More twin Engine flyables in IL-2 1946

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by Gumpy

Yes all gunner stations playable and mod is B29 flyable cockpit with B29 upgrade mod applied.

I've flown this mod and I'm unimpressed with the modeling of the fire control stations.

Getting the defensive gunnery systems of the B-29 right will be a big task, and I'm not sure that IL2 is up to the job.

In addition to the complexities of modeling the gunner stations with their targeting sights, you also need to recreate the system that allowed gunners to hand off control of the various turrets to each other. By comparison, modeling the cockpit and bombardier positions is easy!

[Tinpanzer87]

Boulton Paul Defiant?

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by Tinpanzer87

Boulton Paul Defiant?

If somebody builds it, sure, but it doesn't seem likely.

There weren't a lot of Defiants built, they only equipped a few squadrons, they were an operational failure during daylight operations, and they were mostly used for the one time period and in the one theater which IL2 ignores - 1939-40 Western Front.

So, not exactly a priority to get into the game.

That said, I've got a soft spot for the Defiant, and for the P.94 (the Defiant variant with turret removed and guns in the wings).

The Defiant did quite well as a night fighter, and allegedly could give a good account in fighter vs. fighter combat if flown using the proper defensive tactics.

The P.94 was almost as fast as the Spitfire, but not quite as maneuverable. It would have been an interesting "compromise" between the Hurricane & Spitfire in terms of how it fought & flew. It would make a fascinating "what-if" airplane to add to the game.

[CzechTexan]

A flyable B-25 Mitchell would be a great addition, especially any of the gunship models. Even the C and D models were field modded with additional machine guns in the nose for ground strafing. One of my favorite books "Air Combat at 20 Feet" tells the story of Pilot Middlebrook and his early model strafers over New Guinea, which we now have a great map NBNG to fly over. Gunships played a big role in NG as "America's sturmovik."

[gaunt1]

Well, we have a B-25, the J version. But indeed, it would be nice to have other variants, especially the C, and also the "other" J with solid nose. That would need only some external model changes only.

[Furio]

Originally Posted by gaunt1

Well, we have a B-25, the J version. But indeed, it would be nice to have other variants, especially the C, and also the "other" J with solid nose. That would need only some external model changes only.

A field modified B25J would require just addition of fixed guns in the nose (4, 5 or 8 can be seen in pictures), removal of bombsight and bombardier position, and painting over part or all of the transparent nose panels. Some changes in damage model would be probably required, considering also the possible addition of internal armour plates to protect pilots from ground fire.

Possibly it would be easier to model a completely new, solid nose, but then also external armour plates around cockpit would be needed.
Finally, variations in windshield can be seen on all strafer variants.

[gaunt1]

Originally Posted by Furio

A field modified B25J would require just addition of fixed guns in the nose (4, 5 or 8 can be seen in pictures), removal of bombsight and bombardier position, and painting over part or all of the transparent nose panels.

So these solid nosed B-25J variants were all field mods? I didnt know that.

[Furio]

Originally Posted by gaunt1

So these solid nosed B-25J variants were all field mods? I didnt know that.

This is a modern restoration, of unknown origin and accuracy. If correctly restored, this looks like a factory built “solid nose”, with external armour plate on cockpit sides, but lacking the four side-mounted guns and armoured windshield. You can see the armour plate just below side window.
If you browse online, you can easily find pictures of field modified B25. If the guns are 4 or 5, it’s a field mod. If the guns are 8, look for the overpainted transparent nose panels and a different nose contour, of a little less rounded shape. At least, this is AFAIK, but there’s probably more.
The interesting thing is that field mod could be simpler to model, being equally good for NG campaign or missions.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by Furio

If you browse online, you can easily find pictures of field modified B25. If the guns are 4 or 5, it’s a field mod. If the guns are 8, look for the overpainted transparent nose panels and a different nose contour, of a little less rounded shape.

I wonder if it is possible to handle the various B-25 field mods as loadout options, rather than new models. That would simplify things.

Is it possible to add things like supplemental armor plates as loadout options?