I often lose the flightpath of my enemy
 

I often lose the flightpath of my enemy (after struggling like mad to get in position ), because the cockpit framing gets in the way. But I wouldnt fly without the cockpit on.
Does anyone else have this problem? How do you get around it?

A solution is: switch between gunsightview and normal view. I think the standard key is shift + F1?!

Thats another reason why I use tight icons.

I like the idea of flying without icons, but I always have more fun with the "range/color" icon's on.

I wish that their was a way to have just the color on without the range (or other information).

Have you tried Padlock? It works great.

Padlock simulates the real life function of 'locking' your eyes to a particular object. Seems like this is what you are trying to do...:)

Aviar

I think padlock would still give me the same problem, ( I currently use TIR 4). I too am interested in what a tight icon is? It makes sense to use an icon to kind of help track an aircraft, but I feel icons distract from the reality.

we wouldnt need to use limited icons in il2 if the lod models were correctly visible against the textures of the terrain background.

right now they blend in to much, and to get a realistic viewing/tracking distance we need to add some artificial increased visibility (limited icons)

i really hope for BoB the lod models will stand out better !

Padlock?... PADLOCK??!!!!

Did Johnny Johnson have padlock? Did Galland have padlock? Did Gentile have padlock? nngggggggggggggg!!!!!!! Use your eyes man... by god, if you were in my regiment..... ermm, no, wrong game..... ermmm....

anyway, I hate that padlock and wonderwoman stuff. I'd rather die from my own (frequent) failings than suffer the additional embarassment of being killed whilst using artificial 'aids'.

<Padlock.... hhrrrrummmmffffff..... nnnnggggg......>

and yes, the framework does get in the way and shifting site view doesn't help in the 109 @ 10 o'clock and I can't see over the P38 side frame. Roll on SOW and 6DOF!!

Indeed. That's just it.

Master your favorite first...
 

Stick to flying only one aircraft type until you are able to work around that aircrafts "limitations" (this takes a lot of time and patients). When that is achieved you will find that your tactics for that type aircraft: scanning, tracking, engaging and egress all become better because of this. I agree full real settings with cockpit on is the only way to go.

Good Hunting

yes, I understand. After realising there is no way around this, I payed more attention to the enemies flightpath and mine, this has improved the immersion as well as my flying.

I find that when I pitch, roll and yaw ( just to avoid the framing to keep my enemy in sight) and intentionally switch between normal and gunsight view, I can (as much as possible) get around the "framing" issue. I say "as much as possible" as it will always be a problem to some degree.

I am just one of the many who suffer of CSS syndrome.

I partially blame my crappy vid settings (low end card) tho.

It is a shame there is not a button that could create transparency in the frame. Wouldnt that be useful until 6DOF?

You can set your own mpdotrange, if the server you fly permits icons. Each parameter can be individually set:

DOT
COLOR
ID
TYPE
NAME
RANGE

For example:
mp_dotrange FOE DOT 10.0 COLOR 5.0 RANGE 0.01 TYPE 5.0 ID 0.01 NAME 0.01

will show only the aircraft type and color starting at 5 km away.

If flying full real, put him in the middle of one of your forward windows, offcentre, and keep him there, smack bang in the middle. You wont hit the ground unless he already has. You only need to correct your speed to avoid stalls. you will also be making lag pursuit by doing this. Do not take your eyes off him even if its giving you eyestrain looking at a tiny dot. practise flying like this takes a lot of time because you are never directly thinking about where your aircraft is pointing, and this means that eventually you gain good skill in situational awareness as the aircrafts path starts to become more of a subconcious thought. Usually i will put them in a window which is quite offcentre, as this allows once you are close to decide on what type of yoyo-ing to do.