[MOD]*NEW* Cockpit photo editor (BASIC or ADVANCED)

[Vishnu]

Hello Gentlemen,

 

I would like to introduce you to the stand alone cockpit photo editor!  One is a basic version that provides all the photos for you.  The advanced does the same as the basic but allows you to edit the photos, and add your own if you wish.

 

This is an external stand alone program that allows you to pick and choose whatever cockpit photo you like from the library I created.  Some of you may have already found a way to alter the cockpit photos from my pinup library I posted awhile back, so the photos are probably familiar to you.

 

There are 3 eras to choose from.  WWI, WWII, and Modern.  You can pick and choose from any genre you wish and put it in any era.   The program will also allow you to totally randomize the photos to all planes if you wish.   The choices you make are entirely up to you.

 

If you aren't satisfied with your choices, there is a revert to default button which will convert all the photos back to the original.

 

 

 

BASIC VERSION

 

Simply download the program from this  LINK

1) Click the program zip, this will install a desktop icon and a GUI for you automatically.

 

2)  Click Browse next to “IL-2 Game Folder” and navigate to your IL-2 Great Battles installation root.

3) Click Save Game Path. This writes config.json beside the EXE so you won’t need to re-enter it next time.  I just click save game path as it comes up and make no changes.

 

4) Pick a plane, and a pop up will appear.

 

5) Choose your era, and then scroll through the .dds list.   A preview of the pinups should appear next to that.  Click ok and that's it!

 

If you wish to revert to default you can in the lower right hand corner.  There is a select all button and  a apply this same picture to all remaining airplanes button.  Both do exactly as said.  

 

This program runs the .exe  each time so you can actually change the photos in your aircraft while IL2 is running, just so long as you haven't loaded that aircraft yet.   No need to shut down IL2 and reboot.   

 

I should mention that this is an "evergreen" program, that will discover new planes as they are added to the IL2, so no need to update this program to introduce new aircraft.   (Siege and Liberation aircraft once released will evergreen, but not IL2 Korea, as that will be a new game entirely)
 

 

I would like to thank @Arrow_1974 for his expert help in designing this program!  Although I'm responsible for the pinup content, he was the one that was gracious enough to put the pieces together for this endeavor!  

 

 

Some the ladies in the WWII era are:

 

Rita Hayworth, Jayne Mansfield, Betty Brosmer, Brigitte Bardot, Gina Lollobrigida, Yvonne De Carlo, Ava Gardner, Jane Russell, Anita Ekberg, Betty Grabel, Lana Turner,  Bettie Page and Veronica Lake.

 

I also did WWI pinup girls for those that have Flying Circus.   All these photographs are circa 1917 and are authentic to the era.

 

This includes:

Mata Hari, Lily Elsie, Gladys Cooper,

Marie Doro, Maude Fealy, Ethel Warwick, Evelyn Nesbit, Ethel Clayton, Julia James, Genevieve Lantelme,  Camille Gifford, Lone Bright, Lina Cavalieri,  Cleo de Merode, Maude Adams, Rita Martin and Ethel Barrymore.

 

 

Modern pinups.  Some are pretty sexy, without full nudity.  PLEASE USE YOUR DISCRECTION!

 

ADVANCED VERSION

*This version does contain all photographs found in basic version.

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IF YOU WISH TO CHANGE OR ADD YOUR OWN .dds FORMATTED PHOTOGRAPHS FOLLOW STEPS BELOW

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For those of you wishing to edit the folders and the pictures that are contained within,  you can download the advanced program at  this LINK

Remember, they must be formatted correctly to work in IL2.   The instructions on how to make and format your photos are at this  LINK

 

 

 

Brief User Guide & What’s New

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Getting Started

1. Unzip & Run

   • Unpack the entire “IL-2 GB Cockpit editor” folder anywhere you like.

   • Inside you’ll find Photo Assets\ (containing WWI/WW2/Modern subfolders) and IL-Photo_Mod_v2.exe.

   • Double-click the EXE to launch the manager.

2. Set Your IL-2 Game Folder

   • In the top panel, click Browse… to point at your IL-2 Great Battles install directory.

   • Click Save Paths. This writes config.json next to the EXE so you don’t have to set it again.

3. Photo Assets Folder

   • By default the manager looks for Photo Assets\ next to the EXE.

   • If you move or rename that folder, click the second Browse… to re-point the assets path and click save.

   • Tip: You’re free to drop in your own .dds cockpit pictures into the WWI/WW2/Modern subfolders—just match the right format.

4. Select Plane(s) & Apply or Revert

   • The center list shows every plane with a thumbnail (❌ if no custom photo installed).

   • Check one or more planes, then click Apply to Selected Planes:

     1. Choose Era (WWI/WW2/Modern) and pick a single .dds or Random.

     2. Preview it in the popup.

     3. Optionally Apply This Same Picture to All Remaining Planes in this batch.

   • To undo, select planes and click Revert to Default (or Revert All Planes to bulk-restore only those with customs).

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                                    Difference between the BASIC VERSION and THE ADVANCED VERSION

Aspect	BASIC VERSION (Embedded)	ADVANCED VERSION (External Assets)
Assets Storage	Bundled inside the single EXE (invisible to user)	In a visible Photo Assets\ folder next to EXE
Path Setup	No folder selection—assets always loaded internally	User can browse & override the assets folder path
Updating Assets	Requires rebuilding the EXE to change pictures	Simply drop new .dds files into the WWI/WW2/Modern subfolders
Portability	Single EXE, but no easy asset changes	EXE + folder—move or share both for full setup
Preview Column	Only ✅/❌ markers	Live 50×50 thumbnail previews, centered in-column
Folder Detection	Hard-coded embedded assets	Auto-detects Photo Assets\ next to EXE; browse if moved

 

All of the familiar Apply / Revert workflows remain exactly the same—only now you have full control over the asset files on disk, instant previews of every installed custom cockpit photo, and a more flexible folder layout. Hope you like it!

Edited September 2 by Vishnu

[Von_Fontlebottom]

I quite like the idea of being able to easily update photos in WWI cockpits; there are so few gauges that the photo really adds something to the cockpit. Could you update the link to the advanced version? That appears to be a dead link. Thanks for what looks like great work. 

[Vishnu]

On 8/15/2025 at 10:55 AM, Von_Fontlebottom said:

I quite like the idea of being able to easily update photos in WWI cockpits; there are so few gauges that the photo really adds something to the cockpit. Could you update the link to the advanced version? That appears to be a dead link. Thanks for what looks like great work. 

I'm sorry if the basic link doesn't work. It works on my end, but if the advanced version works, that's good.  I will investigate further.

[Von_Fontlebottom]

I believe there's been a misunderstanding. It is the link to the ADVANCED version that does not work, and that is what I would like to download. 

Here is an attached screenshot of what I see when I access that link. 

 

I was able to follow your guide for adding personalized photos, but I had to do it the old-fashioned way by manually entering the photo into the respective aircraft folder and updating the names manually. It's rather tedious since I just purchased Normandy and some other expansions during a recent sale. I'd love to get access to the advanced version. If this is somehow a weird fluke (note: I tried this on firefox and chrome and had the same issue) could you send me the file directly? 

 

Thank you for all of this and the guide!

[Vishnu]

 

On 8/19/2025 at 6:20 PM, Von_Fontlebottom said:

I believe there's been a misunderstanding. It is the link to the ADVANCED version that does not work, and that is what I would like to download. 

Here is an attached screenshot of what I see when I access that link. 

 

I was able to follow your guide for adding personalized photos, but I had to do it the old-fashioned way by manually entering the photo into the respective aircraft folder and updating the names manually. It's rather tedious since I just purchased Normandy and some other expansions during a recent sale. I'd love to get access to the advanced version. If this is somehow a weird fluke (note: I tried this on firefox and chrome and had the same issue) could you send me the file directly? 

 

Thank you for all of this and the guide!

Sorry does this link work?

 

https://www.mediafire.com/file/59x0eq01uswva7s/IL2_COCKPIT_EDITOR_2.1.zip/file

I corrected the original link.   Should work now.  

 

 @Von_Fontlebottom

 

Edited September 7 by Vishnu

[Von_Fontlebottom]

Thanks Vishnu, the link is good and the editor is awesome.