Jeez! I fell asleep when I got in from work last night and missed that program!
Don't suppose any of you taped it or could make me a copy of it, could ya?
You're exactly right, Lephturn, most of the Jugs were "tweaked" in the field, to increase performance and increase their survivability in combat. I regularly access a website dedicated to Jug lovers, and the topic of in field mods has come up several times......in each case, the answers reflected that Jugs, and almost all American aircraft for that matter, were gone over by the crewchiefs and company reps almost from the minute they hit the forward areas, and the number of "stock" Thunderbolts was actually pretty small. So, now the question: Does AH accurately model what American pilots flew during WWII?
Given the wide range of tweaks/mods done to them, I would have to say "No", but take nothing away from HTC's efforts. Finding someone to put out a list of mods performed on the planes to "ready" them for combat would probably make their eyes pop out of their heads. I asked once on the Jug website for a relative number of planes that were modified, and got no response, so "most" could be anywhere from 51% to 99%.
It would also cause a near riot with supporters of the other AH aircraft. Seeing the P-47 given a boost to be more representative of the RL birds would cause each plane's supporters to inundate HTC with claims of mods done infield to their particular favorite plane, and then the arguments and flamewars would REALLY get going.
I do wish, just as a possible idea for HT to consider, that field mods be offered on something of a perk basis. You want the souped up/tweaked bird, you gotta spend points to get them and be able to use them. Want a paddle-blade prop and overboosted engine on the Jug? Sure! Pop off 8 perk points for the prop and 7 for the extra boost and take to the skies, pardner! That would be the only fair way to include any field mods to any aircraft in the AH inventory.......make it available, but only for a price. Just my opinion, of course.
