Pony talk

[Blackdog_kt]

Actually over-boosted models make a bigger difference in IL2 than they did in reality. That's why i was moaning about systems modelling and improved engine management for SoW

Those 70 inHG of manifold pressure or +11lbs of boost or 1.75 Ata and what not are settings we can run all day long in IL2. In reality power settings like those were used only for take-off and emergencies, usual limits being between 1 and 5 minutes and based on the amount of time it took a freshly started engine's temperature to climb to melting point where things start to break.
Lining up on the tarmac on a hot day and being last for takeoff meant they were almost unattainable to begin with, flying high in cold air with mixture on the rich side and open radiators/cowl flaps could give a few extra seconds.

True, it could make a difference if i'm trying to catch someone or i need that extra little bit of power to evade a bad situation, but by no means does it constitute any kind of permanent advantage in reality. Not only does overheat occur fast, cooling the engine equally fast will not solve the problem...in fact it can also cause damage due to expansion-contraction of the metal parts, but on the other hand i would still need to cool the engine as the longer it stays like that, the higher the risk of something breaking or an oil fire breaking out.

Even if i bring it back within the limits, every second spent above them is damage and risk of malfunction that accumulates and doesn't just evaporate the moment i am back within the normal temperature envelope. Of course, we don't have those things in IL2 and that's why everyone prefers to fly the highest boosted variant of each type. Case in point the Spit +25lbs. In reality, maximum continuous boost for Spitfires was around between +8 and +10 lbs, anything higher than that came with a time limit and a rapidly climbing radiator coolant temperature. If the coolant temp exceeds 100 degrees Celsius or starts to evaporate, you're left with an engine that will either seize completely or is even more restricted by overheat in the amount of power it can produce.

Sorry to be a killjoy, but unless we see some kind of engine paramameters modifications in a future patch i think we have enough high boost planes as it is

[ElAurens]

IceFire, check your PMs.

[Romanator21]

I agree with Blackdog completely.

I would like to add that I feel it's too difficult to start an overheat in the first place. Another quirk is that the overheat doesn't do any damage to the engine until it's been in the overheat condition for at least a few minutes.

[ElAurens]

"Feeling" that something is too difficult is not good enough.

Empirical data is the only way to set such parameters.

Frankly most aircraft in the sim overheat far too readily in flight, especially the air cooled birds, FW 190 A excepted.

[KnightFandragon]

Originally Posted by Romanator21

I agree with Blackdog completely.

I would like to add that I feel it's too difficult to start an overheat in the first place. Another quirk is that the overheat doesn't do any damage to the engine until it's been in the overheat condition for at least a few minutes.

How do you avoid an overheat? You say you find it difficult to start one, I cant help but start overheat haha...I try to fly on lower power settings till combat then I run 110% and change my throttle throughout the battle as neccesary but I always wind up with an overheat...I just got out of a SP game and my engine died b/c of overheat...it was overheating for quite some time haha....P51 is still not impressing me hahah Although the Ultra mod Pack and HSFX does make it quite alot better then the base Il2...it actually flies now atleast, then to boot the Blue Nosed bastards of bodany skin makes it pretty awesome.

[Blackdog_kt]

Originally Posted by ElAurens

"Feeling" that something is too difficult is not good enough.

Empirical data is the only way to set such parameters.

Frankly most aircraft in the sim overheat far too readily in flight, especially the air cooled birds, FW 190 A excepted.

I think IL2 models a lot of things very well. What's missing is that they have no effect whatsoever on engine condition, not unless the engine completes one full "session" of overheat to trigger the seizing effect. If the "session" is reset (by going back to normal temps before damage starts to occur), then the engine is as good as new.

In reality, things would be more gradual. The engine would start exhibiting troublesome behaviour earlier (this doesn't mean it would always be detectable though, it could a background occurence that would take extra abuse to show symptoms) which although not outright fatal, would accumulate over time for every instance the pilot pushed it beyond the normal envelope.

[Romanator21]

How do you avoid an overheat? You say you find it difficult to start one, I cant help but start overheat haha...I try to fly on lower power settings till combat then I run 110% and change my throttle throughout the battle as neccesary but I always wind up with an overheat...I just got out of a SP game and my engine died b/c of overheat...it was overheating for quite some time haha....P51 is still not impressing me hahah Although the Ultra mod Pack and HSFX does make it quite alot better then the base Il2...it actually flies now atleast, then to boot the Blue Nosed bastards of bodany skin makes it pretty awesome.

You see, at the start of combat, you do not push the throttle to 110% and then go from there. You would not be able to do that for more than a minute in the best of circumstances.

The engine will die eventually from overheating, but that's over a period of 5-10 minutes. The engine damage clock resets each time the engine is brought down to a "normal" condition, even if for just a second.

If you're having problems with the Mustang, I suggest first and foremost to never use the boost setting when at low altitudes (3000m or less) It provides no increase in speed over 100% and simply raises the engine temperature (a great deal).

The Mustang is not a Spitfire - although it has a similar engine, the weight is far greater. The only reason that it's faster than the Spitfire is because of excellent aerodynamic properties. However, this doesn't make the plane magical and you still need to work harder than in most planes to conserve your speed. Keep up that speed at all costs, and you will at least survive. Don't pull excessively tight turns or steep climbs and expect to be able to start running again afterwords.

Finally, use CEM to your advantage. Don't fly around the entire fight at 100-100. Lower power and pitch when diving to gain more speed, increase when climbing. In a combat situation where I need to run straight and level, my prop pitch is 75-80% and power as low as 70%. I can outrun almost anything this way, reaching 350mph on the deck provided I hadn't just killed all of my speed in a turn - the relatively slow acceleration of the P-51 in level flight can be problematic against an enemy who can get from 200mph to 300mph faster than I can.

However, Il-2 doesn't care if you over-boost the engine, so I could just forget the throttle, leave it at 100% and just worry about managing my prop pitch.

"Feeling" that something is too difficult is not good enough.

Empirical data is the only way to set such parameters.

Frankly most aircraft in the sim overheat far too readily in flight, especially the air cooled birds, FW 190 A excepted.

I'm not trying to set parameters, just explaining my opinion on the matter. I still play the same game as everyone else ultimately. But like I said, I rarely reach an overheat condition, even with some of the infamously "hot" aircraft.

[IceFire]

Originally Posted by Romanator21

I'm not trying to set parameters, just explaining my opinion on the matter. I still play the same game as everyone else ultimately. But like I said, I rarely reach an overheat condition, even with some of the infamously "hot" aircraft.

What do you think of the Ki-61? I pretty much run that one with rads open most of the time. Found any sweet spots with pitch/rpm percentages and throttle positions?