Kuban Autumn Nth Africa Desert Beta upload - Updated version to 8. 10-01-2023

[kraut1]

I have just released new EMG settings V02 for 4 Frontlines:

and a small BF109 mission set:

 

[Stonehouse]

7 hours ago, kraut1 said:

I have just released new EMG settings V02 for 4 Frontlines:

 

Thank you for all the hours and the work you put in on this. I think this will really help get some more people flying in Tunisian skies. Looking forward to everyone's screen shots!

[kraut1]

7 hours ago, Stonehouse said:

 

Thank you for all the hours and the work you put in on this. I think this will really help get some more people flying in Tunisian skies. Looking forward to everyone's screen shots!

Thanks, yesterday I flew my first EMG mission over Tunisia using your mod and the desert landscape was really wonderful!

[Stonehouse]

Off Winters mod, I was just doing support and research. But regardless it's a great map conversion and having easily accessible missions will make a big difference.

[kraut1]

Hi All,

Vanders EMGv72 for Kuban Autumn Nth Africa Desert Beta Revison V03 (23. Feb 2023)

is released with 14 Front Lines from 1st January 1943 - 3rd May 1943

Updated 24th Feb: historical background data by Stonehouse added

 

Edited February 24, 2023 by kraut1

[kraut1]

Hi Off_Winters,

Really a great mod!

Only a small question:

Could you add (next revision) a small table which USSR vehicle means the corresponding US/UK vehicle in the debriefing?

What I already understood:

T34... = Sherman M4
T70 = Sherman M4
zis5 = Bren gun Carrier
gaz-aa-m4-aa = M16 (M3 w. 4xcal.50)
gaz-aa = M16 (M3 w. 4xcal.50) Skin M16, really with AAA?
gaz-m =Jeep

Best regards

[Off_Winters]

On 2/28/2023 at 6:39 PM, kraut1 said:

Hi Off_Winters,

Really a great mod!

Only a small question:

Could you add (next revision) a small table which USSR vehicle means the corresponding US/UK vehicle in the debriefing?

 

Hi Kraut,

no worries I'll make it up tonight and attach here, and include in the next update. I'll include list of static models I have swapped out as well.

regards Rob.

[Off_Winters]

Hi All,

A list of Russian models I have changed out in game for either British or US models. This means when a Mission or Quick Combat calls for these Russian models in game you will see the British or US model I replaced it with instead. theres a few buildings I swapped out as well to remove obvious European style buildings/hangers from the Kuban Autmn map, I'll update that list a bit later.

regards Rob.

Pilots
From                                      To
Russian                           British

Static Russian Vehicles.
From                                To
Gaz truck                         GMC
Gaz Fuel Truck                 GMC fuel
 

Vehicles
From	To
BA10m	Humber MkIV
Bt7m	M8 greyhound
BA64	M8 greyhound
Zis 5	Bren Carrier
Zis 35	Bedford qlc truck
gaz-aa-m4-aa	M16 (M3 w. 4xcal.50)
gaz-aa	M16 (M3 w. 4xcal.50)
gaz-m	Jeep
kv1-41	M4 A2 sherman UK
kv1-42	M4 A2 sherman UK
kv1s	M4 A2 sherman UK
t34-76-43	M4 A2 sherman UK
t34-76stz	M4 A2 sherman UK
t34-76stz-41	M4 A2 sherman UK
t70	M4 A2 sherman UK
LandlightSU	LandlightUK
Artillery
From	To
K61	Bofors
K72	Bofors
Hotchkis-AA	Bren-AA
Searchlightsu	SearchlightUK
ZIS 2	QF17pnd
BL55in	QF37
Train Wagons
From	To
platformaa-dshk	platformaa-M4
platformaa-Ka61	platformaa-boforsl60
Static Russian aircraft models swapped to RAF & USA from                                          To
yak 1 (open and closed)	P40 (RAF)
pe2 (closed)	P40 (RAF)
pe2 (open)	B25 (USA)
IL16	P39 (RAF)
IL2	Spitfire IX (usa)
ladd3	Spitfire IX (RAF)
mig3	Spitfire IX (RAF)
U2VS	Spitfire IX (RAF)

Edited March 3, 2023 by Off_Winters

[352ndOscar]

 

Greetings,

 

For your NA-Kuban Mod, what files did you modify to specify/change the default skins for the planes and vehicles from the standard install?  I removed your mod via JSGME, but I’m still getting NA-Kuban Aircraft and vehicle skins as defaults when I try to use the Kuban Autumn map.

 

Thanks in advance….

[Spidey002]

Having a blast with this mod!

 

But my tac codes aren't working. They show up blank. 

[Stonehouse]

2 hours ago, Spidey002 said:

Having a blast with this mod!

 

But my tac codes aren't working. They show up blank. 

Part of the mod switches them off completely as it was mucking up some custom skins. 

 

If you look here at this mod you can see the files involved.

Removing Player applied tactical codes from aircraft - Mods - IL-2 Sturmovik Forum (il2sturmovik.com)

 

If you want them on all you need to do is disable this kuban-tunisia conversion, look into the files and folders for it and locate the files involved in removing tac codes and rename or delete them. Then re-enable this kuban=tunisia conversion mod and your tac codes should work.

 

I am working (albeit very, very slowly) on a different approach that if it works will allow Rob to leave tac codes on and not have his skins mucked up.

 

[Off_Winters]

On 3/7/2023 at 9:23 AM, 352ndOscar said:

 

 

Greetings,

 

For your NA-Kuban Mod, what files did you modify to specify/change the default skins for the planes and vehicles from the standard install?  I removed your mod via JSGME, but I’m still getting NA-Kuban Aircraft and vehicle skins as defaults when I try to use the Kuban Autumn map.

 

Thanks in advance….

G'day Oscar,

there's lots of files involved, in numerous folder locations. if you're still seeing modified textures after disabling the Desert Mod, this means JSGME has not removed some files. this happens to me every now and then as well.

the easiest way to fix it is go into:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data and delete the graphics folder. then validate the game files through STEAM, it will redownload the graphics folder to your game structure the next time you start the game and you're good to go. 

regards Rob.

Edited March 12, 2023 by Off_Winters
spelling

[Falcon41]

Rob,

     What do you do if you don't have a Steam account?

Bill

[Off_Winters]

19 hours ago, Falcon41 said:

Rob,

     What do you do if you don't have a Steam account?

Bill

G'day Bill,

I have a non steam install as well, I haven't tried it myself yet. but if you navigate to:
C:\Program Files (x86)\1C Game Studios\IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles\data and delete the graphics folder, I think the next time you launch the game it will auto detect missing files and redownload before starting the game.

you could try backing up your graphics folder and restart game and see if it brings down the missing files. if it doesn't then just place your backed up graphics folder back into your game. I'm headed home from work tomorrow on break for a couple of weeks, once home I'll investigate how it works for non-steam.

regards Rob.
 

[Falcon41]

Rob,

     Thanks I'll give your suggestion a go.

Bill

[Falcon41]

Rob,

     Your suggestion worked just fine, thanks for the help,

Bill

[Ulricus]

Hi @Falcon41 ,

After I "revived" my 10-year-old RoF-JSGME/MOD experience, it worked very easy to install Off_Winter's Desert MOD and your Tuskegee Airmen Missions in BoX.

 

My first impression: Wow!!!

 

Thank you very much for your tip, which opened up a new chapter in BoX for me - alongside Missions and Campaigns. 

On 11/13/2023 at 10:41 PM, Falcon41 said:

Ulricus,

     You'll find that Off_Winters MOD only changes the terrain/color of the Kuban autumn map to more closely resemble the desert areas of Tunisa which is where the Tuskegee Airmen were first deployed. Enjoy

 

Next activity: Playing your P-40E-1 missions ?️ in the Desert Air War MOD ?️ ? !!! And I will enjoy - definitely ?  

Edited April 10, 2024 by Ulricus

[Falcon41]

Ulricus,       

      I hope you enjoy the missions as they are my first attempt at mission building.  One word of caution, these missions were created over 2 years ago and many changes have been made to IL-2, so if you experience any issues, go to the mission editor and under tools click on Resave all mission in folder, this should covert the missions to the most recent version of our sim.

Falcon41

[Mtnbiker1998]

Is this still working ok in the latest version? Looking forward to giving those Tuskeegee missions a go with the new P-40 update!

[Falcon41]

Yes, I flew a mission last night with no problem.  Just keep in mind that with older missions you might have to resave them as I mentioned above.

 

[Falcon41]

Rob,
     I noticed something last night after installing the latest update.  When flying the Tuskegee missions without your mod on, the P-40 engine option worked fine; however, when I installed your desert mod the option for the new engine was no longer available. You might want to take a look at with the new update.

Bill

 

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 2024 by Falcon41
Spelling

[Stonehouse]

20 hours ago, Falcon41 said:

new engine was no longer available

 

It is because the file info.txt located in Kuban_Autumn-1943_Desert_Beta_8\data\swf\il2\worldobjects\planes\p40e1 has been altered to default to desert skins.

 

If you look in the folder for this mod and drill to the location above and rename info.txt to info.txtx or something you should get the modification back, but you will also unfortunately get likely VVS or european skins by default. Obviously, you would disable the mod in jsgme before doing the rename and then enable it again.

 

There may be a few other things like this for Rob to update if he has time as there have been a few patches since the last release of the mod. Also, the SpitfireIXC is likely a much better fit for the mod than the IXE from a historical viewpoint.

 

<edit> interim fix until Rob gets time. Go to the folder given above and replace info.txt with the attached. It should give you desert skins plus the better boost rated engine.

info.txt

Edited February 24, 2024 by Stonehouse

[Falcon41]

Storehouse,

     Thanks for the reply, I’ll try your suggestion.

Falcon41

Edited February 24, 2024 by Falcon41
Content

[Falcon41]

Stonehouse,

     Your suggestion worked just fine, thank you!

Falcon41

[Stonehouse]

All good, it was just a resync with the 5.202 version of the file. There may be other planes or vehicles with the same sort of issue, not sure.

[kraut1]

@Off_Winters

Hello Rob,

I have 2 questions concerning "mapstiles" of your Mod:

-Do you have maybe from your work on the mapstiles of the Kuban Map an intermediate backup without any Lables?

I mean, after you have deleted the Kuban labels and before you placed the Tunisia labels.

-In which way do you have "deleted" or "removed" so many Kuban Labels from the mapstile *.dds files?

By "manually painting" or by a special selecting or filtering technique?

(sorry for my wording, I am not a Gimp or Paint Shop expert).

 

I ask this because I am thinking currently about using unlabeled mapstiles for e.g:

Kuban/ Papua New Guinea and to place only the most importent Labels in the Template Mission as Mission Editor Icons with a text label

 

And by creating an "not labeled" GUI map of Rhinland, Stalingrad or Moscow to have something to be used for late war May 1945 eastern and western front missions, only with some Mission Editor Icon labels

 

Kuban:

Tunisia:

 

Currently in my New Guinea Missions:

 

It's only a question! - Please don't waste time for it!

Best wishes

kraut1

Edited June 28, 2024 by kraut1

[Off_Winters]

On 6/28/2024 at 10:13 PM, kraut1 said:

@Off_Winters

Hello Rob,

I have 2 questions concerning "mapstiles" of your Mod:

-Do you have maybe from your work on the mapstiles of the Kuban Map an intermediate backup without any Lables?

I mean, after you have deleted the Kuban labels and before you placed the Tunisia labels.

-In which way do you have "deleted" or "removed" so many Kuban Labels from the mapstile *.dds files?

By "manually painting" or by a special selecting or filtering technique?

(sorry for my wording, I am not a Gimp or Paint Shop expert).

 

I ask this because I am thinking currently about using unlabeled mapstiles for e.g:

Kuban/ Papua New Guinea and to place only the most importent Labels in the Template Mission as Mission Editor Icons with a text label

 

And by creating an "not labeled" GUI map of Rhinland, Stalingrad or Moscow to have something to be used for late war May 1945 eastern and western front missions, only with some Mission Editor Icon labels

 

Kuban:

Tunisia:

 

Currently in my New Guinea Missions:

 

It's only a question! - Please don't waste time for it!

Best wishes

kraut1

G'day kraut1.

yes mate I have a full set of un-named map tiles for the Kuban map area. also have photoshop templates for each tile size if you wanted to put some names in to suit your mod.

happy to share, I'll upload to my mediafire account and send you the link.

I used the clone tool in paintshop pro to remove names and put roads, rivers shorelines and town/forest outlines etc back onto each image

it took me several months to make all the changes. once I had a clean set of tiles I then put the Tunisia names back onto each set of tiles.

regards Rob.

G'day All,

I have an update Version 9.0 coming soon (2 weeks  )that brings the mod up to current game version. to many fixes and additions to list.

regards Rob.

Edited July 5, 2024 by Off_Winters

[kraut1]

57 minutes ago, Off_Winters said:

G'day kraut1.

yes mate I have a full set of un-named map tiles for the Kuban map area. also have photoshop templates for each tile size if you wanted to put some names in to suit your mod.

happy to share, I'll upload to my mediafire account and send you the link.

I used the clone tool in paintshop pro to remove names and put roads, rivers shorelines and town/forest outlines etc back onto each image

it took me several months to make all the changes. once I had a clean set of tiles I then put the Tunisia names back onto each set of tiles.

regards Rob.

G'day All,

I have an update Version 9.0 coming soon (2 weeks  )that brings the mod up to current game version. to many fixes and additions to list.

regards Rob.

Great!! I will use them for Papua New Guinea, Italy, Spanish Civil War, ...

Most importent are the un-named dds tiles, but Maybe I will try the photoshop templates too.

Thanks very much in Advance!!

[Off_Winters]

27 minutes ago, kraut1 said:

Great!! I will use them for Papua New Guinea, Italy, Spanish Civil War, ...

Most importent are the un-named dds tiles, but Maybe I will try the photoshop templates too.

Thanks very much in Advance!!

G'day Kraut1,

 

this is the link to the blank maps set and the 4 templates I used to add place names into individual tile set images. there's 420 individual tiles that have been edited.

 

https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/z6ryxk0qxqa8xxs/Kuban_maps_blank.rar/file

 

the templates are paintshop pro 20 format but will open in photoshop (or gimp as well I believe). I use martin Wright's DXTbmp program to open a .dds file and send to the image editor of choice. you make your change and then reload edited image back into DXTbmp and save. you can also work on alpha channels if present in the same manner its so easy.

 

link to Martins program and some of my notes on how to use.

 

https://www.mediafire.com/file_premium/my1gorwwcb73yzr/Martin_Wright_DXTbmp_program_and_instructions.rar/file

 

regards Rob.

[kraut1]

On 7/5/2024 at 2:35 PM, Off_Winters said:

G'day Kraut1,

 

this is the link to the blank maps set and the 4 templates I used to add place names into individual tile set images. there's 420 individual tiles that have been edited.

 

regards Rob.

Hello Rob,

It's great, It works exactly as intended by me. Thanks very much again!

Only with icon labels in the template missions and the later created missions and no overlapping with the original Kuban labels.

Do you plan to publish this as a mod? I think it is very importent for everyone who wants to use the wonderful Kuban map for alternative theatres of war.

 

Spanish Civil War:

 

Italy 43/44

 

Papua New Guinea 1942/44:

 

 

[Off_Winters]

19 hours ago, kraut1 said:

Hello Rob,

It's great, It works exactly as intended by me. Thanks very much again!

Only with icon labels in the template missions and the later created missions and no overlapping with the original Kuban labels.

Do you plan to publish this as a mod? I think it is very importent for everyone who wants to use the wonderful Kuban map for alternative theatres of war.

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Kraut1,

That's really great that your able to use them to improve your MOD's. and yes I'll upload/publish the files as a MOD people can use in anyway they wish.

You're welcome to use/include these files in any of your downloadable MOD packs, no need to direct people to my download site for them.

regards Rob.

[Mysticpuma]

Really glad to see the continued work on this Mod. Absolutely my favourite (as I really hoped for, the MTO), this along with the wing vortices mod and the smoke and fire effects mod are permanently enabled in my game. 

(Checkertail skin by Rjel) 

 

 

 

 

[JSOflyer69]

[Mysticpuma]

Hmm, that looks a bit broken?

[Stonehouse]

7 hours ago, Mysticpuma said:

Hmm, that looks a bit broken?

You mean the tessellation? 

 

 

I wonder if it is the fields boundaries. Think it is file field_end.dds. I wonder if that was made completely transparent so it was invisible in game or else the same colouring as the field tile whether it would help?

[Stonehouse]

6 hours ago, Stonehouse said:

You mean the tessellation? 

 

 

I wonder if it is the fields boundaries. Think it is file field_end.dds. I wonder if that was made completely transparent so it was invisible in game or else the same colouring as the field tile whether it would help?

 

After some fiddling around I think it is actually where the tree line goes at the edge of the fields that creates the paler brown tessellation lines.

 

Not sure if that gives JSOflyer or Officer Winters a clue about how to fix it. Possibly you could use surfacetex.txt to point the area to a different texture that doesn't get the tree line added.

 

See below:

• unmodded

• modded

[kraut1]

Hi Rob,

Today I learned something about the "global position" of the IL-2 GB maps and how to adapt the latitude for my Kuban / Papua New Gunea Mod

to simulate the sun / lighting conditions:

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/90327-question-answered-with-example-in-which-gtp-config-file-are-the-latitudes-of-the-il-2gb-maps-defined/

 

Of course the difference between the latitudes of Kuban and Tunisia is not so big as the difference between Kuban and Papua New Guinea.

But just as a draft for testing I created a modified height.hini file:

height.hini.zip

-Southern Latitude:

 

Added later:

And, what I learned today too, if you change the &countriesId=101 (russian) to 102 (uk) or 103(us) you can use the russian / american A20, P39, P40 and the russian / british Hurricane for Quick Missions with english radio voices. &countriesId=102,103 seems to work too, (information by @sevenless)

 

Edited January 3 by kraut1

[Mysticpuma]

On 7/5/2024 at 11:53 AM, Off_Winters said:

G'day kraut1.

yes mate I have a full set of un-named map tiles for the Kuban map area. also have photoshop templates for each tile size if you wanted to put some names in to suit your mod.

happy to share, I'll upload to my mediafire account and send you the link.

I used the clone tool in paintshop pro to remove names and put roads, rivers shorelines and town/forest outlines etc back onto each image

it took me several months to make all the changes. once I had a clean set of tiles I then put the Tunisia names back onto each set of tiles.

regards Rob.

G'day All,

I have an update Version 9.0 coming soon (2 weeks  )that brings the mod up to current game version. to many fixes and additions to list.

regards Rob.

Hi mate.

This is (as mentioned above), my absolute goto MOD if I ever have to re-install the game (which I did recently).

 

Just wondering if anything ever became of v9.0, is it still in the works?

 

Cheers, Mysticpuma

 

[creamersdream]

Yea I thought there was going to be an 9.0 or some kind of update mentioned last year. Maybe its dead.

[Mysticpuma]

@Off_Winters just in case you don't see the notification, tagged you