Brunosk's Fairey Fulmar modified DP file

F

fde_bressy

Charter Member 2011
My proposal for a modified DP file for Brunosk's wonderful Fulmar, with following items

Separated Machine guns tracers, with a more realistic ( in my view) impact power, i.e. far weaker, which corresponds more to the unefficiency of the .303 bullet in air fight ( Remember the pictures of Heinkel 111 with hundreds of impacts during BoB, which returned safe to their bases..)

Bombs loads of various models ( 500 Lbs., 250 Lbs., 120 Lbs. and 30 Lbs. ) to match with reall capacities of the A/C.

Just replace the [GUNSTATIONS], [HARDPOINTS] sections and end of the [STRINGS] section with those in the attached file

This DP is defined to work in VC view, and you must also modify the Eyepoint in the Aircraft.cfg file as follows:

[Views]
eyepoint= 1.10, 0.00, 3.15

Don't forget to modify your Panel file according to a previous post in the same forum from another Fulmar addict.

Good hunt and spare your ammos......
 
Fde_bressy,

Wow! I'm surprised this thread has gone un-commented. Of course I will test it. Thanks!
 
Thanks for the add on.

I've been throwing all data I could find about this bird into Airwrench, and the only explanation I can find for British limited success with this plane is that the Italian bombers in the Mediterranean in 1940 were probably unescorted, because it's slow, doesn`t turn well, doesn't climb fast, hard to accelerate... Any minor fighter opposition (G.50's for instance) would have been really dangerous for this monster.

I'd love to see footage of this plane taking off from a carrier, it must have been an experience.
 
Reply...

Japlance,

It was certainly robust, that was one of its attributes. It had long endurance, another important factor when discussing carrier fighters. It also possessed decent maneuverability, and its top speed was somewhat comparable to early-war Italian types, such as the G-50, Cr-32, and Cr-42. This is especially true for the Mk. II version.

I always think of the Fulmar as a Fairey Battle with a tailhook...but you also have to remember that the British also recognized the deficiencies of the Fairey Battle, even the Mk. II, and began using Grumman Martlets of various types with comparable range, as well as Sea Hurricanes. These were much more capable of handling the Italians and Germans on more balanced terms.

Later in the war this would include Gannets, (Hellcats) Corsairs, and Seafires.
 
I am checking out the new DP too.

I'm having trouble with the "wep_PAH250lbs" bombs. I don't have these in my library or I can't find them anyway. All the other weapons are fine. Positioning on the racks seems to be spot on. Lots of attention to detail.

While not part of the DP, I had to adjust the 2d panel.cfg file in the "Panel" folder to get the machineguns to zero. If this is a problem for any of you, here are my adjustments to the "View Forward" line:

[VIEWS]
view_forward_WINDOWS=%window_title_00%
VIEW_FORWARD_DIR=7.1, 0.0, 0.0
VIEW_REAR_WINDOWS=30
VIEW_REAR_ZOOM=0.5
VIEW_REAR_EYE=0.0, 0.45,0.50

Here's a few shots in the Med prior to take off with the various loadouts.
 
The Fairey Fulmar was indeed a bit of a compromise; RN doctrine at the time insisted on 2 seater aircraft for its carriers, and unfortunately this extended to fighters too! The extra weight caused by the rear pit and navigator did indeed lead to a decrease in performance. If they had given the backseater a mg it would of at least given the aircraft a rear defence. I've read of many accounts where the navigator's armed themselves with "tommy" guns. In one memorable instance I read an account of a navigator who hurled toilet rolls at the pursuing Italian fighter on his tail to distract his aim - it obviously worked as he got back to tell the tale!! Guess underarmed Italian fighters helped.......

However the aircraft whilst being on the slow side (ideal for Swordfish escort!) was sturdy and surprisingly manouvrable for a 2-seater. Its battery of 8x .303 guns certainly gave it the edge against all Italian fighters of the time. Fulmars were used with some minor success on Crete and later on Malta where probably their finest hour was defending HMS Illustrious whilst she was a sitting duck in Grand Harbour. Fulmars combined with Hurricanes to prevent the total loss of the carrier. The Fulmars registered a number of kills despite enemy fighters and managed to prevent effective bombing by Stuka dive-bombers on a stationary target. They were also used for intruder missions against enemy airfields on Sicily quite effectively.

Fulmars certainly ruined the day for a number of Italian torpedo bombers targeting Malta bound convoys, and provided a good service on the basis that any fighter defence is better than none! The Fulmars worst hour was undoubtedly Ceylon in April 1942 where Nagumo's 1st team of A6M2 Zero pilots not only clobberred the few Fulmars but also sent most of the Hurrie 11b's packing too!

Hope that helps on the Fairey Fulmar - as graceful looking carrier aircraft as I've ever seen.
 
QUOTE "Separated Machine guns tracers, with a more realistic ( in my view) impact power, i.e. far weaker, which corresponds more to the unefficiency of the .303 bullet in air fight ( Remember the pictures of Heinkel 111 with hundreds of impacts during BoB, which returned safe to their bases..)" UNQUOTE.

This is often exaggerated. Imagine the effect of 8x.303 mg's (especially on the Hurricane 1 as the guns were grouped together) on the crowded crew quarters of the Do.17, He.111 & Ju.88.

Bombers of all nations frequently returned to bases with seemingly horrendous damage despite facing .50 or 20mm weapons (and bigger), but as long as nothing vital was hit it was still always possible.

Remember armour plate etc was far less effective in 1939-40 (in 1939 any armour plate was a luxury) than it was soon after - all nations soon moved on from the between-wars doctrine which was in place at the outbreak of WW11.

8x.303 mg's could be devestating in 1940 believe me, as long as the fighter pilots aim was satisfactory and hits were obtained on either engines or crew quarters and other vital areas (Also the case even in 1945). When the RAF adapted to head-on attacks then this battery of mg's proved particularly deadly for Luftwaffe crews. Hence even returning bombers usually had dead or maimed crew onboard.

Try telling the dorsal gunner in a German bomber during the BoB that 8x.303's were ineffective!

Simularly against Japanese aircraft in 1942 even the Hurricane 11b had 4 of its 12 .303 mg's removed as 8 was proving lethally effective against the flimsily constructed Japanese aircraft in combat. So it's all relative.

Were the 8 .303 mg equipped Hurricane and Spit 1's ineffective during the BoB - I think the answer is obvious. Had the question been 1941 though and my answer would be very differant.
 
Thanks to Jagdflieger for the 2d panel modification trick, which I didn't know.

After editing this DP file, I discovered a fine program, called Aim It, which allows to ajust guns convergence.

In the next days, I will experiment it on my Fulmar DP file, and report to all if any interesting result.

Any comments on present DP in terms of efficiency and visual effect is welcome, as modifying DP's is becoming sort of hobby, and I will send some moremodified ones for other A/C's if anybody interested.
 
Thanks Rami. I had the plane, but forgot that it came with its own weapons.

I always (mostly I guess) zip up all weapons packs from all the different planes I have and keep them in a seperate folder and also as a consolodated pack to install all at once into new installations of CFS 2. That way I'm never out looking for weapons. Just added the Padbury weapons to the pack.
 
flying_spud said:
...In one memorable instance I read an account of a navigator who hurled toilet rolls at the pursuing Italian fighter on his tail to distract his aim - it obviously worked as he got back to tell the tale!! ...
Click to expand...

Talk about the S**t hitting the FAN !

lol
SC
:kilroy:
 
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