History in the making for A2A's Bf-109 Emile...

F

fleurdelys

Charter Member
This is very small overview of what is coming for your A2A Emile ...
In fact, there are 23 more in the "Blitzkrieg" package !

Cheers,

Fleurdelys
 
Now that I have your undivided attention :icon_lol:, this is what it's all about...:kilroy:

This project has been in the making for a certain time now and was made possible due to the ease of finding most of the necessary historical information required to peruse and eventually make the repaints which represent a part of our recent history.
I choose A2A Simulations Messerschmitt Bf 109E among the very few available mostly because :
a) I prefer the looks and flight characteristics of the A2A model (this is a matter of taste only);
b) the Paintkit by Martin Catney (ICDP) which is in a class by itself as far as being easy to work with;
c) there were already other repaints (+/- 120 by my count) by very talented artists such as ICDP, Epsillon, Cees Donker, Spook, Tony G, Bomber 12th, Huub Vink and Tom Stovall to name a few (found a listing of those names in a post by Huub... which have never ceased to impress and inspire me;
d) I love history and knowing that changes occurred, as far as liveries are concerned, during time periods which were sometimes numbered in days, weeks and months, which could affect the looks of a given aircraft for a particular pilot makes it even more thrilling.
As an exemple, there is enough facts pertaining to Wilhelm Balthasar's liveries to make one for the Battle of France as well as a couple more for different phases of the Battle of Britain period. The same could be said of Mölders, Galland, Hahn, and a goodly numbers of others too. The ones that I made for Balthasar or Hahn during the Blitzkrieg Period are only good till the end of December 1939...
The reason for doing so many repaints for just one pilot, when the opportunity arises, is linked to the search for those bits and pieces which, when grouped together, make up what we call "History". We should not pass judgement on history itself as it is over and nothing that we can do or wish will ever change it. We can only report and not forget for fear of history repeating itself... (I think I read that somewhere before; anyway, sounds good in my intro... :eek:).
e) Huub Vink has been keen in requesting from A2A Simulations a remake of their 109E with all the latest bells and wistles, including "Accusim" which makes a lot of sense to me also...
If we keep the interest up on this plane, they are bound to oblige, eventually...
Their release of the accusimmed Spitfire is in need of an opponent, for sure... !
If you know about JAGDWAFFE by Eric Mombeek and team, then you will find that most of the following skins come directly from his books which fortunately cover in depth the time frame for which our 109E model was in use. I also found some profiles on Wings Palette as well as a site dedicated to IL2 skins.
I tried to make sure that I wasn't doing a previously done skin and should you find some (at least 3) which sound or look familiar, please check the details of the repaint as well as the "read me" for a detailed explanation as to the differences which were sufficient to warrant another skin on the subject. As an exemple of this, you'll find that I did a Von Massow skin which looks a bit like the one made by Cees Donker, I believe. My skin predates that of Cees by an historical few days, while Massow's plane still had the "extra large balkenkreuz" on the wings (I don't remember seeing another skin with these large balkenkreuz) which were sometimes applied at the end of 1939 for want of recognition by friendly fighters. The same reasoning was used to come back to a smaller one as it was making the planes too conspicuous to ennemy fighters... LoL
The following listing shows the aircrafts that have been skinned by me up to now. This is a work in progress and not exhaustive of the subject for a particular period. I have tried to be as accurate as possible. Should any expert on the subject find fault with my work, please contact me with photographic or textual info and I will gladly amend the offending blunder. You might find some in cases where only one side of a plane is shown as is the case for most profiles. Placement of personal paintings on just one side or on both is probably the best field where one can sin with too much as compared to not enough...
I am personally using one big file per period with the accompanying skins as if it was one unique plane with multiple skin options such as you have with most of your planes actually. Should you wish to place them with the others that you have presently, there is no problem in doing so. Just add your skins normally and amend the aircraft.cfg accordingly. I also use a different type of thumbnail to help me find a plane from a specific time frame quickly. They look like small posters and the writing remains readable, although smallish, to identify the unit and/or pilot concerned. I've also enclosed pics which may be used as regular thumbnails for those who prefer seing small planes when confronted with their selection. Just protect the original and rename the pic as "thumbnail".
I have saved the textures in DXT3 (NO MIPS) which is a big plus in saving space, speeding up loading of the program and doen't have to be corrected for those who use FS9. It also has the added advantage of being clearer than the blurries that is usually associated with MIPs. These textures have given very sharp results on my rig.
I have included screenprints of the planes from the Blitzkrieg Period.
I have also included some exemples of the thumbnails (poster type) that I use to select the airplanes. Each period is readily identifyable as you will see.
　
BLITZKRIEG PERIOD (September to December 1939)
01. 2./JG 77 ................................ Hauptman Hannes TRAUTLOFT
02. II./ZG 1 .................................. Adjutant Erwin BACSILA
03. 3./JG 76 ................................ Oberleutnant Kurt SOCHATZY
04. 7./JG 53 ................................ Adjutant Hermann NEUHOFF
05. 2./JG 20 ................................ Black Cats Staffel (UNKNOWN Pilot)
06. I./JG 3 ................................... Oberleutnant Hans 'Assi' HAHN
07. 2./JGr 101 ............................. Running Dog Staffel (UNKNOWN Pilot)
08. 6.(J)/Trägergruppe 186 ............ Witch Staffel (UNKNOWN Pilot)
09. 1./JG 20 ................................ WHITE 4 (UNKNOWN Pilot)
10. 2./JG 1 .................................. RED 6 (UNKNOWN Pilot)
11. I./JG 1 ................................... RED 9 (UNKNOWN Pilot)
12. JG 1 ...................................... Oberstleutnant Carl SCHUMACHER (Kommodore)
13. 1./JG 26 ................................ Grasshopper Staffel 'WHITE 11' (UNKNOWN Pilot)
14. JG 2 ...................................... Oberst Gerd Von MASSOW (Kommodore)(LARGE BALKENKREUZ Model)
15. 8./JG 26 ................................ Oberleutnant Eduard NEUMANN (Staffel Kapitan)
16. 2./JG 3 .................................. Unteroffizer Emil OMERT
17. 6./JG 26 ................................ Steinböck Staffel (UNKNOWN Pilot)
18. 2./JG 21 ................................ Red Sparrow Staffel (UNKNOWN Pilot)
19. 2./JG 52 ................................ RED 13 (UNKNOWN Pilot)
20. I./JG 1 ................................... Staffelkapitan Wilhem BALTHASAR
21. 6.(J)/Trägergruppe 186 ............ NACHT HEXEN ("Witches of the Night") (fictitious essay - NOT FOR PUBLICATION)
22. II.(4 Staffel)1JG 77 .................. Oberleutnant Helmut HENZ (Staffelkapitan)
23. 5./JG 52 ................................ RED 13 (UNKNOWN Pilot)
24. 6./JG 28 ................................ YELLOW 17 (UNKNOWN Pilot)
25. 2./JG 26 ................................ Leutnant Josef BÜRSCHGENS
26. 1./JG 51 ................................ Oberstleutnant Oskar-Heinz (Heinrich) "Pritzl" BÄR
27. 2./JG 26 ................................ Staffelkapitan Martin Rysavy
　
WESTWÄRTS PERIOD (January to end of June 1940)
01. 6./JG 26 ................................ Unteroffizer Ernst NISCHIK
02. 4./JG 26 ................................ Unteroffizer Hugo DAHMER
03. 2./JG 27 ................................ "KAMERUN" (Unknown Pilot) ('BLACK 4')
04. 2./JG 52 ................................ Unteroffizer Ludwig BIELMEIER
05. 4./JG 52 ................................ "RED CAT" Staffel (Unknown pilot) ('WHITE 3')
06. Stab II./JG 2 .......................... Oberleutnant Günther DOMMASCHK
07. 2./JG 20 ................................ "BLACK CAT" Staffel (Unknown pilot) ('RED 12')
08. 4./JG 51 ................................ "WEEPING RAVEN" Staffel (Unknown pilot) ('White 12')
09. JG 26 Schlageter ................... Oberstleutnant Hans-Hugo WITT (Geschwaderkommodore)
10. I./JG 20 ................................. Hauptmann Hannes TRAUTLOFT
11. 6./JG 26 ................................ "STEINBÖCK" Staffel (Unknown pilot) ('BROWN 3')
12. II./JG 26 ................................ Hauptmann Herwig KNÜPPEL
13. 6.(J)/Tr.Gr.186 ....................... Ofw. Kurt UBBEN ('YELLOW 13 - WHITE 5')
14. 3./JG 3 .................................. Feldwebel Christoph SCHUMANN
15. 2./JG 27 ................................ Leutnant Fritz KELLER ('BLACK 4')
16. 6./JG 27 ................................ Unteroffizer Fritz GROMOTKA ('YELLOW 10')
17. 6./JG 27 ................................ Unteroffizer Heinz UEBE ('YELLOW 2')
18. 6./JG 27 ................................ Feldwebel Erich KRENZ ('YELLOW 4')
19. 6./JG 27 ................................ Leutnant Julius NEUMANN ('YELLOW 3')
20. III./JG 53 ............................... Hauptmann Werner MÖLDERS (Gruppenkommandeur)
21. 8./JG 2 ................................. Unteroffizer Georg HIPPEL ('RED 4')
22. 8./JG 2 ................................. Staffelkapitän Alexander Von WINTERFELDT
23. 1./JG 53 ............................... Oberleutnant Hans OHLY (Pik As Staffel - NO "Red band" on cowling)
　
BLITZ - PHASE 1 (End of June - July - August 1940)
01. 9./JG 2 ................................. Leutnant Rudolph ROTHENFELDER ('YELLOW 8')
02. Stab III./JG 54 ....................... Oberleutnant Albrecht DREHS
03. 4./JG 51 ............................... Leutnant Johann BÖHM ('WHITE 4')
04. 6./JG 51 ............................... "WEEPING RAVEN" Staffel (Unknown pilot) ('YELLOW 7')
05. 2./JG 52 ............................... Unteroffizer Leo ZAUNBRECHER ("Rabatz Staffel')
06. III./JG 2 ................................ Oberleutnant Adolf STEIDLE (Adjutant)
07. 3./JG 27 ............................... Oberleutnant Werner SCHULLER ("Scissors Staffel")
08. III./JG 26 .............................. Oberleutnant Werner BARTELS (Technical Officer)
　
BLITZ - PHASE 2 (August to September 1940)
01. 1./JG 53 ............................... Oberleutnant Hans OHLY (WITH RED band of Shame...)(open to interpretation as to the real intent)
BLITZ - PHASE 3 (September to October 1940)
Search for info still on...
BLITZ - PHASE 4 (October to November 1940)
Search for info still on...
BALKANS
Search for info still on...
BARBAROSSA
Search for info still on...
01. I./JG 54 ................................. WHITE 11 (Unknown Pilot)
　
ROMANIA (Save for # 64 made by Epsillon, this includes all the other profiles published on Wings Palette to date).
01. ROM-4 .................................. Locotenent Aviator Nicolae POLIZU, "YELLOW 4", Grupul 7 Vanatoare
02. ROM-9 .................................. Unknown Pilot "HAI FETITO", "YELLOW 9", Gr.7 V.
03. ROM-13 ................................ Locotenent-Comandorul Aviator Alexandru 'Popicu' POPISTEANU, "YELLOW 13", G.7 V.
04. ROM-27 ................................ Sublocotenent Aviator Ioan DICEZARE, "YELLOW 27", Gr.7 V.
05. ROM-35 ................................ Locotenent Aviator Alexandru SERBANESCU, "YELLOW 35", Gr.7 V.
06. ROM-37 ................................ Unknown Pilot, Pre-War roundels, "YELLOW 37", Gr.7 V.
07. ROM-38 ................................ Locotenent Aviator Ion DICEZARE, "YELLOW 38", Gr.7 V.
08. ROM-39 ................................ Unknown Pilot, "YELLOW 39", Gr.7 V.
09. ROM-47 ................................ Unknown Pilot, "YELLOW 47", Gr.7 V.
10. ROM-60 ................................ Locotenent Aviator Horia POP, "YELLOW 60, Gr.7 V.
11. ROM-65 ................................ Unknown Pilot, "YELLOW 65", Gr.7 V.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT WILL YOU NEED TO GET YOU GOING ........... ?
1. The original payware and legitimate copy of A2A's Bf109E which has been updated for FSX or the original file for FS9, for those that don't use FSX... (I only supply the repaint "texture" files).
a) make a copy which you'll rename with any name that meets your fancy; I would suggest a name which will identify (as I did) the period linked to the skin. For exemple, the 'Blitzkrieg' texture files could well be set up in a file named as : A2A_BLITZKRIEG Bf109E_1939...
All the texture files of the same period are named "BLITZKRIEG"+ the Pilot or Staffel name (or whatever other period name that I used) which should make it easy for you to put them in the right period file.
(See my own setup screenshot for better understanding...)
b) prior to installing the first texture, remove all the texture files from your new setup file save one, which you will rename 'texture' and from which you'll remove the 4 files that I supply. This will be your texture shared file. I supply the necessary texture 'cfg' reference file with each texture.
2. Open the aircraft 'cfg' file of your new setup and remove all the aircraft numbered entries. Use the first skin that you download, go through the 'read me' file and copy/paste the necessary entry to your aircraft 'cfg' file. This first entry would be numbered "0".
3. As I mentioned above, I use a poster type thumbnail to identify the pilot/staffel/period instead of the usual pic for ease of finding a specific pilot/staffel/period...
Although it sports the same set up for each period, there are different colors used for each period which will facilitate navigating through the selections.
For those who prefer looking at the pictures instead of reading ... :eek:), there is a pic bearing the name of the texture in each texture set which you may choose. Just save the original poster type thumbnail and use the pic and type thumbnail to replace the original poster one...
The "Pics & Overview" file contains a quick reference to each texture and you don't have to place each or any of them in their respective files as they already contain a copy in them. The "Setup & info" file contains a pic of my setup as an exemple and a copy of my presentation. The "Zipped Files" file contains the textures. You should proceed as you usually do for any other downloads.
This is it !
Enjoy...
Fleurdelys
 
This is a screenshot of my own setup as an exemple of what you can do with all those textures for a specific period...

Fleurdelys

Update: The package has been updated and should be available shortly !

Depending on the interest in this project, I will get moving in finalizing the second part of the project.
 
OUPsss....:kilroy: :icon_lol:

I feel that I must apologize to all who have already downloaded my "Blitzkrieg package" and who might have found that some of the
textures didn't show as expected...

While preparing the second package for upload, I noticed that some of the "Readme" files had not been updated to show the final
names used for the texture files. Although annoying, I'm sure that most must have found the solution by now. The next package will
be double checked to make sure that such problems do not occur again.

These are the files that are not likely to show up as expected but will, if you correct the entries of their respective "readme" file prior
to adding them to the aircraft cfg file or if you just correct your aircraft cfg files directly, if you already have the planes installed...

You may either copy/paste or add the missing info yourself to the "texture" section of the following entries :

texture= BLITZKRIEG.01 (TRAUTLOFT)
texture=BLITZKRIEG.03 (SOCHATZY)
texture=BLITZKRIEG.04 (NEUHOFF)
texture= BLITZKRIEG.05 (BLACK CATS)
texture= BLITZKRIEG.08 (WITCH)
texture= BLITZKRIEG.13 (GRASSHOPPER)

These glitches were bound to hapen as these packages spanned quite a few months of work and modifications along the way...

Fleurdelys
 
Part 2 : Western Front and the Battle of France...

This is the second part of my "historical" project which covers the January to June period or Germany's Westward push up to and including the fall of France and the Dunkirke operation.

There are 23 skins in this package which you might find less colourful than the first as, by that time, the Germans had opted for a more subdued camouflage of their planes. They are nonetheless representations of these planes which took part in this second part of the war. Some pilots are present for the second time and you'll see the changes in the skins of their mounts...

There are at least four planes which belonged to the same staffel and should allow those with the knowhow to use them together...
The reason for preparing their skins is linked to the fact that I used a pic which showed at least three of them (including their plane numbers and their names) flying in formation !

The poster type thumbnail that I favor has also changed and should allow you to select your aircraft faster as you'll be able to place them in their context more quickly. This is a small sample of the planes and thumbnails involved.

I had expected to get some feedback from the downloaders and will have to be content with the number of downloads as being a positive sign on your part.
Still, perfection on the first try does not bode well for my future uploads as I'll probably start getting careless ...:sleep:

I will upload the second package in a few minutes and it should be available shortly thereafter.

Enjoy !

Fleurdelys
 
Thank you to those who have taken the time to give me feedback.

To all of those who are downloading these skins presently, you may be interested to know what is keeping me from uploading my third package ... :kilroy:

I'm presently working on my third package which will cover the BLITZ-Phase one or the Battle of Britain period from the end of June to the end of August , 1940.
While these textures were 95%+ finished for the most part, the research into historical facts and other profiles covering this particular phase of the conflict have led me to info (pictures, profiles and personal facts of the pilots, when known) which would corroborate and even improve on the original work done on these skins in several cases. I have proceded to include these facts and details into this next package, when applicable...
On one occasion, at least, I have found evidence which would tend to demonstrate that the emblem worn by Trautloft on the right side of his plane (WESTWÄRT.10 (TRAUTLOFT) was indeed present on both sides of the fuselage, beneath the cockpit...
I have corrected this particular texture and have posted it for those wanting to have an historically correct aircraft...

Now, if you go back to the list of planes that were prepared for that particular period, there were in fact 8 skins almost done. I've opted to take a little while longer to improve on these originals and do some more (15+) which would bring this package up to around the same numbers published in my first and second package.
The reason for this delay and wanting to do more is because this period was so much more colourful in my mind than the second one as the Luftwaffe had by now decided to camouflage their planes a bit and get them more in line with wartime conditions where stealth and anonimity would probably get you home for dinner... :icon_lol:

The camouflage, contrary to the RAF, would tend to be more personal and applied in the field with some dazling results. I should be able to upload this package by the end of next week, barring any unexpected delays in the meantime.

Cheers,

Fleurdelys
 
Reply...

Fleurdys,

I added the update to the original package to make the library to make archiving easier and lessen any confusion. :icon29:
 
This is torture Fleurdelys, I have already too many Bf109E repaints on my HD! But too much has already grown to far too much by now!

Nevertheless thanks,
Huub
 
Rami said:
Fleurdys,

I added the update to the original package to make the library to make archiving easier and lessen any confusion. :icon29:
Click to expand...


Merci beaucoup Rami ...

I appreciate as I'm sure future downloaders will also.

But I'm wondering about those who already have the second package and who might not want to download it all again just for that particular file ... :kilroy:

Fleurdelys
 
huub vink said:
This is torture Fleurdelys, I have already too many Bf109E repaints on my HD! But too much has already grown to far too much by now!

Nevertheless thanks,
Huub
Click to expand...

Bonjour Huub,

I know what you mean about the size of one file to carry all those textures... :kilroy:

That's why I split mine by period as I had already done, sort of, with all the other textures from other repainters...
But in their case, I went by their names (pilots or Staffel) and grouped the As and the Bs ... etc. and limited the total per files to around 15 planes which makes managing those files a lot easier ... :icon_lol:

Anyway, have you ever seen an historical book which was paper thin or are they not usually fat looking books ?

Apart from the historical purpose of this recollection, I guess I'm trying to send a message to A2A Simulations that they need to update their Emile also...
Hint, hint... :engel016:

BTW, I had to do the same with Manfred Jahn's C-47 (for which you made quite a number of beautiful repaints yourself) and managed the whole lot (I lost count after 100) by period such as wartime skins, 1946-50, 1951-60, etc. It is easier to manage and the categorising is endless and only limited by one's imagination or purpose...

Cheers,

Fleurdelys
 
Bonjour to all of you 'Emile' lovers...

I've completed work on the "Blitz-Phase One" which covers the end of June to end of August period as you already know. I've updated my working paper which will show the following after downloading it in this package...

...
BLITZ - PHASE 1 (End of June - July - August 1940)
01. 9./JG 2 ................................. Leutnant Rudolph ROTHENFELDER ('YELLOW 8')
02. Stab III./JG 54 ....................... Oberleutnant Albrecht DREHS
03. 4./JG 51 ............................... Leutnant Johann BÖHM ('WHITE 4')
04. 6./JG 51 ............................... "WEEPING RAVEN" Staffel (Unknown pilot) ('YELLOW 7')
05. 2./JG 52 ............................... Unteroffizer Leo ZAUNBRECHER ("Rabatz Staffel')
06. III./JG 2 ................................ Oberleutnant Adolf STEIDLE (Adjutant)
07. 3./JG 27 ............................... Oberleutnant Werner SCHULLER ("Scissors Staffel")
08. III./JG 26 .............................. Oberleutnant Werner BARTELS (Technical Officer)
09. III./JG 51................................ Oblt. Werner Pichon-Kalau von HOFE (Technical Officer)
10. 9./JG 2 ................................. Unknown pilot (YELLOW 5)
11. 7./JG 2 ................................. Unknown pilot (WHITE 5)
12. I./1 JG 51 ..............................Unknown pilot (WHITE 7) of GRUPPE I
13. 7./JG 26 ............................... Unknown pilot (WHITE 6)
14. I./JG 2 .................................. Oberleutnant Paul TEMME (Grupenadjutant)
15. 5./JG 51 ............................... Hauptman Horst 'Jakob' TIETZEN (Staffelkapitan)
16. 3./JG 2 ................................. Feldwebel Franz JAENISCH (YELLOW 8)
17. 4./JG 51 ............................... Ofw. Hans ILLNER
　
Save for the Romanian package, this will be my last contribution to this project for a little while...
I need to see other roundels and give hand to current projects.

This particular period of the conflict was getting very colourful as compared to the 'Westwärts' period or move toward the West. Save for the skins of Jaenisch and Hellriegel who borrowed Jaenisch's plane only to get shot down and be taken POW. I opted to make them both as the first is quite different from the Phase 3 of the Blitz where aircrafts where starting to show a lot of yellow on them. The date of Hellriegel's demise is October 15, 1940.

All the other skins showing motling effects applied by the groundcrews in the field are one of a kind and not a simple repetition of one fuselage to another...

I also added Hans Ohly's Blitz-Phase 2 version of the plane which you'll remember from the 'Westwärts Package'. I opted to include it as it was already done and showed the Red stripe in lieu of the Pick As emblem. Historians cannot agree whether it is due to Goering's dislike of Jews since the head of that wing was married to a Jew or if it was more for indentification purposes...

I also added one aircraft from the Balkan's period since it was the first one that started this project going...

Well, this is it for that particular period of history. Others could have been added as they were quite plentiful but I feel the need to pass on the torch to others who might like to keep this thread going with their own labour and addons...

You never told me if you liked the idea of a poster type thumbnail or if you definitely prefer 'Pictures' to be used as thumbnails...

Looking forward to your comments,

Cheers,

Jean-Robert
(aka: Fleurdelys)
 
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