Geezer

Thanks for clearing that up. I got the color scheme off the internet and did not realize it was an N23, not an N17. The "dark" silver artwork is simply a modified version of the "light" silver artwork of the other N17s I have posted. Attached is the original .psd artwork (light silver paintwork) with the Russian markings added. The N17 artwork is interchangeable with the N23 artwork as the aircraft were externally identical. Just transfer layers from one artwork set to the other set if you want to make your own variants. VonS and I discussed gun location and determined that the gun installation varied with the type of synchronizer. The only synchronizer specified by the French government for rotary engines was the Alkan-Hamy type - Systeme de Synchronisation pour Vickers Type 1 (moteurs rotatifs) - that placed the gun slightly offset to starboard. However, early production of the Alkan gears did not meet demand, so several British gun/synchronizers systems - which placed the gun on the center line - were imported for installation on some N17 aircraft. I do not know which type(s) were installed on Russian Nieuports. The Alkan-Hamy gear, slightly offset to starboard, can be identified by the spring loaded rod above the gun barrel and is shown below. Note the cocking lever is the British Hyland Type A, not the standard French cocking lever. Artwork with Russian Markings.rar

Yes, modding has a peculiar fascination doesn't it? I hardly ever fly anymore. My limited time is now spent developing and testing.

George, those are stunning. You do good work!

Gterl: gorgeous! My copy of CS2 does not like to make .tga files. If you are willing to convert .pdf art to .tga, contact me by PM and I'll send you the wake art for the WW1 ships I have inwork. When/if I get the .tga files back from you, I can then send you the complete LODs for the WW1 ships/boats shown below.

Below are my OBJECT/AIRCRAFT files. They are WIPs, except for the Martinsyde Elephant. Also attached are my new WW1 pilot figures, and templates for most of the aircraft. Enjoy! WW1 Aircraft.rar Pilots.rar Templates.rar

Attached is the Russian air service artwork and LODs for the N17. Per VonS' request, the silver colors are bit darker to simulate the Russian paintwork. Russia N17 Artwork.rar Russia Nieuport17c.rar

I'm pretty busy right now. If you guys can cooperate and produce an FM that incorporates all of your fixes and improvements, I'll find the time to update the model and LODs.

Beautiful stuff! If you enjoy tinkering with immersion, then below is some stuff you might find interesting. VonS and I have posted some working files for new atmospherics and aircraft at: 91066-new-aircraft comment=743606

Using the methods described above, I just took these shots. A bit melodramatic, but nothing succeeds like excess!

For dramatic dogfight screenshots: 1) Start a Single Mission using large numbers of the aircraft you select (FE2 will go as high as 16). 2) Using map (M), vector your flight towards enemy formations, just like a normal mission. 3) When battle is joined, pause the game (ALT+P) and use Free Camera (CTRL+F12) to move around the dogfight. 4) Look for interesting shots. 5) Old pulp magazine covers will give you an idea of a dramatic layout. Generally, you want one aircraft to be close to the camera and others to be nearby. Long distance shots are less dramatic than shots taken at close or middle distance.

1) Get a good session running 2) ALT+P= Pause game 3) CTRL+F12= Free camera (use mouse to point in desired direction, left/right mouse click to move forward/backward)

Specifically, which SF2 files did you insert into your FE2 install, and where did you insert them?

Assisting VonS and myself are two other guys with excellent backgrounds: Mike Dora and jeanba. Jeanba is a consultant who has helped with structural and operational research, while Mike is a retired RAF squadron commander who is also active at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in upstate New York. Some shots and recent comments below: "Well I hope it flies better than our Rhinebeck Caudron G.3. On a good day they get it to run straight down the field with 4-5 feet of daylight beneath the wheels. Actually this machine is the worst we have for ground handling. Those struts and booms may look delicate at a distance, but close up they are thick and heavy, the tail booms are like old-fashioned wooden clothes poles! Plus with the length of ground contact of those lower booms, it is a bit of a pig to manhandle." Shameless plug: a new Sopwith Dolphin will be ready for their 2018 season, so if any fans are in upstate New York this summer, drop by the aerodrome.

Here are some photos to expand on VonS' excellent research and FM work. A Swedish replica builder is constructing an all-new D.8 the same way the originals were made and it will be powered by an original Siemens-Halske engine! D.8s were issued in ones and twos to front line and home defense units in the Spring of 1918. Paul Baumer, of Jasta Boelcke, obtained a D.8 in May per the Osprey pub Pfalz Scout Aces of WW1 which has a photo of two D.8s used by Jasta 29 alongside their Fokker D.7s. Myself, I tend to agree with VonS and suspect D.8s were not operational until late summer/early autumn - but I've been wrong before!

Check out the NEW AIRCRAFT thread for VonS' atmospheric upgrades and some of my WIP aircraft.

I built it with the understanding that Quack74 would make the skins. Unfortunately, real life got in his way and he had to give up modding.

Below are Lewis gun armed Nieuport 17 and 23 WIPs. Lewis Gun Nieuports.rar

Also, below is the VERY ROUGH Caudron R.11. I "borrowed" Stephen1918's excellent Caudron G4 files, and substituted my R.11 model for his G.4 model. Anyone interested in developing new ini files is welcome to try their hand. WIP Caudron R11.rar

Still busy with the Real World, but spent the morning working on Breguet 14 gunner and armament.

While I have never tried to load Jan's seasonal tiles, I did DL them some time ago. Just took a quick look at the folders and found ALL the DL-ed seasonal files are .tod files! Dunno if this helps or not, but it suggests the problem is not your computer.

Bummer. Your stuff looks really good, so its a shame you've run into a development wall.

I have not stayed on top of new developments, but Ankor's shaders were originally intended for CFS3 and WOFF, DL below. You can probably get more current info from the forums at the same website. http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?catid=161

Some ingame shots of the DIII (not DIIIa) that VonS describes above.

Been busy with Real World stuff, but squeezed in some work on the Pfalz DIII (not DIIIa). The LODs now show up at a distance - WIP below. Pfalz DIII.rar

More shots using the files posted above, plus gterl's WW1 Italy map.