SimHQ Senior Air Combat Editor Tom Cofield reviews IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover
North America Version 1.02.14821

http://www.simhq.com/_air13/air_500a.html

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I would like to personally thank TC for picking-up the ball on a very difficult review to produce, and successfully maintaining a balance in discussing the good and bad aspects, all within a very few days since the project was reassigned to him. Salute to you sir!

Also, a big thanks to FearlessFrog and Avimimus for providing support content and input to the review.

Additionally, I would like to apologize to the readers of SimHQ for the delay in getting the North American Review completed and online. While we always did plan to review the initial North America version, it was hoped to arrive a few weeks, not months, after release.

When the new update arrives next week, FearlessFrog will be producing a "what's new / what works / what still doesn't work" writeup on the update and its impact to IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover.

Minor point, but the armament difference between the Bf109E3 and Bf109E4 is that the former has the MG-FF, and the latter uses the very similar development - MG-FFM (with a lighter recoil spring, and firing the mine shell with lighter weight, higher velocity and higher HE content).

The MG151 is the nose/engine block armament of the Bf109F2, with the Bf109F4 carrying the MG151/20, both are much later than the BOB

I thought Dart was to write part of the review. Haven't seen him around much. Is all okay?

Good review. Accurately spells out the strengths and current shortfalls of Cliffs of Dover.

Nobody has heard from Dart. Hopefully he is okay. Speculation is he is quite smitten with the RL plane build and it has him swamped. I asked TC to step in several days ago to do the review in Frank's absence.

Thanks, Doug. Hopefully speculation is right.

Good review Tom. You covered the good, the bad, and the just OK parts of the sim well.


Wheels

Thanks for the review, like you I suspect the game will evolve into a truly great game, it just needs a fair bit of nurturing.

The only thing I think I would pick you up on though is the bit about the Blenheim IV:



It was the Beaufort that evolved into the Beaufighter not the Blenheim IV. If memory serves then it was the Blenheim MK 1 that was used as a stopgap night fighter, much like the Hurricane thingy with the turret that for the life of me I can't remember the name of (old age and decrepitude) with little success (to slow). The Blenheim IV, I believe went on to have a tolerably successful career as a light to medium bomber in secondary theaters such as Malta and North Africa.

Well done Tom for stepping in, its pretty much spot on, though how could it not be?
Would like to see Darts version if it ever gets finished. maybe as a add on?

Steam is classified as DRM now?