Geezer

The three aircraft I have released so far employed both Case 1 and Case 2 textures. The Case 1 textures were 2048, while the Case 2 textures varied in size. Also, many of the textures were quite complex - multiple colors depicting intricate detail, as opposed to a few colors showing simple details. There wasn't any noticeable impact on frame rates on my mid-level desktop, though an old, low-end machine might have problems. Based on that, I suspect optimization is not a major issue unless you have a large number of big, complex textures?

File Name: CR42 (1940) Graphics Pack File Submitter: Geezer File Submitted: 25 June 2015 File Category: First Eagles - Golden Era - Axis Skins The graphics pack contains all the .psd files used to make the CR42 skins. In addition to templates and skin art, there are numerous squadron insignia for CR42 units that were deployed in 1940 Libya. There is also a selection of different squadron number styles, plus Belgian and Hungarian national insignia. Note these images are BIG - they are sized to fit the hi-res artwork. Modders who like to make decals can experiment to see if large, hi-res decals are feasible. If not, the numerous overlays can be painted into the skin artwork. Click here to download this file

File Name: CR42 (1940) File Submitter: Geezer File Submitted: 19 June 2015 File Category: First Eagles - Golden Era - Axis Add-On Aircraft Updated files to reflect user inputs - see change log. The SAVE SELECTION AS CHANNEL button in my copy of Photoshop has stopped working, so I cannot fix the bullet holes alpha channel problem. I have placed the _Holes files in the Graphics Pack. If you can make your own .tga files with alpha channel, just drop the resulting four .tga files into the CR42_1 folder. ************************************************************************************************************************************************************** The CR42 was Italy's most numerous fighter in 1940, and fought over North and East Africa, plus briefly in the Battle of Britain. Export versions operated in the Battle of France (Belgium) and on the Eastern Front (Hungary). Immensely strong, its license-built Pratt & Whitney engine drove a license-built Hamilton-Standard constant speed propeller, giving the CR42 a performance edge over Allied biplanes in early WW2. This is the first of many 1930s aircraft intended for FE/FE2. The planned selection of aircraft will cover the early desert war in North Africa and also the Spanish Civil War. Whenever appropriate, an SF2 version will also be developed for Baffmeister's BoB mod. A number of modders have assisted me in developing this aircraft, particularly Stephen1918. Additional thanks to Wrench, Baffmeister, Sully, gambit168, Nixou, and Viper63a. I've probably forgotten someone - if so, my apologies. Special thanks to professional illustrator Jim Laurier for use of his instrument art for the cockpit. The only known problem is the extended take off run - once in the air, no other problems have been observed. When Baffmeister returns in the autumn, he said he will tweak the FM a bit more to his satisfaction. The current FM lists the CR42 as a German aircraft so it will drop into most First Eagles' mods. You can change the nationality by opening the CR42_DATA.ini and editing the first two lines of the Mission Data listings. THIS MODEL IS ONLY TO BE DISTRIBUTED AS FREEWARE AND IN NO OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE SHALL IT BE USED, EVEN IN PART, OF ANYTHING THAT IS PAYWARE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMBAT ACE MODDERS AGREEMENT. Click here to download this file

And lastly, the model doesn't seem to have any bomb pylons under the wings, so if you load bombs they hang in the air, clear of the wings. I made the following change to get them closer to the wings: [LeftBombRack] ... AttachmentPosition=-1.94,-0.073,-0.330 [RightBombRack] ... AttachmentPosition=1.94,-0.073,-0.330 The late-war version - with bomb racks and dust filter - is the SF2 version that Baffmeister is working on. It will be released later this year. Historically, bomb racks weren't installed until 1941, so my 1940 version for FE2 does not carry bomb racks.

Tweaking the flight model is one of several reasons why the CR42 has been a lengthy learning experience. Many thanks to Baffmeister for the new FM. However, he works in SF2 so there are some differences between his FM and the final FM for FE2, which is due shortly. Thanks to Ojcar for the FE2 specific FM that is now being finalized: It's a very good FM (much better than mine, believe me), but it has two issues in FE. -It has very long take off. -It's a little slow (about 321 Km/h sea level against 343 of the real thing) I think the problem it's in the engine. If you look at the engine data HasWEP=TRUE SLPowerDry=544361.0 SLPowerWEP=639811.0 And there's the problem. FE is built for very old planes. They don't use the WEP (war emergency power). They use it in Strke Fighters. In FE you haven't the real engine power. You are only using 544361.0 Watt instead 639811 Watt. So my little mod of this is: SLPowerDry=639811.0 //HasWEP=TRUE //SLPowerDry=544361.0 //SLPowerWEP=639811.0 This give you about 341 Km/h at very low height. Very close to the real 343Km/h

The graphics pack is nearly ready. When you see it you will understand why it took so long. Also, an update for the aircraft is nearly ready.

Wow! Excellent work - the camo job is impressive.

Thanks. There will also be a fair amount of crossover in 1940 ground objects. I'll make a bunch of RAF airfield stuff for the 1940 desert mod, and then make BoB equivalents. Shots below of scale models off the internet illustrate how the same ground object can have two different skins.

Thanks! I'll wait a bit to see if there are any more bugs, and then issue an update. There ARE bomb racks, but they are part of the late-war CR42 which is still in-work. Baffmeister wanted to tweak the FM a bit more for the SF2 version, so I'm making haste slowly. 1940 desert combat made it obvious biplane fighters were no longer competitive, so front line units began installing bomb racks as field mods in 1941. The CR42 remained in production through 1942 as a ground attack machine, with bomb racks installed at the factory. Shot of late-war machine below. When released, it will also have a graphics pack. Oops! Will fix that with an update. This is my first time making damage TGA files. Looks like I want to save them as 32bit files? Also inwork is a selection of 1930s bombs for 1940 desert and Spanish Civil War. Not done yet - gotta add Soviet bombs.

Thanks for spotting that. Will fix with an update soon-ish.

Three pilot choices are included in the Pilots folder. One option is a hot weather desert pilot in shirt sleeves, while the default Euro pilot wears a flight jacket and kapok life vest. A third option is a high altitude version of the Euro pilot with oxygen mask. A 1940 graphics pack, with templates, artwork, and alternate insignia and markings, will follow shortly. Sometime in the future, I will probably release a 1941-42 version, with appropriate graphics pack. Tonight, I'm gonna celebrate with a bottle of wine. Tomorrow, I'll resume mapping my next project, the Gloster Gladiator Mk2.

Occasionally, I've had similar results - black airplane parts - and Rusty has identified the cause. It usually happens when there is a disconnect of some kind with the skin art: different file names for the art or different folder names containing the art.

Shot of Guido as a Euro Pilot, suitable for Battle of Britain, etc plus references.

Should be ready soon - perhaps this weekend? One of several reasons why this has taken so long is I had to learn lots of new stuff. Am currently busy with sound files and new pilots. The good news is most of this stuff can be rolled into future aircraft without any more development time. Shots below of hangar and loading screens, plus the new Italian Euro pilot. Guido comes in two flavors: with and without an oxygen mask.