Small request/suggestion: Stopwatch.

[Finkeren]

Back when the Bf 109 F4 was released way back in early-early access, one of the first mistakes to be corrected was the fact, that the third hand on the clock in the cockpit moved to count seconds. In reality, the third hand was for the built-in stopwatch and counted minutes allowing the pilot to, among other things, measuring time over the target area to know when to turn home without running out of fuel.

 

My suggestion is to make this stopwatch work in the sim, not as a stopwatch that you can turn on/off (for that we could just get a real stopwatch to keep by the joystick)

 

Instead it should work as an indicator to measure the time the pilot has used at the limited 'combat power' rating. The stopwatch starting automatically every time the engine goes above 1.32 ATA (or whatever the value is - I rarely fly the F4) and stopping every time it falls back into 'continuous mode', thereby simulating the pilot using the stopwatch to keep track of how much safe time he has left on the higher powersetting.

 

I propose for this to work for 'combat' not 'emergency power' since the player will use the latter rarely and it's far easier to just count out in your head.

 

This will help players to better manage their engine power and will IMO be a fairly realistic feature. It should also be quite easy to implement, since the animation for the third hand has already been made, and since the sim must already in some way measure the time used at the different powersettings, so it should merely be about making the third hand on the clock a visual representation of that measuring.

 

The feature should work for the Bf 109F4 obviously, but also for the Fw 190, provided that the clock in the 190 actually had a stopwatch function, which I don't know if it had.

 

Let me know, what you think.

Edited November 2, 2014 by Finkeren

[von_Greiff]

+1

 

....great idea!

Since I did hardcore flying and keysetting, I tought of stopping the time myself, navigationwise

 

v.Geiff

[39bn_pavig]

Not so keen on this idea. Like Finkeren said, if we want a stopwatch we can buy one to keep near our joystick (which is exactly what I've done.   ) But, if the 109 had a stopwatch second hand on the clock then it would be a good to have that feature fully implemented. Keep it real when possible rather than adding automagic features. 

[1./KG4_Blackwolf]

Not so keen on this idea. Like Finkeren said, if we want a stopwatch we can buy one to keep near our joystick (which is exactly what I've done.   ) But, if the 109 had a stopwatch second hand on the clock then it would be a good to have that feature fully implemented. Keep it real when possible rather than adding automagic features. 

So I pay 100 bucks for this game and I have to buy a stopwatch? Yeah NO.. I think the OP post is a good one. +1 Finkeren.

[1./KG4_Blackwolf]

My suggestion is to make this stopwatch work in the sim, not as a stopwatch that you can turn on/off (for that we could just get a real stopwatch to keep by the joystick)

 

See Pavig. Work in the sim not on our desk! Wow you missed the point on this one.

My phone has a stopwatch on it but I dont use it in game.

[39bn_pavig]

I am all for extra tools in sim, but I don't like the idea of modifying the plane to get it. If we have a stopwatch (and I'll like to see that plus virtual rulers, protractors, nl10m slide rules, line tools etc) then I think the place for them is in the hud and map so they don't modify the plane itself.

 

As for the plane, if it had a stopwatch built into the dash as has been noted then we need a hotkey to start/stop/reset it and make it work like the real item.

Edited November 3, 2014 by 39bn_pavig

[Pringliano]

I just hope time in the sim isn't "relativistic".... When we use real watches to time maneuvers in a sim, sometimes we find, to our dismay, that the rate at which time lapses in the same is not in syn with RW...

 

Never tested this in IL2 BOS, but it's a problem with many sims I have used....

[unreasonable]

Then you need to use the clocks in the sim to time maneuvers in the sim...

[Sokol1]

The "technochat" don't monitors and alerts these "especial" modes usage?

[J2_Trupobaw]

It does, if you fly with it turned on.

[1./ZG1_ElHadji]

The DCS Fw 190 D-9 has a working stopwatch, just like the real bird, so I don't see why it couldn't work in IL-2 BoS as well. I mean the instrument is there and it shows the correct in-game time. Is just a matter of making the stopwatch functionality work.

 

In the DCS Dora you can turn the outer ring to set a desired timeframe and just monitor the minute dial (good when flying at night) and by pressing the base button you start the stopwatch. Pressing it again resets it.

Edited November 3, 2014 by -=XBOYZ=-ElHadji