It's up!

[alpha_1]

Superb!

Happy New YeaR, aLL;

Kelti.......much hard work....by you and others. Much anticipated release........thank you!

Cheers!

 

[Sarg Willy]

An Art piece , and a labour of love , thank you Kelti , and the whole support team ,

 

[stuart277]

Thanks Kelti

Thanks Kelti
It looks really good.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
Best wishes to you and your family for 2015.
Cheers
Stuart

 

[dvslats]

My summary of Luigi Gorrini's life comes from interviews published on the Net over the past years, from his biography titled "Vespa 2" (Gorrini's callsign) and a near 50 minutes, 2011 interview published on DVD by Ronin Films here in Italy, that I bought in September.
It's a true, sad account of what Italian pilots faced during WWII. Under equipped, badly organised, armed only with their individual guts, considered only as cannon fodder by that callous monster Mussolini, who needed "A few hundred thousand dead soldiers to throw on the winner's table".
On how joining WWII was absolutely neither wanted, nor felt by the vast majority of the Italian people, notwithstanding the appearances, and, consequently, how everything was done amateurishly, unwillingly and on the skin of the poor combatants sent to the various WWII fronts Italy fought, from 1940 to 1943. Then, suffered the consequences of the Sept. 8th, 1943 armistice until April of 1945.

Gorrini paid all of his life for his choice to continue fight with the Germans after the armistice. He was jailed twice and discriminated against in any possible way. He was supposed to retire from the service a full Colonel, but he was only promoted to the equivalent of a RAF Warrant Officer, in spite of his service status and his top decorations for valour awarded to him during and after WWII, by both Italy and Germany.
He held all of his life he was never a fascist or believed in them, he only flew to keep "at least one bomb" from falling on his family house roof. Even back in November, when I read articles about his death over the Net and read comments, there were people, surely young and ignorant, that were toasting to the "death of another fascist".

Actually, his biography reports he was infinitely more respected and appreciated by his once RAF and USAAF former foes, whom Gorrini said "I had to fight only because I was ordered to do it. They were human beings like me and they hadn't done anything wrong to me."

I just want to know whether you got, at least, a fraction of the emotions I felt while writing. That's all.

Hi Stefano,

First let me say Thank You for a "Top Shelf" conversion of the MVG3d's C.205 and of course a Thank You to MVG3d for doing the original model.
Allen did a fine job making her work in CFS2, and Beepee with Chalachew converted some outstanding gauges.

I've read through your included documents. Are you sure you are not in the book publishing field?
Your writings are masterfully done. I'm a "two finger typist" which makes me appreciate it even more.

Putting all the government war propaganda aside, my opinion is that Luigi Gorrini did what any man would do. Defending one's family, home, and way of life is something to put your life on the line for.
He didn't ask for war I'm sure. Who would?
This is something many would not understand if bombs never fell in their home town. It's too bad that per generations, the true horrors become clouded or lost only to be repeated.

Today there is not much story telling in the evenings from one's elders or person to person conversation even! I always enjoyed when my father and uncles would get together with a glass of their favorite spirit and speak of how things really were in their lives. The very good times and the bad. Enjoyable moments in my memory. It really made an impression.

With that in mind, your writings reminded me of that. Thank You.

Best Regards, Dave

PS. Sandbags for armor plate? It's amazing that anyone survived. True piloting skills were the main life saver. Gorrini had them.

 

[bearcat241]

I have to admit Stef and team, i don't spend a lot of effort on flying and modding most axis aircraft, but this one has held my attention quite a bit since downloading. The Veltros and Sagittarios i've always held in the highest regard over all other WW2 Italian fighters...ENGAGE AT HIGH RISK! I made some tweaks to the BP panel, the DP and the air files and added drop tanks and bombs. Found a pic for the drop tanks. Great job on this one guys!...

On a serious note, Stef, you asked for replies to your Gorrini summaries. I have only the greatest respect and admiration of you as good friend and fellow simmer, so i have no interest in offending you personally. Your opinions of Mr. Gorrini and men like him is your own affair.

Initially i wanted to hold my peace, but this being a public forum in which you put forth a sensitive topic beyond this amazing model, with regards to Senior Gorrini and all axis warriors, i have to say that i often struggle to empathize with them or respect their choices and service records in following senseless leaders who they know to be monsters hell bent on world or even regional domination in the interest of nationalism and pride, go on to achieve great honors and results, only to try and distance themselves later from those choices upon surviving the fighting by offering up "wholesome" human interest stories and patriotic reasoning for choosing to go to war for their loser leaders. I weigh their wartime efforts against the backdrop of their own conscientiously courageous countrymen in uniform who either deserted, refused to fight or joined a resistance movement against those wayward regimes and suffered for it, like Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and General Erwin Rommel for example. In the end, Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo paid in epic fashion for their decision to steal, kill and destroy other nations. They were not honored nor praised for the destruction they caused nor justified in their causes. So while we pardon the sins and works of their followers today in obeying orders and whatever, i personally struggle within to honor their "courageous" works in the name of obedience to higher command. IMHO, an axis ace is just another guy who didn't get the memo that you're either part of the solution or part of the problem...von Stauffenberg and Rommel got that message and (after much soul-searching and self-reflection i'm sure) acted properly in spite of the risks to themselves and family.

As a former soldier myself, i was often troubled by the thought of being ordered to do things against my morality in the name of national security and patriotism. Thankfully, that day never came for me in my service. But being what i am, i always knew that such an event would spell trouble for me with my comrades and superiors. In the scriptures, LUKE 3:14, as Jesus was teaching and preaching about eternal salvation, a group of Hebrew soldiers asked Jesus what they could do to to be saved. "And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse [any one] wrongfully; and be content with your wages." He didn't say, "get out of the army!" as it were, but he did say "do the right thing" in so many words.

"Extort from no man by violence",...this was the basis of all axis effort in WW2 and it was and still is a soldier's choice.

Regards,

DJ

 

[Blood_Hawk23]

I have some bombs in the works. Right now there are no LODs. If your interested I'll pass them along. MVG did the models so they will match beautifully.

 

[mvg3d]

Hi Friends,
This is the only pics of '205 with auxiliary tanks, the plane belonged to the Italian Co-Belligerant A.F. (red/white/green roundels), there is NO evidence of use of pylons by ANR's or RA's 202s & 205s (MC.200 only were used for close support), probably these pylons were added by I.Co.A.F. technicians at Lecce airport.

 

[bearcat241]

Manuele, in CFS2 world, its called a "what-if" ...demonstrates the possibility, not necessarily the actuality. Some of us basement dwellers take license to do a little exploring from time to time without permissions from purism. Again, very nice model BTW...

 

[kelticheart]

I have to admit Stef and team, i don't spend a lot of effort on flying and modding most axis aircraft, but this one has held my attention quite a bit since downloading. The Veltros and Sagittarios i've always held in the highest regard over all other WW2 Italian fighters...ENGAGE AT HIGH RISK! I made some tweaks to the BP panel, the DP and the air files and added drop tanks and bombs. Found a pic for the drop tanks. Great job on this one guys!...

On a serious note, Stef, you asked for replies to your Gorrini summaries. I have only the greatest respect and admiration of you as good friend and fellow simmer, so i have no interest in offending you personally. Your opinions of Mr. Gorrini and men like him is your own affair......

Regards,

DJ

Hi DJ!

I hope I did not convey the wrong idea that I celebrated an axis pilot vs. Allied ones.

No offense taken, DJ, but I need to clarify a little. From more than few comments I posted here over the years, it should be clear that I never condoned the criminals who started WWII, as well as I would neither justify, nor condone, anyone in today's world who starts and wages war on other fellow humans justifying it in any way, whether it's political, or religious, or economical reasons, or whatever.

In my way of viewing life and the world, there's no justification for any type of war, other than self-defence from an aggression. I do not subscribe "offering the other cheek", I never did and never will. Terrorists who want to hold civilisation hostage are aggressors as well, and, as such, should be fought and exterminated without any form of pity.

Gorrini was a man who stood by his choices and took full responsibility for them. Which stands out very loud, since today's world trend is just the opposite, as no one seems to want to take responsibility for their own actions and choices, specially if negative and specially here in Italy. I deeply respect him, just for this and not for his supposed "courage". Courage is another very variable perception, where courage for someone can very well be judged as criminal by someone else.

His behaviour towards the "enemy", in terms of not letting evil hatred feelings take over his humanity, make him a breed apart in WWII holocaust. For example, Gorrini never strafed an helpless pilot hanging from a parachute or limping away from the wreck of his airplane, he always, and trained young pilots under his command to do the same, aimed at vital parts of the opposing aircraft and never at the cockpit. Gorrini neither respected nor assisted in combat pilots who did strafe helpless opponents.
Other respected axis pilots like, for example, Saburo Sakai, wrote in their memories that killing the other pilot was a necessity of war instead, and Sakai did aim his guns at the opponent's cockpit. Engine and wings were Gorrini's primary targets, in the Lybian desert he threw his canteen full of water to pilots he had downed and had survived the crash landing, a chivalrous behaviour belonging to other times and a world which had long since disappeared at the time WWII exploded.

All episodes well documented by eye witnesses, giving a measure of Gorrini's humanity, not his courage, which was acknowledged by his former foes after WWII. Gorrini's stories told to me by my parents and grand parents when I was a child, stirred the same empathy I felt when I started reading stories of RAF pilots fighting for survival during the BoB.

I simply wanted to pay homage to a man who stood apart in the madness that had gripped the world during those years. No one was exempt, all sides involved had something to be ashamed of, war is always a tragedy and, as someone put it, "the negation of reason". Nothing was further in my mind than celebrating Gorrini's courage during WWII.

With all of the above said, I like the attitude gauge you are showing in your screenshots, DJ. Although I am not sure the Italian standard attitude gauge had the modern coloured background look, it sure looks closer to the one I could make out from WWII B/W pictures. Where did you get it?
DJ, I did not touch the damage boxes in IS4G's original dp, did you adjust them better for this model by any chance? If yes, can you send me a copy of your work to include in the upcoming full conversion pack of Manuele's M.C.205?

The full conversion pack will include the "EP" (Early Production) model and the "Hybrid" models, derived from M.C.202 converted airframes.
In it you will find updated details, I went back and further modified Alphaoldies' Veltro panel as pointed out by Gaucho_59. Without the asymmetric "hump" holding the clock and the handle on the right of the cockpit frame removed, since it was never there. If I can get better gauges, I will include them as well.
I'll try modifying again the A.S.I. bitmap done by Beepee by rotating the numbers displayed to make it look closer to the original one. I'll try installing on my pc an old Corel Draw version and see if I can manage it.

Thank you everybody for your kind comments!

Cheers!
KH

 

[gius]

Greatest Addon Stef!!
The Fiat Cr32 too is on the way...
Cheers

 

[bearcat241]

Hey Stef,

Just getting in from work...in a bit of a rush to settle in and get to bed. I can't get into the side bar topics right now, but the attitude gauge is a merger between the stock Zero gauge and the one from BP's panel. And yes, i did some minor parts and box work on the dp. I'll send it soon....

CheerZ!

 

[kelticheart]

Hey Stef,

Just getting in from work...in a bit of a rush to settle in and get to bed. I can't get into the side bar topics right now, but the attitude gauge is a merger between the stock Zero gauge and the one from BP's panel. And yes, i did some minor parts and box work on the dp. I'll send it soon....

CheerZ!

Hi DJ!

Last night I went back to the incredible amount of info sent to me by Manuele Villa on DVD. I hadn't had the time to view everything, but, finally I found a specific document describing the attitude/artificial horizon instrument used on Italian aircrafts during WWII. Not all aircraft were equipped with it, this document sent to me by Manuele is its maintenance manual.

Amazingly enough, it was a Sperry attitude gauge built under license. Once again, it gives an idea about what shape Italy was when it was dragged into WWII by Mussolini.

The majority of propellers were license-built Hamilton Standard variable pitch, constant-speed types, the Fiat A.74 RC38 radial engine was a licensed development of the US-built P&W R-1535, the Alfa-Romeo RA1000 RC.41 powerplant was a license-built DB601, the Fiat 1050 RC.581 powerplant was a license-built DB605.........

DJ, if I extract a picture of the licensed Sperry attitude gauge and post it, do you think can we conjure up a good instrument for everybody's enjoyment? Sperry was a standard gauge manufacturer for US planes, right? We should be able to find a fitting one among all the available attitude gauges and I'll try to take care of the bitmap to make it look like the real one.

Cheers!
Stef

 

[gaucho_59]

Corrected Veltro panel...

The photo I used did not show the cockpit enclosure...only the panel....
and the Alpha Oldie was in fact also inaccurate on the handle mentioned by Kelti...
so I corrected it ipso facto

It is now better... and available via PM to anyone who wants to use it...

G.

 

[gaucho_59]

While on the subject... offering artwork for gauges

I am in the process of creating a large set of instrument bezels for Luftwaffe aircraft...
They are suitable for use in the creation of actual gauge bmp parts... or as whole
pictures for inclusion as dummy panel instruments...
Anyone interested can contact me via PM...
Comments welcome..
G.

 

[bearcat241]

...DJ, if I extract a picture of the licensed Sperry attitude gauge and post it, do you think can we conjure up a good instrument for everybody's enjoyment? Sperry was a standard gauge manufacturer for US planes, right? We should be able to find a fitting one among all the available attitude gauges and I'll try to take care of the bitmap to make it look like the real one.

Cheers!
Stef

I'll give a try...it shouldn't take much effort, depending on how many individual bitmaps are involved and which are static vs dynamic sprites. Can you post a preview of the images you have? I may already have something close to it in my gauge inventory.

 

[misson]

I am in the process of creating a large set of instrument bezels for Luftwaffe aircraft...
They are suitable for use in the creation of actual gauge bmp parts... or as whole
pictures for inclusion as dummy panel instruments...
Anyone interested can contact me via PM...
Comments welcome..
G.

Carlitos! estan buenísimos!! funcionan tambien en Virtual cockpit? quiero esos gauges!
Mario

 

[gaucho_59]

No te apresures!

Mario,
Yo no me entiendo de gauges...
Estos ejemplos son los que se usarian como dummy gauges en el tablero...
Teniendo los elementos bmp de un gauge existente...(i.e.: las esferas,
las agujas, etc. separadmente) yo puedo hacer se
vean asi cuando las metes en el tablero... Re-hago los bmp existentes...


En pocas palabras, cuando le hize el trabajo a Francesco... el me dio
los elementos y yo se los termine decentemente... porque eran bastante
grosso modo no bien definidos... etc.

En los originales de estos ejemplos... estan.. la esfera, el anillo, el vidrio... superimpuestos
(que es lo que hace el mlx gauge mecanismo...)

Carlos

 

[gaucho_59]

Here's what...

Querido Mario,

I think this little tutorial explains what can be done...
and you can have all sorts of realistic looking, smooth gauges...
the code for the mlx is not touched at all... just the looks of the
main components... usually needles, numbers, strips, etc. need no changes
Carlos

 

[kelticheart]

A test attuitude gauge

I'll give a try...it shouldn't take much effort, depending on how many individual bitmaps are involved and which are static vs dynamic sprites. Can you post a preview of the images you have? I may already have something close to it in my gauge inventory.

Hi DJ,

last night I thought I identified the closest available gauge, to the Salmoiraghi-Sperry attitude gauge, in the CFS1 Hawker Hurricane gauge set. I have a set where the background colours were turned black vs. the dominant blue hues of the original set. I have no idea who did it.
I went in and started modifying the bitmaps to make them look closer to the original.

The below are the resulting gauge, inserted in the Alphaoldies 2d Veltro panel, whose bitmap I further modified to get closer to the historical panel.

Take a look at the shots, do you think we are getting somewhere? The historical picture of the Salmoiraghi-Sperry attitude comes from original Regia Aeronautica maintenance manuals sent to me by Manuele.
I am also attaching a beta sample of the gauge set, so that you can test it on yours. I intend to work on it again to gain a closer match to the historical gauge.

The other problem I am trying to resolve is in Beepee's 700kmh ASI, clearly derived from the German standard ASI. Beepee did already a great job, since the gauge speed readings are accurate, but I want to rotate counterclockwise the numbers in the same fashion as the below picture, making it look more "Italian" and less "German".

The below ASI bitmap was created by Chalachew, unfortunately the scale of the gauge is not very accurate and, when placed in Beepee's gauge, it gives wrong speed readings. I think the only solution is rotating the speed figures in Beepee's original work, but it's turning out easier said than done. I have been trying with no success since before I decided to upload the Veltro conversion, I'll keep trying.

Cheers!
Stef

 

[dvslats]

Hi Stef,

I'm not sure if I understand the attitude gauge. Do you need bitmaps for the Salmoiraghi-Sperry attitude gauge?

If yes, they should be in MVD3d's cab files from his Fs9 package.
Or is it something different....

Dave