OMG what have I gotten myself into:
 

:)

Being an ex IL2 1946 - PF- FB user, who enjoyed them immensely, and have finally taken the plunge and have purchased/installed CloD, I have to wonder what in world am I doing LOL...

Well the sim is installed and I have been kind of in a holding pattern, trying to figure out the next best step - the best proper order to do things going forward - have at least somewhat of a plan. I spend time on these forums, these many forums I might add, trying to learn as much as I can by what others have already done and gone through...

I want to get in there an fly, maybe nothing but a quick instant action mission of some sort, but feel so dang unprepared to even consider such a thing. I do not feel I am anywhere near that point as of yet.
I do feel, wants I get my arms wrapped around this sim and comfortable with it, I will find great enjoyment. I suspect I am some time away from that though.

Well I have gone in and set all graphics now, close to what has been suggested by some of the faq's here. Have succesfully flown the takeoff and landing training in the biplane.

I figure my next best move is to get many of the controller assignments set and mapped to my Cougar. Start to build a Cougar file just for this sim. I have gone in and printed out my macro commands I had set for IL2 1946 with my Cougar - I will use this as a baseline to start building the profile for my stick for CLoD.

Perhaps later tonight I will get back into the controller menu and begin this process - maybe once I get some of this done I can load up some quick action and get some early impressions of this sim - course, at the rate I am going, perhaps the new patch will be out by the time I am ready to click that fly button!
:)
I am just rambling gang, don't mind me. Kind of keeping a chronology as I go of my progress lol.

I think quite honestly your best bet to learning the sim is to hop online and get shot down a whole bunch. You'll learn pretty quickly.

Enjoy it and take your time.

Apart from the flying, don't be too disappointed if you seem unable to shoot anything down, particularly if flying the stock RAF missions/campaigns as the default weapons loadout are pretty poor and the AI very twitchy. At some point in the future you can delve into using the FMB to make changes to the stock missions/campaigns in terms of weapons, default ac, number of ac, etc.

Just get stuck in! Why wait? :)

All you need is machine guns and landing gear mapped! GOGOGO

There is a brilliant downloadable campaign called Spitfire Dawn.... I can't remember where I got it from but I am sure someone on here will be able to point you in the right direction. I am finding it a lot better than the stock tutorial, coupled with a few videos on youtube that got me started.

I dipped my toes into online play lastnight... didn't manage to shoot anything as I still haven't got navigation down yet. :D One day.....

All I can say is that, despite the detractors and the well documented teething troubles, you are in for a lot of fun!

Sorry online is just not my bag at this time, only interested really in offline play at this time.

Thanks though!

Thanks for the feedback, I will be looking forward to getting further along with it to where I can play with the FMB.

Lol, you are right I am sure - would like to have a few more of the basics mapped...

Thanks,

I really appreciate that tip, I will search out for it!!
Some of the most fun I had with IL2 1946 and before, was with user created campaigns - loved some of them! Now that is right up my alley!

Many thanks again,

Found it - downloaded it - read up a little on it, and bookmarked the thread here.

Thanks again, I am getting more excited now!

Hey there, I found it took me 100 very rewarding hours to feel competent in my take off landing and flying. Now I'm on the step dog fighting learning curve!

For tips on all the aircraft and how to handle them...goto http://flightsimvids.com/

It'll give you the heads up on many of the things I had to learn by trial and error.

100 hours to feel competent in takoffs and landings? Wow, I don't recall it taking me anywhere quite that long in IL2 FB...

Thanks for the link, I have bookmarked that site and will use it!

You might enjoy this demo with that campaign you found
http://www.desastersoft.com/en/product-wick-dundas.html

If you can take off and land ok in FB then, ou will be taking off and landing fine in CLOD within 10 mins.

100 hours to take off an land? surely that can be mastered in 20-30mins at most..

OP there are a few Campaigns been made that will up your street but dont expect too much just yet compared to the variety you have in iL2..

As already posted http://www.desastersoft.com/en/product-wick-dundas.html will be one to watch out for if you dont mind paying for them..

quite a few decent campaigns out already, Not for me to say which ones are better but try them out

Indeed, apart from trying to get the engine running if using CEM and no instructions that is :p

LOL.... after 100 hours I can get practically anything off the ground. Landing?........ I don't even want to talk about landing. :D Apart from the Tiger moth, of course. If you can't land that thing, it's time to give up. :D

Landing... I just use my parachute, might be due to the damage I pick up flying low and slow over hawkinge ;)

Pffft! Takeoff, landing, piece of cake. But keep the engine running after takeoff can be hard on some special days.
I bet, most of you have these very special days too.
Five starts and ruined engines, till I realized that I forgot to open the rad...:oops:

Everyday is a special day. I'm very special. :D

Hi Don,

there's some good advice given (but may not be entirely suitable to your circumstances- i'd say the desastersoft demo may be a bit much at first, it's rather good and i recommend it highly- but maybe when you feel happy with the basics;) )

I've made a little collection of some very basic missions, mainly using the Hurri tho there is a 109 flight as well.

briefings are sparse as they were for private use but should be fairly self explanatory. :-
Hurri1 for takeoff, landings, general flying around.
Hurri2 to learn staying in formation
Nav2(airstart) is flying a triangular nav course (get you used to the RAF compass)
then there are 3 'combat' missions
12v12(airstart) pits you against 12 very nasty 109's
501 is a convoy patrol
32 is 'pretty full on'- ~100 a/c. this is a wip of something i'm working on.

I'd suggest you get to be able to fly the first 3 before diving into a campaign, but how you choose to progress is entirely your choice

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?do6r6vwewyc811u

hope these are of some use to you

And now I've got that Radiohead song going around and around in my head!:grin:

Hey bolox,

Thank you so much for taking the time to package these together for me - I have now downloaded and have them! I look forward to giving them a try.
That is exactly what I need - and am already planning on starting with the Hurri so this will be perfect.

I was hoping to get some of my controls mapped by creating at least the beginning of a joystick file for my Cougar last night, am home recovering from surgery and the pain level at that time pretty much put me down for the night. Hopefully I can get this done and at least get started with some flying sometime this weekend. Oh and I have a new GTX 560 Ti card I want to get put in beforehand as well.

Now I feel I have a good starting point to begin with - thanks again! Not quite feeling as overwhelmed as I was a couple days ago!

no probs m8,

any questions/issues with those missions feel free to private message me

hope your pain subsides soon

Sounds good, and thank you!