Should I purchase the Spitfire Mk. Vb?

[parkerc341]

I love spitfires, and own Bodenplatte, but I'm not really happy with all the ground bombing missions I get in career mode. Is the Mk Vb worth it if I want to fly a soviet Mk Vb and mostly do escorts/ air to air stuff?

(Edit)- I bought it, now i just gotta not tempt myself to get the hurricane ?

Edited January 28, 2022 by parkerc341

[AEthelraedUnraed]

It's only opinion though, but I think the Vb is worth it if you like Spitfires. She's very agile and a great dogfighter. Biggest disadvantage IMO is that she doesn't pack a lot of ammo. Being a Spitfire, she needs a particular way of handling her to fly her well, but if you love Spitfires, that won't be a problem.

 

To expand on the Soviet usage, with the upcoming Normandy module, I have a feeling there will be plenty of missions featuring the Vb on the Normandy/South England map (Dieppe and such).

 

I'm not sure if the Vb is not used for ground missions in the career mode.

[jeanba]

It is up to you

This is the less interesting version of the Spitfires in the game, and is only used in a historical context in Kuban.

Some historical setup may be possible in Bobp, but there is no British Airfield, so "no takeoff"

There will be more "historical use" in BoN, where it will be possible to play 1941-42 period

[ShamrockOneFive]

27 minutes ago, parkerc341 said:

I love spitfires, and own Bodenplatte, but im not really happy with all the ground bombing missions I get in career mode. Is the Mk Vb worth it if I want to fly a soviet MkVb and mostly do escorts/ air to air stuff?

 

I'd say if you're a fan of Spitfires, yes, definitely. I was just flying it the other night online and its terrific fun. The Vb and IX have distinct feels from each other. While both are unquestionably Spitfires... they do feel different.

 

The Kuban career will mostly see the Vb used in fighter roles. In Bodenplatte, the IX was used most as a tactical fighter and fighter-bomber so that's why you're seeing more of that type of mission.

[Diggun]

The Spit V is just a joy to fly, if you're enjoying the IX, I'd say you can't go wrong with a purchase.

[Noisemaker]

Yes, yes you should.

[=621=Samikatz]

The Vb is the most agile Spitfire and, imo, the one most fun to simply throw around the sky. When the Normandy map drops this year she'll get extra value in potential 1941-1943 RAF scenarios

[I./JG52_Woutwocampe]

Definately. But be stingy with the hispanos because you run out of ammo might fast.

 

Also, you might still get a few ground attack missions in BOK with the Vb, and remember, the B wing means no bomb. 

 

Strafing armor columns with a Mark Vb...yeah...and if you are lucky you might even get a P-39 escort! ;).

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

It's only opinion though, but I think the Vb is worth it if you like Spitfires. She's very agile and a great dogfighter. Biggest disadvantage IMO is that she doesn't pack a lot of ammo. Being a Spitfire, she needs a particular way of handling her to fly her well, but if you love Spitfires, that won't be a problem.

 

To expand on the Soviet usage, with the upcoming Normandy module, I have a feeling there will be plenty of missions featuring the Vb on the Normandy/South England map (Dieppe and such).

 

I'm not sure if the Vb is not used for ground missions in the career mode.

 

1 hour ago, jeanba said:

It is up to you

This is the less interesting version of the Spitfires in the game, and is only used in a historical context in Kuban.

Some historical setup may be possible in Bobp, but there is no British Airfield, so "no takeoff"

There will be more "historical use" in BoN, where it will be possible to play 1941-42 period

 

Just so people know, the Mark Vb is planned to be featured in Normandy's career mode, since there were still a few frontline squadrons flying it well past D-Day over Normandy. One in particular is 350 Squadron - they will start with Mark Vbs, convert to Mark IXs in July, and then upgrade to XIVs the following month. So, that will offer quite the variety. 

Edited January 26, 2022 by LukeFF

[354thFG_Panda_]

1 hour ago, parkerc341 said:

I love spitfires, and own Bodenplatte, but im not really happy with all the ground bombing missions I get in career mode. Is the Mk Vb worth it if I want to fly a soviet MkVb and mostly do escorts/ air to air stuff?

 

Yes

[Gingerwelsh]

Spit VB, Taster.

 

 

 

 

..

[Gambit21]

They did a great job with it - worth the purchase.

[PatrickAWlson]

2 hours ago, parkerc341 said:

I love spitfires, and own Bodenplatte, but im not really happy with all the ground bombing missions I get in career mode. Is the Mk Vb worth it if I want to fly a soviet MkVb and mostly do escorts/ air to air stuff?

 

If not now then certainly when Normandy is released.  That map is going to be usable all the way back to 1941 and the V will figure heavily in that use.  In the meantime you can fly the Spitfire in a fighter role by playing a Russian pilot at Kuban.

 

[parkerc341]

27 minutes ago, PatrickAWlson said:

 

If not now then certainly when Normandy is released.  That map is going to be usable all the way back to 1941 and the V will figure heavily in that use.  In the meantime you can fly the Spitfire in a fighter role by playing a Russian pilot at Kuban.

 

All the way to 1941? Jeez, thats insane, I didn't know that.

[Raptorattacker]

What they all said above!

GET IT!!

It's a/the Spitfire.

What more d'you need to know?

Rap

[ShamrockOneFive]

2 hours ago, parkerc341 said:

All the way to 1941? Jeez, thats insane, I didn't know that.

 

To be clear. The map itself is useful in scenarios dating back to 1941 using aircraft that have been developed for other battles (like the Spit Vb). The Normandy career itself kicks off in early/mid 1944.

[TheDome]

Its a great aircraft like others have said and i can recommend the Achtung Spitfire Campaign also. Which i had a great time playing through

[PatrickAWlson]

24 minutes ago, ShamrockOneFive said:

 

To be clear. The map itself is useful in scenarios dating back to 1941 using aircraft that have been developed for other battles (like the Spit Vb). The Normandy career itself kicks off in early/mid 1944.

 

Thanks for the clarification.  I did not mean to put 1C on the hook for a 1941 campaign  

 

PWCG is going to go reset the Battle of Britain in 1941 using the Spitfire V, Hurricane II, and 109 F series.  Anybody that finds that appalling can start their careers in 1942  

[Gambit21]

27 minutes ago, ShamrockOneFive said:

 

To be clear. The map itself is useful in scenarios dating back to 1941 using aircraft that have been developed for other battles (like the Spit Vb). The Normandy career itself kicks off in early/mid 1944.

 

Yeah there's a lot of potential with this map - including for WWI aircraft. 

[Enceladus828]

24 minutes ago, PatrickAWlson said:

PWCG is going to go reset the Battle of Britain in 1941 using the Spitfire V, Hurricane II, and 109 F series

Why not the Bf-109E-7?

 

Also, for the Bf-110s, do you plan to use the E model?

 

?

[ShamrockOneFive]

59 minutes ago, PatrickAWlson said:

PWCG is going to go reset the Battle of Britain in 1941 using the Spitfire V, Hurricane II, and 109 F series.  Anybody that finds that appalling can start their careers in 1942  

 

Technically, that's not the Battle of Britain but the beginning of the channel war. The Battle of Britain is a fairly narrow window from June to September 1940 (some historians extend it to October/November).

 

I wrote a paper on the this in my undergrad. Apologies for my pedantic moment

36 minutes ago, Enceladus said:

Why not the Bf-109E-7?

 

Also, for the Bf-110s, do you plan to use the E model?

 

?

 

In 1941 the Bf109E-7 was not on the frontlines anymore. It was mostly in fighter-bomber units. It also doesn't make a great match versus the Spitfire Vb. The F-2 does however.

[Vishnu]

Yes.  Buy it from the the website, not steam.   Support the devs

[Jaegermeister]

I would definitely say yes also. I will update my Greek Fire campaign with the new clouds soon and then you can fly a historical fight against the Germans on an imaginary Island, far far away... Churchill's Folly it was called. You can't win, but you can try.

 

As said before, be frugal with your ammo and save the cannons for when you know they are a sure thing. PKs are your best bet with the .303s.

 

It's one of my favorite planes ever.

[Jaws2002]

It's your choice....Spitfire Mk.V or a pink tutu....same thing.  

[PatrickAWlson]

1 hour ago, ShamrockOneFive said:

 

Technically, that's not the Battle of Britain but the beginning of the channel war. The Battle of Britain is a fairly narrow window from June to September 1940 (some historians extend it to October/November).

 

I wrote a paper on the this in my undergrad. Apologies for my pedantic moment

 

In 1941 the Bf109E-7 was not on the frontlines anymore. It was mostly in fighter-bomber units. It also doesn't make a great match versus the Spitfire Vb. The F-2 does however.

 

Understood.  We don't have a Hurricane I or Spitfire I or a Stuka B (the list goes on) so I'm doing it with 1941 models.  If I start it in 1941 that still leaves 2 more years of channel operations.  Not real, just (hopefully) fun.  By 1942 it will get more real.

[Raptorattacker]

42 minutes ago, Jaegermeister said:

I will update my Greek Fire campaign with the new clouds soon and then you can fly a historical fight against the Germans on an imaginary Island, far far away... Churchill's Folly it was called. You can't win, but you can try

Now THAT'S what I like to hear!!! 

[357th_KW]

While the level of combat wasn’t nearly as intense as during the Battle of Britain, during spring 1941 there was still combat taking place over the channel, with units using the Spit Vb, Hurricane II, 109 E-7 and F-2, 110E, Ju88, and He111.  Most of the action was fighter sweeps and coastal or anti shipping raids at dawn or dusk (or at night), but there’s definitely some material there for either SP or MP missions.

[ShamrockOneFive]

12 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

 

Understood.  We don't have a Hurricane I or Spitfire I or a Stuka B (the list goes on) so I'm doing it with 1941 models.  If I start it in 1941 that still leaves 2 more years of channel operations.  Not real, just (hopefully) fun.  By 1942 it will get more real.

 

Oh I think that's a great period to represent with PWCG. Starting in 1941 and we have the aircraft to make it work fairly well. Lots of interesting back and forth across the channel and nearly constant air combat on the whole.

[Eisenfaustus]

12 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

 

Understood.  We don't have a Hurricane I or Spitfire I or a Stuka B (the list goes on) so I'm doing it with 1941 models.  If I start it in 1941 that still leaves 2 more years of channel operations.  Not real, just (hopefully) fun.  By 1942 it will get more real.

I‘m really looking forward to what you are about to do with that Normandy map! Because of pwcg I‘m even more thrilled for the map release then I am for the 410 - and that means a lot!

[357th_KW]

I did a little digging, and it appears that JG26 lost a number of E-7’s in combat in the summer of 1941 over the channel, with the last being in September (their first combat loss of an Fw190A was in late august 41).  After that, E-7 losses still show up into 1942, but they all appear to be accidents from operational training units rather then combat.

 

SkG210 was equipped with 110E’s which were used in the fighter bomber role until they left for Russia at the beginning of June.  I also saw some day time claims of Ju88s and He111s in RAF records during this spring 1941 period - at that point the RAF was starting to shift to the offensive with circus raids against France - Blenheims and later Bostons (A-20s) with Hurricane/Spit (and later a bit of Typhoon) escorts.

[7bhp_Mk]

I personally love this aircraft. If you enjoy single player campaigns this is highly recommended. Greek Fire, From England with Love and Achtung Spitfire! are lots of fun to fly and all use the Mk Vb.

[SAG]

Sale Just Started

 

On 1/26/2022 at 11:01 AM, parkerc341 said:

I love spitfires, and own Bodenplatte, but I'm not really happy with all the ground bombing missions I get in career mode. Is the Mk Vb worth it if I want to fly a soviet Mk Vb and mostly do escorts/ air to air stuff?

(Edit)- I want the Spitfire, and do plan on buying it from the IL-2 website as I don't have the steam version and I want to give some money to the company- however, when's the next sale? I can't really decide if I want to pay 20 dollars or just wait for a sale.

 

[easterling77]

Yup, especially now on the sale.

 

You can't do anything wrong if you're allready a Spifire-Guy.

 

(Speaking as a Radial-Dude here, but I also like the Spit and I never had to regret the purchase?)

Edited January 27, 2022 by easterling77

[[CPT]Crunch]

Sale time means pick a two'fer or buy a whole pack of bubblegum.

[sevenless]

Wonderful plane and the price is a non issue. Get them all.

 

[Biggus]

This thread just cost me $7.27 AUD, but no doubt will give me many hours of entertainment.  Thanks guys!

[kendo]

On 1/26/2022 at 4:01 PM, parkerc341 said:

I love spitfires, and own Bodenplatte, but I'm not really happy with all the ground bombing missions I get in career mode. Is the Mk Vb worth it if I want to fly a soviet Mk Vb and mostly do escorts/ air to air stuff?

(Edit)- I bought it, now i just gotta not tempt myself to get the hurricane ?

 

Don't want to influence your decision in any way  ? , but at the current $6.79 the Hurricane is a stupendous bargain. It's done to a fantastic standard with many variants included. 

 

Look at it this way - you get both now for less than the price you were considering for just the Spit! What's not to like  ?  

 

[parkerc341]

2 hours ago, kendo said:

 

Don't want to influence your decision in any way  ? , but at the current $6.79 the Hurricane is a stupendous bargain. It's done to a fantastic standard with many variants included. 

 

Look at it this way - you get both now for less than the price you were considering for just the Spit! What's not to like  ?  

 

Haha, yeah you've got a point. Maybe I'm too easily swayed. I'll probably pick the hurricane up too.

[kendo]

You won't regret it. I guarantee. It's one of my favourites.

[Enceladus828]

@parkerc341If you have a lot fun with the Spitfire Mk.Vb in this game you should also try out the Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop. version in Desert Wings-Tobruk ?

Edited January 28, 2022 by Enceladus