Project Lancaster

[Saguanay]

 A  mood setter.   

[Scoobyon]

[Scoobyon]

On 11/13/2023 at 6:26 PM, Saguanay said:

 A  mood setter.   

I hadnt seen this before, its very well done

[NineLine]

4 hours ago, Scoobyon said:

two weeks?

[Slippa]

On 10/23/2023 at 12:06 PM, Tonker said:

(good job none of us know how long a furlong is!)

A furlong is approximately 2 weeks in DCS time. None of us knows how long that is either though, it’s literally immeasurable 

keep going team, great job you’re doing.

[Scoobyon]

On 11/14/2023 at 10:42 PM, NineLine said:

two weeks?

Its always two weeks

[Tinman]

You really know how to make compelling Screenshots. Each and every one is a banger! The front turret is coming along nicely.

[Scoobyon]

[Xupicor]

Stop it, I can salivate only this much!

[Scoobyon]

 

[Rudel_chw]

Looking forward to flying this bird   ... already gathering reading material:

 

 

[Tonker]

@Scoobyon: Wibble

 

@Rudel_chw Phew, that's a relief 'cos your training missions (please!) are going to be essential in getting to grips with this grand old lady

[Rudel_chw]

1 minute ago, Tonker said:

@Rudel_chw Phew, that's a relief 'cos your training missions (please!) are going to be essential in getting to grips with this grand old lady

 

I'd love to do some missions for this bird ... which map do you think it would be best: The Channel, or Normandy 2?  ... I would think that the Normandy 2 map has more WW2 users, but The Channel feels more historically correct for the lancaster ... not really sure. 

[Tonker]

I hate to admit it in such august company, but I'm only on freeware modules* and so 

• a) I can't really comment, but whichever gives more/better UK airfield options for 'safe' navigation training/cross-country flights
• b) a Tiger Force Lanc in the Marianas would be my preference...!

*Spending cash on hardware for now (to help with RL gliding, using the Condor gliding sim**); between the A-4E, SK-60, OV-10A and UH-60L there's plenty to learn!

 

**Although how long before this is a part of DCS...?

 (Yes yes, I know it's a Halibag...but still...!)

 

EDIT: Just a quick costings of my 'most wanted' to check if the current c.50% sale means I could afford to jump in

• Map - The Channel - £20.78
• Assets - WW2 - £12.49
• Aircraft - Mosquito FB. IV - £24.59
• Campaign - V for Victory - £7.33

Total - £65.19

I'm sure it's good value...but it's still hard to justify when so much entertainment is available for £00.00 courtesy of the community

Edited November 24, 2023 by Tonker

[DD_Fenrir]

1 hour ago, Rudel_chw said:

 

I'd love to do some missions for this bird ... which map do you think it would be best: The Channel, or Normandy 2?  ... I would think that the Normandy 2 map has more WW2 users, but The Channel feels more historically correct for the lancaster ... not really sure. 

For the bulk of real world Lancaster ops... neither.

However, Lancasters were seen on occasion on operations, in daylight over Normandy during the invasion period.

Truth be told, to best represent the areas the Lanc was operated would require a map spanning from Licolnshire/Yorkshire in the west to, dare I say, Dresden in the east.

 

Edited November 23, 2023 by DD_Fenrir

[DD_Fenrir]

Something like this.

Given that this is about 5 or 6 times the size of the current extents of the Normandy 2 map, might be a while yet...

 

[Tonker]

16 hours ago, DD_Fenrir said:

Given that this is about 5 or 6 times the size of the current extents of the Normandy 2 map, might be a while yet...

Would the IL2 (1946, modded) approach of having a dedicated terrain optimised for long-range high-altitude/night ops be viable in DCS?

 

This was a game changer back in the day, allowing for 'proper' Bomber Command/8th AF missions without breaking either the game or our computers. Such an approach would rely on a handful of high-detail airfields and their surroundings, and perhaps a few of famous low-level targets (I'm sure we'd all generate about the same list), but otherwise low-resource. Most of the map would be viewed in the dark and/or from angels 20+ so use those computer resources for super-size rather than super-detailing! I can see this appealing to the 'modern' DCS aircraft too - from BVR chess to decent intercept profiles for the Mig-21 and upcoming EE Lightning etc.

Just a thought /offtopic

[rkk01]

19 hours ago, Rudel_chw said:

 

I'd love to do some missions for this bird ... which map do you think it would be best: The Channel, or Normandy 2?  ... I would think that the Normandy 2 map has more WW2 users, but The Channel feels more historically correct for the lancaster ... not really sure. 

Operation Crossbow targets are on the Channel map

(would be a shame not to seeing as @Scoobyon has already teased us with a Tallboy )

 

just need some TIs for the Mossie

Edited November 24, 2023 by rkk01

[rkk01]

18 hours ago, DD_Fenrir said:

Something like this.

Given that this is about 5 or 6 times the size of the current extents of the Normandy 2 map, might be a while yet...

 

You could realistically crop anything south of Cologne or east and north of Hamburg.

Still a huge map, and would certainly trigger the age old discussions around a game save or time acceleration 

I think the flight time / distance element is another reason to look at the raids on Caen and the Pas de Calais

[Tonker]

All fair points @rkk01, and agreed re North and South bounds. I think all Easting - at least as far as Szczecin-Berlin-Dresden - would add to gameplay for a high fidelity Lancaster module. The sense of relief at being briefed for a short run to Bremen for example...!

4 hours ago, rkk01 said:

...or time acceleration

@Reflected, the legend, is all over it:

Save game option would still be great, but long range no longer holds things back like it used to.

[Slippa]

On 11/23/2023 at 3:47 PM, Rudel_chw said:

 

I'd love to do some missions for this bird ... which map do you think it would be best: The Channel, or Normandy 2?  ... I would think that the Normandy 2 map has more WW2 users, but The Channel feels more historically correct for the lancaster ... not really sure. 

Do both? 

Thanks for posting those pdf pics, I went looking for them too, downloaded for future reference.

5 hours ago, rkk01 said:

You could realistically crop anything south of Cologne or east and north of Hamburg.

Still a huge map, and would certainly trigger the age old discussions around a game save or time acceleration 

I think the flight time / distance element is another reason to look at the raids on Caen and the Pas de Calais

Flight time and crew positions will be a game in itself to work out. I’m gagging to see the Lanc in our hangars. And on the fields, and in the skies, and in our hands, we shall never surrender.

S’pose I can wait a fortnight 

Hope someone pays the respect due to this teams work by ringing the scramble bell in the Mossie fitters shed and sourcing the TIs we so desperately need. Pretty please? 

I’m keeping an eye on the progress (page one). Once that tail gunner moves percentage I’ll be looking at more throttles. Be nice to have all four together for this.

Might even have to look at steering wheels for that tractor too? 

Keep goin, more strength to your elbows, all hands on deck and all the other encouragements, looking pretty bleedin gorgeous.

[Rudel_chw]

8 minutes ago, Slippa said:

Do both? 

unfortunately, the mission editor doesn’t have an easy way to change the map of a given mission.

so, that wish would imply basically duplicating the editing effort for every mission … not really a practical option  

[rkk01]

3 hours ago, Rudel_chw said:

unfortunately, the mission editor doesn’t have an easy way to change the map of a given mission.

so, that wish would imply basically duplicating the editing effort for every mission … not really a practical option  

I guess “do both” but separately…?

A campaign could have an initial bombardment of beach defences, Caen, Cherbourg and some of the Wehrmacht logistics hubs - all in Normandy…

… followed by / interspersed with Op Crossbow raids on the V-weapons sites on Channel map 

If the TIs arrive in time we would need to strap them on the P-51D (RAF Mustang III) to try some low-level target marking…

 

[Slippa]

I like the sound of that. All of it .

I’d imagine missions on both maps, as a mix and or separately would be great. Then again, my imagination’s coming up with all kinds of things when it comes to this, especially in tandem with Mossie PFF missions. A nice little fighter escort? Mmm.

Judging how far out some of my bombing (slinging) runs are in the Mossie, I’ll make no promises about where these TIs would end up but I’ll have a bloody good go trying.

Having said that, which of us is gonna volunteer to be a PFF Mossie pilot to lead the Lanc in? We’ll all be togged up and sitting pretty in the Lanc o course. 

I’m ready. 

[rkk01]

19 hours ago, Slippa said:

Having said that, which of us is gonna volunteer to be a PFF Mossie pilot to lead the Lanc in? We’ll all be togged up and sitting pretty in the Lanc o course.

I’d happily fly a TI marking mission in the Mustang III or the Mossie…

… all part of the variety, challenge and “education” of DCS

For reference: https://www.key.aero/article/how-dambusters-used-mustangs