[mod] Eastern front career mode default skins

[migmadmarine]

Hello all, 

 

Finally, after much tinkering, procrastination, and muttered swearing, I've got my packs for the battle of Moscow, Stalingrad and Kuban complete. As I worked on these, I decided to go ahead and get them all done in one go, so these include all aircraft for the eastern front, with the exception of the IAR 80, but that I should be able to get custom versions made (where appropriate) before too long, I honestly hadn't realized that the template was up already. Generally, the Luftwaffe will have the more broadly unique unit colors of the two factions, with nearly all units getting at least a unit badge. The Russians will mostly manifest as differing styles of star, some camo variations, and the presence of guards badges on guards units. In Kuban some units do have group insignia, and with the transition in camo schemes in mid/late 43 many squadrons get ID markings applied to the tails. I also have added some additional Romanian skins to the "fake" off map squadrons, He111 for Stalingrad, and Ju-87 for Kuban. Thanks to @Obelix for the use of one of his Romanian Stuka skins. 

 

Finally, as a note, I have a couple of Il-2 skins in this pack that were in my skins folder, but I've not been able to work out who made them originally. If you recognize these (they are for the Il-2 mod 43, and the file names don't include VVS or a year) as your own, please let me know, and I hope you don't mind my including them. If you want them pulled from the pack, I completely understand, and sorry I couldn't track you down. 

 

Note, I don't have this configured for JSGME. Just drop the skins into the skin folders like any other skin pack, and for the configs, they will need to go into IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data\scg. If you don't have an SCG folder there, go ahead and make one. 

 

Links:

 

BOM Skins: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vO9N56wz_9Wwdegcd-TqkBfNz39DVUtu/view?usp=drive_link

BOM Config: (update 1/5/24) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YzjgujyQ6MzexYfK0MTLRl9Q0TiOkX2U/view?usp=sharing

 

BOS Skins: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zjgxI7Bnf3gkzzTwd2A0HzonyrH38D2B/view?usp=drive_link

BOS Config: (update 1/5/24) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AgrmUe3q5mqHfoXBPqkPeqiWfqQdzHF3/view?usp=sharing

 

BOK Skins:https://drive.google.com/file/d/13bvAjobeJEVtr77BuS18Rt6ZjxQK2Pev/view?usp=drive_link

BOK Config:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hwKk7Y6_AyknZvp0eCpGSGR4YgEwgtLh/view?usp=drive_link

 

[fix for Bf-109E7]

I found a bug with the 109E7 template, so I've had to re-export all the skins for it. Along with this I made some corrections to the Romainian skin for it, as I had the lettering by the Donald Duck on one side mirrored, and needed to skudge the fuselage insignia forward to make room for the dynamic numbering. 

 

Moscow: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g8UMv4NRFxXfXdJmTSmKz1zCiLYh9zQx/view?usp=sharing

Stalingrad: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bXoLIco5Wen4Zc3pFFc6iEiH6rIvdnN-/view?usp=sharing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

@Rudini You should be first to know.

Edited January 6, 2024 by migmadmarine

[Rudini]

Yeaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!

Thank you very much!

[RedeyeStorm]

@migmadmarine,

 

Question. I noticed when I installed the skinpacks that there are skins included in both BOM, BOS and BOK that require a overwrite when installing with jgme. But are they the same skins or have they changed but just use the same name for the dds files? In the first case no issue in the other case install just the skins for the theater you are flying.

 

RedeyeStorm

[migmadmarine]

Right, there are skins that are used in multiple battles I included in both packs to avoid forcing someone who only owns one battle to download a load of skins they can't use. 

 

As to the configs, I don't have this designed to install via JSGME as I frankly have not looked into what I need to do to configure that on the creator end. These folders go into greatbattles/data/scg. If you don't have an scg folder there, just create one and put the scripts folder and 13/14/15 folders in it.

[RedeyeStorm]

Thanks @migmadmarine. You answered my question regarding the skins. All good. I created the necessary map structure myself for use with JGME. Right now I am flying on Moskou in the winter but I believe you made no specific winter skins correct?

[migmadmarine]

What unit? For the Luftwaffe I made loads, the Soviet ones are pretty generic. Best way to tell if it is working is to load into the hanger screen and check the skin assignment there. If you open the modifications/load out panel in the pilot assignment  screen it will override what I have configured. 

[migmadmarine]

Please see the opening post, I've found a bug with the E-7 skins, so I've had to re-export them all. See the new links in the OP.

[RedeyeStorm]

Hey @migmadmarine,

 

I have flown two missions. In both a AI E7 squad did not have winterskins. Saw this in both missions. Probably solved in your new export. Furhtermore I saw an AI P40 without winterskin.

[RedeyeStorm]

I transferd to Stalingrad. In my first mission there my escorting Hurricanes where still in wintercamo. Also got a Cfgpool error when leaving Il2. May or may not have anything to do with the skins, just thought I mention it.

[migmadmarine]

6 hours ago, RedeyeStorm said:

Hey @migmadmarine,

 

I have flown two missions. In both a AI E7 squad did not have winterskins. Saw this in both missions. Probably solved in your new export. Furhtermore I saw an AI P40 without winterskin.

Did they display any unique markings at all? Did you see any aircraft during the flight that were wearing white wash? When the game can't find a specified skin, it defaults to the default skin, so if everything is not displaying winter camo, it is possible that the file as a whole is not working either because of something being misconfigured or misinstalled. 

[RedeyeStorm]

Yes there where unique skins with the luftwaffe. Saw 109 F2/4's with shields on the engine hood and He-111 also with symbols so that's why I know they got installed proper. So I installed all skins in one go so if one works they all work. I added all the neccesary folders but did not change anything to the skin folders you created.

 

I checked the Hurricane skin folder in BOS and that one has only one dds and it is a winter skin. I also checked the skins.cfg and the naming to the skin is correct. The only thing odd is one date (marked in bold) for me but cannot say for sure if it is right or wrong. The cursive ones seem to overlap in dates and only one links to the winter skin you added. The following is the code:

[squadron=101629]
    [period]
        period="1942.08.23","1942.10.01"
        [skin]
            plane="LuaScripts\WorldObjects\Planes\I16t24.txt"
            skin=""
            name="629 IAP PVO"
            type=0 //0 - common, 1 - ace
            probweight=100
        [end]
    [end]

    [period]
        period="1943.01.21","1943.02.02"
        [skin]
            plane="LuaScripts\WorldObjects\Planes\HurricaneMkII.txt"
            skin="hurricanemkii\HurricaneMkII VVS 42-43 WW.dds"
            name="629 IAP PVO"
            type=0 //0 - common, 1 - ace
            probweight=100
        [end]
    [end]
[end]

[squadron=101651]
    [period]
        period="1942.08.24","1942.09.05"
        [skin]
            plane="LuaScripts\WorldObjects\Planes\HurricaneMkII.txt"
            skin="hurricanemkii\HurricaneMkII VVS 42-43 WW.dds"
            name="651 IAP PVO"
            type=0 //0 - common, 1 - ace
            probweight=100
        [end]
    [end]
[end]

 

[migmadmarine]

Yea, I did just go and change the assignment on the 651 IAP PVO since that september/october that they are on the map. I'll upload a new file, you can also just swap that in your copy of the file to skin="hurricanemkii\hurricanemkii_blank_02#1.dds" for the 651st.

 

As to the AI 109Es showing up without whitewash, things look like they are set up right, in a quick test flight I had my group using their skins correctly, and our escorting 109Es from the spanish volunteers had theirs on right. Only thing that looks like it might be odd is the "fake" 109E units, which had their probweights set to 5 by default. @LukeFF does prob weight also get used for probability of a aircraft being selected to spawn as traffic, or is it exclusively the probability of the skin being choosen? Might be that those flights didn't roll the 5% to spawn with special skins? 

[migmadmarine]

Updated OP with updated config file for BOS

[LukeFF]

9 hours ago, migmadmarine said:

does prob weight also get used for probability of a aircraft being selected to spawn as traffic, or is it exclusively the probability of the skin being choosen?

 

It only has to do with the probably of that skin being chosen.

[migmadmarine]

1 hour ago, LukeFF said:

 

It only has to do with the probably of that skin being chosen.

 

Hmm, funny that they are configured like that by default, as I recall those had no skin assigned, but only a prob weight of 5.

[Tony_Kito]

Mod is working great, some times the skins aren't assigned but I think that has to do with the discussion above about the config probability or whatnot, but even now the added skins and such add great variety and immersion to the campaigns!

 

Spoiler

 

[Mtnbiker1998]

Very much looking forward to giving this a try! Haven't flown my Kuban career in months but this should add some nice spice to get me back into it.

[LukeFF]

11 hours ago, migmadmarine said:

Hmm, funny that they are configured like that by default, as I recall those had no skin assigned, but only a prob weight of 5.

 

Yes, it's probably due to different people editing the files during the years. I try to update stuff like this when I update a skins file, but I am sure there are still lots of differing values in these files.

[migmadmarine]

got it, I'll go through and eliminate those where appropriate then. 

[migmadmarine]

3 hours ago, Tony_Kito said:

Mod is working great, some times the skins aren't assigned but I think that has to do with the discussion above about the config probability or whatnot, but even now the added skins and such add great variety and immersion to the campaigns!

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Thanks for the additional screenshots, hadn't taken as many as I perhaps ought to. 

 

As to cases of skins not appearing, I'll go through and try to eliminate cases of probabilities that shouldn't exist, but there are a couple units that do deliberately retain the default skins. 

[cmbishop]

Hi migmadmarine,

Thanks for your mod which improves the immersion on the eastern front !

 

I've got an error which led once to a CTD. See the attached file.

 

I've opened the CFGPool.log and I've got this message inside :

 

scg/scripts/14skins.cfg: (2151) Looks like '"' is missing

 

Have you got an idea to solve this issue ? Thanks !

[migmadmarine]

I've fixed the file on my end and will re-upload the config probably this evening, but in the mean time you can open the 14skins file in Notepad or Notepad++, search for "992_night_fighters" or scroll to to line 2151, and add a " at the end of the phrase [name="992_night_fighters] since it is missing a quotation mark. 

[cmbishop]

Thanks mate ! ?

[Vamandrac]

BOS Config is listing as in owner's trash and can not be downloaded.

[migmadmarine]

Give it a try now, just updated the configs for BOS and BOM to try and eliminate Fake unit aircraft spawning with no skin in winter, and the missing quote marks. 

[Tony_Kito]

Some more promo work for this mod, works terrifically well and adds much needed flavor to the career!

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

[Vamandrac]

Hey migmadmarine

 

Does this affect random AI flights?  I was flying my Moscow career today and my flight had correct markings, but another random German flight was in default skins with no numbers.  I am honestly fine if not EVERY skin is covered, but the numbers missing bugs me.

Edited January 16, 2024 by Vamandrac

[migmadmarine]

That is strange, it shouldn't remove numbers from anything except the couple of Romanian bomber units in Stalingrad/Kuban. I am out of town till Sunday, so it will be a bit till I can have a look at the configs again. 

[RedeyeStorm]

Hello @migmadmarine, do not know if this is correct but flying both in Moskow and Stalingrad the AI 109E7's that fly around do not use winterskins.

 

Oh and could you add tactical code skins for the IAR's?

Edited February 21, 2024 by RedeyeStorm

[migmadmarine]

Is it all AI units that are not displaying winter skins for the E7? 

 

And for the IAR, I've not really found suitible examples to use for unit specific skins. 

 

[RedeyeStorm]

Yes only AI E7’s. I haven’t flown the E7 in winter myself.

[migmadmarine]

Not quite what I mean, do AI E7s always appear without white wash is what I want to know. Could be a couple things causing it. Are they showing up with any unit-specific markings at all? Looking in the file I should have *every* instance of the E7 appearing with proper skins, but if they are showing up in the default markings then that means something is causing it to not read or not find the right skin, so it is reverting to the default. 

 

[RedeyeStorm]

Difficult to say for sure. The E7’s I saw all had proper tactical codes and none had winter skins. But flying career you do meet the same opponent squadrons in your particular area of operations.

[migmadmarine]

4 hours ago, RedeyeStorm said:

Difficult to say for sure. The E7’s I saw all had proper tactical codes and none had winter skins. But flying career you do meet the same opponent squadrons in your particular area of operations.

No other axis types are having this issue? 

Also, have you installed the most up-to-date version of the 109E-7 skins? 

I just tried a quick test setting up a 109E-7 career in moscow, at least as the player flight they are applying their skins right. 

[RedeyeStorm]

I’ll check and let you know. I have not seen any other axis plane type without winter skins.

[Devil5O5]

Hi MigMadMarine.

 

I just installed the files for Battle of Kuban, but none of the skins show on the AI during a mission. The mission in question had 109G-4's, 190A-5's, He-111's, IAR-80's, P-39's and LA-5 Series 8's for my squad.

 

I only tried the Kuban files so far because I figured that with so many unique unit skins it would be easy to tell if it worked or not.

 

I did have to add the SCG folder and I put the downloaded files into it, as you instructed. And yes, I put the skin files into the correct skin folders.

 

 

Edited November 12, 2024 by Devil5O5
fixed typo

[Devil5O5]

Never mind. I just realized I never enabled mods. Everything seems to work fine.

 

I do have a question though, how can I edit the Kuban file to add a unit? It seems like there's no skin for 437 IAP LA-5's. I'd like to have 437 IAP use a skin that I made.

[Spikos]

I have two questions:

Is the mod compatible with PWCG?
Are the squadrons assigned the historically correct skins or does this happen randomly? 

[migmadmarine]

On 3/2/2025 at 2:04 PM, Spikos said:

I have two questions:

Is the mod compatible with PWCG?
Are the squadrons assigned the historically correct skins or does this happen randomly? 

The mod is only for the vanilla career mode, and has no effect on PWCG. 

 

The skins are assigned to specific squadrons, and for each unit I tried to pick good representative samples or plausible markings. Fewer squadrons than you might expect had every aircraft wearing the same badge placement for example.

[Tony_Kito]

On 2/22/2024 at 12:56 AM, migmadmarine said:

And for the IAR, I've not really found suitible examples to use for unit specific skins. 

 

Circling back to this, any plans to add IARs to the mod? Currently the base game has about a pair of textures per IAR (80A & 80B) that could work normally with the tactical codes and fit the campaign setting. For Kuban in the IAR-80B, you could use the vanilla skins "1943" and "Alternative", and for the 80A you could use simply "Alternative" so as to not have all aircraft look identical.

 

Moreover, I noticed the tactical numbers might be missing from the IAR-80Bs with this mod - I believe this could be because the squadron codes file only lists "LuaScripts\WorldObjects\Planes\IAR80A.txt" as a variable.