Still frustrated and complaining about Bf109's rear armor plate in DW? Come in and have a look!

[I/JG54_chuishan]

Hi everyone! 

 

Since the release of Desert Wings Tobruk I've seen piles of comments on Bf109E-7 and Bf109F's back armor plate. Under each video and forum thread relating to Bf109, there are comments on Bf109's bad rear visibility.

 

I'm not a Messerschmitt pilot in real life but I think this is a fair explanation for why Bf109's rear visibility in IL-2 GB and IL-2 Desert Wings are so different.

 

Let's make a simple comparison between GB and DW.

 

First dead astern.

 

 

Then high six.

 

 

 

 

 

These screenshots were taken with approximately the same FOV settings (just enough zoom to see whole of the 109's dashboard and rudder pedals).

 

Three conclusions that I can draw:

1) For the dead astern visibility, Bf109 in GB and DW are approximately the same.

2) The main difference is what player can see at high six position.

3) The difference is caused mainly by player's ability to turn his 'head' 180 degrees to the rear without shifting axis in GB and DW's lack of it.

 

In GB, you can turn your head (or view) nearly 180 degrees directly into the rear, you can see that head rest is just in the middle of the screen. Also your view axis doesn't change too much, I mean your 'head' stays where it is when you are turning it 180 degrees to the rear...

 

In DW, you can't turn your 'head' 180 degrees and you can't turn your head to the rear quarters without changing your view axis. 

 

As we all know human beings cannot turn their heads 180 degrees to the rear without make their bodies side-ways and moving their necks to see what is going on. That means, if you want to turn your head to the rear, your view axis will change. Don't forget that you are a pilot tied into your seat with 5 or 6-points harness in a really tight cockpit.

 

I suppose this is how it works in DW & Blitz. So if you can only see half of your high six, I think this is why.

 

Personally I think both view mechanisms are OK as long as everyone has equal conditions. Yes, GB's mechanism is easier to handle but not so reasonable. And yes, DW's mechanism is less easier to handle but makes more sense.

 

As long as there's no inappropriate advantages in visibility, I think they are all fine.

 

Hope that this thread can help you in understanding why Bf109's rear visibility in IL-2 GB and IL-2 Desert Wings are so different.

 

[ITAF_Airone1989]

I was talking with a real Italian fighter pilot and he told me that with seat belt of course you cannot rotate your head in GB way's...

So I decided to make some experiment: I limited my TrackIR profile making it similar to my max head movement without moving shoulders.

 

The result was that I lost a lot of the rear view, and helped my to understand how easy was to be attacked at 6 o'clock if you fly alone...

 

Limited rear vision increase the value of your wingman.

[5th_Hellrider]

Players want to see well at 6 o'clock, and they are used to that in simulators. That's why they want the armor plate removed, which is also in Il2 Great Battles.
In real life it should be quite difficult to check the 6 o'clock, due to the very narrow cockpits and the clutter of parachutes and other equipment.

[OBT-Mikmak]

3 hours ago, ITAF_Airone1989 said:

Limited rear vision increase the value of your wingman.

 

Totally agree !! Long live to teamwork ?

 

But unfortunatly, i think mass of players are fast food gamers and not flight simers and they don't care about their so important wingman... thinking only about their own kills... ?

So let's remove those armor plates to make them happy... this will not prevent me and my wingman to be in their six for sure... ?

Edited August 11, 2020 by OBT-Mikmak

[Barnacles]

Well they're going to remove the plate now. Of course it'll be an option to fit it. I doubt any server will disable it.

[I/JG54_chuishan]

9 hours ago, 71st_AH_Barnacles said:

Well they're going to remove the plate now. Of course it'll be an option to fit it. I doubt any server will disable it.

 

Indeed, people never like to be pushed too hard, even doing so will make things closer to realism.