VonS

Well, flying in FE2 always brings the modding addiction out in me so I'm currently working on a mini, ver. 9.9 update of the FM pack before I tinker with my early WW2 install for SF2. Included will be the atmospherics tweaks posted above (as well as some subtle changes to clouds), also some more subtle changes to balloon explosions, for consistency, and lockout speeds will be included for control surfaces on the following early aircraft (Caudron, Taube, Longhorn, Shorthorn, HF.20, HF.20u, Pfalz E.I, MS type G 25/45/60hp, MS type H, MS L early one-seater, MS L early two-seater, Pfalz E.II, Pfalz E.III, MS type N, Fokk. E.Ia (Parabellum), Fokk. E.II (Spandau), Fokk. E.IIa (Parabellum), MS L late one-seater, MS L late two-seater). Will also include some tweaks to the AI for the Pfalz Parasol since it sometimes tries to climb too quickly, and aileron and rudder sensitivity have been further reduced on the Alb. D.II Oeffag. Should be enough for a mini-update. FM tweaks for the Snipe and some two-seaters that I've never touched on CombatAce will follow later in a bigger ver. 10.0 update. Von S Improved atmospherics Improved mesh numbers and other entries in the flightengine.ini (will provide a mid-range and higher-end flightengine.ini) - these tweaks are particularly good for sightseeing and expansive vistas More tinkering with balloon explosions Let's not forget the observer with parachute tweak for immersion

Yes they flap in the wind and look quite nice. Von S

I appreciate the randomness of the mission generator too. One word of advice - if using the various formation.ini files included with my FM update pack, be aware that the one for lowest congestion/scarcity of aircraft, that often creates lone-wolf single missions, may sometimes crash FE2 (perhaps FE1/FEgold too) depending on the mission type selected. While not a big problem, it's worth being aware of. I particularly like lone-wolf missions for the early war, with hardly any aircraft in the sky for miles and miles, as historical. I will see if I can somehow combine commands included in the missioncontrol.ini and formation.ini files, for a future ver. of the FM pack - although I will be somewhat busy with my early WW2 install for SF2, for a while. Happy flying, Von S

Been tinkering some more with the environsys files for FE2, also for WW2 and Cold War installs in SF2 - will eventually include this with a ver. 10.0 of the FE2 FM update pack. Have now gotten a more subtle blue color for noon and afternoon skies in FE2, and a slightly more subtle horizon color (always thought the default blue was a little too saturated). Will also tinker further with explosion effects for observation balloons soon...ideally I'd like to get an effect between the one included around ver. 9.0 of my FM pack, and the very small effect included around ver. 9.5. Notice also the nice spiral that the downed Mosca MB-bis is making in one of the pics. - that's one of the many things I love about FE2 - destroyed aircraft follow the physics of flight - no scripted crashes in FE2/SF2 that use only a limited number of patterns. There was also a Spad A.2 that went into a flat spin after being flamed but I didn't have time to take a pic. in the excitement of the battle. Happy flying, Von S P.S. These pics are with dx10 on (from the BootCamp side of the Mac).

Can't comment specifically on the A-10 but the physics largely depend on the aircraft type. Lighter aircraft with a large wing area (think WW1) will usually turn in the direction of the rudder movement and also go slightly nose up, particularly with all-flying rudders that lack a vertical stabilizer. Heavier aircraft made of metal instead of wood might display more yaw but less movement, initially, in the direction of the rudder turn. Plus there are further variations - which depend on rudder sensitivity and max left/right movement of the rudder (for example, rudders on Tomahawks and Kittyhawks being more sensitive than on something like the Jug). By sensitive I mean more rudder-induced directional change, initially, than only yawing left/right. Rudder sensitivity, directional or yaw-related, is probably the most irritating thing to tweak in the data inis, but the results are worth it. Happy flying, Von S

Had some free time to try out gTerl's latest ver. 2.1 of the Caporetto terrain on the Mac and this map is great. This time I booted into the Mac side of the Mac Pro (2013) so the pics. below are from FE2 in WineSkin. Some things to tinker with for those running FE2 in WineSkin on a beefier computer - freely increase the resolution from 1600 x 900 to 1920 x1080 in the options. ini file as I did, force DX9 on (with the "True" command) - since WineSkin doesn't like DX10 for some reason - and force v-sync off. Average fps are around 50-60, not bad considering that the Mac side doesn't even take advantage of video crossover so I was only using 6 GB of vid-ram on a single FirePro card, plus I'm running it in the WineSkin wrapper too. Obviously it's better on the Windows side but I think it looks fine even at medium graphics settings as in the pics. below, and it's easier to set up left/right stereo sound on the Mac side for further immersion. Von S Nothing worse than seeing your flight mate going down in a fireball (I was flying the E.III here since the E.II, my favorite, is not available historically in the Italian theater) Managed to get a pesky Bullet even though the E.III is slower The Bullet's pilot eventually bailed out, with no parachute, once it turned into a fireball Managed to put another fellow into a stalling flat spin but didn't bother to strafe him gTerl's 'dromes are worthy of some nice sight-seeing Note to self, do not admire enemy airfields in FE2 in the future (two Nieup. 12 were coming in for a landing apparently, or had snuck up somehow) I prefer getting two-seaters from below, just in case the observer is a good shot He glided off and eventually made a fairly smooth landing Didn't bother tangling with the other Nieup. 12 but got out of there as soon as possible, to admire more of the scenery NOTE: some of the trees in the pics. are from Geezer's enhancement pack for the Italian terrains, available under the New Aircraft thread (can't remember the page now) - also used is the higher quality flightengine.ini file from my FM update pack, still giving decent frame rates if the graphics settings are kept at medium, in WineSkin.

Unless Geezer embedded the latest pilot models into the earlier pages of this "New Aircraft" thread...I don't think they were officially released. Have PM-ed you what I have (of the newest WW1 pilots) in my Pilots folder in FE2. The Stachel model is there too. Von S

Good info. gents' - this will probably be my (new) future joystick, and as far as I remember it has the twist rudder function too which should come in handy. I still use the Logitech Attack 3d, with the numbers 4 and 5 buttons mapped for left/right rudder. The Attack 3d developed some looseness eventually with the down axis (down elevator), but I managed to solve that with a bit of broken toothpick glued into the loosened plastic socket for the down axis , giving me about 10% down axis by default which now translates to level elevator in FE2/SF2. EDIT: I think there's a (Chinese) knockoff of the Extreme 3d Pro available on Amazon (can't remember the long name of that model now), that also includes force feedback and the twist rudder, but I'm apprehensive about tossing out 50 dollars on a no-name imitation. Happy flying and patching, Von S

The mini-modular approach, yes - I've got a similar set up and it's a more workable way of "doing WW2" in SF2 instead of the all or nothing approach I usually take with WW1 in FE2. Small theaters, smaller groups of aircraft per theater, etc. for WW2 in SF2 - this way I can tweak/tune the FMs in packages and at least have something that looks like a WW2 install. In terms of overall impressions...yes, SF2 works best for the jet age...but the FMs for prop aircraft in SF2 are just fine and can be hammered out well enough (although it is time consuming). Another peculiarity worth being aware of is that, unless entire data inis are revamped, don't assume that real hp/engine watt numbers will give the same "real" results in SF2 right off the bat - I've had to engine-up several of the FM tweaks in my Cold War prop and 1937-1941 packs, and then to put in place speed caps, max. Mach no. caps, etc. This gives, for example, more realistic climb rates and zoom climb lengths, together with tweaking of climb data for airfoils, etc. Another rule I learned...easier to re-tweak FE2 data inis for SF2 than to retrofit SF2 data inis into FE2 (your mileage may vary on this). Can WW2 SF2 surpass IL-2 WW2 (both the 1946 sim and the newer IL-2 packages)?...probably not at this point - but if installed in small modules it's workable for the casual WW2 flyer and, honestly, I've never had more enjoyable WW2 dogfights than in SF2 - and that's saying much since I'm usually a WW1 guy . Von S

Yes Win7 is probably the high point of Windows, I'm keeping a copy of Win7 Ultimate Edition around if I really need it. Install updates slowly in Win10 and it shouldn't break too many things with games and sims. Haven't tested the ENB dx9 extension with other sims but I will try it out with Wings Over Flanders Fields - will be interesting to see if it improves frame rates there too. Might also test it with Rise of Flight - since that sim uses dx9 too. EDIT: ENB dx9 extension does not work well with WOFFue, gives corrupt landscape textures and lowers framerates - best is to use the standard dx9 dll that comes with WOFFue. Didn't bother testing with ROFue since it probably wouldn't be of any benefit. Von S

Glad the info. was helpful, a similar procedure is good to apply, if necessary, to SF2 too - although it might not be necessary for SF2. Also, if having other trouble with FE2 on Win10, I recommend running it (and SF2) in Win7 compatibility mode. Happy flying, Von S

A few more tweaks and then maybe one more biplane for the 1937 - 1941 FM package...perhaps Stephen's Polikarpov I-15. Included MaxG limits for the Mk.1 Gladiator and did a quick Chinese skin too (thank you Paint3D ) - should work well now for mto and pto installs in SF2. Happy flying, Von S

Some tests under way...tweaking the FM for Geezer's Mk.I Gladiator, available for FE2, to work well in SF2...will include this eventually with my 1937 - 1941 FM pack. Doesn't hurt to have a biplane or two in that package. Top speed around 410 kph at around 4200 m alt in SF2, and a climb rate around 10 m/s or so, estimated, if you climb at a speed of about 200 to 220 kph. Not bad at all for a 1930s aircraft. Too bad I can't remove the cockpit canopy since it doesn't open/close anyway, and I think the model is lacking damage tga files, but no big deal - it's a fun aircraft and can hold its own against 1930s monoplane types (I'd say it's better than the early monoplanes). Von S

Thank you for this great skin - wasn't even aware of Stephen's I-15 model...might tinker with the data ini in the future so that I can set this one up in my SF2 Pacific theater install...should be a good complement to the Chinese-flown Polikarpov I have running in that install, and it doesn't hurt to have at least one biplane in that late 1930s' theater. Happy flying, Von S

Hi Stephen, yes the shadows-off part is a long story. I have them set to "medium" in SF2 since I installed it directly onto my Mac Pro 2013 (trash can model) in BootCamp - but FE2 I used to run originally on my Mac Mini (2012) with an integrated vid card (Intel HD 4000) where it was a good idea to keep shadows turned off to improve fps. Now that I've transferred FE2 to the Mac Pro too, I'll eventually get to turning on the shadows - but will probably leave shadows at medium settings since they look fine that way. I just hope I didn't set shadows to false in the general ini files for my 200+ aircraft that I fly in FE2 since that will be a slow process to turn shadows back on. Also I might leave shadows off for any FE1 era aircraft since, as far as I can tell in SF2, SF1 era aircraft with shadows on sometimes cast a strange, thin, long line to the ground (I think this was addressed somewhere in the SF2 or FE2 threads a while back, that it's actually the pilot's shadow that should be turned off on older aircraft, not the aircraft shadow itself). Will look into it eventually. Von S

Thank you Jackson. Fully modded, FE2 is an amazing flight sim and the visuals are great too. I'm flying it again more and more after a small break to do some tweaks for WOFFue. Latest pics. from the Eastern front, an afternoon mission against the rare Pfalz and Fokker Eindecker, and then a lone-wolf mission early in the morning (using the modified mission control and formation ini files from my FM update pack to give lonely and often empty skies, as historical for these obscure theaters). Lone-wolf missions are particularly challenging. I'm thinking of flying a bunch of missions, this time for the Eastern front, using my DiD Rules that I came up with a while back, for even more immersion (https://combatace.com/forums/topic/92423-did-style-single-missions-for-fe2/). Happy flying, Von S

Did some flying again this weekend, first in ROF, but then I ended up spending more time in SF2 and FE2. ROF is definitely a respectable sim with great damage modeling, but I had much more fun in SF2 and FE2. Also the AI is I think noticeably better in the TW sims, particularly in FE2 where, depending on skill, aircraft sometimes disengage and try to head for home, or temporarily disengage and then jump back into the fray. Von S

Spent some time again this weekend in the Pacific theater and managed to capture a couple of nice shots of the early Tomahawk. I should probably start doing some FM tweaks for a small selection of two-engined aircraft, for an extension of my 1937 - 1941 package for SF2, but the flying is just too addictive. Von S

While FE2 runs fine on "average" settings on an Intel HD 4000 integrated vid card (the 4000 dates to about 2012 or 2013) - SF2 maxes out at about 10 fps on the same card. The HD 3000 is likely even worse. I recommend running SF2 on a discrete graphics card, or two. Also, for good measure, download the following generic ENB package (http://enbdev.com/download_mod_generic.htm), and dump the "d3d9.dll" located in that package in the "WrapperVersion" folder directly into your SF2 game folder/directory (not into the user folder/directory). Same tip applies to FE2 on Windows 7/8.1/10 - has improved frame rates both in WineSkin and on the BootCamp (Windows) side of my 2013 Mac Pro for the TW series of sims. (Thank you gTerl for mentioning this tip a while back on the FE2 forums.) Happy flying gents', Von S NOTE: FE2 works fine in either WineSkin or BootCamp...SF2 I recommend not installing in WineSkin since the ENB package doesn't seem to make a difference for SF2 in WineSkin (better to do a direct Windows install and then apply the ENB magic).

After finishing up with some FM tweaks for WOFFue, it's always nice to come back to the TW series of sims. The early morning atmospheric shots never cease to amaze me in SF2 (and in FE2). Some far eastern action in 1941 with the Japanese Me109 (E7) - a tweak of the A-Team E8. Happy flying, Von S

There's a kind of magic to dogfights in FE2 that I think (still) make it one of the best WW1 flight sims out there. Some pics. below, enjoying early war scenarios with ver. 3 of Stephen's Galicia terrain (and ver. 9.7 of my FM pack for FE2). Happy flying, Von S

On a related note, those interested in flying the early Me109 variants in FE2 might want to check over the tweaked FMs for them, available in my SF2 (1937 - 1941) FM update pack under the SF2 threads. Keep in mind that those tweaks were tested, however, only in SF2. One thing that may be necessary is to cap the mach limit number more extremely (to lower it) and to reduce overall engine output too, in order to get historical top speeds in FE2 - I'm willing to look over those data inis for a SCW scenario in FE2 eventually...although currently I can't make any promises regarding other FMs for other SCW aircraft since I'm already swamped with FMs - have to go over several FMs for WOFFue, then a part two (two-engined aircraft) for a 1937-41 scenario in SF2, and then finally I have to revisit FE2 and start working on a ver. 10.0 of the FM update pack. Fun times ahead. At any rate, a SCW scenario is a welcome addition indeed to FE2! Happy flying all, Von S

Forgot to tweak the FM for this beauty, for the Cold War Prop FM pack...will upload it soon with a ver. 1.2 of the package. Have also increased sensitivity of the rudder on the P-47M and N types, with slightly snappier aileron response on the type N too, and desensitized aileron response on the type M, as well as on the earlier D "Razorback" sprint upgrade included with the pack. The 47N is a bit slower than the M variant but still very impressive. Top speed around the 750s kph at about 9800 m alt...one of the best high-alt. prop aircraft in the package now. Does great in dogfights against the Lavochkin 11 if you maintain energy...the LA-9 is a bit more challenging but still workable if you fly the Jug smoothly. Happy flying, Von S

Big update packs with Geezer's latest works-in-progress available on pages 17 and 18 of the new aircraft thread...including the Pfalz D.III and IIIa, and extra skins for the IIIa variant. Latest Caudron R.11 available on page 23 of the same thread, including newer skins by Geezer for one of the Nieups. posted on pages 17/18. Bleriot XI type 2 never released, not even in alpha form - if Geezer ever sends us the relevant files for that one, I'll get to work on the FM for it (but not before late August, currently out of town with internet access only on a netbook ). Von S

I'm sure the forums will liven up in the fall gents' - FE2 is a niche sim within an already niche community of WWI sim enthusiasts, so I'm not too worried. I'm sure that Stephen and gTerl are working on things behind the scenes as they find time, perhaps some updated terrains or aircraft eventually. I will roll out a ver. 10.0 update of the FM pack either this fall or early next year - have to look at the Snipe, also several two-seaters that I never touched, and I'm thinking of whether or not to look at the Bortdafarm Fokk. D.III late variant with the ailerons. There's also a Junkers J.1 that Geezer did which is pretty much complete but it could use a skin or two - that could be released eventually under the "new aircraft" thread, although the Junkers is probably not high priority in the sim since it is only a ground-attack aircraft. Other things that need tweaking include the spinning/static prop on Geezer's latest Nieup. 28 model, available under the new aircraft thread, and it sure would be nice if we eventually get a Bleriot XI somewhere down the road - we've been waiting for that one a long time. I'm a little slow with the ver. 10.0 FM update pack since I'm juggling other tweaks currently...would like to comb over the early Nieups, 200hp Alb. D.Va, also the new Fokk. D.VI and the Spad 13 types for WOFFue. After that I want to finish up with a "Part II" of my early WW2 prop tweaks package for SF2, focusing on some two-engined bombers and a cargo aircraft or two, for immersion...then I'll circle back to the ver. 10.0 FM pack for FE2. Have also been looking at ROF recently (a lovely sim) but there's no way to mod the FMs in that one - I like their FMs but the aircraft seem somewhat too fragile and are thrown around by the wind like those 3/4 sized replicas, also several of the top speeds are a bit too slow in that one. I did manage to grab a bunch of their planes, on sale - for 40 USD you can pretty much fill up your hangar in ROF, just look for when the planes are on sale for a dollar or two each. Doesn't hurt to own all three of the major WW1 sims. WOFF is very respectable but needs SweetFX or ReShade to sharpen the graphics a bit more to max. (since it dates back to the CFS3 days). I've found no need to use SweetFX in FE2 or ROF. The FMs in WOFF I think are fine although loops/stalls work slightly differently on some of the types if they are underpowered, also with some of the stock FMs, than in FE2 and ROF. All in all I think that FE2 is still one of the best WW1 flight sims around, good DX10-era graphics and the modded FMs give a good sense of full-sized WW1 aircraft and their peculiarities. I also like the stall/spin characteristics in FE2. ROF apparently does "real historical" spins but considering the lack of real data for some of the WW1 types - I like the FE2 approach more that standardizes most of the spin problems (to get out of a spin, go opposite rudder, nose down, hope for the best - also in FE2 sometimes you should do opposite aileron to the spin as well, yes counter-intuitive but many of those early ailerons are big so there's a strange logic to going opposite aileron, opposite rudder, and nose down too). One of the other things I've come to enjoy in FE2 are the rare side-slips that sometimes happen, on stall, right into the ground, on a few of the types - perhaps a real possibility on some WW1 types given the high drag numbers and other things. Three areas I think could use further work in FE2: (a) higher-resolution ground/landscape textures - although they are okay as they are, especially from altitude where they look more like what you actually see out of the window of an aircraft than the other two WW1 sims; (b) lack of real turbulence effects in FE2 bothers me at times although it's not an immersion killer (I wonder if TK included code for turbulence but never "documented" such things...would be nice to figure that out); (c) we need some kind of illusion of solid trees in FE2 (something like a mesh of invisible but solid poles planted approximately where more trees are located would be adequate and would give an element of surprise since you wouldn't know which trees were solid - a very scary and realistic prospect when landing or flying low - this would be a good compromise since obviously the trees themselves can't be made solid....wish I knew more about texture planting/coding in the TW sims but hopefully somebody who knows more about this might try tinkering with the invisible poles/mesh solution to make heavily wooded areas randomly "dangerous"). Happy flying all, Von S