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

[jollyjack]

I was looking for WW2 Allies Bombers and North Africa.

Seems there were no British A20s, only US a20s and B25s.

WIKI info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_African_Tactical_Air_Force

 

Some guys from down under had really big ones:

 

Edited December 17, 2020 by jollyjack

[Beebop]

43 minutes ago, jollyjack said:

Seems there were no British A20s, only US a20s and B25s.

Ahhh, to be able to fly the B-25.....?

[Stonehouse]

Pretty sure A20s in RAF service were known as Boston's. Particularly the South African air force used them in the Western Desert. Haven't checked the validity of the following but think it is ok

[Off_Winters]

40 minutes ago, jollyjack said:

I was looking for WW2 Allies Bombers and North Africa.

Seems there were no British A20s, only US a20s and B25s.

WIKI info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_African_Tactical_Air_Force

 

Some guys from down under had really big ones:

 

Hi JollyJack,

There were plenty of RAF bombers over there (albeit outdated ones), but the Boston's (A20) were operated by the SAAF (3 SA Wing) in cooperation with the RAF as part of the Western Desert Airforce.  RAF squadrons tended to use Blenheim's, Baltimore's, Maryland's and Wellingtons.

regards Rob.

 

[Off_Winters]

Updated the pilot changes I made earlier that replaced the Russian pilots with UK or USA pilots, to use the latest pilot files from the recent update. The new pilot animations included in the update look great. and having the P39 use the more complex models now, looks much nicer in game.

In quick combat (or missions for that matter if the country hasn't been set to UK or USA) when flying planes with a Russian designation (P40, Spitfire,s P39, A20 etc) you now see UK and USA pilot figures rather than Russian pilots.

 

 

[jollyjack]

Re-download from the OP (first) post?

[Off_Winters]

3 hours ago, jollyjack said:

Re-download from the OP (first) post?

Hi JollyJack,

I haven't uploaded yet, just one more thing I've changed recently. my plan is to release update Beta-3 on Christmas eve.

regards Rob.

[jollyjack]

Nice Warning .....

 

 

-------------------

PS been messing with skins regarding your desert ... could this be 'historically true" Seral numbers i haven't seen any pics of RAAF coding yet.

 

 

Edited December 18, 2020 by jollyjack

[Off_Winters]

1 hour ago, jollyjack said:

PS been messing with skins regarding your desert ... could this be 'historically true" Seral numbers i haven't seen any pics of RAAF coding yet.

 

 

 

 

Hi Jollyjack,

nice looking skin. the boxing Kangaroo was used by a number of pilots as nose art on all sorts of different aircraft. The national markings you have there are for the Pacific region (red dot was removed from white center of roundals to avoid confusion with Japanese markings, but initially they just used the standard national markings), in Europe and the Middle east RAAF units used the same national markings as the RAF. 

We never used the Boston in the middle east, but we did use them in the Pacific. the squadron BS is not one I'm familiar with, I've seen BK, BQ, BP and a few others.

for aircraft serial numbers the RAAF used a aircraft designation number (Boston was A28) then the aircraft serial number. these are some of the serial numbers that have been researched on another site for Bostons that served with RAAF.

regards Rob..

DB-7B's
A28-1 DU-A
A28-2 None lost before ops
A28-3 C (a couple of people believe "D" and definetly NOT "Y" as is in many publications, pretty significant as this is the machine Bill Newton and crew were lost in!)
A28-4 E
A28-5 DU-F
A28-6 DU-G
A28-7 DU-H
A28-8 DU-J
A28-9 DU-K
A28-10 DU-L
A28-11 DU-M
A28-12 N?
A28-13 O
A28-14 P
A28-15 DU-Q
A28-16 DU-R
A28-17 none lost before ops
A28-18 DU-Y (delivered to sqn Jan 44 hence letter out of sync and after the A-20C's)
A28-19 none lost before ops
A28-20 W?
A28-21 X
A28-22 Y
the single letter code aircraft were lost before Jun/Jul 43 when the DU codes were added

A-20C's
A28-23 DU-O
A28-24 DU-P
A28-25 DU-N (this aircraft was delivered to the Sqn before the previous 2 hence out of sequence)
A28-26 lost before ops
A28-27 DU-R ? (Not sure on this one)
A28-28 DU-U
A28-29 DU-V ?
A28-30 DU-W
A28-31 Never went to sqn no code issued (would have been DU-X)
(A28-18 DU-Y fits in here issued to Sqn after the A-20C's arrived)

A-20A's only 2 x A-20A's ever used on ops with Sqn
A28-34 DU-B
A28-35 DU-C?

Start again with the "G" models
A-20G's
A28-50 DU-A
A28-51 DU-?
A28-52 DU-C
A28-53 DU-D
A28-54 DU-E
A28-55 ?
A28-56 ?
A28-57 DU-J
A28-58 DU-K
A28-59 DU-M
A28-60 DU-P
( up till the delivery of the first 11 A-20G's from 3AD, A28-5 DU-F, A28-6 DU-G, A28-7 DU-H ,A28-10 DU-L, A28-18 DU-Y , A28-23 DU-O, A28-24 DU-P , A28-25 DU-N, A28-28 DU-U and A28-DU-W still on strength as more "G" models arrive the older aircraft were retired and the codes reissued)
A28-61 DU-?
A28-62 DU-?
A28-63 DU-T
A28-64 DU-N
A28-65 DU-G
A28-66 DU-H
A28-67 DU-V
A28-68 DU-X
A28-69 thru A28-74 never used on ops by Sqn no codes issued
A28-75 DU-A?
A28-76 DU-?
A28-77 DU-?
A28-78 DU-R

L,O,U and W never issued to G models as A28-10,23,28 and 30 were still on sqn strength after last G models issued
 

Edited December 18, 2020 by Off_Winters

[jollyjack]

DU, DownUnder?

Wow, thanks for the info ...were there any number/letter strings as seen with US planes usually on the tail rudder or pitch fins? f.i. the EJ704 here:

 

 

Was going to do some searching on some other RAAF planes too. B25?

Lets hope for some IL2 Mediteranean or Pacific map stuff, also including the Catalina accidentally shot down by a Yank.

 

 

Edited December 18, 2020 by jollyjack

[Off_Winters]

28 minutes ago, jollyjack said:

DU, DownUnder?

Wow, thanks for the info ...were there any number/letter strings as seen with US planes usually on the tail rudder or pitch fins? f.i. the EJ704 here:

Was going to do some searching on some other RAAF planes too. B25?

Lets hope for some IL2 Mediteranean or Pacific map stuff, also including the Catalina accidentally shot down by a Yank.

 

 

Hi JollyJoker,

for the serial number you are thinking of, on the A20 it would be A28-1078 (A28 is the aircraft type designation, the 1078 is the serial number)

B25's yep the RAAF flew them, 2 squadron comes to mind which had squadron codes KO-, and aircraft designation number of A47, example serial number A47-23 = 23rd aircraft assigned to RAAF books.
ADF Serials - Mitchell (adf-serials.com.au)

or the joint 18 (NEI) squadron , a Dutch unit with Australian and Dutch personnel under RAAF control in the Pacific after Java and Timor fell in 1942.
No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF - Wikipedia

Would like to see a proper PTO and Med one day, we live in hope...
 

regards Rob.

[jollyjack]

Thanks again, we need that b25 flyable LoL Definitely. And Malta. Cliffs of Malta? Before the ATAG guys ?

 

PS Half my family migrated down under around 52, but they weren't in the army; one uncle was already there earlier straight after a drafted military duty stint,

as a youngster after that awful Indonesia colonial business. Tore up his Dutch citizen papers and became Aussie, never came back.

Black pages in Dutch military history once again.

 PS i PMd you the skins a2(*) made so far, can also send the PSD if needed.

 

Reworked a bit:

 

 

Edited December 18, 2020 by jollyjack

[jollyjack]

Unfinished skin 'historical' B25 RAAF busimess; comments?

 

[Beebop]

Looks good except a little greenish, at least on my monitor which usually gives me pretty accurate color.

I have been unable to find any color photos of RAAF B-25's in a desert environment. Wings Palette (a notoriously unreliable source) only shows Brown OD over Balck, RAF style and one that is. well. bright RAF green overall.  None of them claim to be stationed in North Africa.  Unless someone comes up with a known scheme you might be on your own.

I would make it a light desert tan with possibly a pinkish undertone but that's just me

Otherwise it looks quite good..

 

Edited December 19, 2020 by Beebop

[jollyjack]

Thnx; a bit like this?

 

 

 

If this baby now could be flyable ..

 

Edited December 19, 2020 by jollyjack

[Beebop]

YES!

Well done.?

One small thing.  I haven't worked with the B-25 template, at least not yet, so there is a finflash on the inside of the rudder.  This type of thing sometimes happened with 1946 templates where the wrap was mirrored.

I don't believe inside rudder finflash's are correct as other examples of RAF/British Empire B-25's show them on the outside only, unless you have information to the contrary.

Edited December 19, 2020 by Beebop

[jollyjack]

2 hours ago, Beebop said:

I don't believe inside rudder finflash's are correct as other examples of RAF/British Empire B-25's show them on the outside only, unless you have information to the contrary.

 

You might be right (you're wife might disagree, but don't blame me) .. From Rob's article posted above:

 

 

The yanks dooo it tooo:

 

Edited December 19, 2020 by jollyjack

[jollyjack]

2 more B25Ds semi historical:

 

 

 

 

Edited December 20, 2020 by jollyjack

[Beebop]

Re: finflash's;  I stand corrected.

(my parents told me to stand up straight)

 

I like the dark brown B-25's!

[Stonehouse]

Saw this in passing while searching for something else 

[jollyjack]

7 hours ago, No457_Stonehouse said:

Saw this in passing while searching for something else 

Can you upload the jpg? via 'choose files" It's not visible on my PC. thnx

[jollyjack]

13 hours ago, Beebop said:

Re: finflash's;  I stand corrected. (my parents told me to stand up straight) I like the dark brown B-25's!

 

Still working on this, but i cannot find on the PDF layout where this glass bubble's  whitish panel's coloring is set .... the red white lights are in the left upper corner

 

 

Edited December 20, 2020 by jollyjack

[Beebop]

I found your problem.
The rear gunner area is hard coded into the template and cannot be painted.
Here I have used my "Finder Tool" and you can see that it does not cover that area, indicating it is not accessible for painting.

 

[Stonehouse]

here is the jpg

Edited December 20, 2020 by No457_Stonehouse

[Off_Winters]

Hi All,

another vehicle done, and a first pass at turning Russian soldiers into Americans. I've also changed out the static Russian aircraft (Yak's I16 etc etc) by replacing the models with P40's, Spitfires, Hurricanes, B25's etc. so that airfields look the part.

regards Rob.
 

[TP_Silk]

Hi Rob,

 

If you can give us a list of those static aircraft model changes that you've done and which model translates to which, that would be super. I can then start pre-populating some airfields to save some time after the projected release of the next version. I have a mini-campaign set up for my online squadron to fly over the Xmas/New Year break starting on Sunday 27th.

 

Thanks in advance

 

PS - Fantastic work! It's almost like a whole expansion pack.

Edited December 20, 2020 by TP_Silk

[jollyjack]

@Off_WintersTime for the Il2 crew to make your work-overs official? I like that petrol truck ... green for bio fuel?

Edited December 20, 2020 by jollyjack

[Beebop]

Is it my color settings or does this look a little too yellowish?  The ground and that 109 look perfect.

Otherwise it really looks excellent.

Edited December 20, 2020 by Beebop

[jollyjack]

4 hours ago, Beebop said:

I found your problem.
The rear gunner area is hard coded into the template and cannot be painted.
Here I have used my "Finder Tool" and you can see that it does not cover that area, indicating it is not accessible for painting.

 

 

Now that's my favorite B25 skin! Can't it just be a background layer covering all?

[Beebop]

2 minutes ago, jollyjack said:

Now that's my favorite B25 skin! Can't it just be a background layer covering all?

Like if Pablo Picasso in his cubist period painted Assembly Ships?   ?

Hey, if you want it I'll send it.

[jollyjack]

1 minute ago, Beebop said:

Like if Pablo Picasso in his cubist period painted Assembly Ships?   ?

Hey, if you want it I'll send it.

 

It will scare off all fairies, goblins and boogiemen, including my wife i tell ya' Paddy.

PS Iv'e been trying once to change the looks of train stuff, but couldn't figure it out ... yet?

[jollyjack]

For now the last one ...

 

 

[Beebop]

Perfect!?

[Off_Winters]

Hi All,

one more vehicle done, and toned down the fuel truck colour a bit, to reflect Beebop's observation it looked a bit to yellow.

 

regards Rob.
 

[Deacon352nd]

When will this update be released. Us old guys need a Christmas present!

[Off_Winters]

8 hours ago, Deacon352nd said:

When will this update be released. Us old guys need a Christmas present!

Hi Deacon,

I will be releasing on Christmas eve (Australian time).

regards Rob.

[Beebop]

?

[Deacon352nd]

Thank you. This mod has allowed me to make a series of missions about the Tunisian Campaign for my group. 

[No74_Cheese]

Cant wait to see all your hard work,Brilliant job

[Off_Winters]

Hi All,

A bit more refining to vehicles, toned down colour even more. working up a desert schemes for C47 and a whole heap of little bits and pieces around static vehicles and aircraft.

The question was asked (above) about which static Russian aircraft models I had swapped out with US and RAF types. this is the list.

yak 1 (open and closed) = P40 (RAF)

pe2 (closed) = (P40 RAF)

pe2 (open) = (B25 USA)

i16 = P39 (RAF)

IL2 = Spitfire IX (USA)

ladd3 = Spitfire IX (RAF)

mig3 = Spitfire IX (RAF)

U2VS = Spitfire IX (RAF)
if you select the Russian model in the mission builder you will see in game the listed counter part. and for QC and auto generated missions that use the Russian static planes you'll again see the listed counter parts in game. for the static aircraft I have applied Desert markings to all the allied planes and have started with the German texture sheets.

I've also swapped out static Russian vehicles with like type US and Brit models and applied desert markings.

regards Rob.