Check Six

If you look at the last pic in the series of six there, it is captioned "Bombs gone". Adrian has an operating bomb drop mechanism on that model. As far as cockpit mounted cameras, allowing you to fly first person so to speak, I think that the transmitters would be too heavy, maybe even for 1/5 scale. You can have miniature recording cameras that can record the view to be downloaded later as far as I know.

Nothing more needs to be said. Thanks OBD.

Thanks Homeboy, I use one of these types of formsbut found the same thing...writing the same stuff numerous times. I started using a post-it note setup that gave me reminders of who I flew with and what enemies we encountered, and only had to write down what time we entered combat and the location, but this didn't give me all the details I'd want (or need) to log every flight. This was only really for the purposes of filling in claim forms. I have recently taken to taking screenshots of the briefing, scrolling the map out so that details can be obtained of where we flew, the mission we were assigned, who my wingmen were, what aircraft we flew, time and date etc. These I saved in a desktop folder, named LS1 or LS1a, LS1b etc. LS pilot initial 1 no of mission, a and b if I took two screenshots, then another screenshot of any victories (with "Z" info displayed). Trouble is, I had to create SOOOO many folders, my pilots kept dying. Now that we can select "pilot never dies" in campaign, I think I'll use both yours and my methods, so that I can follow a pilot throughout the entire war (though I guarantee he'll be spending a LOT of time in hospital :yes: ) and have time and date, mission type, location, screenshots of mission briefing, and a written log as well. Thanks again Mark.

saltysplash, Welcome to OFF. In answer to your question, you will be asked to enlist a pilot. Choices are British, German, French, American. Next choice is Fighter or bomber. Then squadron. Once you scroll through squadrons, each squadron has the entire conflict's list of machines used by that squadron. So you may wish to fly (for example) a Sopwith Triplane. You can choose a squadron that used that aircraft if you know off hand...for example, you know RNAS 8 Sqn used it. You can then scroll down to that Sqn and select it. Alternatively, you can scroll through every British Sqn and see the compliment of aircraft they used during the war. You might see something like "Aircraft used: Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter, Nieuport 17, Sopwith Pup, Sopwith Triplane, Sopwith Camel"...you decide that you like those aircraft, and choose that squadron. You then are asked WHEN you wish to join that squadron. You can choose to enlist in 1918, and jump straight into a camel cockpit, or choose the earliest date that you can join that squadron, and you will be told that on that date, that particular squadron was based at (for instance) Vert Galant on that date, and was equipped with a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter. If you don't like that aerodrome (if say for instance, you feel it's too far from the action), you can choose an earlier or later date, or you may select another squadron with a similar aircraft use. It's all your choice. Now you enlist a pilot in a particular squadron on a particular date, be told where they are based, and what aircraft they were flying at that time. Depending on your flying skills, and if you choose to fly cautiously or aggressively, your enlisted pilot may survive a few hours, or even more. If he was successful in combat, upon return to his aerodrome, he will be presented with a Claim Form. If he fills it out with sufficient information to corroborate his claim (Number and type of aircraft destroyed, time, location, names of witnesses etc). Depending on whether you have chosen "easy - no claims" or Normal claims and promotions etc, you might receive recognition of your claims and be credited with a victory. If your wingmates did not return from the flight, your claim MAY be rejected for lack of witnesses. If you choose normal difficulty, there is a chance your pilot may be killed in combat. There is no going back...no choice given to you "Would you like to save this mission?"...you choose "No", and you re-fly it until he survives. He is dead. You suggested that you wish to fly with one squadron for the entire conflict. You can then enlist another pilot in that squadron during that time period (the time period when you choose to join a squadron are basically one month periods). You might not be able to enlist a new pilot that walks in to the squadron ready room on the day that your original pilot dies, but certainly within the same month. And there you have it. In the latest version of OFF: BHaH (version 1.32), you have the choice to select "Pilot Never Dies". In this case, you may be felled in combat on (for instance) 1st February, and you will be told that you have sustained serious injury and will be hospitalised for 24 days. Time automatically advances and then you are told that 24 days has passed, you're fit for duty. You will be ordered to the duty room for a brief on your next mission. If shot down on the other side of the lines, you may sustain injury and after you recuperate, you escape.

And yet another lengthy argument about who killed the Red Baron?

Lucky you're in an open cockpit. Breaking wind in a closed cockpit is MURDER!

Nope, sorry. I'll take on three Lothars and three Manfreds, but NOT ONE Olham. He scares me!

"Friendly Fire" (an oxymoron if ever there was one) as it is called now is a fact of war. I don't know if you could call it LMF, as the "Home Guard" chap was obviously willing to fight, just too jittery to check on the identity of his target. I read a funny article recently where a British Chinook pilot was fired on by a bunch or US Marines. He landed yards from them and exchanged blows with a Marine shouting "When was the last time you saw a f****** Iraqi in a helicopter?" "British military spokesman Group Captain Al Lockwood said: "I'm afraid it would be an RAF kind of thing to do. These guys are not known for tolerating fools gladly".

OOH Mark! You said "RoF"! OOH! I said it too! OOPS! Seriously, thanks guys for the patches, and it's a great idea to have only one "super patch" and one "hotfix patch" at any one time. I'm still 'coming to grips" with superpatch and 1.32a. Cool. Hopefully, I'll be up to speed by the time she arrives.

Damn, I need to explore this sim more. I didn't know there was an artificial horizon. Well, it's not quite an AH, but would certainly work as one. It's a moot point, I suppose, as I won't use it. I get by with three instruments...TAC, Altimeter, Air Speed Indicator. I find a compass unnecessary. You follow your waypoint line to your target, waypoint, home etc. If you have strayed from the path, and your waypoint line will insist you pass over your target AGAIN if you warp, and you think they might be a bit angry, and the AA will be horrific, I simply look at my map, travel to my 11 o'clock, 4 o'clock or whatever. Does the compass in this sim swing back and forth madly, taking FOREVER to settle after you've turned through more than 15 degrees (like they did back in them days)?

Lou, are you able to adjust the tension on your pedals (the huge "dial" in between the pedals)? Like I said, the only problem I have with mine is that I can't adjust the tension. I guess I just got used to it now, and it really is acceptable as it is out of the box. But I cannot budge mine AT ALL. I was hoping when you got yours, you would be able to report whether you were able to adjust it easily. Since then, I was bored at work, and watched HEAPS of YouTune clips, and there was a series on FlightSim hardware and software reviews (can't recall its name). The reviewer reached down to the pedals and twisted the dial using his fingertips. I got on my hands and knees and GRIPPED WITH BOTH HANDS and struggled with all my might to rotate it (even so hard that the rudder pedals moved forwards and backwards by my efforts) but I can't move the sucker. I guess I could return the product, but might be without the pedals for months (and they really ARE useful, not that they are unworkable). Maybe there is a switch or lock that you adjust, I couldn't find it. PS. You forgot to mention the leather helmet and silk scarf. THEN you'd be right there.

Try lowering your sliders a little. I think you're trying to run the sim at too high a level for your computer to cope with. Don't uninstall/reinstall just yet, try to "Reset CFS3 files" in Workshop (WARNING! This will cause you to "lose" all your pilots...but then again, so will an uninstall/reinstall). Try that first, then lower your sliders, and you can then gradually increase them if the sim plays satisfactorily after that. Good Luck

Broadside, Simple answer. No need to "avoid" it at all. If you weave and swerve, you might very well weave or swerve into the path of Archie, or collide with your wingmates that are doing the same. If you fly in a straight line at a constant height, you may give the Archie a better chance of hitting you, but I think the chances of them hitting you are reasonably slim. Has anyone here been "taken out" by Archie? Some may say yes, but you can never be sure that it wasn't a collision with your wingmates (unless I guess you're alone). I know some will attest to seeing AI wingmen being taken out by Archie as they had a look around. You will tire yourself out and run the risk of stalling your machine, with possibly no benefit. You might not be hit, but would you have not been hit if you didn't avoid Archie at all? I've never been hit by Archie (mind you, I've only been flying OFF for a month or so now...some here have been flying for years...but as you say, the AA is improved now), and I have never tried to avoid it. Speaking of avoiding projectiles and ground fire...is the dreaded "flaming onions" modelled in OFF? I'd love to see that.

I have been a passenger in a Tiger Moth that stunted around (over the grave of Rex Boyden, Aussie RNAS pilot - a bit of a "tribute" I suppose) and travelling and stunting in an open air cockpit is noisy engine-wise, but not so much wind noise as when I ride my motorcycle (I always ride with the visor up unless it's raining). Noisy motorcycle too, but less noticeable than wind noise unless you are REALLY "fanging it". I don't use earplugs, as my hearing is already shot to bits, a result of playing in a band when I was a kid, and working for Qantas on the tarmac. I do sometimes wear my iPod earphones (might be illegal, I'm not sure. But the reason that it would be illegal is if it prevents you hearing emergency vehicle sirens, or the warning of the horn on a car). Anyway. A motorcycle helmet reduces ambient noise a lot, but "funnels" the wind into your ears if you ride with the visor up. Like Bullethead suggested, in an open air cockpit, all you can hear is the engine noise, though you can hear the wind if the engine is cut off or idled right down. I think the "realistic sounds" setting in Workshop is pretty good, and if the devs are working on the cockpit sounds, that's great.

I was transferring my photos from my desktop to my laptop when I came across these, and thought they'd be very useful to those of you that like to skin French Escadrilles. Hope they're of use to someone.

Was just pulling your leg. You guys have done an outstanding job. EVERYONE has glowing reports on the new patch. Kudos devs. Great job. And thanks for hanging around here more often than normal to hold our hand if we need assistance (but seriously, you guys make it EASY).

I am waiting for the devs to jump on here and go... "HAH! No one saw it. We added the Fokker D.VIII and a Sopwith Snipe AND NO-ONE NOTICED!" I think we should all go exploring. PS I got my new laptop and installed OFF BHaH on there, and just installed the patches. Off to test them out now (at 04:32 am - well I AM on holidays! YAY!)

Winder, Yes, like I metioned in my thread on "IT WON'T WORK!!! WAH!!" I just rebooted the sucker, and it suddenly decided that the disc was indeed a gen-oo-ine CFS3 disc, and away she went. Still have to re-tweak it though, but DAMN she looks and goes good. LOVE this sim. Every day I'm learning new stuff to try or experiment with. I just remapped two commands (Go to virtual cockpit and centre TrackIR) onto one joystick button. Brilliant. And now she looks and sounds better. Sigh.

I suppose you people have seen this type of thread many times. I know I have. The sim won't recognize my CFS3 disc anymore. All I did since last time was to remove the CFS3 disc to play another game (Arma II - great BTW). So today I thought I'd get back in the air. I installed v 1.32 and then the mini patch 1.32a, looked at the new interface (nice!). Now it won't run at all. I thought I might be able to get by with just a CFS3 reset in Workshop, but sadly that didn't fix it. I only had Lt Test Pilot as an active pilot, so I didn't mind losing all my pilots (they had all previously "gone west"). Really didn't even mind having to tweak it up again. Thought it would be good to start from scratch and tweak one thing at a time and monitor my FPS rate. I have seen everyone saying how good the new patch is, and no-one complaining that it killed their sim, so I guess it's just me. Is there any more quick fixes I can try before I am forced to uninstall/reinstall? IF I do need to uninstall/reinstall (first time BTW, though I did a fresh install on this new computer), where do the little files hide that I need to completely remove? You know the ones...you use the uninstall feature, but some files linger around to harrass you and prevent a successful installation.

Winder, PC's are indeed very weird things. I hope you didn't take this the wrong way, as I have never had any trouble with installing, tweaking, updating of OFF in any way, though many here have done (I guess that's the very reason for this forum). Yes, weird indeed. I thought to myself "what's the single most easiest thing you can think of to reset things back to the way it was?" No, not to uninstall, or to go to an earlier system restore point. Umm... Reboot. So, I rebooted, now the sim works again! Can I get an "Amen!"? But resetting the CFS3 files has messed around with what I messed around with. The targetted enemy blip is back to default yellow, and the TAC size has returned to default. I need to go adjust my sim back the way I like it. BUT IT WORKS NOW. Sweet! Oh, and I did download CCleaner. It didn't help me with this "problem" as it "righted" itself when I rebooted, but now it's there to assist me in other ventures. Thanks for all the help gentelemen.

Duce, Thanks for that. You're a bloody genius mate. I just re-mapped my joystick. Great idea. Previously had it mapped to two buttons, Now on one. (It didn't make a huge difference to me that it might make to some. I have a Saitek X52, and as such have HEAPS of buttons, toggles etc to program, plus a programmable gaming keyboard, so i got 5 fire buttons, two hat switches three triggers and six toggles on my joystick, a mouse pointer and click, a slider potentiometer, two rotating trim devices, a hat switch a clutch button and one other button on my throttle. plus 18 programmable keys on my keyboard). Those that have only two or three programmable buttons will LOVE this idea, as do I. Brilliant! Thank you again. I also got the player/target view working great now too. But I reset my CFS3 in the workshop, so I need to get back in to viewui file and resize my TAC, recolour the targetted enemy, and dump my compass overboard from my HUD.

Agreed. The AA looks great. I just had a quick combat, and because all my labels were turned off (because I reset my CFS3 in the workshop) and I didn't have to squint at all. The flak bursts told me exactly where the enemy were. Looked good, sounded good too. Winder, I'm guessing you, Pol, OVS and the other devs that hang around here are going to get pretty sick of the pats on the back you're going to get as everybody installs this new version. No. No, I don't suppose you will. You deserve them all.

SFP1Ace, You seem to have answered your own question. You would prefer a better immersion as opposed to eye candy. You are in the right place. Don't get me wrong...OFF graphics are bloody great. There's plenty of good eye candy here. In answer to your questions... 6. Off's campaign is fully dynamic. You will be assigned new aircraft on occasions, you will be ordered to fly to your new aerodrome after a "push" moves the front lines or to back up areas where the enemy are concentrating their forces in preparation for a push. The front lines move. I really can't answer the rest of the questions sufficiently well, as I'm not able. I won't go into an OFF Vs RoF battle...no-one here will, or should. This forum is for OFF users. Sure, you can ask us questions on OFF as you wish, but it would be nicer to not compare the two, as no-one here wants to "bash" RoF or promote it.

Winder, You got me all wrong in the first place. I don't waggle my rudder madly back and forth, it is calculated and cool as I can be when I'm about to fly into the ground. I DO apply opposite rudder only, and not left, right, left, right. I only swap them over when your rotational direction alters. I find the Sopwith 1 1/2 strutter a good example of this. If you're climbing as hard as you can in her, keeping her just above stall speed, when she does go, she will wallow to the left, then right, then left etc until her speed comes up again. I apply opposite rudder each cycle, and the amount that she yaws left and right gradually lessens, and her speed increases, and you're OK. I MUST now most humbly apologise for any pilots I have killed (from this forum), as I did inadvertently and quite mistakenly announce to all and sundry that you apply "same side" rudder to counteract a spin. This is clearly wrong, and opposite rudder must be applied of course. I hope no poor bugger died because of my failure to proof read my post correctly. If so, I apologise. It is now corrected in my original post. uncleal, If you had read the thread, you'd find out that Les Holden did not fly an all red SE5a to "pretend" he was as good as the Rittmeister, nor to mock him. He was a combat instructor, not a flight instructor. He taught rookies how to fight aerial combat and needed a brightly coloured aircraft so that he was more visible to the rookies, and to distinguish himself as an "enemy", and not part of their flight. It was primarily so they didn't crash into him. "the instructors were constantly in danger of being flown into. As a result they painted their aircraft bright colours so they could be easily seen." Why red you ask? Was it to "mock" Herr Rittmeister? I doubt it. All the paint around a British Aerodrome would be drab olives, greens and browns for camoflage of their aircraft and aerodrome buildings. The other paints available were red and blue (for the roundels). An all blue aircraft may not stand out well enough on a blue sky sorta day, so I guess red was a natural choice.

Emile, I think that OFF will work in the way you want it to on multiple monitors. I know the way you are running your monitors for FSX. You can drag your dials and gauges and buttons etc onto a seperate monitor and use either one main window monitor, or stretch it out over two for your general forward views. I believe OFF will work with two or three monitors using triple head to go. peterjh has apparently successfully used it for some time now. To drag certain gauges to a second or even third monitor will possibly work I think. If you're running TH2GO with three monitors, and have trackIR4 or 5, all you need to do is to look down for your instrument panel or toggle your heads up display. I know you can easily do that in a Cessna, or even a 747, but you might find it difficult to look down during heated combat. You can call up a Heads Up Display (F5) or toggle other info (Z) to get time, coordinates, speed etc, and can also move your gauges around the monitor by clicking and dragging them, dropping gauges over the side that you don't use etc. You are able to drag the HUD display and Z toggle info around your screen if you are only running one monitor, so I'm guessing you will be able to drag them to a second or even third. You are able to adjust the size of your TAC (radar-like tactical display) and re-position it. If you are able to drag your gauges around your PRIMARY screen, you MAY be able to drag them across to a secondary screen. I dont see why not. The TH2GO merely emulates a 3840 wide screen. All I can suggest is for you to try it.