The Big Show - Spitfire Mk.IX Campaign info

[flyingdutchy]

Nice thank you Sir!!:thumbup:

[SpitFlyer]

I see you have a thumbnail of the Biggin Hill layout. Are the runway directions historically accurate? I ask because I'm currently making airfields on the Normandy map as templates via the use of Suntsag's great mod, the Marstan Mat.

 

Hello 352ndDeacon

Are you saying that you're making an airfield Biggin Hill to appear in the Normandy map installation?

When I got the Normandy map I thought it was a disgrace that Biggin Hill was not on it! I wrote in to say so too.

I was toying with the idea of volunteering to create one (including the roller-coaster runway :surprise:

[Swson]

Just bought the campaign and on first mission after 20mn of flight trying to climb 25000ft I had engine cut off ...(I used auto start of so normally no soucy) why ???

 

Also does it exist kneeboards for each missions gathering info given in the briefing as well as check lists?

[unlikely_spider]

14 minutes ago, Swson said:

Just bought the campaign and on first mission after 20mn of flight trying to climb 25000ft I had engine cut off ...(I used auto start of so normally no soucy) why ???

 

Also does it exist kneeboards for each missions gathering info given in the briefing as well as check lists?

Was your fuel tank pressure switched on?

[Reflected]

5 hours ago, Swson said:

Just bought the campaign and on first mission after 20mn of flight trying to climb 25000ft I had engine cut off ...(I used auto start of so normally no soucy) why ???

 

Also does it exist kneeboards for each missions gathering info given in the briefing as well as check lists?

switch on the fuel pump under the trim tab. 
 

yes, everything is on your kneeboard cards

[Reflected]

5 minutes ago, Reflected said:

switch on the fuel pump under the trim tab. 
 

yes, everything is on your kneeboard cards

also make sure you switch to your drop tank after takeoff and when it’s empty, switch back to your main tank. 

[Komet_82]

Just finalized the 1st sortie of this great campaign. Initially I wanted to fly the new Mossie campaign first, but wanna try out the new Normandy Map in one of your campaigns, so why not this one directly after BewareBeware, perfect fit. And happy to be back in the spit cockpit.

Thanks for this amazing camaign. Happy to spend my time with it in the upcoming weeks

Cheers

[Picchio]

Hey @Reflected, I've read that you're updating the campaign to make better use of Normandy 2's updates. I've been wondering: how much work would it be to make or allow the player to play as wingman, instead of lead?

I'm perfectly aware that my question touches an ancient and painful weakness in DCS's mission design  I'm curious about your take on the matter.

[Reflected]

12 minutes ago, Picchio said:

Hey @Reflected, I've read that you're updating the campaign to make better use of Normandy 2's updates. I've been wondering: how much work would it be to make or allow the player to play as wingman, instead of lead?

I'm perfectly aware that my question touches an ancient and painful weakness in DCS's mission design  I'm curious about your take on the matter.

It's perfectly possible, in many other campaigns I made the player flies as wingman. However, to do this in The Big Show, that's a redesign from scratch nearly so it's not gonna happen.

[Blackbird7]

Hi @Reflected is there approximate ETA for the, as you called it, massive update? 

[Reflected]

8 hours ago, Blackbird7 said:

Hi @Reflected is there approximate ETA for the, as you called it, massive update? 

As soon as Ugra Media gives us a useable Biggin Hill with more than 6 parking spots. Maybe next month, maybe in 2 years, I have no idea.

[Blackbird7]

Oh... Ok, thanks, I guess I can go with it as it is, then replay after the update. 

[Rutch]

Hi @Reflected I am a big fan of your work, so thank you. 
 

I just wondered whether there is any updated briefing documents for the big show channel map version? I like to pre-plan based off your briefings for fuel etc. but I’ve noticed that the knee board info is correct but the briefing docs are for the normandy map. 
 

I appreciate you have a lot on, but just wondered whether you could provide the course / heading and timings in some form so I can plan. 
 

Thank you again

Rutch

[Reflected]

See 2 posts above. I hope Ugra will finish the map soon. 

[Rutch]

Ok thanks

[Rutch]

On 2/4/2024 at 11:06 PM, Reflected said:

See 2 posts above. I hope Ugra will finish the map soon. 

So to confirm, you’re waiting for Urga to update the map and then you can update the Big show campaign? 

[Reflected]

Yes, basically. 

[Rutch]

13 hours ago, Reflected said:

Yes, basically. 

I’ve played your Beware Beware twice through already. The second time without any deaths (so far). Looking forward to flying the missions on the big show from Biggin - I’ve got so used to flying home to Biggin on the hill. Thanks

[Rutch]

@Reflected thank you for the update to TBS. You are a legend. 

[FupDuck]

Hi @Reflected, great work on the campaign! 

 

I just finished the first sortie, and there are a couple of things I wanted to report to you, as they didn't seem correct to me: 

1. In the briefing, it says the flight will be about ten minutes at wave top level. In reality, the formation flies at about 1500 feet over the water. It seemed higher than expected.

2. The briefing says that the flight will stay low until Amiens and then climb. In reality, the flight starts to climb while still over the Channel.

3. After merging with the bandits over France, the furball goes for a while (fun!), and then both sides stop fighting, and everyone heads for home. I was expecting the RAF to break off at some point due to low fuel, and the Luftwaffe to chase for a bit. What's weird here is that the Luftwaffe planes fly parallel to the RAF planes, and nobody engages anymore. At some point they diverge, but I didn't notice where, as I was almost out of fuel and running for home.  

 

Anyways, please take this as constructive feedback, not complaining. I hope to be helpful in making this campaign the best.

[Reflected]

1 hour ago, FupDuck said:

Hi @Reflected, great work on the campaign! 

 

I just finished the first sortie, and there are a couple of things I wanted to report to you, as they didn't seem correct to me: 

1. In the briefing, it says the flight will be about ten minutes at wave top level. In reality, the formation flies at about 1500 feet over the water. It seemed higher than expected.

2. The briefing says that the flight will stay low until Amiens and then climb. In reality, the flight starts to climb while still over the Channel.

3. After merging with the bandits over France, the furball goes for a while (fun!), and then both sides stop fighting, and everyone heads for home. I was expecting the RAF to break off at some point due to low fuel, and the Luftwaffe to chase for a bit. What's weird here is that the Luftwaffe planes fly parallel to the RAF planes, and nobody engages anymore. At some point they diverge, but I didn't notice where, as I was almost out of fuel and running for home.  

 

Anyways, please take this as constructive feedback, not complaining. I hope to be helpful in making this campaign the best.

Hey, thanks for the feedback, although you can open a new thread so people find these answers more easily:

1) The DCS AI cannot fly at wavetop level reliably, especially not in such large formations. Also note that Gimlet is 1000 feet lower than Turban: "Turban will fly to the right of Gimlet, 1000 feet above, and slightly to the rear"

2) "We will stay at zero feet until 1340h, then climb at full throttle to rendez-vous with the bombers over Amiens at 25,000 feet" - meaning by reaching Amiens you need to be at 25k. RAF fighters remained low to stay under the radar as long as possible, but wanted to cross the enemy coastline at a safe altitude where they're not easy prey for the German flak. So around mid-channel, they must start climbing.

3) I can either tell the AI to fight or not to fight. Where each AI is relative to each other when that happens is beyond my control and totally random, so it's quite possible that for a short while you will see enemies flying close to each other without noticing. The other alternative would be to make them fight until one side is destroyed completely, but that would be highly unrealistic.

Enjoy the rest of the missions, and let me know if you find anything that's off.

Edited May 12, 2024 by Reflected

[FupDuck]

6 hours ago, Reflected said:

Hey, thanks for the feedback, although you can open a new thread so people find these answers more easily:

1) The DCS AI cannot fly at wavetop level reliably, especially not in such large formations. Also note that Gimlet is 1000 feet lower than Turban: "Turban will fly to the right of Gimlet, 1000 feet above, and slightly to the rear"

2) "We will stay at zero feet until 1340h, then climb at full throttle to rendez-vous with the bombers over Amiens at 25,000 feet" - meaning by reaching Amiens you need to be at 25k. RAF fighters remained low to stay under the radar as long as possible, but wanted to cross the enemy coastline at a safe altitude where they're not easy prey for the German flak. So around mid-channel, they must start climbing.

3) I can either tell the AI to fight or not to fight. Where each AI is relative to each other when that happens is beyond my control and totally random, so it's quite possible that for a short while you will see enemies flying close to each other without noticing. The other alternative would be to make them fight until one side is destroyed completely, but that would be highly unrealistic.

Enjoy the rest of the missions, and let me know if you find anything that's off.

 

Thanks for the detailed reply, and sorry about getting it wrong on #2, I just played the mission again, and your are correct, it does not say anything about starting the climb at Amiens. My mistake!

 

Regarding the other items, I totally get it regarding the AI not acting reliably, and having to choose between evils to get them to do something like what you want them to do!

 

I do have one more question, if I may: it says if you have to ditch in the Channel, to use radio channel D to call SAR. I, er, had occasion to use this on that last mission, but I wasn't sure what to do after switching to D. I tried to open the comms menu expecting an F10 option, but I couldn't open the menu. I also tried using the little Morse code paddle to send SOS a few times, but no luck. Any hints there?

 

Thanks again!

[Reflected]

Yes, you switch to channel D and contact ASR using the F10 option - if you have enough altitude to reach them. This should help with opening the radio menu

 

[FupDuck]

19 hours ago, Reflected said:

Yes, you switch to channel D and contact ASR using the F10 option - if you have enough altitude to reach them. This should help with opening the radio menu

 

Holy crap, I had no idea! I'm away from my computer now for a while, but I will try this as soon as I'm back! 

 

Thanks for the learning moment!