Developer Diary #313 - Discussion

[ww2fighter20]

I would love to see any new bomber that can levelbomb especially for the western allies which have no flyable level bombers at all.

 

Edited April 2, 2022 by ww2fighter20

[ScotsmanFlyingscotsman]

Delighted to hear of the B-26. I had a neighbour, ex Halifax (early version) pilot, busted for low flying over Burford England, annoyed a big landlord who owned the area...So was sent to B-26's, which he always claimed saved his life. He and his crew survived the war because it went too fast at the level he was flying at to get hit. 

His landing technique I recall to this day. 1000ft, put the runway threshold on the nose, chop the engines and it landed perfect every time. Only a couple of his buddies from the Halifax squadron survived the war, a lovely quiet man who never said anything about it, until one day I was burbling about aeroplanes and the B-26 came up, and out of the blue, he said "I was a pilot on those, they were great.....!" There passed one of the greatest generations of our time, regardless of where they fought, to put their lives on the line, and return to civilian life as if it had never happened, they generally just accepted their lot. The world is sadder for their passing

[oc2209]

7 hours ago, Aurora_Stealth said:

So... it looks like @Asgar and @oc2209 are finally getting their target drone for the upcoming Me410 then ?

 

Oh no, a good drone doesn't shoot back. The B-26 scares me a little, honestly. It has a dedicated tail gunner position, unlike every other bomber currently in the sim, and the weird waist gunners that can fire on most conventional approaches short of dead six. That tail gunner will severely punish lazy dead six approaches. It looks like low head-on or high slashing attacks are the only safe bet.

 

As Normandy drones go, I'll probably gimp the Mosquito with some ungainly weapon or loadout and use that. In the Mosquito, I'll use... well, a 410 would be logical, but if its gunner is effective, that won't be much fun. I guess a 110 will do, since its rear gun is still a peashooter.

[Dagwoodyt]

custom key assignments

Fantastic!

[JG7_X-Man]

...Then drop tanks! 

[2/JG26_rudidlo]

I really like new features, but I prefer fixing long time existing bugs more.

[Avimimus]

4 hours ago, ww2fighter20 said:

I would love to see any new bomber that can levelbomb especially for the western allies which have no flyable level bombers at all.

 

 

Well, technically the A-20B has a bombardier position and a level bombing sight, right? It isn't a dive-bomber or a fighter... and if one doesn't assume that the A- prefix automatically means the bombardier and bomb-sight were never used, there presence would seem to suggest level bombing.

[Mainstay]

On 4/1/2022 at 11:42 PM, Jason_Williams said:

We’ve been 64bit for years. 
 

Jason

nevermind my technical knowledge wich is non existent ?

 

just would love to see the complete bomber package as a big fan of these sims! 
 

keep up the good work ??

[ww2fighter20]

1 hour ago, Avimimus said:

 

Well, technically the A-20B has a bombardier position and a level bombing sight, right? It isn't a dive-bomber or a fighter... and if one doesn't assume that the A- prefix automatically means the bombardier and bomb-sight were never used, there presence would seem to suggest level bombing.

I do agree the A20B can be considered an flyable level bomber, but :

The A-20B we have is an soviet modified variant, which is why you can only equipt soviet bombs, for this reason it can't be used anywhere else then on the eastern front as an flyable.

 

The closest to the A20B that can be used on the western front is the Boston III which had an different nose, british bombs and weapons.

An american A20B would likely be easier as modification but these were not used on the western front, these would be usefull if the devs ever go for the Mediterranean.

I also think it's very unlikely the A20B will get new modifications considering how long ago it was released (part of Kuban).

It's more likely any modifications would come as it's own collector aircraft or as part of an new module.

 

The current A20B might be considered good enough as an ai controlled aircraft which is likely why you can face them in careermode (Bodenplatte) but not fly them.

[Charon]

Excellent to see control bindings getting some love!

 

While you're revisiting that, it would be wonderful if we could get a few extra bindings added:

• For each axis A, add bindings 'A up 5%' and 'A down 5%'. Right now, encoders don't work well with the game because they generate rapid button presses, but the sim expects buttons to be held when adjusting an axis. This would be a huge accessibility feature: right now, complex engine management is a large barrier to entry for a lot of players, and this would make it much easier for many people to bind RPM, Mixture, Radiators, &etc. Owners of the popular Gladiator NXT, in particular, would benefit, as it has two encoders on the base which would become much more useful.
• For every 'toggle X' control, add bindings 'X off' and 'X on'. This would make it much easier to bind on-on toggle-switches to actions like 'Toggle Tail Wheel Lock' or 'Toggle Landing Lights'.
• For each 'cycle Y' control, add a binding 'cycle Y (reverse)'. This would make it much, much easier to bind encoders to actions like 'Drop Bombs Mode Toggle', 'Switch to Next Free Combat Post', 'Cycle Cockpit Lights', or 'Turn Chosen Fuel Selector'.
• Per-engine feathering binds. How often do you want to feather both engines?
• Let planes with discrete radiator steps (110, 111, Spitfire, etc) use an axis control (by mapping the axis to the closest discrete position). You already let planes with toe-brakes use British/Soviet style single-axis+rudder braking, and this is similar: it would make the sim more accessible by letting players use a single physical control, and I think it would be particularly appreciated by players with the old Logitech throttle quadrant, or the new VKB THQ.

All of these are possible to jurry-rig with enough effort, and some external tools, and I've tried to educate folks here in the forums on how to do so... but I think they would be much easier to implement on your end, and much more discoverable.

Edited April 3, 2022 by Charon

[Asgar]

7 hours ago, ww2fighter20 said:

The current A20B might be considered good enough as an ai controlled aircraft which is likely why you can face them in careermode (Bodenplatte) but not fly them.

Do you mean you cant fly them in career or in the sim? Cause you can certainly fly it in the sim

Edited April 3, 2022 by Asgar
autocorrect

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, Charon said:

Excellent to see control bindings getting some love!

 

While you're revisiting that, it would be wonderful if we could get a few extra bindings added:

• For each axis A, add bindings 'A up 5%' and 'A down 5%'. Right now, encoders don't work well with the game because they generate rapid button presses, but the sim expects buttons to be held when adjusting an axis. This would be a huge accessibility feature: right now, complex engine management is a large barrier to entry for a lot of players, and this would make it much easier for many people to bind RPM, Mixture, Radiators, &etc. Owners of the popular Gladiator NXT, in particular, would benefit, as it has two encoders on the base which would become much more useful.
• For every 'toggle X' control, add bindings 'X off' and 'X on'. This would make it much easier to bind on-on toggle-switches to actions like 'Toggle Tail Wheel Lock' or 'Toggle Landing Lights'.
• For each 'cycle Y' control, add a binding 'cycle Y (reverse)'. This would make it much, much easier to bind encoders to actions like 'Drop Bombs Mode Toggle', 'Switch to Next Free Combat Post', 'Cycle Cockpit Lights', or 'Turn Chosen Fuel Selector'.
• Per-engine feathering binds. How often do you want to feather both engines?
• Let planes with discrete radiator steps (110, 111, Spitfire, etc) use an axis control (by mapping the axis to the closest discrete position). You already let planes with toe-brakes use British/Soviet style single-axis+rudder braking, and this is similar: it would make the sim more accessible by letting players use a single physical control, and I think it would be particularly appreciated by players with the old Logitech throttle quadrant, or the new VKB THQ.

All of these are possible to jurry-rig with enough effort, and some external tools, and I've tried to educate folks here in the forums on how to do so... but I think they would be much easier to implement on your end, and much more discoverable.

 

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes (and so forth). I would really like to be done with having to use external programs like Joy2Key or Joystick Gremlin and instead have these sorts of features directly inside the game.

 

Quote

Let planes with discrete radiator steps (110, 111, Spitfire, etc) use an axis control (by mapping the axis to the closest discrete position). You already let planes with toe-brakes use British/Soviet style single-axis+rudder braking, and this is similar: it would make the sim more accessible by letting players use a single physical control, and I think it would be particularly appreciated by players with the old Logitech throttle quadrant, or the new VKB THQ.

 

It certainly should be possible to do this. The Nieuport 28 throttle has several discrete switch positions (instead of being a traditional throttle design), yet it is easily controlled with the engine throttle axis used with every other plane in the game.

33 minutes ago, Asgar said:

Do you mean you cant fly them in career or in the sim? Cause you can certainly fly it in the sim

 

It's flyable at Stalingrad and Kuban but for Rhineland it is AI-only, for the reasons mentioned above. At a minimum we would need the C model to have a relevant model for 1944-45 operations in the West.

Edited April 3, 2022 by LukeFF

[ScotsmanFlyingscotsman]

15 hours ago, oc2209 said:

 

Oh no, a good drone doesn't shoot back. The B-26 scares me a little, honestly. It has a dedicated tail gunner position, unlike every other bomber currently in the sim, and the weird waist gunners that can fire on most conventional approaches short of dead six. That tail gunner will severely punish lazy dead six approaches. It looks like low head-on or high slashing attacks are the only safe bet.

 

As Normandy drones go, I'll probably gimp the Mosquito with some ungainly weapon or loadout and use that. In the Mosquito, I'll use... well, a 410 would be logical, but if its gunner is effective, that won't be much fun. I guess a 110 will do, since its rear gun is still a peashooter.

But the problem will be getting in front of it! A head on pass is always dangerous, and then you spend the rest of your evening trying to catch it back up lol

[J2_Bidu]

While the B-26 sure looks beautiful, the control advances are a HUGE thing for just about everyone, I'd say, effectively making it possible to squeeze the most out of the player's control hardware, so that they can be optimized for all planes in the WIDE range that IL2 offers us, particularly for those flying many plane types, fighters, bombers, single and multi-engine and in both WW1 AND WW2 scenarios.

 

THANK YOU!

Edited April 3, 2022 by J2_Bidu

[BMA_FlyingShark]

10 hours ago, Charon said:

Spoiler

Excellent to see control bindings getting some love!

 

While you're revisiting that, it would be wonderful if we could get a few extra bindings added:

• For each axis A, add bindings 'A up 5%' and 'A down 5%'. Right now, encoders don't work well with the game because they generate rapid button presses, but the sim expects buttons to be held when adjusting an axis. This would be a huge accessibility feature: right now, complex engine management is a large barrier to entry for a lot of players, and this would make it much easier for many people to bind RPM, Mixture, Radiators, &etc. Owners of the popular Gladiator NXT, in particular, would benefit, as it has two encoders on the base which would become much more useful.
• For every 'toggle X' control, add bindings 'X off' and 'X on'. This would make it much easier to bind on-on toggle-switches to actions like 'Toggle Tail Wheel Lock' or 'Toggle Landing Lights'.
• For each 'cycle Y' control, add a binding 'cycle Y (reverse)'. This would make it much, much easier to bind encoders to actions like 'Drop Bombs Mode Toggle', 'Switch to Next Free Combat Post', 'Cycle Cockpit Lights', or 'Turn Chosen Fuel Selector'.
• Per-engine feathering binds. How often do you want to feather both engines?
• Let planes with discrete radiator steps (110, 111, Spitfire, etc) use an axis control (by mapping the axis to the closest discrete position). You already let planes with toe-brakes use British/Soviet style single-axis+rudder braking, and this is similar: it would make the sim more accessible by letting players use a single physical control, and I think it would be particularly appreciated by players with the old Logitech throttle quadrant, or the new VKB THQ.

All of these are possible to jurry-rig with enough effort, and some external tools, and I've tried to educate folks here in the forums on how to do so... but I think they would be much easier to implement on your end, and much more discoverable.

 

I would like to add separate key bindings to features that are grouped together like the different formation lights and cockpit/instrument lights. It's a minor thing but it would be nice to be able to have them controlled separately instead of having 'em tight to the same binds.

 

Have a nice day.

 

And sorry for my weird way of putting Charon's post in a spoiler but I never got how to do it properly.

Edited April 3, 2022 by FlyingShark

[Avimimus]

12 hours ago, ww2fighter20 said:

I do agree the A20B can be considered an flyable level bomber, but :

The A-20B we have is an soviet modified variant, which is why you can only equipt soviet bombs, for this reason it can't be used anywhere else then on the eastern front as an flyable.

 

The closest to the A20B that can be used on the western front is the Boston III which had an different nose, british bombs and weapons.

An american A20B would likely be easier as modification but these were not used on the western front, these would be usefull if the devs ever go for the Mediterranean.

I also think it's very unlikely the A20B will get new modifications considering how long ago it was released (part of Kuban).

It's more likely any modifications would come as it's own collector aircraft or as part of an new module.

 

The current A20B might be considered good enough as an ai controlled aircraft which is likely why you can face them in careermode (Bodenplatte) but not fly them.

 

Ah that makes sense!

 

 

4 hours ago, LukeFF said:

It's flyable at Stalingrad and Kuban but for Rhineland it is AI-only, for the reasons mentioned above. At a minimum we would need the C model to have a relevant model for 1944-45 operations in the West.

 

Ah, that also makes sense - they were very active on the Normandy map - but the A-20B/Boston III was phased out after 1943? Or were some still used as intruders?

[BlitzPig_EL]

Seeing that it's the only Western bomber we have, I use the A20B everywhere, as no other USAAF/RAF option is available.

 

One must fight with what one has at hand after all.

 

An analogy:  Would you not date the cute girl next door simply because Scarlet Johannsson isn't available? 

[357th_KW]

2 hours ago, Avimimus said:

 

Ah that makes sense!

 

 

 

Ah, that also makes sense - they were very active on the Normandy map - but the A-20B/Boston III was phased out after 1943? Or were some still used as intruders?

 

The RAF still had Boston's in service in 1945.  A few were lost on February 24th 1945 in Operation Clarion.  It appears those units were operating a mix of IIIa's and IV's.

 

Edit:  It looks like the last Boston combat sorties were flown on March 31st 1945.  After that point 88 squadron disbanded and 342 squadron converted to Mitchell's.

Edited April 3, 2022 by VBF-12_KW

[VilsonFarias]

@Jason_Williams It would be nice if one of the next profile features could let us assign different axis to each aircraft. 

 

In my case, I'm always reassinging axis whenever I switch aircrafts.  

Here's an example:

 

P-47

throttle axis 1 - supercharger

throttle axis 2 - engine 1 thottle

 

Yaks

throttle axis 1 - mixture

throttle axis 2 - engine 1 thottle

 

Me-262

throttle axis 1 - engine 1 throttle

throttle axis 2 - engine 2 thottle

[jeanba]

Exciting Dev Update

The B26 will add a lot of immersion and the new key assignation will help a lot

Edited April 3, 2022 by jeanba

[Tuco22]

Really liked doing B26 things in CFS3, perhaps someday it can be flyable because you guys could do it so much more justice.

[Avimimus]

1 hour ago, VBF-12_KW said:

The RAF still had Boston's in service in 1945.  A few were lost on February 24th 1945 in Operation Clarion.  It appears those units were operating a mix of IIIa's and IV's.

 

Edit:  It looks like the last Boston combat sorties were flown on March 31st 1945.  After that point 88 squadron disbanded and 342 squadron converted to Mitchell's.

 

Wasn't the IIIA basically an A-20C derivative? In which case Luke-FF's comment would still stand.

 

Btw. Weren't some Boston IV armed with 20mm cannons?

[Props]

On 4/2/2022 at 8:35 AM, 352ndOscar said:

You give the B-26 too little credit.  Yes, early versions were a handful, but by the time the Block 55 model was in use (the model we are getting), all the mechanical problems of the aircraft had been resolved, pilot training for the aircraft was greatly improved, and as a result, the loss rate over Europe was far less than the B-25 in the same environment.  I should insert here that only the RAF and BAF were flying the B-25 in Europe……not the US; well, except for Command Staff use.

On your assertion that B-25s were only flown by the RAF & BAF in Europe I assume you are talking about northern Europe, France and the Lowlands, because they were used by the USAAF in at least Italy till late in the war. I had an ex-USAF Colonel friend who came by the shop one day with a photo album from his father's days of combat over Italy in USAAF Mitchells. It was a great collection of photos, black and white for the most part, with some great shots of the west coast around Salerno, Anzio, and Mt. Vesuvius in the background. I normally include Italy as part of Europe when I think of that part of the world. Just noting.

 

I agree the B-26 doesn't get the love it deserves. Hope we see a flyable version later.  

[352ndOscar]

Yes, I am speaking of Western Europe.

[IckyATLAS]

Very nice plane and happy to have it even if only with AI. Thanks for this new addition to the sim.

 

Nevertheless to use the full potential of all the bombers in this sim, it would be nice to have the AI split between pilot and gunners.

The AI pilot flies the plane according the the priorities set for that. The gunners AI does its job of defending the bomber according to the priorities set for it.

At the moment there is only one for all and it is makes the bombers on the bombing run where the pilots must keep their heading despite AAA, sitting ducks for fighters.

 

 

[oc2209]

5 hours ago, BlitzPig_EL said:

Seeing that it's the only Western bomber we have, I use the A20B everywhere, as no other USAAF/RAF option is available.

 

One must fight with what one has at hand after all.

 

An analogy:  Would you not date the cute girl next door simply because Scarlet Johannsson isn't available? 

 

Well, first of all, it's a big assumption that 'cute girls next door' are plentiful and not already taken.

 

That said, I'd rather pine away for the unattainable. Not necessarily for ScarJo, though.

 

To quote Keats:

 

"I have clung to nothing, loved a nothing, nothing seen

Or felt but a great dream! O I have been

Presumptuous against love, against the sky,

Against all elements, against the tie

Of mortals each to each, against the blooms

Of flowers, rush of rivers, and the tombs,

Of heroes gone! Against his proper glory

Has my own soul conspired: so my story

Will I to children utter, and repent.

There never lived a mortal man, who bent

His appetite beyond his natural sphere,

But starved and died."

 

Or, more prosaically, a Spock quote:

 

"You may find that having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true."

 

As this relates to the A-20:

 

Um... er...

 

Wait, give me a minute...

 

[BlitzPig_EL]

Well played sir.

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, Props said:

On your assertion that B-25s were only flown by the RAF & BAF in Europe I assume you are talking about northern Europe, France and the Lowlands, because they were used by the USAAF in at least Italy till late in the war. I had an ex-USAF Colonel friend who came by the shop one day with a photo album from his father's days of combat over Italy in USAAF Mitchells. It was a great collection of photos, black and white for the most part, with some great shots of the west coast around Salerno, Anzio, and Mt. Vesuvius in the background. I normally include Italy as part of Europe when I think of that part of the world. Just noting.

 

I agree the B-26 doesn't get the love it deserves. Hope we see a flyable version later.  

 

Just to add: Western Europe fell under the European Theater of Operations, while North Africa, Italy, and the Balkans fell under the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.

[Soilworker]

5 hours ago, VilsonFarias said:

@Jason_Williams It would be nice if one of the next profile features could let us assign different axis to each aircraft. 

 

In my case, I'm always reassinging axis whenever I switch aircrafts.  

Here's an example:

 

P-47

throttle axis 1 - supercharger

throttle axis 2 - engine 1 thottle

 

Yaks

throttle axis 1 - mixture

throttle axis 2 - engine 1 thottle

 

Me-262

throttle axis 1 - engine 1 throttle

throttle axis 2 - engine 2 thottle

 

I'm pretty sure that's what we're getting, it would make no sense to only have separate button bindings for each aircraft. 

 

(You really reassign axes between aircraft? Depending on how much you value your time it sounds like dropping 60€ on a Saitek control quadrant might have been a worthwhile investment - well, not anymore of course but more control axes is certainly worth having.) 

[kitsunelegend]

Neat. More allied bombers that are only AI controlled. Just what I was hoping for. Yippee.

 

Now how about some sort of update on the C-47? We haven't heard ANYTHING for quite a long time now, theres got to be SOME sort of news regarding it. No pictures, no video, barely even a half mention in a devblog a few months ago.

 

Just anything from you guys would be nice to hear...

[Jason_Williams]

1 hour ago, kitsunelegend said:

Neat. More allied bombers that are only AI controlled. Just what I was hoping for. Yippee.

 

Now how about some sort of update on the C-47? We haven't heard ANYTHING for quite a long time now, theres got to be SOME sort of news regarding it. No pictures, no video, barely even a half mention in a devblog a few months ago.

 

Just anything from you guys would be nice to hear...

 

The C-47 cockpit is being made by Ugra, not us. When it's closer to being ready we will show it. Whenever something is made by a third party there are going to be delays and issues that have to be solved before release.

 

Jason

[Blitzen]

AI B-26’s in formation? Quoting a line from the 50’ssci-fi flick “The Thing from Another World “: “What can we learn from that thing except a quicker way to die?” Certainly true for Jerry pilots in a stern pass as we already know from the B-25’s in game-they seldom miss…

[Lemmi]

Any chance of gettin 128 buttons per device with the controls update?

[Bars-]

01.04.2022 в 18:35, Jason_Williams сказал:

On a personal note, my grandfather served in B-26s during WWII in England and France with the 9^th Air Force and seeing the B-26 take flight in Great Battles makes it extra special for me. It's this kind of personal connection to history

So, what was your grandad's role in a crew? Bombardier, gunner, pilot, engineer?

[Legioneod]

Having the B-26 be flyable would be a dream come true. Hope they can do it one day. It is by far my favorite medium bomber.

[Jason_Williams]

3 hours ago, Bars- said:

So, what was your grandad's role in a crew? Bombardier, gunner, pilot, engineer?

 

Waist gunner. He died in 1982 from stomach cancer, I was only 9 when he died and I wish I could have asked him so many questions. Most I know is from stories he told me when I was just a young child and from what my dad relayed to me before he also died at an early age. My grandpa worked in aerospace his entire life. He is buried in Palmdale, CA. 

 

Jason

[JG1_Vonrd]

3 hours ago, Jason_Williams said:

 

Waist gunner. He died in 1982 from stomach cancer, I was only 9 when he died and I wish I could have asked him so many questions. Most I know is from stories he told me when I was just a young child and from what my dad relayed to me before he also died at an early age. My grandpa worked in aerospace his entire life. He is buried in Palmdale, CA. 

 

Jason

RIP and Salute! to both your Gramps and Dad.

 

Never met my uncle (whom I am named after) who died over Germany in a B-24 named "Baby Shoes" (I've tried to find info / nose art to no avail... any images would be appreciated). My Dad was a gunner in an M3 Stuart during the Battle of the Bulge. He didn't want to talk about it much but did have some pretty gruesome recollections. He passed in 2015.

Edited April 5, 2022 by JG1_Vonrd

[AEthelraedUnraed]

6 hours ago, JG1_Vonrd said:

RIP and Salute! to both your Gramps and Dad.

 

Never met my uncle (whom I am named after) who died over Germany in a B-24 named "Baby Shoes" (I've tried to find info / nose art to no avail... any images would be appreciated). My Dad was a gunner in an M3 Stuart during the Battle of the Bulge. He didn't want to talk about it much but did have some pretty gruesome recollections. He passed in 2015.

Did he die "over" Germany or "while on a mission to" Germany? In March 1944 a B-24 "Baby Shoes" crashed near Poppel in Belgium: http://www.planehunters.be/b-24-h-41-28611-baby-shoes/.

[=VARP=Voodoo69]

Looks nice Can't wait to try 410, maybe there will be useful bombs also in the future for us who don't fly only berloga,

Cheers!

[Gambit21]

On 4/3/2022 at 2:22 AM, LukeFF said:

 

 

 

It's flyable at Stalingrad and Kuban but for Rhineland it is AI-only, for the reasons mentioned above. At a minimum we would need the C model to have a relevant model for 1944-45 operations in the West.

 

There were some A-20G night/intruder ops happening during the Battle of the Bulge timeframe. Just one squadron mind you.

I created a randomized mission file around this.

 

We need the G.