When World War I began, airplanes were designed strictly for reconnaissance. They were unarmed and built for stable flight rather than maneuverability. Within a very short time air crews began to carry weapons. Observers with pistols or rifles became common until armed aircraft were produced.
 
I have made a set of armed observers for First Eagles. The observer carries a rifle "at the ready." He moves his head, but does not shoot the gun. There is one for each stock pilot color, and one for each of the helmeted pilots I made before. A total of six observers.
 
You will need to install the observers into the game, then make a change to the data.ini for each plane to make them appear in the game. The center point matches the center point of the FE Gold and FE2 stock pilot, so they should swap into your plane without any adjustment. If the plane uses the old style FE1 pilot, some minor tweaking may be required.
 
Note that this only replaces the stock pilot and will not replace a gunner built into the 3D model.
 
My thanks to Whiteknight06604 for suggesting the idea and for beta-testing the observers.
 

Installing the observers into the game:
For FE1 - Open my folder named "FE1" and copy all twelve files into your "Aircraft" folder. Don't put them into any of the other folder. The LOD names are the names of the new "pilot." The numbers match the FE pilot numbers so uniform colors will match.
 
For FE2 - Open my folder named "FE2" and copy all six folders into your Objects/Pilots folder. The folder names are the names of the new "pilot." The numbers match the FE pilot numbers so uniform colors will match.
 

Putting the observers into a plane:
For both FE1 and FE2 - Open the plane's data.ini file. Find the section for crew (about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way down). The Observer should be in SeatID=2. Change the PilotModelName to the name of one of the new observer. Save the file and fly. (You might want to comment out the original name and type in a new line, like in my example, in case you want to change back.)
 

Example:
 
// Crew ---------------------------------------------------------
 
[Pilot]
SystemType=PILOT_COCKPIT
SeatID=1
PilotModelName=WWIpilotNew2
PilotHeadNodeName=head
Position=0.0,-0.2,0.70
MinExtentPosition=-0.32,-0.41,-0.26
MaxExtentPosition= 0.32,0.36, 0.82
 
[Observer]
SystemType=PILOT_COCKPIT
SeatID=2
//PilotModelName=WWIpilotNew2 <--old pilot name
PilotModelName=WWIObserver2 <--new pilot name
PilotHeadNodeName=head
Position=0.0,-1.0,0.70
MinExtentPosition=-0.32,-1.28,-0.26
MaxExtentPosition= 0.32,-0.50, 0.82

Some flyers wore simple crash helmets in WWI, especially recon and bomber crews where they would have to move around during the flight. These helmets were made of heavy leather with cork inserts. They didn't offer much protection by today's standards, but they were better than nothing.
 
I have made new pilots with French style and German style helmets. Each style includes a version with a scarf over the lower face, making four new pilots for First Eagles.
 
You will need to install the pilots into the game, then make a change to the data.ini for each plane to make them appear in the game. The center point matches the center point of the (new) FE2 stock pilot, so they should swap into your plane without any adjustment. If the plane uses the old style FE1 pilot, some minor tweaking may be required.
 
My thanks to Quack74 for suggesting the idea and for beta-testing.
 
 
 
Installing the pilots into the game:
For FE1 - Open my folder named "FE1" and copy all six files into your "Aircraft" folder. Don't put them into any of the other folder. The LOD names are the names of the new pilot.
 
For FE2 - Open my folder named "FE2" and copy all four folders into your Objects/Pilots folder. The folder names are the names of the new pilot.
 
Putting the pilots into a plane:
For both FE1 and FE2 - Open the plane's data.ini file. Find the section for crew (about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way down). Change the PilotModelName to the name of one of the new pilots. Save the file and fly. (You might want to comment out the original name and type in a new line, like in my example, in case you want to change back.)
 
Example:
 
// Crew ---------------------------------------------------------
 
[Pilot]
SystemType=PILOT_COCKPIT
//PilotModelName=wwiPilotNew2 <--old pilot name
PilotModelName=FrHelmetPilot <--new pilot name
PilotHeadNodeName=head
Position=0.0,-0.82,0.75
MinExtentPosition=-0.30,-0.93,-0.36
MaxExtentPosition= 0.30,-0.24,0.83

The Farman HF.20 was developed in 1913 and was being used by most of the air forces in Europe by the time World War I began. It was designed for reconnaissance and had very stable flight characteristics, but it didn't have a very powerful engine and wasn't suitable for fighter or bomber missions, although some pilots made the attempt. The Farman F.20 was withdrawn from front line service as more nimble aircraft became available.
 
This version does not have a machine gun and places the observer behind the pilot.It can carry a small bomb load, with the bombs being released over the side. This install will not replace the original Farman HF.20, so you can fly both of them in First Eagles.
 
My skins for Belgian, French, and Russian versions will work for both versions of the HF.20. I have included all three in this download. The Russian version uses the decal.ini posted by Crawford in the forums. Decals and my skinning templates are included in the download.
 
Some flyers wore simple crash helmets in WWI, especially in the early days. I am using a pilot with a helmet in this plane. The pilot and installation instructions are included in the download, in case you don't already have it.
 
The Farman HF.20 has a wider wingspan than First Eagles expects so you should install my "Airfields for Large Planes" available in the Combat Ace downloads area. Otherwise, when starting on the runway, your wings may be touching the wings of the planes next to you. This will cause an immediate collision and you or other planes in your flight may lose their wingtips as soon as the game starts.
 
Credits
Thanks to Ojcar for making the data file for the Farman HF.20.
 
Thanks also to Crawford who created a more accurate decal.ini for the Russian version and who provided resources for the Farman cockpits.
 
Installation Instructions
For FE1 - Unzip the file. Move the folder named "FarmanHF20U" into your FirstEagles/Objects/Aircraft folder.
 
For FE2 - Unzip the file. Move the folder named "FarmanHF20U" into your FirstEagles/Objects/Aircraft folder. Then in the FirstEagles/Objects/Decals folder, create a new folder named "FarmanHF20U". Move the folder named "D" from your Aircraft/FarmanHF20U folder into the Decals/FarmanHF20U folder you just made.
 
You may not need to install the pilot with helmet, it has been available for download for some time and you may already have it. If you don't already have it, I have included the pilot and instructions for installing in a separate folder included in this download.

Vosges Terrain (inkl. 1916 campaign) 1.2
 
Re-worked Vosges terrain V2.0
*****************************
New: V2.0 - Including winter season
 
INTRODUCTION
The Vosges Front is a mountainous area ranging from the Donon in the north and the Grand Ballon in the south. The old border between the German Empire and France from 1871 to 1918, now in Alsace and the Lorraine, was the only area of the Western Front to see mountain fighting during the Great War With transportation infrastructure and technology, impacts on the landscape and strategic challenges related to climate and geographic constraints, the Vosges mountains were the scene of numerous battlefields.
 
DETAILS
- This version of the Vosges front is 'based' on the work of Stephen1918 and Gepard. But virtually everything was modified (height-map to a massive degree, towns, front line, rivers, etc.)
- Existing versions of this map will NOT be overwritten with this version, since the folder is named 'wwiVosges'.
- You'll find a new map within FE called 'Vosges, France'.
- I've tried to include as much as possible into the terrain folder. This means certain object were made 'static'.
- Certain targets are at the very edge of the terrain. This might cause certain issues when flying into the virtual 'wall', e.g. edge of the map.
- To minimize the repetitive feeling of flying over tiles I've added a lot of green fields (fields without trees).
- The included campaign is just a small one with the possibility to fly recon and bombing missions (France/Germany).
 
NEW STUFF
- Train lines and trainstations (major cities and minor towns)
- 'Waterfalls' and shipping locks
- Small airfields and very large airfields
- Zeppelin airfield
- A rather busy frontline (make sure you've the needed objects)
- Switzerland as neutral country, altough it doesn't work 100% but that's an issue based on the game-engine. Including two Swiss airfields and a border with various gates, flags, bunkers, etc.
 
INCLUDED
- Vosges terrain/front WW1 (incl. two seasons)
- Ground objects
- German/French reconnaissance campaign set in 1916
 
FAQs
Q: Is it based on the already existing 'Vogesen' map?
A: Yes, but actually only as a basis. Everything was changed/adapted (heightmap, tilemap, targets, etc.).
Q: Does it include more than one season?
A: No, currently not.
Q: Is the frontline correct?
A: Yes as good as it gets, representing late 1916/early 1917 with certain omissions.
Q: Are all the named towns and cities correct (placement and naming)?
A: Yes as good as it gets. French denominations and German denominations.
 
INSTALLATION
1. Make a backup copy of your First Eagles folder (just in case)
2. Extract the file into a temporary folder (like c:\temp\)
3. Copy all the relevant folders into the respective First Eagles game folders
(example: c:\temp\Vosges\Terrain\Vosges into your c:\Program Files\First Eagles\Terrain folder)
 
PREREQUISITES
- FE Gold (might work also with FE2, sorry guys don't know), with the latest patch
- Aircraft for the included campaign:
CaudronG4
RumplerC1
Nieuport10
Nieuport11
Nieuport12
Voisin3_150
Voisin5
AlbatrosC3
AviatikC2
FokkerEIIIa
FokkerD2
AviatikC2
Dfwci
Walfisch
LloydC2
 
CREDITS
As usual I want to say thank you to all guys who helped me to create the Vosges terrain:
TK, Jan Tuma, Stephen1918 (for the improved Vogesen version from Gepard), Geezer (great ground objects), ojcar, Gepard (for the initial Vogesen version), Heck, geo, quack74, Edward, A-Team (airplanes not included), Guitarclassic55 (for the wonderful menu) and a lot of others. Of course Gerwin's TFD Tool was instrumental in the making of this terrain.
Sorry if I've forgotten someone. Please contact me if you want to be named at this place.
Thanks for files, suggestions, testing, bug findings etc.
 
DISCLAIMER
The Vosges terrain is freeware.
You are free to modify and share it, BUT Commercial use is prohibited.
If you find bugs please post them in First Eagles section of Combatace.com forum.
 
Hope you enjoy it.
 
Sincerely
gterl

The Farman HF.20 was developed in 1913 and was being used by most of the air forces in Europe by the time World War I began. It was designed for reconnaissance and had very stable flight characteristics, but it didn't have a very powerful engine and wasn't suitable for fighter or bomber missions, although some pilots made the attempt. The Farman F.20 was withdrawn from front line service as more nimble aircraft became available.
 
My plane includes skins for Belgian, French, and Russian versions. Decals and my skinning templates are included in the download.
 
Ojcar has created a fake machine gun for the pilot, which causes the AI plane to be more aggressive in pursuing enemy planes. I have installed that gun on this plane. Ojcar's "DummyMachineGun" data is included with this download, in case you don't already have it.
 
Some flyers wore simple crash helmets in WWI, especially in the early days. I am using a pilot with a helmet in this plane. The pilot and installation instructions are included in the download, in case you don't already have it.
 
The Farman HF.20 has a wider wingspan than First Eagles expects so you should install my "Airfields for Large Planes" available in the Combat Ace downloads area. Otherwise, when starting on the runway, your wings may be touching the wings of the planes next to you. This will cause an immediate collision and you or other planes in your flight may lose their wingtips as soon as the game starts.
 
Credits
Thanks to Ojcar for making the data file for the Farman HF.20 and for making the data for the dummy machine gun.
 
Thanks also to Crawford who provided resources for the Farman cockpits.
 
Installation Instructions
For FE1 - Unzip the file. Move the folder named "FarmanHF20" into your FirstEagles/Objects/Aircraft folder.
 
For FE2 - Unzip the file. Move the folder named "FarmanHF20" into your FirstEagles/Objects/Aircraft folder. Then in the FirstEagles/Objects/Decals folder, create a new folder named "FarmanHF20". Move the folder named "D" from your Aircraft/FarmanHF20 folder into the Decals/FarmanHF20 folder you just made.
 
You may not need to install the dummy machine gun, it has been used on other planes and you may already have it. If you don't already have it, I have included the gun and instructions for installing in a separate folder included in this download.
 
You may not need to install the pilot with helmet, it has been available for download for some time and you may already have it. If you don't already have it, I have included the pilot and instructions for installing in a separate folder included in this download.

The final collection of Eindeckers, the infamous EIV . apparently there were only ever 50 airframes operational, one assumes that different squadrons were allocated 1 or 2 at a time, and as the aircraft was really not that much of an improvement over the EIII it must have been a rare bird indeed, as the Albatri were starting to come into service around the same time, so few of these aircraft were around, So, the skins are as follows, for the EIVa or 3 gun version, of which there was only ever one, thats the one you get ( you can of course use any of the other skins with this version if you like the idea of 3 Spandaus ) the rest of them are for the production 2 gun EIV , so I have done 2 factory finish skins, one CDL, and one Grey, I have also done Max Immelmans EIV, along with Kurt Students from Fokker Staffel 3, one skin representing a machine from KeK 3 flown by many different pilots, the final skin is of an aircraft called Hannah, now I have seen a few different colours for this particular aircraft, from Kesta 4, there is one pretty clear photo, which shows that it was at some time camouflaged, the colours are speculative, but I think they look about right, I have also seen pictures of the same aircraft in CDL as well, so I did both of them just for good measure.
 
As with the other releases, the requisite files are all included, the ~~Numbers for the named aircraft are correct to the best of my knowledge, the other FOK numbers, are again speculative, but not far off the mark hopefully.
 
The call outs for the usual suspects is as follows, Von S and his troupe, for all the behind the scenes jiggery pokery, Laton for making the models, and to peter for the FM's, also Gambit and Von Deutchmark for any original skins I have butchered and hacked about ( hopefully for the better !! )
 
As always, please please ENJOY !!

As promised here are the EII Fokker skins, I have only done the factory finish skins for the parabellum EIIa version, as there to the best of my knowledge were only ever 4 parabellum armed EII's produced, as the parabellum was totally useless on the Eindecker as a synchronised weapon, so most of the EII's were Spandau armed there were also some Swartzlose armed versions as well, but unfortunately we dont have those modelled, ( HINT HINT SOMEBODY !! ) So mainly the skins are for the EII version, the factory finished ones are a CDL finish, with early crosses, and a Fokker Grey finish with later crosses, I have also done 2 skins from KeK Vaux, one being an all white machine ( bet it didnt stay white long !! ) and Frieherr Von Althaus Fokker Grey ,also a KeK Vaux machine, 2 aircraft from our black tailed friends of Flt Abt 9, Bruckmann, and Kissenberth, Bohme also possibly flew these machines as well, finally Von Crailsheims machine of Flt Abt 53.
 
As with the EIII and EI releases, these skins are for Latons models only Borts will not work with these skins !! be aware please. all the files are included guns, decals sounds pilots et al. For some reason I didnt relly enjoy doing these EII's maybe because they were an interim aircraft pretty quickly superceded by the EIII , so apologies if they dont seem as exciting as some of the other skins, but to be honest, there isnt a lot of choice on the Eindeckers.
 
The usual thanks and shout outs go to Von S and his band of happy campers, Laton, and Peter for doing the models and fm's respectivley, also to Gambit and Von Deutchmark whos original skins I have hi jacked and chopped about. I shall do a couple of E IV's next just for continuities sake, then on to a new aircraft, not sure what yet though as the D VII and DR I 's seem to be pretty well covered to death, so maybe some of the Pfalz's or something...we shall see !!
 

As always ENJOY

This is the pack of updated skins for the ~Fokker EI I have done 4 skins for the Spandau armed version, as follows:-
A generic factory CDL finish machine, Oswald Bolcke's eindecker, which apparently was also flown by Max Immelman, Unteroffizier Kneistes machine, and finally Wilhelm Frankl, of KeK Vaux , unfortunately, when Laton made the models for this aeroplane, he made the EI Spandau version with wire wheels for some reason, this to the best of my knowledge, was not an actual operational fact, I have yet to see a front line Fokker with no wheel covers, to modify this Laton would need to re do the LODs for this aircraft, but anyhow we must work with what we have at hand !
 
the Parabellum armed aircraft are another 4 skins, as follows:-
A generic CDL version, ~Max Immelman's machine, Otto Parschau and finally Kurt Wintgens.
 
All the skins are re works of Gambits, and Von Deutchmarks original skins, and I have re done them as as I said before, I really , really , REALLY hate painted on decals, and avoid them wherever possible. So I have made new decals, numbers etc to just give this early aircraft a bit of a work over, the serials are not particularly accurate for the EI, however the ones for the for the aircraft with named pilots are, and I have tried to get those as correct as possible with the resources available to me. I have included, as with the EIII. all the guns, decals, pilots, and sounds needed to get you up and running, hopefully I have got everything in there, and not missed anything off.
 
I shall be doing the EII's next, so we shall have a full set of Eindeckers for your delectation. BE AWARE, these skins are for Latons models, and NOT for Borts !!! just in case any one tries it and wonders why they will not work on those models !!
 

Again, I thank Laton for actually making the aircraft in the first place, tho Gambit and Von Deutchmark for producing the skins for me to play around with, also a HUGE shout out to Von S and his merry band of men for doing all the jiggery pokery and voodoo stuff, and finally to Peter for giving us most excellent FM's
 
As always....ENJOY
 
I