Aces High Bulletin Board

Help and Support Forums => Help and Training => Topic started by: Yoshimbo on July 17, 2006, 10:12:52 PM

Title: Convergence
Post by: Yoshimbo on July 17, 2006, 10:12:52 PM
I was wondering what kind of convergence settings you think are best for various planes.

IN PARTICULAR, i was wondering what kind of convergences ya'll have set for 6gun planes i.e. f6f, f4u's, p51d, etc.

your input on convergence for not only for these planes, but others as well, would be very much appreciated and a great help not only to me but other would be pilots.:aok

thankyou

:D
Title: Convergence
Post by: Vudak on July 17, 2006, 10:16:47 PM
It's really personal preference.  Where do you normally open fire from?

Personally?  I use 275 for all the 6 gun planes.  For Spitfires, and pretty much everything else, I use 225.  Since I've come to the conclusion that I try to fly all 6 gun planes as though I'm in a Spitfire, I've determined I'm not thinking something through quite right.

Apparently quite a few Corsair groups used 300 in the war (well, according to one book I read, but sure that will be smacked down in a moment or two by the more knowledgable :D )
Title: Convergence
Post by: Yoshimbo on July 17, 2006, 10:23:58 PM
i fire from close to medium range. unless I'm in a plane that has gunz all in nose (p38, 110) then I'll try and blast ya as soon as i get in range and have shot lined up:D


But I'm lookin to hear ya'lls convergences and why, it may provide sum insight as to how i might set some of mine up.
Title: Convergence
Post by: Booz on July 17, 2006, 10:27:38 PM
And another point of view, I set all .50s to 400yds to catch break turns on the BnZ. Perfect range to chop em in half when they evade.
Title: Convergence
Post by: Spatula on July 17, 2006, 11:32:30 PM
This how i set mine (for wing-mounted kites):

6 gun 50s => All at 325
4 gun 50s => All 300
As above, MGs i set a single point to inflict damage to en-masse to a point (or walk it through a wing root). MGs need to be concentrated to cause real damage.

For cannon armed planes, espc the hispano 20mm, i set em so they have a shot-gun/scatter type of effect as a single hit can ruin someones day.
4 Gun Cannons => Inner pair set to 375, Outer pair set to 350 (for a nice scatter-pattern) Yes, inner is set longer than outers to give the scattered rounds pattern a bit of 'length' and reach.

like so (excuse the crudity of my paint diagram...) - also note the 'longer' effective range band.
(http://www.my2cents.co.nz/cans.GIF)
Title: Convergence
Post by: whels on July 18, 2006, 11:28:21 AM
all 50Cal  to 400
303s   to  325
Hispano 20mm(Typhoon,Tempest,F4U-C,spits) 400
Yaks Las c205 20mms  325
LW guns
all MGs 325  all Cannons(20 n 30mm) to 375
for LWs ive found the cannon needs 50 yards more
then MGs to compensate for the big drop. with above
LW Cannons will hit where MGs do.

Whels
Title: Convergence
Post by: macleod01 on August 03, 2006, 11:47:26 AM
how useful is 600 convergance?
Title: Convergence
Post by: Simaril on August 03, 2006, 11:57:14 AM
Not very.

Remember that when you are set for long convergence, if you get a close shot your hits will be spread out and less effective. Also, the "hit" point will be a bit above your gunsight pipper, because convergence allows for bullet drop in order to make the bullets converge at the stated distance.

Most important, if you really take most of your shots at 600 range, you are losing some damage potential since the rounds will slow down and scatter at that range no matter what your convergence settings are.


I put all guns to converge at same spot, usually 300. If you notice, many responders are tying their flying style with the convergence. Boozer likes the BnZ energy style, and his convergence is long to be deadly at those ranges. Other guys have it in close, probably because they fly turns and get lots of in close defelction shots.

Remember that convergence is useless if you dont hit the target. My advice is simple: watch what the range is when you get good hits, and set the convergence toi that range. That way your hits are focused and deadly!
Title: Convergence
Post by: Mustaine on August 03, 2006, 12:26:13 PM
personally I set all guns on all planes to 275 (bet range for me that I can tell) once the plane icon gets below D400 i start shooting (meaning the plane is between 400 and 200 from me)

with all guns the same on all planes i don't have to think about when ot where i should shoot on a particular plane.

also with the .50's when they are all tightly grouped you get more impact per square foot so to say. all tightly packed bullets hitting the same place on the airframe does more critical damage to that part of the airframe.
Title: Convergence
Post by: TequilaChaser on August 03, 2006, 10:23:56 PM
<---personal preferences is 350 for all guns unless mixture of cannons and machineguns, then I set cannons 25 to 50 further out than the 50's//303's/7mm etc....to try and keep em all hitting at same distance 350 ( think weight drop of cannon round )

but truly, it is that mental picture of the planes SIZE in yor boresight/windscreen that is KEY FACTOR in when to pull the trigger( wether they are on a crossing snapshot/dead 6/under the nose deflection shot/etc...), one can not honestly rely on the ICON Range counter in AH2, as they could in AH
Title: Convergence
Post by: Balsy on August 04, 2006, 07:53:33 AM
200, I like in close shots :)
Title: Convergence
Post by: fuzeman on August 04, 2006, 08:27:02 AM
Not to one-up Spatula but I had this done and thought it might help some.
Personally I have most of mine set to 275.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d64/fuzeman/GunConvergence.jpg
Title: Convergence
Post by: macleod01 on August 04, 2006, 11:34:27 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Simaril
Remember that convergence is useless if you dont hit the target. My advice is simple: watch what the range is when you get good hits, and set the convergence toi that range. That way your hits are focused and deadly! [/B]


The problem with that is that i need to hit the target! Which for me is the problem. I tried setting it to 600 in an attempt to get more kills above my 1. And ive been playing for about 3 months! Im starting to feel pathetic!
Title: Convergence
Post by: Yoshimbo on August 04, 2006, 02:34:36 PM
tx for all the input, i find these convergences to suit me:

everything (cannons, .50s, 303, etc) Pending on the location in the wing, is generally set to d400, anything set in the cowling or in nose is set to d650
Title: Convergence
Post by: Schatzi on August 04, 2006, 03:20:33 PM
I would say convergence also depends on gun type and what you DO with it.

303's in HMk1 --> 175... further out dispersion removes most of the "punch" and makes shots less effective

303's in Spitfires etc (as secondary weapon) --> further out (usually around 200-250
Title: Convergence
Post by: macleod01 on August 04, 2006, 03:24:24 PM
175? In a Hurri 1? THATS IMPOSSIBLE! The closest i get normally is about 2k away!, If i fire i fire at 600. 175 sounds way to close. Are you sure about that?
Title: Convergence
Post by: Kuhn on August 04, 2006, 03:25:07 PM
i use 400 on all planes.
i cant hit anything past that any way:D
Title: Convergence
Post by: macleod01 on August 04, 2006, 03:27:02 PM
see, that sounds slightly more reasonable, but I still have the problem of getting that close without losing my head, or more commonly, one of my wings. (Or slightly less common but still common, both of them!)
Title: Convergence
Post by: Schatzi on August 04, 2006, 03:45:38 PM
Quote
Originally posted by macleod01
175? In a Hurri 1? THATS IMPOSSIBLE! The closest i get normally is about 2k away!, If i fire i fire at 600. 175 sounds way to close. Are you sure about that?



Yes, *very* much sure about that!

I dont fire at more then d200 (thats 300 yds max). The closer the better. Otherwise it costs *way* too much ammo.
http://www.flyaceshigh.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=162908
Title: Convergence
Post by: macleod01 on August 04, 2006, 04:18:56 PM
so schatzi, are you saying that Hurri's arent that good to fly in the MA? If so, then can I go cry caus its one of the few planes I really like!
Title: Convergence
Post by: Lye-El on August 04, 2006, 04:58:39 PM
Quote
Originally posted by macleod01
so schatzi, are you saying that Hurri's arent that good to fly in the MA? If so, then can I go cry caus its one of the few planes I really like!


Schatzi flys the Hurri MK1 a lot. She is the person to listen to. On the other hand .303's suck and if you are trying to down something with them @ 600 yards .....well....if you do hit something at that range the round has very little energy left.


Title: Convergence
Post by: macleod01 on August 04, 2006, 05:42:54 PM
thanks. (Takes the hankie and dries his eyes) Really the only reason I try to hit something from 600, is that that seems to be the closest i can get. I just cant get to 200 feet
Title: Convergence
Post by: Krusty on August 04, 2006, 06:15:53 PM
FYI: Generally you don't want to "shotgun" your convergences to scatter the rounds. Each gun already has a "cone of fire" built in, so even though your path might intersect with the enemy plane you can still miss (above or below the target). Even if you have 4 cannon you seriously (and I'm serious here) want to set ALL GUNS to the same convergence.

If you're banking on 1 single round to cause enough damage to get a kill, you might as well spray rom 1.2k out. If you're actually planning on getting the kill, set all guns to the same spot, AIM for that spot, and KILL from that spot. It's the best way.
Title: Convergence
Post by: The Fugitive on August 04, 2006, 10:20:53 PM
Quote
Originally posted by macleod01
thanks. (Takes the hankie and dries his eyes) Really the only reason I try to hit something from 600, is that that seems to be the closest i can get. I just cant get to 200 feet


Well now we know what your problem is, your convergence isn't a big deal, its your Air Combat Manuvering thats messed up ! Getting close is what this game is all about. Hurri is very effective in the MA as a base defence aircraft, but ya got to know how to whip that thing around and get close in for those snap shots.

When fighting....for now... concintrate on getting close. Don't just follow someone around, try to figure "where" the enemy plane is heading, turn ahead of him, and get there first. You have to "lead" your plane in to the fight as much as you have to "lead" with your guns.

TA is a great place for practice, you don't get killed as much  :)  so its much easier on the ego  :lol Practice getting close, then the kills will come!  Good luck!
Title: Convergence
Post by: macleod01 on August 05, 2006, 12:14:34 PM
Thanks, I always knew me airiel combat skills were worth absolutly ziltch, but i hoped i could slightly compensate with convergance. Im goin to go straight to the TA and practice on anybody who gets in my way! Thanks guys. Also anymore advice would be much appreciated.
Title: Convergence
Post by: Schatzi on August 05, 2006, 12:41:04 PM
Read your way through http://www.netaces.org

Another great article is "How to fly the Scissors Maneuver" on SimHQ (http://www.simhq.com/_air/acc_library.html) - as well as the rest. Be warned though... might cause headaches :).


Get yourself in 1 vs 1 situations with good pilots. Either in MA or ask for duels. Make the goal of your fights to saddle up 200 off the other guys tail, not the kill. Practice practice, and, did i mention practice?? :)


If you see me online, dont hesitate to ask me for a few fights!
Title: Convergence
Post by: macleod01 on August 05, 2006, 12:55:40 PM
rgr schatzi. Thanks a lot. Actually i was just in the TA and i reckon I would have shot Fuzmans tail off 5 times. And i racked another guy, that would have left him smoking. All from 200!
Title: Convergence
Post by: Schatzi on August 06, 2006, 11:19:59 AM
Youre very welcome!


Unfortunatly, my Comp is fried, but i hope ill be beack online and *flying* sometime this week.
Title: Convergence
Post by: macleod01 on August 06, 2006, 01:53:06 PM
Brill, hook up you soon!
Title: Convergence
Post by: SAS_KID on August 09, 2006, 04:35:53 PM
are you sure fuzeman was evading? Cuz he usually doesn't. :D
Title: Convergence
Post by: macleod01 on August 09, 2006, 05:21:43 PM
now u mention it, i dont think he was, but I managed several kills in the DA and they were evading.
Title: Convergence
Post by: thrila on August 09, 2006, 06:01:42 PM
My own preference is everything set to 250, except the 1940 birds which i set at  200.  For me atleast this will down fighters with a short burst, which is what i'm after.

Macleod try shooting at the drones offline, from various angles + speeds.  I do that every now and then, it does help.  I started flying the 109 a couple of weeks ago i went offline to get used to the bullet drop, which is very different to the hispano 20mm on planes i usually fly.  If i haven't flown for a while i'll usually fly offline for 20 mins to get my aim back.   A trick i use when i haven't flown for a while is to make a conscious effort to  pull twice as much lead as i think i need to apply.  Give it a go if you are having trouble aiming.
Title: Convergence
Post by: macleod01 on August 09, 2006, 06:10:00 PM
Thanks for the tip, i'll try that. Btw is there anyway to change the drones?
Title: Convergence
Post by: x0847Marine on August 10, 2006, 03:13:30 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Simaril
Not very.

Remember that when you are set for long convergence, if you get a close shot your hits will be spread out and less effective.


Practicing with .target and various sights can abate scatter issues and you can hit anything at almost any reasonible distance using the sights. Knowing where the best scatter patterns are, which you can test using .target, can help a-lot.
 When it works, even 4 imaginary .50 cals will tear a foe cartoon to bits.

After about 5 min of .target aiming, I came up with a sight picture not unlike this:
@200 bottom line
400 center dot
600 top of sight.

My 9.513 hit% is still poor, but it's 100% better than it was.
(http://members.dslextreme.com/users/fanofhockey/MP3/ah/51baimpoints.jpg)

Its really a shame there's zero humidity & no wind.

edit: the 600 & 200 are reversed, but im too lazy to fix it.. the concept is the same. You can also color code / modify your sights adding your own visual cues..