eburger68

PFunk: Errr, so that means you like the changes in the update package? Eric Howes

TSMcQueen: If you check the WOV Air & Ground Expansion Pack, you'll find that mods you've described have already been implemented on a number of guns along with some other tricks to make them more deadly. Eric Howes

SupGen: Actually, there's an even easier method -- one that doesn't require you to mess around with two different installs of SF2. All you need is 7-zip. Right-click on the .EXE installer that you downloaded for your DLC purchase. From the 7-zip sub-menu, select one of the Extract files options and 7-zip will unpack the installer contents for you -- either into the current folder or a sub-folder, depending on the option you select. There will be folders unpacked: PLUGINSDIR and DLC. In the DLC folder you will find a .DLC file. Simply drag that to the \DLC folder in your SF2 install dir. Then add the appropriate line to your Version.ini file (in your Mods folder): DLCData0XX=TRUE ...where XX is the DLC number. Note that when you start SF2 again, it will behave as if you've installed an update -- meaning that all the stock .INI files will be restored. That means you need to follow the same procedures to protect your mods (esp. aircraft you've made flyable) that you would for any patch scenario. Very easy actually. Unpack, drag-and-drop. Then a small INI edit. Eric Howes

Hans Topp: There could be any number of reasons why you haven't seen the squadrons you added in campaigns (errors in the squadrons as added to the campaign INIs, not enough missions played, low probability for those aircraft to be selected by the game engine for missions based on the mission types assigned to them, etc.). Eric Howes

Hans Topp: NATO Fighters 5 already includes two off-map air bases in England -- RAF Lakenheath & RAF Upper Heyford. And they work in campaigns (that's been tested and verified). Why bother to add more? Eric Howes

Wrench: I should have uploaded this earlier. Attached is the latest version of the AN-2_DATA.INI from the SF2V Expansion Pack, which has some additional tinkering with the flight model and so forth (beyond that found in the version you used) to enable AI to fly this thing without a hitch. This version of the AN-2_DATA.INI will be included in the next update to the SF2V Expansion Pack. Eric Howes An-2_DATA.zip

Niels: The most likely explanation for this problem is an improper, incomplete, or botched installation. How do you know the other mods are showing up properly? Also, have you also installed the cumulative update pack or just the original release (four download packages)? Eric Howes

File Name: WOV Air & Ground War Expansion Pack Gold - Jan 2012 Update File Submitter: eburger68 File Submitted: 04 March 2010 File Category: User Made Campaigns WOV Air & Ground Expansion Pack v. 1.1 - Jan. 2012 Update This is an update package for the "Wings Over Vietnam: Air & Ground Expansion Pack v. 1.1" Gold/Final Release available at CombatAce. Containing fixes and enhancements for both the Aug. 2006 and Oct. 2008 patch levels, it is designed to be applied over the top of an existing installation of the version 1.1 Expansion Pack. You can download the three main Expansion Pack files here: Part 1: http://combatace.com/files/file/10281-wov-air-ground-war-expansion-pack-gold-part-1/ Part 2: http://combatace.com/files/file/10282-wov-air-ground-war-expansion-pack-gold-part-2/ Part 3: http://combatace.com/files/file/10300-wov-air-ground-war-expansion-pack-gold-part-3/ This update is designed to be applied over verison 1.1 (Mar. 2010) of the Expansion Pack. If you installed the original version 1.0 from Dec. 2009 but have not updated to the Mar. 2010 version (available in the links above), you should update before applying this update package. Please take a look over the remainder of this ReadMe before installing the update. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Installation ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The installation process has two phases: one for all patch levels; a second for the Aug. 2006 patch level. Here's how to apply this update package: 1. Ensure that WOV is properly installed and patched to either the 8.30.2006 or 10.20.2008 level. 2. Ensure that the Expansion Pack v. 1.1 (Mar. 2010) is installed to your WOV Installation Directory. 3. Unpack WOV_AG-XP_Apr11.7z to a safe place on your drive. 4. Open the \All_Patch_Levels directory. Drag and drop all the files and folders from within the \To_Install_Dir to your WOV Install Dir, overwriting as prompted. If you are running WOV at the Oct. 2008 patch level, then your installation process is finished. If you are running at the Aug. 2006 patch level, then you have one last step. 5. If you are running the Aug. 2006 patch level, then open the \Aug_2006_Patch directory. Drag and drop all the files and folders from within the \To_Install_Dir to your WOV Install Dir, overwriting as prompted. Now, perform some CLEANUP. This update splits the A-1H Skyraider into two aircraft: the older A-1H, used by the USAF and VNAF; the new A-1H_USN, used by the Navy. All the skins for the new A-1H_USN are included in this update. You should remove the following unused USN skin folders from the older A-1H folder in \Objects\Aircraft: USNGrey1 VA-25 VA-36 VA-52 VA-75 VA-95 VA-115 VA-145 VA-152 VA-165 VA-176 VA-196 VA-215 That's it. You should be good to go. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Optional A-1 Cockpits ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Included in the \OPTIONAL\A-1_Cockpits folder is an alternate cockpit for the A-1 Skyraiders. This cockpit, made by Dels, was released in Oct. 2011. The \A-1_Cockpits folder contains one copy of Dels' A-1 cockpit, including the \Cockpit folder as well as the necessary COCKPIT.INIs for each of the Skyraiders. Also included in A-1_Cockpits\old-cockpit are backups of the old .INIs and the old \Cockpit folder from the original Expansion Pack install. Note that the new A-1 cockpit is already installed to the newly added A-1H_USN aircraft. Thus, installation is necessary only for the older A-1H aircraft. To install: 1. Remove the existing \Cockpit folder from each of the A-1 folders in \Objects\Aircraft (found in your SF2V Mod Folder). 2. Copy the new \Cockpit folder to each of the A-1 folders in \Objects\Aircraft. 3. Copy the new COCKPIT.INIs to the appropriate A-1 folders in \Objects\Aircraft. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Note on the Helicopters ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Several helicopters have been added as flyable aircraft in this update. Set the "Flight Model" in "Game Play Options" to "Normal," and use your thrust vectoring controls in conjunction with the standard WOV flight controls to maneuver and fly the helos. At the end of the day, though, Strike Fighters is NOT a helicopter sim. That means helo flight models are rough, unrealistic, and borderline unstable. It also means that AI helo pilots can occasionally run into difficulties, esp. when trying to land these things. Until someone creates better helo flight models for WOV (or TK updates the ThirdWire flight engine to accommodate helicopters), that's just the way it is. If you don't like the way the helos fly, then don't fly them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What's Included ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This update (formerly the Sep. 2011 Update) was refreshed in January 2012. New fixes & updates include the following: UPDATES & ADDITIONS - new A-1H_USN aircraft added - Dels' A-1 cockpit included as an optional item - A-1 Skyraider weapon stations & loadouts overhauled by Malibu43 - F-102A flight model replaced - MissionChance schedules for most aircraft in Steel Tiger & Easter Offensive campaigns overhauled - a few new weapons added (others fixed) FIXES - CBU-14As & CBU-25s fixed to allow AI pilots to use them properly This update also contains the following fixes and add-ons from previous versions ofthis Cumulative Update package: September 2011: UPDATES & ADDITIONS - made minor updates to Steel Tiger & Easter Offensive campaigns - added new napalm effect (by Stary) to BLUs - updated SOUNDLIST.INI - added VNAF camo texture to B-57B - overhauled Cessna180 & O-1E and added new cockpits to each - added USNGrey5 texture to F-8C - added three new textures to O-2A FIXES - minor corrections to A-6A, A-6B, EA-6A, EA-6B, B-26K, B-57B, CanberraB20, F-100D, F-100D_Late, F-100D_WW, & O-2A differences from earlier patch versions - minor corrections to most AAA, SAM, and radar ground objects - minor corrections to a number of other ground objects - minor corrections to several tanks & weapons April 2011: MISC UPDATES & ADDITIONS - minor updates & tweaks to Rolling Thunder, Linebacker II, & Easter Offensive campaigns - added medals pack for North & South Vietnam - adjusted Altitude data in MissionControl.INI - updated & expanded SquadronList.INI - added new cockpit textures for F-111A - added USMCGrey3 texture for F-4B_Late - added field-mod bomb racks for Canberra B.20 - added new engine sound for AC-119s - minor tweaks/updates to several other aircraft - added dummy SA-2D missile to ZiL-157 SA-2 Trailer - added Canberra bomb rack, weapons for Hueys, & other misc. weapon fixes - minor fixes/updates for both VietnamSEA & SouthVietnam terrains NEW AIRCRAFT - F-4G Phantom II (VF-213, USN) - UH-1B Huey Gunship - UH-1D Huey February 2011: FIXES - fixed MiG-17 VPAFmetal skin - minor tweaks to EA-6B UPDATES & ADDITIONS - added B-26K Counter Invader - added F-4D LORAN - updated Steel Tiger & Easter Offensive Campaigns - updated/expanded SquadronList.INI - updated unit designations for several texture sets - added several new weapons January 2011: FIXES - synced all freq data for radars, jammers, RWR at WoV 2008 level - checked jammer pod type/strengths - added proper CEP to all bombs, rockets, & A2G missiles - checked all LGB/AI bomb names - checked NumSquadron= for all carriers in campaigns - added nations music for campaigns UPDATES - added new 'Nam era weapons - updated RF-8 skins - updated O-1E U.S. Army decals - updated A-1H USN decals - added O-2A Skymaster July 2010: FIXES - replaced grey-background VF-111 tail decals w/ white-background versions on F-4Bs - tweaked F-102A control surfaces - added custom AIM-4D for F-102A - made F-102A missile bay doors automatic - performed minor tweaks to A-1H flight model - made minor fixes to F-4E Rivet Haste, R-4B, RF-4C, OV-10A - corrected AC-123K RWR type - added two missing sound files - added a few missing pilots - other minor fixes - tweaked O-1E/Cessna180 weapon stations - tweaked F-104C fm - tweaked AC-119 fm - tweaked F-5 control surfaces - tweaked MiG-17 flight models - corrected MiG-17PF radar parameters - tweaked A-1H flight model UPDATES - added F-5E Tiger II (VNAF) - added F-5E Tiger II (VPAF) - added 30MM_GSh-30-2 cannon - added "dumb" AI versions of LGBs - added texture set patches for a number of aircraft - added new Loading & Hangar screens for F-102A - added Raven's Navy trawler texture set - added sounds to carriers - added grey B-57B tanks - added/updated hangar/loading screens for several aircraft - added holes .TGAs to a number of aircraft - reverted mission type name/description strings to WoV defaults ~~~~~~~ Credits ~~~~~~~ This update contains a few new items from the following modders who generously allowed their use: New to this version of the cumulative update package: Malibu43......................................new A-1H/J Skyraider loadouts Malibu43 & Vigilant...........................fixed CBU-14A & CBU-25 Dels..........................................optional A-1 cockpit First included in previous versions of the cumulative update package: The Mirage Factory............................F-5E Tiger II Capun, Gramps, Charles, Kesselbrut, Wrench....B-26K Counter Invader Veltro2K, Cliff11, & XRAY.....................O-2A Skymaster Pasko ....................................... UH-1B Gunship Kesselbrut .................................. UH-1B/D flight model Gramps ...................................... UH-1H Huey HrntFixr ................................... UH-1B skins column5 ..................................... VF-213 F-4G skin Dave (USAFMTL) .............................. VNAF B-57B skins/decals liamp51 ..................................... re-textured F-111A cockpit FastCargo ................................... Canberra B.20 bomb racks Wrench....................................... bits for F-4D LORAN Wrench ...................................... overhauled O-1E & Cessna180 Wrench ...................................... new textures for O-2A Fubar512..................................... bits for EA-6B Raven........................................ Navy Trawler texture Paulopanz ................................... medals pack for North & South Vietnam christian59 ................................. generic aircraft damage textures CA_Stary .................................... new CBU-based napalm effect Credits for all items included in the Expansion Pack can be found in \ReadMes_Old. If we have neglected to credit anyone here, please let us know. We will get it fixed ASAP. ~~~~~~~~~~~ Legal Stuff ~~~~~~~~~~~ We have signed onto the freeware "list" on combatace.com. As such, the original work here can be included or used in other mods as along as they aren't payware and credit is given to the creator(s). Thanks, Malibu43 & eburger68 -------------------- malibu43 & eburger68 14 Jan. 2012 Click here to download this file

porschefan: There are two Hueys in the mod: a UH-1B and a UH-1D. In the UH-1B the gunners in the rear are just pilot models -- they don't move or shoot. The UH-1D does have moving, shooting gunners, but they won't shoot at ground targets -- as I noted in my previous post. Keep in mind that both helos are in the mod for atmosphere, not for players to do much with. Strike Fighters simply isn't a helo sim. As such, the helos that have been crafted for the game are unavoidably limited in their functionality and flight models. Eric Howes

porschefan: The gunners on the Hueys will not fire at ground targets -- one of the quirks of the ThirdWire series. AI-controlled gunners will fire only at other aircraft. Eric Howes

Taterd: It's right here: https://store.thirdwire.com/project_sf2.htm Eric Howes

Taterd: You wrote: The ReadMe clearly specifies that minimum requirements for installing the mod are: Strike Fighters 2 (SF2), plus Strike Fighters 2 Vietnam (SF2V) In other words, you need the original SF2 with the Desert.cat terrain (as Kodiak points out). That's why you're missing runways as well as a number of other things that you haven't yet noticed. You could edit the Cat pointer line in the terrain's main .INI file so that it reads: CatFile=..\VietnamSEA\VietnamSEA.cat Currently that line points to Desert.cat, which can't be found. The best solution, though, would simply be to add the original SF2 to your installation base. Eric Howes

Taterd: Which base is missing runways? I'm not aware of any that are missing runways, and none of the hundreds of others who have downloaded and installed the mod have reported such a problem. Which SF2 titles are part of your base install? Eric Howes

santiagoace57: What do you mean by "tried the first part"? The first part of what? Eric Howes

Folks: I've re-added pics to all my stuff in the Downloads section, both Gen 1 and Gen 2. One thing to note: when adding a screenshot, be sure to delete or remove the "No Screenshot" pic, or that will continue to serve as the default screenshot, not the one you uploaded. I notice that several of my downloads are "broken" -- meaning, files currently not on the sever. I assume those are still to be re-added by Erik. Any estimate on when that will occur? One final thought: there are going to be lots and lots of missing screenshots, even after currently active modders re-upload screenshots for their downloads. A real pity, as those screenshots are valuable to potential downloaders and give the place a "well-maintained" look and feel. Eric Howes

Stingray77: The campaign should just end -- just like any other campaign ends. That's what should happen. What happened in your case, it would appear, is that the campaign engine ended the tour for the carrier but not the squadrons aboard the carrier. So the game engine went looking for an alternate air base for the squadrons, selected something in Thailand, then tried to stick a carrier there based on the fact that these were naval air units. Bizarre, really. I'll take another look at the data, but this is smelling a lot like a bug to me. Eric Howes

Stingray77: The data for VF-111 and the Coral Sea in the Linebacker I campaign is the default data from ThirdWire. It has not been customized. VF-111 and all the other units on the Coral Sea are supposed to retire, with the carrier, at the end of July. Looks to me like the campaign engine is not handling that retirement gracefully. Why I don't know. Changing skins should not affect what's going on. Could be a bug in the campaign engine that was recently introduced, as I've seen no other reports of this problem. Eric Howes

Stingray77: I just tested that unit with that campaign with the SF2V Expansion Pack. It worked just fine. I'm going to guess that you've flown that campaign and that unit before. What happened the last time you tried it? What's changed with your installation since then? Eric Howes

531Ghost: Actually, you can use the tail decals from SFP1. Simplest thing to do is grab these two decals from SFP1: F4_SqTailL006.TGA F4_SqTailR006.TGA Rename them to F4_SqTailL190.TGA F4_SqTailR190.TGA ...then drop them in the \Objects\Decals folder of your Mods folder. The game will automatically use those in lieu of the default tail decals for that squadron. Of course, that will also change the tail art on the F-4B. If you want to restrict the use of these alternate tail decals to the F-4N, you'll have to add them via the Decals.INI file on a particular skin for the F-4N. FWIW, the SF2NA Expansion Pack already includes the correct squadron tail art for the F-4N. Eric Howes

Stick: As I don't use the Mission Editor, I can't speak to why it wouldn't show up in the Mission Editor. The game seems to have no problem using it in campaigns or game-generated single missions. Eric Howes

Migbuster: Almost all of those have been converted and are available in one or more comprehensive mods: Su-15 Flagon A: NATO Fighters 5 MiG-25: NATO Fighters 5 & Op Desert Storm F-106: NATO Fighters 5 & Op Tainted Cigar Su-27: NATO fighters 5 & Op Darius AV-8C Harrier: Op Darius Gloster Javelin: NATO Fighters 5 It wouldn't take much to extract the relevant components and package them up as individual downloads. Eric Howes

Warmbrak: First, solve one problem at a time. That means get the missing aircraft problem solved first before you try to mess around with SweetFX. Second, if you're not seeing any new aircraft, then you did not follow "all the installation instructions to the tee." The installation, in other words, is botched because the game isn't finding the new aircraft (and possibly some of the other new items from NF5) where it expects to find them. I can't tell you where they are because I'm not sitting at your PC. I would recommend nosing around and finding where all the new aircraft are on your hard drive, them moving them to the proper location: \Objects\Aircraft. My guess is that they're buried in some sub-folder somewhere -- possibly \Objects\Objects\Aircraft or even \Objects\Aircraft\Aircraft. The other possibility is that you dropped the new files in a mod folder that is not being used by the custom EXE that you created. Wherever they are, they're not where they're supposed to be (or the game expects them to be). And the same likely holds true for the new Decals, Weapons, Guns, and Pilots as well. Eric Howes

OK, something different this time around: a single campaign (out of the three stock SF2V campaigns) with one flyable customized unit. And the mod doesn't even include the files necessary to make that one aircraft flyable. Again, I don't see the point, esp. since there are campaign mods already available that make the entire inventory of VPAF aircraft flyable in all stock SF2V campaigns. Eric Howes

JSF_Aggie: It was locked with the Dec2010 patch and Exp. Pack 2. Of course, before that we still had issues because the Dec2009 patch introduced some changes to the handling of clear TGAs (in conjunction with the introduction of support for DX10). Those changes resulted in the unsightly effects of trees poking through clouds if the clouds were low enough. There were complaints about that bit of visual nastiness. Instead of fixing the underlying issue, he simply locked the cloud height to prevent players from seeing it. So, the last patch level that allowed for low hanging clouds without producing the trees/clouds visual oddities was Jun2009b. If he has unlocked the cloud height, I'd be interested to know if he also resolved the trees/clouds issue. I haven't installed the latest patch (and have no plans to based on reports), so I can't test this myself. Eric Howes

Juantsx79: Sounds like you downloaded or unpacked only one of the two download files for OTC. There are two download files. This is the first part, which you apparently have: http://combatace.com/files/file/13988-operation-tainted-cigar-for-sf2-part-1-of-2/ Here is the second part, which has all the aircraft: http://combatace.com/files/file/13987-operation-tainted-cigar-for-sf2-part-2-of-2/ You need the aircraft from the second download file. Eric Howes