[J_Hartikka]

HI Experts of Mods!

In IL2 War, the modded SB2 is used as 'Wellington' bomber. It can take biggest bomb load of the available bombers (others are Blenheim I and B5N2 modded to 'Fairey Battle') and it is very good to fly, curving practically as tight as a Blenheim.

However, it has a great drawback: It's bomb sight view is blocked to the front by someone's boots..!

Because SB2 has no other forward aim, it is practically useless for tank bombing, and rather difficult to hit even the rows of vehicles in the city bombing of IL2 War. So I would ask, if it were possible by some means to remove the 'iron boots' from in front of the lens, or sink the sight lower to avoid them blocking the sight view..?


Regards for the fine mod work this far!

[ArcticViper]

Hey fellow bomber fan

I've tried out the SB-2 for bombing for the first time ever because of you post, and I do see the legs of the nosegunner in both models.

However the bombsight doesn't get interrupted by this (apart from forward visibility) as it goes up to about 75 degrees, but the target is still a good 5 degrees below the floor of the forward compartment. You should be good for any levelbombing from all altitudes above 1000 m or so, as long as you're not going at 700km/h :wink:

If you post a screenshot it could possibly help someone identify the problem (if any) with your mod.

I hope it's your installer that's gone wrong, so it can be fixed, otherwise, I'm afraid you'll have to live with it as it is.

Edit: I don't know wether you're using the bombsight to levelbomb or to divebomb, in which case it could be an issue... Levelbombing for me is no problem in the SB-2

[J_Hartikka]

Hey fellow bomber fan

I've tried out the SB-2 for bombing for the first time ever because of you post, and I do see the legs of the nosegunner in both models.

However the bombsight doesn't get interrupted by this (apart from forward visibility)...

... I don't know wether you're using the bombsight to levelbomb or to divebomb, in which case it could be an issue...

Hi, and tnx for comment!

Yes, the SB2 'legs in lens' problem does not affect level bombing, but it is bad when using 'slide bombing', known also as 'Jabo' bombing. This style is used for dot targets like tanks, flak or single vehicles. Level bombing is of course useless against dot targets.

Low slide bombing is practically the only one with which one can repeatedly hit a single tank even with small bombs. It is a bit like dive bombing, but instead of dive, U approach the target almost level, very low, and drop the bomb just before passing close above the tank. A bit like skip bombing ships, as U see - the bomb actually may slide on ground before it hits the tank.

When slide/Jabo bombing tanks with SB2, the boots exactly block the point of aim... so SB2 sight gets useless for dot targets, giving only random hits. By bomb load, SB2 would be best bomber of those three types available in IL2 War, if it did have unobstructed sight view to the front.

[ArcticViper]

I see...

Well... it'll be exciting to see if anyone will address this then...

[J_Hartikka]

11.9.2008

Hi!

I solved the SB2 sight 'Gunner Legs in Lens' problem by making my own Tape Mod Sight. It works as a pilot reflex sight as well with other planes that are missing forward sight, too, like B5N2 with its non-working bomb sight controls in IL2 War mod, or He111 with its vanishing reticle problem etc.

My sight mod is made by drawing a sight reticle on transparent tape and attaching it on computer display screen. Alternate means is to draw the sight ring to a strip of transparent plastic, tape hinged to upper frame of the display for easy turning away when not needed.

I aligned the tape ring on the screen with Blenheim reflex sight. Any other plane sight will of course do, they appear be aligned on the same spot. To use the 'Easy Tape Sight', center view from numpad '5' just before aiming target, and aim quite like with any front sight.

Allowed mod or not?