[Kopfdorfer]

Hi Guys,

I was surfing a bit last night and my insomnia drove me to a perusal of the history of the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) on overseas duty in WWII. Being a proud Canadian I have from time to time considered adding some of my own national flavour to IL2. The easiest addition (I thought) was simply to add the RCAF Squadron numbers to the selectable choices in the Regiments lists. (With the hope that it would not be too difficult to add the correct squadron codes to apply to the aircraft) . I figured even if I couldn't apply the correct squadron codes to the aircraft, I would at least read the Sqdn numbers in the unit selection list when I picked an aircraft - I know it's a rather lame start, but my skills in the computer department tempered by realism forced me to start small - so I thought.
I dutifully typed in the number and Name of each RCAF squadron (#s 400-443 Sqdns) in the notepad files :
IL2 1946\files\i18n\regInfo_ru.properties, and ...i18n\regShort_ru.properties

The additions do not show up in either QMB or FMB. After another look, I realized I missed the addition of RCAF to files\country_ru.proerties as : rc RCAF at the end of the list, so I added that.
Still no joy.

Now I am unable to find where to add the squadron designations either to IL2, or to MAT manager,. Clearly, both programs are capable of doing so : all the graphic elements are already there, I simply need to find the file with the code lists and make the RCAF additions(I hope).
If anyone knows where and how I could do this, I'd be very appreciative.

If anyone has made an attempt to augment MAT Manager successfully, I'd like to know, before I begin the task of tracking down "Aces" to see if he is still interested in adjusting his wonderful program : as others have previously said, as soon as I reinstall IL2 in any form the first thing I do to it is get MAt MAnager working - I can't stand to look at the original in game markings.


Kopfdorfer

[rossmum]

Useless at explaining things, but I'll see if I can help any...

Simply making the regiment files is only halfway there. They'll show online, but not offline or in FMB. For that you need a regiments list like the one which comes with McWolf's Decal Shine mod; then all you need to do is open it and add the filenames for your own squadrons under the appropriate airforce. You may need to copy-paste the regiment files themselves from their usual abode into the corresponding folder for the mod, but I'm not sure; I do it just to be on the safe side. The file is called regiments.ini or something and a quick look around the folders that come with the aforementioned mod will soon reveal it - the actual regiments should go under MODS/McWolf_DecalsShine/PaintSchemes/Red.

At the moment I have 442 RCAF (Y2-), 411 RAF (Canadian; DB-), and 443 RCAF (2I-), plus a load of RAF squadrons (19, 64, 66, 92, 121 Eagle, 124, 126, 222, 234, 603, 610, 611, 3 PRU).

[Gaston]

There are Canadian Squadrons in the Forgotten Countries mod... maybe you should be begin with this !!!

[Kopfdorfer]

Appreciate both the responses guys.

Rossmum : Does the Decal Shine mod interact with Mat Manager, or could it?
Or could I just use the necessary components of it to achieve my ends?

Gaston : I have looked at the Forgotten Countries MOd, but not trying to offend anybody, there is little chance I will use most of that mod, and as I recall - correct me if I'm wrong - it was rather sizeable. My poor little Athlon chokes on what I have it stuffed with already, and I am trying to be more selective about which mods I actually use .

Again thanks for the responses, and I'll look into these more carefully.


Kopfdorfer

[rossmum]

I think it's incompatible, but I honestly can't remember. I never had the manager to begin with, so I had no issues installing and using the decal shine mod (and then Spookie's improved markings).

Either way, you should be able to just keep the regiments.ini file and the included blue/red regiments folders whether you use the full mod or not.

[P/O W. 'Moggy' Cattermole]

In Matt Manager, one of the customization options for RAF roundels is the RCAF roundel, so you can have RCAF aircraft, but they'll be essentially RAF planes but with a different roundel (and of course suddenly there would be no RAF aircraft). But it's simple and quick to implement if you have matt manager -- one change, takes a few seconds to transfer the data and your done.

[Kopfdorfer]

Yes Moggy that's true re : Mat Manager, however the RCAF rondels, if I am not mistaken, were not implemented until post WWII. As far as I know all RCAF aircraft carried RAF insignia during WWII - with the augmentation sometimes of small under canopy or nose fuselage Sqdn symbols (ie the green maple leaf in the small white circle of 403 (I think) Sqdn - see a skin of Johnny Johnson's Spit Mk IX when he was commanding 403, and the Fighter Wing (127?) it was part of late war).

What I'm really looking for is just to add the correct fuselage codes to enable the 400-443 Sqdn numbers. I have all the codes (and either system has all the graphics - numbers and letters done already), all the Sqdn info such as activation dates, deployments, and equipment usage dates.
On a separate but related note I also have a mind to put together an RCAF speech pack with a little of the independent and irreverant character associated with Canadian (and other Commonwealth colonial nationalities) pilots. I just need to know where to input the data so that it shows up - in either program.

Thanks for answering.

Kopfdorfer

[mandrill7]

Beauty idea, eh?!

My problem is that I have Aces Mat Manager installed and am nervous about downloading any mods that cause compatibility problems. But a speech pack would be fun!

[Kopfdorfer]

I have the same hesitation - I can't imagine flying without Mat Manager.
Does anyone know if "Aces" is still active?
I'd be willing to initiate contact if anyone thought he was.

K