Thoughts on the SSW and Snipe? Should I buy them?

[LufberyJAA]

Hi all,

 

It's been a while since the Snipe and SSW were released as collector planes. I know that some of you bought them. What do you think? Are they a good buy?

 

Please share your thoughts.

 

Thanks!

[J37_Daedallus]

S!

 

I think it depends on how you fly, they are not turn and burners. The siemens outclimbs everything and can operate higher, so you can use it like a spad. I haven't flown the snipe much except in our practices, you can't turnfight in it.

 

This film shows how you can climb up quickly to attack heavy bombers.

 

 

cheers

[czech693]

The Snipe carries a lot of fuel, you can leave 1/2 behind and she turns better.

[US103_Baer]

9 hours ago, LufberyJAA said:

Hi all,

 

It's been a while since the Snipe and SSW were released as collector planes. I know that some of you bought them. What do you think? Are they a good buy?

 

Please share your thoughts.

 

Thanks!

 

I think they're valuable additions because they appear to have recently developed FMs. They are trickier to fly at the limit, lose energy quickly, and tend to perform better at specific altitudes. As they should. 

But of course you'd be flying against other planes that don't have such new FMs and are much more forgiving.

In MP that is a definite disadvantage!! 

The Siemens can still do well, but the D7f is better and more forgiving. The Snipe is ok up high but the Camel turns way better and the Spads and Se5as are faster, dive better and are superior gun platforms. 

So yeah, I'd get them if you want to experience what the devs can deliver, given time and resource. 

Edited January 20 by US103_Baer

[JGr2/J5_Klugermann]

Wait for sale 20 dolla too beaucoup.

 

[LufberyJAA]

Thanks, everyone, for the replies. 

 

Honestly, I'm not 100% sure what kind of dogfighting style I prefer. 

 

I haven't put a ton of hours into this game compared to MSFS 2020, where I have 625 flight hours. MSFS is a GREAT sim, but there aren't many WWI planes and, of course, no combat.

 

So, in IL2 FC, I'm really enjoying the N.28. (I liked it before the update and love it now.) I'm flying single player and doing a lot of lag tuns and yo-yos. So I guess I'm more attuned to turn fighting at the moment. 

 

Upon reflection, and after reading the responses, I'm likely going to hold off on the collector planes for a bit.

[BMA_Hellbender]

On 1/21/2025 at 3:01 PM, LufberyJAA said:

So, in IL2 FC, I'm really enjoying the N.28. (I liked it before the update and love it now.) I'm flying single player and doing a lot of lag tuns and yo-yos. So I guess I'm more attuned to turn fighting at the moment.

 

If you enjoy the N28, by all means get the Snipe. Climbs and rolls better. In most scenarios you're still better off in a Dolphin (better turner) or SE5a (faster), though. And if turn fighting is really your thing: Camel.

[Avimimus]

On 1/21/2025 at 2:01 PM, LufberyJAA said:

Thanks, everyone, for the replies. 

 

Honestly, I'm not 100% sure what kind of dogfighting style I prefer. 

 

 

I found the SSW D.IV was a joy to fly. Definitely worth it.

 

I usually prefer the 1916 era aircraft (lots of interesting quirks requiring unique tactics and skills for each plane), but the SSW is nice when one just wants to fly.

[LufberyJAA]

And just like that, I noticed today that there's a spring sale! I picked up both planes and took them each on a quick mission. I like them!

[JG4_Moltke1871]

On 1/19/2025 at 11:39 PM, LufberyJAA said:

Are they a good buy?

Yes

[J37_Daedallus]

Good to hear you took the plunge

 

If you'd like to try them in multiplayer let me know, we can help you ease into it 

[J37_Daedallus]

It seems to be difficult for a lot of single players to make the change to mulitplayer, and the benefits are enormous

[LufberyJAA]

On 4/5/2025 at 7:54 AM, J37_Daedallus said:

It seems to be difficult for a lot of single players to make the change to mulitplayer, and the benefits are enormous

Fair point!

 

For my part, there are two things holding me back, or there were two things until this past Friday:

 

(1) The one time I went online, I found out that the key to padlock an enemy plane did not work. That could have been a fluke, or it could have been a server setting, but I found myself hopelessly lost with very poor situational awareness.

 

(2) My understanding is that players use head tracking or VR to more naturally look around during flight so that lack of padlock views is a moot point. My computer was simply not powerful enough to use either until my brand new gaming PC was delivered this past Friday.

 

I'm still not set up for head tracking or VR, but the performance of the game is stellar! I can fly and shoot more much more smoothly now. It's pretty amazing.

[J37_Daedallus]

In answer to (1), I don't know of any server that allows padlock, as I don't use it, but there might be one?

 

For (2) Yes most ppl use vr or TrakIr, although a very small number still use buttons to look around.

 

TrakIr is very easy to set up and use, and if you get vr, I can probably put you in touch with someone who has the same model.

 

If you need any help making the transition, you can attend our Saturday practices to get comfortable with your new settings, before going live on a full real server.

[Aapje]

Here is a guide to OpenTrack: 

 

I personally use Smoothtrack instead of a hardware solution for the actual head tracking part, when I don't fly in VR: https://smoothtrack.app/

 

I found this to work very well and its much cheaper than a hardware solution, and you don't have to wear anything. The downsides of that solution are:

- It requires your phone, so you can't use your phone for anything else

- It can switch faces, so there shouldn't be another person in view of the phone

- It requires decent enough lighting. I've never had an issue, but some people want to play in the dark, or have the sun shine on their setup very brightly, or have shiny things reflecting light in weird ways, or whatever.

- Some people claim that it is more laggy than a hardware solution (I'm happy with it, but I haven't tried hardware alternatives)

 

Since it is only $10, the cost is negligible, so you might just want to start out with it, and see how you get on.

 

PS. Note that it's important to set up a curve (mapping your head position to a camera position) that works for you, and if you are unhappy with it at the first attempt, don't dismiss it right away, but try different curves. In the guide, you can see what kind of curves people use.

 

PS2. Keep in mind that any head tracking is inherently unnatural, since you can only move your head in a limited way while still being able to see the screen, so you need the movement on the screen has to be a much exaggerated version of how much your own head moves. This inherently requires you to learn to make subtle head movements, and to know what the effect is going to be on screen. VR is a lot more natural in this respect.

[LufberyJAA]

Hi all, I want to thank Aapje for his suggestion of using Smoothtrack on my phone combined with Opentrack on my PC. I got it "working" this evening after about a half hour of working with the settings on my PC and Phone.

 

I have "working" in quotes because I now have to set up the tracking to allow a full view all around -- especially to the back. I also need to work with the initial zoom and head position. One thing at a time, however.

 

In the meantime, I've been spending a lot of time with the SSW and a bit less time with the Snipe. Both are very nice planes and well worth the purchase.

 

I'm focusing more on the SSW right now because I am fascinated by its engine and flight characteristics. The engine needs to be babied a little bit, I think. It over-revs quickly and overheats when climbing at too low and airspeed, but the plane is fast and climbs really well!

 

The Snipe is fast, it seems to be well-behaved in turns, and seems pretty sturdy.