Author Topic: Real Squadron Markings in AH (Read 187 times)

Hun Hunter · « **on:** June 04, 2002, 02:53:15 PM »

Sure wish there was some way, well some practial way, and maybe there is, I just don't know enough to say, but some way to have a database of aircraft squadron markings(blue nosed p-51, yellow-black checkered P-47 tail, red cowl ring, blue cowl ring. B17 tail codes like white square black D, white triangle, black A, you know what i mean.

Anyway, it would be cool to created a squadron and browse "unused" squadron markings and have those markings assigned to all pilots flying in your squadron. These would not be user created, they would be part of the game code. They would only be visible at close range, so I don't know if there would be a frame rate / memory problem.

Of course, they would be aircraft specific so they would only work on a P47 if you were in a P47 squad, etc......

I don't know, maybe some day it could happen.

Maybe I am just talking myself out this as I type

Ripsnort · « **Reply #1 on:** June 04, 2002, 03:09:00 PM »

Type in "Skins" in the search, you'll see a few discussions on this.

funkedup · « **Reply #2 on:** June 04, 2002, 03:17:20 PM »

I would love to be able to do this. Il-2 pretty much works like that.

I wish we could have all of our ZeFiry (zephyrs) in AH.

AKSWulfe · « **Reply #3 on:** June 04, 2002, 03:24:44 PM »

Il-2 only uses generic plane codes.

All Schwarms, Staffels, etc, use the same type of markings. Geschwader leaders get the <(with a smaller arrow inside) marking while everyone else in the staffel gets colored numbers. This is accurate (as near as I can tell... but there's still lots of things missing like TO markings, and other things you can find in books)... plus they use generic colored bars(vertical and horizontal), +(it's a symbol for 2nd or 4th Schwarm) and the curvy line.

They don't, however, use actual squadron markings like is described here. All aircraft look identical, only the call numbers are different. There is no changing of tail, wings, or cowling markings.

Not saying what's proposed here isn't impossible, it's very possible... just takes a lot of memory, and will make the program a lot larger to accomodate these new bitmaps.
-SW

Toad · « **Reply #4 on:** June 04, 2002, 03:30:20 PM »

Yep, that would be an addition worthy of programming time. IMO.

funkedup · « **Reply #5 on:** June 04, 2002, 04:23:22 PM »

SW you are only partially correct. You can have different squadron markings in Il-2 multiplayer. Last weekend Mietla and I were flying P.11c's with 121 Eskadra markings (winged arrow) in cooperation with AI P.11c's carrying 111 Eskadra markings (shield and spears and swords). If they can change the squadron markings per squadron, then they could easily include the prefix of the RAF call letters (e.g. ZF on the images above), and then assign the last letter (e.g. A, D, L, U on images above) just like the numbers are assigned now.

AKSWulfe · « **Reply #6 on:** June 04, 2002, 07:33:05 PM »

The nose art- for a lot of squadrons- will be displayed for that squad. Each country has it's own set of insignia and call letters and how they are placed on the plane.

But it's still generic- compared to how some units were in WWII.

For example, on the cover of "Hitler's LuftWaffe" there's a lineup of Fws that all have letters forward of the fuselage cross, and have black triangles with a white line around them behind the fuselage cross.

That, and it doesn't modify nose, tail or wing insignia for each squadron. Some had yellow noses, some had red, some Fws (for a little while- not long) had checkerboard noses.

I'm sure that'd be quite a bit of research and programming, plus need for a lot of memory, to do that.

EDIT: I got the 1.1beta patch for Il-2, 3 new MiG-3s, I16(Tip18,24), Yak1(hatchback),109E4,109E4/B,109E7/B,Fw190A8. I-16 is sweet.
-SW

funkedup · « **Reply #7 on:** June 05, 2002, 07:15:12 AM »

I-16 vs. P.11c baby!!!