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Some representative pics. of the latest tweaks - looking over the stock Strutters in FE2 and currently including various changes. The "Sop 1A2" and "1B2" will largely have similar data inis, since they are attack and bomber variants, although I've included a more unreliable interrupter (Challenger) mechanism on the 1A2's front M.G., as well as for the "Strutter 110." More info. and performance specs. and details will follow in the "Read Me" file for the ver. 10.5 FM addon package. Cheers all, Von S Tweaks to the included cockpit.ini from the older Sinbad Strutter package feature more correct pilot seating position near the leading edge of the bottom wings Views toward the front, with the tweaked (Sinbad) cockpit.ini (that uses the stock cockpit position on the Strutters) Alternate, tweaked cockpit.ini file will be provided that works with Stephen's excellent cockpit from the B.E.2c series - view towards the front (slightly lower than with the Sinbad cockpit.ini but you can still barely make out the sights on the M.G.; otherwise Stephen's cockpit doesn't fit well) Further modified in Stephen's cockpit.ini is removal of several components such as the cockpit "cage," the B.E. series windscreen, etc., for it to blend a bit more effectively with the stock Strutters (don't forget to include the cockpit folder too, from Stephen's B.E.2c series, in your Strutter aircraft folder - if you choose this option - otherwise the tweak is incomplete - if you prefer the position/views of the tweaked Sinbad cockpit.ini, use that one instead - but that one works without a cockpit folder, so you get no dials in the stock cockpit) Addon package will feature FM overhauls for the RFC "Strutter 110" and "Strutter 130" (thanks Eugene for the great Strutter skins) Also included will be overhauls of the FMs for the French-built "Sop 1A2" and "1B2" Have decided to include a French-built "1B1" as well Also a Dux-built 1B1 FM, for the eastern-front FE2 flier Enjoying some performance tests with the French-built 1B1 FM (has a higher ceiling than the 1A2 and 1B2, among other things; have as well tweaked the FM on the 1B1 around a 120-125 hp LeRhone upgrade - and will include that for the 1B1 Dux too - the 1A2 and 1B2 will be 110 hp on the other hand, as well as the Strutter_110, while the Strutter_130 will get the 130 hp Clerget - should be plenty for variety of Strutter types that way)

Real life had prevented my work on the terrain for a couple of days. Today i found time to finish Saporoschje Airfield to 75%. So it looks now in the editor tool: and so in game: The left upper taxiway bow with a lot of parking areas is still missing. I hope that i can to the rest of the job tomorrow.

Okay, this is what I have, next will be adding more details.

Coming soon -- a ver. 10.5 addon pack for the big FM/realism pack, with stock Sopwith Strutter overhauls (now that I've made them player-flown for myself - haven't bothered with that until now***). FM tweaks will include the "Strutter 110," "Strutter 130," "Sop 1A2," "Sop 1B2," and additional "Sop 1B1" and "Sop 1B1 Dux" variants. Pics. below of the French-built 1B1 being tested - animated and functional flaps now included on the 1B1, and to be included on all of the variants. More pics. available under the FE2 pics. thread. Cheers all and happy flying, Von S Flaps auto-deploy/retract around 90 kph, for shorter landings *** NOTE for FE2-ers: stock Strutters are only AI-flown unless made player-flyable with the addition of a tweaked cockpit.ini file and/or both cockpit.ini and cockpit folder.

Hello everyone! Report for today, I have good and bad news: Let's go with one bad new before we go with good news. Unfortunately, due to componethe nts limitation of 32, I am unable to implement all wing vortex effects on A-6s and EA-6s. The wings of A-6s and EA-6s are so wide and big, requiring at least 19 effects for each wing. I created new thread about it at this link: https://combatace.com/forums/topic/97419-need-advice-from-modder-components-limitation/ However, I am saving the codes for future usage, in case, the workaround is found or TK ever decides to upper the limitation from 32 to 64 or even higher. Now time for good news! All effects are optimized. Let's face it, even though the computer now are way more powerful than decades ago, there is still one limitation that haunts SF2; It is still 32-bit software. Even if you have a medium to high-end PC, the nature of 32 bits software still bottlenecks everything, including RAM. If I remember correctly, with 32-bit software, it still only use up to 4 GB RAM, even if you have 16 GB, 32 GB, or even 64 GB RAM. This is how each effects are opitimzed with MaxVisibleDistance. Aircraft wing vortex = 4000 Engine exhaust = 12000 Engine node animation = 2000 Engine inner afterburner (insize nozzle) = 4000 Engine Afterburner = 8000 If you want to make it higher, you can always edit ini files in Effects folder. Next news, it is all thanks to Stary's excellent cockpits for MiG-15s / 17s / 19s, I learned how to improve the cockpit night lights. You can see the big difference with screenshots. SF2 Default cockpit lights (A-6s and EA-6s) Improved night cockpit lights version: NOTE: You also can see your co-pilot with improved red lights. A-1H Improved cockpit night lights: A-4C Improved cockpit night lights: F-4E Improved cockpit night lights: All A-1s, A-4s, A-6s, EA-6s, and F-4s night cockpits are being updated with improved cockpit night lights. Eagle114th

While testing MiG-15s, MiG-17s, MiG-19s, and J-6s / F-6s, I realized they are still using older cockpits. After talking with the modders, I am updating all MiG-15s / 17s / 19s and J-6s / F-6s with newer cockpits released by Stary. Here is screenshot of MIG-15s and 17s with new HD cockpit: MiG-17PF also get new cockpit: MiG-19s and J-6s / F-6s cockpits: Eagle114th

Can't have an "A" without a "B"...

another MiG killer

SEAD mission over NK 2005

Thank you for the supports! It is my intention to overhaul every aircraft in SF2 (with all expansions pack and DLCs). My great passions is with all aircraft around the world, including 'forgotten' aircraft. I also thinks that F-104s will be interesting aircraft to work on. I am looking forward to it too. Cheers!

Slowly but steady.

thanks. these guys are done yall. just 35 units more to go

ODS

The miG-19 engine is another tricky challenge to work on. One of the most challenging parts was looking for the pictures and videos of the MiG-19 afterburner. I kept wondering why there is no visible afterburner in old MiG-19 videos. The journey led me to MiG-19 book and DCS MiG-19P Manual. Then I saw this: I was surprised and I realized something. This engine is so unique and it does not show the afterburner because it is barely visible! Notice dark red glowing flame from the top picture? This led me to work on MiG-19 afterburner tga SF2 provided. This is the result for engine node (military thrust): Afterburner have intense red glowing for inner afterburner. As it exit engine nozzle, it becomes more orange color. MiG-19 is one of aircraft that actually uses afterburner TGA. And this time, 2D texture is tweaked to become more intense red in color. Now next step is to work on the wing vortex effects when doing hard turning. Eagle114th

Hello everyone! Process report: MiG-15s and MIG-17s are completed. I am now working on MiG-19 before moving on to A-6s. MiG-17 effect is the most challenging project, especially when working on "flashing" afterburner effect as shown in this video: The afterburner effect is not exactly perfect but it is the best I could do after many hours of experimenting with effect. The effect with SF2 can be very frustrating, especially with transparent (alpha) background not working properly. From time to time, I usually see edge showing up non-alpha when it is supposed to have alpha (invisiblke color). Now with that behind me, as soon MiG-19 is done, the next version of beta wil be released. Please note, it is difficult to find the pictures of MiG-17 wing vortex and afterburner sound file. I am not giving up looking for it. It also appear there is no landing light featured in MiG15s, 17s and 19s. Please correct me if I am wrong though. Anyway, here is screenshots:

Hello fellow FE2-ers, Uploading some latest screenies here of FM testing currently happening for an upcoming ver. 10.0 of the FM/realism pack for FE2 - always a pleasure to return to FE2, the tweak-friendly sim that keeps on giving. NOTE: improved ReShade shaders for FE2 (see relevant link for those) loaded in all representative pics. below. Cheers all, Von S 110 hp LeRhone upgraded Nieup. 21 (Lewis) does splendidly against mid-war types and dismantles wonderfully too I sometimes like to land and watch a dogfight in progress, for further evaluation of how a tweaked FM handles against the enemy Julio Junqueira's US pilot with the light blue scarf sits well in the 110 hp Nieup. 21 Close-up of an (en)tangled tangle, where I "got the wind up" and the Nieup. 21 was also dismantled while in air (sorry no pics. of that excitement) Proceeding to the SPAD XVII 300 hp: it works well in slash n' dash attacks at low altitude too, and may be used to get away quickly from a problem (suggested skin is the FrenchTan1 available for the stock, 220 hp SPAD XIII that has no hp-rating in its folder names; extract relevant skin folder using Mue's excellent CAT Extractor) The SPAD XVII however is much more suited for attacks above about 2000 m alt. or so, as with the example of this poor Pfalz If you lose an aileron or two on the SPAD XVII, or the rudder (even with ailerons still intact), might I suggest then avoiding tight maneuvers (here we have a flight mate falling into an irrecoverable spin after attempting a tight turn with an aileron missing, during a dogfight) A very close shave with a couple of Flying Razors Geezer's pilot no. 8 fits well with the SPAD XVII Working on the FM for the early, Benz-powered (150 hp) Albatros D.I that carried only one M.G., to save weight (Benz skin will not be supplied with the ver. 10.0 FM pack; it's a simple Paint3D re-coloring of Stephen's skin for the regular Alb. D.I and that can be found in that folder - I've used a shade of brown, opacity of about 40%); Geezer's pilot no. 6, by the way (green scarf fellow that I frequently like to use as a pilot), in the Benz Alby; recommended is one of the available Daimler sounds for the type, makes for nice, soothing flying Benz Albies in action against Geezer's Lewis Nieup. 21 with the 90 hp FM, and Stephen's Nieup. 12 The long flight home, just passing onto our side of the lines

RCAF taking delivery of their first two CF-355A

Idaho ANG F-4G with single piece windscreen my first flight since a long time , and i had a lot of fun with it

And let's bump up this thread with a few fresh screenies from the new year - I hope to find more free time in the future to return to modding occasionally for FE2 since this, I think, is still one of the best WW1 flight sims when fully modded. Graphics look fine, the FMs are in many ways more realistic/balanced than in RoF - and nothing beats the hands-on action of FE2 with its good AI. While the WOFF series may be the gold standard for campaigns, FE2 really is the go-to sim for quick combat or single missions. And where else can you fly the Morane Saulnier Type N (with the exception of the now ancient Red Baron II/3D). Happy flying all, Von S

Screenshots with "Work In Progress" skins - Albatros D.V, Albatros D.Va, Fokker D.II, Pfalz D.XII and re-edited SPAD VII.