Geezer

Thought I'd expand on the multiple color scheme concept. After a few months of operations, many squadrons displayed a variety of paint jobs and markings due to field repairs and replacement aircraft from different manufacturers. The result was an interesting mixture of camo and markings that would look really cool ingame. As the best way to dodge the low-res decal bullet is to paint the markings into the skin art, why not vary the camo too? That kills two birds with one stone, but requires multiple models ingame. For example: CR42_01, CR42_02, CR42_03, etc. Now, how to get the game to display all of the models at one time to achieve the mixed look in a formation? BadFrank provided the following solution: Manually you can mix the player flight with different planes. But not for AI flights Here's an example for a mission: [MissionHeader] AircraftType=F-4D_67 MissionMap=VIETNAMSEA MissionType=SWEEP StartTime=11:18:14 StartDate=06/23/1975 [MissionData] FriendlyAirActivity=2 EnemyAirActivity=1 FriendlyAirDefenseActivity=2 EnemyAirDefenseActivity=1 PlayerMissionID=1 PlayerPositionID=1 MissionNumber=4071 GeneratedMission=FALSE AdjustStartPosition=TRUE AdjustBaseWaypoint=TRUE CreateStaticAircraft=TRUE CreateHelpFlight=FALSE [Weather] WeatherType=SCATTERED WeatherAlt=3000.146484 WeatherThickness=55.168800 HasHighLayer=TRUE HighLayerAlt=6623.291016 FogAmount=0.750000 ContrailAlt=7716.316895 StartWindDirection=79.000008 StartWindSpeed=2.059011 WindGustingAmount=1.544258 [AircraftMission001] Name=AUSTIN AircraftType=F-4D_67 Size=2 Alignment=FRIENDLY RandomChance=100 MissionType=SWEEP TargetArea=Kep Airfield ObjectiveID=2 RatingForSuccess=50 StartOnGround=TRUE CarrierBased=FALSE Position=557000.000000,205000.000000,3000.000000 Heading=-19.811478 Speed=232.212509 StartTime=0.000000 BaseArea=TEST TEST TEST LandArea=TEST TEST TEST Waypoint[01].Command=TAKEOFF Waypoint[01].Position=557000.000000,204081.500000,0.000000 Waypoint[01].Size=100.000000 Waypoint[01].Speed=200.059998 Waypoint[02].Command=DEPART Waypoint[02].Position=550452.190214,197533.692422,3048.000000 Waypoint[02].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[02].Speed=200.059998 Waypoint[03].Command=WAYPOINT Waypoint[03].Position=551864.218034,643584.624477,3000.000000 Waypoint[03].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[03].Speed=232.212509 Waypoint[04].Command=INITIAL_POINT Waypoint[04].Position=508176.889340,788861.534846,3000.000000 Waypoint[04].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[04].Speed=232.212509 Waypoint[05].Command=OBJECTIVE_POINT Waypoint[05].Objective=TRUE Waypoint[05].Position=520000.000000,814000.000000,3000.000000 Waypoint[05].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[05].Speed=232.212509 Waypoint[06].Command=WAYPOINT Waypoint[06].Position=545138.465154,802176.889340,3000.000000 Waypoint[06].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[06].Speed=232.212509 Waypoint[07].Command=WAYPOINT Waypoint[07].Position=604135.783622,662415.373039,3000.000000 Waypoint[07].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[07].Speed=232.212509 Waypoint[08].Command=APPROACH Waypoint[08].Position=556438.181831,232771.475854,1524.000000 Waypoint[08].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[08].Speed=135.827988 Waypoint[09].Command=LAND_LINEUP Waypoint[09].Position=557000.001619,214260.000000,762.000000 Waypoint[09].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[09].Speed=84.018669 Waypoint[10].Command=LAND_TOUCHDOWN Waypoint[10].Position=557000.000000,205918.500000,0.000000 Waypoint[10].Size=50.000000 Waypoint[10].Speed=75.459999 Nation=USAF FormationType=USFighter PilotTrainingStandard=EXCELLENT Loadout=AirToAirLongRange_68 AmmoPercent=100 FuelPercent=100 TracerMixRatio=6 Texture=USAFCamo1 Squadron=25TFS Aircraft[01].AircraftNumber=0 Aircraft[02].AircraftNumber=1 [AircraftMission002] Name=A002 AircraftType=MiG-17F Size=4 Alignment=ENEMY RandomChance=100 MissionType=CAP TargetArea=Kep Airfield ObjectiveID=1 RatingForSuccess=50 StartOnGround=TRUE CarrierBased=FALSE Position=552000.000000,786000.000000,5500.000000 Heading=-48.814075 Speed=190.017853 StartTime=2323.077637 BaseArea=Cat Bi Airfield LandArea=Cat Bi Airfield Waypoint[01].Command=TAKEOFF Waypoint[01].Position=552000.000000,785081.500000,0.000000 Waypoint[01].Size=100.000000 Waypoint[01].Speed=143.380005 Waypoint[02].Command=DEPART Waypoint[02].Position=545452.190214,778533.692422,3048.000000 Waypoint[02].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[02].Speed=143.380005 Waypoint[03].Command=WAYPOINT Waypoint[03].Position=517706.742065,779093.419030,5500.000000 Waypoint[03].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[03].Speed=190.017853 Waypoint[04].Command=INITIAL_POINT Waypoint[04].Position=511735.180532,787477.910953,5500.000000 Waypoint[04].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[04].Speed=190.017853 Waypoint[05].Command=OBJECTIVE_POINT Waypoint[05].Objective=TRUE Waypoint[05].Position=520000.000000,814000.000000,5500.000000 Waypoint[05].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[05].Speed=190.017853 Waypoint[06].Command=WAYPOINT Waypoint[06].Position=545190.280637,825712.306696,5500.000000 Waypoint[06].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[06].Speed=190.017853 Waypoint[07].Command=WAYPOINT Waypoint[07].Position=554293.259591,820906.579314,5500.000000 Waypoint[07].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[07].Speed=190.017853 Waypoint[08].Command=APPROACH Waypoint[08].Position=544347.242499,812124.924774,1524.000000 Waypoint[08].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[08].Speed=95.472000 Waypoint[09].Command=LAND_LINEUP Waypoint[09].Position=552000.001619,795260.000000,762.000000 Waypoint[09].Size=1500.000000 Waypoint[09].Speed=67.822495 Waypoint[10].Command=LAND_TOUCHDOWN Waypoint[10].Position=552000.000000,786918.500000,0.000000 Waypoint[10].Size=50.000000 Waypoint[10].Speed=53.040001 Nation=NVietnam FormationType=SovietFighter PilotTrainingStandard=NORMAL Loadout=AirToAir AmmoPercent=100 FuelPercent=100 TracerMixRatio=6 Texture=VPAFSilver1 Squadron= Aircraft[01].AircraftNumber=10 Aircraft[02].AircraftNumber=61 Aircraft[03].AircraftNumber=55 Aircraft[04].AircraftNumber=21 [AircraftMission001] stands for the each flight You have only 1 line for the Plane type and only 1 for the texture But you have lines for the numbers: Aircraft[01].AircraftNumber=10 Aircraft[02].AircraftNumber=61 Aircraft[03].AircraftNumber=55 Aircraft[04].AircraftNumber=21

Got started on the late war version. The planned CR42 graphics pack will probably be a separate release, and contain samples and layers of art so modders can make their own camo and markings. Gonna try pushing the envelope with this model. Applying low-res decals to hi-res skins looks terrible. BadFrank was very helpful in suggesting a method for having multiple aircraft models, each with their own camo and markings. It won't be as flexible as the standard game system of decals, but it will look more realistic and be accessible to any modder who knows how to use a paint program. Gonna have to make a 1940 British/Italian bomb pack someday.

The Caproni was being relegated to second line transport and squadron hack in 1940, but was occasionally used as a bomber in Africa. The only recorded victory for an RAF Gauntlet in WW2 was shooting down a Caproni in Italian East Africa. http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/gauntlet.htm

There were also some fascinating early monoplanes - mostly bombers - used in 1940 Libya. Only one more aircraft needed for the initial lineup of aircraft - the Bristol Blenheim MK1.

Thought I'd summarize what has been covered in other threads. The first six months of the 1940 desert war were unique compared to "normal" WW2 aerial warfare. Both sides suffered a shortage of modern equipment, so June-December 1940 operations had much in common with WW1 - including the extensive use of biplanes. The CR42 and Gladiator were the stars of the show, with Hurricane MK1s slowly becoming significant, but never replacing the Gladiator. Obsolete fighters - the CR32 and Gauntlet - were used as ground attack, but often engaged in dogfights after dropping their bombs. FE2 is the best choice for this unique situation, as it it optimized for biplanes and low level combat.

I posted this shot in a different thread, but thought it would interest those guys following this one. All of the 1940 desert biplanes have realistically scalloped flying surfaces. No more having to paint the rib shading into the artwork!