French 2 Seaters

[Gooseh]

I have a feeling I have already posted some of these, but I certainly missed a few so I'll do it again.

 

On another note, I thought I understood how PWCG worked, but it seems I don't, so indulge me here and maybe someone can figure out what's going on!

 

How is PWCG deciding what planes are flown and when? I thought it was dictated by the squadroninfo file but clearly there's something else going on here which is making rather a mess of things....

[Gooseh]

[Gooseh]

Here:

 

https://www.mediafire.com/file/qmk5rqd4gb2vaif/Gooseh-French+Two+Seaters.7z/file

 

+ The missing ones+

 

https://www.mediafire.com/file/0f1011u46ywrypt/Gooseh-French+Two+Seaters-ADDITIONAL.7z/file

 

Edited August 25, 2024 by Gooseh

[Hien-0_1*]

Hi Gooseh,

a few of the skins shown are missing in the download pack:
-Breguet14 from the 29 escadrille
-FE2b from the 34 escadrille
-DH4 from the 34 esccadrille
and
-DH4 from the 45 escadrille

 

the file RE8_PW_E52_A should probably be called RE8_PW_E34_A

 

greetings and many thanks👍

[Gooseh]

On 8/19/2024 at 10:51 PM, Hien-0_1* said:

Hi Gooseh,

a few of the skins shown are missing in the download pack:
-Breguet14 from the 29 escadrille
-FE2b from the 34 escadrille
-DH4 from the 34 esccadrille
and
-DH4 from the 45 escadrille

 

the file RE8_PW_E52_A should probably be called RE8_PW_E34_A

 

greetings and many thanks👍

 

Well I'm glad someone's on the ball. I'll post them above. Thanks!

[Barkhorn1x]

First of all; thanks for the additional 2 seater skins - ALL are accounted for now.

Second; your Squad file for Esc 129 does not look like mine (see below for a copy of what I have).  These entries are straight from PWCG 16.3.1. Note the dual entries for the "sopstr" AND the "sopstrb".  I tested and the skin assignments work so I can only surmise that both were added to fix some code anomaly in the EXE w/ the Strutter.

Also note that the plane code for the "sopstr" is incorrect as it is the RFC code (102120) and not one of the French air service codes:

   SPAD XI = 101120

   SPAD XVI = 101121 

   Caudron G6 = 101201

 

OOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKKKK...

 

So, my plan is to:
   - Edit the Squad file to CORRECT the plane codes

   - Clean up the skin entries - using your skins ONLY

    - Use Esc 129 as a test case to ensure all works before moving on

 

Stay tuned...

 

My current Esc 129 squad file:

Skins
        {
            Skin
            {
                Name = "101129";
                Date = 01/08/1915;
            }
            Skin
            {
               Name = "RE8_French";
               Plane = "re8";
               StartDate = 01/01/1916;
               EndDate = 01/12/1918;
            }
            Skin
            {
               Name = "BR14_Def_Sept1917";
               Plane = "breguet14";
               StartDate = 01/01/1917;
               EndDate = 01/12/1918;
            }
            Skin
            {
               Name = "BR14_Def_Jan1918";
               Plane = "breguet14";
               StartDate = 05/03/1918;
               EndDate = 01/12/1918;
            }
            Skin
            {
               Name = "ssb_fra_std_early";
               Plane = "sopstrb";
               StartDate = 01/01/1916;
               EndDate = 01/11/1917;
            }
            Skin
            {
               Name = "ssb_fra_std_camo";
               Plane = "sopstrb";
               EndDate = 01/10/1917;
               EndDate = 01/12/1918;
            }
            Skin
            {
               Name = "ss_fra_std_early";
               Plane = "sopstr";
               StartDate = 01/01/1916;
               EndDate = 01/11/1917;
            }
            Skin
            {
               Name = "ss_fra_std_camo";
               Plane = "sopstr";
               EndDate = 01/10/1917;
               EndDate = 01/12/1918;
            }
        }

        Planes
        {
            Plane
            {
                Id = 102120;
                StartDate = 02/06/1917;
                EndDate = 27/02/1918;
            }
            Plane
            {
                Id = 101150;
                StartDate = 01/12/1917;
                EndDate = 01/12/1918;
            }
        }

 

French AS codes:
Plane
    {
        Id = 101120;
        Desc = "SPAD XI";
        LogDesc = "";
        RoFType = "sopstr";
        Purpose = 2;
        Flyable = 0;
        Role = "Recon";
        Role = "Bomb";
        EarliestDate = 01/01/1917;
        Endurance = 2.25;
        Goodness = 29;
        Cruise = 110.0;
    }
Plane
    {
        Id = 101121;
        Desc = "SPAD XVI";
        LogDesc = "";
        RoFType = "sopstr";
        Purpose = 2;
        Flyable = 0;
        Role = "Recon";
        Role = "Bomb";
        EarliestDate = 01/01/1917;
        Endurance = 2.25;
        Goodness = 34;
        Cruise = 110.0;
    }
Plane
    {
        Id = 101201;
        Desc = "Caudron G6";
        LogDesc = "";
        RoFType = "sopstr";
        Purpose = 2;
        Flyable = 0;
        Role = "Recon";
        Role = "Bomb";
        EarliestDate = 01/08/1916;
        Endurance = 3.5;
        Goodness = 26;
        Cruise = 80.0;
 

[Gooseh]

I'm ahead of you here!

 

So here's how I have Esc 129. Like all squinf the entries I have done so far I have removed all the non playable aircraft entered by Pat, and replaced with the planes we actually have, or replacements I have conjured up, like the British ones here.  There hasn't been a problem adding British planes into the French line up, other than the Strutter of course.

 

So here's my simplified Esc 129 with skins, and it's from this that the single seat Strutter appears out of nowhere.

 

Squadron
    {
        Name = "Esc 129";
        Id = 101129;
        Nation = 101;
        Service = 10101;
        Skill = 25;
        Skins
        {
            Skin
            {
               Name = "SS_PW_E129_A";
               Plane = "sopstr";
               StartDate = 01/01/1917;
               EndDate = 01/12/1918;
            }
            Skin
            {
               Name = "B14_PW_E129_A";
               Plane = "breguet14";
               StartDate = 01/01/1917;
               EndDate = 01/12/1918;
            }    
        }

        Planes
        {
            Plane
            {
                Id = 102120; 2 seat Strutter
                StartDate = 01/06/1917;
                EndDate = 31/01/1918;
            }
            Plane
            {
                Id = 101150; Breuget 14
                StartDate = 01/02/1918;
                EndDate = 01/12/1918;
            }
        }

 

Give it a go....

Edited September 8, 2024 by Gooseh

[Gooseh]

I have attached my existing squinf from my PWCG installation. It has all the Germans done, I think the Americans, a bit of French, and I think the Belgians are missing altogether! Can't remember if I've done anything else. I have certainly tinkered with the British (mostly not in a good way!) But I'm not really sure beyond that!  I'm WAAAAY behind because it's boring compared to creating skins, and it's time consuming eh?

 

I don't recommend using this as a default squinf because of that, but you can see how much tinkering I have done with the Germans and it only applies to the skins I have made. 

 

I recall doing pretty exhaustive testing with the German skins and aces, and didn't hit any snags.

 

Take a look, just rename your existing squinf so you can go back to it.

 

 

SquadronInfo.zip

[Gooseh]

And here's my German aces, note Gustav Doerr, Karl Schlegel and Max Nather fly in units we don't have, and so have no skin entries, so I guess they can be deleted. Also OTTO Bernert is FRITZ Bernert, so Otto is redundant and can go too.

 

They should just slot into their units and fly their skins I created, assuming you have them.

Boche Aces.zip

 

And the plane files for the personal skins

 

Boche skin files.zip

Edited September 9, 2024 by Gooseh

[Barkhorn1x]

Quote

So here's my simplified Esc 129 with skins, and it's from this that the single seat Strutter appears out of nowhere.  [Omitted Squad file entries for brevity.]

I tested many different permutations here for this Esc w/ the following results:

1. Your squad entries = got the "Strutter B" immediately = FAIL

2. The 16.3.1 entries = got the "Strutter B" after 2 missions = FAIL

3. My "stripped down" entries = got the "Strutter B" after 2 missions = FAIL

4. Replacing the UK plane code w/ a French plane code for the  SPAD XI = got "Null something or other" message = FAIL

 

...so, we are basically SOOL here and I remain convinced that there is something wrong with the .EXE file that's driving this error.

I can only suggest replacing the Strutter w/ the RE8 - or - just living with the error.

Thoughts??

 

Quote

I have attached my existing squinf from my PWCG installation. 

As my last PWCG package (see link below) features fully updated files for the Germans/Belgians/Americans using your skins - along w/ a bunch of corrected errors -  I will stick w/ that Squad file. 

On 9/8/2024 at 5:25 AM, Gooseh said:

And here's my German aces, note Gustav Doerr, Karl Schlegel and Max Nather fly in units we don't have, and so have no skin entries, so I guess they can be deleted. Also OTTO Bernert is FRITZ Bernert, so Otto is redundant and can go too.

Got it and, again, I will stick with my files as they are fully updated with your skins.

 

My latest PWCG download package:

 

[Gooseh]

I call shenanigans!

 

I have zero idea where PWCG is getting it's ideas from. Rather hoped it was from the squinf, but that's clearly not the case....

 

Be a bummer if the 2 versions of the Strutter weren't in play, given the the embarrassing dearth of available planes, and given that many of the RFC units were a bit 'recony' early doors, before they took on scout responsibilities.

 

Anyway, we live and we fail to learn! ROF is many things, but a WWI flight sim it barely is, and it's best hope of getting close is fatally flawed. 

 

Gah.

[Barkhorn1x]

Quote

I have zero idea where PWCG is getting it's ideas from. Rather hoped it was from the squinf, but that's clearly not the case....

 

I hear ya.  Any interest in replacing the Stutters with RE8s?
While you mull that over I am plunging in to get this stuff done.

Going to use and end date of 11/01/17 for all Strutter entries as;

Breguet 14 = "The Breguet 14 was used in large numbers from May 1917 onwards, and at its peak equipped at least 71 escadrilles..."

Salmson 2 (DH4 sub) = "Production was ordered after trials on 29 April 1917, and deliveries were underway by October of that year."

 

...to limit the shenanigans.

[Barkhorn1x]

...and duping all the Strutter skins and copying them over to the Strutter B skins folder doesn't look that terrible.

At least they will have the proper French/Esc. markings.

 

[Gooseh]

LOL! Well I'm not sure that's a solution!

 

I can't recall which French units carry the Strutter, not many from memory so maybe the easiest solution is just to take them out and replace with the RE8...

 

Hopefully will have better luck with the British units...I have had a little go with 46Sq RFC, which flew Strutters in late 16/early 17 before their Pups arrived.

 

I can have The 2 seat Strutter OR the single seat Strutter, but not both at the same time....which feels like a result.