ndicki

I was sort of hoping you'd all say that! Next up is a Polish one from 308 Sqn... The more you do, the easier it gets - you have many of the parts of the puzzle already made!

This one is from No.54 Sqn in May 1940, covering the retreat from France and the Dunkirk evacuation. Noteworthy pilots included the two New Zealand aces Alan Deere and Colin Gray. It's finished, so it just needs packing up and then it'll be sent in. Still hearing the theme from the Battle of Britain? You should be!

Yet another! No.66 Squadron, Duxford, 1939.

File Name: Spitfire MkI, No.19 Sqn RAF, October 1938 File Submitter: ndicki File Submitted: 07 May 2011 File Category: SF2 Series Add On Aircraft Spitfire MkI, No.19 Sqn, Royal Air Force, Duxford, Autumn 1938 The first operational RAF Spitfire was K9787 which arrived at Duxford airfield on 4th August 1938, followed by K9792 on 16th. 19 Squadron was tasked with getting up to 400 hours as quickly as possible onto these two airframes, in order to test the Spitfire's long-term serviceability. Other than some trouble caused by weak undercarriage legs, there was very little to report, other than a number of cases of a phenomenon called "Spitfire knuckle" - sometimes severely grazed on the inside of the fuselage while pumping the undercarriage up! These initial batches of Spitfires were finished on the uppersurfaces in the Temperate Land Scheme of Dark Earth and Dark Green, with Aluminium undersides. (It is worth noting that in the RAF, aircraft are systematically painted with Aluminium paint rather than left natural metal.) Unfortunately the SF game engine does not allow for specular layers, and so the undersides appear simply pale grey. The Type A1 roundels were soon replaced by more sombre blue-and-red B Types. Finally, the figure '19' in flight colours on the tailfin was applied only briefly, possibly only for a series of air-to-air photographs taken on 31st October 1938. Underwing serials were carried in the normal way. Serial numbers given in the menu list correspond to aircraft used by 19 Squadron during late 1938 and early 1939. Where a pilot has been identified as having flown a particular aircraft (The Royal Air Force did not attribute aircraft to particular pilots, although many did tend to have their favourites) that pilot has been listed in the menu. For use ONLY with SF2 including the Israel Expansion Pack. This will NOT work if you do not have the stock TW Spitfires installed and working. Includes 2048 and 1024 size skin sheets and new loading screen sounds. Credits: Model by Third Wire Flight Dynamics by ShrikeHawk based on TW Spitfire MkIXc Cockpit by Kesselbrut Skin, decals, data.ini modifications, formations, sounds and assembly by ndicki Guns by AvHistory Click here to download this file

File Name: Spitfire MkI, No.54 Sqn RAF, May 1940 File Submitter: ndicki File Submitted: 06 May 2011 File Category: SF2 Series Add On Aircraft Spitfire MkI, No.54 Sqn, Royal Air Force, Hornchurch, May 1940 Operating from Hornchurch in Essex, No.54 was one of the Fighter Command squadrons tasked with defending the BEF and Royal Navy in Northern France, especially during Operation Dynamo, the withdrawal from Dunkirk. At this time, the squadron was led by S/L James Leathart, and included two Pilot Officers from New Zealand who were to make quite a name for themselves, namely Alan Deere and Colin Gray. Alan Deere's autobiography "Nine Lives" is well worth reading, and gives a clear idea of what it was like to be one of the Few, before, during and after the Battle. The markings are typical of the period and include the fin flash and underwing roundels which were used at the time only on those Home-based aircraft operating over the French mainland. Black-and-white undersides were replaced by Sky according to AM Signal X915 of 6th June 1940, although it would be mid-August at the earliest before significant quantities of this new shade were generally available. Serial numbers given in the menu list correspond to aircraft used by 54 Squadron during May 1940. In common with a number of fighter squadrons in 1939 and early 1940, however, 54 Sqn painted out the serial numbers on the aircraft, and the corresponding decals are therefore not included in this pack. Where a pilot has been identified as having flown a particular aircraft (The Royal Air Force did not attribute aircraft to particular pilots, although many did tend to have their favourites) that pilot has been listed in the menu. For use ONLY with SF2 including the Israel Expansion Pack. This will NOT work if you do not have the stock TW Spitfires installed and working. Includes 2048 and 1024 size skin sheets. Credits: Model by Third Wire Flight Dynamics by ShrikeHawk based on TW Spitfire MkIXc Cockpit by Kesselbrut Skin, decals, data.ini modifications, formations, sounds and assembly by ndicki Guns by AvHistory Click here to download this file

No idea... I changed the pilot position so his shoulders don't stick out through the fuselage walls! What does this mod do? Bit busy with other things at the moment...

File Name: Spitfire MkIa, No. 19 Sqn RAF, September 1940 File Submitter: ndicki File Submitted: 30 April 2011 File Category: Spitfire Spitfire MkIa, No.19 Sqn RAF, Fowlmere, September 1940 No.19 Squadron was the first RAF unit to be equipped with the Spitfire, which entered service in August 1938. The squadron was based at the time at Duxford in Cambridgeshire, now famous for its Warbirds. By September 1940, the squadron had been reissued with 8-gun MkIa aircraft after a month-long rather unsuccessful operational trial of the 20mm cannon-armed MkIb. Squadron Leader Brian 'Sandy' Lane led 19 Squadron during the later part of the Battle, flying P9386 'K', recognisable by its yellow ex-OTU spinner. Other noteworthy members include Flt Sgt George 'Grumpy' Unwin, one of the original members of the squadron at the time the Spitfire entered service (X4179 'H'); Sgt Bernard Jennings flying X4474 'I' and Flight Lt Walter 'Farmer' Lawson with X4170. Serial numbers in this pack correspond to aircraft used by 19 Squadron during September 1940, although many of these aircraft were on strength only for some days, for obvious reasons. Where possible, I have tried to ensure that the individual letter and serial number correspond to reality. For use ONLY with SF2 including the Israel Expansion Pack. This will NOT work if you do not have the stock TW Spitfires installed and working. Includes 2048 and 1024 size skin sheets. Credits: Model by Third Wire Flight Dynamics by ShrikeHawk based on TW Spitfire MkIXc Cockpit by Kesselbrut Skin, decals, data.ini modifications, formations, sounds and assembly by ndicki Guns by AvHistory Click here to download this file

It's in. Coming soon, a version from 19 Sqn in late 1938.

Good grief, you've done a fantastic job! Love this.

Don't go away...

This is too difficult a question, because I love them all! But - for sheer flying ability, I'd go for the F.MkXIVe, although I hesitate between the standard fuselage and the cut-down version. For purely aesthetic reasons, I like the full fuselage, but for fighting, obviously the cut-down one is better. From the point of view of sheer performance and handling, it knocks EVERY other WW2 fighter out of the ring. That actually includes the Mustang, the Dora, and any jet you care to name. For the ultimate Merlin-engined version, I'd agree the MkVIII is good, although the late MkIXe is better in many ways and tailwheel apart, is visually virtually identical. I also like the Seafire 47 for its complete redesign of everything, but it is so far removed from the original Spitfire that it is not the same aircraft. For sheer low-level evilness, the MkXIIc. It LOOKS so good, and at low level can hammer everything that comes at it. The MkVc(T) with its awful, bulbous Vokes filter with its connotations of Malta and slamming the Axis in the Med for the first time... The very early MkIs with the flat canopy, two-blade props, TR9 masts and two-prong pitots, with Type A1 markings on the wings and fuselage... And the late MkI in 1940... You see the problem? I don't want to decide, because they're all special.

I seem to be the only one saying this, and yet I can't be the only one who is having trouble with it. My computer isn't that recent, but nor is it totally out of date. The problem is simple and concerns models which do not have gradually decreasing levels of detail in the way that the stock models do. The more recent models in particular are extremely complex, high poly-count files which look very good, but if they reduce the computer's graphics to the state of a slide-show the moment they appear in a historically credible number, then they won't get used. I have a hangar full of aircraft from all periods which simply do not fulfil the purpose for which they were built, namely air fighting. They slow the graphics down far too far. They may be all very well for flight simulation, but if that is what I wanted, I'd be flying FSX. The solution, creating lower LODs, may require more work on the part of the modellers I know, but it will be work which will guarantee the accessibility of their model to the greatest number of users, and that is surely an aim we all would share. Having said this, I admit I can not use 3DS MAX myself, and wouldn't know where to begin. I am very grateful to those who do make us our models, and I greatly respect their work as I hope they respect mine. Consider this not as an attack - it most certainly is not meant as one - but as constructive criticism and encouragement which will make SF2, World War Two SF2 in particular, better and better.

While we're all eagerly anticipating the REAL Spitfire MkI that Cocas is doing, I thought I might as well push on anyway. After doing No.19 Sqn for September, this is No.610 (County of Chester) Sqn in August. You will of course recognise the oversized roundels and codes typical of the Squadron at this time. Again, all aircraft represented will be authentic, with the correct serial numbers and corresponding individual letters. In most cases, the name of the pilot who flew each particular aircraft will also be supplied. Still WIP, so be charitable, but I thought these screenshots were too good to pass up!

Actually, it'd be nice to have a decent RAF pilot, with the proper B or C-Type flying helmet, etc, etc. Any modellers feeling inspired?

Rollin' they are! Coming next week, assuming I get the time - No.54 Sqn, flying over Northern France , especially the Dunkirk area, May-June 1940

File Name: Spitfire MkIa, No.610 Sqn RAF, August 1940 File Submitter: ndicki File Submitted: 01 May 2011 File Category: SF2 Series Add On Aircraft Spitfire MkIa, No.610 (County of Chester) Sqn, Auxiliary Air Force, Biggin Hill, August 1940 No.610 Squadron received its Spitfires during late September and early October 1939, and moved to Biggin Hill on 8th July 1940 in time for the Battle of Britain. The Squadron stayed at Biggin until the very end of August, and bore the full brunt of the German offensive. By the end of August, it was utterly played out, and moved up to Acklington in Northumberland on 31st August. Serial numbers in this pack correspond to aircraft used by 610 Squadron during September 1940, although many of these aircraft were on strength only for some days, for obvious reasons. The individual letters and serial numbers of each aircraft correspond. Equally, where a pilot has been identified as having flown a particular aircraft (The Royal Air Force did not attribute aircraft to particular pilots, although many did tend to have their favourites) that pilot has been listed in the menu. The list is eloquent. Only two of the pilots listed survived unharmed. They majority of these men were under 25 years of age at the time of their deaths, and they made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedom and independence today. This assumes that you have already installed the AvHistory Guns for SF2 and my 19 Squadron Spitfire MkI. Credits: Model by Third Wire Flight Dynamics by ShrikeHawk based on TW Spitfire MkIXc Cockpit by Kesselbrut Skin, decals, data.ini modifications, formations, sounds and assembly by ndicki Guns by AvHistory For use ONLY with SF2 including the Israel Expansion Pack. This will NOT work if you do not have the stock TW Spitfires installed and working. Click here to download this file

Thanks! It isn't finished, I'm just taking a break! No, no desert MkI or IIs, for a very simple reason - there weren't any. The Spitfire actually arrived quite late with the DAF, and the first mark used was the Vb. There followed the Vc, IXc and VIIIc, the latter serving not in the desert but in Italy and the Northern Med. A small number of IXc aircraft arrived in time for the final push through the desert. If I get around to it before I get fed up, there'll be some MkV lookalikes, and some MkIX and VIIIs along the line somewhere. But there are limits to what you can achieve with only two models... Cheers, mate! Thought you might like them.

Getting closer to release!

Unfortunately that's often the way, hence my post. It's easier to get people to do the LODs and so on while they are still working on the model than when they think they've finished! You're right about planes being very close to each other, etc, etc... This is my early-War RAF Vic formation! If you can't keep your wingtip between the wing and the tailplane of your section leader, you don't belong in the Air Works!