tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373076402024-02-19T07:42:59.082+00:00King Albert's StoriesBlog from KingAlbert containing links to his different stories.KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-87651781025736661272009-08-12T17:37:00.002+01:002009-08-12T17:52:16.804+01:00Books on WarIt's often hard to find good books on war (war history or war theory - both interest me). Belgian bookstores don't carry that many titles. Luckily there are stores like <a href="http://users.skynet.be/waterstones/">Waterstone's</a>. They have plenty of books on war history and sell a lot of the English books.<br /><br />Today I bought "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wings-Like-Eagles-History-Britain/dp/0061125350">With Wings Like Eagles</a>", a book about the Battle of Britain. Meanwhile I posted the <a href="http://361st.blogspot.com/2009/08/chapter-3-naval-attack.html">third chapter in 361st Fighter blog novel</a>.<br /><br />I hope you enjoy the read.KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-81687151435036282192009-08-10T12:34:00.001+01:002009-08-10T12:37:41.505+01:00HolidayFinally my holidays have started. Three weeks to relax, play some games, fly some sims and read. And off course keep posting at my gameranting blog and <a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/09/ww2-stories.html">blog novels</a>.<br /><br />At <a href="http://www.gameranting.blogspot.com/">gameranting</a> I wrote a post concerning the <a href="http://gameranting.blogspot.com/2009/08/elephant-in-room.html">prices of games</a> and the rise of the second hand game market.<br /><br />On my blog novel I posted the second chapter for <a href="http://361st.blogspot.com/2009/08/chapter-2-first-mission.html">361st Fighter group</a>. Meanwhile I am flying a new campaign in Il-2 which should provide material for a new blog novel starting in the last week of august.<br /><br />Happy ReadingKingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-56677054075390216492009-08-04T17:53:00.002+01:002009-08-04T17:56:38.762+01:00361st SquadronMy holiday starts within 3 days, so I decided to use the free time to repost a number of my older stories like <a href="http://www.361st.blogspot.com/">361st fighter group</a>.<br /><br />This was one of the first Il-2 stories i wrote, but got lost on the forum where I originaly posted it. So for the coming weeks I'll post the chapters again in this <a href="http://www.361st.blogspot.com/">blog novel</a>.<br /><br />Happy Reading<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/361st/Preface/Preface_Pic1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 407px; height: 305px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/361st/Preface/Preface_Pic1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-1278886966243932272009-08-03T17:47:00.003+01:002009-08-03T18:35:35.540+01:00I am backHello,<br /><br />after 6 months of silence I am back to post some more items on my blog. During the past six months I have been busy playing X-box games and had little time to spend time in flight sims.<br /><br />That is untill I discovered <a href="http://bluecasket.sekritforum.com/">The Blue Casket</a>. This blog is dedicated to all things related to game storytelling. Since I have written so many stories, I thought they might be interested in them. I dropped them a mail, so let's hope they react.<br /><br />What are my intentions with this blog, now that I am back. First of all I discovered that I still have some old stories, posted and unposted on forums. Next week I will enjoy a 3 week holiday at home, so the timing is excellent to upload the various stories to new blog novels.<br /><br />PS I also started a more serious gaming blog: <a href="http://gameranting.blogspot.com/">gameranting</a>. I intend to post weekly on that blog for more serious gaming issues, while this blog remains the portal and source for all my stories.<br /><br />Happy ReadingKingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-28385423764088396012008-12-22T18:34:00.003+00:002008-12-22T19:01:20.168+00:00XBOX 360Yep, I have caved in for the publicity and bought me an Xbox 360. With Christmas there is a special action where you can buy the Xbox 360 (arcade) for 149 €. Since I received a 500 € bonus at work for a project I could not resist the temptation to buy one.<br /><br />I already own a Playstation 2, so console gaming is not new to me. With the PS2 I bought any release game that interested me. Needless to say that at 60 € a game it became a very costly hobby. This time I vowed to take a different, less expensive approach. Basically I only buy one game a month and only when I finished the previous game. Old games will be sold immediately thru Ebay or thru retailers with buy back policies.<br /><br />This also means that each game that I buy must be selected very carefully. Before I set out to buy the console, I did some reading on sites like <a href="http://www.ign.com/">IGN</a> and <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/index.html?tag=nav-top;xbox360&navclk=xbox360">Gamespot</a>. I selected the best scoring games on these sites and watched their reviews.<br /><br />In the end 3 games were selected:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uLbYwaY20E">Grand Theft Auto 4</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzJ8xQFVXck">Farcry 2</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCEThrx6qqY">Fall Out 3</a></li></ul>GTA 4 is a game I know very well since I played all previous versions on the PS2. Therefore I did not select that one, because I feared I would just play the same game but with better graphics. The game is still on my shortlist, but for now there are other more interesting games to explore.<br /><br />Farcry 2, did not appeal directly because its a shooter and I can't control the controllers (both on PS2 and XBOX) very well in a FPS game. The mouse and keyboard seem a more intuitive control to me. So Farcry 2 did not get selected.<br /><br />Finally Fall Out 3, it promised a great story, a shooting scheme were you can pause the action to better select your target and at least 20 hours of fun. So Fall Out 3 became my first Xbox 360 game. I have been playing it now for about 8 hours and its indeed great fun.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mCEThrx6qqY&hl=nl&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mCEThrx6qqY&hl=nl&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br />After I bought Fall Out 3 I discovered the review for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz0xEVhutJo">Dead Space</a>. Looking back that game would also have been a contender (with its story line and graphics), yet now I'll have to wait untill I finish Fall Out 3. On the bright side , by the time I finish Fall Out 3 second hand cheaper version of Dead Space may already be available on ebay.KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-33670703134701354742008-12-22T18:29:00.004+00:002008-12-22T18:34:25.178+00:00France - Chapter 6<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_01.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I hate this damn war. Everybody is upset in the squadron. We suffered our first casualty. We were ordered to relocate to Rheims. The plan was to fly over the German lines and lure some fighters into combat. We did not see a single German fighter, but they got a surprise for us anyhow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_02.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The squadron took off, without a hitch and we soon formed to head for the frontline. I took the lead with David Jenkins on my wing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_03.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The flight was uneventful even when we crossed the frontline. It look like this would be a milk run.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_04.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I did not here any explosion, there was no tracer fire. Only somebody yelling: “Jenkins is hit!”. I glanced over my shoulder, only to see the left wing of Jenkins Hurricane swirling next to his aircraft.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_05.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_05.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>We had stumbled right on top of a German Flak Battery. With their first shot they managed to tear Jenkins Hurricane apart.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_06.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_06.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Some us yelled “jump, jump”. How he did it we'll never know, but somehow Jenkins managed to jump out his bird.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_07.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The lead plane in the last wing reported seeing Jenkins fall face first into the ground with a partially opened parachute, there was no hope for his survival.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%206/chapter_6_image_08.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>We landed in silence at Rheims. We just lost our first pilot and friend, not in chivalrous combat, but to some lucky German punk with a big gun.<br /><br />In my tent, I hoped I would not have to write many such letters, informing relatives of the dead of their loved ones. I could not write the truth to Jenkins parents, I just wrote he was a fine pilot, friend to everybody in the squadron and that he died fighting for his country. I left out the part of him plummeting to his death.<br /><br />War sucks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/raf-eto.html"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Back to table of content</span></span><br /></a></div>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-83637303425464101342008-12-05T17:06:00.003+00:002008-12-05T17:26:45.566+00:00Just a GameRecently Portugal is considering invading its neighbour. Not that it was on the news, its just a public secret that the current Portugese king has a dislike for his royal neighbour.<br /><br />The King has not forgotten the last time a war erupted between their countries. Sure the Portugese were dragged into the war because they vouched for the Germans, but the sight of enemy cavalry on Portuguse soil was something that needed to be revenged.<br /><br />Off course there are some downsides to declaring war: relations with the neighbour are good and they share the same religion. There is always a possibility that their neighbour finds some allies, but the Portugese King knowns he needs ports on the west coast of the continent to supplement the only east coast harbor he has.<br /><br />If you are thinking what the hell this post is about and you did not hear about this, its because I am writing of <a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/addiction.html">civilization 4</a>. I am currently playing as the portugese King. I am pretty much the most powerfull country on my continent but I don't have west coast ports. My neighbour, the Vikings, have plenty of ports on the west coast and we did fight a small war early in the game. They have the ports, fought already a war with us and threathen my left flank. Plenty of reasons to invade them. But they have the same religion and are currently the only friendly nation (besides my two vassals the germans and numedians), so somewhere in my heart i feel reluctant to invade.<br /><br /><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/ive-lived.html">But its just a computer game</a>!!! Yet each time I play Civ I feel amazed of how the game manages to convince me that my computer opponents are real. Just like the last mission I flew in <a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/12/france-chapter-5.html">RAF:ETO</a>. It's amazing how games can create the illusion that what you see is real, that your ai buddies are real. It makes all the decisions you make real, despite the fact that its just a game.<br /><br />But know I have to go. My Portugese knights are ready to invade viking territory.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.2kgames.com/civ4/beyondthesword/screens/s1xxx.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.2kgames.com/civ4/beyondthesword/screens/s1xxx.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-11962561989220820852008-12-05T16:54:00.003+00:002008-12-05T17:00:55.585+00:00France - Chapter 5<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_01.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Despite our early success against the Germans, the war was far from over. Each day there were reports of German fighters crossing the border. But not only had we to keep track of all these incursions, we also had to train the new crews that arrived from England.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_02.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Today I would lead a newcommer, Dave Jenkins, around. He was an eager young chap, ready to fight the Hun. I had to calm him down a bit during briefing, reminding him that there are bold pilots and old pilots, but never old bold pilots. If he wanted to survive the French skies he better stick to my side. I did not tell him that after only one victory, I still was not sure whether I was cut out of the right wood for this job.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_03.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>As we flew a four point patrol around the base, we encountered “Freddy zee bomber pilot”. That was the nickname we had given to a German reconnaissance plane that visited our base at irregular intervals. The Germans always changed their arrival time, to prevent us from staging an ambush. But this time Jenkins and me got lucky. We were in the sky right as “Freddy” flew towards our base.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_04.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I ordered Jenkins to stay on my wing. We were approaching the bomber from behind but against the sun. The German gunners would spot us easily while we had to squint our eyes to see the bomber. So my plane was to pass the bomber on the left, fly ahead of it before turning towards it for a head on pass. This would put the sun in our back and blind the German pilot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_05.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_05.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>But as I passed the bomber to the left, at a safe distance, I spotted tracer fire streaking towards the bomber. Flames trailed behind the bomber, while tracers went back and forth between the bomber and the small dot trailing behind it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_06.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_06.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>That bloody Jenkins had disobeyed my orders and pressed on his own attack. But the fool forgot that the gunners could easily spot him. Furthermore he had attack the bomber in a level flight, presenting an even bigger and easier target to its gunners.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_07.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The stupid bastard managed to get his engine shot up. Remembering how I got stuck with a dying engine in mid flight during one of my first missions, I immediately ordered Jenkins to bug out and head for base. I decided to trail the bomber. He would probably fly straight towards his homebase so if could get a bearing we might guess the location of the lufwaffe base.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_08.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Trailing behind the bomber, I remembered the compass heading. Its left engine was spitting fire. Why that crew did not bail out I don't know. Where they so afraid of captivity?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_09.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The fire must have melted the wing structure because suddenly the wing tore of from the bomber. Immediately the rest of the aircraft violently spun around, diving straight towards the ground. The crew did not have single change, no parachutes appeared in the sky.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_10.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I decided to shorten my flight and try to catch up with Jenkins who was rushing back to base. But then a French pilot spoke over our frequency. Apparently he was in some kind of trouble, he was loosing fuel and some German fighters were chasing him. I answered his plea for help and turned towards his position. While his pursuers were chasing him, I started to chase them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_11.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>It turned out he had a group of Me-110 on his tail. Unlike the single engine Me-109 these fighters carried more fuel which allowed them to loiter longer in the French sky. And although their pilots might be fixated on their French prey, each Me-110 had a rear gunner which would spot me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_12.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I ordered the French pilot to climb as fast as he could. This would force the Me-110 to climb steeply, all the while reducing their forward speed. This would allow me to build up more speed, reducing the time that I was within the rear gunner's range.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_13.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The rear plane's gunner had spotted me, but his fire sailed harmlessly above my head. I realized that these guys did not have belly guns. So I could slip underneath their belly, I could pump them full by just tilting up my nose.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_14.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I flew underneath the rear plane, pulled up the nose and shot at his belly. White vapor from the fuel tanks appear under the belly. Overshooting the Me-110, I rolled over its head, evading any counter fire from the rear gunner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_15.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>the Me-110 leader, remained oblivious of the fire his wingman drew. Using my excess speed I closed in on him too and started pumping fire into his tail.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_16.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The wing leader immediately pulled away, but that made him an even bigger target for me. I easily slipped into his turn and kept on pounding him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_17.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>His wingtanks caught fire, but I was not intended to give up, so I kept pulling the trigger, spraying lethal fire all over the German.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_18.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>A huge explosion follow as the wing tanks erupted into a giant ball of fire. A burning piece of the engine was the largest part that plummeted to the ground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_19.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Now I turned my attention to what I believed to be the last Me-110. Sliding behind its tail, I fired my last rounds, setting his engine ablaze. With my last bullets spend, I had to let the German escape.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_20.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_20.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Since we mostly flew in groups of three, I figured out that I had chased away all Germans. But as circled above our airfield, a rude call from ground control warned me that not all Germans were gone. They flew in two pairs, so one Me-110 had escaped and was now intent on avenging his comrades.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_21.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Without ammo I was utterly defenseless, my only hope was to lure the German into the range of our anti aircraft guns. “Shoot at the aircraft with two engines”, I yelled over the radio. Soon green tracers climbed from the ground towards the German fighter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_22.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>To my delight, the tracers converged on the Me-110, tearing it apart in a cloud of fire and metal.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_23.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%205/chapter_5_image_23.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>With the danger gone, I could land safely at base. Next to the runway stood Jenkins Hurricane, white steam, blowing out of its exhausts. Jenkins stood next to it, with a big grin on its face. I clambered out of my cockpit and went straight to the cockey pilot.<br /><br />“Jenkins, I can confirm you shot that bomber, but if you try to disobey my orders next time, I will personally shoot you myself out of the sky.” That wipe the grin of his face quickly enough.<br /><br />The next morning, the AAA gun crews paraded a piece the Me-110 they shot, around the airfield. They got their first kill too. For me I had my second official kill and one probable. Slowly I started to gain confidence in my aerial gunnery skills.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/raf-eto.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Back to table of content</span><br /></a></div>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-13913766827423564962008-11-28T19:10:00.004+00:002008-11-28T19:27:49.253+00:00Il-2 ModdingI only recently returned to Il-2 with my <a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/raf-eto.html">RAF:ETO AAR's</a> but while browsing <a href="http://www.mission4today.com/">Mission4Today</a> for campaigns I noticed for the first time that there is a modding community for IL-2. It appears they are staying at the <a href="http://allaircraftarcade.com/forum/index.php">All Aircraf Arcade site</a>.<br /><br />Now I am not opposed against modding, after all I did try my hand at Wings over Europe and let's face once you buy the game, your free to do what you want. It's like car tuning, you buy a standard car and customize it to your needs. As long as you keep it street legal and safe, nobody has problems with it (in software terms that would translate like keeping the game playable).<br /><br />Yet with modding games like IL-2, there are some concerns. Unlike the "Wings over" series, this game has not been designed to be modded. so when you break some vital part, the game developper won't support you (Unlike TK from thirdwire).<br /><br />Also when installing mods there are questions to be answered, like will the mod affect frame rate, will it affect other parts of the game which the modders did not foresee? With main stream sites like <a href="http://www.simhq.com/">SimHQ </a>and <a href="http://www.mission4today.com/">Mission4Today </a>officialy allowing mod related posts and discussions, you could believe that modding has become mainstream for this game.<br /><br />In reality I would suggest most gamers to stay away from the mods unless you feel adventerous and are willing to tinker with the software.<br /><br />Happy Flying<br /><br />KingAlbert<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://allaircraftarcade.com/forum/index.php?sid=397e424fc571a4937a0654952cd2df4f"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 101px;" src="http://allaircraftarcade.com/forum/templates/cs_red/images/aaa_logo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-80564282901721254902008-11-28T18:47:00.003+00:002008-11-28T19:10:32.433+00:00France - Chapter 4<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_01.jpg" alt="" border="0" />My first and encounter with a German fighter had spooked me bad. I wondered how I could lead a squadron if I could not handle myself in a dogfight. But I could ot just hand in my wings or ask for transfer back to transport duty. The Germans had invaded Poland and would surely try a repeat of the last war by invading France. My only hope was to squeeze in as much training as possible for my squadron and myself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_02.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Today we would fly another training patrol. As part of the exercise we would intercept a group of British bombers. Masking my fear towards the other pilots of the squadron, we took of for what I hoped would be a routine flight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_03.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>But halfway our flight, one of my wingmen spotted a German bomber. My younger wingmen were eager to engage, but I held them back. Partially because we were too low for an intercept and partially because I was afraid for another encounter with German fighters.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_04.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Pulling away from the German bomber, we headed for some small specks on the horizon. I thought it were our bombers. I called them on the radio, but nobody answered back. The planes were heading straight towards, while they should have move away from us. These were not our bombers. These were the escorts of the German bomber.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_05.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_05.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>But those enemy fighters were as surprised like us. Perhaps they were expecting a relief escort for the bomber instead of us. This bought us enough time to turn onto them. The Germans were clearly low on fuel because they all made a beeline straight for their side of the frontline.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_06.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_06.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I managed to score some hits on one German. Like I did, during the last mission, this German dove straight for the deck. Setting my fear aside I pressed on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_07.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Side by side we dove towards the deck. I feared that the German would slip behind me, but he seemed to pre-occupied with outrunning me. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_08.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Instead I got behind him and started pounding his aircraft. The German had to be an even bigger rookie in dogfights then me. He did not make a single evasive maneuver. Soon his aircraft was riddled with holes. I seriously had to watch not to smack myself into the ground, so low was the fight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_09.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>“whoa sir, you got one.” Yelled my wingman as the German fighter clipped some trees and turned into a gigantic fireball. The other German fighters were nowhere to be seen. They had abandoned their comrade to save their own skin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%204/chapter_4_image_10.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>To celebrate my first aerial victory, I performed a low and fast pass over the farm which serves as HQ and mess hall. Climbing out of my Hurricane the other pilots of the squadron cheer. James, my crew chief, who is a man of few words, shakes my hands while saying: “It seems the cargo haulers can bite too, sir”.<br /><br />The cargo hauler can indeed bite, so bring on the Jerries, I'll teach them a lesson!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/raf-eto.html"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Back to Table of Content</span></span><br /></a></div>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-64824902284078122932008-11-20T18:42:00.004+00:002008-11-20T19:05:43.256+00:00Dogfights - No Region 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.repmanblog.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/08/05/history_channel_logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 134px;" src="http://www.repmanblog.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/08/05/history_channel_logo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The <a href="http://www.history.com/">History Channel</a> has an interesting series on <a href="http://www.history.com/minisites/dogfights">dogfights</a>. unfortunetaly I can receive the station in Belgium.<br /><br />I checked out their website in order to purchase season 1 and 2, but it turns out that they are only available in region 1 (USA and Canada). The only solution for me is to watch the episodes on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dogfights&search_type=">Youtube</a>.<br /><br />Theoritically this is illegal (something about copyrights etc), but I guess as long as The History Channel does not release the dvd's in region 2, I am technically breaking no law (except for those Americans who are putting the episodes up on Youtube).<br /><br />So for us European - enjoy the show !<br /><br />PS I also uploaded a new chapter in <a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/raf-eto-chapter-3.html">RAF - ETO</a>.<br /><br />Dogfight - episodes on youtube<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OMaXT2jxzk">Long Odds</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H282DVlZVQA">P-51 Mustang</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah_FPeD2r_U&feature=related">The Bloodiest Day</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVLelD3ATdI">Death of the Japanese Navy</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuTNJ2oz1aE&feature=related">Sink the Bismarck</a></li><li>(there are many more documentaries - check my blog in the future, i'll try to post or link them all)<br /></li></ul>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-45141306353813428612008-11-20T18:32:00.004+00:002008-11-20T18:41:25.318+00:00France - Chapter 3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_01.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>“Sir, you're plane is ready at the French depot”, reported James. After my crashlanding last week my personal aircraft was send to a nearby French airfield, where our ground crews could use their material to repair my fighter.<br /><br />I hitched a ride with a sergeant who had to drop off some documents at the airbase. The French are an amicable lot. Off course their country is invaded, but when they have guests they do take time to share a cognac or two.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_02.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Finally after several cognacs I took off, rocking my wings to say goodbye to my French brothers in arms. Their airfield was much bigger then ours and certainly they would get a lot more attention from the Germans then our tiny strip.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_03.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>In training they keep repeating that you need to check your six, especially when you're flying alone. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a dark figure speeding right to me. Automatically I threw my hurricane in a sharp turn. Tracers flew through the sky were once my aircraft; I got a Gerry on my tail.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_04.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The lone Me-109 pilot flashed underneath my wings, immediately pulling up into a steep climb. I was in serious trouble. The German used his superior speed and height advantage to make slashing attacks on me. The only thing I could was keep an eye out and evade his attacks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_05.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_05.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I tried to climb towards him and kept my nose pointed towards him in hope of getting a lucky head to head shot, but the German new his business. He never stayed on my altitude. Finally I knew I could only do one thing: make a run for it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_06.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_06.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>As soon as the German pulled up from another slashing attack, I rolled my fighter over and dove straight for the deck. I changed my course, in the hope that the German would loose sight of me. With the throttle wide open, I raced over the French countryside.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_07.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Finally I spotted our airfield in the distance. I glanced a final time over my shoulder, no German to be seen. But I did take any risks and blast straight for the runway. I lower the gear at the maximum allowed speed, dust is kicked up the wash of my propeller hits the ground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%203/chapter_3_image_08.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I touch the ground at breakneck speed. Luckily for me we use this old road as runway, which is longer then a traditional runway. My aircraft rolls to a complete stop, way beyond what we normally consider as the threshold of the runway. Eventually I have to taxi all the way to the airfield.<br /><br />As I clamber out of my cockpit, I notice the little tremble in my hands which I quickly hid from my fellow pilots. This was my first contact with a German fighter and I never have been so scared in my life. I wonder whether it was a good idea to volunteer for the fighter corps.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/raf-eto.html"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Back to Table of Content</span></span><br /></a></div>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-90253109918077446812008-11-15T12:04:00.002+00:002008-11-15T12:10:30.099+00:00Super PowersNext to writing a new series of AAR's I am also busy digging up a story that I intended to writea year ago. Unfortunetaly I trashed all my notes during a cleaning frenzy, so I now have to bring back from memory everything I wrote.<br /><br />I also posted the <a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/raf-eto.html">next chapter in RAF - ETO</a>, you can read it <a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/france-chapter-2.html">here</a> or at <a href="http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2617527/RAF_ETO_France_Chapter_2.html#Post2617527">simhq</a>.<br /><br />Part of my daily routine is checking out youtube for new and funny video's and I'd like to share this one with everybody.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="299"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Og3YLkw6pGo&hl=nl&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Og3YLkw6pGo&hl=nl&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="299"></embed></object><br /><br />Happy FlyingKingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-17352552995684385982008-11-15T11:58:00.003+00:002008-11-15T12:03:08.217+00:00France - Chapter 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_01.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>“Hi, James come do in”. James commands our ground crew, the lads who keep our aircraft airworthy. I've invited him to my tent, to discuss the stte of our squadron. Of all our aircraft only two are not operational due to battle damage and there is off course the aircraft of my predecessor, which is totally wrecked. I ask James what happened exactly to my predecessor. It turns out the previous squadron leadergot hit by anti aircraft artillery, which ruptured a fuel line. He had to make a crash landing in a meadow. Everything would have gone smoothly if it was not for a single cow which got in the way. The hurricane was wrecked and the squadron leader broke almost every bone in his body. He survived but the accident was even more tragic since he got shot out of the sky by French anti aircraft gunner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_02.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>But there was not much time left to talk with James. French spotters had seen 3 German bombers cross the frontline. It was up to us to intercept them. The bells sounded as I rushed to my fighter and took off with David Blackwell and Richard Atenbourg.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_03.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>We could not miss the Jerries, we just had to fly to the small cloud puffs on the horizon. French anti aircraft artillery was already taking potshots at the Germans. I hoped they would have learned the difference between a Hurricane and a Heinkel by now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_04.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>“Red Flight follow me”, I yelled over the radio. I would dive first on the bombers with David and Richard hot on my tail. As such we would be able to pour constant fire on the bombers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_05.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_05.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I as broke through the German formation, Dave was already firing at my target. The idea was that, while one aircraft fired at the German, the other two could move into position for another shot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_06.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_06.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Richard was the last one to fire at the bomber, which already started to smoke from one of its engines. This made it much easier to detect our prey, we just had to follow the smoke.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_07.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Each of us made another run against the bomber, but it was Richard who gave it the coup de graçe. The bomber nosed over and dove right into the French soil. By that time I noticed a clinging noise coming from the engine. David warned me over the radio that their was a feint trail of smoke behind my aircraft. I could not noitce something wrong on the instruments so I decided to lead our formation against the two remaining bombers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_08.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I singled out the last bomber in the formation. The German was trying to turn as tight as possible to get out the line of fire. But i slipped right into his turn and started pounding him until my guns felt silent. This was a bad time to run out of ammunition, in the middle of mad dive towards an enemy bomber. As I screamed underneath the bomber, I could swear I saw the frightened face of some poor German bloke.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_09.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Turning towards the airfield, the banging noise in the engine became louder and louder while It seemed loosing power. Suddenly the engine came to a screeching halt. I was too low and too far away from the airfield to glide back. My only remaining option was an emergency landing in a nearby meadow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_10.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Gliding towards the meadow, I imagined my self ramming a French cow. Luckily for me the meadow was empty. The landing was a bit bouncy but as the wheels settled down, started to breath again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%202/chapter_2_image_11.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>But then a hidden hole in ground, managed to ruin my day after all. Before I knew it the right undercarriage was torn away and the aircraft skidded around on the right wingtip before burying its nose in the French soil.<br /><br />At least the aircraft did not flip over itself. Once it came to a halt, all I had to do, was unstrap myself and clamber down alongside the engine. On first inspection, the propeller was bent and the fabric on the wingtip was torn a little bit; But nothing, besides the engine, seemed unrepairable. However the damage to my pride was far bigger as I now had the displeasure to walk back to the airfield.<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/raf-eto.html"><span style="font-size:180%;">BACK TO CONTENT TABLE</span></a><br /></div>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-57130882866734894372008-11-12T19:28:00.002+00:002008-11-12T19:38:20.291+00:00AARAfter a long time, I restarted what got me into blogging in the first place: AAR writing. For some time I felt the need to fly some missions in Il-2 and to write about them.<br /><br />The first AAR's that I wrote where for <a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/09/charging-dragon.html">Falcon 4 Allied Force</a>. Those AAR's were the most lengthy series that I ever wrote. this time I want to do a similar series but for Il-2. I downloaded a series of campaigns from <a href="http://www.mission4today.com/index.php">Mission4Today</a>, each campaign deals with the RAF during the war in the European Theatre. My goal is to write about the career of a fictional RAF pilot during the entire war. So far I have flown 3 missions and today I post the first AAR in what will hopefully be a long and fun series.<br /><br />I will post the AAR's simultaneously at SimHQ, since not everybody finds the way to this blog.<br /><br />You can find the table of content for <a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/raf-eto.html">RAF - ETO here</a> and can go directly to the <a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/france-chapter-1.html">first chapter here</a>.<br /><br />Happy Reading<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_01.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-64000710277978727422008-11-12T19:23:00.009+00:002008-12-22T18:34:50.916+00:00RAF - ETORAF - ETO is a series of AAR depicting the career of a RAF pilot during the Second World War. His career takes place in the European Theatre of Operations (hence ETO). The AAR's are diveded by episodes (=campaigns) and chapters (=individual missions)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Episode 1: France</span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/france-chapter-1.html">Chapter 1</a><br /><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/france-chapter-2.html">Chapter 2</a><br /><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/raf-eto-chapter-3.html">Chapter 3</a> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/france-chapter-4.html"><span><span>Chapter 4</span></span></a><br /><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/12/france-chapter-5.html">Chapter 5</a><br /><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/12/france-chapter-6.html">Chapter 6</a>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-45068731151277160252008-11-12T18:54:00.008+00:002008-11-12T19:27:45.006+00:00France - Chapter 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_01.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My start in world war 2 was not good. For several years i had been flying transport planes in the RAF. As Hitler annexed country after country, most of us realized that a peaceful solution, despite the claims otherwise by Chamberlain, would be very unlikely. When German troops crossed the polish border and we declared on Nazi Germany, i decided I would not sit on the sideline, piloting a lumbering transport. So applied for transfer to the fighter corps. In peacetime It would have taken a year or so, but with the impending war, everybody was willing to cut through the red tape and within weeks I got the orders to transfer to a squadron of Hurricane's in France.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_02.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When i arrived at the provisional airfield in Bar-Le-Duc, I was greeted by the local army commander, which was not a good sign. As it turned out the squadron commander had crashed his aircraft the day before my arrival. Now the squadron was without commander. Most of the pilots came straight out of flight school so with my 28 years I was the most senior officer in the squadron. I had signed up to join a fully formed squadron, instead I found myself responsible for forming up the squadron.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_03.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The best way to train, is to fly as much as possible, so for the next morning I scheduled a tour over the French countryside. As I briefed my young pilots, I stressed to them that they had to be careful. Those Jerry pilots already had a lot of experience in Poland, so we should not let ourselves suckered into a fight we could not win. If we kept radio discipline and good formation we could easily beat the German fighters, but we had to be careful for the Hun from the sun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_04.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One by one we take off from the airfield, which consists of only one long dirt road acting as runway. I wiggled the wings of my Hurricane and let the squadron away. I had not told anybody that my only flying experience in the Hurricane was the flight from England to here. I had followed some dogfighting lessons when I joined the RAF but those were all in old bi-planes. I prayed that I would be able to lead my men in combat and survive.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_05.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_05.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We form up in the morning sky. France can sure look nice from high up in the sky. There is another flight from a nearby squadron in front of us. Just like us they are on a familiarization flight around the battlefield.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_06.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_06.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />“Jerry bombers !!!”<br /><br />The other flight break the radio silence alerting everybody of two German bombers. I presume they are scouts for future bombers because there are no enemy fighters so be seen. The other flight dives straight after the bombers. But i bank around. I want to be sure there are no Jerry fighters nearby and I want to position our flight for a quick dive towards the target.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_07.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A sudden explosion in the sky and frantic voices over the radio, alert me that the other flight is in deep trouble. The bombers are not entirely defenseless. Equipped with rear firing machine guns they do their best to fend of their pursuers. Apparently one of the other flights aircraft got into the crossfire. The poor bastard did not stand a chance. His Hurricane exploded in mid air.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_08.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I won't make the mistake of flying behind the enemy bombers. This would bring the fluight in a perfect shot for the German rear-gunners. Instead i make a swooping pass, guns blazing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_09.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But as I pull out of the dive, still guns blazing, my engine stutters. Before i can react, the propeller comes to a grind halt and the engine withers away. I quickly check my fuel, glance over my shoulder, no smoke to be seen. I haven't been hit so what happened ... then it dawns on me. The pilot who handed me the hurricane had warned me of steeply pulling up. The Hurricane's engine has no fuel injection so during severe maneouvers you could starve the engine of fuel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_10.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As I struggled to restart the engine, the other flight avenged their fallen comrade by shooting both bombers out of the sky. Only after several trials, the hurricane's engine started spinning again. With the bombers shot out of the sky, we could only head for home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_11.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Landing at the airfield was not without risk. The runway, a glorified field track, lead to a farm which doubled as our headquarters. But if the wind blew from the wrong direction, we had pass over the headquarters, missing the roof by inches.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/RAF_ETO/France/Chapter%201/chapter_1_image_12.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Parking my aircraft next to our tents, I sighted with relief. All of my pilots returned safe and sound and I had learned a valuable lesson in engine management. If we only could bag us some Germans on the next mission, then we could speak of a successful start of the war.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/11/raf-eto.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >BACK TO CONTENT TABLE</span></a><br /></div>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-82969887850653491862008-11-07T19:06:00.003+00:002008-11-07T20:11:29.163+00:00I've livedI recently read this article by leigh alexander: <a href="http://kotaku.com/5018822/industry-apologetics-its-not-just-a-game">industry apologetics - It's not Just A Game</a>. I admit I am a bit late in reading it (the original article dates from june 2008) but as many gamers I am used to getingt the look when people hear I play computer games (especially as a mid thirties guy).<br /><br />How can I defend my hobby against those who find it lame or who think it's a past time training youth to become killers. for all those I first you check the Playstation 2 ad below.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="299"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6Bqq38WZctA&hl=nl&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6Bqq38WZctA&hl=nl&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="299"></embed></object><br /><br />That commercial sums up what's gaming all about: it's not just a game, its a way of experiencing life, especially those lives we would probably never have in reality.<br /><br />How many of us have commanded armies, who of us have won the world cup, who of us have tried to run a crime syndicate? Those are all things that are out of reach of most common folks, but thanks to computers we can taste life without risk for life and limb.<br /><br />But what most gamers and almost all non-gamers fail to appreciate is that, the lessons learned in our gaming sessions, don't take place in a vacuum. What we do in games echoes through our mind. As I go to sleep, I realise that what I have done in a game also happens, happened or will happen in real life. The virtual knowledge gained in games, helps me to make up my mind for real life events.<br /><br />So never say, it's just a game, it's an experience, a lesson in life learned in the virtual world.<br /><br />Happy flyingKingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-32431798482619917632008-10-31T17:13:00.007+00:002008-10-31T17:57:35.484+00:00AddictionI have to admit it.<br /><br />I'm an addict. for the last week i haven't done anything usefull. But this time I am gonna overcome the addiction. thanks to my friends at <a href="http://www.civanon.org/">civanon.org</a>.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="299"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zfo1uOr78kc&hl=nl&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zfo1uOr78kc&hl=nl&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="299"></embed></object><br /><br />But serious now, my boss is on fraternity leave, leaving me alone to support the company. With that much stress, I am glad that I can kick some dutch butt in <a href="http://www.civfanatics.com/">Civilization 4</a> ;-)<br /><br />Happy gamingKingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-48353637172162115892008-10-24T19:01:00.006+01:002008-10-24T19:21:15.813+01:00Test flight with VF-32<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_06/Vf32swordsmen.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 256px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_06/Vf32swordsmen.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">this week I have flown the first of many missions that will test my campaign. Since the campaign only covers 15 days (= max 15 mission) i can easily test one campaign session during the course of 3 days . The first missions always start on the ground, but after mission 4 or 5 I start near the target to speed up testing.<br /><br />The first testrun was with VF-32 flying the F-14 Tomcat. Below is a list of mission flown.<br /><br />Mission 1: fighter sweep: noticed some Mirage 5's without weapons<br />Mission 2: intercept - nothing special<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_06/F-18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_06/F-18.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Friendly F-18 in need for an escort</span><br /></div><br />Mission3: CAP - noticed another flight of F-14's without weapons<br />Mission 4: intercept - nothing special<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_06/In_Tke_Sky.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_06/In_Tke_Sky.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Twist and Turn</span><br /></div><br />Mission 5: escort<br />Mission 6 intercept - intercepts never occur near the carrier, always near ground stations.<br />Mission 7: escort: this mission took me to the far edge of the terrain and I witnesses some fighters hovering in mid air, I'll have to check that some targets are not too close to the edge of the map.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_06/Sea_kill.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_06/Sea_kill.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Low ceiling fight</span><br /></div><br />mission 8: CAP - suddenly I got resupplied! I'll have to check the campaign settings to ommit the resupplies.<br />mission 9: sweep<br />mission 10: cap<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_06/gotcha.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_06/gotcha.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">One enemy less</span><br /></div><br />mission 11: sweep - the Mig-23's at the airfield had no weapons, I'll have to check that out too<br />Mission 12: escort<br />Mission 13: sweep - the campaign ended in a cease fire, the end image and end text still refers to the wrong country. I'll need to fix that too.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_06/maverick.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_06/maverick.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">You only need one maverick</span><br /></div><br />This first test campaign resulted in a small checklist::<br />check aircraft loadouts<br />Fix Target location<br />rewrite endscreens<br /><br />The next test campaign will be with a dedicated strike aircraft to check the ground parts of the campaign.<br /><br />PS in one picture you can see where the campaign will take place.<br /><br />Happy Flying<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/work-in-progress.html"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 60px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Blog_Navigation/ReturnToWip.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-4349814910833718662008-10-22T18:06:00.004+01:002008-10-22T18:13:51.812+01:00Essential ToolsWhen I am working on a new campaign there are three tools that I keep close by.<br /><br />1. Notepad (the computerprogram)<br />2. Paper<br />3. ToDoList (another program)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_05/Notepad.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_05/Notepad.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I use notepad as a simple log of what I have done and will do in the campaign. With notepad I wrote the first <a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-campaign-design-document.html">design document</a> and I use notepad to store all the links to the various downloads (aircraft, maps etc).<br /><br />But once I downloaded the items I needed, I rely one small programm called ToDoList.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_05/ToDoList.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_05/ToDoList.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.abstractspoon.com/tdl_resources.html">ToDoList is a small free program</a>, which allows you to create simple tasklists. I don't use to schedule how long I will work on a campaign although it's technically possible, but it helps me to keep track of the different edits I need to perform to downloaded objects.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_05/PenPaper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_05/PenPaper.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The final tool is just pen and paper. When I am inside the sim, Its impossible or ill-advised to alt-tab to the notepad. So I just write small remarks on paper, which I use afterwards to edit the various files in the sim.<br /><br />There are off course other tools that i use, like Photoshop and Le Missioneur, but these three tools are the essential tools I need when campaign building.<br /><br />Happy Flying<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/work-in-progress.html"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 50px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Blog_Navigation/ReturnToWip.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-34746411503538456032008-10-15T16:30:00.004+01:002008-10-15T17:22:11.860+01:00CVN-75Last time I showed how you can extract the <a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/cva-63-kitty-hawk.html">CVA-63 carrier</a> from within WOE. But in the campaign I am developping, I use the <a href="http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autocom=downloads&showfile=2840">CVN-75 from Digital-Overload</a>.<br /><br />The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CVN-75">CVN-75 Harry S. Truman</a> is a Nimitz class super carrier. Nimitz class carriers are nuclear powered and can carry up to 85 aircraft. The CVN-75 was not yet build in the timeframe I use for my campaign, but there exists a <a href="http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autocom=downloads&showfile=7423">mod with all ships from that class</a>. However I don't use that mod because Digital-Overload is no signatory to the Freeware Licensing. So I can't know whether the <a href="http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showuser=24714">author</a> of the <a href="http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autocom=downloads&showfile=7423">Nimitz mod</a>, got permission to use and distribute his files.<br /><br />After my experience with <a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/wip-pilotskins.html">Diego</a>, I have adopted these rules:<br />1/ only use material from authors in the freeware licensing list<br />2/ if the author is not in the list, ask his permission before release, but never use derivates from his work<br />3/ if the author is a team (ala Mirage Factory), make sure that at least one of the team members is mentioned in the freeware licensing list, so that I can ask for permission through him.<br /><br />To showcase the CVN-75 in my campaign i made this little movie with some F-14's performing carrier trials.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="299"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MwIccMkzhZw&hl=nl&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MwIccMkzhZw&hl=nl&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="299"></embed></object><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://dodownload.filefront.com/12064275//aaefa29d7de2b0629a9339c5598d0e395513e554ebd46e68c0a0a5d0d9b8df5caa09cbafae292197"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 45px; height: 45px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Blog_Navigation/FileFront.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwIccMkzhZw"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 44px; height: 44px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Blog_Navigation/youtube.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Happy Flying,<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/work-in-progress.html"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 53px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Blog_Navigation/ReturnToWip.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-4032675913807363612008-10-08T20:33:00.003+01:002008-10-08T20:46:59.249+01:00CVA-63 Kitty Hawk<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_03/CVA-63.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_03/CVA-63.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Did you know that Wings Over Europe contains a carrier and you don't need a legal copy of WOV to use it!<br /><br />If you use the<a href="http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autocom=downloads&showfile=343"> cat-extractor</a> to view the object cat file (\objects\objectdata.cat) you will find a list of files that start with CV-63 or CV63.<br /><br />First extract all these file and drop them into a newly created directory CVA-63 (which you should create in \Objects\GroundObject\).<br /><br />Then you need create a file in that directory which you call CVA-63.ini, this file is required to tell the game where it can find the different lod's and bmp's for the carrier.<br /><br />In that CVA-63.ini you need to paste following data:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">[BEGIN QUOTE COPY ALL TEXT AFTER THIS ENTRY]</span><br /><blockquote>[GroundObjectData]<br />ObjectName=CVA-63<br />ObjectFullName=CVA-63<br />ObjectDataFile=CVA-63_DATA.INI<br /><br />[LOD001]<br />Filename=CV-63.LOD<br />Distance=600<br /><br />[LOD002]<br />Filename=CV-63_LOD002.LOD<br />Distance=800<br /><br />[LOD003]<br />Filename=CV-63_LOD003.LOD<br />Distance=1000<br /><br />[LOD004]<br />Filename=CV-63_LOD004.LOD<br />Distance=2000<br /><br />[LOD005]<br />Filename=CV-63_LOD005.LOD<br />Distance=15000<br /><br />[LOD006]<br />Filename=CV-63_LOD006.LOD<br />Distance=30000<br /><br />[Shadow]<br />CastShadow=FALSE<br />ShadowLOD=CV-63_SHADOW.SHD<br />ShadowType=1<br />ShadowCastDist=10000<br />MaxVisibleDistance=150</blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">[END QUOTE COPY ALL TEXT BEFORE THIS ENTRY]</span><br /><br />To install the carriers in a campaign or or single mission follow these <a href="http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showforum=190">instructions</a> and now you can fly from carriers in WOE without needing a legal copy of WOV.<br /><br />I won't use the Kitty Hawk class of carriers in my campaign. Instead I'll opt for the <a href="http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autocom=downloads&showfile=2840">CVN-75 provided by Digital Overload</a>. In my next post I will provide more background information on that carrier.<br /><br />More information on the CVA-63 Kitty Hawk can be found <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CV-63">here</a>. Information on the Kitty Hawk class can be found <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitty_Hawk_class_aircraft_carrier">here</a>.<br /><br />A tutorial for the cat extractor can be found <a href="http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=32706&pid=200694&st=0&#entry200694">here</a>.<br /><br />Happy Flying<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/work-in-progress.html"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 55px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/ReturnToWip.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-45271800517400890682008-10-06T21:16:00.002+01:002008-10-06T22:00:13.820+01:00WIP - PilotskinsWhen I select and edit aircraft for the campaign, I edit a number of items in the original files:<br /><ul><li>The loadout file - to make sure that the aircraft has a realistic and contemporary weaponsload</li><li>Hangar and loading screen - I usuallt create new ones to have the same style of screens for all the aircraft</li><li>The pilotmodel.</li></ul><br />Most modders don't provide their aircraft with the pilotskin they selected in the aircraft ini file. As a result the game reverts back to the default pilotskin.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/default_helmet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/default_helmet.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The default thirdwire pilotskin</span><br /></div><br />But those red and white squared helmets look a bit dull, especially when every pilot (including the enemy) wears them. You can always download customized pilotskins from sites like <a href="http://p7.hostingprod.com/@wrench1smog.com/wrench14.html">Wrench Strike Fighter page</a>. Unfortunetaly Wrench does not have all possible helmet variations so I quickly learned how to edit the skin and create my own pilots (<a href="http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=25987">check here for a<br />tutorial</a>).<br /><br />After having created some skins, I off course wanted to share them with the community. Alas I had not read the fine print on Wrench's page. As soon as I uploaded the skins, I got a friendly mail from Diego Lozano. In it he requested to remove the skin if it was based on his work. His reason for the request is unknown to me, but from what I could gather on the forums , it has to do with a dispute regarding credit or ownership of the skins. Since the models were based on his work, I obliged and removed the skins.<br /><br />But now I got stuck again with the default skins! So I started looking for other pilotskins I could edit and which are distributed under the <a href="http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=26131&st=0">freeware licensing agreement</a>. That's when I stumbled on the excellent work of <a href="http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autocom=downloads&showfile=6693">AmokFloo</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/PilotReference.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/PilotReference.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The original AmokFloo pilot models</span> </div><br />He created a basic set of 6 pilotmodels (3 sets of 60/70's helmets and 3 sets of modern helmets). But what sets his models appart from the default pilots is that with one skin file you can have 3 different pilotmodels:<br /><ul><li>mask on, visor up</li><li>mask off, visor up</li><li>mask off, visor down</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/VF32.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/VF32.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">F-14 Pilot and Rio</span><br /></div><br />This comes handy in two-seater aircraft: I can use the same pilotskin, but use a different model for rio and pilot. Using different combinations allows to create some variety in the pilots that appear in the aircraft (although I am still limited to the same pilotmodel per aircraft)<br /><br />When I started using AmokFloo's models I noticed that one variation was still missing: mask on, visor down. I send him a mail and a couple of weeks later I got the two extra lod files for each helmet era. AmokFloo has not yet released them on combat ace, but I hope he will so that everybody can use them.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/F_16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/F_16.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">mask on, visor down</span><br /></div><br />Since I only include on squadron per aircraft type in the campaign I can create helmets per squadron. I usually use the same combination of helmet and visor color, but add a personal touch by adding the squadron insignia to the helmet. It's a small touch which most players won't notice, but at least each squadron has it's unique helmet and nobody flies with that horrendous default helmet.<br /><br />Happy Flying<br /><br />KingAlbert<br /><br />PS below are some examples of the different squadron helmets<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/F_18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/F_18.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">VFA-25</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/A_7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/A_7.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">VA-66</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/F_15E.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/F_15E.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">4th FW</span><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/work-in-progress.html"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 55px;" src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/KingAlbert/Desert_Thunder/Blog/Blog_02/ReturnToWip.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37307640.post-59673098631068007022008-10-06T21:01:00.008+01:002008-10-24T19:22:24.083+01:00Work In ProgressNow that I started working on a new thirdwire campaign, it might be a good idea to have this central page to bundle all posts related to this new campaign.<br /><br />If you go one of these pages you will find a button at the bottom of the page which will return you to this page.<br /><br /><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/09/unnamed-project.html">Post 1: Unnamed Project (08-09-2008)</a><br /><br /><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/09/woebc-postmortem.html">Post 2:WOE:BC Post Mortem (30-09-2008)</a><br /><br /><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-campaign-design-document.html">Post 3: New Campaign Design Document (03-10-2008)</a><br /><br /><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/wip-pilotskins.html">Post 4: Pilotskins (06-10-2008)</a><br /><br /><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/cva-63-kitty-hawk.html">Post 5: CVA-63 Kitty Hawk (08-10-2008)</a><br /><br /><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/cvn-75.html">Post 6: CVN-75 (15-10-2008)</a><br /><br /><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/essential-tools.html">Post 7: Essential Tools (22-10-2008)</a><br /><a href="http://kingalbertstories.blogspot.com/2008/10/test-flight-with-vf-32.html"><br />Post 8: Test Flight with VF-32 (24-10-2008)</a>KingAlberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889296271975575006noreply@blogger.com0