Southside Bucky

The Hanriot: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=5730 It's in the "WW1 Aircraft" section, right at the bottom of the "Add-On Aircraft" page. There's also a twin Vickers, and an Italian version too. It's a very nice model, with an excellent cockpit. The Tripe FM's in this pack: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=7234 BTW...I don't think you'll find the Pfalz Dr.I FM, I think I'm using part of the Fokker Dr.I DATA.ini for that one...I can't remember for sure. Hope that helps.

Hi Bleddyn. The basic problem with the Gotha and any other planes that won't take off, or handle properly, relates to the various game changes that have been implemented with each successive official patch. Both those a/c you mention were add-ons for the very earliest version of the game. Unfortunately, the creators of those and many other add-on planes have never updated the FM's to the latest game standard. Therefore, a lot of them are all but unflyable now. Don't despair though, there's always the chance that our resident FM expert, Peter01 will continue his sterling work, updating and vastly improving many of those early add-on plane flight models. Regards. Bucky

They're all in this pack: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=6918 Be aware that Peter has updated some of 'em though...So where applicable, use his latest versions which will obviously work much better. Incidentally, the FE2c name change should read: "Which I've renamed FE2d". All the best. Bucky

Hi guys. Can anyone tell me please, what causes this: http://d4.myfreefilehosting.com/d1/img000201.jpg The picture's not great I know, but it's basically a shimmering, flicker effect that only seems to affect certain add-on planes, ie, the Fokker Eindekkers, Bristol F2b and Sopwith Pup. It only happens when the plane's at a certain distance...Maybe just beyond the zoom limit. I did a forum search on the subject before posting, but could only find a similar problem relating to ground objects...Here: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showt...p;hl=flickering Any help would be greatly appreciated. Regards. Bucky

That file hosting site's useless...This one's more straightforward. It'll take you straight to that screenshot, plus a couple of others I've put up: http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/18931 http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/18962 http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/18964 Just for the record I've tried various graphic options within the game. I've also tried changing the settings and drivers for my Nvidia graphics card, with no success. In that thread about flickering ground objects, the solution turned out to be Z buffer settings...I'm wondering if the same might apply to the add-on planes?...But where are the Z buffer settings for individual planes? Regards. Bucky

Only noticed this was available a few days ago: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=7936 I don't recall anyone mentioning it, and couldn't let it go without comment 'cause I think it's most excellent. Really well done, man...A Pukka game enhancement! :yes: Thanks again Jan. Bucky

I wouldn't read too much into the lack of feedback Peter, I think people just take it for granted that your FM's are always an improvement, both in terms of flyability and AI aggressiveness. Personally, I've not had a great deal of time for extensive testing, but I have made a few one on one missions flying TK's standard 130hp Camel against the Fokker D.VII, Albatros DV and Pfalz D.III. What I've found is that ATM, with your new FM's, and used as AI, each of those planes now seem to have a smaller turning circle than the Camel, either to the left or right, which as you know, would've been an unlikely occurrence...Especially with the Alb and Pfalz. I was reluctant to make a quick judgement because I thought you may well re-do the Camel FM at a later date and thereby redress the balance, so please just take this as a FYI. Re: Your new Gundata files. I could be wrong, but it appeared to me that replacing the standard files with your new ones seemed to bring back the "ailerons and elevators flying off with a single bullet hit" problem that was an annoying feature of the game before the Nov08 patch. The new files also seemed to increase the frequency of gun-jams to slightly unrealistic levels IMO, so I went back to using the standard Gundata files. Hope some of this helps a bit...Keep up the great work, man 'cause it's greatly appreciated. :yes: All the best. Bucky EDIT. Thanks for the new batch too. ...You just uploaded 'em as I was typing the above.

Yeah, very nice additions to the add-on a/c list. I'd love to see 'em with detailed skins and decent FM's too. The early version of the Bristol Scout, the one with the off-set, fuselage mounted Lewis gun is great fun to dogfight with. Trying to draw a bead on the AI at the 10 O'clock position is no easy task, especially when the gunsight is obscured by a black graphical anomaly most of the time. Hopefully, the team might be able to tidy it up a bit in that respect? Try flying it against the early German planes like the Pfalz E.I, Fokker E.I & II, and the Aviatik.

Up to you of course, but d'you think it might be more accurate to give it permanent upper wing iron crosses, then let the game change all the others according to the date? Just a suggestion.

No, they're two different aircraft. They both belonged to Ltn Johannes Werner, the Staffelfuhrer of Jasta 14. 583/17 was his "back up" machine, and at this time ALL the dark striping was black, just like 198/17. 583/17 was later handed down to Gefreiter Reinhold Preiss who personalised it by having the vertical bars overpainted in red...We know this because on 9th June 1918, he (Preiss) was shot down and became a POW, and 583/17 was given the British capture number G/2 Bde/15. It was the subject of a British detailed report which included a record of the colours of the markings. The correct skin version is the top one, although to be strictly accurate, when it was shot down, all the crosses were of the straight sided, Balkenkreuz type EXCEPT for the upper wing crosses, which were still the earlier Eiserneskreuz...If you look closely you can see this in the photo. Regards. Bucky PS. Did you ever get round to doing that alternate version of the "J11 Red Stripes" Dr.I, without the red band under the cockpit?

I did put together a quick guide to which add-ons work best with which version of the game. However, once the October/November 08 patch was released it became kinda redundant, so I deleted it. Personally, using the FE+EP+Nov08 Patch, what I do now is; drop an add-on plane into the game, test fly it both as AI and as a player plane. If it works to my satisfaction I leave it in, if not, I delete it. It's the only way ATM, I reckon. Peter. Great to see you back, and working on the game again. Thanks for the latest FM's and GunData files. Excellent improvements! Like yourself, the add-on plane's I'm using in the game now are all contemporary with the stock set. The cut off point for me is circa June 1917. That's to say I don't use any add-on planes in service during 1916 (with the exception of the Pup, which was in service from late '16 till about September '17). Of course, it'll be great if you decide to amend the FM's for all the early planes as well, but I think it's a good idea to concentrate on the mid to late war stuff for now. FWIW, here's a list of the add-on's I'm using which I find work reasonably well using your last FM pack, especially as AI planes: Breguet 14 Bristol F2b FE2c (which I've renamed; FE2b) Fokker D.VIII Hanriot HD1 Junkers D.I Nieuport 27 Pfalz D.III Pfalz D.XII Pfalz Dr.I SSW D.III Sopwith Pup Sopwith Triplane Sopwith Snipe Spad XII

Same thing happened to me once...Turned out to be either 'Terrain Detail' or 'Ground Objects' set to 'Low' in 'Graphics Options'...

Yeah...Top notch! The ONLY thing that I could suggest as a small improvement would be to the 'B' flight Camel with the "Atom" wheels. You had it right originally with the full striping all round the cowling and rear decking. Also, d'you know if it's possible to match the wheels with the correct serial number? "Atom" wheels for example should be serial No. B6299. Not that I expect you to do that...Maybe those that want to, could do it for themselves? Well done Quack...Looking forward to the Naval 9's! Thanks again for the name check in the read me too. Bucky

:yes: Yeah, go for it! Just as a FYI, maybe for future reference: Within a British squadron during the last year or so of the war, a flight would usually consist of eight a/c. That's not to say that ALL a/c would be available on any given day...Some would be held as reserve machines and some might be out of use due to maintainance. Normally, 'A' flight would be marked A-H, 'B' flight J-Q (usually, but not invariably omitting 'I' & 'O'), and C flight R-Z.

Quick answers: 1. Yes. All British Squadrons were divided into flights. 2. No one knows for sure, but my best guess would be that they might have had red cowlings and wheels, but fins, tailplane and elevators would have all been different. Also, IMO, some would've had the entire metal area behind the cowling painted red like Brown's, and some would've had just a red cowling. 3. Yeah, You could just create a generic flight, but personally, I would not have the red/white painted tail and elevators...Maybe just the fin in red? Here are all the photos of (possibly) red painted Naval 9 Camels I have: http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/17197 http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/17198 http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/17199 http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/17200 http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/17201 Bear in mind they were all taken at different times. The first one, with the numbers on the fins is very late war, apparently. Just go with what you think looks best, I reckon.

LOL! Just how sad an individual am I? It's approaching midnight and the new year...Everyone's partying, and here I am discussing colours and markings of aeroplanes of 90 odd years ago! I'm kinda assuming that the red and blue a/c belonged to separate flights, but there are too few photos of the red machines of 9/209 sqn (three, including Brown's I think!) to be able to make any definite statements regarding 209's red painted Camels, so yeah, maybe you should just do Roy Brown's, then do the blue ones instead. You've seen this pic of Roy Brown and his Camel, yeah?: http://www.earlyaviator.com/archive/1w/images/Brown_sop.jpg Regarding the engines, Les Rogers, in his book 'Sopwith Camel Squadrons' says: "The 'decorated' period is believed to have started when the squadron came under Naval control in September 1917 and ceased in February 1918 on return to Dover for rest and refit' Therefore, although I'm not 100% sure, I would say that like the Naval 10 Camels, the 130hp would be more accurate for Naval 9 at that time. 7 minutes to midnight...Gonna get smashed now...HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Yeah, same squadron: 9 (Naval) Squadron became 209 when the RFC and RNAS were merged to become the RAF on 1st April 1918. There were those a/c with the blue cowlings, blue/white bands, circles etc, and those with red cowlings and various red/white decorations, like Roy Brown's. Most of the remaining photos are of the blue flight. I think Mark Miller has depicted just about all of 'em in his artwork.

Good idea!...Les Rogers, the author of the seminal 'British Aviation Squadron Markings of WWI' has this to say about the lack of fuselage roundels on Naval 9 Camels: "Photos of 209 Camels show the fuselage Cockade and serial both visible and/or overpainted in various combinations. I have recently been informed that the reason for this was that during the time that their aircraft were photographed, they were all being repainted" Personally, I'll be deleting mine. Incidentally, although very nice, your screenshot of the 209 line up has the whole squadron in the individual markings of one particular pilots plane and markings...Namely, Roy Brown's (of Richthofen fame) B7270. The Camels of Naval 9 were more individualistic and equally as colourful as Naval 10's, as these beautiful renderings by Mark Miller show: http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...v%3D2%26hl%3Den

I was about to reply, but LloydNB's just saved me a bit of time with his succinct explanation. He's right. As a general rule, the stripes did not completely encircle the cowling. However, I have four photo's of Naval 10 Camels with full cowling stripes: A crashed 'B' flight machine, serial No.B5658, flown by FSL. F Booth. (Wheel design not visible) Another crashed machine, serial unknown, but again, looks like another 'B' flight a/c. (Wheel design not visible) B6449, from 'B' flight, flown by Lt. H.B. Maund. (Shamrock design on the wheel covers) Yet another 'B' flight a/c, serial number unknown, but with a smallish red spot, slightly larger than, and painted over the wheel cover valve access hole. So it would seem that the only Naval 10 Camels to have their stripes painted all round the cowling would be some, but not all, from 'B' flight only. Regarding the rear fuselage stripes, the only one I can find with them painted across the rear decking, is B6299. ALL others have the short stripes. Oh, and no, they didn't use wing letters. Regards. Bucky

Most excellent, Quack!...They really look the business! Nice of LloydNB to allow the use of his wheel art too. :yes: If it makes things any easier for you artwork-wise, the forward white fuselage stripe on MOST of Naval 10's Camels stopped at the top longeron. Like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/18417653...217#reader-link I think the only one I've seen with the staggered continuous stripe is on B flight's B6299. Also, not sure if it matters overmuch, but the only fuselage letters Naval 10 used were: A, B & C, in black, red & blue respectively. The only individual recognition markings were the wheel covers. One other small point for those who might like to keep things historically accurate: The colourful striping was discontinued when the squadron received their new 150hp Bentley powered Camels in February 1918, so maybe use the Naval 10 skins in the game's 130hp Camel only? Hope this helps. Bucky

Hi Quack. First off, many thanks for having a go at the Naval 10 Camels...You're THE MAN! :yes: I can send you pics of the info you need, but it won't be for a few days. My scanner's porked, so I'll have to photograph the relevant info...Trouble is, the new camera my girls bought me for Christmas is faulty, so it has to be returned to the shop. I should get the replacement in a few days, so if you can hang fire till then?... If you're interested, PM me with your email address. Bucky

Hi Quack. Great stuff!...You've done so many now, and they all look so cool, I can't make up my mind which Jasta to use anymore! Not sure if you've noticed already, but the Jasta 19 'No.3' seems to be missing from that download pack. Another polite enquiry: Sorry to put on you again, but what would be the chances of you doing some allied planes? I'm thinking, some Naval 10 Camels, maybe?: http://www.wwi-models.org/Images/Miller/re...mel/B_B6299.jpg http://www.bigscalemodels.com/planes/sopwi...ler/naval10.jpg Look nice, don't they? Cheers! Bucky

How 'bout doing an alternate version? :yes: As for the red striping...Seems logical to me.

Hi deep. Nice of you, but the plaudits should all go to Quack74. His excellent Dr.I skins are a great contribution to the game. Thanks for sharing the information about your grandfather...You must be very proud. All the best. Bucky

Hi Quack. Re: The new Jasta 11 skin. May I ask, what references you used for this one? No criticism intended, 'cause as far as I'm concerned, no one can prove differently, but I think the red band under the cockpit might be questionable. Nice as it looks, IMHO, that "band" is a little more likely to be a solid application of camouflage paint. Something like this: http://www.fokkerdr1.com/Fok-Dr1-581-17_01.jpg This: http://www.fokkerdr1.com/Dr1_213_17Kempf.jpg Or this: http://www.fokkerdr1.com/Fok-Dr1-525-17_02.jpg Just thought you might want an opinion? Regardless, it's another winner! :yes: Bucky