Input needed

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Okay, I'm back in the PTO. :wavey: Which Campaign do you want me to start my modernization re-do? They all were last published in 2020. :wiggle:

Cheers:

Shadow Wolf 07

PS:

The screenshot without a title is for: USS_Essex_CV-9_Campaign-2020.zip

[Deathwind]

How about the stock campaign to work with all the new scenery etc. I prefer something you can fly either side.

[Hiede]

How about the stock campaign to work with all the new scenery etc. I prefer something you can fly either side.

In another thread it was said, my brother in law,Talon redid the USN side before he passed away.It doesn't have the new scenery in it though because it wasn't done yet.On top of that,Do you know how much work it would be with the new scenery?You'd have to change so much with infrastrutures too.

Shadow Wolf is talking about updating his campaigns he did over the years.

Hiede

[UncleTgt]

SW, I'm OK with whatever you would enjoy revising yourself the most, as I think it's important the creator gets some enjoyment out of the process too :stupid:

But I think "Desperate Battles" would resonate with the community the most, as it covers that most challenging (for the USN Pacific Fleet) period.

Chime in if you need something ... :mixed-smiley-010:

[Deathwind]

In another thread it was said, my brother in law,Talon redid the USN side before he passed away.It doesn't have the new scenery in it though because it wasn't done yet.On top of that,Do you know how much work it would be with the new scenery?You'd have to change so much with infrastrutures too.

Shadow Wolf is talking about updating his campaigns he did over the years.

Hiede
It’s only a suggestion if it’s not something he is interested in doing why then he needn’t do it. You would need to make changes to some missions yes but it could be done. I am thinking about doing it myself but business picked up which I’m thankful for and I doubt I’ll be able to handle anything large now. Anyway whatever he does I’m sure it will be a hit.

[Deathwind]

One more thing I forgot to add is whatever you do decide on and it doesn’t need to be what I was wanting if you need anybody to help out I’ll be glad to help wherever I can.

[kdriver]

Greg, perhaps your campaigns and missions released in 2012?

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Greg, perhaps your campaigns and missions released in 2012?

Yes, Kevin. Those missions and mini-campaigns are rather old and crude. However they, like "Operation Ten-go" or "Operation Hailstone," are covered in the three campaigns named above.

I have a lot more ship classes to work with, thanks to stuart277's hard work, but I want to find some newer planes too - US and Jpn. I would like to replace my donation ware F4f-3/4s and SBD-3/5s with newer models if they exist.

Scenery is well covered, though not needed for "Desperate Battles." Essex runs from the Central Pacific to the Philippines, Formosa and off Japan, Saratoga: from a "what if" Wake Is. relief to Guadalcanal to Rabaul, Truk, Java and Sumatra to Japan.

.

[Hiede]

I now know why Talon never finished the original campaigns that came with CFS2. There are over 150 missions for each side which is over 300 missions total.

Deathwind

My son has UncleTgt scenery installed for the Early Raids of the Enterprise.He tried to use it for the Campaign and found everything was moved around so much that everything would have to be redone.TheBookie who updated it also said the same thing and so used the stock scenery.He also updated the Guadalcanal missions using the new Solomons scenery and it took him months to do and he's been doing missions for 20 years.I'm pretty sure he knows what he is doing.So I don't think it's as easy as you think.

Hiede

[Deathwind]

I now know why Talon never finished the original campaigns that came with CFS2. There are over 150 missions for each side which is over 300 missions total.

Hiede
I’m thinking about diving into it I’m the type of person who can’t leave stuff alone so every little infracture etc I’ll probably redo the effects or something and by the time get done we all might be on are last legs but I’m really thinking about it.

I don’t believe there has been any updates on the dauntless etc and some of those planes. Probably have to choose that or the overhaul one.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

A very useful resource for USN task force composition: http://pacific.valka.cz/forces/index.htm

[scoobyman32]

Which ever you choose will be another welcome addition SW. Desperate Battles is one of my all-time favorites, along with Talon's "Solomon Carriers", which also covered the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and Santa Cruz, but also included missions covering the Guadalcanal landings. The Battle of the Coral Sea was also a lot of fun (for me, not for the Yorktown or the Lexington), and would include a lot of new scenery without having to make too many changes to scenery object placement. But I know you're not afraid of hard work, so I say surprises are the best.

That being said, don't worry about ruining my surprise, be sure to let me know if I can help in any way.

[Roxane-21]

Since there are already so much US-side PTO campaigns depicting every stage of the Pacific War, I would definitely be more interested by Japanese-flown campaigns, especially a brand new "Defense of Japan" campaign flying Ki-44, Ki-61, Ki-84, Ki-100, J2M3 and/or N1K1 interceptors. Or maybe a P-51 campaign, flying from Iwo Jima to Japan and back, escorting B-29s and straffing japanese airfields.

But whatever you choose will be perfect. :wavey:


I want to find some newer planes too - US and Jpn. I would like to replace my donation ware F4f-3/4s and SBD-3/5s with newer models if they exist.

I cannot help you much on this matter, since I usually stick with overhauled stock planes and their variants. This really helps keeping decent frame rates while flying missions with hundreds of planes in the air, plus dozens of ships and all their AAA bursts.

[scoobyman32]

The donation warehouse F-4F's are still the best and most recent available still, at least to my knowledge. I've always preferred these models to the stock Wildcats, purely for their visuals. Same could be said of the donationware SBD's. The stock birds have much better "damage logic", and I do miss counting the holes in my plane after returning safely from a mission.

The VMF-121 campaign was another favorite of mine that could use a re-boot to reflect the scenery improvements in the Solomons, as well as the very old "Blacksheep" campaign.

But again, which ever way you go will be anxiously anticipated.

[skylane]

Shadow Wulf, I think you should do whatever you enjoy most. I'm sure the outcome will be another great campaign that people will enjoy.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I decided to go with my first impulse - "Desperate Battles." It has 33 missions total and I may add another 1 or 2 to utilize some newer aircraft. Three missions done so far and I'm taking my time. :)
Cheers: :wavey:

SW07

[scoobyman32]

Excellent choice SW! Take all the time you need. Gonna be a year before I get through your new Kursk campaign safely, but I'll be a much better pilot in time to join the Pacific war.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Excellent choice SW! Take all the time you need. Gonna be a year before I get through your new Kursk campaign safely, but I'll be a much better pilot in time to join the Pacific war.

Ha, ha! I'm a better pilot too from my Kursk experience. Now I have to re-familiarize myself with the F4F, SBD, and TBF as well as carrier take offs and landings. Six missions finished now. Screenshots will follow, once I start testing this weekend.

Oh, and I forgot, does anyone remember the [Dynamics} settings for carrier pitch and roll> are they 2 or 4? :dizzy:

:wiggle:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Decisions, decisions... I'm going with a re-vamp of my Desperate Battles campaign. It is set in late 1942. My question is, do I use the stock (unimproved Henderson Or Maskrider's SI Henderson? If I use MR's, then the same install can be used for other campaigns as well. If I go that way, I'll need to use Rumbaflappy's mesh for other scenerys like MR's Gilberts.
:dizzy:

Opinions?

FYI, I have completed (but not yet tested) 9 of 33 missions.

[UncleTgt]

Why not use the "87 Days" Henderson (also in my Solomons scenery):lemo:

[skylane]

I would also suggest to use UncleTgt's Solomons scenery.
Maskrider's doesn't really fit the timeframe, and stock, well... is very "basic".

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Why not use the "87 Days" Henderson (also in my Solomons scenery):lemo:

Ah Ha! Thanks for the suggestion UT/Skylane!! I hadn't even thought of it...thanks. :applause::wavey:

[scoobyman32]

The more missions and campaigns using UT's new scenery the better IMHO. He has been transforming the SW Pacific for us.

Desperate Battles only has a few missions near land, but would be great to see UT's Henderson Field. MaskRider's Solomons scenery still does the trick, but I think it looks more realistic for late '43 to the end of the war. UT really captured the lonely and isolated feel of Henderson in the fall of '42.

I tinkered with a mission in the DB campaign a while back, because I wanted to fly the PBY recon mission, but with the mission not starting in flight. Think it was right after Shessi released his new PBY-5 model, and I wanted to take her for a good ride and test her range with extra fuel. Docked her at the pier in Espiritu Santo and flew from there. Was an awesome flight, found the Jap fleet without using waypoints and spent hours looking. The range was perfect, made it back with gas to spare!

Good luck with this one. 👍

[Hiede]

Ah Ha! Thanks for the suggestion UT/Skylane!! I hadn't even thought of it...thanks. :applause::wavey:


My son told me changing the scenery can cause a problem unless you totally rewrite the mission.He tried it in The Big E switching from the MR Solomons to UncleTgt Solomons.He got CTD's.

TheBookie said the same thing when he did Talon's Solomons Campaigns.He had to rewrite and hand edit the missions.

Just giving you warning.

Hiede.

[Deathwind]

Stock bases are fine and be easier to deal with. Still looks great using rumpflappers mesh. I’d add some goodies to the base like the Swedish bikini team having a beer party beside the runway and bingo you got a fine mod going.

[skylane]

Changing missions to another scenery can be a little tricky and requires some work, yes.
When I do it, I first hand-edit the entry of the airbases file for the new scenery airfield into the mis file of the mission I want to update.
That way I was able to avoid the CTD problem when starting the mission in MB. Then of course you have to adapt the layouts etc.
Considering how nice UncleTgt's new Solomons scenery is it would be a shame not to use it, in my opinion.

[Deathwind]

Yup after you hand edit the airbase most of the time everything else can be redone by mission builder.

[scoobyman32]

Would definitely be more challenging, and way more work for you SW, but there would not be too many missions to alter in Desperate Battles. And I know you like to work!

The thought occurred to me to try myself, despite my meager skills and knowledge. I took a look at a simple old C-47 mission (can't remember the author), a resupply flight from Jackson to Wau, with fighter escort and attacking zeros. I wanted to fly it again with UT's new scenery (Port Moresby & Huon Gulf).

It is indeed beyond me, so I defer to the talented folks who know what they speak of. I think I see most of what needs to be done, but this tiny, uncomplicated mission would take me a week.

[Hiede]

Changing missions to another scenery can be a little tricky and requires some work, yes.
When I do it, I first hand-edit the entry of the airbases file for the new scenery airfield into the mis file of the mission I want to update.
That way I was able to avoid the CTD problem when starting the mission in MB. Then of course you have to adapt the layouts etc.
Considering how nice UncleTgt's new Solomons scenery is it would be a shame not to use it, in my opinion.

My son knew how to hand edit missions and has done it many times but he never tried to redo the missions in a different install and scenery.Now he knows how to do it.He didn't know it was covered in his uncle's mission builder tutorial.It's a shame he never got to finish it and upload here,it would have helped a lot of people I think.

Hiede

[skylane]

Hiede,
You have mention Talon's unfinished mission building tutorial. I have always been a big fan of his campaigns, and several times I have looked at some of his missions in MB to see how he did certain things, and learn something.
I believe that this tutorial, even though unfinished, contains a lot of valuable information. Would you maybe consider sharing the document with us as it is?

[Hiede]

Hiede,
You have mention Talon's unfinished mission building tutorial. I have always been a big fan of his campaigns, and several times I have looked at some of his missions in MB to see how he did certain things, and learn something.
I believe that this tutorial, even though unfinished, contains a lot of valuable information. Would you maybe consider sharing the document with us as it is?

Skylane

I have mentioned the tutorial several times over the years but no one showed any interest in it,you are the first.My son and TheBookie have found it very helpful in doing missions.The problem is everything is in a journal not a computer file.I know Talon planned on doing it in a pdf file but never got around to it.I did make a copy for TheBookie when he was out though.I don't know how to make a pdf file yet but looking into it.

A lot of what he learned through the years Talon posted.I have seen these post over the years and I have been here for 20 years now.

1-Torpedo attacks in harbors with mountains around them.

2-Glide bombing moving ships.Also includes best alt.to attack from.

3-How to get AI planes to attack gsl targets.

4-Best alt.to do level bombing,glide bombing and dive bombing.Why to use category 3 instead of 10 for dive bombers.

There are also things he didn't post about.

Even with all this in front of me,people seem to ignore what I say when I give them answers to what they asked.They rather listen to who the think are the experts.One of these so called experts gave someone the wrong advice about fixing the USMC 43 Campaign using the new Solomons scenery.The easy fix was to use the MR Solomons which I pointed out to them. After it was switched there were no problems.

I don't think a lot of people in this forum knows who he was except for the old timers.

BTW the USMC Aces is being tested by son now with the UncleTgt Cactus scenery.He will be testing the other campaigns when he has time.Remember he is still in school so time is limited at times.

Hiede

[kdriver]

Hiede,

Try downloading and installing dopdf or dopdf-7. When you go to print your document, the printing dialog window will give you a choice of either sending it to your printer or sending it to dopdf. The latter will produce a PDF document.

Kevin

[Hiede]

Thanks Kdriver.Can you do pics also that way?

Hiede

[kdriver]

I've converted Word documents with embedded pictures but not single jpegs or bmps.

[Hiede]

I'll figure it out.The version I have says pics can be added.

Hiede

[Deathwind]

I’m going to attempt to redo the Full Your of Duty campaign on the Japanese side since there are more American mods than Japanese when it comes to missions etc. Been debating on adding new scenery but I can’t really see I need new airbases if the stock airbases are all you need to do it with. I have the new mesh, lod 8 and the Tropical scenery installed. That alone makes the scenery new without needing to do anything else especially if your gonna be flying missions that were designed before the scenery mafia came in power. Of course I can still redo the objects in the runways buildings trees, parked aircraft, dog pooping in the middle of the runway etc. For planes I might squeeze a few extra in but mainly it’s going to be oh planes. Most anything else will be used mainly as parked aircraft. Looking at the stock static aircraft I’m sure I can make other aircraft be parked with engines running. If anything I might add the A6M3 mod to the flying aircraft sometime before the A6M5 but no big plans on new aircraft modals I like the bullet holes better than a moving center stick and rudder pedals in a airplane because im flying not gazing at my interior. Ships well now they probably should be redone especially non carriers. I like the Midway carriers even though they are only appropriate for the one time it’s still artwork and I’m all about artwork.

[Hiede]

As far as ships go Stuart is the way to go,He has covered ships from many countries and has done them to cover different times during the war.Most mission builders today use his ships and convert here old missions and campaigns to them.

Hiede

[Deathwind]

As far as ships go Stuart is the way to go,He has covered ships from many countries and has done them to cover different times during the war.Most mission builders today use his ships and convert here old missions and campaigns to them.

Hiede

Yeah I see he is a talented individual and I'd be surprised if i didn't use some of them. I redid SHJ_HARUNA awhile back using the JMK_Kongo by by Usio no Ibuki. I added a beautiful Cherry Wood Deck Stained and replaced the flag with a Image of Real Japanese Capital Flag that was taken from the IJN Nagato by U.S.S. Horace A. Bass [APD-124] crew member Radio Operator 1st class Don Haney. That flag was in a auction with a minimum starting bid in the $60,000 range if memory serves me correct and nowadays it gets mixed up once or twice a day on a good day that is.

if anybody wants the textures for the JKM Kongo here it is but if you use it as a upload then credit the makers especially Usio and I wouldn't like it if you said you redid the deck or flag either so credit me or credit Usio but not yourself.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Two good videos, pertinent t my work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=571OpfoyZXg&t=119s and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HleEsXboI4o&list=LL&index=1 :applause::applause:

[ElsnerMarkus]

Recently, there have been several sets of buildings that replace the 20-year-old predecessor modified buildings. Is there a list? and as far as old readmes are concerned, can these new looks simply be copied over the old installation? I would love it if we could get Hawaii and Pearl LOD compatible, with all the beach textures, etc.

[Deathwind]

Not exactly sure everything your wanting to say but that might be the no shoes no shirt no school rule we have in the States. There are tons of new buildings and infrastructures of all types that weren’t around 20 years ago. I was but I’m old and have plenty of memories that pre date cfs2 if your asking if you can swap them out like the older buildings with the newer stuff then it’s possible but before you go jumping up and down in a wild celebration it’s not gonna be something simple as renaming files and replacing them. It’s more like replacing gobs in the CfS2 with the newer stuff taking out the older stuff. Other than that you can always use new stuff in mission builder but of course it’s only there in a mission not a permanent thing. The beach textures are certainly replaceable in the Pearl Harbor mod unless your wanting ladies in bikinis on them which doesn’t work well while flying as they just don’t show up like you want so if that’s what you want I’d say don’t bother or do the real deal but the looks of the beach can be changed. Also you might could redo the two infrastructure files that came with CfS2 but that’s right everything is in two bgl files while most modders do on building at a time so bottom line is this stuff is doable but winning the lottery is too so not everyone is capable or lucky enough to get the job done.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Deathwind is right to a great degree. Having worked on last summer's MR PI GSL project, I can tell you it is a slow, meticulous process replacing old objects with new. Just doing a layout can take several hours and then, that is jut one base...

[Deathwind]

Two good videos, pertinent t my work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=571OpfoyZXg&t=119s and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HleEsXboI4o&list=LL&index=1 :applause::applause:

Here is a better view from the Japanese side if anybody is interested.

https://youtu.be/HtZLBIoRGBA

[Deathwind]

Here is a better view from the Japanese side if anybody is interested.

https://youtu.be/HtZLBIoRGBA


Might be useful to keep the Morale up if your flying for Japan even the music they are talented group so much so that just about every country in Asia has a sister group now but it all started in Japan.

[Deathwind]

Hey Shadow Wolf if you like the roll fix mod with flak splash mod with the longer lasting flak clouds i can make it for ya in about a New York flash maybe a second or two slower. I noticed you used the rollfix in the kursk mod and thought you might like one with longer lasting clouds.

[Deathwind]

anybody wondering why my signature on my postings take them to something crazy is I don't know. It's a weird story but not long ago I received a text message saying jack your Auto parts have been shipped. Being the nice guy I am I responded back Tell Jack not me. few minutes later I received another message. Oh I'm sorry for adding your number to are database and ruining your life like she was totally in distress about it. I told her to simmer down that I wasn't upset with anybody and it was just a mistake and something would be wrong with me if I got upset about something like that. I also just wanted her to know I'm not Jack and it's important she gets the information to him instead of me since he ordered something and I didn't. I figured that would take care of it so I statred to go about my business and guess what. Another message. Hi my name is Adora I'm 36 years old and you sound like a really nice person. I knew immediately that Adora was a Filipino working for a call center in the Philippines and she was looking for a foreigner. Anyway she asked me to get telegram a chat call app similar to WhatsApp Viber, etc. I never replied back for her number or anything well I',m not single got two kids etc but for whatever reason I downloaded telegram on my PC. Even though it doesn't work without having it on your phone to same like Whatsapp which I'm not putting it on the phone it get's checked daily by her highness Miss Vietnam. Yeah my daughters are half Vietnamese but they are pretty girls they mixed well. Anyway getting back on track this telegram thing got into my account here and helped itself. I've uninstalled it run i don't know how many virus checks malware checks with various software and my laptop is tip top no malware no nothing but going back to my account I can't change a thing it did so that's is the reason for that. I don't endorse telegram or any of it's doings and don't bother to try contacting me through it's setups because i have no account with them nor am i going to be.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I've finished `8 of the Eastern Solomons missions, with 2 to go. I will test them and start my readme before moving on to the Santa Cruz battle. Here is the summary from my latest work:

"title_string"=DB-ES24 Saratoga Vanguard Strike_01A
"summary_string"=Pirate, you are are to get off the deck now! Take off immediately and linking up with your flight, climb to 12,500 ft and fly on a 000-degree heading to RP-CHARLIE, a point 200 miles north of our current position. Your mission is simple: Locate, report position and attack any enemy surface forces you find. From RP CHARLIE, search WNW. Enterprise is launching a strike right now and they will search ENE. Report the enemy position if you make contact and use your discretion to attack, if enemy fighter cover permits. Good hunting and good luck! At the conclusion of your search, return to base.
"objective_string"=Saratoga earlier launched a strike on a Japanese light carrier. The US force had been spotted earlier this afternoon by an IJN float plane and Enterprise's scouts just spotted the Japanese fleet carriers - 200 miles north of Fletcher's position, steaming southeast at 25 knots. The spotting report was garbled due to atmospheric conditions. Most of the U.S. carrier aircraft launched just before the first wave of Japanese aircraft attacked the TF failed to find any targets. However, two SBD Dauntless scouts from Saratoga sighted Adm. Kondo's advanced force and attacked the seaplane tender Chitose, scoring two near-hits which heavily damaged the unarmored ship.
"intelligence_string"=Our radar has spotted an enemy strike force, inbound at 85 miles on a 320 heading. We are launching all available fighters and vectoring our CAP to oppose the intruders. Both Enterprise's and our reserve strike groups are launching now to clear the fight decks. VS-3, your search sector is RP-CHARLIE, WNW to RP-DOG. Expect moderate clouds from 8,500-13,000 feet with visibility up to 15 mikes. Winds are at 12 knots out of the SE, 120 degrees.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=FDG2 SBD-3 Dauntless USS Saratoga
"airfield_string"="Saratoga CV-3"

Screenshots will follow, once I start flight testing...

Cheers:

Shadow Wolf 07

[scoobyman32]

Love the ShadowWolf touch to the mission description. These should be great, like flying the missions for the first time.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

In the above post I wrote that I had completed 8 missions, when I meant to write 18. I now have all 20 of the E. Solomons portion of the campaign finished. As I said before, I will flight test these, update my readmes, campaign files and folders, then go on to the Santa Cruz missions.
:dizzy::pop4:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Taking off from Stuart277's USS_Wasp_1942 and his USS_Enterprise1942ML_LOD. Attacking Maxstuka's HIJMS I-400 class Submarine. Which, by the way, puts up FLAK like a DD, but I got her anyway. And I nailed my first carrier landing in over 18 months :applause:

Two missions tested and fixed...

Cheers: :wavey:

[scoobyman32]

I was almost shot down by that same sub in a P-38 at Rabaul, one stafing run taught me a lesson and I decided it wasn't worth getting shot down.

Pics look awesome, them new carriers sure are purty!

[aussie]

Absolutely stunning images, dang there's some talented people out there.

Cheers
Aussie

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I was almost shot down by that same sub in a P-38 at Rabaul, one stafing run taught me a lesson and I decided it wasn't worth getting shot down.

Pics look awesome, them new carriers sure are purty!



Absolutely stunning images, dang there's some talented people out there.

Cheers
Aussie

Thank you both. Here are a few with Stuart277's Saratoga and some of his excellent escorts. ...and a scout that never sent out a sighting report. :applause:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

A view of stuart277's USS North Carolina and of Adm. Nagumo's Kido Bhutai.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Almost finished with flight testing and final editing of the Eastern Solomons missions. Then on to Santa Cruz

"title_string"=DB-ES24 Saratoga vs Ryujo Strike_2SBD
"summary_string"=Glamor, your take off is at 1340 hours. Climbing to 11,500 feet, proceed on a 325-degree heading for 200 miles to RP- EASY. From EASY, together with the VT and VF squadrons, the strike group will proceed on a 042-degree vector for another 20 miles to the target area - TA-GEORGE. You will lead and conduct your dive-bombing attacks on the Japanese flattop (Ryujo), followed up if necessary by the rest of your squadron and the torpedo planes. Fox and Wolf sections will provide high cover for you by intercepting and destroying any enemy CAP on station or aircraft that launch to oppose you. Upon conclusion of the attack, regroup at RP HARRY and return to base on a 148-degree heading. It is a long way there and back, so utilize full fuel conservation measures.
"objective_string"=TF-61's CAP has already today shot down a number of enemy long range recon aircraft but no carrier based aircraft and no sightings by the morning scout patrols. One enemy light carrier, believed to be the Ryujo, has been spotted 250 miles NNW of the Saratoga's position and closing. It has been being tailed by a US Catalina since 1000 hours and Adm. Fletcher has given Saratoga orders to launch a long-range strike against it. However, Saratoga along with Enterprise's TG-16 will hold back a reserve strike force in the event the afternoon scouts sight the main Japanese force or their fleet carriers. Note: with the withdrawal of Wasp's TG to refuel, this leaves only Saratoga and Enterprise and their escorts to comprise TF-61 and to oppose Adm. Nagumo's carrier force.
"intelligence_string"=Another scout flying boat has just been shot down by our CAP, 25 miles out, before it could spot our TG. At 1245 radar picked up a large number of aircraft, launched by our target and headed for Henderson. Our scouts still haven't reported any sightings of the Japanese fleet carriers, but this baby flattop is within our reach. Most recent report places them at S06.05, E160.4 moving SE on a 120-degree course at 20 kts. Radar reports a probable strike force, heading from her towards Guadalcanal. If so, the numbers of their fighters should be reduced. Just the same, expect aggressive opposition from enemy CAP and moderate to heavy AA fire from escorts. The weather is good with moderate cloud cover from 8,000 to 11,000 ft, visibility up to 15 mi. and wind at 12 kts. and from 120 deg.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=FDG2 SBD-3 Dauntless VS-2
"airfield_string"="Saratoga CV-3"

This mission has 2 other versions for the player: one for the F4F "escort" and one for the TBF torpedo attack. Screenshots to follow...
Cheers:
:wavey:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

As promised. The fighter mission worked well. The SBD mission did too, but I was so caught up in the action that I failed to get any screenshots. I will fly it again. Ryujo puts up FLAK like a battleship, so I substituted Pen32Win's alternate dp in place of the original.

Cheers:

:wiggle::wavey:

[scoobyman32]

Looking forward to the sneak-peaks, these look great so far. Love that skin on the FDG Wildcat, don't think I've seen it before.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Scoobyman: The skin on the F4F-4 is the one that came with the Donation Ware F4Fs: F4F-4 Wildcat VC-39 USS Liscome Bay.

I have one problem though: Whenever I use any of Wolfi's TBF Avengers as the player aircraft, when I start to fly, the game CTDs. Now I've tried 3 separate planes, installed all the weaps, used UT's US Pilot mod (which is supposed to prevent CTD), put in a different dp and checked for aliases but no joy. :banghead: Obviously I am missing something, as I have never had a problem with his planes before. Any recommendations or a cure would be greatly appreciated. I really want to test these missions and make some torpedo runs.
:jump:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

A few more... a successful strike. I damaged the Ryuho and one of my wingmen finished her off. The other SBD and TBF flights then pounced on the cruiser Tone and got her too. I was pretty badly shot up, but made it back to the carrier. :ernaehrung004:

[Deathwind]

Is it me or did somebody fire up the pig smoker on that ship in the last picture.

[Hiede]

Scoobyman: The skin on the F4F-4 is the one that came with the Donation Ware F4Fs: F4F-4 Wildcat VC-39 USS Liscome Bay.

I have one problem though: Whenever I use any of Wolfi's TBF Avengers as the player aircraft, when I start to fly, the game CTDs. Now I've tried 3 separate planes, installed all the weaps, used UT's US Pilot mod (which is supposed to prevent CTD), put in a different dp and checked for aliases but no joy. :banghead: Obviously I am missing something, as I have never had a problem with his planes before. Any recommendations or a cure would be greatly appreciated. I really want to test these missions and make some torpedo runs.
:jump:

My son said he has used the Wolfi TBF Avengers as the player aircraft in missions with no problems.He said he uses the one that replaces the stock one.May there is just a glitch in that CFS2 install,it happens as I'm sure you know.

He also uses UT skins for them to represent the ship they flew from.There also skins for the other FDG planes done by UT for ops in the Solomons.One is Watchtower for the Dauntless and the other is Wolfi TBF1 USN42.

Hiede

[Deathwind]

Panels are often the culprit in these crashed games.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Panels are often the culprit in these crashed games.

Bingo! It was he panel. Thanks for the tip. :applause: And thanks to Rami, who sent me the panel files and to UT, who posted them. :applause:

Skins? I don't bother with them. I just build missions/campaigns. Should the player want different paint jobs for the air compliments of 4 different carriers, they they can do the research and download them themselves.

:wavey:

[Hiede]

I wonder why my son had no problem the TBF Avenger.Maybe the stock replace has a different panel.

Hiede

[Deathwind]

Most of the Overhaul aircraft panels work fine if not all of them but I’ve noticed a lot especially newer panels are configured in a way that simply doesn’t want to work on all computers and if you run it through Fs Panel Studio some will point out errors like two entries with the same name. Some people add all the gauges first then add the panel as a separate entry and apparently it must work on their pc but it won’t on all of them. Some panels you need to change render third window to 0 in order to work. I discovered that on the liberator mod after someone I can’t remember who pointed it out to me. It would work fine if your in a neck brace but try looking out the side window or rear and games over.

[Hiede]

Guess it's like textures,Sometime they work fine and others are blurry.I just change the mid maps and format on them.It must also depend on
your video card.

Hiede

[Deathwind]

Exactly one persons pc is gonna be better especially gaming then others. For textures the less they are compressed the better chance the blurry part isn’t there. I also patch my executable with the 4g patch that makes it run smoother and better especially with all the new scenery and wild effects like some idiot making dropped bombs pollute the landscape for at least 10 minutes or so.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

My problem probably is "systemic." I am building this campaign (as I did with Kursk) on an older, HP Envy, 8-RAM, i5 processor, 2.6 GHz, intel video chip, Windows 8.1 laptop. I've never had a prob with Wolfi's TBFs on my i7, win 10 laptop with Nvidia video card. The problem seems to be solved now, so I shall continue to march. :wavey::running:

I used UT's TBF 1942 dp with the Avenger so I had to go back and re-assign the load-outs, since the payload/armament set-ups are different from the dp I had been using. A minor set back. So now I have just 6 more missions to flight test and edit. I will probably be starting the re-work of the Santa Cruz half of the campaign this weekend.

:wiggle:

[Deathwind]

Probably the video card it wouldn’t be windows 10 or 11 which I have if it worked on your windows 10 laptop. Some panels don’t work on mine which was 10 but now it’s 11 I have the intel graphics and well they aren’t the best for anything gaming but all you need for everything else. Seems like that airplane crashed on me but I can’t remember now if I swapped panels or fixed the one in it but I don’t have it installed at the moment. In fact I’m running around like a chicken with his head cut off figuring out what I want to do next. I’m thinking about redoing the stock campaigns but long projects aren’t good unless your by yourself and have time on your hands but I’ll do something if not that.

[highpockets]

I found a note on the airspeed drop on Wolfi's Avenger when bomb doors are open.

"Originally Posted by bearcat241
Greg, open the *.air file and scroll down to record 1101. Look at the spoiler drag factor and reduce to suit your taste.
Thank you sir, I will try your suggestion

PS: Where do I find Air edit?

PPS: oops! never mind I found it under utilities in the Warbirds CFS2 library!
Last edited by Shadow Wolf 07; March 8th, 2019 at 08:41."

[UncleTgt]

Allen discovered early on that WIN 7& later OS don't like the 1024 x 768 pixel panel bitmaps that an awful lot of aircraft have been released with. I make a point of including panels "upsized" to 1600 x 1200 pixels when I come across this issue whenever I'm revising planes. But there are other workarounds - see Allens WIN 10 guide for lot's of good info...
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/95345-Windows-10-snafu-content-thread?p=1297690&viewfull=1#post1297690

[UncleTgt]

Greg,

If you're including the PBY seearch mission in your Santa Cruz revamp, I may have some scenery ready in time ...

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Greg,

If you're including the PBY seearch mission in your Santa Cruz revamp, I may have some scenery ready in time ...

UT;

Yes I am. As a matter of fact i will be working it this week as soon as I finish flight testing and editing the last 4 Eastern Solomons mission. Of course, I can always wait on that particular mission. :wiggle:

Here is o non-combat screenshot from my "what if" attack on the Japanese fleet carriers. It features the Donation Ware F4F-4 that scoobyman32 liked.

[scoobyman32]

Thanks for the better-angle shot SW, she is a beauty! Think the white stripes on the tail make it a VF-6 cat from the Big E, but I have never come across that skin. The campaign is really coming along quick, you're getting damn good at this.

Awesome news to see you've got more Solomons scenery in store UT, looking forward to it muchly.

[UncleTgt]

Scoobyman,

I thought I'd try & get Rennell done, & the Santa Cruz group for Shadow Wolf.

I may get the eastern islands tidied up (Malaita, San Cristobal), we'll see. They didn't really see any action around them, so I may just get the LWM polys done so the sloping water is gone...:a1089:

[scoobyman32]

Shots look great! All of your work is appreciated UT. Your recent scenery updates in the SPT have me flying more recon missions than ever before. In the past, the scenery wasn't that great, and they become boring to fly. With your updates, my SWP install has become more like MS Flightsim '42! I'm too busy for combat, checking out the sights.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Why one should always use Pen32Win's dps for JMK (Usio) Ships: :)

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Anyone know why the IJN_ChitoseSPC_LOD texture comes in black?

[Hiede]

Anyone know why the IJN_ChitoseSPC_LOD texture comes in black?

On our computer it is grey and has other textures for the upper surfaces.Depending on your computer and video card you may have to change the format for them.

Hiede

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Well, I guess it doesn't really matter as long as she is hit-able and sinkable. On my computer... okay, as long as it works for other players. Note; none of stuart277's other ships show as black. Hmmm... :dizzy:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Okay, I have asked this question before. This time I will copy and save the response: What settings do I use to increase roll and pitch of my carriers? What I currently have for stuart277's USS Hornet and other ships is...

[Dynamics]
pitch_wave_moment_scale=4
bank_wave_moment_scale=4
pitch_damp_moment_scale=2
bank_damp_moment_scale=2

...right or wrong?

Cheers. :wavey:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

In keeping with historical accuracy, I had to change a few missions and drop several fighter missions from my old campaign list. To make up for it, I added a few Henderson based Cactus Air Force, Cape Esperance missions (12 OCT 42). Then on to the Santa Cruz battle itself.

At this time I'm doing one, where Adm Gotto's TF o of 2 cruisers (one of which is heavily damaged) and 4 destroyers is attacked by 7 SBDs, 6 TBFs and 14 F4F-4s. I will make 3 mission variants out of it; one each fighter, dive bomber and torpedo I have all but the mission briefing done in the SBD mission then I'll test fly.

[scoobyman32]

Not just updates, new missions! Looking forward as always SW.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

One of three new missions:

"title_string"=DB_SCCE12_Attack Gotos Retreat_1SBD
"summary_string"=Another Good morning on Guadalcanal fliers! Our dive bombers will be launching in several waves along with Avengers and fighter escort. Our target is a Japanese TF. Baker flight, you will take off in the 3rd wave at 0735 hours and accompanying Able's TBFs proceed 140 miles on a 312-degree heading to RP-BLUE. There at BLUE your escort will link up with you. Continue for about 12 more miles on a heading of 285 to encounter and attack the enemy ships at RP-RED. Your targets: the cruisers. Secondary targets are the destroyers. Put your bombs right down their stacks! After your strikes, regroup at RP-GREEN and come home.
"objective_string"=Adm Jojima, learning of the bombardment force's crisis, detached destroyers Shirayuki and Murakumo to assist Furutaka or her survivors and Asagumo and Natsugumo to rendezvous with Kinugasa, which had paused in her retreat northward to cover the withdrawal of Jojima's ships. At 07:00 hours, 5 CAF SBDs attacked Kinugasa but inflicted no damage. At 08:20, 11 more SBDs found and attacked Shirayuki and Murakumo, a near miss caus1ng Murakumo to begin leaking oil, marking a trail for other CAF aircraft to follow. A short time later, 7 more SBDs plus 6 TBFs and 14 F4F-4s appeared. In the ensuing attack, Murakumo was hit by a torpedo in her engineering spaces, leaving her without power. Nevertheless, the damaged Aoba and Hyatsuki managed to make it back to the safety of the Shortland Islands.
"intelligence_string"=Your target is the retreating remnants of last night's surface engagement off Savo Is, currently abut 150 nautical miles NW of our base and sailing NW at 20 knots. Our scouts report a covering force for the reinforcement convoy, that unloaded troops and supplies last night, consists of at least 2 seaplane carrier/tenders. Little or no enemy air cover is expected, but ample escort is provided just in case. You can expect moderate to intense AA fire from the TF. The weather looks favorable with moderate cloud cover above 9,000 feet, good visibility and relatively calm winds.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=FDG2 SBD-3 Dauntless VS-2
"airfield_string"=Henderson

Done: I will post screen-shots later, after testing.

Cheers: :wavey:

[Deathwind]

One of three new missions:

"title_string"=DB_SCCE12_Attack Gotos Retreat_1SBD
"summary_string"=Another Good morning on Guadalcanal fliers! Our dive bombers will be launching in several waves along with Avengers and fighter escort. Our target is a Japanese TF. Baker flight, you will take off in the 3rd wave at 0735 hours and accompanying Able's TBFs proceed 140 miles on a 312-degree heading to RP-BLUE. There at BLUE your escort will link up with you. Continue for about 12 more miles on a heading of 285 to encounter and attack the enemy ships at RP-RED. Your targets: the cruisers. Secondary targets are the destroyers. Put your bombs right down their stacks! After your strikes, regroup at RP-GREEN and come home.
"objective_string"=Adm Jojima, learning of the bombardment force's crisis, detached destroyers Shirayuki and Murakumo to assist Furutaka or her survivors and Asagumo and Natsugumo to rendezvous with Kinugasa, which had paused in her retreat northward to cover the withdrawal of Jojima's ships. At 07:00 hours, 5 CAF SBDs attacked Kinugasa but inflicted no damage. At 08:20, 11 more SBDs found and attacked Shirayuki and Murakumo, a near miss caus1ng Murakumo to begin leaking oil, marking a trail for other CAF aircraft to follow. A short time later, 7 more SBDs plus 6 TBFs and 14 F4F-4s appeared. In the ensuing attack, Murakumo was hit by a torpedo in her engineering spaces, leaving her without power. Nevertheless, the damaged Aoba and Hyatsuki managed to make it back to the safety of the Shortland Islands.
"intelligence_string"=Your target is the retreating remnants of last night's surface engagement off Savo Is, currently abut 150 nautical miles NW of our base and sailing NW at 20 knots. Our scouts report a covering force for the reinforcement convoy, that unloaded troops and supplies last night, consists of at least 2 seaplane carrier/tenders. Little or no enemy air cover is expected, but ample escort is provided just in case. You can expect moderate to intense AA fire from the TF. The weather looks favorable with moderate cloud cover above 9,000 feet, good visibility and relatively calm winds.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=FDG2 SBD-3 Dauntless VS-2
"airfield_string"=Henderson

Done: I will post screen-shots later, after testing.

Cheers: :wavey:

Watch out for Lead greeting cards in RP-Red

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I was in the process of making a torpedo run on a DD when a cruiser blasted my port side, twisting me to the left, just as I released my torpedo. The result was that I missed and limped back to Henderson with more holes in me than a cheese.

I'm going to test and fix the SBD version next, then the fighter version.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I have re-done the SBD version with random spawning of the 3 elements of Adms Goto's/Jojima's ships. There can be as few ships to attack as two or as many as 7, depending on the roll of the sim's virtual dice. I will test the mission later today :)

Any help with my request - http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/132402-Input-needed?p=1313789&viewfull=1#post1313789 - on carrier pitch and roll settings?

[RWILLS]

Okay, I have asked this question before. This time I will copy and save the response: What settings do I use to increase roll and pitch of my carriers? What I currently have for stuart277's USS Hornet and other ships is...[Dynamics]pitch_wave_moment_scale=4bank_wave_moment_scale=4p itch_damp_moment_scale=2bank_damp_moment_scale=2.. .right or wrong?Cheers. :wavey:I haven't looked at this for a long time , but I would initially leave the damp_moments as =1, gradually increase the pitch/bank_wave_moments until you get the sort of motion you want, and then adjust the damp_moment and see what happens, - from memory I didn't feel the need to adjust the damping much, but probably each ship will be slightly different.

[UncleTgt]

Greg,

I think pitch & roll are very much an individual thing.

I have tried a variety of settings:

CVE's
[Dynamics]
pitch_wave_moment_scale=3
bank_wave_moment_scale=3
pitch_damp_moment_scale=3
bank_damp_moment_scale=3

HMS Ocean

[Dynamics]
pitch_wave_moment_scale=3
bank_wave_moment_scale=3
pitch_damp_moment_scale=9
bank_damp_moment_scale=3

Large CV's

[Dynamics]
pitch_wave_moment_scale=2
bank_wave_moment_scale=2
pitch_damp_moment_scale=6
bank_damp_moment_scale=1

It all depends on what you're trying to achieve.

Oh, and don't have all your ships in the same formation have the same values, it'll look like a "gym class" bobbing & weaving to the imaginary soundtrack... :costumed-smiley-034

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Thanks guys. I will continue to experiment and when satisfied, I will try to pot a FRAPS video of the results

[Deathwind]

I was in the process of making a torpedo run on a DD when a cruiser blasted my port side, twisting me to the left, just as I released my torpedo. The result was that I missed and limped back to Henderson with more holes in me than a cheese.

I'm going to test and fix the SBD version next, then the fighter version.

if your using the Rollfix mod the hit points or damage it causes your aircraft is much greater than the original flak. The Range is greatly reduced meaning the flak burst must be much closer to your aircraft then the original. That’s helps keeping your aircraft from being missed by a mile but still being penetrated by a couple pieces of shrapnel on your control surfaces making your aircraft hard to fly. Nothing was correct about the stock flak as it was both to weak and to accurate due to it’s range or radius of the flak bursts. Torpedo runs was a highly dangerous sport to participate in back in ww2 and it’s quite normal to be brought down by flak guns. A group of 10 it would be nothing unusual if only one or even none got to drop it’s torpedo especially if being attacked by aircraft too. So there you have it. Your chances of being hit is greatly reduced but if you do get hit you’ll need to purchase new pantyhose because the old is full of holes.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

QUOTE=Shadow Wolf 07;1314207]Thanks guys. I will continue to experiment and when satisfied, I will try to post a FRAPS video of the results[/QUOTE]
Here's a short video: :wiggle:

[Flamer50]

Thanks for the vid. Going by the amount of roll and pitch on that "Bird Farm", I'd guess the conditions
at Force 4 or 5 on the Beaufort Scale(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale).

Cheers

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Thanks for the vid. Going by the amount of roll and pitch on that "Bird Farm", I'd guess the conditions
at Force 4 or 5 on the Beaufort Scale(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale).

Cheers

Yes. I scaled it down somewhat:

from:

[Dynamics]
pitch_wave_moment_scale=3
bank_wave_moment_scale=2
pitch_damp_moment_scale=1
bank_damp_moment_scale=1

to:

[Dynamics]
pitch_wave_moment_scale=2
bank_wave_moment_scale=2
pitch_damp_moment_scale=1
bank_damp_moment_scale=1


UT: I've only done my CVs so far. I may go into my Ships folder and adjust the others, using your recommendations, thanx.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I have finished and tested 4 missions with 13 more to go for the Battle of Santa Cruz portion. The first three are based out of Henderson against the Japanese Ships, withdrawing from the Cape Esperance surface engagement. The fourth is an overnight Catalina recon patrol out of Espiritu Santo, which spots and attacks the Japanese carrier force.

That mission still gives me some questions like: What/who's Catalina to use? I've tried Allen's VN_PBY5A_CAT and the Consolidated Catalina PBY-5 and PBY-5A with less than satisfying results. So I went back to my old choice: PBY_BlackCat from Simviation. I'll try any others you recommend. Another issue is my own ability to fly and make a torpedo run in the dark :banghead:...:pop4: I definitely need some stick time in this plane.

I have no decent screenshots from these missions. I hope to get some from the next batch. I'm going back aboard a carrier for those...

Cheers: :wavey:

Shadow Wolf 07

[Deathwind]

I have finished and tested 4 missions with 13 more to go for the Battle of Santa Cruz portion. The first three are based out of Henderson against the Japanese Ships, withdrawing from the Cape Esperance surface engagement. The fourth is an overnight Catalina recon patrol out of Espiritu Santo, which spots and attacks the Japanese carrier force.

That mission still gives me some questions like: What/who's Catalina to use? I've tried Allen's VN_PBY5A_CAT and the Consolidated Catalina PBY-5 and PBY-5A with less than satisfying results. So I went back to my old choice: PBY_BlackCat from Simviation. I'll try any others you recommend. Another issue is my own ability to fly and make a torpedo run in the dark :banghead:...:pop4: I definitely need some stick time in this plane.

I have no decent screenshots from these missions. I hope to get some from the next batch. I'm going back aboard a carrier for those...

Cheers: :wavey:

Shadow Wolf 07
What was wrong with the other PBY’s if it the flying part you can make it fly the same as the black cat if that’s the one you can fly the best. You can tune all your planes the way you want them your not stuck with the setup a downloaded plane comes with. Anyway my screen went bad so I’m done with cfs2 for the foreseeable future.

[scoobyman32]

Sounds like it's really coming along SW!

I consider Shessi's new models of the PBY-5 and PBY-5a to be two of my favorite planes to fly in CFS2, they are both visually beautiful, and UncleTgt has done some really nice new skins for them too, both regular and "Black Cat" paint jobs. I'm not sure if the exact skin you'd be looking for has been done (VP-91 operated the PBY-5a out of Espiritu and Nendi during the Santa Cruz battle) but if not there are really good substitutes. Neither model handles very well in "attack mode", but then again, in real life the Catalina was far from graceful and was never designed for the attack role, it just became a necessity, and the pilots that flew those missions had to have had a pair made of solid rock.

Either of these would get my vote.

Really looking forward to this campaign my friend, some of my favorite missions were in the "Desperate Battles" of late '42.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I took yesterday off. I was up some 40 hours and was simply too tired to concentrate. Today I'm back in the saddle. For simplicity sake, I decided to keep my older Blackcat PBY. It is a single plane mission, so users can choose whichever Catalina they wish to fly.

SW07 :dizzy:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I took yesterday off. I was up some 40 hours and was simply too tired to concentrate. Today I'm back in the saddle. For simplicity sake, I decided to keep my older Blackcat PBY. It is a single plane mission, so users can choose whichever Catalina they wish to fly.

The mission has a ditch/recovery option. If you suffer battle damage and lose fuel, the first return-to-base waypoint, some 100 miles into friendly territory, has a picket submarine patrolling that you can land next to and be picked up, ending the mission successfully. Or you can warp and continue on to your base.

SW07 :dizzy:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Getting set to hit him...

[scoobyman32]

Great pics SW! Did ya get 'em?

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Great pics SW! Did ya get 'em?

Nope... I missed. :banghead: My wingman got the hit, though. :applause:

A side note: The smoke here is getting thicker. I am inside all day today.. Good for building missions. :)

[Shadow Wolf 07]

My laptop crashed yesterday. I will find out tomorrow if it can be repaired or the hard drive can be salvaged. Till then, work on my campaign is stalled. :banghead:

SW07

[scoobyman32]

Sorry to hear that SW. Best of luck, hopefully a repair job can save the day.

How is the smoke down south?

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Sorry to hear that SW. Best of luck, hopefully a repair job can save the day.

How is the smoke down south?

The smoke here dissipated a couple of days ago with the rain. Nothing bad since then.

I am working on my "reserve" laptop and have brought it up to date except for my non-backed up missions. My IT guy picked up my other and promised to take a look and let me know tomorrow if he can repair it or he'll transfer the data.

Actually, this is a newer, more powerful, game-worthy computer: HP Envy; i7 processor, 8 GB RAM; NVIDEA GeForce video, 1TB storage. It used to tend to overheat when I ran it too much on some programs, which is why I used the older set.

As I said I have everything I need and know where I left off, so I should be back in action tonight or tomorrow. I'll merge with the work I competed when I get the old one or the data back.

Cheers:

:wiggle::wavey:

[kdriver]

That's good news Greg. Thanks for all the hard work you are putting into the missions. :encouragement:

Cheers,
Kevin

[Shadow Wolf 07]

That's good news Greg. Thanks for all the hard work you are putting into the missions. :encouragement:

Cheers,
Kevin

Getting back to it this PM with a fresh install, Rhumba mesh. 87-Days scenery etc to plug my missions into.

Hard work? Nah... it is challenging some times, but seeing positive results gives me pleasure and helps me maintain my sanity - or what's left of it. :wiggle:

[scoobyman32]

Glad to hear you're back on track Greg. Anxiously awaiting this one, it was a fantastic campaign before, should be truly a grand one with all the new ships, planes, scenery, and your personal touch.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Glad to hear you're back on track Greg. Anxiously awaiting this one, it was a fantastic campaign before, should be truly a grand one with all the new ships, planes, scenery, and your personal touch.

With such a build-up and encouragement from youse guys, I'd better do a good job on this one! So, I'm gonna get back to work right away. One of my next missions is the one in which the US and IJN strike groups pass within sight of each other.

Enough talk... back to the trenches. :a1089:

Cheers:

:wavey:

PS: Qh, upon re-reading one of my sources I discovered that the Japanese strike forces used A6M3s not A6M2s. I found and downloaded 2: one by Allen (2012) and the other by Maxstuka/Ivan Hsu (2017). Do any of you have opinions as to which gives the best and most accurate AI performance? :wiggle:

[UncleTgt]

You should look at Skylane's recent IJN Guadacanal missions.

I revised Akemis Zero's during last year, the model 22 is here:

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=60&id=29642

I worked with Skylane to get the best blend of AI/Player behaviour...

Also, don't forget the Val's were the later D3A2 model, covered by Capt Kurt for "87 Days".

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Aha! My favorite uncle comes through. I will try Akemi's bird and yes, I did notice the D3A2 variant was used. Thank you, sir. :applause:

Cheers::wavey:

Greg

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I managed to fire up MB and my joystick for the first time in about two weeks. I test flew this mission and everything stacked up fine! :applause:

"title_string"=DB_SC26 Enterprise VS Kido-Butai_02-F4Fx
"summary_string"=Good morning gentlemen. Our scouts have just spotted the Japanese carrier force. Hornet has already launched a first strike group and Enterprise is sending out you, her first strike, 10 minutes behind them. Sheriff, you will take off immediately after this briefing, form up and fly on a 334-degree heading to point WARRIOR, 187 miles out. Your mission is to cover our strike force in their attack on the enemy's task force, 15 miles west of WARRIOR. Engage and destroy any Japanese fighters that come up to oppose you. Above all, protect the bombers! After the strike, regroup at RP ZEBRA and return to base on a 148 degree heading.
"objective_string"=The Japanese Carrier Strike Force, the 'Kido-Butai' has been spotted. Enterprise has launched 9 TBFs, 8 F4Fs and 3 SBDs. [Historical: At 08:40, the Enterprise and Japanese strike groups passed within sight of each other. Nine Zeros attacked the still climbing Enterprise strike group from out of the sun. In the resulting engagement, 4 Zeros, 3 Wildcats and and 2 TBFs were shot down with another 2 TBFs and 1 wildcat being damaged and forced to return to Enterprise. The remaining aircraft proceeded on to the strike.] NOTE: There is a 75 percent chance of such intercept on this mission.
"intelligence_string"=Intel reports a force of 4 enemy carriers, supported by battleships, cruisers and destroyers, heading for the southern Solomons. The 'Main Body' is reported to consist of 2 fleet and 1 light carrier, a heavy cruiser and about 8 destroyers. Their Vanguard Force has an additional fleet carrier with several battleships accompanying - we have not spotted that force yet. The weather is forecast to be moderate cloud cover, down to 5,500 feet with 12 knot winds from 120 degrees.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=F4F-4 Wildcat VC-39 USS Liscome Bay
"airfield_string"="Enterprise CV-6"

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Moving on, my current mission is an attack on the Japanese "Vanguard Force." I have completed variants for the F4F and SBD, but need to flight test each, before I do one for the Avenger.

One of the variables is that on your return there is an 85% chance that your base (USS Hornet) is too badly damaged to conduct flight ops. Thus, you must land on Enterprise.

Once I test fly these, I hope to post some decent screenshots. :wiggle: But first I'm gonna backup my install. :encouragement:

Cheers:

Shadow Wolf 07 :wavey:

[scoobyman32]

Very cool addition SW! Nothing like a successful strike mission only to find out your runway is gone!

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Hi, Scoobyman32:

I'm finishing updates to my last mission now. Then I'll do the flight testing, set up the .cmg campaign file and and try to do an installer for the campaign - there are just too many downloads to do otherwise, I think. :dizzy: As I flight test, I'll try to get some decent screenshots and post them here.

"title_string"=DB_SC26_Defend the Big E_13x
"summary_string"=Bighorn, your flight will take off immediately after this briefing and fly on a 000-degree heading for 40 miles, climbing to 11,500 feet. Yours and Cheyenne flight will link up there. Follow the CIC's instructions to intercept the incoming enemy bombers. Take them out or turn them back. Avoid the escorting fighters and get those dive-bombers and torpedo planes! (Do not warp!).
"objective_string"=Shokaku launched a second wave at 0810 with 19 dive-bombers and 5 Zeros; Zuikaku launched 16 torpedo bombers and 4 Zeros at 0840. The second strike wave, believing Hornet to be sinking, directed their attacks on the TF-16, beginning at 1008. The dive-bombers caused heavy damage to the carrier, including jamming her forward elevator in the up position. However, 10 of the 19 bombers were lost in the attack with two more ditching on their return The 16 Zuikaku torpedo planes arrived and split up to hit Enterprise. One group was jumped by two CAP F4Fs which shot down 3 of them and damaged a fourth. On fire, the fourth damaged bomber purposely crashed into the destroyer Smith. All the torpedoes missed or failed, causing no damage, with the loss of 9 of the 16 torpedo planes. The engagement was over at 1053.
"intelligence_string"=Our strike leader reports a formation of up to 45 bandits heading our way,at 90 miles out on a 195-degree heading; dive and torpedo bombers with escorts. Enemy fighters will no doubt put up fierce resistance to your efforts to get through to their bombers, but you must do so... and stop them! The current weather is 85 degrees F, 50% scattered, medium-heavy cloud cover from 7,500 to 11,000 feet. Winds are out of the SE from 120 degrees at 10-12 knots.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=F4F-4 Wildcat VC-39 USS Liscome Bay
"airfield_string"="Enterprise CV-6"

Cheers all:
Shadow Wolf 07 :wavey:

[skylane]

Very exciting project, Shadow Wulf! I've enjoyed the original campaign very much, and look forward to the updated version!

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Very exciting project, Shadow Wulf! I've enjoyed the original campaign very much, and look forward to the updated version!

Skylane, I hope it lives up to your expectations. I've not only made use of some new CFS2 releases, but added some new 'wrinkles' to the missions.

Currently I am doing some final editing (adding a few ships which have been released since I started) and test flying. I hope to upload in 2 weeks or less. :wiggle:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

... for about a week.

I woke up Monday morning with chest pains. I relaxed as best I could for a short while, then took some nitro - the pain went away. Knowing that the only ill that nitroglycerine cures is a heart problem, I called an ambulance and I've been in the hospital since.

They did a catheterization yesterday and found a couple of blockages. I am being transferred to their coronary hospital tonight, in a couple of hours to have stents put in tomorrow at noon.

Oh, and I have pneumonia too.

Wish me luck...:wavey:

Cheers

[scoobyman32]

Hang in there SW! Thoughts are with you pal.

[Deathwind]

Nevermind the project. We can find something else to entertain ourselves with until you are well again.

[UncleTgt]

R & R Greg, health comes first. This project can wait :positive:

- - - Updated - - -

Get plenty of rest Greg - this project can wait

[AndyG43]

... for about a week.

I woke up Monday morning with chest pains. I relaxed as best I could for a short while, then took some nitro - the pain went away. Knowing that the only ill that nitroglycerine cures is a heart problem, I called an ambulance and I've been in the hospital since.

They did a catheterization yesterday and found a couple of blockages. I am being transferred to their coronary hospital tonight, in a couple of hours to have stents put in tomorrow at noon.

Oh, and I have pneumonia too.

Wish me luck...:wavey:

Cheers

Having done that the hard way a few years back (heart attack, blues & twos, emergency op) my thoughts are with you. With me it was minimally invasive and done under local anaesthetic, so I got to watch the progress on a huge monitor by my side ...... best programme on TV that day imo!! :biggrin-new: Certainly increased my respect in our NHS. :applause:

Echoing what others have said, get plenty of rest afterwards.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I just woke up... feeling much better with 2 new stents in my coronary arteries, antibiotics ,working on my pneumonia and a fresh pot of coffee. :wiggle: I'll be going home this afternoon! :applause: Hopefully, the flight surgeon will clear me to fly soon

Thank you for your thoughts and well wishes. :encouragement:

Cheers, all:

SW07

[msfossey]

That is great to hear you are feeling better Shadow Wolf. Hoping for a speedy recovery.

msfossey

[kdriver]

That's good news Greg - get well soon.

All the best,
Kevin :encouragement:

[scoobyman32]

Best of news Greg. Back on your feein no time I'm sure.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Came back to the hospital yesterday. I could hardly walk and my pneumonia was getting more acute with no antibiotics on hand. After testing, they showed it indeed was there and I had 2 blood clots in my left lung.


So, I'm back into MB between visits from doctors and nurses again. I'm in the veteran's hospital this time and will go home this time with home nursing care, once released.



I discovered that some of my missions are missing from my Missions folder!!! That is no great tragedy, since I had just run a back-up of my install last weekend. Has anyone noticed that their smiles aren't working? And my text manipulation functions - bold, italics, underline, font etc - are not available either! Is it just me, or do some of you have the same "glitch?"

I'm going tho get down to work just the same. It is 1 hour till breakfast and I'm wondering what surprises the chef has for me this morning. :banghead:


Good morning and cheers to all:

SW07

[Captain Kurt]

Jeez, take good care of yourself and get better. :encouragement:

[Motormouse]

Came back to the hospital yesterday. I could hardly walk and my pneumonia was getting more acute with no antibiotics on hand. After testing, they showed it indeed was there and I had 2 blood clots in my left lung.


Good morning and cheers to all:

SW07

Been there, done that as they say; I'm 3 years on from clots in my lungs caused by covid infection. My best friend is now a tablet called Apixaban; which has less complications associated with it than Warfarin.

R&R is all you can do.

Ttfn

Pete

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Been there, done that as they say; I'm 3 years on from clots in my lungs caused by covid infection. My best friend is now a tablet called Apixaban; which has less complications associated with it than Warfarin.

R&R is all you can do.

Ttfn

Pete

Yes, I'm on apixaban now too...

Greg

PS: I lost about 10 Santa Cruz missions somehow, but I still have copies of my last saved versions, which I can easily update. Right now though, my health is my main concern. Sorry this campaign is taking so long to complete. :dizzy:

[stuart277]

Hi Greg
I wish you all the best with your recovery.
Cheers

Stuart

[scoobyman32]

I think I speak for everyone saying we would rather have you back and healthy over a new campaign to fly Greg.

Take care of yourself pal.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I think I speak for everyone saying we would rather have you back and healthy over a new campaign to fly Greg.

Take care of yourself pal.

Thank you, I will :loyal: But I need something to do other than sitting here and watching television. I'll be working but at a reduced pace. :wiggle::encouragement:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I have 41 missions completed and about a third of them flight tested. I can't test the others just yet. I doubt that machine gun fire, echoing through the halls of a veteran's hospital would go over too well. :rocket: I'll tackle that task once I get home. Instead, I will work on other things, like building the .cmg and learning to make an auto installer.

Cheers: :very_drunk:

Shadow Wolf 07

[highpockets]

Easy does it! Big "elephant" you have concocted. As has been said, one bite at a time.:cool:

[skylane]

Greg, I hope you get well soon! Take your time with the missions, I'm sure they are well worth waiting for!

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Thank you, guys, I am home now, recovering and working. I'm not 100% sure the pneumonia is gone and I'm taking meds for the pulmonary embolisms I have, but I feel pretty good. Re-examining my sources, I learned that the Japanese were using A6M3 Zeros in both the Eastern Solomons and Santa Cruz engagements. So I am going back through my earlier ES missions and editing in A6M3s in place of the A6M2s I had used as well as some of stuart277s newest ships. Next? I will flight test the last 12-15 missions, finish the .cmg file and set up the auto-installer.

[scoobyman32]

Hearing you are home and feeling better is great news Greg. Looking forward to the campaign, glad to hear you're back in the saddle cowboy!

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Hearing you are home and feeling better is great news Greg. Looking forward to the campaign, glad to hear you're back in the saddle cowboy!

I too. I've finished the .cmg except for minor editing due to changes in the saved names of the missions I have yet to test fly. :very_drunk:

Question: Should I bother to include in the package a comprehensive d/l list if I do an auto-installer? :semi-twins:

"campaign_name_string"=Desperate Battles 2023 -- USN
"campaign_overview"=Start your engine! You are about to be called to service and thrust into some of the most one-sided battles of the Pacific war. You will be thrown into the fry off Guadalcanal - August through October 1942. The Marines have just landed and are desperately clinging to their toehold on the island and the newly activated airstrip - Henderson Field (codename: Cactus). The Japanese are determined to seize the airstrip and throw the Marines back into the sea. The Japanese side still has the advantages of numerical and qualitative superiority in the air and on the sea, as well as a large number of skilled and experienced pilots. Your only advantages are the US intelligence network, their signal intelligence and the coast watcher network and their new and widely used radar systems. You will find yourself in tough defensive battles, scouting missions and anti-ship strikes. You may be assigned to lead a fight of F4F-4 Wildcats, TBF-1 Avengers or of SBD-3 Dauntlesses, or even pilot a PBY-5A Catalina on night search missions. Your mission is to hold the line and help hurl back 2 major enemy naval counteroffensives and keep the island in Allied hands. Good luck!

Cheers: :wavey:

Shadow Wolf 07

P.S: Scoobyman32, I am in no way a "cowboy." I am a devoted Giants fan. :applause: :encouragement::very_drunk:

[skylane]

Glad to hear that you are home again!

If you do an auto installer, obviously a list of download links is not necessary, but at least for me a list of the things you used would be interesting, just for reference.

[Motormouse]

Thank you, guys, I am home now, recovering and working. I'm not 100% sure the pneumonia is gone and I'm taking meds for the pulmonary embolisms I have, but I feel pretty good.

As my doctors said to me, with my embolisms, ( I had one in each lung, and 2 in my brain for added fun) now you're starting to feel better is the worst time to overdo things.
I was off work for 6 months, until they cleared.

Ttfn

Pete

[scoobyman32]

Ha! Sorry for the cowboy reference Greg! It was Stampede Week in Calgary where I live, so the name get chucked around for 10 days! Not to fear, the Dallas Cowboys are my most hated enemy! (Steelers fan here)

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Ha! Sorry for the cowboy reference Greg! It was Stampede Week in Calgary where I live, so the name get chucked around for 10 days! Not to fear, the Dallas Cowboys are my most hated enemy! (Steelers fan here)

I too like the Steelers. The high school where I was an assistant coach wore black and gold and one of my players played for them.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

As my doctors said to me, with my embolisms, ( I had one in each lung, and 2 in my brain for added fun) now you're starting to feel better is the worst time to overdo things.
I was off work for 6 months, until they cleared.

Ttfn

Pete


Pete, I shall try to remember your cautions and not over-do it.

Cheers:

Greg

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Glad to hear that you are home again!

If you do an auto installer, obviously a list of download links is not necessary, but at least for me a list of the things you used would be interesting, just for reference.

Hi, Skylane. :wavey:
Since you mention it it would actually be a sort of 'bibliography,' honoring the contributor/authors. :applause:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I'm just 5 days out of another week iN the hospital. This time for TAI or stroke symptoms. All tests came back negative and the blood thinners I've been taking seemed to be working, because the blood clots in my lung have disappeared. :applause:

I have finished work on the campaign and am now in the process of putting it in an auto-loader. :wiggle: That is a learning experience for me, so no predictions on when I'll finish.

I promise some screen shots nd when I can I'll fly a mission or two and take some. With physical and occupational therapy and Home health care, I'm gonna be pretty busy, but I'll get her done! :running:

Cheers:

SW07

[scoobyman32]

So happy to hear the positive results SW, take care of yourself pal.

My ol' rig came down with the "blue screen of death" last week, so I'm without my favorite pass time for a while, but I'll look forward to your campaign once I solve the issues or get a new rig, and I'm looking forward to others comments, I know it will be another must have.

[stuart277]

Hi SW
Good to hear that things seem to be getting better healthwise.
Take Care.
Stuart

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Hi SW
Good to hear that things seem to be getting better healthwise.
Take Care.
Stuart

Stuart, I shall. :wavey: Thank you.

Scoobyman32, thank you as well. :wavey: I am doing physical therapy with nurse visits at home with a home helper to assist with pers hygiene, dressing, light cleaning and cooking.

I am uploading a lot of your ships int my auto-installer. Can I omit the Gmax files in the ship folders to save on upload size or must they remain?

As for progress, I have finished, after 2 days of work -broken up by physical therapy and life stuff- the List of d/ls with links. Quite a task... :dizzy:

If I can master the auto-loader program, upload should be in a couple of weeks. Because of the number of ships used, it will be in five, 200mb parts.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

With Rami's help, I am trying to master the auto-loader program. I am setting u a "virgin" install to test it. :wiggle:

SW07

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I've got a computer network problem and can't upload anything yet. It should be fixed in a couple of days and I'll upload the files then. 0

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I've got a computer network problem and can't upload anything yet. It should be fixed in a couple of days and I'll upload the files then. 0

[Note: The above mssg is the first thing I ever posted on line from my phone.] :wavey: The computer is fixed sooner than I expected.
All that remains to be done is fix two of three videos, so they will play in the campaign. I will do the usual troubleshooting checking spelling, the .cmg entry itself and format (they are all three mpg video files). I've added videos to campaigns before, but this is the first time I've encountered 2 that wont play. Symptom: When the video is to play, the screen goes black with no sound, Then, when I hit esc, the mission begins. :dizzy:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Well I uploaded "Desperate Battles 2023" last night and I'm looking for something else to do while I still have the CFS2 fever. :a1089:

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?catid=44&linkid=30204

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?catid=44&linkid=30205

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?catid=44&linkid=30206

Should I update "USS Saratoga CV-3" or the "USS Essex CV-9" campaign next? Your opinions count!
:wiggle::wavey:
Cheers:
Shadow

[scoobyman32]

They're both great campaign that would look awesome with your touch added Greg. The Essex campaign is a monster, that one would take even you a while I imagine.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

They're both great campaign that would look awesome with your touch added Greg. The Essex campaign is a monster, that one would take even you a while I imagine.

You gave me an idea... I could divide the Essex campaign in half, making a 1943-1944 and a separate 1944-45 campaign.

Waddaya think?
...and good luck with that car.

Cheers: :wavey:
Greg

[scoobyman32]

I like it! That campaign is so large, might be more manageable in two parts. Either way, it will be a big project, but you like those, I know it would be a big improvement on a very good campaign.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

scoobyman32: I decided to go with the revamp of the Saratoga campaign. I am loading up the scenery and have started the first 2 (what if) missions - a pair of Wake relief missions. One has F4F-3s and the other option uses VMF-221 in Brewster Buffaloes.

[scoobyman32]

The Saratoga campaign is a great choice. She was in so many important battles throughout the war. A few less than The Big E, but only because she kept catching torpedoes.

Another one to look forward to as we all fight our way through Desperate Battles. Best of luck on this one Greg!

[kdriver]

Talk about no rest for the wicked! The Saratoga revamp is a good choice - thanks very much Greg.

Kevin

[highpockets]

SW 07
Do you ever sleep!! I haven't finished all the missions in the 2020 versions and here you are doing 2023. Wow. :dizzy:
Thanks.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

SW 07
Do you ever sleep!! I haven't finished all the missions in the 2020 versions and here you are doing 2023. Wow. :dizzy:
Thanks.

Sleep? Plenty of time to sleep in the next world! Joking... I saw your post just before crashing for the night.

Just so you'll know, during one of my stays in the hospital, I had my laptop with me and even found time to crank out a couple of missions. :a1089: Mission building gives me something to do besides wasting away in front of the TV. I hope my work brings you and all others challenge and enjoyment.

Cheers :wavey:

[Captain Kurt]

It most certainly does!!

[scoobyman32]

I'll second that!

[highpockets]

Absolutely! Come back to the home carrier full of holes:mixed-smiley-010:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Cannot find a downloads list for UT's "Marcus Wake" pack. I thought I'd installed all the packs listed on MR"s site, but get the following errors when I try to load Wake:

cannot find model; inf_wedge or model; jp_hangar1

Anyone know which object packs to find them? I will continue to search.

[Hiede]

Cannot find a downloads list for UT's "Marcus Wake" pack. I thought I'd installed all the packs listed on MR"s site, but get the following errors when I try to load Wake:

cannot find model; inf_wedge or model; jp_hangar1

Anyone know which object packs to find them? I will continue to search.

At the bottom of the readme it lists what scenery objects he used.
Xavier,Lindsay Watts and Wolfi are probably the ones that have what you're looking for.

Hiede

[UncleTgt]

Cannot find a downloads list for UT's "Marcus Wake" pack. I thought I'd installed all the packs listed on MR"s site, but get the following errors when I try to load Wake:

cannot find model; inf_wedge or model; jp_hangar1

Anyone know which object packs to find them? I will continue to search.

Both are in Xaviers Japanese Hangars package

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=280&id=2786

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Thank you UT! :applause::wavey:

[Hiede]

I guess I was wrong when I said they might be in Xavier's packs,silly me what do I know?

Hiede

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I finished updating my first mission - a what if mission over Wake Is. It took me quite a while, with all the ships and alternate waypoints. I will test fly it and hopefully post some pics tomorrow. :wiggle:

title_string"=Saratoga-A Wake 'What If' Relief-1B3
"summary_string"=Bastion; you and the rest of VMF-221 will launch at noon, loaded with light bombs. Your mission: to reinforce the air assets of the Marine garrison on Wake Island. Take off and immediately take up a 305-degree heading for 65 miles to the island. Before landing, assist the Marines in repelling any attacks or landings in progress if called upon to do so. Otherwise support our dive-bombers' attack on any nearby enemy transports and their escorts. You will remain on the island to help cover the relief force, which should arrive after dark today. Watch your fuel consumption.
"objective_string"=A "what if" scenario: Saratoga arrived at Pearl on 15 December, refueled, and departed for Wake Island the following day. The ship was assigned to Task Force 14 She then completed a rendezvous with other ships, carrying reinforcements and supplies, and the slow replenishment oiler Neches. Saratoga's task force was delayed by the necessity to refuel its escorting destroyers on 21 December, before reaching the island. This process was prolonged by heavy weather, although the task force could still reach Wake by 24 December as scheduled. After receiving reports of heavy Japanese carrier airstrikes, and then troop landings, TF 14 was recalled on 23 December, and Wake fell the same day. This mission scenario finds us with the Marines still holding out and Saratoga launching her air strikes in support as planned.
"intelligence_string"=Intel reports that the Japanese carriers and battleships, previously reported to be sailing off Wake, have retired to the south, towards the Philippines. In addition, no enemy submarines are suspected to be operating in the Wake area. Weather is clear with light clouds and the wind is out of NW from 338 degrees at 10 knots. We are turning into the wind in 15 minutes. Man your planes!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=Brewster F2a3 MF15_VMF-221

Cheers:
Shadow Wolf 07

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Sorry for the lack of screenshots, but life has kept me from flying lately. I have, at least completed (for testing) 3 more missions. :) I am currently working on an "Operation Watchtower" CAP mission. The one I just finished is the SBD-3 version of the initial strikes on 07 AUG. The other two that need flight testing are: the F4F-3 version of the wake relief and the F4F-4 version of the initial strike on Guadalcanal.

The strike missions take off at dawn and visibility over the target area is darkened, so the screenshots won't show the true detail. I used "87 Days'" Henderson 42 as background scenery.

I will try to record the mission(s) with FRAPS and post a YouTube link to them if successful. :encouragement:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

"title_string"=Saratoga-B_Guadalcanal_Invasion Strike-1B3C
"summary_string"=Able: As part of "Operation Watchtower," you and your flight will take off at dawn; 0550 hours. Link up with the Strike group and proceed on a 052-degree heading for 155 miles to the unfinished airstrip at Lunga Point. Arriving at 0650 hours, as the naval bombardment lifts, VS-2 will bomb, strafe and disperse the construction battalions, working on the airstrip AND provide close support for the Marine landing force. Your flight is to concentrate its efforts on targets on and in the vicinity of the airstrip. Upon expenditure of your ammo or on order from the SG Leader, regroup at RP-3. and return to Saratoga,
"objective_string"=Hit by a torpedo and in for repairs, Saratoga missed the battle of Midway but now she's back in action and serving as Admiral Fletcher's flagship. The Japanese have nearly completed an airfield on Guadalcanal. CINCPAC has approved 'Operation Watchtower,' a plan for the Allies to go on the offensive, starting in the Solomon Islands. The US Marine Corps' 1st Division will execute an amphibious assault of Guadalcanal, capture and make operational the airfield there. The Allied carrier force (Saratoga's TF 11 and TF 18, centered around the carrier Wasp) managed to successfully reach a point southwest of Guadalcanal without being detected by the Japanese because of thick fog and haze. Saratoga launched 24 Dauntlesses and a dozen Wildcats early on 7 August to attack and neutralize targets on the island in support of the Marines' landings.
"intelligence_string"=We hope to catch the enemy by surprise. His nearest response forces are several hours away in Rabaul. We therefor anticipate no air opposition for the first three or four hours. The fighters accompanying you will deal with any intruding aircraft. You can expect little or no coordinated ground fire. The Japanese defensive preparations for the airfield are incomplete and sparse. The skies are clear with light cloud cover. Winds are 10 to 12 knots below 3,000 feet, out of 112 degrees... good flying weather. This mission should be a cake walk. Come home safe!
"player_aircraft_name_string"=FDG2 SBD-3 Dauntless VS-2
"airfield_string"="Saratoga CV-3"

Three samples. These are brighter than the originals, they have been enhnced:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Absolutely! Come back to the home carrier full of holes:mixed-smiley-010:

Like this?

[highpockets]

SW 07 --"Zactly" :biggrin-new:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I have updated 13 of 49 missions for the Saratoga campaign to include some newer aircraft and ships, better structure with way-points, altitudes and speeds. I've done up to the end of her participation in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. And I plan to test fly these before I move on. :rocket:

The next set of missions will include raids on Buka (SI), Rabaul, Nauru, Wotje and Engebi Islands. As before, where feasible I am doing missions over each "target" for F4F/F6Fs, TBFs and SBDs. :wiggle:

Cheers:

Shadow Wolf 07

[Shadow Wolf 07]

A coupe of quick screenshots using the new VF-5 F4F-4:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

A setback: my install crashed Tuesday evening... :banghead:but fortunately I had just completed a full backup last Friday. :a1310: I was i the process of building my next mission:
"On 23 January 1943, Saratoga launched 18 F4Fs of VF-3, 24 SBDs of VB-3 and VS-3, and 17 TBFs of VT-3 for Henderson Field, retaining 16 F4Fs and 15 SBDs for self-defense. The next day they attacked the Japanese airfield at Vila, Solomon Islands after it had been bombarded by 4 Allied light cruisers. The aircraft returned to the carrier without loss later that afternoon."
I was trying to switch from UT's Solomon Islands (87 Days) scenery to Solomons_Airbases_43late, so I would have the airfields at Vila and later, Buka. Both MB, when I try to load a mission and Free Flight et al crashed.

So I quickly updated a copy of my back up. This time I will read the instructions more carefully and if necessary PM Uncle Tgt for assistance or clarification. :dizzy:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Having solved my scenery issues, I am moving on. :running:
I inserted a new mission, the Vila raid described in the above post. Building it from scratch it took me a couple of days to complete but I finished it yesterday:


[strings]
"title_string"=Sara-G2_Vila Interdiction Strike_1-F4Fa
"summary_string"=Good morning men! Your mission for today is a strike on the airfield at Vila. Ottawa you and Chippewa will take off at noon, 1200 hours, and climbing to 12,000 feet, link up with the first wave of Strike Group Warrior. Proceed 175 miles on a 303-degree heading to RP-COPPER, arriving there at 1300 hours. Continue SW on a 225-degree vector for 30 miles to the target area. Ottawa, you are to provide high cover over the airstrip, intercepting any CAP present and any aircraft that try to take off. Once the strike concludes, you will be informed by the bomber leader. Then you are free to engage targets of opportunity with gunfire before regrouping at RP-SILVER - 10 miles SSW of the target airstrip. From SILVER, proceed due south for about 70 miles to rendezvous with Saratoga at RP-LEAD.
"objective_string"=The Japanese had developed the base at Vila Plantation as a staging area for strikes out of Rabaul against Guadalcanal. It had become a nuisance and the Allies had decided to neutralize it with shelling and bombing strikes. On 23 January 1943, Saratoga launched 18 F4Fs of VF-3, 24 SBDs of VB-3 and VS-3, and 17 TBFs of VT-3 for Henderson Field, retaining 16 F4Fs and 15 SBDs for self-defense. The next day they attacked the Japanese airfield at Vila, Solomon Islands after it had been bombarded by 4 Allied light cruisers. The aircraft returned to the carrier without loss later that afternoon. Note: Despite this and subsequent strikes, the Japanese managed to keep Vila operational until it was abandoned in September, 1943.
"intelligence_string"=The weather for your mission looks good. Winds are 10-12 knots out of 120 degrees, with visibility of 15+ miles and scattered cloud cover above 10,000 feet. AA ground fire should be degraded by the 4-hour naval bombardment, which will lift just prior to your arrival over RP-BRONZE. The duration and intensity of the barrage should also prevent any enemy CAP from taking off to oppose you.
"player_aircraft_name_string"=F4F-4 Wildcat VF-5
"airfield_string"=Henderson42

This will be the last mission employing the Wildcat. Saratoga takes on CAG-12 with Hellcats next mission. MY only question for now is whether to make missions on the same strike, but with the player in an Avenger or Dauntless. These I would set up as random alternatives to the core mission (F4F). Your thoughts?:wiggle:

Cheers: :wavey:
Shadow Wolf 07

[highpockets]

Avenger.
One of my comic characters I read as a kid during WWII was Buz Sawyer and his gunner , Roscoe Sweeney flying the Avenger, Hence my Avatar:wavey:
Nothing too technical about that, just like the look of the "beast".

[UncleTgt]

Another vote for the TBF.

This would help as a transition link between the Wildcat airgroup & the Hellcat airgroup

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I finished tht SBD version and will get to the Avenger version Tomorrow.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

This is from the Dauntless version:

"title_string"=Sara-G2_Vila Interdiction Strike_2-SBD
"summary_string"=Good morning men! Your mission for today is a strike on the airfield at Vila. Ottawa you and Chippewa will take off at noon, 1200 hours, and climbing to 10,500 feet, link up with the first wave of Strike Group Warrior. Proceed 175 miles on a 303-degree heading to RP-COPPER, arriving there at 1300 hours. Continue SW on a 225-degree vector for 30 miles to the target area. Ottawa, you are to attack and destroy the fuel storage facility about 500 yards east of the center of the runway. Make as many passes as necessary to ensure its elimination. Expend any remaining ordinance on targets of opportunity. Once the strike concludes, you will be informed by the bomber leader. Then you are to break off and regroup at RP-LEAD - 10 miles SSW of the target airstrip. From LEAD, proceed due south at 180 degrees for about 70 miles to rendezvous with Saratoga at RP-GOLD.

I'm going to work on the Avenger version this PM. Meanwhile, I thought about makinng and adding some recon photos:

Cheers!:wiggle:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Currently working on the SBD and TBF missions for the strike on (UT's) SI_Buka. I just test-flew the F6F-3 version and all went as it should. :applause:

Cheers

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I've completed the Buka raid missions and now I'm working on the attack on the Japanese cruiser force in Rabaul Harbor, 5 NOV 43. Again I am doing a triple - F6F, SBD, and TBF missions.

These missions are large (70+ KB) and complex with over 70 aircraft, many triggers and events. :dizzy: When I finish the first mission, (an F6F mission) I will test fly it and try to get some decent screenshots.

Cheers:

Shadow Wolf 07 :encouragement:

[scoobyman32]

Very much looking forward to these SW, this campaign will be dynamite.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Very much looking forward to these SW, this campaign will be dynamite.

I hope so,Scoobyman32. :wiggle: I've just completed my weekly backup. I have finished so far 28 out of 60+ missions. I'm currently working on the TBF version of the raid on the Japanese cruisers in Rabaul harbor, Nov 1943.

With quite a few "life" interruptions scheduled for the immediate future, I really don't expect to finish this campaign before the beginning of next year.

Cheers: :wavey:
Shadow Wolf 07

[highpockets]

Shadow Wolf 07
Hmmm. Me too.
I completely understand life interruptions. Happens a lot when we get in our age range. Love your work. Hang in there.
I'm in no hurry as my interruptions are in process. :banghead::wavey:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

As of this PM I have completed 33 missions. :dizzy: I am going to take a couple of days break from MB and do some test flying.

Cheers:

SW07 :wavey:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Well I'm back in the arms of the medics again. I returned to the hospital Saturday morning in incredible pain from my feet to my lower back. They did a series of tests an scans and managed to get my pain down to tolerable levels - tolerable with medication. I am in a rehabilitation facility as of this afternoon and I'm resuming work on my campaign project.

Before I fell apart, I managed to complete the SBD version of the Nauru strike and will start my TBF mission this evening. I have no joystick with me so there will be no flight testing until I get home.

Cheers to all:
Shadow

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Actually I am glad I have this work of love to do while I am recovering in this rehab center. It provides me with something satisfying to do. :wiggle: Time passes more quickly and my morale is high.

Thus far I have finished some 35 missions and currently I'm working on the TBF version of the attack on Wotje Island in the Marshall Islands - 29 JAN 1944 - Operation Flintlock. Little air opposition in this set, they are mostly ground attack in nature.

Moving on... :running:

Shadow Wolf 07

[UncleTgt]

Glad to hear you are on the mend, Shadow Wolf :applause:

Also great to hear you're still making progress with the mission-writing too...that's dedication to the Cause!:bee:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I go home from rehab on Wednesday, NOV 29th. The first thing I'm going to do is fix a good dinner - then back to work again. :running:

I just finished mission number 44 - an SBD-5 strike on Sabang, Sumatra. Number 45 will be the same mission but with the player leading one of the Avenger flights.

I've already redone the Sabang CAP mission an one of the 3 Surebaya raid missions. Once I've done the last 2 of those it's off o the coast of Japan. :victorious:

Cheers:

Shadow Wolf 07 :wavey:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

How about the stock campaign to work with all the new scenery etc. I prefer something you can fly either side.[/I]

Looking back into the history of this thread, I noticed (again) Deathwind's post. Hmm... I may put this idea on my to do list. I'll do the USN side and see if I can convince someone to do the IJN/IJAAF side.

In the meantime, I am getting a severe case of "campaign fatigue." I'm getting tired of plotting player and AI courses, waypoints and triggers/events. I think I'll take a few days off from mission building to refresh my pitiful brain. :dizzy: I have 47 missions built, but not flight tested.

I intend to stay creative though. Some work needs to be done on campaign related stuff, like opening videos, and cleaning up my downloads list. This will be an auto-loader installer, so a long, in depth listing won't be necessary - just a list of the credits, campaign synopsis and an installation readme.

Cheers: :wavey:

Shadow Wolf 07

[highpockets]

SW
47 of 60 missions! :dizzy: Landing back on the carrier 60 times! Maybe just hit X for me.:wavey:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

SW
47 of 60 missions! :dizzy: Landing back on the carrier 60 times! Maybe just hit X for me.:wavey:

Hi, Highpockets:

LOL: You won't have to make 60 landings. It is 60 total but in the campaign itself, you'll only have to fly about 25. Many are duplicates with the same mission for F4F/F6F, SBD or TBF randomly selected. Besides the mixed version there will be 3 other campaigns - a pure fighter, pure TBF and a pure SBD version.

The Japan missions should prove to be the most challenging. They all start after sunset. :victorious: The earliest take off is 1900 hours. I don't remember if there is any lunar illumination... You'll love it, I'm sure. :adoration:

SW07 :wiggle:

[highpockets]

At my age with my eyes, I may need some flares.:rocket:

[stuart277]

Hi Shadow Wolf
I hope that all goes well with the recovery.
Let me know if you need any ships.
Cheers
Stuart


I go home from rehab on Wednesday, NOV 29th. The first thing I'm going to do is fix a good dinner - then back to work again. :running:

I just finished mission number 44 - an SBD-5 strike on Sabang, Sumatra. Number 45 will be the same mission but with the player leading one of the Avenger flights.

I've already redone the Sabang CAP mission an one of the 3 Surebaya raid missions. Once I've done the last 2 of those it's off o the coast of Japan. :victorious:

Cheers:

Shadow Wolf 07 :wavey:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Hi Shadow Wolf
I hope that all goes well with the recovery.
Let me know if you need any ships.
Cheers
Stuart

Thank you, Stuart: :wavey:

My recovery is coming along fine. I discharge tomorrow to home and at-home physical therapy et al. My walker is going to be my newest best friend. :wiggle:

As for ships, I didn't want do bother you but since you asked... In my Joint TF missions the OB calls for 3 Q-Class Royal navy DDs. I couldn't find one in our Warbirds, so I used your R-Class ship. If you have the time and inclination could you build us an RN Q-Class DD 1944? It would be nice to have and, of course very much appreciated. :applause:

Cheers:

Greg

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I got home from rehab a couple of weeks ago and though I haven't test flown any old or built any new missions, I've cleaned up and fixed several. I'm still floating in the waters south of Surabaja, Java. I have yet to do the TBF Avenger version of the raid/mission.

Once i get the Java raid competed, Sara returns to the States for a refit and night operations training. She was then, formed up in Ulithi with USS Enterprise to compose the nucleus of TG 58.5, Night Carrier Division 7. She had aboard the 53 Hellcats and 17 avengers of Carrier Air Group (Night) 53. I'll pick up my work after that point, off the coast of Japan in FEB of 1945.

Cheers: :wavey:

Shadow Wolf 07

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Well, I finally got ff my 6 and finished the SBD version of the Surebaja raid mission. :dizzy: Wondering if I should do a TBF version too? :a1089:

[kdriver]

Seasons Greetings and good health for the New Year Greg!

Glad you're progressing with the missions. Did you get the Surabaya scenery sorted out?

Cheers,
Kevin

[Shadow Wolf 07]

[QUOTE=kdriver;1325586]Seasons Greetings and good health for the New Year Greg!

Glad you're progressing with the missions. Did you get the Surabaya scenery sorted out?

Cheers,
Kevin[/QUOTE

Yes, it is all sorted out, Kevin. :applause::applause: I had some excellent guidance in finding just what I needed.

Progressing, like trench warfare :banghead: I have TBF and F6F-5N versions of one of the first carrier-based raids on Japan home island since the Doolittle Raid - a nighttime strike on the Japanese airbase just east of Tokyo on Cape Nojima.

I was working from the old mission, updating ships and acft as usual, but ran into a problem. The originals won't re-save even when no changes are made to them. Thus leaving me to rebuild from scratch. At least I can pull a layout and other info from the original to use as a guide. It's just a bit more time consuming

I am also working at getting a little stronger each day... :victorious: And may You and all others here at SOH, CFS2 Forum have a joyous Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year.

Cheers:

SW07 :santahat:

[Captain Kurt]

Keep getting better sir. Happy new year to you and family.

[beepee]

I hope you Shadow Wolf and all others at SOH, CFS2 Forum a good health and a Happy new year to you and family.
Cheers
Beepee

[skylane]

I hope you get well again, Greg.
Thanks for all the updates on your campaign progress.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I hope you get well again, Greg.
Thanks for all the updates on your campaign progress.

You are welcome. I just finished the re-build of the Cape Nojima F6F-5N mission and am going to convert it to the TBF version next. I'm not too tired, so I will work some tonight and finish up tomorrow. :wiggle:

Cheers

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Finishing up my next to last mission now - a night intercept mission. The last one will be an anti-Kamikaze intercept. After that I will go back to mission one and flight test each one and fine-tune where necessary. :dizzy: And yes, I'll finally post some screenshots. :a1310:

This one is to be an auto-loader as it would take way too long to download and install all the parts individually. Once I have that together, I'll put out a call for volunteer testers.

Cheers::wavey:

Shadow Wolf 07

[Shadow Wolf 07]

I've started the test flying of al missions tonight and took a few screenshots. This mission is a "what if," based on a relief of Wake Island attempt in DEC 41. There were a few minor issues to iron out but the mission checks out okay.

I used up too much ammo, engaging enemy landing craft and didn't have enough remaining to successfully engage the Japanese bombers which may randomly spawn in the mission. :banghead: Too much time spent building and not flying. My flight, strafing and bombing skills could use some sharpening. :dizzy: I'll get better as the testing proceeds.

Note: Today would have been the 103rd birthday of the soldier/war hero in the photograph... my Dad.

[highpockets]

Happy 103 birthday soldier, hero, dad.:applause::medals:

[Hiede]

Shadow Wolf,

Are you using the Wildcat,F4F-3 by Captain Kurt?If so the dp file is wrong for ammo for the guns.He used the dp for the F4F-4 by mistake which had 240 rounds per gun which is 1440 rounds while the F4F-3 should have 450 rounds per gun which comes out to 1800 rounds.

I told him about this after my son told me,don't know if he changed it in the download or not.

Just trying to be helpful.

Hiede

[stuart277]

I've started the test flying of al missions tonight and took a few screenshots. This mission is a "what if," based on a relief of Wake Island attempt in DEC 41. There were a few minor issues to iron out but the mission checks out okay.

I used up too much ammo, engaging enemy landing craft and didn't have enough remaining to successfully engage the Japanese bombers which may randomly spawn in the mission. :banghead: Too much time spent building and not flying. My flight, strafing and bombing skills could use some sharpening. :dizzy: I'll get better as the testing proceeds.

Note: Today would have been the 103rd birthday of the soldier/war hero in the photograph... my Dad.

Hi Greg
Great Picture of your Dad.
Hero!
Cheers
Stuart

PS My Dad would be 103 years old as well.

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Shadow Wolf,

Are you using the Wildcat,F4F-3 by Captain Kurt?If so the dp file is wrong for ammo for the guns.He used the dp for the F4F-4 by mistake which had 240 rounds per gun which is 1440 rounds while the F4F-3 should have 450 rounds per gun which comes out to 1800 rounds.

I told him about this after my son told me,don't know if he changed it in the download or not.

Just trying to be helpful.

Hiede

Thanks for the heads-up. Mine has 240 rds/gun for a total of 960 bullets. I could hand edit the dp myself, but I will look for a "fixed" version, in case something else needed changing. :wiggle:

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Since my last posting I've been quite lazy as far as cfs2 is concerned. With a 3-day stay in the hospital (I had stroke-like symptoms, but no stroke, thank God). I've only test flown and fixed 5 missions but tonight I'll be back into it again! With my long break from flying I have to sharpen my maneuvers, carrier landing, bombing and gunnery skills.

Cheers:

SW07 :wavey:

[UncleTgt]

Greg

Take your time. It's just a hobby - health is everything

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Greg

Take your time. It's just a hobby - health is everything

Yes UT, but it is satisfying and fun. I enjoy doing the mods and frankly, it helps to maintain my sanity.