Becker02

One important thing regarding the handling of skins by other artists: Please don't repost skins that were work from other artists (@OvS, @Graf, …) and claim it's your own based on adding a number or a color bar. It's a lot of work and time to put together a detailed template that the artist use as a base to create the other skins from. For example many of the skins in the game are made by @OvS. So be respectful! If you want to repost new skins you made for others to use, kindly give credit to the original artist. If you don't know who it is, ask @OvS (on SimHQ). He can tell you just by looking at it. An offer from a user, who has taken a skin / template from an other artist, to other users with the addition "the whole skin is mine" I don't support at all! The skin I used as an example in the guide above ("off_AlbDII_t_jasta 10 1917") was made by @OvS, only for info. Greetings

I forgot this: Of course all at your own risk!! Greetings

Hello WOFF friends, @Graf and @OvS spend a lot of time working on new skins for WOFF. At the same time, there are users who are interested in creating their own custom skins for the specific aircraft their virtual pilot is currently flying in the campaign. There are programs available for this that anyone can easily find. One of them is GIMP, a free and very comprehensive tool. However, because of this GIMP isn't simple to use; there is a lot to learn, usually through trial and error - which was certainly the case for me. I have written a short guide below to help you keep the key steps in mind. The goal isn't to explain or list everything you "could" do with GIMP when creating skins; that would get completely out of hand, and there is plenty I don't know myself. The program's potential is too vast for a short guide, and there are already manuals available online that you can read. Everyone is free to explore the program's capabilities on their own. The aim of this guide is to show you how to create a simple skin (just a number on the fuselage) and how to save that change correctly for WOFF. The skin is intentionally simple - focusing on the essentials before moving on to the crucial saving steps (6-9), to keep the guide clear and as simple as possible. Okay, let's begin: You have downloaded GIMP and opened it to test it out. First, you need the skin for your specific aircraft and the squadron your pilot flies with. In our example, the pilot is flying an Albatros D.II with Jasta 10 in January 1917. To find this, go to the folder: “WOFF > OBDWW1 Over Flanders Fields > Campaigns > CampaignData > Skins”. Scroll through the long list until you reach your aircraft model, in this case “off_AlbDII”. There you will first see the skins for the aces who flew that aircraft, followed by the base skins for the separate squadrons, organized by year. In this case, we are looking for the AlbDII for Jasta 10, year 1917. Once you have found the file "off_AlbDII_t_jasta 10 1917", copy (do not cut!) the skin into a separate folder outside of WOFF to work on it. Now go to the copied file, right-click, select "Open with," and choose GIMP. From this point on you can follow the instructions shown in the images. When you have finished your skin, test it with WOFF > Quick Flight: Copy your new skin back to WOFF (WOFF > OBDWW1 Over Flanders Fields > Campaigns > CampaignData > Skins). Start WOFF, activate a german pilot and go to Quick Flight. Choose "Player craft:" Albatros DII. Now choose "skin:" and scroll the list until you see your skin name. If you are unable to test your skin in Quick Flight, because the name doesn't appear in the skin list, there could be several reasons: + Check that you have selected the correct aircraft in Quick Flight (in this case the Alb DII). + Review the saving steps in the instructions. + Very important: Ensure your skin is named correctly! Every space and underscore must be placed exactly right. It helps to look at an ace's skin in the WOFF skin list for comparison. In our example, the format is "off_AlbDII_ace_t_jasta 10 1917_acename1_acename2.dds", where "Acename1" is the first name and "Acename2" is the last name (surname). This last point was the most common reason why my skins wouldn't display when I created my first skins. Once you have tested the skin and are happy with it, you can use it in the campaign as well. Simply click on “Cust skin” on the briefing side and select your skin from the skin list, just as you did in Quick Flight. Final tip: Copy your skin into a dedicated folder outside of WOFF. This allows you to build up a nice little skin collection for your WOFF pilots. And if you want to delve deeper into GIMP, it is best to read the online GIMP manual. There is also a “Skinning Tutorial” for WOFF, see “SimHQ > Wings: Over Flanders Fields Wings: Over Flanders Fields - FAQs & Reference > Skinning Tutorial” (sticky). However, the explanatory images no longer appear to be visible. As last: Personally, I only scratch the surface of what GIMP can do – but that’s enough for me. Experts can offer plenty more tips and some steps would perhaps be described better than I have done here. So please don’t get annoyed, if you notice something like that; instead, share the solution with other users. I hope, it was helpful. Greetings

Update 14.11.25: The last Hurra: With release from WOFF-Bh&H2-TLH you have not longer "..._QC1.xdp" for Quick-Combat, but "..._SQ1.xdp". Track-IR: The description above to change and safe pilot seat-position is working only for view via flightstick/snapView so far. I haven't found a solution to transfer it to Track-IR. So you have mainly these following options for your pilot seat with Track-IR: help with the .xdp file - SimHQ Forums: @Polovski: "... In TrackIR you can lean forward a bit, then Center using trackir hotkey, now when you sit back in your normal position you will be further backwards, for the whole flight at least." @Polovski: "... Alternatively you could edit the viewui.xml in C:\Users\YOUR LOGON NAME\AppData\Roaming\OBD_Games\OBDWW1 Over Flanders Fields <ViewUI Default="FlybyView"> <VirtualCockpitView FovScale="1.0" RotationRate="0.9" TranslationRate="0.5" VerticalLimit="0.3" LateralLimit="0.3" LightColor="90 64 12" DrawCockpit="true"/> change FovScale="1.0" to 1.1 or 0.9 etc. This zooms in/out more doesn't move your eyepoint." Maybe we will have a solution to change and safe the pilot seat-position with and without Track-IR one day in future. Greetings!

Hallo @don246, I believe it's better to post your problem at simHQ after the release from WOFF BH&H2-TLH. Probably you will get an answer earlier there at the moment. Greetings

Hallo @Rick, A short feedback: From your postings above I can only read "this Video is private". When I start one, I'm on Youtube, but without the video. Your last Posting has no Video, no Screenshot. But the link for dai... works. I hope, it was helpful.

Hallo @Baxter, I have found the thread for the last UE-Patch 4.24, but the link doesn't work: WOFF ULTIMATE EDITION UPDATE to 4.24 Now Available - SimHQ Forums So I believe, the best solution is to contact @Pol. I'm sure, he can help. Greetings

Hallo @don246, it's very specific. And for a good answer I need the same stick. But I don't know your winwing-type. Have you read the FAQ, chapter 9? Maybe it can help (FAQ is at the WOFF-website, support). Greetings

Hallo @Rick, very nice! Thanks to you and @Pol! I hope I have time for it at the weekend. BTW: Has @Pol said anything about the WOFF-future (projects, engine, etc.)? Greetings

Update 13.01.25

Hi @VonS, yes, the Optional Cloud Mod by @BuckeyBob can't be compatible (and so I haven't mentioned it). The historical weather mod, ... maybe with an update. I have thought, it's the best to ask the modder themselves, and @Bletchley has answered at SimHQ. I have asked not only because of my interest, but also for other users, who think about it. Greetings

Hallo @Robert, @JJJ, @Bletchley and BuckeyBob! I have a short question: Can you tell me / us, if your mods are compatible with BH&H2-Expansion "Over the TOP"? I mean specifically these ones: + WOFF BH&H2 Mission Editor 2.0 by @JJJ65 + WOFF BH&H2 Pilot Log Editor v1.0 by @JJJ65 + WOFF BH&H2 Realistic Tracer Mod by @JJJ65 + WOFF Bletchley's Defence Mission Types (BH&H II Version 2) by @Bletchley + WOFF Bletchley's Mission Types - Recon Wars (compatible with WOFF BH&H II to Version 1.34) by @Bletchley + User Files Backup Utility V1.6 by @Robert Wiggins + Historical weather mods 1.5 and 2.1 by @BuckeyBob Thank you very much for your answers (here or at SimHQ) and Greetings!

That's a concrete tip, thanks! I will remember on it, when it happens again. P.S.: All was okay with WOFF since UE, I haven't had this poblem all the time. And now after new dll-installation and patch 1.06 all is okay again. So I hope this issue is past now. Good, that we have contact about it. Thanks for support! Greetings

Thanks for answer @Pol! Okay, when it happens again (I don't hope so), I will send the log-files to you. Additionally: Windows: It's Win 10 Home 64bit, german language, QWERTZ keyboard-layout. Mods: The 3 mods above have worked without any problems in QC, also the OTT-stock populated airfield-mod 1.2. Greetings!

All okay again! In a first step I have installed the .dll from "C++Runtime" again, as you can read in the WOFF-message above, at first the older one "vcredist_x86_2008_SP1_ATL_Fix" (12.08.13), then "vcredist_x86_2010_SP1" (22.09.2024). I have had no success. With the third mission I have had the same problem again. But I can't remember, If I have started WOFF directly after installation or If I have restarted the PC at first. Then I have installed Patch 1.06, have restarted the PC and all was okay with WOFF again. That's nice of course, but I have no explanation, what has happened. Maybe one of these points: + The new dll-installation (I only forgot to restart the PC) + The patch 1.06: It has repaired airfield Roucourt, Flandern, in the air activity-circle of my airfield Balatre field. + I can remember, that I have leaved WOFF during a mission via a wrong button accidently. + 2 or 3 times I went back to main menu during the "ground crew preparing flight." Only 3 mods I have sometimes in use. I list them only for compliteness: The OTT-ßetaTuner-mod by @VonS, the FPS-impovement by @PR, and the OTT-stock-populated-airfield-mod by @PR. P.S.: For safety I will make a copy off OTT, Vers. 1.06, on my drive D, because you can't install a WOFF-patch a second time. Greetings

Hallo @OBD, I have the problem, that BH&H2-OTT doesn't want to load circa every third mission in campaign-mode (Jasta 8, April 1918, Balatre Field), no mods, CFS3 and WOFF-exe via administrator. After the mission-loading has stopped with the messages, you can see on the screenshots, I'm back on the briefing side again. What shall I do? Thanks for answer and Greetings

This skin from the pilot Theodor Friedrich in my Jasta 8 could be wrong. I will ask OBD and @Jerbear.

... read the text above the download-button. The patch is not on the website for a short time. You need the link, you can see there. Greetings

Hallo @WitchyWoman, the most mods from previous version BH&H2 are probably not compatible with OTT, OBD doesn't recomment to use them. If you like a mod for BH&H2 very much, so ask the modder himself. At the moment there are a few mods up to date for OTT, you find the here: WOFF BH&H-II OTT-Mods: There! - 28.10.24 - WOFF/WOTR - FAQ/Technical Issues - CombatACE For graphic settings I absolutely recommend this from @Gecko: Guide to New OTT Lighting and Weather Settings - SimHQ Forums this from @Polovski: Over The Top PC Requirements - SimHQ Forums and from @Rick Rawlings the first video here: Rick Rawlings Let's Play WOFF - Page 5 - WOFF BH&H2 - General Discussion - CombatACE Sorry, I have no answer for your micro-stutter (WOFF-graphic-settings, graphic-card-settings?). I hope, it was useful and Greetings!

Hallo @goose814, have you solved the problem? I have tested QC with OTT, Patch 1.2, free flight. All was okay. I did shot a ballon, the enemy-flak and MG shot against me. Greetings

Update because of release Bh&H2- Expansion "Over The Top". The previous mod-list für BH&H2 I have closed. Greetings

Hallo @JohnWick75, please read the FAQ, page 33 till page 37, point 13. Maybe it can help. Then I recommend also the Tuner-patch (enhancement-patch) by @VonS here: Other Tweaks for WoFFue/pe/bh&h2/WoTR1&2 - WOFF UE/PE - File Announcements - CombatACE With the patch you can increase the fps significantly. And here is a useful thread on SimHQ about this theme: Anyone playing this anymore? - SimHQ Forums Greetings

Hallo @Phoenix1001, sorry, I don't know the way to turn off radio messages. And IMHO it is no real solution. What about your sound-system, the driver? All up to date? And there are other otions for FPS and micro-stuttering. I write it in the thread "technical Issues - new player" by @JohnWick75, directly behind your thread. Greetings

I was injured again and 3 weeks in hospital. During this time our material procurement has reclaimed the "Alb DVa uprated" for school and training. So after my return at the end of march I decided to fly the "Alb DVa" now, just like my best pilots. All other fly furthermore the "Pfalz DIII". We are at the airfield Bohain now, only a few miles west from our last airfield Wassigny at the town Le Cateau, Flandern. Jasta 8, 29.03.18.

Hallo @Rick, at first I was a bit sceptical, when I saw the grey aeroplane the first time. But meanwhile I like it together with the colours from Jasta 8.