[fabianfred]

Of course ...all these great maps in production are not going to be worth much without great missions written for them...

flying long distances per se can be boring...and the default maps had only something like ....flying from a carrier across miles of ocean to attack somewhere or something and then flying back....

not much scope to fly from one place and a few hours get to another...this slot map has the distances...but I'm certain it wont be boring

map making is hard work...I think most of us have come to appreciate that even if we do not make them ourselves...from seeing the little problems and victories when they are overcome.....but making good missions can be a lot of work too...especially to combine them into a good campaign

we have many talented guys here...so i know we'll get some great missions for these great maps

[Skunkmeister]

I know this will sound ridiculous, but maybe some of you guys could make some missions from Baa Baa Black Sheep? You know, the corny 70's TV show

Their base was on "Munda Island" and the base was called Vella LaCava (which was actually on Vella Lavella if you look closely at the maps). Espritos Marcos was the island next to it to the east (Kolombangara). From their central postion in the Slot they could attack any island they chose, be it San Minto's Reef (Guadalcanal) or the huge japanese stronghold on Choiseul...

Would be a change of pace for sure.

[spud]

I have to admit, the same thought crossed my mind, skunk. As a kid I LOVED that show.

Guess the music could even be changed... lol

tater

[stansdds]

I mostly enjoyed seeing the Corsairs in that show. The acting was mediocre, the story lines ridiculous. and it lacked any historical accuracy. I'd prefer a campaign based on the real 214 and for the USN guys Corsair guys, VF-17. There were plenty of squadrons operating in the Solomons and operating all sorts of aircraft.

[FA_Cheech]

Dixiecapt,
Recommend you obtain a copy of The Blue Devils, by Mark Styling & Barrett Tillman. Some excellent mission descriptions are included for both the Wildcats, and the Corsairs. You will also be surprised at how many missions were flown in F4U-1s. The "bird cages" rule!

[VFS-214_Hawk]

My Planed Missions

In General
Missions against Shortland Harbour. http://www.pacificwrecks.com/airfields/s...tland.html

Missions against Ballala
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/airfields/s...llale.html

VMF-214 1st Tour
http://www.acepilots.com/usmc_vmf214.html#black_sheep

Am I a Baa Baa Black Sheep Fan? Not really
Am I a Gregory Boyington Fan? Not Really
Am I a VMF-214 Fan? You Bet!
Am I a VFM-17 Fan? You Bet!

[VFS-214_Hawk]

Another in detailed war diary is Chris Rudge's book Air to Air. Daily account on where they went, who went and what they did, flying the P-40.

I doubt my computer can handle it but I'd like to combine all of them in those missions. Could take the rest of my life to finish!

[Skunkmeister]

Sure is a good thing we arent counting on TV shows for our research:

[Former_Older]

I know this will sound ridiculous, but maybe some of you guys could make some missions from Baa Baa Black Sheep? You know, the corny 70's TV show

Their base was on "Munda Island" and the base was called Vella LaCava (which was actually on Vella Lavella if you look closely at the maps). Espritos Marcos was the island next to it to the east (Kolombangara). From their central postion in the Slot they could attack any island they chose, be it San Minto's Reef (Guadalcanal) or the huge japanese stronghold on Choiseul...

Would be a change of pace for sure.

I was in the process of making a VMF 215 campaign when I saw this subject come up at M4T, using Peleliu as the Solomons from Munda to Bouganville

The 215 flew from Vella LaVella as well, but it is not as well known as the 214

Marine Squadrons were constantly being formed and broken down, each squadron flew three tours, then the number for the squadron went back into the "pool" and it was re-formed. Each tour was about 6 weeks with a break in Australia (Brisbane if the squadron was lucky)

This gives a great chance for having the player do a multitude of things. My first two tours were going to be with VMF 215 in the Solomons, focusing on neutralizing Kahili and Ballale. Then the player is "injured" and VMF 215's 3rd tour goes on without him.

The player joins a new squadron months later, flying off of carriers, perhaps at Okinawa. Didn't get far enough along to decide which squadron, because now I see the quality of this map and the dedication going into it

I am also still making a pack of F4Us that was to be for the campaign. Birdcage Corsairs, from the squadron pool. Still WIP but here is a sample:



I had planned on at least 25 skins, perhaps more, all individually numbered of course. Some with factory paint schemes, some with field applied paint, and other individual changes. Still will make the skin pack, as a generic early F4U selection for Marine units

Skunk, this map work is excellent. I am an experienced mission builder and would like to offer you my help in making airbases and other locations populated with set objects. No aircraft, no barrels, no vehicles, ships, or artillery except for static defense, with Historical emphasis if possible

For examples of my previous work please see the campaign "white sun, blue sky"

I feel that since the hack is here, the best possible effort should be made in regards to how it's used, and you impress me very much with this work. I imagine you are working with others on this; I don't mean to exclude them. I'd like to help if I could

[saunders1953]

Skunk, Cheech, T and Spud,

I'm not sure exactly what time period you settled on for populating this map, so this is a "for what it's worth" either to you guys or later mission builders.

According to "Guadalcanal and the Origins of the Thirteenth Air Force" by Kramer J. Rohfleisch, by January 1943, there were 72 blast pens for Japanese twin-engine bombers in the Solomons, where there had been none before the end of November, 1942: 44 at Munda and Ballale, 18 at Buka and at least 10 at Kahili, with a corresponding increase in AA postions and searchlights.


The AF study:

http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/numbered_studies/467626.pdf

And as has been said over and over, beatiful work! As more people see the dedication to your collective geographical and historical exactitude on this map and the others in progress here, more people will have fewer worries about the modding issue, at least regarding modded maps. Thanks for all you guys are doing to make the PTO thrive.

[stansdds]

Nice F4U-1! Looks correct for very late 1943 through early 1944. The F4U-1 soldiered on in front line duty in the Solomons through the first quarter of 1944. After that, there were more than enough F4U-1A's available and the F4U-1 was relegated to the rear areas and training duties state side.

[VFS-214_Hawk]

I had planned on at least 25 skins, perhaps more, all individually numbered of course. Some with factory paint schemes, some with field applied paint, and other individual changes. Still will make the skin pack, as a generic early F4U selection for Marine units

Chuck is this you?

How about a set for VMF-214?

[spud]

BTW, guys, it will be EASY to make different time periods.

We are building the "all the airfields" version as the default, but it will be trivial to lasso an entire airbase, delete it, and cover it over with jungle. So we can make an early campaign version with only Guadalcanal, and Buin (others?), or we could have the early one be with only japanese bases up the slot, and dump Ondonga, Torokina, Piva, etc. A late version would have everything, and perhaps places like Munda might get the SeaBee treatment

tater

[Former_Older]

I had planned on at least 25 skins, perhaps more, all individually numbered of course. Some with factory paint schemes, some with field applied paint, and other individual changes. Still will make the skin pack, as a generic early F4U selection for Marine units

Chuck is this you?

How about a set for VMF-214?

That's affirm :wink:



To my knowledge, these pool aircraft should be theoretically correct for any squadron in combat at the time

PM me if you'd like a sample Marine F4U skin, I'd like your input on it

[saunders1953]

Good news, Spud. But will it be easy for computer Luddites like me to lasso airfields and replace with textures, etc., without knowing all the intricacies of the map making tools? Hopefully mission builders will be able to do stuff like that with a utility as simple as Groupcloner, right?