Magnitude-3 summer update

2–3 minutes

Some news on the F4U Corsair, Cristen Eagle II, and MiG-21 plus two unannounced projects are all mentioned in a new status update from Magnitude-3.

Corsair and Essex

The latest news on the Corsair indicates that work is continuing. Areas of work include the R-2800 engine and the flight model with new CFD data has been generated to aid in creating the tables for the model. Gun bay details are also being worked on. As a bonus, they are also offering four tire variants for livery creators to choose from.

They have also shown off some new details on the USS Essex with more detail added to the carrier’s catapult system

They report that they are “working relentlessly” on completing the Corsair while other products are in the works. Speaking of which…

Christen Eagle II

Another update from the team is news that they have remodeled the Christen Eagle II. The improvements to the aircraft include a revised 3D model with better details to the aircraft’s appearance and accuracy. It should also be more framerate friendly than before.

Some additional variants are planned with a one piece canopy, 3-blade prop CE2 variant, and then a modification into a CE1 variant with the IO-540 6-cyliner engine.

They’ve mentioned that there is no information on an upgrade price but that there may be one. They also addressed the floating numbers on radio and fuel gauge and apparently are awaiting an ED response on that.

MiG-21bis news?

There isn’t much news on the MiG-21. They report that the aircraft is on a break from any development that their core team will be returning to the Fishbed and that they still plan to do the work that they talked about in their 2022 update.

The plan is to do a “version 2.0” using new photogrammetry and collected details to make an even more accurate and up to date aircraft.

Unannounced products and the F-8

Meanwhile, the team are also working on two unannounced projects. They report that these projects are not impacting their core team but both are progressing in the 3D department with normal maps and animations being worked on.

Absent from the status update is the F-8 Crusader which was not mentioned at all through this update.

Read the full update in their own words right over here.

9 responses to “Magnitude-3 summer update”

  1. Canada One Avatar
    Canada One

    I would buy the Mig-21 if it had a better cockpit. It’s a really cool plane, but I can’t get past the outdated graphics. I need my eye candy.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      Hopefully one day it will. It does look ok while you’re trying to prevent it from crashing 😁

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  2. Circus Avatar
    Circus

    Can’t be the only one who rolled their eyes when I saw ‘two unannounced modules’. These guys can’t stick to a timeline and haven’t released a module in close to a decade, what’s the point in mentioning they’re working on things we won’t see for years? F-4U is borderline vaporware at this point. MiG-21 rework sounds more like wishful thinking on their part. It doesn’t help that they say ‘damage model will finish and then we’ll release’ … only to find in the next update that they have only *just* started working on the flight model using CFD data.

    They can take all the time they want. It doesn’t really matter if they release any modules, but these ‘updates’ are worthless as they don’t stick to promises and the goalposts are perpetually moving.

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      As I began to read the update I did feel like it would probably provoke the ire of a few and maybe cause some eye-rolls. I’m used to all of this stuff so it doesn’t hit the same for me 🙂

      I would love to hear a bit more behind not just the dev process itself but the why certain decisions are taken. The MiG-21 version 2 update had me excited a couple of years back but yeah it does seem like it didn’t go anywhere. The F4U is taking quite a while to do, which I’m completely 100% fine with, but you’re right that the messaging a couple of years ago seems to be counter to the current messaging. Hopefully things are going well behind the scenes and its just a difficult dev process that they are going through right now.

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      1. oesau Avatar
        oesau

        Yep def an eye roll moment but as you said SR – I’m used to it so I don’t get too worried about it, just disappointed. With development taking this long they must be needed to go back and rework things to bring it up to the acceptable/anticipated levels. It’s all sounds like a part time project that stops and starts and you know what – I haven’t paid for it, I want it, but have my hands full learning the Phantom so don’t even have enough time to devote to another module (even one that represents an aircraft I think is awesome).

        MiG-21 – still like that module even though its outdated and in very much need of a uplift.

        F-8 Crusader – its another a/c I really like and would love to see it but I really just don’t see it ever seeing the light of day to be honest

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  3. Jack00 Avatar
    Jack00

    I bet that one of the unannounced planes will be the Japanese WWII fighter A6M Zero because for a long time Magnitude 3LLC has been teasing it. I think we need more WWII planes for DCS, especially for the Marianas and the Normandy maps.

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    1. Brate Poto Avatar
      Brate Poto

      I watched a detailed analysis of one of trailers containing Corsair and Essex, I think it was on HIP’s channel. He noticed a blurry frame showing an A6M2. I think we will have AI-controlled Zero, since Corsairs need something to shoot at.

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      1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
        ShamrockOneFive

        We have clear images of an A6M5 from last year. No details on what their plans are with it but it could be one of the projects they are referring to. https://stormbirds.blog/2023/03/02/magnitude-3-again-teases-a6m-zero/

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  4. Unknown Avatar
    Unknown

    Studios or development teams, with all those sounding big and professional names, I suspect it’s only a few members or even a solo project from a student that’s trying to get some extra cash in his spare time. Starting a project and overshoot himself by the complexity.

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