150 Octane Fuel Availability in Career Mode

[Verbum_Vincet]

Hi,

 

I'm playing P-47 and P-51 careers in Bodenplatte, and I'm unable to select 150 octane fuel for either plane. I'm in the 2nd phase and I'm guessing its unavailability is due to the devs striving for historical accuracy, but it's a noticeable drop in performance for both - especially a fully-armed T-Bolt! I can hardly keep up with the formation. Does the option for 150 octane fuel become available at some further phase of the operation? If not, is there a way to enable it via altering game files?

 

On a related note, I'm also playing a Moscow career in 109 F-2's and -4's, and the MG 151/20 pods are similarly unavailable. Do they become available at some point and/or can I enable them via game files? I know many Luftwaffe pilots hated the Kanonenboote conversion, but surely the mechanics have some tucked away around the airfield? I'd gladly sacrifice roll rate for more cannons to deal with marauding Sturmoviks!

 

Thanks for any help!

[LukeFF]

31 minutes ago, Verbum_Vincet said:

I'm playing P-47 and P-51 careers in Bodenplatte, and I'm unable to select 150 octane fuel for either plane. I'm in the 2nd phase and I'm guessing its unavailability is due to the devs striving for historical accuracy, but it's a noticeable drop in performance for both - especially a fully-armed T-Bolt! I can hardly keep up with the formation. Does the option for 150 octane fuel become available at some further phase of the operation? If not, is there a way to enable it via altering game files?

 

The U.S. 9th Air Force did not use 150 grade fuel, so it's unavailable during all dates of career mode. 

 

33 minutes ago, Verbum_Vincet said:

On a related note, I'm also playing a Moscow career in 109 F-2's and -4's, and the MG 151/20 pods are similarly unavailable. Do they become available at some point and/or can I enable them via game files? I know many Luftwaffe pilots hated the Kanonenboote conversion, but surely the mechanics have some tucked away around the airfield? I'd gladly sacrifice roll rate for more cannons to deal with marauding Sturmoviks!

 

They become available during Stalingrad. 

[Verbum_Vincet]

OK, did not know that about the 9th AF. Thanks for answering!

[co199]

As far as keeping up with the formation, take a LOT less fuel in the -47 and -51. 400l should set you for an hour's flight, take 600l if you want to be safe. That will greatly help with the performance of the -47.

[Verbum_Vincet]

On 5/16/2022 at 4:32 PM, co199 said:

As far as keeping up with the formation, take a LOT less fuel in the -47 and -51. 400l should set you for an hour's flight, take 600l if you want to be safe. That will greatly help with the performance of the -47.

Thanks for that information; it's helpful to know! I had considered doing that but wasn't sure to what extent fuel weight was modelled, and I knew the R-2800 was a thirsty beast! I'll give it a try next time I fire up the T-Bolt.

[DBFlyguy]

On 5/13/2022 at 11:39 PM, LukeFF said:

 

The U.S. 9th Air Force did not use 150 grade fuel, so it's unavailable during all dates of career mode. 

 

 

 

Shouldn't the 352nd FG have 150 octane available since they are an 8th AF unit?

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/150grade/150-grade-fuel.html

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=ccVUI85IcFoC&pg=PA149&lpg=PA149&dq=352nd+FG+150+octane&source=bl&ots=lZL0jhMMJn&sig=ACfU3U2SoDcx5hQK5kMZopuOaqqtY3jZKg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwin05f2h-n3AhXklmoFHbFQDigQ6AF6BAgwEAM#v=onepage&q=352nd FG 150 octane&f=false

 

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/mustang/352FG-150oct-bowser-b.jpg

Edited May 18, 2022 by DBFlyguy

[Alexmarine]

11 minutes ago, DBFlyguy said:

Shouldn't the 352nd FG have 150 octane available since they are an 8th AF unit?

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/150grade/150-grade-fuel.html

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=ccVUI85IcFoC&pg=PA149&lpg=PA149&dq=352nd+FG+150+octane&source=bl&ots=lZL0jhMMJn&sig=ACfU3U2SoDcx5hQK5kMZopuOaqqtY3jZKg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwin05f2h-n3AhXklmoFHbFQDigQ6AF6BAgwEAM#v=onepage&q=352nd FG 150 octane&f=false

 

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/mustang/352FG-150oct-bowser-b.jpg

 

But detached on the continent, so using the 9th AF fuel stocks. Doubt they had a separate fuel supply just for them.

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, Alexmarine said:

But detached on the continent, so using the 9th AF fuel stocks. Doubt they had a separate fuel supply just for them.

 

That's correct - they used the logistics train of the 9th Air Force when they moved to the Continent, so that meant the lower-octane fuel.

[DBFlyguy]

1 minute ago, LukeFF said:

 

That's correct - they used the logistics train of the 9th Air Force when they moved to the Continent, so that meant the lower-octane fuel.

Got it, thanks for the clarification

[MadMav24]

That's correct - they used the logistics train of the 9th Air Force when they moved to the Continent, so that meant the lower-octane fuel. 

 

Then why even include it in the loadout at all? 

[LukeFF]

8 minutes ago, MadMav24 said:

Then why even include it in the loadout at all? 

 

For those that want to play their own missions or in MP with it enabled.

[MAJ_stug41]

18 minutes ago, MadMav24 said:

 

Then why even include it in the loadout at all? 

It is a tie-in for the new IL2 energy drink, Octane! In order to stay in PEAK GAMING FORM and FUEL UP THOSE HUNGRY ENGINES buy a case of Octane! Available in Pathetic B4 or Chad 150, add a sample of NITROUS OXIDE and WATER-METHANOL injection to any drink for the extra kick you need!

 

Please drink verification can 

[Talon_]

RAF Mustangs get it around the time the V-1s start showing up. Don't expect to fly many other kinds of missions though ?

[MadMav24]

On 11/28/2022 at 1:10 PM, MadMav24 said:

That's correct - they used the logistics train of the 9th Air Force when they moved to the Continent, so that meant the lower-octane fuel. 

 

Then why even include it in the loadout at all? 

When I flew the Spitfire Mk IX in B.O.N. on fighter missions you could use 150 Octane. On ground attack you could not. So that blows a big hole in the not available on the Continent explanation.

[LukeFF]

27 minutes ago, MadMav24 said:

So that blows a big hole in the not available on the Continent explanation.

 

Except it doesn't. ? Some RAF units are still flying from England during July/August 1944, so it wouldn't make sense to restrict it from those units. I can't restrict mods based on the squadron, so this is the best compromise available.

 

In other words, it's up to the player if he wants to stick to history and not use 150-grade fuel from the Continent, even when it's available. That's why, for fighter missions other than V1 intercepts, it's not enabled by default. 

 

Like I said, you have some units flying fighter missions from England and others from France at the same time. There was no one right solution here, so that's why I went ahead and left it available but not enabled by default. 

Edited November 29, 2022 by LukeFF

[MadMav24]

On 11/29/2022 at 2:27 PM, LukeFF said:

 

Except it doesn't. ? Some RAF units are still flying from England during July/August 1944, so it wouldn't make sense to restrict it from those units. I can't restrict mods based on the squadron, so this is the best compromise available.

 

In other words, it's up to the player if he wants to stick to history and not use 150-grade fuel from the Continent, even when it's available. That's why, for fighter missions other than V1 intercepts, it's not enabled by default. 

 

Like I said, you have some units flying fighter missions from England and others from France at the same time. There was no one right solution here, so that's why I went ahead and left it available but not enabled by default. 

 

[MadMav24]

This idea of locking out items in the load out should be at the discretion of the purchaser, not the developer. Since I don't play multi-player I find this item to be a problem. I understand why you would not want to have it available in multi-player. The idea of slinging bombs on a Spitfire or a Mustang is one of the things I never do anyway if that is supposed to be historically accurate. I would rather sling bombs on the Typhoon or Thunderbolt which are more suited for ground attack missions. There needs to be a way around this for those of us who are not in to the historically correct fixation. 

[CountZero]

12 minutes ago, MadMav24 said:

This idea of locking out items in the load out should be at the discretion of the purchaser, not the developer. Since I don't play multi-player I find this item to be a problem. I understand why you would not want to have it available in multi-player. The idea of slinging bombs on a Spitfire or a Mustang is one of the things I never do anyway if that is supposed to be historically accurate. I would rather sling bombs on the Typhoon or Thunderbolt which are more suited for ground attack missions. There needs to be a way around this for those of us who are not in to the historically correct fixation. 

But its exactly oposite, they sell historical ww2 sim, so career should atleast be one place that is build with historical limitations.

In MP its free for all wild west... Dev made SP content should have some standard, and they pick historical accuracy.

 

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, MadMav24 said:

This idea of locking out items in the load out should be at the discretion of the purchaser, not the developer. Since I don't play multi-player I find this item to be a problem. I understand why you would not want to have it available in multi-player. The idea of slinging bombs on a Spitfire or a Mustang is one of the things I never do anyway if that is supposed to be historically accurate. I would rather sling bombs on the Typhoon or Thunderbolt which are more suited for ground attack missions. There needs to be a way around this for those of us who are not in to the historically correct fixation. 

 

Sorry, but no, like @CountZero said, the goal with career mode is to replicate the types of missions the real pilots were flying with the same sort of equipment that was available at the time. 

 

As for Spitfires and Mustangs carrying bombs - they do that from day 1 of Normandy. ? The RAF especially was into this with both plane types.

[Verbum_Vincet]

On 11/30/2022 at 5:25 PM, MadMav24 said:

This idea of locking out items in the load out should be at the discretion of the purchaser, not the developer. Since I don't play multi-player I find this item to be a problem. I understand why you would not want to have it available in multi-player. The idea of slinging bombs on a Spitfire or a Mustang is one of the things I never do anyway if that is supposed to be historically accurate. I would rather sling bombs on the Typhoon or Thunderbolt which are more suited for ground attack missions. There needs to be a way around this for those of us who are not in to the historically correct fixation. 

Had no idea this thread was still going, but yes, as a SP-only pilot, I heartily agree with you. Something like a 'enable/disable historical accuracy' button in the options menu would be very nice. If you felt like rigidly adhering to historical accuracy, you could. If you didn't, you could do it that way. Everyone wins! While it's true that  IL-2's devs have done a great job  translating their goals for career mode into a fun experience, the paying customer's goals shouldn't necessarily be discounted out of hand.

 

 

[Eisenfaustus]

On 11/30/2022 at 11:25 PM, MadMav24 said:

This idea of locking out items in the load out should be at the discretion of the purchaser, not the developer. Since I don't play multi-player I find this item to be a problem. I understand why you would not want to have it available in multi-player. The idea of slinging bombs on a Spitfire or a Mustang is one of the things I never do anyway if that is supposed to be historically accurate. I would rather sling bombs on the Typhoon or Thunderbolt which are more suited for ground attack missions. There needs to be a way around this for those of us who are not in to the historically correct fixation. 

You have QMB where you can do ahistorical stuff.

 

I really like flying the Ju 87 with guns as a tank hunter - I can't do that in any career - because it just isn't historically available. So whenever I feel like tank hunting I use QMB.

[Talon_]

On 11/30/2022 at 10:25 PM, MadMav24 said:

The idea of slinging bombs on a Spitfire or a Mustang is one of the things I never do anyway if that is supposed to be historically accurate.

All of the Spitfire IX squadrons found themselves in a primarily air to ground role by the end of the war.

[LukeFF]

11 hours ago, Verbum_Vincet said:

Had no idea this thread was still going, but yes, as a SP-only pilot, I heartily agree with you. Something like a 'enable/disable historical accuracy' button in the options menu would be very nice. If you felt like rigidly adhering to historical accuracy, you could. If you didn't, you could do it that way. Everyone wins! While it's true that  IL-2's devs have done a great job  translating their goals for career mode into a fun experience, the paying customer's goals shouldn't necessarily be discounted out of hand.

 

There are loads of mods out there if you want to do this sort of thing. It's literally just one line for every plane and the associated mission type. ?

Edited December 2, 2022 by LukeFF

[migmadmarine]

I haven't noticed one way or the other, do the 8AF units get 150 octane in the BON career?

[LukeFF]

48 minutes ago, migmadmarine said:

I haven't noticed one way or the other, do the 8AF units get 150 octane in the BON career?

 

No, there aren't any 8th AF units in the Normandy career. 

[Verbum_Vincet]

7 hours ago, LukeFF said:

 

There are loads of mods out there if you want to do this sort of thing. It's literally just one line for every plane and the associated mission type. ?

Using JGSME, I presume? That sounds like a workable solution and I'll look into it when I have time (along with PWCG, which I hear is virtually essential for SP pilots.) While I certainly admire your solution-oriented thinking, my humble suggestion still stands for those unable to mod for lack of knowledge or time, or whatever. I really think it would add a nice touch to a career mode which has already been improved considerably. Heck, when I started with GB, the career mode was essentially non-existent so I just stuck with player-developed campaigns. Thankfully, now I no longer have to (which is good because I ran out of campaigns!) but a free hand at loadouts would be awesome! I've seen others mention this on this and other Internet fora, so I think others would appreciate it, too.

 

I do have some experience with modding IL-2: 1946 via products from SAS and M4T(ModAct, UltraPack, DBW, etc.) but I encountered two main problems: I spent more time modding than flying, and the sim would often become so unstable that I'd have to reinstall and thus the time was wasted.

Of course, these are two different products and hopefully, modding has gotten easier for computer semi-literates like me? Indeed, one of the highest compliments I can pay the current iteration of IL-2 is that it offers so much variety that I've never really felt the need to mod it, to begin with! But if it is as easy as you say, I'd wager it would be even easier for professional coders to do...and do right. If the rest of their work is any example, they'd do a far better and more stable job than I ever could!

 

As for the solution to my T-Bolt problems, I just don't play it in career mode. I use missions from the excellent 'Hell Hawks' campaign when I get the Thunderbolt itch, because you can select any loadout you like.

Edited December 3, 2022 by Verbum_Vincet
double post + forgot quote I was replying to!