Bf109E questions

[Yardstick]

Having owned CLOD since day one, I am finally giving it a good try and enjoying the immersion provided by the various user made campaigns.  Will definitely be buying TF5.0 on release now.

 

I was curious about a couple of inconsistencies with how the Bf109E series and the E-7 in IL-2:GB are modelled. 

 

First the tail wheel on the CLOD Emils seems locked in place (based on the ground handling and the position of the leaver) but I don't seem to be able to unlock it and therefore have much reduced control when parking up.  Is this a limitation of the engine because it seems odd as there is a key binding for a lockable 'tail skid'?

 

Second, I'm curious about what CLOD describes as a hand pump for the undercarriage (leaver on the bottom right of the panel with a yellow knob).  In CLOD this is used to hand pump the undercarriage up in the event of a partial / failed retraction.  However, in IL2:GB this appears to be a fuel primer pump and is automatically animated during start up.  Which sim has got it right?

Edited June 21, 2020 by Yardstick
Update

[Raven109]

Regarding your last point, in the real aircraft that is indeed the manual fuel pump handle. I think in CoD it doesn't do anything.

 

IIRC, you can use the wheel breaks to turn tighter, the 109E models from CoD didn't have a lockable tail wheel in real life.

Edited June 21, 2020 by Raven109

[Yardstick]

Agree on point 2, the references that I have support the fuel pump / primer role. Actually the lever is functional in CLOD, I had a hard bounce on take-off and one gear leg only partially retracted.  Per the note in 'Chuck's CLOD Guide' (excellent resource BTW) , I used it to lock home the errant gear leg.

 

 

It seems odd that the last sub-variant of the E series was the only one with a lockable tailwheel - certainly as modelled in IL-2:GB if you try and land without the wheel locked you will ground loop for certain.  Oddly on the CLOD Emils they all have the tailwheel lock included in the cockpit 3D model (in the locked position, well sort up but not correctly latched) and the ground handling for the CLOD Emils behaves like there is a locked tailwheel i.e. they are almost impossible to ground loop.  Image 1 and 2 are from IL2:GB, locked and unlocked respectively, image 3 is from CLOD. 

 

 

 

 

Seems odd to me.

Edited June 21, 2020 by Yardstick
Update

[Raven109]

The tailwheel lock was introduced with the E7:

 

The E1/2/3 didn't have a tailwheel lock:

 

Could be that the Es in CoD were modeled by using the wrong cockpit.

 

[Yardstick]

2 minutes ago, Raven109 said:

Could be that the Es in CoD were modeled by using the wrong cockpit.

 

Seems the most likely answer!

 

I've always felt the ground handing was modelled way better in IL-2:GB.  I think my experience with the Emils in CLOD supports this. 

[Raven109]

Yes, the behavior is quite mild in CoD. Good video on the E3 cockpit (at around 11:55):

 

 

Edited June 21, 2020 by Raven109