Daidalos Team's Room -QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS ONLY - For 4.11

[Azimech]

Originally Posted by SaQSoN

PS Hydraulic fluid doesn't burn. The fire was probably from small fuel tanks, located on the front edge of Hurri wing. There is nothing in the video, that may hint, what caused the gear to extend.

I'm very sorry but hydraulic fluid does burn, if sprayed under high pressure even very violently, both mineral and synthetic types. Sometimes I use old fluid in my garden torches.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by Tempest123

This is true for reducing side visibility from enemy aircraft during wartime, however the main function of a landing light is to light up the surface of runway on the final stages of approach and touchdown for depth perception. Having just recently flown IRL at night I can attest to the importance of a properly functioning landing light

I see your point about needing the lights to illuminate the runway. It is unrealistic that they don't.

My point was that wartime airfields were kept as dark as possible, not lit up like Christmas trees the way that modern civil airports are. You're absolutely right that the lack of landing lights is a safety issue, however. The need to keep airfields dark to prevent attacks probably contributed to the higher rate of landing accidents among nightfighters.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by SaQSoN

So, I repeat again: gear drop can be caused ONLY by lock damage.

I think you're generally right, but I also think that there are causes other than damage which might make the lock fail, or fail to engage in the first place. A combination of wear, vibration and/or poor maintenance could set up a situation where lock barely holds the gear in place, so that it drops when the hydraulics are hit.

The paradox, though, is that there is gun camera footage which shows both landing gears dropping in a pattern consistent with loss of hydraulic fluid. Otherwise, it would have to be a very lucky hit indeed to take out all the locks on both gears at once!

Others have pointed out that cockpit or electrical system damage could cause gears to come down. Also, as you point out it's possible that pilot error (hitting the wrong button) could also cause the gears to deploy.

Originally Posted by SaQSoN

PS Hydraulic fluid doesn't burn. The fire was probably from small fuel tanks, located on the front edge of Hurri wing. There is nothing in the video, that may hint, what caused the gear to extend.

In the case of the Hurricane, I think that you might be right, assuming the Hurricane was relatively low on fuel so that the other fuel cells didn't catch fire.

But, hydraulic fluid can burn if you use the right liquid! For example, during the Cold War some Soviet planes used alcohol as hydraulic fluid (doesn't freeze as easily at high altitudes). As a result, they had a problem with readiness as ground crews were prone to siphon off hydraulic fluid for illicit, unintended, purposes.

Anyhow, I think we're both in agreement that, regardless of origins, it would be nice if landing gear drop and hydraulic/pneumatic system failures were modeled in the game.

[Jumpy]

Anyhow, I think we're both in agreement that, regardless of origins, it would be nice if landing gear drop and hydraulic/pneumatic system failures were modeled in the game.[/QUOTE]

I've enjoyed this discussion, although we all need a beer to arrive at the correct answer! As for droopy underage or flaps, I will be happy when patch 4.11 arrives. Now my request to DT: DON'T LISTEN TO THEM - LISTEN TO ME!

[Tempest123]

Were the MiG-3 and Yak-3 from Aviaskins submitted to DT for inclusion, where they acceptable? just wondering.

[Romanator21]

There's also a PZl.23, PZL.37, Ju-88 C-6, etc that seem nice. I wonder if they meet the standards as well.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by Romanator21

There's also a PZl.23, PZL.37, Ju-88 C-6, etc that seem nice. I wonder if they meet the standards as well.

The cockpits in the PZL.23 and PZL.37 look a little bit unfinished compared to the required standard, but the external models look decent.

That is, assuming that they're not Frankenplanes, which are inherently unacceptable. (This isn't snobbery, either. There are lots of good reasons why Frankenplanes aren't as good as a plane made from scratch, although the problems with them aren't immediately obvious.)

In any case, however, TD seems to have taken the position that it's up to the mod maker to contact TD about getting their creation into the game, and TD doesn't go out of its way to ask modders for content.

[Romanator21]

I don't think the models are franken-planes, but I haven't seen the cockpits. I do hope they decide to contact DT if that's the case!

[Jack_Aubrey]

Hi:
I made up a list of things i would like to see it improved. It's mainly about the ships but theres also a little bit about our heavies:
- About the AI ships:
· It seems to me that they turn around their center, when it would be better if they turn around their stern.
· For other ship to set target on an allied ship (meaning same color) so they keep in formation with the first one, so we can setup a formation really easy.
· Whenever they are under aerial attack beggins zig zag maneuvers.
· Enhace their damage models so the gun, the rudder are disable, the power keg or fuel tanks can be blow.

- About the heavies:
· To review the load options and FM from B17, i had found that it has many other options than the ones from il2 and also that with them change the ceiling service. This is the page from where i read the pilots notes and other staff.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by Romanator21

I don't think the models are franken-planes, but I haven't seen the cockpits. I do hope they decide to contact DT if that's the case!

He-219A-2: By Checkyersix and Ranwers. Originally a frankenplane, subsequently it got its own 3d model. Cockpit is original and looks very good, but no bordfunker/radar operator station.

Mosquito MkII Nightfighter: By SAS~GJE52. model is IL2 stock with slight 3d improvements to wheels and spinners, plus the obvious radar antennas and a new default skin. Cockpit is IL2 stock with no radar operator station.

PZL P.37B Los: By Ranwers. Original 3d model, cockpit and gunners stations. Interior looks very good, except for the top gunner position which has a few minor 3d issues when you look into the fuselage interior.

===

Other mods that look pretty good:

A-20 Boston MkIII Strafer: Unkown modder. Minor external reworking of stock IL2 model. Stock cockpit.

A-20G: Aviator Mod Team. Tweak of stock IL2 3d model, new engines and loadouts.

Ar-234B Nachtjaeger: Unkown modder. Minor external reworking of stock IL2 model. Stock cockpit.

Ar-234C-2: Unkown modder. Minor external reworking of stock IL2 model. Stock cockpit.

B-29 "Silverplate": Oceanic Wing. Reworking of stock IL2 3d model. Exterior model and atomic ordinance looks good. Cockpit is a bit crude, gunner stations are franken.

Beaufighter MkIC: Unkown modder. Rework of stock IL2 Beaufighter MkIB model. Gunners position interior is franken.

Beaufighter MkX: Unkown modder. Ditto.

Bell 47 Iroqouis Helicopter: SAS_Sani. New 3d model, interior and cockpit. Looks good, flies well. Might be off-limits as an official plane due to contract with 1C.

Bf109B-D series: Japancat, SAS_Cirx: Reworking of stock IL2 Bf-109E-4 3d model. Stock cockpit. External model looks good.

Blenhein MkIF & MkIVF: Unknown. Reworking of stock IL2 Blenheim 3d model. Cockpit and gunner stations look to be franken and are fairly crude.

D4Y3 JUDY: ten010. Beautiful 3d model.

Fi-156: Fully modeled cockpit and crew station. Crew station looks a bit primitive and has some 3d issues, but the instrument panel and pilot station looks good.

FW-189: Fully modeled interior. Instrument panel looks good, the rest of the cockpit and interior looks a bit amateurish, rear gunner station not modeled. Still, it might save some work to use the existing modded interior as a starting point.

Hurricane MkI Rotol prop: Rework of stock Hurricane MkI 3d model. Stock cockpit.

Hurricane MkIII & IV: Ditto. In SAS "Dark Blue World" mod pack, sand filters only appear on desert maps, saving plane slots.

J7W1: Kodama. Original 3d model and cockpit. Looks good inside and out.

Ju-87C: Aviator Mod Team. Tweaks to stock IL2 Ju-87 model. Stock cockpit and gunner station.

Ju-52: Unknown modder (Ranwers?). New cockpit. Instrument panel looks good, but interior has some minor texture problems.

Ki-44. Japancat &/or Tainan Kosho mod team. Original 3d model and cockpit. Very nice!

Ki-46-III-Kai: Unknown modder. Cockpit, looks good but might be franken.

Ki-98: Kodama. Good exterior model.

L-5 Sentinel: Unknown modder. Original 3d model and interior. Only pilot station modeled, but looks good.

Me-210 (including Zestorer): Original 3d model, cockpit and interior. Gunner station not modeled and not player-operable.

Me-262B-1a Nachtjaeger: Reworking of stock IL2 mesh. Stock cockpit and pilot station, fully-modeled bordfunker/radar operator station station, but radar screen doesn't work.

Me-410 series (including Nachtjaeger model): Original 3d model, cockpit and interior. Gunner station not modeled, player operable only in gunsight mode.

Miles Magister: Oceanic Wing Mod team. New 3d model and cockpit. Only front seat cockpit modeled.

Mosquito FB MkXXVIII Tse-Tse: Unknown modder. Reworking of stock IL2 3d mesh. Stock cockpit.

Mustang MkI: Aviator Mod Team. Rework of stock P-51B 3d model. Stock cockpit.

MXY-11 Ohka: Oceanic Wing Mod Team: Reworking of stock IL2 3d model.

P-26 Peashooter: Deutschmark. Original 3d model. Cockpit franken.

P-38E & F series: Gibbage. Reworking of stock IL2 3d model. Stock cockpit.

P-38H Droop Snoot: Unknown Modder. Reworking of stock IL2 3d model. Stock cockpit. Franken bombardier station.

P-47N: 101tfs. Reworking of stock IL2 3d model. Stock cockpit. External model looks good.

P-51A: Aviator Mod Team. Rework of stock P-51B 3d model. Stock cockpit. A-36 Apache was promised but hasn't seen the light of day yet.

PZL P.24B: Ranwers: Original 3d model, cockpit and interior. Interior might need a tiny bit of cosmetic work, otherwise excellent.

PZL P.42: Ranwers. Ditto.

Sikorsky UH-19D/HRS3 Helicopter: SAS_Sani. Original 3d model & cockpit. Looks good, flies well.

Spitfire Griffon Engine Series (e.g., MkXIV): Unknown modders. LOTS of variants of this one. Tweak of stock IL2 3d mesh. Stock cockpits.

Spitfire PR.XIX: Tweak of stock IL2 3d mesh. Stock cockpit.

Su-26: Aviaskins? Original 3d model and cockpit. Exterior looks good, cockpit is fairly crude.

R.XIIID: Ranwers. Original 3d model, cockpit and interior. Interior might need a tiny bit of cosmetic work, otherwise excellent.

RWD-8: Ranwers. Original 3d model and cockpit. Observer/student pilot/passenger station not modeled. Looks good otherwise.

RWD-10: Ranwers. Original 3d model and cockpit. Excellent.

U-2 variants (night bomber, trainer, ShVAK rear gun): Unknown modder. Reworking of stock IL2 3d model, changing or eliminating rear gun and altering position of rear cockpit figure. Fully modeled interior, both cockpits/gunner stations. Looks good.

UTI-4: Uknown modder (Aviaskins?). Reworking of stock IL2 I-16 mesh. Rear cockpit is just duplicated version of front cockpit.

Yak-7UTI: Reworking of stock IL2 Yak-7 model. Reworked cockpit. Rear cockpit is just duplicated version of the front cockpit.

==

This list ignores the ridiculous number of A6M, Bf-109, FW-190, I-53, I-16, Ki-61, Ki-84, Lagg-3, La-5, La-7, N1K, P-38, P-39, P-40, Spitfire, Hurricane and Yak series mods which are basically nothing more than loadout and FM tweaks.

It also ignores announced projects which haven't yet been made public, such as the B7A, J4M, Ki-83 (http://damawo.blog99.fc2.com/), the Whirlwind, Boomerang, Vampire, Fury/Nimrod (http://www.oceanicwing.com/il2_projects.html) and the Foche-Angelis FA-223 (another one of Sani's projects, but it appears that the Youtube video of its flight test has vanished),

And that's JUST aircraft.

Honestly, I wish that TD team members wouldn't be so coy about asking for content. If you're a TD member and you see a mod that looks like it's up to TD standards, why don't you ASK the creator if you can incorporate it into a future patch. Better yet, load up UP or DBW, choose the content you like and shamelessly steal it.

At this point, mod packs such as UP, HSFX5 and SAS UP/DBW just beat stock IL2 hollow in terms of content and creativity, if not overall overall quality. Yes, there are some really ugly "frankenplane" cockpits and interiors to make every plane in the game flyable, some not so great original models (He-51, He-45), and some "frankenplanes" which technically not up to scratch, even if they look good (Battle, Halifax, Tiger Moth, Typhoon), but the modded game allows you to fly just about every theater of war from 1936-1956, the AI is challenging and the effects look great.