Im running UI 1.1 with the version 4.08m/4.09beta version switcher. do I have to uninstall everything before updating or is there a short cut?

no, there is no shortcut;
UP will arrange the mod files differently, packing most of them into sfs file format;
besides, 4.09m is a different beast than 4.09b

best idea for you would be to back up your old running install, then delete the mods and the files folder and make a clean install of 4.09, the skins for it and UP1.8 in a temp folder;
then copy over the files from the temp folder and run 4.09m with UP1.8

if everything is running, and it should, then you have a working great UP1.8 install and will be ready for any future campaigns, be they for mods or for a non mod install;

Thanks, downloading now.

I followed the instructions to load new maps by pasting [quick] list in config.ini but no map show up in QMB.

I want those early Lightnings, been waiting for that!

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The ones that dive steeper and steeper and steeper until you hit the ground.

Problems installing...

First off, if you download the torrent version I discovered that it has to be extracted to a temporary directory first (it will try to put it on somewhere on C: unless you manually extract it elsewhere). Then you run the UPSetup.exe from the temp directory and point it to your IL-2 1946 main directory - okay got that so far.

It does it's install, runs the client bat and everything seems to be in place. Run JSGME and load in all 21 additional mods - so far so good. Go to run the game, same splash screen, no new aircraft or maps...

Noticed on a previous failed install attempt that the il2fb.exe was modified and when it loaded it had a new UP18 splash screen - though it didn't make it through all the loading to 100%. Notice now that when JSGME is doing its mod load ins, il2fb.exe is temporarily modified (drops down drastically in size), but at the end of its load in, it reverts back to my original version (nocd) and runs again without the new splash screen and without any new features...

Is the UP18 supposed to include its own il2fb.exe with the download? It doesn't seem to be included in my temp extraction of the UP_18_full. Is my nocd exe messing it up somehow? Please help.

Thanks.

The plane selection is a dream, even if the XY ata/lbs boost" 109s, 190s and Spits are too nerdy for me.

It definitely was a "kid in the candy store" moment when I first opened QMB

Alas, there's hardly any missions for the new planes. Even with static campaigns, there's now thousands of possibilities...

I have seen that you have ranwer's Typhoon in UP1.8.
Do they have a specific flight model (ie different from Tempest) ?

no, it´s the flight model of the Tempest

Enjoying this mod.