Olham

Flying the DFW in our "Krauts vs Crumpets" competition, I found today, that those instruments really work. Hey, that's great, devs! We are flying "without crutches" - no HUD, no screen gauges - and now I have a real altimeter, and I can check, how long my "Benzin" may last! Phantastic!!!

Hey, didn't notice that! Thank you, Jim!

Well, the casualties will come, when care gets less, I'm afraid. But I sure fly very different to all my other campaigns. I am very occupied by looking around, checking if everyone else is there and alright, checking the map constantly, adjusting the speed to keep with the escort etc. When enemy craft approach, I care for taking the best position for me and my wings, before we clash. Then I must pilot in the best possible way for my gunner, without taking any risk of collision or being shot down. Checking map again - when over enemy terrain, I move towards own lines. When I get the chance, I attack with front gun. After fighting, take up course to target again, with no idea, how much ammo is left. Checking petrol gauge and altimeter (yes, we have those in cockpit, functioning), collecting my men and lead them to target area... In other words: stress - but also so much more immersive! And real good fun! And when we returned, and again I have not lost one of my other DFW crews, I feel a deep satisfaction.

Widow, perhaps it was the He 111 E - you'll find it here: http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Bilder/He111/He111E3-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waffen/Bilderseiten/He111-R.htm&usg=__7odSjtmRL2rL6wJTZwRkEi-HiwI=&h=401&w=302&sz=30&hl=de&start=6&tbnid=53wWNMXv-lLP9M:&tbnh=124&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3DHeinkel%2BHe%2B111%2BE%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Dde%26sa%3DG

Widowmaker, the Spanish Me 109 had a different engine; a Hispano Suiza, I think. that gives her a pretty different (and uglier) look. If you watch the movie "Pearl Harbour", there is one short scene early on, a dogfight of a Spitfire and a Messerschmidt. That is, I believe, computer-made, but phantastic! I wish they'd redo "Battle of Britain", keeping the storyline, but with the right aircraft, and the real amounts of them. It must look horrifying, to see hordes of hundreds of bombers approaching. If you saw "Troja", you saw it can be done per computer - the gigantic fleet at the beginning was the first time I saw, how big it really all was! For the Heinkel, I would need the picture - don't know any special one.

Yeah, Stiffy, that looks much more like the real stuff. I am really thinking of getting me an "Officer's shirt" - not for costuming, but just because it looks good and well made and practical.

Here's more "Fodder for your Phantasies", guys. Further down that site, are WW1 aviator goggles, toned. I suppose, such are very rare now? http://sammler.com/militaria/

Lou, here's a funny side I just stumbled across. http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://www.kaisersbunker.com/ht/ht45t.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.kaisersbunker.com/ht/evolution.htm&usg=__1K5Fkb2-s6m0M1kvlvkT0e0jyxU=&h=269&w=350&sz=37&hl=de&start=17&tbnid=06jRIzyxPLADiM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dschirmm%25C3%25BCtze%2Bflieger%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Dde%26sa%3DG If you read it all, you will see, that back in those days, many individual designs had been in use. And there where uniform taylors and hatmakers, who would know, what cloth to be used for this or that uniform. So they'd order it and taylor and build - each with slightly individual results. Some where masterpieces - and some didn't look so good. But man, they had good cloth back then!

Nahw - that isn't anywhere near it, Lou. Those uniforms like Richthofen's Ulan tunic where made of very high quality cloth. Many officers those days let them get taylor made, from their own money. And that cost a fortune. Also the caps - the real stuff was very good quality. I have seen one of the tunics they made in Babelsberg Studios, Potsdam, for the movie "Der Rote Baron". That was of a pretty good quality, very close to the original stuff. As far as I know, you can even let them taylor a uniform for you there. But I wouldn't even dare to ask the price...

Geeze - sell one of those cars and make a donation to OFF for their publicity/commercials! They could do with some - they are still far too little known. What did you crash-land in 1916? Let me guess - a DH-2? Hope the boys smuggle in cigars and brandy for ya.

Widowmaker, the "Razor" flew in July or August 1918, before it was withdrawn again. So it saw limited action in summer. The Snipe didn't enter service until September. Here's an excerpt from WIKI about it: "The new fighter went to France with No. 43 Squadron in September 1918." So, before that date, I would recommend the S.E.5a for fighting the E.V - or the Camel. E.V and Snipe don't seem to have met each other anyway.

I just searched Ebay, then Google, for: - Deutsche Fliegeruniform 1. Weltkrieg - Deutsche Pilotenuniform 1. Weltkrieg - German aviator uniform ww1 - German airman uniform WWI - German pilot tunic WWI No way! All I found is one maker of rather simple replicas. One could, of course, get one taylored by the Babelsberg Studio costume tailors. But I wouldn't dare to ask the price...

Yes, indeed! "DXTBmp" is a free download program, to browse through and to convert skins into 24-bit bitmaps, for working on them in Photoshop or similar programs. You should check the Albatros D V of Jasta 21 - very unique skins there. The love and immense time invested in making all these skins cannot be paid, but hopefully savoured by WW1 aviation fans. You won't find an amount of skins anywhere near this. This alone would make me fly this simm for years! Hats off to OvS, Paarma, Sandbagger, Makai, Rabu and Capt.Winters!

It touches my heart in a funny manner, to see the tunics or weapons of men, who are already dead since a long time. And the jacket he wore is still there, could be worn again - but who would dare?

Widowmaker! Always look on the bright side of life, olde chap! We can have personalised skins now!!! No one else will fly them!!! And you'll get your Snipe sooner or later - I know those "magnificent basterds". Winder, I am almost ready with my new righ. Top graphic card, faster CPU etc. You are bringing this cornucopia in at the very best time, Sir! And I always hated Christmas! Could be different this year!...

A great compliment to OFF, appraiserfl, when you rather fly Over Flanders Fields, than to cruise in that car! OvS will digest it double - he seems to be into cars a bit!

Was that only on AMIGA, Stiffy ? I completely missed it! Here is my favourite one: Flying Corps Gold (I also missed RB3D!):

Ras, that skin in the "engine out" picture should be one of Max Ritter von Mueller; the yellow-black tail marks it as a craft of Jasta28w. Strangely, the display says, "you hit a Jasta 21 aiman".

Stiffy, my condolences for your fallen alter ego, Sir! One of our pilots hit the mud too today - Leutnant Wilhelm Konigstein (Blue781) was hit by Flak, as far as we know. No comfort really - sorry. PS: may I invite you to post your future tales in the common "Krauts vs Crumpets" thread? Your style is very entertaining, Sir!

The Bordeauxred Baron: "Vell, Hollyvood iss Hollyvood! Ze whole worlt muszt know by now, zatt neizer der Kaiser nor I are shpeakink in ziss strange Deunglish aczent, meine Herren!"

apraiserfl, I have been flying IL2 - 1946, the full edition with all expansions in it. It was great. But then I found OFF. That was a year ago now, October 12th, 2008. A date I may never forget. This was not only so much better - this was the FEELING I had searched for all the time! Since I have installed BHaH, my friends are worrying, this was an addiction. I answer: Yes, of course it is! - what's wrong with that?

Okay, this will work, Stump. But to confuse you a bit again (Lol!): Now it says: My wife and poker If you weren't married to her yet, you would say: Mein Mädchen und Poker (my girl and poker) But it makes sense now - your choice. Sorry for confusion.

Those I save I do not love - said the fireman. Well, she might have good qualities you didn't see under these cicumstances. And yes: democracy is, where every idiot is allowed to vote. Nothing's perfect.

Welcome back, Canvas Wings! Siggi moved the start date. But don't worry - just read the rules here: http://www.hetzer.talktalk.net/ (Click on each picture) And then you start your campaign with your Strutter. We don't have to fly everyday, so you just had two days off. No problem. Please post your reports and chat in "Krauts and Crumpets".

Okay, some more detail here: Frau = woman (but also wife. Meine Frau = my wife) Fräulein = unmarried woman Dame = lady Weib = old form both for woman and wife, nowadays rather a bit derogative Mädchen = girl