Mitsubishi Stuka and Thunderbolt

[majorfailure]

Originally Posted by Pursuivant

Yep. I think that your point about the relative vulnerability of the R-2800 engine and my criticism that heavy fighters in IL-2 "break" too easily are compatible. I'd like to see notably tough aircraft like the IL-2, B-17, Wellington, P-47, F4U and F6F be pretty much invulnerable to anything except direct hits by flak, critical hits, pilot kills, fires and sustained fire by 20mm cannons or larger.

Aren't they? If I shoot B-17s, they rarely shed wings, and their tail section is pretty tough, too. Most of the B-17s going down have fires in the fuel tanks.
That is -historically seen- too many, BUT contrary to many historic pilots I know exactly what spots to hit, and I can hit with percentages that would make Marseille blush(and compared to others in this game I'm still a poor shot).
So basically I do not think the damage modeling in it self is the problem, we, and maybe the AI are. We hit too well. We know where to hit to make it hurt a lot (And I do think the AI did(or does) too, how else could they shoot the pilot with next to limitless accuracy in 4.09?).

Another thing that works against the Jug is its size - just set up a filght of Bettys (or any other well armed bomber) and park a Jug behind them - count the hits you recieve in 60 seconds -do it in a much smaller plane like the La5, and count again - you will recieve considerably less hits. And yes, if you do it a few times, you will get the engine shot dead in the Jug, but what did you expect? - the R-2800 is tough, but not immune- especially to 20mm fire.

Originally Posted by Pursuivant

??? I find that those massive rows of .303 machine guns on the Hurricane MkI, MkIIB and Spitfire I are some of the most useless weapons in the game, at least when it comes to attacking anything other than light fighters at close range.

Hmm, early to mid war I find them at least decent, and considering armament on the early P-40s, the Italian planes, Gladiators -they are enough to do the job -if employed correctly, vs. He111/SM79 head on, Ju88/87/52 - shoot wing tanks - burn nicely. Bf109/110/Mc202 -try hitting the engine, but I'm sure you know all that...