I think Shatzi means to fire the main guns while in F3 mode, then fire the secondary guns to see which are firering from where. Then go back into the hanger and adjust accordingly.
I read a bunch of info on convergence, and here's my take on it. The idea is to set your guns so they all hit in the same spot to create more damage instead of "plinking" rounds all over the place right? Second thing is to not set that "grouping" to far out as the power of the "hit" falls off the further out they go right? So to my way of thinking set all your guns, in all your planes, no matter which type of guns you have to the same setting. Mine are at 375.
My thinking is that, say in the 38, the 50 cals will fly a straiter path than the cannon round, but if they are both set to 350 thats where they are going to hit any way, the cannon round will just have more of a lob to its path. The main differance is going to be the speed of the round. Cannon round run slower, and in most cases have a slower rate of fire so you won't be hitting as often, but you'll still be in the same ball park.
The important think to all this is the timing in shooting. If all your guns are set the same, the "picture" you "see" when you KNOW its time to firewill have the same size relationship in your view. You'll know you at the right range for those rounds to hit, and those "site pictures" will be close to the same. Of course as you get better, you'll know to lead a bit more in the "big cannon" planes, and a bit less in the lazer equiped planes.
As for the 38, tho not a pro, I fly it almost exclusively. I would change a few things DadRabbit said...
1. get high. at least 25k and look for a fight. you will find them up there.
In most cases, while the 38 is a great plane at that alt, once the ponies and 190's you come across make a few passes at you and realise that they can't go nose up any more, they dive out to 5k where most of the fights are
Vertical moves are the way to go in the 38 as it zooms well and climbs well. Even slow the 38 will go nose up and climb when MOST planes will wallow around and drop out of the sky.
2. make sure you only load out 1/2 a fuel load. take drop tanks with you. before you engage, drop the fuel tanks. you are now lighter.
I go with 75% fuel and 1 drop. The drop gets me to the fight, about 15k tops, no need to chase them down from 25k, why bother climbing all that way
The first few passes in most cases are BnZ passes, and before ya know it, your down to 50% anyway and are just getting into it.
3. use you flaps. i've found the p-38L suits me better. "Q" lowers flaps. "W" retracts them.
Flaps are a big must. Use them to pull an instantanias tight turn, and get them back up quick to save your E. Over the top in a loop, flapping out all the flaps can get you under 80 knots and still have control of your plane.
4. never HO on first pass. after that, IMHO, its a free for all.
Thats just "Class", and I agree. otoh, if ya want to be a dweeb go ahead and HO
5. always always stay high. if you have to dive out of danger you will compress easily. use the "K" command on your keyboard (press alot) ("X" to release an go back to normal). in a full compression, this will bring your nose back up provided you chop throttle.
The higher you are the easier it is to compress. At 25k crusing at 300 you can nose over and you will compress almost immedeatly, on the deck you can run at 450 and still have good stick control. Cut throttle and trim "up" to get out of the compression dive.
The 38 is a great plane that does everything well, it just takes time to learn it. Fighting down in the weeds with a 38G can be a blast ! After all, its why were here ain't it.... to have fun
