The F-18C MPD Modernization Mod brings a fresh and contemporary feel to the cockpit for the classic F-18C Hornet. By updating the displays and symbology, this mod enhances situational awareness, readability, and overall usability. Basically - Mom: "We have a SuperHornet at home!"
Link to Forums for updated description/changelog/bugs:
https://forum.dcs.world/topic/347416-fa-18c-modern-mpdsuperhornet-mpd-mod/
Features
-White Symbology
The monochromatic green symbology of the original F-18C MPD has been replaced with clean and crisp white symbology. This change improves contrast and readability
-Colored SA/Radar
Situational awareness is paramount in combat scenarios. With this mod, the situational awareness pages (such as the SA page) now feature color-coded elements:
Friendly units: Displayed in green. Surveillance donated appear in blue.
Hostile units: Highlighted in red.
Neutral or unknown units: Shown in yellow.
The radar display also benefits fr om color enhancements, making it easier to differentiate between contacts.
-Colored HSI (Horizontal Situation Indicator)
The HSI, a critical navigation instrument, now boasts a colorful presentation. Your aircraft is shown in distinct blue (White in SuperHornet version) and waypoints are in
white/purple sequences to help contrast with the digital map.
-Miscellaneous
Yellow SAM site circles
Green TACAN markers
ADI
Yellow Caution/Advisory Warnings
Modern crisp HUD and DDI Fonts
Grayscale FLIR
Upd ated MPD textures
And More
ADDONS:
V2 introduced some extra addons for those who wants it. All addons (including the main mod) can be seamlessly activated and deactivated in the mod manager without having to restart DCS, or even ingame (need to respawn or use alt+j to exit and reenter your Hornet).
Realistic HUD
Forked fr om jcabeleira Realistic HUD for VR. Edited to increase constraints and compatibility with Modern MPD mod.
Features
Realistic Constraints
The HUD now has constraints at certain viewing angles/distance.
Glow projections is now visible under certain light conditions. The HUD brightness knob is no longer useless.
FAQ
Can I use this with VR?
Yes
Can I use this without headtracking?
Yes, the constraints are wide enough for default camera view. However, it is recommended to use with trackIR.
JHMCS II - W.I.P
Features
Introducing colored datalink
JHMCS II introduces color for different HAFU types. Cyan for members, Green for friendlies, Yellow for unknown, and Red for hostiles (Including air, and preplanned SAM sites).
FAQ
Can you increase datalink tracks instead of the default 7?
I am attempting that but it might be hardcoded. It's better to adjust your MID system.
How can I see color through my hud?
Disable HMD blanking in SUPT>HMD and unbox BLNK. You should also bind "RECCE Event Mark Switch" in F18C bindings to enable/disable HMD.
Installation
The mod zip file includes the "Main Mod" (F18C Modern MPD), Addons Folder, and the MPD texture file which is optional but highly recommended. The Main Mod F18C Modern MPD uses colors by my design of what a modern MPD should be. You can also customize the colors in the lua file I created dedicated for easy customization.
As always, I recommend using a mod manager. As of V2.1, there is a F18C folder and a F18EF folder for CJS SuperHornet Community Mod.
As for textures, open MPD Textures folder you've downloaded and drag "Cockpit_F-18C" folder to your "C:\Users\YourUsername\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Liveries"
Detailed Instructions for Dummies:
Create a new folder in your main DCS World folder and rename it to "OVGME Mods".
Install OVGME -
https://wiki.hoggitworld.com/view/OVGME
Launch OVGME, it will prompt you to create a new configuration.
Configuration Title: DCS Mods
Configuration Root Folder: Sel ect your main DCS World folder
Configuration Mods Folder:null Sel ect your OVGME Mods folder in your DCS World folder that you've created.
Download this mod and open the zip folder. Open the folder "Main Mod" and drag F18C Modern MPD folder into "OVGME Mods" folder.
In OVGME, right click the installed mod and click toggle to enable the mod.
OPTIONAL: For addons, open the Addons folder and drag desired addons to "OVGME Mods" folder.
Activate them AFTER activating the main mod.
For LCD Textures (OPTIONAL but RECOMMENDED), Open MPD Textures folder and drag "Cockpit_F-18C" folder to C:\Users\YourUserName\Saved Games\dcs or dcs.openbeta\Liveries
Customizing colors:
If there is any symbologies you want to customize but it's not an option, then leave a comment and I'll add it in the next upd ate.
Before activating the main mod. Open FA-18C ModernMPD and navigate to FA-18C Modern MPD 2.0\Mods\aircraft\FA-18C\Cockpit\Scripts and open modernmpd.lua with notepad or your favorite editor and adjust fr om there. Don't forget to save your changes, then activate FA-18C Modern MPD 2.0.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
*To enable MPD textures, head to Ingame Settings>Special Options>F/A-18C and sel ect Modern MPD in Customized Cockpit. (Does not break IC).
**I made the choice not to adjust the default GAIN level for the AMPCD as certain weather/time require certain brightness. Be sure to adjust the GAIN first before suggesting changes to the AMPCD visibility.
***When using CJS Super Hornet. Activate CJS SuperHornet Community Mod before activating the FA-18C Modern MPD.
****Please be aware this is an early version of the mod. I did as much testing as I could but due to the nature of this mod there could be an oversight that I've missed something. Report anything you feel that is missing, or feel that a certain symbology should be a certain color. Try to do some ILS landing, ACLS, open obscure pages, etc. Also, suggestions are welcome :).
FAQ
Q. Does this mod pass IC?
A. It passes pure/model/texture integrity check. It does not pass scripts integrity check.
Q. Your SuperHornet page doesn't have or includes this color, can I send you my source?
A. Only if its unclassified and public, then I'll accept it and make the required changes.
Q. I still can't see the HSI clearly!
A. Reduce the GAIN using the rocker switch located bottom left of the MPD. I've allowed the Gain controls to ignore font and symbology.
Q. Will you make a VR version like you did in your F/A-18C Colored MPD: White Font and Green Symbology mod?
A. No, unfortunately I've given away my VR to someone who needs it. I still believe the clarity and readability is pretty good with VR in this mod.
Q. I see green and blue on my SA/RDR/AZEL page and they are friendly. What do they mean?
A. This is just a placeholder for the incoming IFF system. Currently its modded where friendlies fr om surveillance donors (AWACS, Ground Radar) are blue, while fighter to fighter data link shows up as green. Since the game automatically links everyone together, you'll see mostly green. In the end, anything that's not red is fwend.
Q. Were those really your frequently asked questions?
A. No, I pretended to be an average DCS forum user and made those questions up. Feel free to ask questions down below!
TODO
Tweak HUD symbology/font thickness using available sources - F18C Modern MPD.
Option to customize HSI Compass color. - F18C Modern MPD.
Known Bugs
Using decenter mode in HSI, waypoint sequence line turns white instead of purple. - All Versions. -Fixed in v1.1, v0.2
EW page: Threat symbol is faint during night operations. All Versions. -Fixed in upcoming update. -Fixed in v2.0
Changelog
V2.1, 1/5/2024
Changes to folder structure; Two different folders F18C and F18EF. This way you won't get a warning for overwriting folders in OVGME. Also to avoid some confusion.
Now passes texture integrity check.
Reverted white font to offwhite color, and increased brightness of the fonts. -ModernMPD
Adjusted thickness and outline to accommodate new changes. -ModernMPD
Added yellow diamond symbol color for weapondsg and red for manual designating. -JHMCS II.
Adjusted HUD thickness for certain elements that are too thin, and for certain elements to match reference sources. -ModernMPD
Adjusted JHMCS MIDS color properties to give it a hud feel to it. Will now be affected by sky brightness. -JHMCS II
Adjusted JHMCS hostile diamond box properties as above. -JHMCS II
Some minor polishing.
V2.01, 30/4/2024
Hotfix - Friendly PPLI/FF in SA page se t to default MDI green instead of full green.
V2.0, 29/4/2024
Combined all versions to one version "FA-18C Modern MPD"
Fixed EWR symbols brightness during night operations
Added Addons (Realistic HUD and JHMCS II)
Added method to customize certain colors.
V1.1, 23/4/2024 - Fixed HSI missing purple color sequence line in decenter mode.
V1.0, 21/4/2024 - Release
F18C Superhornet/CJS:
V0.2, 23/4/2024 - Fixed HSI missing purple color sequence line in decenter mode.
V0.1, 21/4/2024 - Release
Acknowledgements
Folks at CJS for their hard work creating the amazing CJS Super Hornet Community Mod.
Ala12Rv-watermanpc for the fingerprints samples taken fr om his fantastic FA-18C Cockpit Cosmetic Pack.
jcabeleira for his work on his immersive Realistic HUD mod.
