peter01

Hmm, that's what I wrote in post #3.

Perplexing problem trek. I'd say there is nothing wrong with the skins or where you are placing them - as the game can read them - and all skins that worked in FE1 work in FE2. I ported all mine across, all are fine tho some have minor individual issues that all come up as "white" and decals need to be set up. So ... have you modded any graphical settings for the game by editing files, or downloaded and installed stuff that does? Perhaps in the Effects Folder that worked for FE1, but may not for FE2? It certainly seeems like that to me ... your problem is an unusual one. If so undo. If you know what files or even folders, just move them all into a temp directory until you sort out your problems, the game ALWAYS reverts to the stock files/folders in the .cat files - just keep the aircraft folder, ie, objects/aircraft folder contents only, and try the skins again. If it works start adding files/folders to see which one is the problem. It is more 'n likely something in the Effects folder. Or re-install the game and try adding skins again before adding/modding anything else. I can't imagine it is anything else (eg graphics card or card settings, or in-game graphics settings) except some mods or changes you made if you can see stock skins okay.

You don't need to that anymore gumpy - the game now reads all subfolders for texture files and then adds them to the ini. As you can select the skins in-game trek, then they are in the right spot and being read by the game. But do you have the the skins in the right plane folder? Eg, you will get white (not black) planes if you place an Albatros Dv skin in the Albatros Dva folder. Done this a few times myself. But have never have seen a black plane, just white, if the game doesn't like the skin so could be something else.

Tried playing a couple of addon campaigns in FE1, first time for a couple of months, and get crashes immediately in loading screen on first mission. Tried a stock campaign, and it crashes after exiting first mission. Anyone else having problems? The same campaigns work fine in FE2 so far.

LOL. Sorry about that. I think there is some repressed demand for individual Dh2 skins tho . It was the first addon plane if I recollect correctly, but very few skins done, or at least none that really grab you (like yours quack ) Bucky and I are just the vocal agitators . Bye the bye, quack or Bucky, what colour exactly is TKs Camel - not PC10? Something else? Is it realistic? I generally see Camels in PC10, and of course the Snipe in PC10 too .

"2. You have clear doped fabric side panels on the nacelles. Photos show that they were probably painted PC10. Incidentally, it's a moot point as to whether the metal parts of the nacelle were painted PC10 or medium grey. It probably differed from plane to plane. But I'd go with the PC10. 3. You have all non striped struts in natural wood. They should all be battleship grey except the undercarriage struts which were usually (but not always) PC10." Looking good quack. As you have done some in dope and wood quack, whether or not you change them (Bucky is generally right), could you please keep them and make them available for download . I like them, they are good, and pretty reasonable for that time period. Are you doing the "DH 2 5964 of Maj Lanoe G Hawker, No 24 Sqn, Bertangles, November 1916" with the dope on the rudder and in PC10 (if your going to do some in PC10)? Everybody would want that one, wouldn't they ? It's a nice looker too.

The Nie 24-27s skins are superb . Beautifully done camo, masterfully done squadron and national insignia, an excellent job. I think the Silver skin that we had is nicely done and accurate, but unfortunately the colours in FE are muted and it just didn't come across as well as it could or should have. FE could look very gloomy too (before Jan's new terrain), and the silver scheme didn't help. I hardly flew these these planes before - but they now are one of my favourites, without a doubt, a complete transformation. Great skinning quack. And you are certainly making a huge difference to my enjoyment of game with all the skins - at least half of mine default to your skins. Many thanks. So, what's next? Just kidding .

Thanks quack.

The only setback to me in terms of FMs is that the ones I did were not designed for FE2 whiteknight. They work fine, not obsolete at all, seem good, but IF I designed them for FE2 they would be better . Already starting to improve them, which is the second point - it's easier doing FMs for FE2. But TK made some minor changes to the AI in the FE2 patch - doesn't make anything obsolete, in fact it is an improvement, so good. Unfortunately, my AI are very finely tuned and about as capable as you want them I think, yet the change makes 'em tougher! Minor issue really, but it just reconfirms that every time TK puts out a patch or expansion pack, it usually necessitates some FM rework. Even minor rework when there are 100 planes or so is not a trivial task .

It works differently to the FE1 one. Create a desktop shortcut for "CatPack", open folder with .cat file, and drag (select with mouse-hold right button down then drag)the .cat file onto the "Catpack" icon, then select "open with". If it states something like cannot create index file and aborts, delete any index files in the .cat file directory, and do again. Alternatively, maybe you have an older OS?

Hmm, sorta funny given I started this thread, but the campaigns in FE2 patch work fine for me. Just a question: do your add-on third party campaigns work? These are fine for me too. Similar specs - XP SP3 Home.

TK has made changes to the AI in the FE2 patch. Subtle, but very nice. They use throttle better. Good for the AI generally, but problem for mine - they zoom around quicker. But easily fixed. They are also better shots! The AI flying a long time with damaged engines isn't gone, but far far better and a nice balance, and some do nice forced landings, seems improved. They don't appear to fight back as previously without working engines, they either just concentrate on a forced landing or fly off and crash - but lose height quicker than before, hence crash faster. Minor improvements, but they make a difference. But my great AI experience? Well I have never had a good dogfight once you get to 300-400ft. The AI gives up. It seems TK has improved this. I started the dogfight against an Alb D2 in a Spad 7 at 3000ft, went down to 300ft over 5 mins (the Alb D2s tend to dive to get out of trouble), and as always, I thought it was over as it usually is. Not so. I peppered the Alb D2 at first thinking I would finish him off, but it then climbed to 600-700ft (never happened before to me, unless I left it alone or coerced it to go back up), I followed, and the Alb started attacking me again. This was repeated several times for 5 mins or more, and I was finally shot me by the Alb diving from 400ft at me at 200ft - unusual too, maybe never seen this either. It was great - partly because this has never happened before, and partly because it was a lot of fun having a tough dogfight at tree top level (well, tall tree top level). TK has made a number of improvements with FE2. Apart from the graphics, all subtle, but it is indeed a major improvement over FE1. If you like or play FE a lot, definitely get FE2.

Yeah, I know about the decals, but still great. Works very well with the various allied squadron insignia (US especially). Neat. Glad to hear about the Dh2 - it needs a new skin or two. The default is good, but ... I hope you do some other colours too like the Bristol Scout, I think the Dh2 would be a favourite of many. BTW, the N24Bis has a different tail to all the rest, and because it is different (slightly), I like it - maybe the nicest looking one too. But unfortunately your new camo doesn't cover the elevators completely, and the rudder numbering is too high.

Know you have a lot going, but ... I decided to do a few more N24/27s FMs after a discussion with Bucky, I only use the 2-Vickers version in my game. But EMiD did 6 versions in total. Now that I have a few going, I realise why I didn't like too many of these in the game. There is only one good skin, a pretty good silver one, but it does get very boring after a while. EMiD has stated anyone is welcome to do skins for his planes. No need to get approval.

Hi Wilches. Sorry, but I'm FM'd out, and taking a break. The Caproni would take some effort, it needs to be redone completely for the FE Expansion Pack sytle FMs. It is an original FE FM and they don't work anymore. FMs for either large bombers or earlier planes are harder - and this is an "and". Maybe down the track.

Getting better and better. The Aldis is nicer than before, and the spins are an improvement. TK is putting some time into this version.

Great stuff quack.

They are available here FE1 & FE2 FMs BristolM1C- FE8-FokD8-Schuckert

File Name: FE1 & FE2 FMs BristolM1C- FE8-FokD8-Schuckert File Submitter: peter01 File Submitted: 16 Mar 2010 File Category: Flight Models FMs for either FE1 or FE2. I knew I had these somewhere, and found them on a backup drive. They were done last December. Just refined, tweaked and tested them a bit, and ... they are ready to fly. New FMs for the Bristol M1C, Fe8, Fokker D8, Schuckert D3. The Bristol M1C is very nice, has a new gun, and is equal in capability to my Albatros D3. The FE8 has a couple of issues - on takeoff, stalls - but still nice, and in capability about the equal to my Halberstadt D3. The Fokker D8 is the nicest FM I have done for this plane, it is very capable, about the equal to my Camels. Snipes vs Fokker D8s are fun. The Schuckert D3 is a little less capable than the Fokker D8. IMPORTANT ========= For FE1 you must have installed the FE1 game files from "108 FE1 and/or FE2 FMs March 2010" in the Flight Models download section here. 108 FE1 and/or FE2 FMs March 2010 For FE2 you must have installed the FE2 game files "REALLY FIXED FE2 Game Files and 4 FE2 FMs 2010" in the Flight Models download section here. REALLY FIXED FE2 Game Files and 4 FE2 FMs 2010 INSTALLATION ============ 1) I recommend you backup the folders of the above aircraft before installing. 2) Place all the files from this download into the corresponding aircraft directories. Have fun. Peter01 March 2010 Click here to download this file

File Name: REALLY FIXED FE2 Game Files and 4 FE2 FMs 2010 File Submitter: peter01 File Submitted: 16 Mar 2010 File Category: Flight Models Ahh, the last "Fixed" FE2 game file download didn't actually fix the loadout guns, it actually didn't work at all - so here's a fix that does. Just noticed that FE2 creates a directory for GUNS and without that included the new guns (that don't jam) don't work! That directory is now included. March 16th ************************************************************************************************************************************ An update, mainly to fix gun jams on gunpod/loadout guns in FE2. Jams didn't happen much to me before, but do now for some planes. I *think* Thirdwire may have implemented this in a more complex manner than I first assumed, perhaps jams for loadout guns depend on rated mach limits for individual planes. Please install both gundata files and the entire "Weapons" folder in your "Objects" folder, as per the zip directory structure. This will give the loadout/gunpod guns 99% reliability - they will jam, but very rarely. Sorry about that, and as a bonus here are fours FMs solely for FE2. You will have a problem if you install in FE1! Se5a with gunsight. If you do not like, just delete the SE5A_LOADOUT file in the Se5a folder. It will revert back to the normal file that comes with the game with no added gunsight. I couldn't remove the second gunsight that comes with the model, it appears to be part of another graphic. MSLOL - Morane Two Seater with wing mounted Lewis - this one now comes with a gunsight too. Fokker DR1. Special FM for FE2, this one feels better in FE2. Nieuport16LateV. Similar to previous but this includes several more loadouts that were not possible in FE1 (last upload was for both games), including Dual Lewis on wings. Thanks to P10ppy for supplying the gunsights, as well as describing how to implement them. Peter01 March 2010. Click here to download this file

Ahh, the last "Fixed" FE2 game file download didn't actually fix the loadout guns, it actually didn't work at all - so this is a fix that does. Should be available here shortly REALLY FIXED FE2 Game Files and 4 FE2 FMs 2010 Just noticed that FE2 creates a directory for GUNS and without that included the new guns (that don't jam) don't work! In fact the one I did a couple of weeks ago wouldn't have worked either without that directory . The "REALLY FIXED ..." includes that GUNS directory. Live and learn, I guess .

Should be available here shortly. I have kept this seperate. It just effects jams in some planes for FE2. FIXED FE2 Game Files and 4 FE2 FMs March 2010 An update, mainly to fix gun jams on gunpod/loadout guns in FE2. Jams didn't happen much to me before, but do now for some planes. I *think* Thirdwire may have implemented this in a more complex manner than I first assumed, perhaps jams for loadout guns depend on rated mach limits for individual planes as it happens at higher speeds but only for certain planes. Please install both gundata files and the entire "Weapons" folder in your "Objects" folder, as per the zip directory structure. This will give the loadout/gunpod guns 99% reliability - they will jam, but very rarely. Sorry about that, and as a bonus here are fours FMs solely for FE2. You will have a problem if you install in FE1! Se5a with gunsight. If you do not like, just delete the SE5A_LOADOUT file in the Se5a folder. It will revert back to the normal file that comes with the game with no added gunsight. I couldn't remove the second gunsight that comes with the model, it appears to be part of another graphic. MSLOL - Morane Two Seater with wing mounted Lewis - this one now comes with a gunsight too. Fokker DR1. Special FM for FE2, this one feels considerably better for FE2. Nieuport16LateV. Similar to previous but this includes several more loadouts that were not possible in FE1 (last upload was for both games), including Dual Lewis on wings. Thanks to P10ppy for supplying the gunsights, as well as describing how to implement them.

I'm sure I'm the only one that moves plane files from FE2 to FE1 , but don't do it, you will have problems. Moving from FE1 to FE2 seems okay however. The plane .ini file or the loadout.ini files are the problems, and if you have flown them in FE2 they then don't work in FE1. The files appear corrupted after starting FE1 with these moved plane files. If the .ini file is corrupted you won't see the plane in your flyable plane list. If the loadout file gets corrupted you can't use any loadouts. It can be both or either, but not for every plane . I can understand it for TKs planes - the lods are different for FE2 - but it happens to addon planes too.