Boeing 707-320 version 1.0

This model has been developed and tested in Racer v0.53 b1.6. It may work well in other versions but I am unsure at this point. 

This is my own creation for Racer. Ever eager to try new ideas, this is the first full sized airliner for Racer as far as I am aware and if there is enough interest, it will be developed further.

The visual model is my own work, working to photographs and blueprints in zmodeler and the livery is authentic circa 1970's British Airways.  This is not intended as a joke and if you see it that way and are not amused, feel free to delete it.

Some background on the Boeing 707...

The 707 was Boeing's first jet airliner, building on the research published by DeHavilland after the Comet disaster. Although criticized at the time for being noisy and dirty, many were sold and a few are still flying today. This is the 707-320, the lengthened Transatlantic version which first flew on January 11th 1959.

Main features:

-Spinning turbofans, aka wheels

-Animated rudder, aka steering wheel

-4x Pratt and Whitney JT4A turbojets, aka 1200 nm torque

-Working nav/landing lights, aka headlamps (not yet implimented)

-3D cockpit
 
The best way to get the plane moving is to spool the engines up to the desired RPM and then let the clutch go, clutch slip will do the rest. There are only 2 gears (planes don't have gears!), one forward and one reverse, the top speed of the plane in forward gear is around 210mph. For the plane to work correctly, you will need to go to the settings menu/ Racer.ini and enable the autoclutch. 

Remember, as far as Racer is concerned this is still a car and will behave like one to an extent.

Known issues:

-The model doesn't work well on all tracks; if the engines come into contact with raised ground or any building set for collisions, all hell may break loose with the plane dancing around in the air and getting sucked into the ground. The only track I have had problems on yet is Early Fall in Norway, it certainly works fine on Carlswood. The only way to make it compatible with all tracks is to sacrifice the spinning engines, a suitable version may follow.

-The model appears wrong in the car selection screen and makes all other models appear tiny until you restart Racer; again due to the size of the model but it only affects the selection screen.

-You need to move the aircraft a few feet to get the turbines spinning, once spinning they keep going under their own momentum.

-It may leave smoke and skidmarks if you 'fly' it too hard around corners...

Thanks go to to everyone who inputs into Racer, but namely:

-Claude Gueniffey for his Leyat Helica which gave me the idea for the spinning turbines

-www.airliners.net, an endless resource for aviation reference

-Shmelby Racing for the Ford Taunus which I started this from

-Ruud Van Gaal for creating Racer

-Boeing, for creating the 707...

Please report any bugs or comments on the forum thread. 

Regards, TiberiuS

 

