Any interest?

[Rami]

Good evening!

Because the first mission took a lot of work to convert, (though now that I know how, it won't be as bad) I want to make sure there is significant interest in this project before I proceed further.

It is a CFS1 Mediterranean Beaufighter campaign originally created by Cliff Burgess. I started converting it to CFS2, and have the first mission pretty close to finished. It follows a Beaufighter squadron from January, 1942 fighting against Axis forces in Libya through the island fortress of Malta, where you will attack Axis shipping. From there you will also particpate supporting British troops during "Operation Husky," as well as the landings at Salerno, Italy. After fighting alongside US forces in Italy, you proceed to Corsica, where you attack targets from Eastern Italy to Southern France, winding down the campaign supporting the buildup for "Operation Dragoon."

Here is the first mission:

"title_string"=Beaus in the sand - Hit shipping in Tripoli
"summary_string"=Attention! Rommel has been amassing supplies and reinforcements in Western Libya, regrouping after the recent Allied advance past Benghazi. Use our newly-acquired forward airfields to strike shipping off Tripoli.
"objective_string"=The dawn of 1942 saw Axis forces hibernating in Libya, licking their wounds after losing ground to Allied forces over the previous summer. They used this time to rebuild their depleted forces, preparing for a renewed offensive in the coming weeks and months.
"intelligence_string"=Your temporary deployment here near Benghazi is to permit you to join in on the attacks on shipping in and around Tripoli harbor. Your flight is to carry out a night raid there. You are to go in low, make landfall east of Tripoli, and approach the harbor from the landward side. Keep your wits about you. The enemy may be temporarily down, but still has some fight left in him!

It would help if some of our more talented CFS2 aircraft designers would consider an updated, multi-lod Beaufighter, though I am using the Simviation ones for now. :typing:

 

[msfossey]

Rami,

I always enjoy the campaigns you chose to rework. This one sounds great and I would look forward to it. Thanks for all your hard work.

regards,
msfossey

 

[bismarck13]

Why a new model?

It would help if some of our more talented CFS2 aircraft designers would consider an updated, multi-lod Beaufighter

Are the old ones really that bad or are the good ones really FS9 models or other sort of frame hog? I personally either make aircarft that there are no models for, or AI aircraft for target purposes. I would need some pretty good reasons before I would consider making an aircraft that already exists . . . .

 

[Rami]

Are the old ones really that bad or are the good ones really FS9 models or other sort of frame hog? I personally either make aircarft that there are no models for, or AI aircraft for target purposes. I would need some pretty good reasons before I would consider making an aircraft that already exists . . . .

Bismarck,

They're not HORRIBLE, but they are rather outdated (2001) by current standards. The Alphasim model (freeware) is nice, but it is not multi-lod.

Perhaps if the source files could be obtained, the model could be updated?

An alternative solution would be that upon completion, I could hand-edit the missions so that they player-flyable aircraft is the Alphasim model. However, the trade-off would be the hope they release it as freeware, and the model would lack breaking parts.

 

[Rami]

By the way, here are a few more mission texts...

"title_string"=Beaus in the sand - Intercept at Alexandria
"summary_string"=Attention, airmen! Our radar stations have picked up a formation which they can't identify. Your flight has been ordered to intercept them and identify them as either friend or foe. Make sure to use caution!
"objective_string"=On March 3rd, 1942, Flying Officer Fumerton and his observer, Pat Bing, were the crew of one of four Beaufighters scrambled due to a radar contact near Suez, Egypt. Flying Officer Fumerton was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his part in this interception.
"intelligence_string"=Radar has picked up an unknown flight approaching our sector. Orbit and climb to angels 20, while controllers vector you onto the flight. Try to identify the flight. If they are friendly, escort them to the nearest field. If they are the enemy, destroy the flight.

"title_string"=Beaus in the sand - Deployment to Malta
"summary_string"=Attention! Today we will leave North Africa and join the hard-pressed forces on Malta! The ground situation here continues to deteriorate, though we hope to stop Jerry's advance into Egypt at Mersa Matruh.
"objective_string"=June 22nd, 1942 saw the deployment of six crews from 89 squadron, based in Egypt, to assist night operations around the island fortress of Malta. Big setbacks continued in Africa, with Tobruk having fallen to General Rommel several days before.
"intelligence_string"=You may fly along the coast as far as Sidi Barrani, but from then on you must keep to the sea and fly on the deck to avoid detection and interception by Axis air patrols. A patrol from Malta will cover your arrival. Watch your fuel carefully, it is a long flight.

"title_string"=Beaus in the sand - Interception at Malta
"summary_string"=After your arrival on Malta, Axis efforts shifted from intense daylight raids to less intensive raids under conver of darkness. Your are ordered to fly a night patrol against these incoming raids. Make sure our citizens are kept safe!
"objective_string"=Paradoxically, the deteriorating Allied situation in North Africa during the summer of 1942 brought limited relief to the pressure on Malta. Luftwaffe efforts were focussed elsewhere, and the potential of taking Egypt took priority over the reduction of Malta in Axis plans. Nonetheless, the remaining attacks were not negligible.
"intelligence_string"=After takeoff, follow the usual procedure and orbit north of the island at angels 10. Malta controllers will vector you on to any intruders which are picked up by radar. Make sure that the incoming raiders do not survive!

Added bonus...most of these missions are at night..so you'd better eat your carrots! :typing:

 

[Ravenna]

Anything by Cliff Burgess is definitely worth updating!!

 

[Jagdflieger]

Now there's a name from the old days.

Looks like it would be a fun campaign Rami, of course nothing is hard or impossible for the man that doesn't have to do it. Kids, wife and two jobs might be enough for one man...

 

[hewman100]

Here's a way round your caveat bismarck, if you wish to take it. We don't have a Beaufighter MkII, the Merlin-engined variant.

Once the lions share of the work is done on that, a little tweaking to accommodate some Hercules engines would then deal with most other variants in one shot.:gossip:

I have started having a go myself in FSDS, but the complex curves are not working well for me. I can send anyone what I've got so far and they can either build on it or at least use the plans to start fresh.