Modding Tornado

[Frankie]

Yet another slight improvement to Mod#212.

Digital Integration's Tornado - modded by Frankie Kam (Jan 2025)
Hit F1 for external view.
Hit i (for India) to show the rotating view
Hit o (for Osaka) to change to the drone view
Hit Tab to alternate between the two opposite drone views,

[Frankie]

How to 'enjoy' the modded FLIGHT.EXE with Steam Tornado (make sure to first backup your Steam Tornado folder!)

Step 1: Download the necessary modded files
- CLOUD1.BIN (Added clouds binary file1)
- CLOUD2.BIN (Added clouds binary file2)
- FLIGHT.EXE (Latest modded FLIGHT.EXE as of 29th March 2025)
- TTC.EXE (Kenneth "ICEMAN" Larsen's 1993 Time Compression program)
from https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QeFCmw9pGUD7P84_RMp7J2EYvx6tpiqE?usp=drive_link

Step 2: Process the Time Compression Program
Copy and paste the TTC.EXE inside the "C:\Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Tornado/TORNADO/TORNADO.CD/AMP" folder.

Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Tornado\config

Edit the file named "dosbox_tornado.conf" using Notepad or Notepad++ by adding this line of code:

loadhigh ttc

just before the line that says: loadhigh amp

Step 3. Process the Cloud Mods
Copy and paste the CLOUD1.BIN and CLOUD2.BIN files inside the five MAP subfolders where AMP is the parent folder.
I.e.,
C:\Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Tornado/TORNADO/TORNADO.CD/AMP/MAP1
C:\Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Tornado/TORNADO/TORNADO.CD/AMP/MAP2
C:\Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Tornado/TORNADO/TORNADO.CD/AMP/MAP3
C:\Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Tornado/TORNADO/TORNADO.CD/AMP/MAP4
C:\Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Tornado/TORNADO/TORNADO.CD/AMP/MAP5

Note: there will already be existing CLOUD1.BIN and CLOUD2.BIN files inside these subfoiders. So you might want to save them first by renaming the original BIN files.

Step 4. Process the modded FLIGHT.EXE (Tornado 3D Engine - European, not Desert Storm's DESERT.EXE)
Copy and paste the modded FLIGHT.EXE file inside "C:\Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Tornado/TORNADO/TORNADO.CD/FLIGHT".

Note: there will already be an existing FLIGHT.EXE file inside that subfolder, so please back it up first by renaming the original Steam FLIGHT.EXE to something like FLIGHT_Steam.EXE.


To experience the changes in the modded FLIGHT.EXE executable, head over to:-

Modded Tornado Showcase Part 1 (Digital Integration's classic 1993 DOS combat flight simulator)

-and-
Modded Tornado Showcase Part 2 (Digital Integration's classic 1993 DOS combat flight simulator)


That's it!

Frankie Kam

[Asid]

Awesome Frankie.

Your passion for Tornado is to be applauded 

[Rinix]

I agree. Even though I do not play Tornado, I appreciate your passion.

[Frankie]

Modding Steam's Tornado

Tornado was released on Steam on 18th September 2024 by Interplay Entertainment Corp. It is the Version 1.0E which includes the Operation Desert Storm addon. What I did over the weekend was to relook at the mods of yesteryear (circa 1993, 1994 and 1995!) to see which could be applied to Steam's Tornado. Plus I threw in my latest modded FLIGHT.EXE for good measure. If the modded FLIGHT.EXE causes any joystick issues, or if the additional external views or look and feel are not to anyone's liking or preference, it is totally possible to omit using the modded FLIGHT.EXE (European part of Tornado), and stick to the original 1993/1994 FLIGHT.EXE as the main 3D simulation engine of Tornado.

in my view, there three Tornado fan mods that can be experimented with. They enhance the gameplay of the Steam version of Tornado. In this post, I will tell you about them, I will also show you how easy it is to INSTALL (set) and UNINSTALL (reset) them. There is a mini-dance to do, and it will only take you less than 10 minutes of your time.

I. Tornado Time Compressor
Back in October 3, 1993, Kenneth "Iceman" Larsen wrote a very useful utility TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) program called the Tornado Time Compression (TTC). It allowed the you to hit Alt+1 to Alt+8, which accelerated the game by up to a factor of 8(!). With this tool, you can reach waypoints faster and bring you nearer to the action than stock Tornado.




II. Night-Vision for the Desert Storm Tornado and European Tornado (with added Snow simulation)
In 1995, the most prolific Tornado modder (and possibly the GOAT of modders because he worked his magic even without access to a single line of Tornado source code!) was Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein of Germany. His mods are listed here: http://www.frankiekam.com/tornado/tor/mods.html



This mod also includes the Snow Theme which covers all European plane and mobile ground units.


Heinz's created an amazing mod which was the original Night Vision mod which simulated night vision goggles, helmet mounted devices that enhance the ambient light and allow the crew to perform quasi-visual flights at night. To activate the Night Vision effect, You will need hit the NumLock key to enter into the Kneepad screen (a.k.a. Lookdown View). Next, hit the 9 key to toggle this feature on and off. You won't see the effect unless you switch to either an outside view with F1, or a Panel view like Home (Pilot Panel) or PgDown (Navigator Panel). With the night vision mode enabled, after hitting NumLock you could either hit F11 or Shift+F11 to darken or lighten the external views. In addition, after hitting NumLock you could either hit F12 or Shift+F12 to darken or lighten the Panel/Cockpit. Do note that you can also enhance/modify the NVG look and feel by hitting Shift+Tab, which will invoke my own custom NVG effect for the European scenario only.

III. Modded FLIGHT.EXE (enhanced features from 2017 to 2025 by Frankie Kam)
These are mods created by me which are embodied in the latest FLIGHT.EXE as of 30th March 2025. The 'latest' modded FLIGHT.EXE is essentially the same this January 2025 version here. I simply slapped a text message which reads "VER. 29 MAR 2025....MODDED BY FRANKIE" on the bottom of the screen status bar. Hit F1 (external view) and then 9 to view the status bar.




PREREQUISITE: You must have first purchased a Steam version of Tornado.

See: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2557370/Tornado/

The purpose of this post is to show you how can enable all three major mods into your Steam Tornado. You can easily add them in, and reset your Steam Tornado back to the vanilla game as what you had previously downloaded from Steam. Before reading further, please immediately backup your Tornado game folder. Specifically, the entire contents of "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Tornado"

To enable the mods,

STEP 1: Click here to download both set.zip and reset.zip.

STEP 2: Extract the contents of set.zip. A folder named set will be created. It will contain two sub-folders named "config" and "TORNADO", and a text file named "Readme_Set.txt".

Step 3: Extract the contents of reset.zip. A folder named reset will be created. It ALSO will contain two sub-folders named "config" and "TORNADO", and a text file named "Readme_Set.txt".

The following content is added to your Steam version of Tornado:-

    A. Kenneth "Iceman" Larsen Tornado Time Compression utility program
    This addon allows you to reach the Target waypoints faster, instead of waiting, brewing and sipping a cup of coffee.

• Alt+2 to Alt+8 to turn on time compression factors 2 to 8
• Alt+1, Ctrl or Alt key to turn OFF time compression
• Ctrl+1 to Ctrl+8 to temporarily activate compression for from 10 (Ctrl+1) to 80 (Ctrl+8) seconds

    See the file TTC.TXT inside the attached "FLIGHT_exe_TTC NVG and Snow manuals.zip".

    B. Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein's Night Vision Goggle (NVG) mod
    Turn on the Night Vision effect. A secondary effect is hitting Shift+Tab (only works with the European missions, not with ODS missions).

• hit Numlock followed immediately with the 9 key to toggle the NVG on and off
• hit Shift+F11 or Shift F11 to decrease/increase the brightness of the exterrnal views.
• hit Shift+F12 or Shift+F12 to decrease/increase the brightness of the Panels (i.e., cockpit, navigator left and right panels).
  

    See the file MANUAL.NVG inside the attached "FLIGHT_exe_TTC NVG and Snow manuals.zip".

    C. Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein's  "snow simulation" option for the European Warzones
    If you turn this option on, you will see  that the ground, the trees and some buildings are covered with 'snow'.

• Below are the instructions on how to turn on this Snow feature (more useful for the European missions, less so for the Operation Desert Storm ones!).
• Edit the file named dosbox_tornado.conf that is found inside the "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Tornado\TORNADO\set\config" folder
• At line 266 of the dosbox_tornado.conf file, you will see this one line of code: #loadhigh snow_on
• Remove/Delete that hash (#) symbol
• Save the dosbox_tornado.conf file

    See the file MANUAL.TMF inside the attached "FLIGHT_exe_TTC NVG and Snow manuals.zip".

    D. Liberation Campaign in Warzone 2 in the Command feature
    This is an add-on, more difficult, campaign situation for the European Warzone no. 2

• The file COMM4.MIS is added to AMP\MAP3
• The file COMM4.DTA is added to AMP\MAP3

    E. Gulf 1996 Desert Campaign addon in Warzone 2 in the Command feature
    This is an add-on campaign and bug-fix for the Operation Desert Storm of Tornado (1.0d and 1.0e only).
    It adds a campaign that is much harder than the original ODS campaign and fixes some bugs in ODS.

• The file COMM2.MIS is added to AMP\MAP5
• The file COMM2.DTA is added to AMP\MAP5

    F. Frankie's Modded FLIGHT.EXE as of 31st March 2025

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein's TMF program will install the Night Vision Goggle (NVG) and Snow mods into the FLIGHT.EXE. It does this by overwriting some object code of FLIGHT.EXE , and by renaming the h'acked' FLIGHT.EXE file it finds inside the "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Tornado\TORNADO\TORNADO.CD\FLIGHT" folder, into a new file named as FLIGHT_.EXE. It also requires the FL.EXE file to be copied and renamed as twp files: FLIGHT.EXE and DESERT.EXE. Confusing, I know.

Anyway, in the set.zip contains a small FLIGHT.EXE (42Kb in size) and a larger FLIGHT_.EXE (588Kb in size).

    This FLIGHT_.EXE you find inside set.zip is from the last FLIGHT.EXE modification done by me, dated 18th Jan 2025.
My modded FLIGHT.EXE is optional. If you do not want to install it, follow the steps below. You will need to do the step below before copying its contents of the set.zip to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Tornado".

• delete the FLIGHT_.EXE file found inside "\set\TORNADO\TORNADO.CD\FLIGHT\"
• inside the folder of "\set\TORNADO\TORNADO.CD\FLIGHT\" you will find a file named FLIGHT_Steam_Vanilla.EXE
• rename the FLIGHT_Steam_Vanilla.EXE to FLIGHT_.EXE as FLIGHT_.EXE

STEP 4: Copy the contents of the folder "set" (which contains the subfolders "config" and "TORNADO") into the folder destination of "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Tornado"

STEP 5: Now run Tornado from Steam by clicking the Steam Play button.

STEP 6: Enjoy! (or not). End the Tornado game.

STEP 7: To RESET your Steam Tornado back to its original self, copy the contents of the folder "reset" (which contains its own set of subfolders "config" and "TORNADO") into the folder destination of "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Tornado"

Step 8: Now run Tornado from Steam by clicking the Steam Play button. You will find that the vanilla, stock Steam Tornado, in all its original glory has been restored. Well, don't take my word for it - play around and sure enough all is back to what it was when you last downloaded Digital Integration's Tornado from Steam.

Hope this helps. If anyone would like further assistance, OR if you are reading this post but are UNABLE to download the attachments (because you do not have a registered Dogs Of War Virtual Unit forum user account) you may reply to me here, or email me at boonsengkam@gmail.com, or WhatsApp me at +6011-2001 1429.

Cheers
Frankie Kam
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
31/3/2025

References:

Yesteryear Tornado mods at http://www.frankiekam.com/tornado/tor/mods.html

This Modding Tornado thread: http://dogsofwarvu.com/forum/index.php/topic,5046.0.html

Modded Tornado Showcase Part 1 (Digital Integration's classic 1993 DOS combat flight simulator):


Modded Tornado Showcase Part 2  (Digital Integration's classic 1993 DOS combat flight simulator):

[Frankie]

Okay, here's what I've done since my last post.

1. I've updated FLIGHT.EXE so that the default Night Panel is Green. You can select between Green and Red Night panels via NumLock or Ctrl+~.

2. I've created 3 packages which you can download and copy over your Steam Tornado installation.

"Package 0 - Tornado-Reset-to-Steam-Vanilla-Basic-No-Frills-No Mods Installation.zip"
- Convert your Steam Tornado installation back to Vanilla out-of-the-box state.
- No mods.
- AMP.EXE and FLIGHT.EXE are original Version 1.0E types.


"Package 1- Set-Steam Tornado with Vanilla FLIGHT_EXE and TTC with Snow and NVG mods.zip"
- AMP.EXE shows "Mods" instead of "Review" link



- FLIGHT.EXE is still the original Version 1.0E.
- Adds Kenneth Larsen's Time Compression mod
- Adds Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein's Night Vision Goggle (NVG) and Snow simulation mod


"Package 2 - Set Steam Tornado with Modded Frankie FLIGHT EXE and TTC with Snow and NVG mods.zip"
- AMP.EXE shows "Mods++" instead of "Review" link



- FLIGHT.EXE is the latest FLIGHT.EXE as of 2nd April 2025.
- Adds Kenneth Larsen's Time Compression mod
- Adds Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein's Night Vision Goggle (NVG) and Snow simulation mod


At any time you can downloaad, extract a zip package and copy and paste its contents into your Steam's Tornado installation folder.
Specifically, your "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Tornado" folder.


When you click on the "Review"/"Mods"/"Mods++" link, the Client program TKM.EXE will execute. It is used to enable the Snow and NVG settings will appear.




Here is the Night Vision Goggles settings screen. Notice that you can specify for both European and ODS scenarios, the green brightness of the panels and the outside world.

How do you activate the NVG?
You will need to save your settings and then exit the Borland prograam and return to Tornado. Fire up a mission and go to the the Kneepad screen (a.k.a. Lookdown View) by hitting the NumLock key or Ctrl+~. Next, hit the 9 key to toggle this feature on and off. You won't see the effect unless you switch to either an outside view with F1, or a Panel view like Home (Pilot Panel) or PgDown (Navigator Panel). With the night vision mode enabled, after hitting NumLock you could either hit F11 or Shift+F11 to darken or lighten the external views. In addition, after hitting NumLock you could either hit F12 or Shift+F12 to darken or lighten the Panel/Cockpit. Do note that you can also enhance/modify the NVG look and feel by hitting Shift+Tab, which will invoke my own custom NVG effect for the European scenario only.




Here is the Snow simulation setting screen.




This program, written in Borland C++ (1991 Compiler), was creaated 30 years ago for Tornado, and can still be used today! Such is the genius of Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein's coding skills.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Frankie Kaam

[Frankie]

I've made this Tutorial Video.



Steam Version Of Digital Integration Tornado 1 0E running with 1993 mods
A YouTube Video Tutorial



Sorry about the soft and low audio quality.
Anyway, hope it helps for those who have Steam's Tornado.

Cheers
Frankie Kam

[Frankie]

Mod 215. Some Cosmetics

Made the Invincible Level (i.e., "Super") for Tornado clearer in the Lookdown View (Numlock). This super level allows you to NOT die during a mission so that you can 'cheat' during a mission. What exactly does the Invincibility Level do? Where's a short and simple list:

• You Tornado won't sustain any damage when crashing to the ground
• No damage is sustain when your Tornado gets hit by AAAA or SAM strikes
• Fuel gets replenished to the maximum (unlimited) and never depletes
• Unlimited flares
• Unlimited chaff

To activate this level, hit NumLock or Ctrl+~ to enter the KneePad or LookDown view. Then hit the number 4.



You can use it to explore a mission's terrain in more detail without dying pre-maturely.



I've also made some slight improvements in the graphics of these three floating windows:

Weapons Management floating window

• to toggle on/off, hit F1, then ], followed by the "/" key
• the frame of the window is fuller. The package ID is also shown. E.e., "X" or "Y"

Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) floating window

• to toggle on/off, hit F1, then ], followed by the "~" (tilde) key
• now shows more horizontal real estate
• Take note: there is a bug which prevents the symbols "AAA", "SAM" "EWR", etc. from displaying in the window. It's weird as the abbreviations appear in the Pilot Panel as expected. I can't explain it as I've tried everything I can. At least the enemy threat symbology (the stick-like symbols that represent AAA and SAM mobiles) and red pluses (i.e., incoming missiles) display as expected and are working fine. So we'll just leave it be then.

Navigator's Warning Panel floating window

• to toggle on/off, hit F1, then ScrollLock key (if you happen to be using an external and full-sized keyboard
• more of the frame is now visible
• lending to a more 3D-like representation of the window

Cheers
Frankie Kam

[Frankie]

Easter Mod 2025

I asked Grok to write an assembly language program that will present me with a menu to chose from before launching Tornado. Here's what  the menu looks like:

I wanted to have a variety of Tornado versions to run. Here are the choices and their outcomes:

• Press 0 to have play Tornado with the original 1993 1.0a version of FLIGHT.EXE. This version is notoriously and insanely difficult. You take one hit from a SAM and it's all over. There's not even any proximity alarm warning sound to alert you in an imminent strike from a missile.
• Press 1 and play Tornado with Tornado 1.0E. That's the Steam version of Tornado, only that I have infused it with Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein's NGV/Snow mod. Kenneth "ICEMAN" Larsen's Time Compression mod is also called before FLIGHT.EXE giving you the luxury of speeding up the boring parts flying between calm waypoints. These mods are also available when choices 1 to 5 are selected. Disclaimer note: make sure you FIRST apply the content of Package 1, 2 or 3 from http://dogsofwarvu.com/forum/index.php/topic,5046.msg51910.html#msg51910
• Press 2 to play Tornado with my latest modded FLIGHT.EXE  (April 2025).
• Press 3 to have your GR1 Tornado in Lutfwaffe gray and black colours.
• Press 4 to play Tornado's European missions/campaigns with desert colours. GR1 body work and landscape.
• Press 5 to play Tornado's European missions/campaigns with snow/winter colours. GR1 body work and landscape.
• Press 6 to actually run Tornado based on whcih buttons (1-5) you had selected earlier. The intro screens will play followed by Tornado's front end menus will appear.
• Press 7 to exit the menu and return to desktop.

Step 1: Download the necessary files to make this menu work from here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1X90Osyzz-cYA4mnBQFDc5pc8XmbU75n1?usp=sharing

Step 2: Extract the files:

           FLIGHT0.EXE
           FLIGHT1.EXE
           FLIGHT2.EXE
           FLIGHT3.EXE
           FLIGHT4.EXE
           FLIGHT5.EXE
           MENU.EXE

into the C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Tornado\TORNADO\TORNADO.CD subfolder.

Step 3: Edit the "dosbox-staging.conf" file found inside the Steam Tornado's config subfolder:-

            C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Tornado\config

Step 4: Add the line "menu.exe" (without the quotation marks) inside the autoexect.bat section. Like so:

       [autoexec]
       @echo off
       mount c "./TORNADO"
       c:
       cls
       cd tornado.cd
       menu.exe
       lh cdpatch %1
       if not exist setup.inf setup.exe
       echo Loading Tornado ...
       loadhigh TSG /C
       #loadhigh snow_on
       loadhigh TKM_IDWT
       cd amp
       loadhigh ttc
       loadhigh amp
       cd ..
       cdpatch x
       cd ..
       exit

Step 5: Launch Steam's Tornado game.

Step 6: Enjoy!

Cheers
Frankie Kam
18/4/2025

P.S., if anyone wants to contact me, send me an email at boonsengkam@gmail.com or send me a WhatsApp at +6011-2001 1429.

[SpaceGameJunkie]

This looks phenomenal, mate. Thank you.

[Rinix]

I agree, great work.

[Frankie]

Omigosh high praise from others. Worth more than gold. I am not worthy........that makes a nice Easter Weekend for me.

[SpaceGameJunkie]

Omigosh high praise from others. Worth more than gold. I am not worthy........that makes a nice Easter Weekend for me.

Sir, you are absolutely worthy. Your dedication to this sim is legendary.

[Frankie]

Hi Tornado Fans/aficionados/connoisseurs (a.k.a. Tornadoholics)

If the posts starting from http://dogsofwarvu.com/forum/index.php/topic,5046.msg51893.html#msg51893
seem a bit too overwhelming, you can try going through them one post at a time.
If you feel it's still all to much then you can send me an email at boonsengkam@gmail.com
Or...if you want a MUCH SIMPLER WAY to get the MODDED TORNADO up and running, just follow these 4 simple steps below:

FOUR SIMPLE STEPS TO ENJOY MODDED TORNADO WITHOUT THE "DANCE"

Step#1. Download these necessary files
from https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fQUGJrK3J3UJDx6SyS2FL3lKrsfnvjLw?usp=sharing


Step#2. Setup the latest European 3D Engine (i.e., FLIGHT.EXE)
Rename your current \FLIGHT\FLIGHT.EXE to \FLIGHT\FLIGHT.ORI
Download the file FLIGHT.EXE
Copy the file FLIGHT.EXE to the \FLIGHT subfolder

Note: This modded FLIGHT.EXE is as of 12th April 2025 (My birthday haha!)


Step#3. Setup the More Cloud Mod
Download the files CLOUD1.BIN and CLOUD2.BIN
Copy and paste the CLOUD1.BIN and CLOUD2.BIN files inside the five MAP subfolders where AMP is the parent folder.
I.e.,
/AMP/MAP1
/AMP/MAP2
/AMP/MAP3
/AMP/MAP4
/AMP/MAP5

Note: best if you first backup the original CLOUD1.BIN and CLOUD2.BIN files first.
For example you could rename them from
CLOUD1.BIN to CLOUD1.ORI
CLOUD2.BIN to CLOUD2.ORI


Step#4. Setup the Pilot Panel with a Digital Fuel Gauge
Note: if your Pilot Panel (Press Home) already shows a digital fuel readout,
then you can SKIP this step. Tornado versions 1.0b through to 1.0E or 1.0F
already have the digital fuel readout on the Pilot's panel.

Rename your current \FLIGHT\PILOTPAN.BT2 to \FLIGHT\PILOTPAN_ori.BT2
Download the file PILOTPAN.BT2
Copy the file PILOTPAN.BT2 to the \FLIGHT subfolder

That's it! Enjoy.


Cheers
Frankie Kam
End of instructions
24/4/2025

[SpaceGameJunkie]

Do these newer directions supplant the "Easter Mod 2025" directions above?