Kaiserschlacht and Spring Offensive Discussion

[SYN_Vander]

I decided to create a mini-campaign for Flying Circus so (new) players will have something to do other than fly Quick Missions or generated missions/campaigns. Something to give context to the wonderful crazy world of flying wooden/canvas biplanes over battle scarred no-mans land.

What do I mean with a mini campaign? Basically it's going to be 5-6 missions set during the height of the "Kaiserschlacht" battle, the German Spring Offensive of March 1918 (thanks J5_HellBender for planting this idea in my head  ). You will be able to fly these missions for both sides, in the Fokker Dr1 or Sopwith Camel, so essentially they will be 2 campaigns. My aim is to finish this before Christmas (yes, that is 4 weeks from now!)

 

I have already done some research for units/locations. It helps that I already started on something similar for RoF, but never finished that, but I least I still have my sources.

 

The Campaign is ready! EDIT: And now comes free as part of the game, with some extra missions added as well!

 

 

Actually, it's two mini campaigns. Both have 6 missions covering the same three days during the German Spring Offensive of 1918 aka " Kaiserschlacht".

 

Download the campaign files here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=11dgbmo_s_34eRuKocWGrr99vFXvS0uGS  (It's now part of the game)

 

And the skin pack here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1krbqg3vS9idYXOsPhKwif6wWG3hXUe10

 

Installation is simple: Just unzip in your main IL2 folder. You can also use a mod manager such as JSMG. Perhaps I'll create a package later, but I want to finish this now

 

Many, many thanks to my fellow Syndicate friends who helped me create these missions and provided skins: SYN_Haashashin, SYN_Skydance and SYN_Bandy. And of course the_dudeWG and YoYo who created several wonderful skins for this campaign!

 

Have fun!

<this was part of the original post>
 

However, I could use some help!

 

To complement the missions we need some proper skins! Here is what I'm looking for:

 

-Sopwith Camel: 54 Sqn, flying from Bertangles March 26th-30th, 1918 -> Would be nice to have both player and squadron skin

-Bristol fighter: 48 Sqn, flying from Bertangles March 26th-30th, 1918

 

-Fokker Dr1: Jasta 6,10,11, flying from Lechelle March 26th-30th, 1918 -> Squadron skins and would be nice to have a player skin and of course some known aces if possible: Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet etc

-Pfalz DIIIa: Jasta 4, flying from Lechelle March 26th-30th, 1918 -> Squadron skins

 

Please note the German aircraft should not have the straight " Balkenkreuz" yet!

Btw, if existing RoF paintschemes can be converted, that is fine for now as well.

 

Edited January 4, 2022 by SYN_Vander

[SYN_Skydance]

Sounds great Vander

 

I'm looking at skins for you now.

[SYN_Haashashin]

Ohh same as last one we started for RoF...sounds good. All I need is access to the spreadsheet ?

 

Haash

[SYN_Vander]

Cool, looks like we can make this a Syndicate production

 

28 minutes ago, SYN_Haashashin said:

Ohh same as last one we started for RoF...sounds good. All I need is access to the spreadsheet ?

 

Haash

 

Done!

Edited November 25, 2019 by SYN_Vander

[the_dudeWG]

@SYN_Vander I’d be happy to provide any DR1 skins you need. I’ve been putting off making squadron skins long enough, but I can turn them out quickly. The aces probably already exist, but I might need to update a few with the iron cross.  Either way, I’ll provide the links (for the existing skins) or modify those if they have the balkenkreuz. S!

 

Edited November 27, 2019 by the_dudeWG

[SYN_Vander]

24 minutes ago, the_dudeWG said:

@SYN_Vander I’d be happy to provide any DR1 skins you need. I’ve been putting off making squadron skins long enough, but I can turn them out quickly. The aces probably already exist, but I might need to update a few with the iron cross.  Either way, I’ll provide the links (for the existing skins) or modify those if they have the balkenkreuz. S!

Cool! Better post here what you are working on, so Skydance can see what is already there.

[YoYo]

Its a fantastic news for me, BIG Thank You!!! ?

[the_dudeWG]

On 11/25/2019 at 5:58 PM, SYN_Vander said:

Cool! Better post here what you are working on, so Skydance can see what is already there.

I’ll start with all of the J11 DR1 skins. If I didn’t already create them, I know who did and where to get them. I have an early J11 default (based on MvR’s 127/17 DR1) that I’ve never published. I’ll edit this post with links to my skins, or the original painter’s skin (provided they approve). S!

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Dr1 Squadron Skins

 

Early Default - Jasta 6 - Feb.'18

http://www.mediafire.com/file/qjuzjuiv2cw2kwi/FDR1_J6_Default_Early.dds/file

 

Early Default - Jasta 10 - Dec.'17

http://www.mediafire.com/file/u5ao3pztf5jzvlb/FDR1_J10_Default_Early.dds/file

 

Early Default - Jasta 11 - Mar.'18

http://www.mediafire.com/file/4hop4r8yso0z6dr/FDR1_J11_Default_Early.dds/file

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Dr1 Squadron Pilot Skins

 

Manfred von Richthofen 127/17 - Jasta 11 - Mar.'18

http://www.mediafire.com/file/bg5vwke7djbrwgk/FDR1_J11_MvR127_V1.dds/file

 

Manfred von Richthofen 477/17 (Version 1) - Jasta 11 - Mar.'18

http://www.mediafire.com/file/2bwhvl5ij95ijci/FDR1_J11_MvR477_V1.dds/file

 

Manfred von Richthofen 477/17 (Version 2) - Jasta 11 - Mar.'18

http://www.mediafire.com/file/9ccxg6y1qop56mf/FDR1_J11_MvR477_V2.dds/file

 

Hans Joachim Wolff - Jasta 11 - Mar. '18

https://www.mediafire.com/file/jq149m2ak94o9vy/FDR1_J11_HJ_Wolff.dds/file

 

Werner Steinhauser - Jasta 11 - Feb. '18 (wounded Mar.17, 1918 - may have been inactive at the time)

https://www.mediafire.com/file/n20c81n3nbk6swz/FDR1_J11_Steinhau_E.dds/file

 

Unknown pilot - Jasta 11 - Mar.'18

http://www.mediafire.com/file/kdrf88cdevwc3ug/FDR1_J11_Unknown01.dds/file

 

Robert Tuxen - Jasta 6 - Mar.'18 (credit @szelljr - edited for use in this mission)

http://www.mediafire.com/file/lo115lmvzyjjlrd/FDR1_J6_Tuxen_Early.dds/file

 

Eberhardt Mohnicke - Jasta 11 - Mar.'18 (wounded Mar. 1, but his Dr.1 was photographed in line-ups at Lechelle - credit @szelljr)

http://www.mediafire.com/file/9pu4rb2588aynpp/MOHNICKE.dds/file

 

Unknown pilot - Jasta 11 - Mar.’18 (credit @szelljr)
http://www.mediafire.com/file/gze8dsbj5v5zgfy/502_JASTA_11.dds/file

 

Johann Jansen - Jasta 6 - Mar.'18 (credit @szelljr - edited for use in this mission)

http://www.mediafire.com/file/dz984oxpcdgtrc7/FDR1_J6_Janzen_Early.dds/file

 

Unknown pilot - Jasta 6 - Mar.’18 (credit @I./JG1_Baron)

http://www.mediafire.com/file/fgrt0149g4fqinl/Jasta_6_unknown_pilot.dds/file

 

 

Note: MvR scored 2 victories with Dr1 127/17 and 4 victories with Dr1 177/17 from Mar.26 to Mar.30. His Dr1 425/17 was thought to have been photographed at Lechelle during that time, but there are others that believe the all-red Dr1 was actually 177/17 (which is why there are two different versions of 177/17).

 

 

Edited December 20, 2019 by the_dudeWG

[YoYo]

I can help to create skins also if You need but need sources.

[JGr2/J5_Baeumer]

This is such a great community to be a part of...

[SYN_Skydance]

Cheer gents

 

I've started work on the Bristol. I'll check back before I start work on the camel.

 

[YoYo]

Ok, I'll do Pfalz DIII of Jasta4, is this will be ok (with fuselage numbers or clean version)?

 

https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=7293.0

Edited November 27, 2019 by YoYo

[SYN_Skydance]

I love that skin YoYo. The German skins are so colourful and look fun to do.
 

Two Brisfit aircraft skins are now done. One, un-numbered, skin for the squadron and one skin for the squadron leader. Once I have approval then I’ll post them here.

 

I’ll start on a couple of camel skins later today.

Edited November 28, 2019 by SYN_Skydance

[SYN_Skydance]

 

 

https://app.box.com/s/9xmlmin0bniukuf4zouv1wikr4d044i3

 

The squadron leader and generic 48th squadron skin can be downloaded by clicking the link above.

 

 

Edited November 28, 2019 by SYN_Skydance

[SYN_Vander]

On 11/27/2019 at 8:15 PM, YoYo said:

Ok, I'll do Pfalz DIII of Jasta4, is this will be ok (with fuselage numbers or clean version)?

 

https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=7293.0

 

Well, we need at least a generic version, but one " special" would be nice. I guess not all Jasta 4 planes had a blue tail? Do note that the picture says " 1917". Did Boenigk still fly this plane in March 1918? 

Well this source says March 1918, so I'm okay with it!

https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=7293.0

Edited November 28, 2019 by SYN_Vander

[YoYo]

6 minutes ago, SYN_Vander said:

 

Well, we need at least a generic version, but one " special" would be nice. I guess not all Jasta 4 planes had a blue tail? Do note that the picture says " 1917". Did Boenigk still fly this plane in March 1918? 

 

But see the link, this repaint is from March 1918. I will do more researching before.

[SYN_Skydance]

[SYN_Skydance]

The Sopwith Camels of the 54th sqd are now nearly complete. I’ve just got to tinker with the base colour and the shine on the alpha channel.

[SYN_Vander]

Looking good gentlemen! I have finalized the mission scenarios and did all the necessary reseach so units, weather, locations are correct. SYN_Haashashin is helping to build the scenery and will no doubt help finish some missions. The funny thing is, doing all the research and creating mission objectives & briefings is more work than creating the actual missions themselves  .

Be aware that the action takes place in a very narrow time-frame; only the last couple of days in March 1918.

 

Player will fly for Jasta 6 & 54 Sqn.

Edited December 1, 2019 by SYN_Vander

[keeno]

Looking forward to this!

 

Cheers

[SYN_Skydance]

 

 

Here is the first skin for a Sopwith Camel B5423 white 6 of the 54th squadron

 

I'll post a link, at the end, that contains all the Camel skins together

 

This skin is B7407 of the 54th squadron. This is the only picture that I could find of it. I've assumed that it was number 8

 

 

 

 

 

This is B5417 number 11 of the 54th squdron

Here is the download link for the 3 skins above and a generic skin for the 54th sqd.

 

https://app.box.com/s/1usvf4stoprtaolvynjhbuk3xrhsqne4

[Motherbrain]

Since I don't have the faintest clue how to make a campaign, I'm glad somebody is going to do one for Flying Circus! 07

[SYN_Vander]

On 11/26/2019 at 12:10 AM, the_dudeWG said:

I’ll start with all of the J11 DR1 skins. If I didn’t already create them, I know who did and where to get them. I have an early J11 default (based on MvR’s 127/17 DR1) that I’ve never published. I’ll edit this post with links to my skins, or the original painter’s skin (provided they approve). S!

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Dr1 Squadron Skins

 

Early Default - Jasta 6 - Feb.'18

http://www.mediafire.com/file/qjuzjuiv2cw2kwi/FDR1_J6_Default_Early.dds/file

 

Early Default - Jasta 10 - Dec.'17

http://www.mediafire.com/file/u5ao3pztf5jzvlb/FDR1_J10_Default_Early.dds/file

 

Early Default - Jasta 11 - Mar.'18

http://www.mediafire.com/file/4hop4r8yso0z6dr/FDR1_J11_Default_Early.dds/file

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Dr1 Squadron Pilot Skins

 

Manfred von Richthofen 127/17 - Jasta 11 - Mar.'18

http://www.mediafire.com/file/bg5vwke7djbrwgk/FDR1_J11_MvR127_V1.dds/file

 

Manfred von Richthofen 477/17 (Version 1) - Jasta 11 - Mar.'18

http://www.mediafire.com/file/2bwhvl5ij95ijci/FDR1_J11_MvR477_V1.dds/file

 

Manfred von Richthofen 477/17 (Version 2) - Jasta 11 - Mar.'18

http://www.mediafire.com/file/9ccxg6y1qop56mf/FDR1_J11_MvR477_V2.dds/file

 

Hans Joachim Wolff - Jasta 11 - Mar. '18

https://www.mediafire.com/file/jq149m2ak94o9vy/FDR1_J11_HJ_Wolff.dds/file

 

Werner Steinhauser - Jasta 11 - Feb. '18 (wounded Mar.17, 1918 - may have been inactive at the time)

https://www.mediafire.com/file/n20c81n3nbk6swz/FDR1_J11_Steinhau_E.dds/file

 

Unknown pilot - Jasta 11 - Mar.'18

http://www.mediafire.com/file/kdrf88cdevwc3ug/FDR1_J11_Unknown01.dds/file

 

Robert Tuxen - Jasta 6 - Mar.'18 (credit @szelljr)

http://www.mediafire.com/file/lrwnx6g3gevnd44/ROBERT_TUXEN.dds/file

 

Eberhardt Mohnicke - Jasta 11 - Mar.'18 (wounded Mar. 1, but his Dr.1 was photographed in line-ups at Lechelle - credit @szelljr)

http://www.mediafire.com/file/9pu4rb2588aynpp/MOHNICKE.dds/file

 

Johann Jansen - Jasta 6 - Mar.'18 (credit @szelljr)

http://www.mediafire.com/file/1pyw6a77k5qy3r3/JANZEN.dds/file

 

Note: MvR scored 2 victories with Dr1 127/17 and 4 victories with Dr1 177/17 from Mar.26 to Mar.30. His Dr1 425/17 was thought to have been photographed at Lechelle during that time, but there are others that believe the all-red Dr1 was actually 177/17 (which is why there are two different versions of 177/17).

 

More to come ...

 

Thanks for the new Jasta 6 (and jasta 11) skins!

Edited December 6, 2019 by SYN_Vander

[the_dudeWG]

You’re welcome, Vander. I’m still trying to track down some more but I’m having difficulties accessing @GCF’s skin directory. Hopefully I can wrap up the Dr1 skins later today. S!

[SYN_Vander]

18 hours ago, the_dudeWG said:

You’re welcome, Vander. I’m still trying to track down some more but I’m having difficulties accessing @GCF’s skin directory. Hopefully I can wrap up the Dr1 skins later today. S!

 

The Jasta 6, Tuxen skin has a straight "balkenkreuz" on the rudder. Is this correct? I can't find any reference pictures...

 

Edited December 7, 2019 by SYN_Vander

[YoYo]

I have a little more free time in this weekend so I’ll start Pfalz skins of Jasta 4.

[the_dudeWG]

2 hours ago, SYN_Vander said:

 

The Jasta 6, Tuxen skin has a straight "balkenkreuz" on the rudder. Is this correct? I can't find any reference pictures...

 

 

Ya, it's a bit odd. It matches the artist's illustration, even though the date is Mar.'18.

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/40237-szelljr-skindeposit-ww-1-®/

 

I’ll look into it when I get back to my desktop. S!

Edited December 7, 2019 by the_dudeWG

[YoYo]

btw. this isnt very easy  .

For Today it's enough for me. I'll finish all skins for Jasta4 in this week I hope. 

 

 

 

W.I.P still.

Edited December 8, 2019 by YoYo

[SYN_Skydance]

looking good YoYo

 

[GSHWK_Houndstone_Hawk]

This is going to be a 'great' Christmas thanks to these guys. 

[SYN_Vander]

On 12/8/2019 at 9:01 PM, YoYo said:

btw. this isnt very easy  .

For Today it's enough for me. I'll finish all skins for Jasta4 in this week I hope. 

 

 

 

W.I.P still.

 

Looks great! I noticed there already is a Jasta 4 skin in the game, but it has the balkenkreuz....

[SYN_Vander]

On 12/1/2019 at 1:57 PM, SYN_Skydance said:

 

 

Here is the first skin for a Sopwith Camel B5423 white 6 of the 54th squadron

 

I'll post a link, at the end, that contains all the Camel skins together

This skin is B7407 of the 54th squadron. This is the only picture that I could find of it. I've assumed that it was number 8

 

 

 

 

This is B5417 number 11 of the 54th squdron

Here is the download link for the 3 skins above and a generic skin for the 54th sqd.

 

https://app.box.com/s/1usvf4stoprtaolvynjhbuk3xrhsqne4

 

@SYN_Skydance I had to rename the skin names so there are no spaces or dots. I replaced them all with an underscore character so I could assign them in the mission editor.

[YoYo]

Ok, the set of Jasta 4 for "Kaiserschlacht" - Flying Circus Mini campaign is ready (3 different skins).

Here is the preview.

 

@SYN_Vander I'll send You a link im PM. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regards! 

Edited December 13, 2019 by YoYo

[SYN_Skydance]

Hi All

 

I've updated the aircraft names, in the upload links above, for both the Sopwith Camel and the Bristol F.2B so that they will work with the mission editor.

 

If you download them now you will get the aircraft names as below.

 

4 x Sopwith Camels of the 54th squadron;

 

No_54_sqn

No_54_sqn_B5423_No.6_4k

No_54_sqn_B7407_No.8_4k

No_54_sqn_B5417_No.11_4k

 

2 x Bristol F.2B of the 48th;

 

No_48_sqn_4k

No_48_sqn_C814_12_4k

 

If you have already downloaded them then you can just rename each aircraft, as above, by just replacing all dots and spaces with an underscore.

 

[YoYo]

On 11/25/2019 at 9:35 PM, SYN_Vander said:

My aim is to finish this before Christmas (yes, that is 4 weeks from now!)

 

Hello,

so any news? Dont rush, just question about this time  will it be maintained?

 

 

[SYN_Vander]

We (me and Haash) are testing the Release candidate now. I hope to release tomorrow.

 

Will it be maintained? Yes, of course. When we find any bugs we'll try to solve them. Perhaps one day we can make a full campaign out of this

Edited December 22, 2019 by SYN_Vander

[YoYo]

Big Thank You ! 

[SYN_Skydance]

Great work guys. If you need any help, just let me know

[ShamrockOneFive]

19 hours ago, SYN_Vander said:

We (me and Haash) are testing the Release candidate now. I hope to release tomorrow.

 

Will it be maintained? Yes, of course. When we find any bugs we'll try to solve them. Perhaps one day we can make a full campaign out of this

 

That's amazing! Looking forward to this being out. I will definitely put something on Stormbirds about this!

[SYN_Vander]

The Campaign is ready!

 

 

Actually, it's two mini campaigns. Both have 6 missions covering the same three days during the German Spring Offensive of 1918 aka " Kaiserschlacht". The campaign where you fly the Fokker DrI is called "Kaiserschlacht" and the one where you fly the Sopwith Camel is called "Spring Offensive".

 

Download the campaign files here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=11dgbmo_s_34eRuKocWGrr99vFXvS0uGS

 

And the skin pack here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1krbqg3vS9idYXOsPhKwif6wWG3hXUe10

 

Installation is simple: Just unzip in your main IL2 folder. You can also use a mod manager such as JSMG if you know how to. Perhaps I'll create a package later, but I want to finish this now .

 

Many, many thanks to my fellow Syndicate friends who helped me create these missions and provided skins: @SYN_Haashashin ,  @SYN_Skydance and @SYN_Bandy. Special thanks to @the_dudeWG and @YoYo who created several wonderful skins for this campaign! And of course thanks to the Il2 team who created Flying Circus in the first place and released a last quick patch that fixed some FC issues which would otherwise have affected this campaign.

 

Have fun!

 

Almost forgot:

 

? Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!  ? 

Edited December 23, 2019 by SYN_Vander