Friar

Meeting The Backroom Boys - #2 It has been pretty quiet around the Chapel over the last few days, I think that a lot of the pilots must have gone home for Christmas, so as there were no souls in need of my spiritual guidance (I would guess that they were all probably letting the “spirit” guide them now anyway!) I decided to take another trip up to the airfield to see who was about. I jumped into the Jeep I have on permanent loan from the Car Pool, the Priory’s work can keep me out pretty late and the taxi service around here is virtually non-existent. (Some of the Cab Companies won’t even come to some of the venues I find myself in! Doing the Priory’s work certainly can be tiring at times.) and headed off to the Airfield. The short drive takes me across the town square, down to the junction with the main road. Looking over to my right I see that the “Downed Pilot” seems fairly quiet today also (note to self….good time to go and see Brenda me thinks). Anyway, I turn left on to the main road and head up to the airfield. Driving around here is not the safest of occupations let me tell you. The American chaps will insist on driving on the wrong side of the road, the Brits are fine, we all understand which the correct side is. No matter how many times we discuss it with them, they still insist on doing it (now please forgive this impression but you will have to go with me a bit on this one, stand up straight, chest out, salute and bark out loud as if on the parade square, “Our Way, The Right Way, The American Way”). I understand that they did try an experiment to drive on the correct side of the road once in one of the Southern States, although only doing large sixteen wheel trucks first was never going to work in my opinion. Driving onto the Airfield, it all looks pretty quiet; I can see a few of the planes have been parked up for the Christmas period. I can see old Llocky working on my beat up FW190. I must pop over and say thank you. If it wasn’t for him I don’t think that I would get much flying time in at all. I noticed a Jeep parked outside the Control Tower and a light on at the top, I guess ATC must be operational. I decided to drive over and go and see who was about. I knocked on the Control Room door and went in. I have never ventured to this nerve centre of the airfield before. I was not sure what to expect, although I don’t think I could have ever been ready for the sight that befell me. Sitting behind an arc of screens was a man dressed in a Hawaiian T-shirt (loud colours and jazzy patterns), a red and blue striped tank top (sleeveless pullover), tan coloured, knee length shorts, socks and sandals. His hair was black and shiny (possibly gelled/greased/oiled), with a neat parting down the middle. “Hello” I called out, slightly apologetic, trying to get his attention. He looked up a bit startled. His attention was then immediately transferred back to a screen on his desk. “Victor One Nine Six Whisky Lima, please be advised that normal approach is required for runway Two Zero Zero”. Just at that point a Spitfire in the markings of the Royal Canadian Air Force came flashing past the Control Tower, wing tip smoke on and inverted. The Controller looked up briefly, uttered something about the Provinces and returned his focus to his desk. “Hello” I tried again. This time he raised his head from his desk and looked over in my direction. I was greeted with a thick New York/Bronx accent, “Yea, Wadder ya want? I ain’t here for not for nuffin’ you know!” (Which, I believe went some way to explaining his dress sense) “How do you do” I replied, “Friar, Friar-one is my name”. He came back at me with “Oh it’s you” whilst nodding his head, as if all that had gone before, now made sense. “And you are?” I nervously enquired. He removed the gum that he had been incessantly chewing, stuck it under his desk, stood up and offered out his hand over the top of this screens, “Chuck, err, Charles Stickenoffski”. The formalities at this point, seem quite normal and were running true to protocol, except that Chuck was offering me his hand at approximately two feet to my right. This quite threw me I have to say. A feature of Chuck that had previously gone totally un-noticed by me then struck me like a dull blow with a frying pan to the head. I was standing next to the coat stand and Chuck was wearing the thickest pair of glasses I think that I had ever seen. I moved slightly to my right, took hold of his hand, which re-centred his focus on to me, shook it warmly and said “Pleased to meet you”. “Yea what ever”. He let go and sat back down at his desk. Put his hands behind his head, his feet up onto the desk, and promptly began to topple backwards, just saving himself in time. He stood up, pushed his arm out in front of him, shrugged his shoulders and adjusted his shirt collar, and looked around to make sure that it was only me and him in the room. “So Friar, word on da street is you’re one of da good guys and can be trusted, is dat true?” “Yes, I can be trusted” I replied, (secretly thinking that I may just about to be given some more material for my next publication) “Is there something I can help you with?.” “Yea, first off, call me Fetch, it’s what da bro’ from the hood’ call me”. “Fetch?” I asked. “Yea Chuck Stick….?” “Oh…..” I paused, then got the joke, “Right, Chuck Stick, I see, very good” and did a very silly mime of throwing a stick. Chuck looked at me as though that was not the first time that he had seen that done. I coughed nervously. “So what is it that you would like my help with?” He beckoned me around to his side of the desk, the array of screens certainly looked impressive, Sky Sports, NBC Football, Playboy Channel, Nickelodeon and one small green RADAR screen. He gestured for me to sit down, again looking round over both shoulders to make sure no one else could hear. “You see Friar...” he was interrupted by the crackle of the radio, “Pffft hayhayhay bling-bling-blong haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa broooo haaaaaaaaaaaa Did I tell you about my new girlfriend?” Chuck rolled his eyes, pressed the Push To Talk button on his headset and said (without even asking for a pilot identity) “Psycho, you are clear to land runway Two Zero Zero, Tower out”. Not wanting to be disturbed again he turned off the radio. “Shouldn’t you leave that on” I said whilst nervously pointing to the blips on the RADAR screen. “Naw, they’ll be fine” he replied. “You see Friar” he began again; as he spoke he removed his glasses, leaving his eyes in a squint. He rubbed them and slowly they went back to normal. “I got dis ting for Brenda, you know, the barmaid down at da Downed Pilot”. “Yes, I think I know of her” I replied, not wanting to give too much away. “Well, it’s like this Friar. When I go down there for a drink, and she pulls me a pint of your fine English Bitter,” his face turned skywards and held a wistful expression, “the pint that swirls like the wheat in a golden English meadow, the luscious creamy texture that slowly massages the back of your throat as it slips effortlessly down” Chuck then closed his eyes and slowly licked his lips as if to savour every last drop (that last sentence was sponsored by the British Beer and Brewing Society) she gives me this little wink, and well, I just go weak at da knees. But then when all you fly-boys come in I don’t get a look in. I not sure if she even remembers dat I am there. What can I do to get her to notice me Friar?” “Well” I nervously started, “Well, I have heard that Brenda is a very popular girl and keen to join in with the staff from the airfield, although I must warn you that I think she can turn nasty, a bit violent. I did hear that one of the motor pool mechanics described her as a “slapper” so if you do get close, watch your face.” I rose from the chair and said “Leave it with me and I will see what I can do. It’s been nice meeting you, and perhaps your keep a runway clear just for me when I attempt an approach?” “Friar, the way you come in, I’ll keep the whole friggin’ airfield clear!” I waved good-bye and left the Control room. I climbed back into the Jeep and headed off the airfield and back home. As I drove my thoughts turned to Brenda, well actually two things came to mind when I think of Brenda……Brenda and a pint of Spitfire. © Friar-One January 2007

Updates to the links for JSGME and the updated Icon Mods If you do not have JSGME: - If you just need an update to the latest version of the icon mod

I am sorry if I came across wrong - it was just an observation - don't undo all your good work on my account. What you are doing will be really appreciated within the group. I choose not to use chkskins due to the size, but if it could be tight trusted resource of only good clean skins, then who knows. Salute. Friar

Does not reporting skins that are ok in here defeat the point of the thread. Will I have to wade through loads of skin names that are fine to see the broken ones. Would it not be better just to have the broken ones? Love the fact that you are getting on board with this sort of thing though Tbone. The Dogz are getting to you I can tell

Just in case.... Sorry, just posted and did'nt realize they would come up so big. Both are PNG's so can be used easily

A. To install JSGME if you currently do not have it. If you do have it, then move to B. 1. Download JSGME (Jones Generic Mod Enabler) from: https://www.softpedia.com/get/Others/Miscellaneous/Generic-Mod-Enabler.shtml#download 2. Unzip JSGME to a temporary folder, and run jsgme_setup.exe, install it to your BOS game folder 3. Run JSGME.exe that was placed in that folder. It will start and a screen will display, it will show you the standard folder it will create where your MODS need to be placed. 4. Now close JSGME. This sets up the proper location for the JSGME MODs folder for your BOS install. B. To install the MODs with JSGME: 1. Download desired MOD zip file or files, in this case: Add SID's [Dogz Icon Mod] 2. Unzip your selected mod to the MOD folder that JSGME set up in the BOS main directory, in this case folder name should be "MODS\Dogz Icon Mod - Tank Battles v2.00" and "MODS\Dogz Icon Mod v1.00" 3. Start JSGME 4. On the left side of the JSGME screen will be the list of MODs you have available, and which are inactive/disabled. To the right the ones that are active/enabled. 5. For Tank battles: Disable the [Dogz Icon Mod v1.00] and Enable [MODS\Dogz Icon Mod - Tank Battles v2.00]

485th: Saw nothing. Got nailed by AAAA no hot water for shower. gin supplies running very low. Sorry for the edit Col, see below....😉

No, just a weather update - My original announcement - you posted in it Crash has that... Remember to pick the white camo.

As we have moved to December, I thought a winters day would suit.

I have to admit I did not watch it through to the end.. 😧

I have been thinking about what I can do to get the fighter jocks a bit more involved, so, I will have a look

Yes I have and Sid being the genius he is converting the file, we now have the right solution, plane icons but no ground icons, so everyone wins! You will need to apply the attached file into JGSME and apply the mod. It is in our downloads and get it here

STOP PRESS: IGNORE THE POINTS ABOUT ICONS - WE NOW HAVE A SOLUTION FOR NO GROUND UNITS BUT PLANE ICONS ON! Salute We are going to have another go at running the tank event as it seemed that people did actually like it! However... I have taken on board some of the comments that I received and suggestions as to what could have made it even better for everyone. To this end I am going to make the following changes. 1. We will run the event with icons on. This will enable the fighter jocks to have more fun with each other and we will also have icons on the map so that Tankers can see where they are going in the town. The caveat to this is that I am aware that some people still use full icons on their map which enables them to see where everyone is (RADAR) and also ranges and Id's. I have made the compromise to enable icons for playability, I would therefore ask that EVERYONE switches to using our mod for dot/triangle only and only your own icon on the map for at least this event. It can be enabled and disabled via JGSME so you will be able to turn it off afterwards should you wish. 2. The airfields will be moved back to introduce longer flight times, thus making it more successful if you take out an enemy plane as he will be gone for longer, giving you more time over the combat zone. 3. This will mean that tanks will have their icons on as well (I have yet to find a way of having air icons only) but hopefully this will not impact the playability / fun too much when we are in the built up town. People hiding under trees will be more visible to planes and probably other tankers, but I am stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to make the event as inclusive to everyone as possible, so please bear with me and give it a go. 4. The planes will be still limited to their original bomb loadouts of a maximum 250kg. Even through they will be able to spot tanks in tress, we all know from the P38 mission how hard it can be to take them out (and that is with 500lb!) so yes, it opens the tanks up a bit more but I felt that the fighter jocks needed more rewards for their efforts. So Please sign up in the thread below. You can change sides if you want. Lets hope we all have as much fun a before, remembering that this is still all new to us as an event. Friar

Welcome to the Dogz mate. Hope to stick around to have lots of fun with us. We are an informal bunch, no ranks or orders etc. no formal training but lots of people happy to get you back up to speed. Are you interested in the Tank Crew module at all? as we are having fun with that as well as the planes. What modules of IL2 GB do you have?

Salute Is there an appetite to re-run the Tank event before Christmas? If so we are looking at 6th or 20th? We will run it this time with an icon on the navigation map for the tanks. Unfortunately, we are unable to just turn on plane icons. Should we forget the planes for this time (I am not saying that the pilots do not matter for this event, its just that without icons it was not as enjoyable for them as it was for the tanks. I have posted over at IL2 forums to try and get a solution to this, but nothing doing at the moment. If you want to fly it again of course you can and I will move airfields back a bit as requested) and concentrate on the tanks. Plenty of time to get "pilots" trained up - its a lot of fun making stuff go "boom!" (you do not have to buy anything to play) Your thoughts Gentlemen?

Found the attached over at SGC. The tank video within this video comes from World of Tanks but he talks about actual tank data so if TC is modelled as it claims to be, what he says should still be relevant.

Gulp! I have put the HS20 (or whatever it is called) on pause at the moment, that is real crap for you Mick. Hope you are able to get it sorted.

There are NO OTHER GAMES... outside of Il2 Great Battles, IL2 Tank Crew, DCS, Assetto Corsa, Elite Dangerous...

I pasted a picture of the file twice and could not remove one.

Sorry - double up on the table image, they are the same

Just uploaded a document to the vault. To use How to use it? Measure your targets size in the sim, using your tank's stadimeters, its Start from the left, choose Front or Side, depending if the enemy is more facing you or is more sideways to you. Then you move right to Size in Mil, and use the line most closely to the size of your target. Then look for the column of your target tank and go down until it hits your targets Size in Mil. Boom you got the range, set the gunfight and fire!

from the feedback during the chat after the event 1. Player only icon on map (I would actually like this too). This would help getting players to the point of action quickly and so make it more exciting for them. Yes, we all have compass headings but the safety net of your triangle just to confirm you are heading in the right direction will help. I did not think this was possible but during the chat when we finished it seems it is so this is something I am going to include. Some people may not agree with this, but I think it will help the majority have more fun. 2. Flight time for planes could have been a bit longer. I put the airfields in close to keep the pilots part of the action. The problem was that if a pilot was killed it did not take them out of the fight long enough for it to have made a difference. So perhaps they could be moved back a bit? 3. Add in more count down timers. I think it would have helped to have, as well as the 30 minute a 15 and 5 minutes to go. generally the feeling was that everything else worked so glad you all had a great time, I know I did. Salute to Artie for his excitement at taking out Sid! Salute to the Allies for the overall win, both sides taking the flag twice, just the allies did it last. Salute to FT for his technical assistance and advice with the hosting. Finally, thank you to everyone that took part and committed to this new venture so enthusiastically.

Salute Gentlemen Thank you for the event last night, I think the general consensus was that it was a fun night. If you have any comments about anything to change for the next one, yes, there will be more of this sort of thing if you guys want it, please post in this thread. Let me know what to keep, what to remove etc. Also if you have any scenarios for me to investigate. Cheers Friar

could always extend it