New Aircraft

[+Geezer 3,569]

In cooperation with VonS and Quack74, I'm developing some new WW1 aircraft.  I've begun mapping the Junkers J.I and will pass it on to Quack for textures, then VonS for FM.

 

 

[jeanba 1,920]

I would really love to have Caudrons G6 / R4 / R11 !!!

[+Geezer 3,569]

3 hours ago, jeanba said:

I would really love to have Caudrons G6 / R4 / R11 !!!

 

Edited August 31, 2017 by Geezer

[gambit168 27]

wow wicked Geezer !! great stuff

[jeanba 1,920]

Great

[+Geezer 3,569]

20 minutes ago, jeanba said:

Great

I may also do a new Breguet 14.  VonS said he would look into how to construct mixed formations so the Caudrons can escort the Breguets.

[jeanba 1,920]

That would be great

Caudron were not really flying in "mixed formation", but they were actively escorting Breguet :

They usually moved so as to position between the Breguet and the interceptors.

 

Read in Thollon Pomerol's book

[+Geezer 3,569]

4 hours ago, jeanba said:

Read in Thollon Pomerol's book

My sources for the 3D model are French Aircraft of the First World War and Windsock Data File #161.  I don't know what sources VonS may have.  Could you assist us with research in French language sources?  Progress shot below.

 

[jeanba 1,920]

No problem

 

Windsock is completly outdated with regard to the Caudron History, simply because lot of rachives were recovered around 2010

This also applies to Davilla's book.

Note that unlike what Davilla's said : french archives were not destroyed ion 1940, most were confiscated bu the german and then captured by the Soviets for most of them.

Therefore, some archives occasionally "leak".

I will scan you some data I have

 

JB

Edited September 1, 2017 by jeanba

[+Geezer 3,569]

16 minutes ago, jeanba said:

No problem

 

Windsock is completly outdated with regard to the Caudron History, simply because lot of rachives were recovered around 2010

I will scan you some data I have

 

JB

Thanks!  Two more shots showing progress this morning over coffee.

 

 

[+VonS 1,424]

Great progress Geezer - always nice to see new models arriving for FE2! For my source for mixed formation Breguets and Caudrons, see p. 255 of René Martel's book 'French Strategic and Tactical Bombardment Forces of WW1.' Sources aside, as mentioned earlier by Quack, mixed formation is currently only possible in single missions in FE2 - not in campaign mode - but some tinkering with the ini files might do the trick.

 

According to Martel, mixed formations were present from about Feb/March of 1918 for Breguet 14 and fast Caudron (R11) types. (Whether or not this was real "mixed formation" I wouldn't know....) Same top speed on both near sea level by the way - around 190kph.

 

More info. on Caudron R.11 types at The Aerodrome:

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40306

 

Happy flying,

Von S

[jeanba 1,920]

Hello

 

The term of "mixed formation" used by the French in wwI is not the notion of mixed formation as we (or at least I) usually use it.

Most of the time, a "mixed formation" of bombers is a formation of bombers of different types flying in respective fixed positions in order to benefit from mutual protection.

This was not exactly the case, actually, a better word would be "close escort" as the R11 were moving around the Breguet formation so as to position between the ennemy fighters and the bomber they protected.

In FE2 words, an "escort mission" would be good to descibe how they behaved.

 

Quote

More info. on Caudron R.11 types at The Aerodrome:

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40306

This is clearly outdated,  as more archives where made available that improve the view we have of the R11 career :

For instance, the mission described there :

Quote

For example on a Sept 1918 there was a bombing mission with the Conflans -Jarny railroad station as the target. GB 4 with Breguet 14's and R46 using R.11's encountered heavy opposition. 7 French aricraft were lost and 8 German fighters were claimed. I don't have any overall context by which to evaluate these results nor is it mentioned how many kills were from R11s or by B14s. But the gist of this information suggests to me that the R11 was nothing special in combat.

Was the only publicly available account of a R11 mission for years.

Now, lot of reports are available for periods from May 1918 to the end of the war outlining that when escorted by R11, bombers suffered less casualties and were more accurate in bombing.

Still, the efficiency of the R11 is a valid question, but the above mission is absolutly not representative of the R11 career. It would be a little as if we judged the TBM Avenger based only its performances at Midway !

There are also accounts of Caudron R11 missions here :

(available there : http://www.asoublies1418.fr/index.php/cahier-des-as-oublies/la-guerre-du-ciel-1914-1918) : This collection is basically a recollection of various french army reports, archives and personnal diairies

On 6th of October, a first mission of 1 recon + 3 protection R11 was met by Fokker D7 (8 according to french archives) :

One Caudron was damaged, another was shot down, the mission was a partial success, but a second mission the same day (escorted with Spad this time) was a success

 

In Icare N° 213 : Journal de Jules Abel [1] 1916-1918 : pilote de reconnaissance, Jules Abel flies a R11 as artillery spotter for quite a short time as "gotha" bombed the airfield and put out of action most of the unit's Caudrons

In Fana 535,  they were used as "picket" patrols (translation for "guet", the plane had to give a warning when some enemy planes crossed the line), in groups of 2 or 3.

 

Edited September 2, 2017 by jeanba

[Crawford 570]

Well done. I like it!!!

 

[+Geezer 3,569]

The Junkers J.1 is mapped and the baseline colors laid in.  Pretty soon, I'll pass it on to Quack for him to finish.

 

[gambit168 27]

whats that terrain in the last pic ? 
i like the trees a lot 

[+Geezer 3,569]

On 9/6/2017 at 2:19 AM, gambit168 said:

whats that terrain in the last pic ? 
i like the trees a lot 

That's experimental art in 3dsMax, sized to fit a First Eagles terrain tile.  Comparing the buildings to trees in the entire image, the trees in the foreground are a little too big.

The foreground imagery is from Google Earth of cattle/buffalo range land west of Custer, South Dakota - I live nearby in the Black Hills.

Edited September 7, 2017 by Geezer

[+Geezer 3,569]

On the subject of location, this is where I live.  I put up with idiots for 20 years so I could retire 400 miles away from the closest big city (Denver).

Edited September 6, 2017 by Geezer

[+Geezer 3,569]

Got the gunner mapped and textured.  I'll do some of the more challenging stuff, such as the crew, but leave the majority of the artwork for Quack to do.

 

[+quack74 329]

Great pics Geezer. Good for you. Must be nice and quiet out there.

The J.I looks great! It was one tough plane. The gunner and pilot look amazing. Their detail is outstanding. And it's not even done yet.

I know you have been working on other plans too. Cant wait!

Thank you

[+Geezer 3,569]

You're welcome - this is a fun hobby, so everybody wins.  This morning, I spent a little time on the Chinese Chirri.  EDIT: Click on image below to view original hi-res image.

 

Edited September 8, 2017 by Geezer

[+Geezer 3,569]

Also been working on a new Pfalz D.III - a fav of VonS and myself.  Click images for hi-res art.

 

Edited September 9, 2017 by Geezer

[gambit168 27]

very nice wings look great

 

[+Geezer 3,569]

Got the Junkers working ingame, so I will now pass it on to VonS and Quack for further development.  Click on shots for hi-res images.

 

Edited September 10, 2017 by Geezer

[jeanba 1,920]

Great  !

[+Geezer 3,569]

VonS is already hard at work on the Junkers FM - I will start the cockpit soon.  Got a little work done on the Pfalz D.III (not D.IIIa).  As usual, click shot for hi-res image.