	1.00	10.00	0.80	0.00	0.00	0.00	5	0.65	0.90	0.50	1	320.00	45.00	4	E	0.01	0.15	0	24.00	3.00	0.75	0.20	0.20	99000	0.10	0.00	2.00	0.00	840004	0	1

Scroll bown at the "planes" section and again replace the line that begins with "$ SEAPLANE" with this:

$ SEAPLANE	 0.0080		0.60	 -0.00018	0.006	0.10	0.0025	-0.007	0.0002	0.0080	0.005	0.100	1.0	0.998	0.997	0.990	0.0	200.0	0.0

- Save and Close Handling.cfg

3) Installing the Sounds: Open Lithjoe's GTA3 audio editor, which is contained in this package. Find the SFX.SDT file in the .\audio folder and open it up. Select Options and Unclick Auto-Rebuild (Or else it will rebuilt the archive every time you add a file). Scroll down the list until you reach sfx00461, replace it with the sfx00461.wav file included. Do the same with sfx00462, replacing the old file with the new one. Select File, then Rebuild the archive.

4) Installing the Collision File (skimmer.col): Backup vehicles.col, which is located in vice's .\models\coll folder. Open up the vehicles.col file with Collision File Editor. Find the skimmer col, select Replace, and select the skimmer.col that is included in the package. Save the file, and select yes to the messages.

5) Changing the plane's name: Open GXT Editor, find american.gxt which is located in vice's .\text folder and select Load. Scroll down the RIGHT of the two windows until you reach SKIMMER. Double-click on it and replace "Skimmer" with "F-18 Falcon" (or whatever else you like as a name). Click Save, then Exit.

6) Enjoy flying above the skyscrapes :)


Flying instructions:
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- Buttons: (Just like the original skimmer seaplane)
	 Arrow up		-->	Speed
	 Arrow down	-->	Reverse
	 Arrow left	-->	Turn left
	 Arrow right	-->	Turn right
	 Num 6		-->	Lift up
	 Num 9		-->	Descent
- Athough you can reach high altitudes, it is prefered to keep your flying close to the ground to get a better behaviour from your aircraft. If it seems that it doesn't react properly, just lower a bit and raise again.
- The game seems to have a trigger so that you won't go flying around off the map of the city so when you are in high altitude you will see that you have a descenting course without being able to level with the Lift button. This is normal. Just release the speed button for a while and keep pulling up, it will eventually comply when on lower ground.
- The landing at the airport is a breeze, but be careful of obstacles when landing on roads. Although this is a seaplane you can take off from the groung relatively easy, just hold the Up and the Speed button simultaneously.
- You can make numerous manoeuvres like flips and rolls and turns but as in a real aircraft there is always the danger of falling down.
- If things get tough, you can always use the eject option, and leave the aircraft while on flight! This is a rather impressive feature. If you use it on the top of a skyscraper, you will see your aircraft fall while you are safe on the roof...
- Watch out for those buildings! Vice city get pretty small when traveling in high speeds.
- Known Bug: The F-18 is lower than the skimmer so you'll find it hard not to crash on the wooden passage by the movie studio when you first get in. A good solution is to back up a little and then make a hard turn to your right while you take off.

History:
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02/12/2002	Updated verion
		- Added flaps
		- Ability for high altitude
		- Now you can land off ground
		- Minor corrections in colours, .col file, handling
27/11/2003	Initial Release
		- Colours to match those of a real F-18 fighter
		- Added shining
		- New wave files
		- Fixed some loose particles in the plane's model
		- New .col file for better collision behaviour
23/11/2003	Started project


Thanks to:
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Phil from Philsfiles for creating the original model.
Switch Designs for supporting the new modification.
The creators of Zmodeler and tools for GTA modding.

You can find useful resources on models for GTA Vice city at:
http://www.gtagaming.com/mods.php


Thank you for using our software.

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K&D Interactive - http://kdiweb.net 
Alternative Software Company & Online Services
Copyright 2003 - All rights reserved

