Film Viewer - How Do I get the most out of it?

[rauchen]

Hi Y'all,

I know how to use the film viewer, but I'd really like to know how to get the most out of it.  What tricks/tips do you use to see what you've done? (or had done to you...)

In particular, I'd like to get better at Jabo with bombs & rockets - it seems that I can get close but not quite hit the VH with my 2 1k lb eggs - ever.

I'd like to match up my cockpit view, external view & bomb path to see how I've done. How do I follow the bombs down?

Same goes for tanks, Flak, and high angle snapshots.

Any tips appreciated! Especially re low angle dive bombing.

[Spatula]

You cant really follow any other objects except your aircraft or other aircraft you are 'sitting' in (eg only those things which you can select in the list to the right) and only those who are in range too. You cant pick arbitrary camera positions either, just one of the 4 or 5 preset positions which can be modified with your view keys but nothing radical. This is a weak point in the film viewer IMO, it would be very cool if we could pick an X,Y,Z location for the  'camera' and even a T for time dimension so that we can position the 'camera' where and when we need it - would lead to some very cool tracking and sweeping shots

As for getting better at dive bombing or snapshots, i dont think the film viewer is your best weapon of choice. Try the lead-computing gunsight (only available in the offline and training arenas i believe). It shows you were you should be aiming in real-time. Turn it on for a couple of runs to show you how far you are off, then turn if off again for a while and practice with it off. Dont leave it on for prolonged periods otherwise you may become dependent on it. As for how you turn it on its in the arena settings i think - im sure someone else can chip in with that info.

[Murdr]

rauchen, for the dive bombing come to the TA.  We have the bomb computing site enabled there, which always shows (very accurate) projected impact point if you were to release bombs at that instant.  We also have an area set up just for divebombing, which includes air starts at different altitudes over the target.

As far as the film viewer...Did you know?
You can double click on other pilots names to view from their plane?
You can save head postions for internal views during playback just like while in flight?  (you only get one set of saved views though)
You can get rid of the annoying windows "ding" when using view keys by turning off number lock?

[stantond]

Filming your flights for ordinance drops works, but using the bomb site is quicker to learn how to put ordinance on target.  The bombsite is availabe offline and in the TA.  Offline, it is available by changing the arena settings.  Unfortunately, unlimited (or signficantly increased) ordinance can't be set.  However, gun and cannon shells can be increased to a very large number offline through the areana settings.

I don't think the offline mode is quite as fun as being online in the TA, but that's personal preference.   The bomb sight is really useful for checking where your ordinance will land during an attack.   It's not so useful to use as a 'sight', but rather as a check on where you think ordinance is going (imo).  Have fun blowing stuff up!




Regards,

Malta

[rauchen]

Thanks for the info - I didn't know the LCOS did bombs, too.  I'll try the TA for that reason alone.

Also the num lock is good to know - that was really bugging me.  Sometimes it's the little things, huh?

Anyone else got an opinion or suggestions?

[The Fugitive]

I like to view films from the pilots point of view, using the recorded views. I go thru it 5-6 times, getting a feel for how the pilot goes about his fight.

Then I'll run the film and watch it from "fixed" view with the "trails turned on.  From this view its easyer for me to "visualize" the manuvers. I watch the film a bunch more in this view. Using the sliders you can view the fight from every angle.

My films, the ones I film, I like to do the same, but I'll spend almost as much time in the enemies plane viewing what he did to get me, or where my mistake was.

The film viewer is only as good as you make it. If you just wacth the fight from one view, you'll get bored and most likely not learn much. Using many views, zoomed in, or out, from one plane or the other, from the chase view to fixed. The more you can spot, and remember    the more you can learn from them.

[sgt203]

This doesnt have anything to do with the film viewer but if you havent already go to netaces.org and read the articles under JABO TACTICS ( I believe)..

Good information on undertanding "how" to dive bomb and recommendations on your Angle of Attack.. Should help if you havent already read this some..

Read up then  go to TA and try it out both ways with bombsight on and off...

<<>> Good luck

[rauchen]

Well, I went to the TA for the first time & what a difference it made!  I had no idea that the LCOS worked with bombs & rockets.  My aim has gotten MUCH better - I can actually hit the VH now.

I've been viewing my films & a few others & I see that it helps to replay back & forth, switching views & using the sliders.  I like to slow it down to .5 speed or less, pause & switch views, then start again.

I also tried the LCOS offline with the ME-262 and the 30mm cannon. I can't believe how much lead you need to hit anything.  It's like firing a torpedo, not a gun!

Thanks all.

[Schatzi]

Yes, the faster the speeds involved (262), the slower the muzzle speeds (30mm)  and the higher the AoT (angle of tail), the larger the leads you need to pull for a shot.

[RumbleB]

I like to make the watching in slowmotions so that splurging moments is eksiting.