Vonrd

Fw-190A-4, W. No. 140581, Flown by Lt. Eberhard Burath, Stab I./JG 1, Deelen, Netherlands, April 1943. Black and white striped cowl was represantive of Stab I./JG 1 aircraft. The center of the Balkenkruz on the fuselage were overpainted in RLM 75. The IV. Gruppe disc aft of the Balkenkruz has been overpainted, probably during early April 1943 when the unit was re-designated and Burath was appointed as Gruppenadjutant. As can be seen in the accompanying photo, it's readily apparent that the wings, at least, were highly reflective. I surmise that the reflectivity is due to application of wax and subsequent polishing by the ground crew. For that reason, I have made this livery a relatively gloss finish, including the exposed bare metal due to wear. I have taken the liberty to do so since I'm making the assumption that the crew would have applied the wax as is. Would they have touched up the paint beforehand? Who knows. I just think that it looks good. I hope that you enjoy this skin. One skin with swastika and one without. Submitted to DCS User Files as well as here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/y76ygnv1e04gr0b/Fw 190 A-4%2C Lt. Eberhard Burath of I.JG 1.zip?dl=0

Aerobatics did the same for me. "If flying were the music of man, aerobatics would be its Rock and Roll." 🙄

It appears to be gloss or close to it. Would you be OK with a gloss rendition? It also appears that the fuselage cross was overpainted. I assume RLM 75 gray. Also, I've read some people think that the background of the Demon was actually sky blue. (I prefer the yellow though). Can you confirm the color?

Umm... what if you're 67 years old? I'd gladly start anew... 🧙‍♂️

It probably will remain a mystery... Perhaps it's a misspelling (deliberate or not) of the British "Old Chap"? Maybe he visited England pre-war and visited Shap (pretty far off of the tourist areas though)? Or maybe one of these? 🤣

Agreed. Your explanation makes more sense. It was the only reference that I was able to find though.

Fw 190A-2, W. Nr. 120325, flown by Ofw. J. Heinzeller, 3./JG 2, Trickqueville, France, June 1942. With and without swastika. Josef Heinzeller, an ace with 35 kills to his credit began his combat career with LG 2. After that he was assigned to JG-3, from which he was transferred to JG-2 Richtofen in June 1942. He would also serve with JG-54 on the eastern front, and served as its first staffel CO until May 1944. He would serve out the war with this unit. Joseph Heinzeller had his Fw190A-3, as he did his previous Bf109E and Bf109F with JG-2 and JG-3, adorned with a rendition of his "Schnauzl" on the engine cowl. The "Old Shap" inscription was carried under the cockpit on the left side. A general consensus (but not definitive) is that "SCHNAUZL" was Frau Heinzeller's nickname. Shap is a small village in Cumbria. There is a pink granite from the area that's called Shap granite. It may be lost to time what Heinzeller was referring to or what his connection to Shap was. Submitted to DCS User Files and also available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/won97v6rtkf6a2c/Fw190A-2_Ofw_Josef_Heinzeller_Schnauzl.zip?dl=0

Make it stop!!! It's beginning to feel like I got the shaft in my professional career 😫. Just kidding (sort of). I'm glad that things seem to have changed for the better. I'm wondering how automotive techs are rating, in compensation, in relationship to aviation techs now. In my day, the car guys made at least as much as airwrenches and usually even more with much less risk. (If you botch the job on a car, it's much more likely that they just pull to the side of the road and give you a shitload of grief). Every time a plane took off, after I had done work on it, there was always that questioning in my mind... "Shit, am I sure I saftied that fuel filter?". That's why we always try to have a second set of eyes on the work performed. Still, we're all human (to one extent or another)... (Think about that the next time you board that aluminum tube 🤣). Happily retired now!

Well that sucks! Have you cleared the fxo and metachaders2 files in Saved games and run a repair? Make sure your Tracks folder isn't stuffed full?

I did a test run to check the working and it does as specified. I wound up reverting back to my saved controls since I have different mappings for some modules. I will be using it when I get a new stick though. @Ludwig, this might be the ticket for your new Winwing.

Initial trial is that this is awesome. Maybe not if you already have all controls setup but, if you somehow lose bindings or change your HOTAS, it's a MAJOR time saver. Be sure to back-up your Config file in Saved Games just in case. Actually Grim Reaper - Cap (yeah, I know 🤢) does a pretty good job explaining it although for an earlier release.

This looks like a very useful APP for setting DCS controls across all modules. I'm going to give it a try maybe today.

If anyone wants insights into the maintenance side, I'd be happy to share my experience.

Looks pretty good and certainly interesting... and free to boot!

This is a modification of the original skin by 59th_Jack which can be found at https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3303500/. Modifications are basically, Glossy and un-weathered paint, selectable Bort numbers and DDR specific pilot uniforms and helmets. Thanks for the original skin Jack! Aero L-39V Albatros, East German Airforce, Number 170, Serial Number 630705 at Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr Berlin-Gatow. This L-39 was in operation with towed target Letov KT-04. (That would be an interesting MOD! 😱). I had originally presumed that this was an aerobatic display paint scheme and that is why I made it glossy and un-weathered. Research has shown that this paint scheme was applied for target towing. The aircraft served with the ZDK-33 (Zieldarstellungskette 33) swarm at Peenemünde Air Base from May 1980. After the takeover by the Bundesluftwaffe in 1990, the aircraft received the tactical designation 28+48. They towed an aerial target, the Letov KT-04. I could find no period photos of the in-service aircraft but the earliest photos of the aircraft at Berlin-Gatow (already subjected to weathering / oxidizing of the paint due to outdoor display) seem to suggest an original gloss finish. Skin submitted to DCS User Files and available here also: https://www.dropbox.com/s/p128e4i455313u5/L-39C DDR 170 Gloss.zip?dl=0

Just checked the site and the F-16EX is available for pre-order. Ordered...

Thanks guys!

Still getting my chops back but I'm pleased with the results so far... Need to set up a photo arrangement with backdrop paper and lighting for the best affect.

Saw this on the DCS skinners discord

Well, looks like the F-16EX stick is sold out and I doubt that it will come back at that really good price. That's the only one that I wanted. Oh well...

Looks like this is a wide problem with the windows mail app which is apparently on it's way out: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/mail-app-emails-appearing-in-raw-html-data/81700b5a-da59-469e-bc6b-36fd2b516f7d

Recently some (not all) of my emails are showing what looks like html (but won't translate when I use an html converter). This is the default Windows mail app and yahoo mail account. Any ideas as to a fix?

It's the one DCS aircraft that I've actually flown IRL and I have to say that they really got it right.

Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatros, Construction Number:533526, USA Registration: N139AF, former Russian Red 68, now displayed at the Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos CA. From 12 September 2005 to 18 September 2005, competed at the National Championship Air Races, Reno NV in the Jet class as #68, named STRESS RELIEF. The primary pilot was Terry Sonday from Spring, TX. Finished in 7th place and from 11 September 2006 to 17 September 2006 where it finished in 9th place and 10 September 2007 to 16 September 2007 where it only raced one heat. (It's racing skin is a separate skin from the Hiller Museum one and is uploaded as "L-39C Red 68 Stress Relief"). In June 2010 it was placed on display at the Hiller Museum. Both skins have been uploaded to DCS User files. Also available here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y266imrhr8btek9/AACX8q7q9kfRS8rae9zitNM2a?dl=0 I maintained the aircraft from 2005 until it's last flight from Hayward CA to San Carlos CA and it's induction into the museum.