Rami new project thread...

[Rami]

It figures, just like at the office....immediately back to work at top speed, don't even realised I did some vacation at all! Ah, the SOH's slave drivers....

I'll see what I can do for ya!

Cheers!
KH

Stefano,

No worries on this or any rush. To be honest, I'm not even sure which campaign the missions will fit into, if they fit at all. Right now, I'm thinking along the lines of an extension of the "Royal Canadian Air Force" campaign.

I just know you were working on the Italian bases in that sector, so I didn't think this would be too much of a stretch. One thing though...the Turin layout includes the buildings and scenery at Venaria Reale, so if you've made any modifications there, they will have to be incorporated.

[Rami]

Hey guys,

After having pushed the 20th Fighter Group out the door, I'm feeling a little adrift, but have some ideas about what to do next.

Right now this is where things stand...

Projects to finish...

The DamBusters / RAF Bomber Command missions
Defense of Crete (Fleet Air Arm)
The Balkans - (Italian and Greek campaigns)
Mediterranean missions for the British and French / Vichy French (Courtesy of Dombral)

Other things going on...

There are four new missions for Royal Canadian Air Force, as well as Mosquito Squadron. There are also two additional missions for "Battle for Europe," one on each side. I am waiting for Achim to create a few airfields in the North of England so that I can do the defense of England from bombers of Luftflotte 5 on 15 August, 1940.

Once completed, I will send Robert John a collection of nine additional missions (as well as an expanded campaign file) for "Hornchurch Squadron" for release with his magazine that extend the campaign through the end of 1941.

I will also release the expanded Royal Canadian Air Force and Mosquito Squadron campaigns once I finish the raids on Genoa, Turin, Milan, Gdynia, and Pizen, and Achim completes the three airfields and one relocation for bases in the North of England.

[Rami]

Hey Mort,

I ran across a major issue with the Heinkels campaign for the Norwegian missions, and in the process of fixing them, I did a little GSL work and have some questions for you.

First, the problem - Starting with mission 10, the Heinkels campaign had you transferring to Herdla airfield, which is a small island that the Luftwaffe built an airfield on. This airfield was always problematic for the campaign, because runway tolerances were so tight; short takeoffs and on-the threshold landings that would make your AI crash into the sea.

Something about that always bothered me, so in doing research, I found out that elements of KG 26 transferred to Stavanger-Sola, not Herdla, after departing Trondheim-Vaernes and/or Aalborg, Denmark. Herdla was actually used by Jagdgeschwader 5 during the war, and was used to protect both Bergen and Stavanger. So for these missions, I am now operating out of Stavanger.

Since I was now stationed there, I created a little scenery. The harbor isn't exact because I had to work with what I had, but considering, I think it turned out quite well.

Another question - I can't find many records on Oslo-Fornebu. Once the Germans captured the airfield, what was it used for? Bombers? Transports? By my research, both KG 26 and KG 30 operated out of Aalborg once Denmark was occupied, and then KG 26 moved to Sola after a short while.

I want to do a Norwegian campaign(s) to honor your country's legacy and to thank you for all the work that you have done for CFS2 over the years. I was thinking about using those Gladiator skins and even a few "what if" missions involving the P-36 Hawk.

Any research on the British Naval Squadrons flying Gladiators would also be helpful. The "Heinkels" campaign pretty much covers the German side, though I might do a short campaign on the efforts of Jagdgeschwader 77 and Zerstörergeschwader 76.

If I remember correctly, some years back you and Jagdflieger began to collaborate on this. Your thoughts would be appreciated on this!

[highpockets]

Rami
When do you sleep!!

[Rami]

Rami,
When do you sleep!!

Highpockets,

That's a good question. I sleep well, as a matter of fact, but I can understand the mystery. Let me unravel it for you. I like working on multiple CFS2 projects (typically four to six) simultaneously. This is not to show off or anything, but it's because I tend to get bored easily if I work on something for too long.

I have dealt with being ADHD all of my life, and instead of letting it run me, I have learned when to manage it and when to set it free. It actually helps me as a teacher, because I like doing multiple activities and different types of activities during a class period, and consequently my classes are active, lively, and often exciting for my students.

In CFS2, it can both be an asset and a detriment, especially if I get a bad case of "ooohhh...something shiny" syndrome. I find that allowing me to work on multiple projects alleviates my boredom of being tied down in one place for too long, but also allows me to remain productive for all of you. I tend to work in "fits and starts" where I won't touch a campaign for several months, and then fire off seven missions in four days, and then move onto something completely different for a couple of weeks.

For sure, it is an odd way to run a railroad. But it's just the way my wheels roll in CFS2, good buddy.

[hewman100]

The reinforcements of 24th April had 18 Sea Gladiators of 802 and 804 NAS, along with 263 Sqns Gladiators, aboard Furious and eighteen Skuas of 800 and 801 aboard Ark Royal. The Ark also had 5 Rocs on board.

The Gladdies were used for air cover over the ships with the Skuas doing most of the coastal patrols and those over Aandalsnes and Namsos.

Glorious' Sea Gladiators first saw action on the 27th at 0935 when three from 804 and one from 801 caught a rconnaissance He111 of 1(F)./122 about 20 miles from the fleet. Their fire hit the intruder but even so it drew away from them in spite of bouncing off the waves three times. It made it back to Trondheim before crashing.

On 1st May the fleet was located by four Do17Ps of 1(F)./120. These were intercepted by Sea Gladiators but had already raised the alarm and Ju87s were launched to attack. One Stuka was brought down by Lt Marmont of 802 and Lt Cdr Cockburn damaged another.

The only other action involving Sea Gladiators I've found so far is when three from 802 shot down a He115 on 26th May.

Most of the Naval aerial combat during the Norwegian Campaign was carried out by the valiant Skua crews, although one other action of note is that Warspites' Swordfish floatplane L9767 sank the U-64 on 13th April.

[highpockets]

Whew!

On another post regarding Talon and your teaching. Good for you! If you ever watch Bill O'Reilly and Jesse Watters interview of people on the street, you wonder if any of them went to school! No wonder our country is where it is today.

[dvslats]

Hi Rami,

Found some tidbits on Oslo-Fornebu. A history of Flugplatz Rygge, with reference to Fornebu. Also a site with some interesting photos of Fornebu, and many others in Norway for this time frame.

Cheerz, Dave

[Rami]

Good morning,

I wanted to pass along to you that I in the process (and have been, on-and-off for some months) of constructing an adequate representation of The Clyde. So far, I completed Gourock, and am working eastward along the Clyde toward Greenock and the Port / City of Glasgow. (This is part of the Heinkels! and GSL scenery overhaul)

I am not representing this as being one hundred percent accurate, but CrisGer provided me last night with some wonderful pictures of the area, including known AA battery positions. With these, I will make sure that the area is heavily developed...and therefore a viable target. The prior representation I had of the area was severely lacking.

I cannot post pictures just yet because I will be out of town from mid-day today until late Monday afternoon, but I will have my laptop with me, so I will continue to plug away on it as time permits.

Look for future updates...

[Morton]

Fornebu was actually of very little strategic importance during the war. It was too far from the war theaters. But it was important for the german administration of Norway. As a result the only Oslo-action I can think of after the initial invasion in 1940, is the Mosquito raid on the Gestapo headquarters in 1942.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Mosquito_raid

There is a couple of sites with a lot of information of the units/aircraft stationed at Fornebu 1940-1945:
http://www.luftwaffe.no/
F.ex. check "Luftwaffe in Norway by year".

Mort

[Rami]

Morton.

With some help from CrisGer, that's what my research has also indicated. I switched the missions involving KG 26 to Aalborg, and the other locations following the campaign timeline. What I'm looking for as well are mission descriptions from ZG 76 and JG 77, as well as FAA Gladiator Squadrons, missions flown by 46 and 263 Squadrons, as well as the Norwegian Air Force.

[kdriver]

Hi Andrew,

You're probably aware of Håkan's Aviation Page but here it is in any case: http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/gladi...rway_kills.htm

This particular page gives all the Gladiator kills in Norway with time, place, squadron, pilot and type of enemy aircraft.

Kevin

[hewman100]

If you want some reading material, particularly concerning 46 Sqn, this book is worth looking at:

Straight and Level: The Autobiography of Air Chief Marshal Sir Kenneth "Bing" Cross, Kcb, CBE, DSO, DFC, 1911-1945

[Rami]

Good morning,

Here is a progress shot...

[kdriver]

Here are a few more details of 263 Squadron's exploits in Norway: http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/263_squadron.html

[UncleTgt]

Nice find Kevin, plenty of specific data in that source...

[kelticheart]

Stefano,

No worries on this or any rush. To be honest, I'm not even sure which campaign the missions will fit into, if they fit at all. Right now, I'm thinking along the lines of an extension of the "Royal Canadian Air Force" campaign.

I just know you were working on the Italian bases in that sector, so I didn't think this would be too much of a stretch. One thing though...the Turin layout includes the buildings and scenery at Venaria Reale, so if you've made any modifications there, they will have to be incorporated.

Hi there!

I took a look at your Torino layout and I was was surprised at the total amount of objects involved, in excess of 1,000. I imagine with today's computing power so many objects do not really bother fps, on my vintage rig it's a different story. I imagine any large city scenery is meant only to fulfil a given mission, not as a permanent gsl scenery otherwise the top number of object limit for cfs2.gsl would be reached in no time. Now I do not remember exactly: was it 5,000 or 10,000?

I have a few suggestions for the objects you choose. Wolfi's "Land Houses" are way too British looking, I do not use them at all in Italy. Although they can fit all of Central and Northern Europe (with caution, I wouldn't use too many Tudor-era plaster and timber country houses outside of strictly Northern Europe), they should be removed from both Torino, Genova and any other Italian town or city.

All of Wolfi's Med houses, city blocks and apartments should be used instead, together with Canion's:

• BlFrmHse6, 7, 8 and 13
• BlTwnHse-1 (not BlTwnHse)

Outside of the city centres the percentage of the mix should favour Canion's farm houses, about 75% against 25% of Wolfi's Med objects for Northern Italy, choosing the less colourful ones, while a half and half ratio would fit Central and Southern Italy.
Genova belongs to the Northern group and here you can use the more colourful Med houses in Wolfi's selection, the ones with open windows and balconies, because that's the way it is on the Italian coastline.
The latter is a good combo also for Southern France, particularly the Côte D'Azur, which I visited many times in the last few years. Nice, Marseille and Southern Provence look almost like La Spezia, Genova, Savona and Imperia (East to West), although a whole lot cleaner and well-kept. Typical Provençal houses are painted various shades of orange, light earth tones or left with natural bricks with blue doors, windows, window shutters and trim.
Keep in mind 1940's Italy was a wood-poor country, even more so today, so avoid wood buildings of any kind: they can be found only in the Alps here. Stone and bricks, that's the correct look.

One last remark about Canion's farm houses: the ones numbered below 6 are very small buildings, which fit nicely airport infrastructures like radio buildings, small depots, workshops and such. As you must have certainly noticed, I used them all over in my ETO/Italy airport GSL work.

I know you need "target-rich" environments for your mission work, but refrain from placing oil refineries in Italian large cities. I am quite positive Torino never had one, while FIAT factory was certainly a primary strategic target for its contribution to the fascist war effort. FIAT is the acronym for "Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino" (Italian Car Factory Torino).

Attached three maps, plus pictures, of the FIAT factory historical location in Torino. In the sat picture the "Lingotto" (italian for "ingot", from the shape of the building) can be clearly seen with its test track built on the roof of the building. In order to save room, in the historical FIAT factory the vehicle assembly line developed upward from the ground floor. Completed vehicles reached the test track on the roof, they were started for the first time and test driven on the track before leaving the factory. FIAT production remained in this location until the early 1960's, when the new Mirafiori establishment was built and only administration offices remained at the Lingotto building.
In the late 1980's, FIAT donated the Lingotto building to the town of Torino and it was turned into a cultural centre, with a music hall, a car museum (what else?), a conference hall and it can be visited all year round. The test track on the roof is still there, it can be visited and a restaurant (...expensive...) was built there as well.

Thank you for your continuous effort to provide us with attractive sceneries!

Cheers!
KH

[Rami]

Stafano,

Thanks for the feedback! I have the layout saved, of course, so I will make the necessary adjustments.

By the way...I thought "FIAT" was an acronym for "Fix It Again, Tony."

[kdriver]

Thanks Rami but I'm unable to get all the Turin scenery to show up. Genoa works fine and looks great but the only scenery showing for Turin are the land houses on the northern outskirts of the city and the infrastructure on Venaria Reale aerodrome.

Any ideas?

[Rami]

Kdriver,

Try running the layout through GobCheck and see what happens.

[kelticheart]

Stafano,

Thanks for the feedback! I have the layout saved, of course, so I will make the necessary adjustments.

By the way...I thought "FIAT" was an acronym for "Fix It Again, Tony."

......

Yeah, just like "Fix Or Repair Daily", right? Eh, eh, I asked for it, but you tend to forget I spent some of the best years o' me life across the big pond....

At any rate I couldn't agree more with you, I dealt with only two Fiats in my life and..... hopefully, Chrysler will bring some quality into Fiat products....

Back to topic: I'll see if I can help you with replacing some of the 1,000+ objects you had the great patience to place in Torino. Since I also did Achim's Venaria Reale airport before I left for my vacation, I started already tackling all of the Northern part of the city.

I'll see also if I can come up with an acceptable representation of the Fiat factory and I am going to delete completely the oil refinery there.

All of the above in the middle of my project of creating a prop texture library upload which will include all of the most popular addon planes released over the years. All of the new textures are ready and I am pleased with the results, which I achieved using geometrical shapes that I could only dream of when I started tinkering with props back in 2006. The new blurred textures are more centered and precisely shaped.

I did not foresee the size this project could have reached....it's huge! I am also going for my third and final week of vacation from August 15th to the 25th, so it'll take some time.

Cheers!
KH

[Rami]

Good morning,

This is very much still a work in progress...several piers are unfinished, and I have to make an adjustment or two on certain objects...but it is coming along.

[Rami]

Good morning,

This is very much still a work in progress...several piers are unfinished, and I have to make an adjustment or two on certain objects...but it is coming along.

[Rami]

Stafano,

Yes, the city is big...but I'm trying to find a balance between scale and framerates. Sander's legendary city GSL files are far too big and are framerate killers. Also, you're not going to be down on the deck, you'll be flying at about 18,000 feet. The runs to Genoa and Milan will be about the same.

There is no limit on time, I can wait on these missions as long as I have to. Please do not feel pressured!

[kdriver]

Kdriver,

Try running the layout through GobCheck and see what happens.

Thanks Andrew - I had to split the layout into 3 gobs then reinstall them into the one gsl, and voila! - the city of Turin.

Kevin