Waldo.Pepper

Feast your eyes... http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/joystick/index.html

Fukiyama. Good book too. What I meant is soon enough (maybe now already) we won't be able to believe our own eyes with any certainty.

Ooo OOO!

Indeed. I have mountains of them laying around. So I recycled them into the handles for what today are Rudder trim (fore) and Aileron trim (aft). Ahem! I intended to clip off the ends and mount some decent little wooden knobs but never bothered. The cost was 15 cents. I had to buy a game port plug for it.

I like the skin very much, and shall fly with it. I also fly in my pyjamas sometimes...and here is an explanation of why. ----- One of my all time favourite books is Carrier Pilot by Norman Hanson. Here is what the cover looks like these days. Don't judge it by its cover. It is far better than the cheesy artwork would lead you to believe. Also a passage that sums up the fatigue and some of the awfulness of wartime flying. "The passage of 30 years has blunted for me many of the details of our part in that seemingly endless battle. Of the four carriers which took the fight to the enemy that day, Illustrious was the weary one, for we had endured life in the tropics longer than most and strain and tiredness were now to be seen in the faces of the aircrews. We were becoming worn and 'twitchy'. To seek an early night's sleep just didn't seem to work. One flew round the cabin, dodging the flak, practising a landing, for the first two hours; and if sleep eventually came, only three hours or so of fitful rest remained before a shake from the duty boy brought one reluctantly to the dark, cold beginning of another day. Breakfast had always been a cheering time with plenty of wisecracking and laughter. Now it was a silent feast of too little food and too many cups of coffee and cigarettes-and a significant absence of chatter. The losses and prangs we suffered now had a telling effect. Where our pilots in earlier days had produced resilience and courage, which seemed automatic, to recover quickly from their own accidents, or crashes or death involving their friends, the losses were now hard to bear and brought dejection and fretfulness. Their natural ebullience retreated and left them thoughtful and introspective. Tiredness brought lethargy and carelessness to their flying. Some of the landing approaches and landings themselves were hideous to behold and to watch them was a nightmare few could endure for more than minutes at a time. Yet, through it all, youth and the rich instinct born of sound training could still find a crack to burst through, to express themselves in a bright flash of repartee and fun. And every day produced a fresh crop of incidents which, tragic or dangerous though some of them might be, at least sent the adrenalin pumping through, strongly and excitedly, and restored the boys, even briefly, to their old excellence and brilliance. The day's work began at 0330 when aircrews, squadron ratings and flight-deck parties were roused. Between 0430 and 0500 the ship closed up to action stations in readiness for suicide attacks, for we were now in Kamikaze territory. All guns' crews closed up. All watertight doors were secured, which meant that for most of the officers their cabins were barred to them. The ventilating fans were shut down, causing the inside of the ship to become airless and, as the day wore on, decidedly smelly! Food consisted of bully-beef sandwiches and endless tea-typical action stations rations. So we were thrown out of our cabins, usually at the last moment-and, if you were unwise enough to snatch those last few precious minutes, unwashed and unshaven. Some chaps, in a fine (Oh!-Sod-it!' spirit, shunned ablutions-even breakfast-and flew all day in their pyjamas against the Empire of the Rising Sun, Most of us went along for some sort of breakfast. Those on the early shift, so to speak, then made their way to the air operations room, some to remain there on standby, the remainder to grab their helmets and Mae Wests and go out to the flight-deck in the cold of a pre-dawn morning, to climb into their Corsairs and sit and shiver." After reading this I made a pilot skin of pyjamas. I think it rather fitting.

Fugly! Guess how much the parts were? Masking tape don't come cheap you know! I taped it together so I could open it up expecting the damn thing to give me constant trouble but it has NEVER EVER given me a lick of trouble! Go figure! I had all sorts of plans to make a better box for her but I never will now. Something this fugly deserves to live.

Man! I don't have any suggestions except to say that sure is one weird setup. On the very earliest of planes (1910ish) before the current system of a single stick was widely accepted some planes had two sticks. Right one was often for elevator, and the left was for ailerons. Just to be clear I DON'T recommend it. But your setup sure reminded me of them. My real recommendation would be to ditch the original old stick and make a button box out of it. Mine is a ugly as sin but it works too well to replace it. Besides it is so ugly it is kind of a source of pride now.

The end of history.

Q. Does TrackIR need to be started before IL2? A. Not sure really; it may be a taste thing I suppose. I found that it worked better this way. Sometimes I would find it that the trackir software would fail to start - then I would need to minimize IL2, start TrackIR myself, again by hand - then bring Il2 up again. It was a pain so this way sorted it out for myself. No issues = good. I did in the past try Richarding around with a batch file to try and actually start an X-45 profile. For example have it start the profiler software then load a profile with a switch but I am pretty sure it cannot be done. However, I did not bother to actually ask Saitek so who knows.

For those who think it is worth the trouble. I made it in to a PDF file cause I didn't want to redo it again and store all the screen shots at photo bucket or something like that. It is very rough and crude but should get you started. I experimented with the program sometime ago - but I didn't bother to make it a regular part of my routine. Mostly because I could not make it start my X-45 profile first .... bugger! So with all those caveats here she be! http://www.k9squadrons.com/files/How_to ... ostart.pdf

Marriage is sometimes hard work. I hope you get what you want. Good luck!

Good movie - lots of people thought it sucked but I thought it was very good. The book is better of course. If you see a pitrure of the real woman she portrayed in the movie you may never get another woody again.

My Spitfire. Modified by myself Goodwood custom by request. My K-4. An original skin by myself. Pilot uknown I/Jg77 1945. My Me-262 Modified by myself. Original by Mike Swantek. Corsair - skin by Hammerd.

Artwork

Wow triple post! Yoy must really feel bad. Her work is lovely and her talent is self evident. She is very skilled.

Re copywrite.. no idea. 'tis from 'ere http://www.lascarisassoc.britanianet.co.uk/ Their site is rather vulnerable... see the fiollowing link. http://www.lascarisassoc.britanianet.co ... %20Images/ Me thinks they are likely public domain.

I predict Guitarman has a new part time job after that offer.

Sweet! We should be able to find a use fro this piccie also.

Oh man! My sides - my sides!

A mention in dispatches for moi! Cool! Thanks Delta. Here's hoping Double Tap has a sense of humor. Here is a 40 second movie (about 4 meg) Fancy Flying with Double Tap http://rapidshare.de/files/14457154/Fan ... p.wmv.html

A good time was had by all! Thanks!

Tips on Killing Bombers. I expect that most of you already know most of this already but maybe not. This little post was inspired by this thread on the UBI boards. http://forums.ubi.com/groupee/forums/a/ ... 9191061414 I am an extremely shallow person, and can enjoy the same mission over and over again. It is for this reason that I like intercepting bombers - lots! I have some tips for anyone who also likes the challenge. For the purposes of this little effort I am talking about shooting at the following bombers in the game. B-17, B-24, B-29, (maybe Pe-8 ). So this means that you will be flying an Axis plane. Most of what I am describing applies to ANY axis nation equally… but specifically I am dealing with Luftwaffe planes. I know you think that they are over modelled snipers, and they are. But you can compensate. If you do it right 4-engined heavy bombers are all but helpless in Il2. Stay Patient. Attacking bombers is almost unique in Il2. Perhaps with the exception of ground pounding, no other type of combat in YOU decide when, where or whether to attack. The bomber is slow compared to you. For gods sake take your time and choose when to attack. From which direction etc. The bomber is not going anywhere. So take the time to make everything perfect and right for you. If you do attack and you cannot bring your guns to bear during the attack, you will be exposing yourself to danger FOR NO GOOD PURPOSE. There is no point in screaming through the bomber formation at 800 kmph without getting a shot in. It happens and I still do it on occasion, but this is to be avoided at all cost. OK this should be obvious here but if you get to choose the plane you are flying with pick the "right tool for the right job." For killing bombers, and for my tastes it would either be the suburb Me-262 or the also suburb Fw-190A9 (with the wing cannons). Some of you may be thinking what about a Bf109 of some flavour? I used to think so too a few years ago. But over time I have come to see the merits of the FW. It is tougher and hits harder and faster than the BF series when diving on a bomber box. When on the attack run - stay fast! Almost always you will want to be going as fast as you can on the attack run. WEP, FULL POWER, RAD CLOSED, TRIMMED! (if you can arrange it, and you can because you should have all the time in the world, in a dive of some degree!) For a plane that has limited performance (F4 G2 earlier FW etc.) You will obviously need to be more patient and build up your speed with the aid of gravity before each pass. The faster you are the safer you will be. You will be exposing yourself to enemy fire for far less time. Attack ONLY from the side or the front. NEVER NEVER NEVER from the rear. I include topside (as a side) in this but NOT bottom side. (For the B-25 I make an exception!) Frontal attack is without a doubt the best, as the guns seem (rightly) to damage the bomber more, and you are exposed to enemy fire for less time due to the high relative speed. However, a side attack is easier to time (your trigger pull) due to the reduced relative speed between you and the target bomber, and because of this is generally my preferred attack for this reason. Get close before you fire. Get close. Real close! Get stupid close!!! So close that the Bomber fills the forward windscreen. Get a few (heavy bomber) plane lengths away then shoot.! There are a couple of good reasons for this. Firstly, you will use less ammunition. You will only be able to squeeze off a quick burst if you are THAT close. All you will have time for is to literally squeeze the trigger(s) then release them. A very few rounds will fire. If you use less ammo you can use the rest to kill more bad guys. Secondly, and more importantly you will hit what you are shooting at. A marksman of the most modest ability will hit from this close. Because you can totally control the combat, why wouldn't’t you arrange a sure thing?! Using the gun site. Sometimes I don't use the gun site at all. For example in the Me-262 the guns are all on the centreline. (Other planes with this feature He-162, Me-163, Dornier, some Bf series) The non-gun sight view is right along the centreline as well. If I am real close, like I recommend, then I don't really need the gun site, as even with the horrible ballistics of the 30mm cannons rounds, you should hit anyway! What side should you attack from? Believe it or not I think it makes a difference. In almost all German planes, the gun site is offset to the right hand side of the cockpit. What this means is that when you are using the gun site your ability to lead a target that is coming from the right is impaired. Especially with the FW/TA-152 series of planes as the window frame does not shift in position when you change from regular to gun site view. It is for this reason that I favour an attack on the bombers that has them on my left. This gives me a few more vital seconds to line up the target as I close to ludicrously close range. Furthermore, with the target bombers on my left I can shift from regular to gun site view to ‘move’ the target around the window frame and keep them in view. Unless I am attacking from the front, I favour a curved approach from the high (right side of the formation) at the highest possible speed. A curved approach seems harder for the enemy gunners to track me as I curl into the bombers. Targeting Formations. It is highly likely that I am attacking a formation of bombers rather than a single bomber. In this case, I am the wolf and they are the sheep. Look for the vulnerable plane. The one that is a little out of formation ... kill that one! Even thought they may be sheep they are a formidable force. Four bombers is something like forty .50 cal machine guns. Destroying the formation is important! They are weaker individually. Each bomber I kill reduces their combat effectiveness proportionately. You will notice that if you damage a bomber, sometimes even slightly, over a few minutes it will fall out of formation. You will have manufactured a weakling, a lame sheep to be killed! Target Prioritization. 1. If the plane has ditched his bombs, go after a better target. You are protecting a city/industrial area. If you get the plane to ditch the bombs prematurely that should be good enough. Especially if there are other bombers with bomb loads still undelivered. If there are no other targets then do kill this plane. No sense in letting it get back to base. Tomorrow it can be back with more bombs. 2. If he is leaking fuel keep attacking. It’s not hurt that badly, it is just a little airplane blood. However, this plane may now be the most attractive target as one or more of the gunners may be dead. This plane is the weak sheep in the flock. 3. Black engine smoke! If there is a lot of thick black smoke, this will often develop into a full fire. Leave this plane alone for a while and wait to see what happens with the smoke. If it is just a stream this plane is still a worthy target. However, I often leave this plane alone (even though it is damaged and may have some dead gunners) as the tiny black stream serves to mark the location of the bomber (and perhaps the remainder of the formation). It makes it easier to find them and to track them. It makes it less likely that I will loose track of it/them if there is a visible trail of black smoke trailing behind the plane. 4. Target plane on fire? This plane is absolutely categorically DEAD already! Let it burn. If you shoot at this plane you are wasting ammo. Ammunition that does not grow on trees. Der Fuhrer does not wish you to spray such a valuable commodity all over Germany. Far better to insert it into the planes of the Amis! More importantly you are needlessly exposing yourself to enemy fire for nothing! Don't do it. Sit back and enjoy the fire. Let the fire satisfy your heart knowing this Terroflieger will soon explode and your loved ones will sleep safely tonight. Maybe (but unlikely) when it explodes it will take out another enemy bomber! Don't deprive yourself of this chance. Watch it and enjoy the show. 5. Target plane circling out of control? This plane is dead and it is a waste of ammo to fire further at it. Go after a better target. What part of the plane should you shoot at? Personally I am grateful to hit any part of the plane and get away without getting damaged. But if you are really skillful it seems best to shoot at the wings of the target plane. Especially the outer part of the wing just outboard of the number one or number four engines. Attacking B-25's. Well in the game at least B-25's are insane! They are tougher to down that the 4 engined planes. But they have a weakness that is kind of critical, especially when they are flown by the AI. From beneath they have no defencive armament. No Gun on the bottom. Attack from the bottom if possible. See the results! And now a couple of track files to help illustrate. They are both single attackers piloted by yours truly. All the enemy bombers are Ace, with bombs and full fuel. The plane I am flying has full fuel. The Me-262 has the R4m's, and the A9 has the wing cannons installed. The right tool for the right job, again. http://rapidshare.de/files/14078754/500 ... .ntrk.html http://rapidshare.de/files/14078888/750 ... .ntrk.html Hope this has helped somewhat. Feel free to add anything you wish. Good Hunting. Waldo.

I think the grey background with the blue font here; http://www.k9squadrons.com/ is hard to read. Sorry You asked!

This is looking very nice indeed.

A medley of Me's. At the tender age of 17 in the drivers seat (relax I was just visiting!) The plane I am sitting in, is the one on the right. A couple of years ago inside the ill fated He-111 that was visiting Vancouver International Airport (along with the B-17 Sentimental Journey. Mrs Pepper this time (her name is Marija - pronounced Maria). In front of a B-29 in Arizona at the Pima Air & Space Museum. Myself in front of a North Vietnamese Mig-17 located in the San Diego Aerospace Museum. These next three shots were taken at the US ARMY Ordinance Museum, Aberdeen Prooving grounds in Maryland. This is a German 21cm gun from the war. I felt very inadequate for the remainder of that day. German Jadgtiger captured near Neustadt Germany March 1945. It has some evidence of combat damage on the armor. Myself on a T-62M. Syrian usage, Israeli captured.