B-17 Question

[Devildog73]

All, which B-17 do you recommend for FPS friendly missions?

I have Alpha B-17 for CFS2 and also HerbieG's B-17E. I also have the FDG B-17 but I think it is a donationware, instead of a freeware version.

Last night, I got down to 18FPS on a mission to bomb the harbor at Lae that took place on 8 January 1943. I had 2 flts of 6 of each B-17 from Alpha and HerbieG. I had 16 P-38s with SC's skins. I had only 3 flts of 3 stock Oscars, with moderate clouds, no flak, 4 additional ships. I usually run between 77 and 106 FPS. But then, I am maxed out on all of my video settings...........

I really do not want to cut down on aircraft. I have pretty much gone to stock aircraft with new skins to cut down on downloads and multiple aircraft in the stables, unless it is just not available in CFS2 as a stocker.

I have similar missions with FDG and TR A-20s and stock B-24s, B-25s with new clothes, and some Beaufighters in Aussie skins that hit my 77 to 106 FPS. I mean I have a lot of aircraft in the sky all at once with lots of flak. I have Zekes and Oscars and lots of ships on this mission and still hold decent FPS. Do I need to use my AI B-17s from my MTO install with MTO skins? Or, are there some PTO skins for those AI B-17s?

My system:
Intel 2.4 Gig duo core, 1 Gig of unshared Vid RAM, 3 Gigs of system RAM, 7200RPM HD.

[Devildog73]

Oh, and WHAT is up with an AI Oscar keeping up with me in a dive at 400MPH?????????:173go1:

I was escorting these B-17s and an Oscar jumped on my six at 18,000 feet, and lit me up! I dove hard to get away, almost lost lift and couldn't pull out!
He stayed with me the entire time. I had to spin to keep him from getting a good fire solution on me. Finally went into the valleys of nearby mountains and he wouldn't come down and play with me zigging and zagging through them. I hit my "H" key and got some wingmen on him. But the bugger kept on my tail in a long, fast dive! From what I have read, NO Japanese aircraft stayed with a diving P-38.

[OBIO]

Devildog

Au-Mav (or is it Au-Mov) did up a package of dedicated AI aircraft, including a B-17. The package is in the CFS2 library. The AI B-17 isn't a pretty plane by any measure of the word, but it is designed to be extremely frame rate friendly. I would suggest (even though I have no idea how to do this) to use the AI B-17 for all you bomber formations. Use a main line full detail B-17 (Alphasim, FDG2, HerbieG) as the player aircraft when needed.

The AI package also has the Lockheed Electra, Hudson, B-26, Beaufighter, C-47, PBY-3, Waco glider, and Betty.

OBIO

[Helldiver]

If your using a B-17 in 1943, don't use a B-17 G. They only came out at the end of the war. But for some reason all the kids like the G. It was an awful, overweight airplane by the time they added all the armor plating and that stupid chin turret. They barely had enough left over to carry bombs.

[Devildog73]

Just in follow up to my add-on question about an Oscar keeping on my six in a dive, I went into free flight last night. Took off in an Oscar, climbed to 18000ft and then dove hard to over 400 knots (not MPH) and it actually pulled out of the dive BETTER than the Lightning!

If the air and dp files are correct on it, then it could dive with and stay on the tail of a P-38 chewing up tail feathers all the while. I will have to remember that for the rest of these missions for Bong, McGuire, Lynch, and the rest of the 39th FS.

Today, since I have a holiday from the office, I will be replacing the B-17s with the AIs I downloaded. I will be removing the textures that I am not using because we all know about MB's disdain for multiple texture options in one aircraft folder.

That is, BETWEEN watching WW II movies on Veterans Day! :USA-flag:

[Jagdflieger]

DD,

I've tried many of th B-17 bombers out there and the Donatitionware B-17 E, F and G Fortresses are a great choice. They have good frame rates as well as Gramps' traditional attention to detail. There are also a few skins out there for them too. Gramps' version 1 B-17E is also a great choice for AI use, but lacks some of the detail of his FDGv2 offering.

I understand that the Wings of Power B-17 converts well too, but I've not accomplished that feat yet.

The Alphasim freeware B-17 versions were made sometime ago before FSDS V2 or GMAX and thus they loose their props when used as AI aircraft. They, I think for the same reason, are hard on the frame rates too.


Here's a few shots of the DWare Fortress:

[Devildog73]

I'll give those a try, Jagd.

I replaced the Fortresses in the mission in question and flew again with the AI from AuMaV. Wow, what a difference in FPS! I am up between 45 and 65 dependent upon action at the time.......look for this mission to have MASSIVE amounts of aircraft.

I used to have the donationware B-17s that I paid for a few years ago. I will have to check my files for them. That being said though, I am doing these missions for eventual upload, so I am keeping all of the aircraft freeware, stock with new skins as much as possible.

I have some 1% missions on my PTO install, so my hanger is full of necessary 1% aircraft, so I have to watch my numbers. I may be looking at another PTO install soon. Perhaps one for 1% only, the other for non-1% only.......time will tell.

[Oglivie]

Oh, and WHAT is up with an AI Oscar keeping up with me in a dive at 400MPH?????????

For the stocker P-38 and Oscar, try a shallow dive at full throttle. When distance opens up to say 2500-3000, ease back into a shallow climb until 280-300 mph and then loop it. If the timing is right you should be able to come right down on the Oscar and get it. It works if everything is done correctly. Not sure if I got all the numbers right-on correct though, it's been awhile so some adjustments maybe needed.

If he is in too close and there is no time to accelerate, and altitude providing, you could split-s and scoot in the opposite direction, open up the distance, turn and use a headon approach or other tactic.

[Oglivie]

In reality, the P-38 did have compressibility problem effecting wing lift and elevator control. This started occuring at about 445 mph TAS, and got worse as airspeed increased. Much of the compressibility problem was corrected with a dive-brake type of device mounted under the wings of later models. The dive brakes were first installed as a production item on the P-38J-25 and continued for subsequent models.

There is a way to adjust the elevator for this in section 517 of the air file with the AirEd utility program. Always have a backup air file incase something doen't work out right.

Alternately, section 517 could be deleted and a copy of section 517 from a Gryphon P-38 or other P-38 air file could be added to the air file to be modified.

[Devildog73]

Thanks, I have an air file that one of the guys here did for me.

It added the 8% flap setting that was used on the earlier P-38s that M$ forgot to add in the stocks. It helps ALOT.

Too early in the campaign to go to the J model yet. Bong, Lynch, and McGuire are still flying Fs right now in their air battles.

[Oglivie]

Devildog73,

Are you making campaigns for the P-38 Bong/McGiure/Lynch?

[Devildog73]

Oglivie,
Yes, from start in PNG to finish.
I am not doing their flight school stuff, but upon arrival in New Guinea on, absolutely. I have six missions done so far.

DD

[Oglivie]

Devildog73,

I'm looking forward to it! Thanks in advance for doing them!

The only Bong/McGuire missions I've flown is the stock MS stuff.:d

:ernae:

[Devildog73]

PM me your email and I will send you the first 6 missions of Bong.

[Oglivie]

PM'ed. Thanks, DD!

[Devildog73]

You've got mail.......