@Snacko, here we go;
First of all SweetFX. I'm now using something called Reshade 2.0 to apply SweetFX. It's easy to install and works very well with a minimum effect on performance.
Check out this thread;
http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/14425-bos-and-sweetfx/
The actual settings I use are from a guy called SnowSniper. Click on this thread;
http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/2183-bos-and-sweetfx-works-great/page-3?hl=sweetfx#entry311560
and check out post # 82. At the bottom of his sig. he has links to the SweetFX settings he's using. The first ones are for BoS. I've checked the links and they're still working. Once you have Reshade installed in your game you can copy paste these settings into your SweetFX folder.
Find these settings in 1C Game Studios/IL2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad/Bin/Game/SweetFX. Open the SweetFX file and copy/paste these new settings into it.
SweetFX is enabled/disabled by using the Scroll Lock key.
Once you know how to change settings, plenty of others out there to try. I use SweetFX with BoS, RoF, CoD and DCS.
As to key commands and set up; first of all, I suggest downloading the excellent community made manual for the game from here;
http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/16752-il-2bos-user-manual-released-first-edition-english/
Very well written by the same guy who did the RoF manual, it gives you just about all the information you'll need. The whole set up arrangement is also identical to RoF's. Before I talk about key settings it would be best to go into your games Realism settings and in the Custom tab uncheck everything except;
Object Markers
Allow spectators
Warmed up engine
Auto pilot.
and then leave your game running under these Custom settings. This will get rid of auto engine management and has the game running in settings we would normally use in IL2 1946 but you should be able to see the games quite useful "technochat" indicators.
As my small brain shrivels on a daily basis I've tried to retain as many key commands/procedures that I am used to in IL2 1946 across all the sims I own. This means I have a lot of keyboard assignments that you may want to put on your Hotas set up but it works for me.
I don't have a Saitek set up but I do have Hotas arrangement. I'm using a Microsoft Forcefeed back 2 stick and FT's old Logitech G940 throttle unit. This has two nice big levers that I use for prop pitch and throttle. I have assigned the throttle on my MSFFB2 as the water radiator control. The water radiator and cowl flaps for air cooled engines are about the only thing BoS allows you to assign to an axis or slider. I also have double assignments where they don't interfere with each other.
Also, do you have Battle of Moscow too? Some of the assignments in controls in the game will refer to specific planes like the Bf 110 which you wont have if you don't have BoM.
Once again, bearing in mind that I try to retain my familiar IL2 1946 settings, here is a run down of what I use/have assigned in game - different from the stock settings - by how it appears in the Main Menu/Settings/Key Mappings/Controls section of the game. From left to right we have Service, Camera Controls, Pilot Head Controls, Main Controls, etc. tabs so I'll with start with
SERVICE
About the only assignment I've changed in here from the stock settings is assign the Record button to my stick
CAMERA CONTROLS
Camera Zoom is on my mousewheel.
Rotate Camera Up/Down = Mouse Y
Rotate Camera Left/Right = Mouse X
Camera Player Cockpit F1
External Free Cam/Player = F2
Other cams are also assigned to the F keys.
PILOT HEAD CONTROL
Pilot Head Zoom = Mousewheel
Pilot Head Zoom In = Joystick POV hat up
Pilot Head Zoom Out = Joystick POV hat down
MAIN CONTROLS
AI Autopilot For Level Flight = Q
Adjustable Stabilizer Axis = a couple of buttons on my throttle unit - same controls used for FW190 adjustible stabiliser further down the list
Trim controls in BoS are important but the game does not allow them to be assigned to any sliders or rotarys so I use the same configuration as in IL2 1946 - the number pad on my key board! Flaps and gear assignments; like my IL2 1946 install. Assigning something to Tail Wheel Lock is essential!
Wheel Brakes for Russian aircraft work on both wheels simultaneously so are assigned to a hat switch on my throttle.
Wheel brakes for German aircraft are toe brakes and have separate assignment for left and right so I have them on bottons on my throttle as I don't have pedals
Gunsight filter; applicable to P40 only at the moment.
Altimeter: Reference Pressure Toggle on keyboard - important assignment!
ENGINE CONTROLS
Ignore the Auto Mixture and Supercharger control. Thats the confusing one you mention in your post. You don't need it! You don't need Auto RPM Limiter either.
Throttle and Pitch are assigned to the two nice big levers on my throttle and work for all planes with CSU's - mainly Soviet. German planes with DB engines like the BF109 and the 110 are designed to run in auto prop pitch and this is modelled in BoS very well. You can assign manual controls but I don't use them as it's just a quick way to blow your engine. There is no performance advantage. Same goes for the FW190.
Mixture and Supercharger Mode Switches are vital for Soviet planes as they had manual mixture and supercharger stage switch controls so I've assigned them to my keyboard as per IL2 1946.
Switch Engine Boost ON/Off - only applicable to the LA-5
Switch Propellor Pitch Control Mode Manual/Auto and
Propellors High Pitch/Low Pitch = as above, to work LW 'planes in manual prop. pitch control - see above' I don't use them.
Prop Feathering On/Off = I have a key assigned but I'm not sure which planes have this function. PE-2 and HE-111 perhaps?
Switch Water Radiators Control Mode: Manual/Auto? Another assignment for LW fighters that is not needed.
Water Radiators Shutters = assigned to the throttle on my MSFFB stick
Oil Radiators Shutters? Thats the oil cooler in plain english - you'll need key assignments for it
Engines Inlet and Outlet Cowl Shutters? for Soviet planes with radialengines only. These are a double assignment to my MSFFB throttle.
Switch Engine Controls = key pad.
No need to assign all those controls for engine 1, engine 2 at the moment in my opinion. I simply don't have enough levers!
WEAPONS CONTROLS
This is pretty straight forward and I re-use all my usual IL2 1946 assignments. There are some differences.
Drop Bombs Mode Toggle = assigned to button on my stick and selects whether you want to drop bombs individually or in salvo
Launch Rockets Mode Toggle = same function as above.
Drop Bombs Delay Toggle = no idea what this does! Ignore it.
Reload All Guns = needed, key on stick assigned to it
Don't use much else except
Gunners Fire At Will and Gunners Far Engage Distance to wake my AI gunners up and make them fire at enemies.
ORDERS AND GESTURES
A true hang over from RoF. You can assign stuff if you like firing flares, etc. Useful for the single player are;
Attack Nearest Air Target
Attack nearest ground Target
Do Like Me
Cover Me.
If you're lucky your AI wingmen might just feel like obeying these commands or.....they might just f#'k off into the distance for no apparent reason!
Phew! Thats about it for now. Hope this helps. Any questions? Just ask Sweper, lol!
