As Oscar Wilde famously said on his death bed, " Either that 2D panel goes, or I do ".
So it was he that said it!!
Nigel..
TBH mate, those aerial wires spoil it so much for me.. add on the other little niggles and I've lost interest. I fly the Rapide, Viking, DC3, York and Lancastrian for the VA having several hundred combined hours on tail-draggers and I honestly don't think the degree of finesse you mention has been 'built into' the Hudson :sad: I can certainly try it but as long as I know I'm trailing one of Ark Royals steel hawsers aloft.. things aren't gonna happen for me :huf:
Sorry to hear that Dave, but at least there is one consolation.........It sounds like you must have many other fantastic aircraft that make up for the dissapointment of this one.
I used to be an optimist but with age I am now a grumpy old pessimist.
My favourite models are also the best models I have. Sad fact is, they're all freeware and the majority have been made by the guy's here. There are one or two exceptions but they're freeware too
I have asked to be a Beta tester at Alphasim about 4 times over the years and been totally ignored every time or the message was immediately deleted from the Alpha forum.
On a closing note Dave, I can see why these free-ware aircraft are so much better the payware products.
1. Too many to mention by name but all of those who produce these wonderful freeware aircraft appear to do so for either their own enjoyment and / or as a challenge, (just look at what Garry has set himself) not to mention his determination to roll out a perfect aircraft. Not only that, but to me, it appears that as time is not the essence they are therefore able to take as long as is necessary to produce the perfect aircraft and or scenery for all to enjoy.
2. On the other hand with payware products, they are in it solely for profit and the longer it takes to develop.......the more it costs them financially.
I say no more.
Regards Nigel.
I used to be an optimist but with age I am now a grumpy old pessimist.
I have asked to be a Beta tester at Alphasim about 4 times over the years and been totally ignored every time or the message was immediately deleted from the Alpha forum.
Regards
Rick
I think that because Alphasim have so many designers working for them the quality varies wildly from model to model, some are stunning and some are so-so and a few are fairly bad, and I'm not sure how large their beta team really is. The beta people may well have picked up on things like the chunky antenna wire but if the model designer turns round and says "sorry, I can't change that because of x, y and z" then that's that I suppose. Alternatively they may just not be a very good beta team and might have missed it entirely, I suppose we'll never know.
I've got plenty of Alphasim aircraft in my hangar that I class as definate keepers, however I've purchased probably the same amount that have turned out to be stinkers and I haven't kept. Lately this inconsistency has stopped me purchasing a few things I might have in the past as I'm afraid I'll end up with something that doesn't like up to my expectations again.
I don't think the imposition of monetary value on an aircraft is any indication - positive or negative - of the value of it. If it's good enough, it's good. Enough.
But where I most certainly do agree with Nigel is in the recognition that freeware designers can take the time and trouble to get things right, where increasingly payware seems to be more about being only right on time. And that seems the wrong way round to me, from a commercial perspective? The organisation that is going to charge you money to enjioy its products also assumes the contractual obligation to provide you with a product that enables you to do so...
I also wonder at the competency and commitment of some of the so-called beta testers on many of these products. I am very fussy about who I beta test for, because I expect my feedback to be listened to, debated, and actioned upon (or not, if that is the quorum). It's not delusions of grandeur, it's simply that it provides an insight into the attitude and professionalism of the developer. If they want to beta test properly, then it is NOT the last thin you do before you charge money, it's an integrated part of the development process, leading you to a final product that is worth paying money for.
I can name on the fingers of one hand the developers that go about their business in this way.
The Hudson had excellent low speed manners at lower weights, thanks to a high wing loading for its day lessening gust response and the fowler flaps, increasing lift. But on the ground it had a propensity for groundlooping, and it was certainly no easy bird to get into the air. And at heavy weights, with that wing loading, keeping it there wasn't easy either. Never mind the mythical `Boomerang Bomber` (wartime PR BS because, It always came back". It didn't) in squadron service it was better known as the `Hudswine`...
This is not reflected in the Alphasim model. As with a lot of Alphasim models, it looks good (although the engines don't convince, the form of the cowls and their relative size seems wrong, somehow) but it flies all wrong.
I find myself agreeing with that one hundred percent Simon. Like you, I beta test for less than a handful of developers (I don't include the conglomorate that is CBFS) and all of these are appreciative of my input. While every comment may not be actioned (and I'd not expect that), the developer is aware of a possible conflict/problem and thus my job is done. If something in particular is grossly wrong, I say so.. you HAVE to say so as at the end of the day, your name may be associated with the product so you do whatever you can to make sure it's right. You have a DUTY to make sure it's as right as it can be.
Many.. most.. probably ALL of the faults with the Hudson would have been forgiven had the aircraft been released freeware with a limited, perhaps inexperienced beta team but the same faults on a payware product take on a different meaning. I hope that Phil drops in here and takes our comments onboard. However, should he try to decry any of the comments made.. it will show that he has lost touch with his rather unique and mostly appreciative audience :think:
Are customers able to reject the purchased aircraft? Surely there must be some EU law to allow this if the purchaser deems it to be of inferior quality? After all, no demo is available.
As for Alphasim, I decided never to buy from them again following a problem with the Typhoon purchase. But I waived that for the Vamp T11, for which I have mixed feelings!
