When the game was first put up for preorder and I could not get the collectors edition here in the states I went to amazon and found the copy of the manual that matched the picture of the manual from the collectors edition and ordered it. Here is the link.

http://www.amazon.com/SPITFIRE-MANUA...9148305&sr=8-2

There is a section in it on deflection shooting that I think may be useful. The price was not to bad, I think I paid 17 bucks, USD. Frankly I dont see all the fuss about the collectors edition. My big deal was getting a retail box edition which I am glad to have found at gogamer.

This is not the manual that will ship with the Collector's Edition. There was a draft screenshot of the CE that showed that manual, but the official screenshots clearly show a Spitfire I Pilot's Notes.

if the ground is so realistic as they say, these maps should do.

but printing them to the original size can be $painful$

http://www.a2asimulations.com/store/...products_id=24

Here's a suggestion, buy Richard Overly's Battle of Britain Experience book, It's got loads of reproduction period documents included, Baders log book, Spitfire MKI Pilots note's (shortened but still nice), massive operations planning map from 14th Sept 1940, Hurricane pilots diary entries. Copies of orders, etc. It all comes in a nice box.

You'll probably not learn anything new from the actual book, (mainly nice photo's) but the facsimile documents (RAF and LW) are pretty good and it's one of those 'nice things to own'.

It's on Amazon for £17.

Here is the text from email sent to me from the online shop I ordered the Collectors edition from when they informed me of the issue

"
------------------
Order Number: 99747
Detailed Invoice: http://www.boostep.fi/account_histor...order_id=99747
Date Ordered: Sunday 13 February, 2011

The comments for your order are


Hi,

unfortunatly I have some bad news about the IL-2Sturmovik Cliffs of Dover Collectores edition: Ubisoft has decided to cancel the release of this game. Here is the official statement from UbiSoft Nordic:


IL2: Cliffs of Dover Collector's Edition
----------

Due to a failure in the manufacturing of several components for IL2: Cliffs of Dover ?I am sorry to inform you, that Ubisoft not will be able to deliver this product as ?requested and furthermore we will not start up the manufacturing again.
I have arranged to have the standard version exclusively for the ?Nordic countries only due to the fact this version only was meant to ?be a downloadable version.
I apologize for the inconvenience this may have cost you and customers.
?Ubisoft Nordic A/S

The good news is that I can offer you a Special Nordic edition for the price of 43 euros + shipping. If you choose to order this version I will refund the difference, of course.
If you choose to cansel the whole order I will refund the whole sum of money.
I am truly sorry abut this since I know many people has been waiting for the release of this game. And I hope the possibility to purchase this special nordic edition some how can compensate parts of the inconvenience. I have ordered some of this game already so all preorders that has been placed for the collectors edition should get one of these nordic edition. It is to my understanding that the difference is mainly that the booklets and such is not included but the game is the same.

Kind regards,
Monika / Boostep customer service"


----------------------------------------

Now as an Australian and the fact the version that I was buying was also for the Australian region I'ld assume that the issue would also involve my land of abode as well.

Several people also posted letters recently that they pre-ordered from a shop EBGames in Australia. When I went to EBgames a day or so latter the CE was not listed. I have not heard if they have had their orders cancelled as well.

Personally I'm loosing enthusiasm for the Collectors Edition and created this thread to help gather resources that will help me enhance my enjoyment of the sim when it comes out.

What was your reason for posting in it?

I didn't know one was required to have a reason or a special authorization to post in a thread....:rolleyes:

I did not question your alternatives, just a broad affirmation that the CE was not put in production.

As I have ordered several CEs, I am interested in knowing. I simply asked if that affirmation was based on something solid or an extrapolation.

As I said, I also received an email from amazon listing the CE edition. Would seem strange (but still possible, though) to receive that email today while the CE is cancelled all over the world.

Seems that the only info s that the CE is not and will not be available in some countries. That doesn't mean all countries.

Btw, an email from a retailer stating that it is a publisher error has very little value to me, as I know that some retailers offer games on pre order without really knowing. Same for them putting down BS launch dates on their websites sometimes (probably because their system requires a release date to show the game...).

There is as much chance that Nordic retailers acted too quickly by putting the CE on pre order as Ubi giving them poor information (release then no release...)

My question was aimed at understanding your motives for posting in an antagonistic manner.

Your posts have added nothing to the discussion. I assumed that you are a troll. I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.

See you on the flipside!

OK, so I need an authorization, I post in an antogonistic manner and I am a troll.

All this because I questionned the veracity of a broad affirmation about the CE being cancelled worldwide.

I think you should look at your own post to see antagonistic manner.

I'm pretty sure I'll receive my CEs, as they have not been cancelled.

Guys, collector's editions are limited editions. It sure stinks being unable to get it but that's how it has always worked out, grab it while you can.

Case in point, Starcraft 2 was released this summer and it too had a collector's edition that used to cost around 80 Euros. When i checked up on it a couple of months ago on ebay, a complete set was priced as high as $200. Individual items from the box can fetch a price as high as 100 Euros.
If it was still in print and available it wouldn't be that expensive.

I think the issue with CoD is not the limited availability of collector's editions, because that's the whole point behind such an edition. The issue is region-locking the release so that some countries don't even get the chance to try their hand at ordering one.

The most absurd thing however is not even allowing a physical disc copy for most countries. Where i live the only option is the download version. I hate having to ship it via mail (i get paranoid that it will get lost :-P )but i got a relative of mine who's studying abroad to grab one CE for me.
It will either be mailed to me or i'll wait until my relative flies back home before the Easter holidays and brings it back in the baggage.

Another thing to note, it would be cool if their system allowed people with a hard copy pre-order to also download it a couple of days after the initial release (that is, after the people who want the download edition have managed to get it first) while they are waiting for the box to arrive in the mail.

That would be really great! And if you get a (digital)copy, please make sure that has become public domain (should be - 71 years later) and let us have copies, too.

Artist