New pilot has noob questions

[fury spitfire]

Hi All,

I've just reinstalled COD with Team Fusion mod and I'm loving it!
I've read the new pilot guide and have a few questions after playing through the first 3 RAF Campaign missions last night.

1. When I close the canopy on the hurricane, the view resets or jumps, and then the canopy closes, is this normal?
It's hard to explain but it's like there is a conflict with close canopy and view forward but when I checked, they're assigned different keys.

2. When pushing forward on the stick, the engine cuts out, is this normal?

3. I use Track-IR but cannot for the life of me find a position to read/use the P8 compass comfortably, how do you do it?

4. In RAF Campaign Mission 3, where you are supposed to hunt down an escaping and damaged bomber, what are you supposed to do?
I wait for ages on the ground and nothing happens and If I take off, my captain stays on the ground.
I can't find the bomber but get voice information that my captain has and then it's a mission success.
What am I doing wrong?

5. Are the realism settings defined by the Campaign Mission? I would like to see the map path or my plane's icon on the map but I can't.

Thanks, I look forward to seeing you all online one day...

Toby

[hnbdgr]

Hi Fury,



1. When I close the canopy on the hurricane, the view resets or jumps, and then the canopy closes, is this normal?
It's hard to explain but it's like there is a conflict with close canopy and view forward but when I checked, they're assigned different keys.

It does that on every plane afaik, annoying but no way around it.


2. When pushing forward on the stick, the engine cuts out, is this normal?

Yes, it will do in spits and hurris and some other planes. They don't handle negative G well. Google Ms Tilly Schillings Orifice for further info.


3. I use Track-IR but cannot for the life of me find a position to read/use the P8 compass comfortably, how do you do it?
I use facetrack noir with the delanclip from ebay and don't have any problems. I'm sure it's in the settings, somebody with TRACKIR will be along to explain I'm sure.


4. In RAF Campaign Mission 3, where you are supposed to hunt down an escaping and damaged bomber, what are you supposed to do?
I wait for ages on the ground and nothing happens and If I take off, my captain stays on the ground.
I can't find the bomber but get voice information that my captain has and then it's a mission success.
What am I doing wrong?

No idea, I've abandoned SP after mission 2 :) MP is much more fun and challenging. Also Ai in SP will outfly you every time as well, I think they don't overheat and have slightly more relaxed flight model.


5. Are the realism settings defined by the Campaign Mission? I would like to see the map path or my plane's icon on the map but I can't.

I think you need to set up your realism settings before you start the campaign. Pay close attention to the screens when you load the SP, it's there somewhere. it might be under realism options or options.

I'm sure people will come along and answer these in more detail :salute:

badger

[fury spitfire]

Thanks Badger.

Google Ms Tilly Schillings Orifice for further info Made me laugh, what a fantastic name and very interesting... never knew about that!

[ATAG_Lewis]

Welcome to the community and forums fury spitfire....~S~

Get into the online server buddy and use Teamspeak....Its mission based and you will have real virtual pilots to contend with..You will get shot down a lot as we all did but you will learn very quickly how to fly defensive and the how to kill...I try to ask new players to try this soon as its still the fastest way to learn and there is no damage you can do in the server as a new player...so go for it....

yeah..as has been said, the Battle of Britain Spits and Hurricanes had carburettors that rely on gravity to work properly....Negative G throws the fuel up in the carbs float chamber and effectively starves the engine of fuel...If you do this for long periods your engine will eventually slow and stop totally meaning you need to dive very hard to get the air to start it again..The Germans were using fuel injectors so they could fly negative G with no problem...It is also worth nothing here that the German fighters new this failing in allied fighters and so would exploit it as a defensive move when chased..

Try this in the a server..

Easy Allied CEM for New Players (http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9111&p=100118#post100118)

You have already done this but I will add it just incase another new player sees this thread..:

Checkout the 'Beginners Guide'...for info and tips...It should save you a heap of time in getting up to scratch.....and its a really fun learning curve anyway..

Beginners Guide Link Here (http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5058&p=52711)

Also try youtube for startup procedures on all the aircraft...

Any questions then you've come to the right place....

Good to have you with us buddy...and remember its all about the Fun!!!

...Lew...

[ATAG_Dave]

3. I use Track-IR but cannot for the life of me find a position to read/use the P8 compass comfortably, how do you do it?

Toby

Hi and welcome

re the above - Im afraid 'comfortably' might be a bit aspirational - the compass, or rather course setter as its called in game (especially in the hurricane) is in an awkward place . Its best to look at this and adjust it while you are on the ground, you then set your gyro to correspond with the reading and then when flying your read from that which is much easier to see. BUT frankly the whole set up is a PITA as the gyro easily goes out of sync when you manouver - to the extent that I rarely bother with it in a spit / hurri anymore - you soon orientate / familiarise yourself with the various maps meaning you don't really need the compass.

Good luck

[fury spitfire]

@Lewis - Online is a tricky one with three little spitfire pilots but I would love to give it a go one day.
@Dave - I ended up using the gyro compass too but found that drifts quite a lot.

What I really found refreshing was getting lost last night over the channel and having to navigate back home without a calibrated compass or any idea where I was.
It made me realise how much I've been spoiled in other sims with GPS/ATC help! Nothing like getting lost at 7000ft with just a map for company :)
Thanks for your help guys..

[ATAG_Snapper]

The Spit/Hurri/Blennie compass/course setter/directional gyro is a royal pain in the butt, bar none! :doh:

Having said that, I use it a LOT in conjunction with TAB 7 1 to intercept incoming bombers. It ain't perfect, frequently gives a bum lead, but when it DOES work there is nothing more satisfying than spotting, from 20+ angels, a lone Ju88 or He111 at 15 angels trying to sneak in from the North or South unescorted. :thumbsup:

A couple of tips:

Have four keyboard keys assigned to move the compass course setter up and down, plus the directional gyro up and down.

Make a custom window to actually show the course setter numbers and the directional gyro numbers as you manipulate your keyboard keys. I set this window to fade and disappear after about 30 seconds so it's not too annoying. This saves you from having to squint at the hard-to-read instruments, it's more precise, and it keeps your head out of the cockpit.

This custom window doubles nicely for showing your gun sight adjustments, too.

The directional gyro goes out of whack very easily and frequently needs to be reset, especially after any maneuvre -- even a slight turn. It IS a pain.

I'll make a little video to supplement PhilStyles excellent tutorial and post the link here later today.

:)

[fury spitfire]

Make a custom window to actually show the course setter numbers and the directional gyro numbers as you manipulate your keyboard keys.

A brilliant idea and thanks for your help Snapper.
I have just finished setting up my TM WH for the Hurri and Spit and can't wait to try it out later... if you see anything I've forgotten, please let me know!

10356

[ATAG_Snapper]

A brilliant idea and thanks for your help Snapper.
I have just finished setting up my TM WH for the Hurri and Spit and can't wait to try it out later... if you see anything I've forgotten, please let me know!

10356

Looks really good! :thumbsup:

What I do a little differently with my Warthog assignments is:

Left throttle = prop pitch axis
Right throttle = throttle axis
Little grey lever = radiator axis

Think of a Spitfire's/Hurricane's radiator louvre as a barn door. Or better yet: an air brake!!!! Yes, it has to be open to permit sufficient cooling air through to allow the rad to do its job. But once you're above 200 mph.....the rad louvre need not be open a full 100%. In fact, at full throttle (100%) in level flight you can close that sucker down to 50% at 200+ mph and your temps will be fine (95 C oil, 110 C glycol) -- and you'll be giving yourself another 20 - 30 mph IAS. Try it! That little grey lever, BTW, has a center detent at 50%. Very handy in combat when you want to keep your eyes on your opponent. Practice pushing the rad lever fully forward (100% open) in a sharp climb as you feel your speed falling off, then, as you head down, close your rad to 50% (snick it into that little detent) and watch your acceleration! In fact, you'll have to back your throttle off to avoid going over 425 mph IAS.

Once you've got that down, in a climb push your prop lever forward to give your engine 2850 rpms (92%) and slowly open your rad to 100% as your speed declines. Then, when you reverse direction to dive, close your rad back to 50% and pull back (coarsen) your prop pitch back to 2600 - 2700 rpms. Again, be quick to pull back your throttle as you quickly approach 400+ mph and lessen your dive angle. With practice, you can give opposite rudder and aileron inputs (ie slide slip) and open your rad again to 100% to keep your speed lower than 425 mph IAS.

The above involves a lot of coordination requiring a lot of practice, especially when dodging tracer in the process. But these little bursts of acceleration can give your 109 opponents conniption fits if they themselves get a little careless.

:devilish:

(Then see what you can get away with - briefly - with rads closed to 25% - 35%* and revs up to 2950 rpms)

*I don't know if Oleg modelled in any kind of Meredith Effect, but I'm suspecting he did!

:)

[dburne]

Some great stuff there Snapper!
Makes me want to rethink how I have my Warthog set up.
Some of that stuff I did not even know.

[Lawndart Jedi]

The directional gyro is almost totally broken from what I see. I will set it, off the direction from the course setter, and it immediately start to deviate.

How do you set up a custom window?
Is there anyway to hide the yoke? Its near impossible to reset the course setter while flying as you have to hold the yoke to one side. I can't find any way to look over or around the yoke.

[fury spitfire]

The directional gyro is almost totally broken from what I see. I will set it, off the direction from the course setter, and it immediately start to deviate.

How do you set up a custom window?
Is there anyway to hide the yoke? Its near impossible to reset the course setter while flying as you have to hold the yoke to one side. I can't find any way to look over or around the yoke.

It drifts because the lock (the metal bar on the side) doesn't work...
Even with this, it would drift but not so quickly.

I had a hard time navigating until I set up a custom window to show Course and Direction (thanks Snapper)
Now, when I move down and left to look around the stick at the compass, I quickly set North over the + part, note the heading on the pop-up and then set the Directional Gyro to the same heading.
Sounds complicated but the best way I found so far and only takes 5 seconds...
See this post (http://a2asimulations.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=179786&sid=aabff42746734e04ce84099583663566#p179786) over at A2A.

Right click anywhere on screen to add a new window.
Alt click any window to select it and right click to edit the contents.
You can't always edit everything you want.

[dburne]

It drifts because the lock (the metal bar on the side) doesn't work...
Even with this, it would drift but not so quickly.

I had a hard time navigating until I set up a custom window to show Course and Direction (thanks Snapper)
Now, when I move down and left to look around the stick at the compass, I quickly set North over the + part, note the heading on the pop-up and then set the Directional Gyro to the same heading.
Sounds complicated but the best way I found so far and only takes 5 seconds...
See this post (http://a2asimulations.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=179786&sid=aabff42746734e04ce84099583663566#p179786) over at A2A.

Right click anywhere on screen to add a new window.
Alt click any window to select it and right click to edit the contents.
You can't always edit everything you want.

Hmm sounds interesting, I may have to try setting up a window for this myself.
Great info in this thread!

Edit: Snapper, are you still doing that video?