RAF_Louvert

I must agree with Bullethead, there are just way more than a few best books. I also agree with Gous on the two he mentioned, they are both outstanding narratives. Smokey, I have not read the one you noted but I will find it and do so. And since you asked griphos, here are a few more, (in alphabetical order, not order of preference): **"A Flying Fighter", E.M. Roberts "Airmen O' War", Boyd Cable **"An Airman Marches", Harold Balfour **"An Aviator's Field Book", Oswald Bolcke "Cavalry of the Clouds", Alan 'Contact' Bott **"Double-Decker C.666", Haupt Heydemarck **"Fighting the Flying Circus", Edward Rickenbacker **"Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps", James McCudden **"Flying for France", by James McConnell "Go Get 'Em!", William Wellman **"Guynemer, Knight of the Air", Henry Bordeaux **"Heaven High, Hell Deep", Norman Archibald **"High Adventure", James Norman Hall **"Letters From a Flying Officer", Rothsay Stuart Wortlrey "Memories of World War 1", William Mitchell "Night Bombing with the Bedouins", Robert Reece "Nocturne Militaire", Elliot White Springs "Rovers of the Night Sky", W.J. 'Night-Hawk' Harvey **"The Flying Poilu", Marcel Nadaud "The Red Knight of Germany", Floyd Gibbons **"The Way of the Eagle", Charles Biddle "Up And At 'Em", Harold Hartney "War Birds; Diary of an Unknown Aviator", Elliot White Springs **"Wind in the Wires", Duncan Grinnell-Milne The ones with ** are the personal narratives and/or published journals I would highly recommend on this list. They are all good, but these are exceptional IMHO, either because of their content, style, or just overall "feel". Enjoy. Cheers! Lou

Salute All, Over the years I know many of us have collected not only books and materials concerning the Great War but have also come across outstanding websites that provide a wealth of information in many forms as well. I just wanted to share a few of mine with you folks and hope that others will do the same. So to get this started here are two websites I have found to be both informative and entertaining: London Gazette Archives British Pathe Film Archives Also, from my personal library, here is one of the maps from Raleigh and Jones 9-volume masterpiece, "The War in the Air: Being the Story of the Part Played By the Royal Air Force in the Great War". This is an incredible work that provides not only an in-depth history of the air war from the British perspective, but a myriad of vital statistics, graphs, and charts, and two cases of large maps as well. I hope others will share a few of their own WWI information sources that they have discovered. Cheers! Lou

Well, I'm not sure if I am doing something different from others, but I have been able to keep up with the AI in nearly every scout I have flown so far. The DH2 will most definitely turn inside the EIII, but must not try to fully follow the Einie in the zoom-stall-turn the AI is so fond of using. And in the case of the Halb, if I can get on his six I can match my DH2 with him turn for turn and get more than enough firing solutions to do the job. It is not until the Alb scout shows itself that I have to rethink engaging the AI with the DH2. The Airco in OFF loves rudder input and will allow you to turn it very tightly if applied properly. Of course, biding your time and not committing to an attack until you have a target that has strayed from the pack is essential for survivability since the last thing you want is for one or more of his wingies to pop up on your six while your attentions are directed elsewhere. Accurate gunning is the other very big factor as it allows you to be much more effective and concise with your attacks. I am sure Guynemer and Richthofen would both strongly agree on this last point. :yes: Cheers! Lou

Wonderful thread, wonderful comments, wonderful sim! I would like to echo a few remarks already made here, as I too have become very engaged in the campaign aspects of OFF. I flew QC for a while just to get the feel of it, but in short order began my first campaign, (and promptly died). I am learning what you all have stated here; that this sim recreates in nearly every aspect, what it was like to fly as a Great War combat pilot. I am trying my best to "survive" the war while still performing my duty, and THAT in and of itself is a neat trick. Currently I am flying the SE5 with 56 Squadron. We began in Blighty flying cap over London proper as well as Sussex, Surrey and Kent, after which we moved across the channel to France. Despite trying to fly smart and not take any unnecessary chances, on my first mission over the mud I had to dive into a swarm of DIII's to rescue my wingman who had attracted two onto his six. I ended up shooting down three EA and managed to survive the experience, (full props BTW to the OFF team for the latest update as I watched the lower wing fold at the root on the first Alb I blasted). I did have to set down at a frontline airfield due to my controls being damaged in the fray, and what a white knuckle landing it was too. It is quite amazing how quickly you become invested in both your virtual squadmates and self in this sim. Cheers! Lou

Widowmaker wrote: My agreement with Siggi's comment might have been misunderstood, WM. I was only saying that for me, personally, the sim is excellent and I desire no improvements anytime soon. I will simply enjoy what we now have for the time being. But of course there is always room for change and improvement, and without the drive for change we would indeed still be living in the Dark Ages. Now then, would someone please pass me the leeches. I have a bit of a headache and I think a good blood-letting should fix me right up. Cheers! Lou

Siggi, I agree Sir. I myself am absolutely content with what we now have in the OFF sim. I can and will fully enjoy this outstanding "toy" for a good long while. And Cameljockey, right on Sir! I turned 54 last November and have a 4-year old granddaughter who comes to visit and stay with us regularly and it is a true blessing. She and I have great fun playing and imagining anything her young mind and my old one can dream up. Kids keep us all young if we just let them lead us back to the joys of our own childhood. Cheers! Lou

Oh, I'm a bomber puke at heart, so I have been taking full advantage of the new and improved B/R's at my disposal. I had a great run going with my Strutters in #3 RNAS; 9 kills, 22 hours, 30+ missions. Had lost four of my own planes to hard landings and AA damage. Was promoted all the way to Squadron Commander. And then...the end came whilst flying a recce of Hun gun positions. Entered a storm cloud and came out upsidedown and totally out of control. Both my gunner and I died in the mud. Our bits and pieces were given a proper funeral after collection by some nearby Anzac troops. I have discoverd that, just like in the real Great War, high-altitude bombing was and is almost completely PDL. If you actually hit something it not because you've done anything particularly right or wrong, it only means the gods of cordite, gun powder, and windage are smiling on you that day. Now, dive bombing with the Strutter is a real hoot, especially with the functioning dive brakes and bomb bay doors. Zipping down from on high with four 20-pounders at the ready while Fritzie does his best to blast you from the sky with MG's and Archie will get the blood pumping. But oh the satisfaction as you watch a hanger or troop train disintegrate into their primary atomic values when you hit the mark. After that and upon your safe return to base it is definitely time to relax in the local pub house and enjoy a fine cigar and a Tullamore Dew as you regale your squaddies with your heroic exploits. Cheers! Lou

MARTHA! Get in the storm cellar, thar's a cyclone a-comin! Cheers! Lou

Salute All, Since I am still very new to OFF I am not sure if this has been discussed before, (though I imagine it has), but I thought I would mention the idea none-the-less. As most of you likely know from your Great War studies, the early planes were bedeviled by intermittent engine problems. Defective parts, dirty fuel, mis-adjustments, and a myriad of other issues all resulted in engines suddenly acting up or conking out altogether. To simulate this when I fly I have developed the following system. You will use four standard dice. After take-off and as you begin your circle of the field to form up you roll the dice, and are then bound by these results: 9 = Second dice roll before crossing the mud. 15 = Second dice role after crossing mud. 11 = Second dice roll upon reaching assigned target. 24 = Engine drops to 50% power, (hit #5 key immediately). 21 = Engine drops to 10% power, (hit #1 key immediately). 5 = Fuel mixture will not function. This means you can either continue the mission and fly at lower altitudes, or turn back and land. 13 = Catastrophic engine failure, you must immediately shut off engine and pray you have somewhere to land. If you must roll the dice a second time I recommend you do it either well before engaging EA, or after a dogfight if you took no damage during the engagement, (and I make that stipulation because with the latest upgrade if you did take damage you will already have your hands full trying to get home anyway). Feel free to use this idea as you wish. It does add yet another realism layer to an already deeply immersive combat experience. Cheers! Lou

MK2, could you perhaps narrow it down to a month or two period you are interested in? It would make answering the question a bit easier. Cheers! Lou

Salute rabu, I have them downloaded and printed and will be giving them a try on my next mission. Thanks for making these vintage maps available...very cool. Cheers! Lou

Yes Gous, "Winged Warfare" is a good read, but as TSmoke points out it is a bit dry at the start. Not nearly as much though as Bishop's second work, "Winged Peace". That one is not only dry but also gets downright preachy at the end. Both are in my WW1 aviation library, but I've only read "WP" once. Cheers, Lou

Salute All, Now that I have my new flight sim computer built, tweaked and running smoothly with "Over Flanders Fields - Between Heaven and Hell" loaded up and rolling, I decided it was time to sort out how to use the DXTBmp program and create some custom paint skins for these outstanidng planes. The program was a cinch to set up. I then followed Gousgounis' "Beginner's Guide to Aircraft Repainting" and with the use of my old Adobe Photo Deluxe BE software I was actually able to put together a not-too-bad first OFF BHaH paint job. I started with my favorite plane, the Camel, and added a pair of wide blue top wing stripes and color-coordinated wheel spats and rudder, then finished up with a snazzy billboard on the sides of the fuselage. Once you know the tricks, it is every bit as easy to paint planes in this sim as it is in RB3D. I like it...I like it a lot! The "A" next to the lion is for Albertson as my virtual pilot name is often Nels Albertson or Louvert Albertson. Salute, Lou

OK, since folks have been asking for upload links of the custom skins we have been creating I will get it started: Lou's Camel Zip File Upload I would like to get those of others as well, so please post 'em. Cheers! Lou

Alright, I just landed with some much-needed supplies for the O Club. Who's going to help me empty...err...unload these kegs? Cheers! Lou

Hello All, Just thought I would bring this video vignette along to the new OFF digs. FE2b's on a Coastal Recon Cheers! Lou

rythalion, click on "FE2b's on a Coastal Recon". It's a link to the video with ol' Ludwig's music playing in the background. Oh, and be sure to crank up the volume to really appreciate it. Enjoy. Cheers, Lou

Nice skins you built there Widsy. Of course the Camel is my favorite. Gous, your tutorial made sorting out the custom skins easy as pie! Well done Sir. Here is the Strutter tweak I made using the Paint.Net program I loaded up in my new 64-bit box. I just didn't feel right flying my B/R bus without "Mutt" on the sides. He's been winging with me for a good many years now and I'm glad I didn't have to leave him back in RB Land. Cheers, Lou

Hello All, I discovered this past week-end that none of my old paint and graphics editors would work on the new 64-bit OS computer I built. I really had no desire to spend large amounts of cash on software that would allow me to create new skins for the OFF planes, nor did I want to have to keep switching back and forth between my old and new computers just to paint aircraft. So I went searching for an economical alternative and I found Paint.Net, a free open source program that you can download and install in about 5 minutes. It is a very nice little program that provides many of the features found in the expensive kits, including the ability to work in layers. I tried it out on a tweak for my 3 RNAS Strutter and it handled the job perfectly. Here is the downlaod link if you wish to give it a go: Paint.Net Editor Enjoy. Cheers, Lou

FenrisWlf, You can find a great tutorial right here: Gousgounis' OFF Paint Guide Cheers! Lou

Hoghead wrote: HEY! Both I and my derriere take exception to that remark Sir. If I could unwedge myself from the cockpit of this Sopwith I would challenge you to a duel. Lou

The Strutter makes my butt look big. Perhaps some vertical stripes? Cheers, Lou

Why, on the cover of Ronco's latest release of course, (but then you knew that already Tonyo). Available at less-than-reputable stores everwhere. Cheers, Lou

Salute All, I gather this is the new place to...umm...gather. Thanks to our new hosts. Once the bar and other sundry items arrive on the lorries I've no doubt all the OFF'ers will be glad to treat you to drinks as a show of appreciation. Cheers! Lou