About This File
Operation Tainted Cigar
for Strike Fighters 2
This package contains an updated version of the Operation Tainted Cigar (OTC) mod package for "Strike Fighters 2" (SF2). In addition to making the original mod compatible with SF2, this updated version also adds a number of items that were released in the years subsequent to original two versions of OTC for SFP1, including:
- a completely revamped/overhauled Cuba terrain
- a number of new aircraft
- other aircraft updated to SF2 standards
- plenty of new aircraft skins
- a bevy of new ground objects, incl. new ships
- a handful of new effects, weapons, and guns
- a more historically plausible campaign
- SF2NA-compatible campaign w/ carrier battle groups
To use this mod, you must have "Strike Fighters 2" (SF2) in a merged install that also includes "Strike Fighters 2: Vietnam" (SF2V). It is recommended that your target install also include "Strike Fighters 2 Europe" (SF2E) and "Strike Fighters 2 North Atlantic" (SFNA), but neither is required.
Note that this is a COMPLETE mod package. There is no need to install either of the original OTC mod versions for SFP1.
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Minimum Requirements
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To install and play this mod, you must have the following installed as part of your target installation base:
REQUIRED: Strike Fighters 2 (SF2), plus
Strike Fighters 2 Vietnam (SF2V)
PATCH LEVEL: Mar2012 or higher
This mod does support installations that include "Strike Fighters 2 Europe" (SF2E) and "Strike Fighters 2 North Atlantic" (SF2NA), but they are not required.
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Installation
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Before installing, please ensure that your target SF2 install meets the minimum requirements laid out above.
The main installation process consists of three main steps. Those without SF2NA in their base SF2 install will have an additional installation step at the end.
Please read the following instructions carefully and follow them religiously. If you wind up with a non-working mod install, then you likely failed to follow the instructions properly. If you post to the CombatAce.com forums and report that the mod isn't working or that you can't see any new aircraft or campaigns, I'm simply going to tell you to review this ReadMe and try installing again.
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* STEP 1: PREPARE THE MOD FOLDER *
-----------------------------------
This mod requires a separate Mod Folder. Please do not attempt to install this mod over or combine it with other mods such as NATO Fighter 5 or the SF2V Expansion Pack.
- Open your SF2 Installation directory and make a copy of StrikeFighters2.exe. If SF2NA is part of your target install, then make a copy of "StrikeFighters2 NorthAtlantic.exe" instead. Rename the copied file to StrikeFighters2_OTC.exe (or whatever unique name you prefer).
- Run the newly copied and renamed .EXE file, then exit back out to the Windows desktop after navigating through a few menus. A custom Mod Folder for your OTC mod install will have been created in one of these locations:
Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\[username]\My Documents\ThirdWire\[YourModFolder]
Windows Vista: \Users\[username]\Saved Games\ThirdWire\[YourModFolder]
Windows 7: \Users\[username]\Saved Games\ThirdWire\[YourModFolder]
...where [YourModFolder] matches the name of the copied .EXE file that you created.
- Open your Mod Folder and delete the \Objects sub-directory (including everything in it).
Now you're ready to install the OTC mod proper.
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* STEP 2: INSTALL MAIN COMPONENTS TO MOD FOLDER *
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This is the easiest step.
- Unpack the two OTC archive packages that you downloaded to a location on your hard drive.
- Move the *contents* of the \To_Mod_Folder directory from each package to your Mod Folder (created in Step 1 above). (Note: do not simply drag and drop the folder named "To_Mod_Folder" or you will end up with a non-working install.)
If you've moved everything correctly, you should have a new \Objects sub-directory in your Mod Folder, along with a few new other sub-directories.
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* STEP 3: EDIT OPTIONS.INI *
----------------------------
This step involves a bit of text editing, so please pay attention.
Open the Options.INI file in your Mod Folder. Locate the "Single Mission" section. I recommend setting the StartYear= and EndYear= as follows:
StartYear=1948
EndYear=1990
Now, locate the "Instant Action" section and replace it with the following:
[instantAction]
AircraftType=F-8C_MF
MissionMap=CUBA
StartTime=16:37
StartDate=10/28/1962
StartTimeDeviation=120
TextureSet=0
NationalMarking=0
SquadronMarking=0
AircraftNumber=0
KillMarking=0
Finally, a little further down you should find the "Campaign" section. Replace it with the following:
[Campaign]
CampaignName=19621028 Op Tainted Cigar
PlayerService=USAF
PlayerUnit=481st TFS, 27th TFW
AircraftType=F-100D
Difficulty=HARD
Length=NORMAL
AircraftSupply=NORMAL
WeaponSupply=LIMITED
LoadCampaign=TRUE
CampaignSavename=DefaultCampaignSave
Save your changes and close the Options.INI file.
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* STEP 4: Extra Step for Installs without SF2NA *
-------------------------------------------------
If your target SF2 installation does NOT include SF2NA, then you have a few more files to copy over to your Mod Folder (and a few things to remove as well).
- Open the \SF2_Only folder in the directory to which you unpacked the two OTC archive packages.
- Copy everything from the \SF2_Only folder to your Mod Folder, allowing it to overwrite as prompted. (Again, do NOT simply grab the \SF2_Only folder itself and drag it over to your Mod Folder; rather, copy the CONTENTS of the \SF2_Only folder to your Mod Folder.)
Now for the removals:
- remove the following items from \Objects\Aircraft in your Mod Folder: E-2A, E-2C (these aircraft require SF2NA).
- remove the following items from \Objects\GroundObject in your Mod Folder: Adams, Farragut, GearingFRAM1B, Kashin, Kynda, LPH-2, & USNFrigate (these ships require SF2NA).
* * * * *
THAT'S IT. Your "Operation Tainted Cigar for SF2" mod should now be ready to use. You may consider installing some of the "optional" items as described in the next section.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Installation of Optional Items
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This mod package includes a number of "optional" items. Some of these optional items require you to have "Strike Fighters 2: Europe" (SF2E) in your base SF2 install. Others require you to copy over LODs from third-party mods available from the A-Team (DAT) or Yankee Air Pirate. You can find these optional items in the \Optional folder (itself located in the directory where you unpacked the two OTC archive packages).
The optional items, which are found in the \Optional directory of the OTC archive packages you downloaded, can be grouped into three different buckets:
1. Optional Aircraft from SF2E
If SF2E is part of your base SF2 install, then you can copy over the F-84F and MiG-15bis from \Optional\Aircraft to \Objects\Aircraft in your Mod Folder. The campaigns will automatically use these ThirdWire aircraft in lieu of the substitute versions (F-84F_MF & MiG-15bis_FAR).
2. Optional DLC Aircraft from ThirdWire
If you have DLC 28 (AI Only Aircraft, Part 1), then you can install and use the F-104A and F-104C from that DLC offering in lieu of the third party models. Simply copy over F-104A_58 & F-104C_61 from \Optional\Aircraft to \Objects\Aircraft in your Mod Folder. The campaigns will automatically use these ThirdWire aircraft in lieu of the third-party versions installed by default.
3. Optional Aircraft from the A-Team
This version of OTC also supports the use of several aircraft available only from the A-Team's web site:
http://cplengineeringllc.com/SFP1/Skunworks.html
These aircraft require the LOD files from the original aircraft. To use these aircraft you will need to:
1) download the original versions from the web site above and unpack them;
2) copy the LOD files (models) from the original versions to the corresponding
aircraft in \Optional\Aircraft,
3) copy the aircraft folders themselves from \Optional\Aircraft to \Objects\Aircraft
in your OTC Mod Folder.
Again, the campaigns will automatically use these aircraft in lieu of substitutes once they are installed to your Mod Folder.
Below is a table that summarizes the optional A-Team aircraft, the LOD files needed for each, the substitute aircraft that will be used if the A-Team aircraft are not installed, and the section where the original can be found on the A-Team's web site:
-------- --------- ----------- -----
Aircraft LOD Files Substitutes Notes
-------- --------- ----------- -----
C-2A C-2A-R3.LOD C-130A/KC-130F Modern Planes section
E-1B E-1B-R0e.LOD E-2A Beta Models section
P-3A P-3A-R0b.LOD P-2H Modern Planes section
S-2A S-2A-R2.LOD A-1H Modern Planes section
4. Optional Destroyers
Also included are two USN destroyers (the Charles F. Adams class and Farragut or Coontz class) based on the DLG-10 included in the "Yankee Air Pirate 2" and "Yankee Air Pirate 3" commercial mods. To use these optional destroyers you must have the necessary LOD files from "Yankee Air Pirate".
Installation of these destroyers is simple:
1) Remove the substitute destroyers (named Adams and Farragut) that are
installed by default from \Objects\GroundObject in your Mod folder.
(These substitute versions are based on the ThirdWire CGN-36.)
2) Copy the Coontz2.LOD from "Yankee Air Pirate" to the Adams and Farragut
folders in \Optional\GroundObject (in the OTC packages you downloaded).
3) Create collision LODs for both destroyers by making a copy of Coontz2.LOD
and renaming it Coontz2_COL.LOD.
4) Move the Adams and Farragut destroyers from \Optional\GroundObject to
\Objects\GroundObject in your MOD folder.
Again, the campaigns will automatically use the new versions of these ships.
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Campaign Notes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are two main campaigns supplied with this version of OTC:
- Cuba: the standard campaign, allowing you to fly a variety of USAF,
USN, or USMC aircraft in support of the U.S. invasion of Cuba.
- Red Cuba: new "red-side" version of the main campaign, allowing you
to fly various Cuban or Soviet aircraft (mostly MiGs) in defense of
the island of Cuba.
By default an SF2NA-compatible version of the main Cuba campaign is installed. This version uses SF2NA-style carrier battle groups. It also uses a number of aircraft that exploit new mission types available only in SF2NA.
If SF2NA is not part of your install, then you installed a version of the Cuba campaign that uses the older SF2V-style carrier stations. You will see escort ships, but they are static. Moreover, the FRAM2_DG escorts used for the two big carrier stations south of Cuba (which are behind the front line) are gun-less, as they must be in that location (otherwise they would shoot at you). Finally, the non-SF2NA version of the campaign lacks many of the supporting AI-only aircraft, which exploit SF2NA-only mission types.
The "Red Cuba" campaign comes only in one version that uses the older SF2V-style carrier stations. If you are using the SF2NA version of the Cuba terrain, those carriers will appear without escorts (not that you'd have much chance of seeing them any way).
The ground war starts about two weeks into the campaign. This follows CINCLANT OPLAN 316-62, which provided for several weeks of bombing before the ground invasion proper.
Whatever campaign version you play, be aware that you will occasionally see the front line take on an odd appearance -- tangled, doubling back on itself, etc. Rest assured it will sort itself out after a mission or two, though it may inexplicably cause a ground unit to disappear from the map (usually a Cuban unit). This all is happening despite months and months of testing with dozens of different versions of the front line and the campaign strategic nodes.
So far as I can tell, the campaign engine simply has problems dealing with a ground offensive that must spread itself in multiple directions across a long narrow island congested with densely packed (often overlapping) terrain areas.
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Changes, Fixes, & Additions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
General SF2 post-Dec2009 Updates/Conversions
--------------------------------------------
- Hangar/Loading Screens: converted to .JPG format
- Loadout Images: coverted to .TGA format
- Cockpit Positions: checked & updated as needed
- HUD/DTVFilter Materials: added & updated as needed
- Effects: added proper shaders to all effects
- EnvironmentSystem: added proper Dec2009 shaders & new
environment parameters
- Menu Screens: coverted to .JPG format
- Non-decal TGAs: moved to aircraft texture folders
- UserLists: added UserList.INIs to all aircraft
- AircraftShortNames: added AircraftShortName statements
to all aircraft
- Damage models: added aircraft damage models to most air-
craft DATA.INIs
- Decals: moved all aircraft decals to \Decals folder
- Pilots & Seats: moved all pilots & seats to \Pilots folder
- Radar frequencies: added radar frequency data to aircraft
radars, RWR statements, anti-radiation missiles, & ground
radars (not ships)
- Weapons & Guns: converted weapons & guns to SF2 standards
- Exp. Pack 2: incorporated Exp. Pack 2 changes & additions
into several .INIs
- Ships: added collision LODs where necessary
- Carriers: added SF2NA data to carriers as needed
Other Updates & Fixes
---------------------
- added damage .TGAs to several aircraft
- tweaked weapons loadouts/stations on several aircraft
- updated flight models on a number of aircraft to use SF2
or SF2-friendly flight models
- tweaked flight models on most remaining aircraft to make
them SF2-friendly
- added cockpits to all MiGs and made them flyable
- replaced the older F-8s with The Mirage Factory F-8C & F-8E
- added additional units/skins to F-8C & F-8E
- added 3rdWire cockpits for F-8C & F-8E
- added additional units/skins to A-4B/C
- added additional units/skins to F-100D
- adapted custom F-4B skins to SF2 equivalents
- applied SF2 updates to F11F-1 & F3H-2M
- updated naval aircraft for SF2NA carrier use/parking
- added new Hangar & Loading screens for all aircraft
- made minor correction/fixes to most aircraft
- added 3rdWire versions of A-1H, B-57B, F-84F, & MiG-15bis
- added 3rdWire cockpit for F-105D-25
- replaced original cloud mod with Cellinsky's WideSky cloud mod
- updated original Menu screens and added a few new ones to round
out the set
- created new InstantAction.INI
- added custom SpeechSystem.INI to suppress some gun-firing radio
calls ("He's firing his guns!")
- updated SpeechSystem.INI for SF2NA compatibility
- carried over original Nations.INI tweaks to SF2 Nations.INI
- updated Nations.INI for SF2NA compatibility
- added several new sounds & updated SoundList.INI
- added handful of new guns
- tweaked flak guns to improve effectiveness & use new effects
- added a handful of weapons & tanks (mainly for new aircraft)
- converted main terrain .INIs to SF2 standards
- replaced original terrain w/ Wrench's updated Cuba terrain for SF2
- re-arranged positions of a few carrier stations
- re-named a few target areas (all at sea)
- created SF2NA compatible water map for carrier/ship use
- added new terrain items (static models, etc) to TYPES.INI
- updated stock Cuba campaign for SF2-compatibility, added new
aircraft to campaign, & re-ordered deployments for some units
- created SF2NA-compatible version of stock Cuba campaign w/
SF2NA-style carrier battle groups & aircraft mission types
- added "Red Cuba" campaign for Soviet/Cuba side
New Air & Ground Items
----------------------
USN/USMC:
- A-1H (VA-176, VA-95, VA-65, VA-75)
- A-3B (VAH-4)
- A-5A (VAH-1, VAH-7)
- E-2A (various VAW units)
- F4D-1 (VF-13)
- KC-130F (VMGR-352)
- P-2H (VP-18, VP-56)
- RF-8A (VFP-62, VMCJ-2)
- SH-3D (HS-7)
USAF:
- B-47E (380 BW)
- B-58A (63 BS)
- F-102A (159 FIS - FL ANG)
- F-104A_58 (157 FIS, 319 FIS, 331 FIS)
- F-104C_61 (436 TFS, 476 TFS)
- F-84F (12 TFW, 15 TFW)
- RF-101C (363 TRW)
- U-2A (USAF,CIA)
Soviet/Cuba:
- MiG-15UTI (Esquadron de Caza)
- MiG-17 (Esquadron de Caza)
- MiG-17AS (Esquadron de Caza)
- MiG-19P (Esquadron de Caza)
- MiG-21PF (Esquadron de Caza)
- SeaFury50 (Esquadron de Caza)
Ground Items:
- CIM-10 Launcher
- Cuban Squad
- SON-9A Firecan radar
- Flatface radar
- Freya radar
- M-43 Ambulance
- M-51 Skysweeper
- M-59 155 Long Tom
- NIKE/Hercules site
- SA-3 Goa launcher
- Search Radar Tower (SRT)
- Sidenet radar
- Spoonrest radar
- US Squad
- several Soviet AAA/flak guns
- US 90mm AAA
- Kesselbrut's new ZiL truck types
Ships:
- Adams class
- Batimore class
- CG-16 Leahy class
- CGN-25 Bainbridge
- Cleveland class
- Container Ship
- CVA-41 Midway class
- CVA-59 Forrestal class
- CVAN-65 Enterprise
- Farragut (Coontz) class
- Gearing FRAM Ib class
- USCG HEC
- Foxtrot Submarine
- FRAM II S2S
- FRAM II ASW
- FRAM II DG
- Hospital Ship
- Kanin class
- Kashin class
- Kynda class
- Landing Craft (LCM)
- Liberty Class Ship
- Liner
- Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB)
- MV Atlantic Causeway
- MV Atlantic Conveyor
- MV Baltic Ferry
- MV Nordic Ferry
- MV Tor Caledonia
- Navy Tug
- Oiler
- Oil Tanker (Tanker2)
- Petrolero
- Petya class
- Riga class
- Small Cargo Ship
- Soviet Cargo Ship
- Soviet Cruiser
- Soviet Freighter
- Soviet Tanker
- Soviet Trawler
- Sumner class
- Sverdlov class
- Trawler
- Trawler1
- Trawler2
- USN Cruiser
- USN Destroyer
- USN Escort
- USN Frigate
- USN Tanker
- USN Transport
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Credits
~~~~~~~
This update pack adds a number of new items to the OTC mod package. These new items are from the following modders, who generously allowed their use:
Aircraft
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JSF_Aggie ........................ A-4B & A-4C skins
Bunyap & pappychksix ............. A-3B Skywarrior
MontyCZ .......................... A-1H Skyraider
Volksjager & HrntFixr ............ A-1H skins (MontyCZ)
Wrench ........................... A-1H skins (3rdWire)
Julhelm .......................... A-5A Vigilante
russouk2004 & Capun .............. B-47E Stratojet
Sundowner & USAFMTL (Dave) ....... B-47E skins & decals
Ahmed Junaid Raza ................ B-57B Canberra
Zurawski ......................... B-57B Cockpit
Pasko & Column5 .................. B-58A Hustler
Wrench ........................... B-58A Hustler SF2 updates
Foxmonter ........................ F3H-2M Demon
NeverEnough ...................... F3H-2M SF2 updates
ChampionsVA56 .................... F3H-2M Ultimate Pack
Julhelm .......................... F4D-1 Skyray
ChampionsVA56 .................... F4D-1 Ultimate Pack customizations
MyTai01 .......................... F-4B skins
The Mirage Factory ............... F-8C, F-8E, & RF-8A Crusader
Gocad, Corktip_14, WildCat, ...... F-8/RF-8 skins
salvatorestupido, & JSF_Aggie
JSF_Aggie ........................ F-100D skins
Veltro2K ......................... F-102A Delta Dagger
Ordway ........................... F-102A Cockpit
Ahmed Junaid Raza ................ F-104A/C Starfighter
Spillone104 & Paulopanz .......... F-104A/C updates/upgrades
Frank Rosato ..................... F-104A/C Pack for SF2
ArmourDave ....................... F-105D-25 Thunderchief
Pasko, Column5, & Kesselbrut ..... F-106A Delta Dart
DaniloE31 ........................ F-106 Update Pack for SF2
Fleet-Defender & Team ............ F11F-1 Tiger
Wrench & Spectre8750 ............. F11F-1 SF2 updates/customizations
The Mirage Factory ............... F-84F Thunderstreak
pappychksix ...................... F-84F skin
Zurawski ......................... F-84F cockpit
Wrench ........................... F-84F (3rdWire) customizations
pappychksix & 331KillerBee ....... KC-130F tanker
Tracker & ChampionsVA56 .......... P-2H Neptune
Wrench ........................... P-2H updates
Erikgen .......................... RF-101C
Florian .......................... SH-3D Sea King
Pasko & Column5 .................. U-2A Dragon Lady
A-Team ........................... several optional aircraft (models not
included) -- see above for more info
Pasko ............................ MiG-15bis_FAR & MiG-15UTI
Paulopanz ........................ MiG-15bis & MiG-15UTI skins
Stary ............................ MiG-15/17 cockpit
Spillone104 & Paulopanz .......... MiG-19P Farmer
Stary ............................ MiG-19P cockpit (from Boopidoo's Su-15 cockpit)
The Mirage Factory ............... MiG-21F-13 Fishbed
Paladrian ........................ MiG-21 cockpits
Wrench ........................... Cuban/FAR skins for MiG-15bis, MiG-17AS,
MiG-21PF, & Il-28
Simon Porter ..................... Sea Fury
Paulopanz ........................ Sea Fury skins
Ground Objects
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Nicholas Bell .................... WOE 1950's AA Mod
Canadair ......................... Powerful Flak
Gerald14 ......................... Russian Defence/ZSU-23-4 Pack
Fubar512 ......................... ZSU-23 AAA tweaks
Pasko ............................ SAMs and Vehicles Pack: Euro/Desert
Pasko & Nicholas Bell ............ S-60, KS-30, KS-19P, ZPU-4, M-42
rebel ryder & Nicholas Bell....... M1939 flak guns
Julhelm .......................... Firecan radar
Kesselbrut ....................... ZPU-1, US/UK_Cal50
rebel ryder ...................... ZIS Canvas, ZIS_Quad, Squads
Wrench ........................... M-59 (based on M-113)
Pasko ............................ SS-4 vehicles & items, Su-100
Kesselbrut ....................... ZiL Transport Pack
SUICIDAL ......................... New Destroyed Tank LODs
Pasko ............................ Hawk launcher & radars
Fubar512 & Wrench ................ Hawk INI tweaks
Unknown author ................... CIM-10A Bomarc
Pasko ............................ SA-3 launchers, Flatface radar, Sidenet radar, Spoonrest radar
Erikgen .......................... NIKE 4xMIM-14, HIPAR, LoPAR, & TTR
Fubar512 ......................... NIKE-Hercules sites layout/placement
Spillone104 ...................... SA-2 Guideline Pack
WhiteBoySamurai .................. Leahy & Bainbridge class
YEYEYE ........................... Baltimore class, Cleveland class, & USN Cruiser
Hinchinbrooke .................... HEC, Soviet Cruiser, Sverdlov class, USN Escort, Foxtrot,
Adams class, & Farragut class
GrinchWSLG ....................... Fletcher class
JSF_Aggie ........................ ThirdWire LHA upgrade
Florian .......................... USN AOE Transport
WhiteBoySamurai ...................Riga & Petya class ships
Orsin ............................ Kanin (Udaloy) class
Julhelm .......................... Soviet Tanker, USN Tanker, & Tanker2 (ND Tanker)
Suicidal & Torno ................. Container Ship
Loborojo & Suicidal .............. Petrolero
Fubar512 ......................... Fleet Oiler
Kesselbrut ....................... Navy Tug, MV Baltic Ferry, MV Nordic Ferry, MV Tor
Caledonia, HospitalShip, Small Cargo Ship, Trawlers,
Hotel, November, LCM
Polak ............................ MVAtlantic_Causeway, MVAtlantic_Conveyor
Cocas ............................ Trawler & Soviet Trawler
Raven ............................ Trawler skins
Marcfighters ..................... Zulu (USS Trutta)
Fubar512 & MiGBuster ............. Carrier Deck Illumination package
Other
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Deuces ........................... Cuba terrain for OTC
Wrench ........................... updated Cuba terrain for SF2
Stary & PanamaRed ................ EnvironmentSystem.INI for Exp. Pack 2
Stary ............................ new gun tracers, new Napalm effect,& fixed WP effects
Spectre8750 ...................... Fake Afterburner Node
Credit for the original OTC mod package goes to USAFMTL and the team of modders that contributed to the original releases for SFP1. For a list of all the modders whose work is used in the complete OTC mod, see the original ReadMes included in \OriginalReadmes.
If we have neglected to credit anyone here, please let us know. We will get it fixed ASAP.
--------------------------
eburger68 & Dave (USAFMTL)
1 May 2014
12 July 2013
28 April 2013
25 June 2011
8 December 2010
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