ndicki

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...

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

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!

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

and the Mark 1's that had 'B' type roundels...

 

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.

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

Thx, always loved your work from CFS3. question though, are you planning to do some desert Mk1's and II's for North Afrika?

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...

Cracking stuff!

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!

True - as a rule on my own computer I don't use the 2048x BMP skins I make, but the 1024x versions instead. I don't use DDS unless I have to because of the loss of detail which is already bad enough...

But it is the models themselves that are the absolute killers...

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.

And yes, I have (just) realised that the starboard codes should not be inverted...

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!

Thanks! More on the way...

In the meantime, my MkIa is in, with ShrikeHawk's FM, full decals for aircraft which actually did serve with 19 Sqn during September 1940, new formations.ini, new gunfire sounds with all 8 Brownings firing, and so on and so forth...

Looking very promising! keep up the good work!

Great stuff! I'll fiddle about with it during the day and when it's ready for upload, we're off! Glad you've done the 109 as well - I flew against the SF1 version yesterday, and they were behaving very strangely at times!

that would be a MKIA, MK 5B Mk5B LF MK 5B trop Mk 8 right let me think................................................................................................................................................... ........................................let do it

Cocas

If you can make them to the same visual standard as the stock MkIX, or better, with well-stepped LODs and so on, I'd be more than thrilled to bits! The MkIa and Va can use perctically the same model, as the MkIb and Vb. We'd need a Vc with Vokes filter too, and to be totally boring, a non-trop Vb or Vc with clipped wings and six-stack exhaust stubs... But just one or two of the most desperately-needed ones would be absolutely fantastic!

Can I suggest using the TW mapping on them as far as possible? It'd same a great deal of messing about, because to all intents and purposes, I can then do almost any skins you'd like quite easily.

I'm even dreaming of my favourite - the MkXIV...

Your Mk I skins look terrific, Ndicki! Can't wait to get my hands on them. I'm getting ready to post new FMs soon. It'll be awesome to put them together.

 

I wonder if it wouldn't be easier overall to use Cocas' Spits. Then we could get Mk Vs and VIIIs to order. Of course that means a lot of work for Cocas if you're up to it, buddy.

It's complete except for the actual engine/prop dynamics. If you PM me with your e-mail, you're welcome to try it out and do the flight dynamics!

That could get VERY complicated - and it still wouldn't really look right, because the nose is too long. You'd have to remove the carburettor scoop as well, and replace it with either the tropical Vokes or Aboukir filter, or simply the earlier small intake. I'll finish my input, anyway, and pass it on if anybody can take it further.

Now then, let's see if you've got your wits about you... Leading the flight is Squadron Leader Brian 'Sandy' Lane's P9386 'K' - as you can certainly tell......... Can't you?