II.JG1_Vonrd

L-39. DCS module is quite accurate.

BRAVO!

I have the Orion 2 base with F16EX grip. I use the dampers (greased with nyogel 767a... makes a huge difference. The dampers can't be adjusted precisely when dry). I don't remove the dampers when switching back to fixed wing, I just loosen the clamping screw so that the dampers aren't applying force and install the heavy spring cams. I use the light springs and just enough force on the dampers to allow the stick to stay in place when heli flying. I also have the 10cm extension. I had to remove the rubber boot since it applies centering force by itself. I just replaced it with stretchy spandex material for dust protection. With this only minimal force on the dampers is needed. I found the light spring cams were necessary, without them too much force was needed on the dampers to stop the stick from flopping off to the sides and pitch. Using a cordless screwdriver I can do a complete switch on an average of 3 minutes. Only 4 screws hold the stick to the base and 4 screws holding the cams in. It makes heli flying a joy especially since I don't have to use the funky "Force Trim" in DCS. Here's a picture of the spandex.

Results posted here:

Congratulations to the winners of the competition and thanks to all who participated! A large batch of truly exceptional skins are the result. It's apparent that everyone spent quite a bit of time in research and in the actual making of the skins. I learned quite a bit about the history of the B-17 and the brave crews operating them. At first, it seemed strange to spend time on an aircraft that I can't fly in the sim but realized the benefit to be able to create historically accurate missions and dazzling screenshots / videos. Thanks to @NineLine @BIGNEWY and the ED team for presenting the competition!

@Skewgear, thanks for the link! Unusual markings and very interesting. The same forum had some good stuff on RAAF A-20Gs: https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/done-a-20g-havoc-raaf-no-22-squadron-kamiri-1944-group-build.18252/ Scale modelers are a great source...

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the RAF used the gun nose A-20G. I was only able to find one example of a similar Havoc III? with gun nose as a nightfighter. The RAAF used some gun nose converted? DB-7s but they had 4 20mm nose guns and no dorsal turret. The DCS default RAF skins represent glass nose A-20s. The Russian skins are also not A-20Gs. I'm reluctant to make the compromise to historical accuracy but if people want them I will make them to the best of my ability.

A-20G Miss Laid / La France Libre and related generic skins uploaded. A-20G-25-DO ser. no. 43-9224, nicknamed "Miss Laid" (later changed to "La France Libre"), CodeF6-E of the 670th BS, 416th BG and depicted as after D-day when the upper surfaces invasion stripes were overpainted. Miss Laid was renamed to be more politically correct when taken for ceremony to Paris to honor the accomplishment. Note that the old nose art is still faintly visible through the olive drab. This aircraft was first in the ETO to complete one-hundred missions. Never once during these one-hundred missions was the plane forced to return because of mechanical failure. The original engines that powered "Miss Laid" on the first mission on 3 March 1944 against an enemy held airdrome at Poix, France were still in use on the 100th mission. Included are two generic skins with Bort letters enabled. One with full invasion stripes and one with the upper surfaces invasion stripes overpainted. Link: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3333089/

OP "Little Joe" skin Updated.

EDM is here: ?:\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World OpenBeta\CoreMods\WWII Units\A-20G\Shapes a-20g_lod_0.edm

Good point. I will make a generic version of each detailed skin with Borts enabled.

Template is too large to post in User Files. Here's the link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ftr8xnzc1oz7ue7gu129u/A-20G-Public.zip?rlkey=st649uv3na2f2jfimqtqgyehm&dl=0

After working on the B-17G Livery Competition I noticed that several of the other WWII AI aircraft were very lacking in regards to liveries. I decided to work on the A-20G first. The Ju-88 also needs some love but Warlord64 (keefyboy) has already done a few and also has a template posted: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3313581/. If anyone want's my template for the A-20G (it's a bit of a Dog's Breakfast but functions) please post in this thread and I'll provide a link. Anyway, Here's "Little Joe": *UPDATE* 26 Sep, 23: Moved underwing Star and Bar rondelle to correct position on Right wing. Added a generic skin with Bort letter enabled (I kept the skull over the guns since several other planes used it in the Pacific theater. Skin title: USAF_389th BS Pacific Generic Presentation Livery represents Douglas A-20G Havoc “Little Joe”, bureau number 43-21475 from the 389th Bomber Squadron, 312th Bombardment Group United States Army Air Force,1945.US A-20Gs were used on low-level sorties in the New Guinea theatre. An A-20G 43-22200 , bureau number is displayed at the USAF Museum painted in the markings of "Little Joe". This aircraft is in much too clean a state however. I would imagine that the original "Little Joe" would show much more wear and this skin is representational of that. I also altered the normal map to represent what appears to be black rubber (leather) coaming around the gun turret. Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 21122. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-20G-40-DO Havoc serial number 43-21475. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Wartime History Assigned to the 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG) "Roarin' 20s", 389th Bombardment Squadron (389th BS) at Gusap Airfield. Assigned to pilot 1st Lt. Leonard W. Happ with crew chief SSgt Thomas Dobrowski. Nicknamed "Little Joe" with the name painted in white in a cursive style on both sides of the nose. The front of th nose cone had the skull and cross bones motif. On the left side of the nose was a scoreboard with bomb markings indicating missions flown. Tail letter T was painted in white on both sides of the tail. On April 16, 1944 took off from Gusap Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Leonard W. Happ with gunner Sgt Nathan B. Adler on a strike mission against Hollandia. Returning, the formation experienced a severe weather front including severe thunderstorms and clouds. This aircraft managed to spot a hole in the clouds revealing the Ramu Valley and was able to land safely at Gusap Airfield but ran out of fuel on the runway. During June 1944 operated from Hollandia. During November 1944 operated from Tanauan Airfield on Leyte. On January 7, 1945 took off from Tanauan Airfield piloted by 2nd Lt. Thomas H. Jones on a low level strike against Clark Field on Luzon. Inbound to the target, the formation flew near the U.S. Navy invasion fleet off Mindoro. In late January 1945 operated from McGuire Airfield (San Jose) on Mindoro. During February 1945 operated from Mangaldan Airfield (Honey) on Luzon. In April 1945 operated from Floridablanca Airfield on Luzon. In August 1945 operated from Yontan Airfield on Okinawa until the end of the Pacific War. Fate On September 30, 1945 this A-20 condemned as obsolete and scrapped. Uploaded to User Files. Link: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3333030/

No.1: This is a submission for the B-17G Livery Competition. It includes two skins, one a detailed 'Irish Lassie' and a second one plain and without the distinguishing markings of 'Irish Lassie" and named "322nd BS - 91st BG_Bare Metal_Plain". Speculars are used but I will change to roughmets if the developers decide to upgrade the B-17 to PBR. The detailed skin depicts Serial number 44-8475, a B-17G-65-VE, code: LG-C, nicknamed "Irish Lassie". The plane flew with the 322nd Bombardment Squadron of the 91st Bombardment Group and is depicted with 18 combat missions. I could find only black and white photos so the colors are my best guess. DCS: World War II Assets Pack is required. Please Note: This skin will work with the default JSON file included in the game but to see the skin at it's best, use the improved Metallic look MOD by Warlord64 available here : https://forum.dcs.world/topic/319116-specular-reflectivity-from-brushed-to-mirror-effect/#comment-5150016 Never Forget... Irish Lassie (44-8475) Falkenmayer Crew, 324th BS, 91st S/Sgt. Walter S/Sgt. Walter Walker, Ball Turret Gunner; S/Sgt. James Wyant, Waist Gunner; S/Sgt. Lawrence Spanbauer, Waist Gunner; S/Sgt. Edward Shea, Radio/Gunner; S/Sgt. Ralph Burke, Top Turret Gunner, 1st Lt. Monty Armando Grosa, Co-pilot; 1st Lt. Charlie Falkenmayer, Pilot; 2nd Lt. Bob Lyle, Navigator Link: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3332762/ No.2: This is a submission for the B-17G Livery Competition. It includes two skins, one a detailed "Lassie Come Home" and a second one plain and without the distinguishing markings of "Lassie Come Home" and named "322nd BS - 91st BG_LG Plain". Speculars are used but I will change to roughmets if the developers decide to upgrade the B-17 to PBR. The detailed skin depicts Serial number 42-31673, a B-17G-25-BO, code: LG-C, nicknamed "Lassie Come Home". The plane flew with the 322nd Bombardment Squadron of the 91st Bombardment Group and is depicted with 69 combat missions. I could find only balck and white photos so the colors are my best guess. DCS: World War II Assets Pack is required. Please Note: This skin will work with the default JSON file included in the game but to see the skin at it's best, use the improved Metallic look MOD by Warlord64 available here : https://forum.dcs.world/topic/319116-specular-reflectivity-from-brushed-to-mirror-effect/#comment-5150016 Never Forget... B-17G-25-BO, Lassie Come Home (42-31673) Lt. LaHood's Crew, 322nd Squadron, 91st BG BACK ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT: Homer Glass, Navigator; 1st Lt. Louis LaHood, Pilot; Joe Stolber, Co-pilot; Manuel Canter, Bombardier FRONT ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT: Gail Garner, Ball Turret; Ernest Ellington, Waist Gunner; John Anding, Engineer; Bob Megchelsen, Tail Gunner; Bob Hettinger, Waist Gunner; Norman Mansfield, Radio Operator Link: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3332763/

It's easier to get forgiveness than permission... but you might pay for it

@Boosterdog many thanks Sir!

@Boosterdog... this is driving me nuts on the aileron. I can't seem to find the cause of it in my skins. Can you share your findings and how to correct it? Fantastic skin BTW! I think that you are correct in minimizing the paint chipping. It really looks authentic in comparison to the photos.

After reviewing my skins I noticed some errors. The worst was missing Stars and Bars on the wings of the camo planes. Also some minor paint errors on Louie the Creep. Links to the updated skins: Thunderbird: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3332180/ Texas Chubbie: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3332350/ Wee Willie: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3332471/ Louie the Creep: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3332565/ I'm almost done with two more skins... "Irish Lassie" and "Lassie Come Home". After they are uploaded individually I plan to make a single upload with all of my skins for the contest. Hopefully this will make it easier for the Devs...

LOL! BTW, not my words... Copy / paste from that website.

From a plastic modeler's forum: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?/topic/216495-b-17-de-icer-boots/ Terryt is correct, the boots were applied over the leading edge. They were rubber with a series of bladders inside which allowed them to be inflated and deinflated (is that a word?). The metal under the boot was not painted to allow it to move around some as it cycled. So if they were removed from a camoed aircraft, the area would be natural metal. As for Miami Clipper, I do not know why the leading edge would have been painted yellow. It would not have been painted over the boots, but perhaps they painted the exposed metal with yellow chromate to protect it or maybe it was just painted yellow so the crew chief could ID his bird at a distance (this is reportedly why "Shilaylee" of the 100th BG sported white wall tires). The edge of the boot had holes in it and when the metal fairing strips were screwed down, the boots were held in place. The first picture shows how the boot was attached to the tubes that were used to inflate/deflate and in the area circled, you can just make out the holes for securing it. The second diagram shows the left outboard boot (item 1) and the fairing strips that held it in place (items 3 thru 11). Hope this makes sense! Mark M is also correct, it was a common practice but by all means not all inclusive. I have extensive experience with installation and removable of de-ice boots on modern aircraft. On these they are adhered to the wing leading edge with contact cement (3M 1300L) or are "peel 'n stick" (Fastboots). They are difficult to remove and usually an agressive solvent (naptha or MEK) are used to loosen them and remove glue residue. Modern paint finishes resist these solvents but I'm pretty sure that WW2 vintage paint would be removed by the solvent, thus leaving bare aluminum. However, as noted above, the B-17 boots were held on with edge fairing metal strips (probably held down with PK screws) and they were applied over bare metal. I have seen similar boots on a C-47 / DC3. I suspect that the boots were installed before painting the aircraft. O, once the boots were removed in the field, the leading edges would be bare metal. I assume that the decision would be made (maybe by the squadron commander?, the individual aircraft commander?, the crew chief?) to repaint or leave bare. The holes from the PK screws were probably filled with blank rivets (or maybe with filler). Chipping of the paint may occur along the paint line. I have been unable to find good photographic evidence but most of what we do as skinners is based on assumption and what we think looks authentic. On another note... does anyone know of any official documentation of the required external placards / stencils? In modern aircraft they are listed in Chapter 11 of the Approved Flight Manual (AFM), the Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) and / or the Maintenance Manual. Did the Army Air Corps have something similar? Does anyone have copies?

Since it was based on @Helles Belle research, he would have to approve. Honestly, I'm not sure if they were actually that widespread. I have seen only one photo that confirms them ("Bit O' Lace"). I personally don't want to see them included on any skins without photographic evidence of their actual existence.

Note: I have updated Louie the Creep. Added "CUT HERE FOR EMERGENCY RESCUE" placards with @Helles Belle permission to more closely match his beautiful Bit O' Lace (they are the same airframe, Louie begat Lace ). Thank you Sir!

@Helles Belle super impressive in both quantity and (especially) quality! Just one slight question r.e. Bit O' Lace. Wondering why you have included de-ice boots? I haven't seen any photos with them installed. Regardless, superb work Sir!

That's the most fun of skinning IMHO