I have been away for awhile, I was just wonder whats the latest and greatest on HL. Does the ultra pack 1.8 contain everything aaa 1.2 does plus more or do we need both? Also how about a se[erate thread with some screen shots of whats included in both packs

Why excluding HSFX Mod. Parts of the Ultraoack are based on HSFX.

Seems we are all waiting for one final combination of all three major Mod packs - The Mega Pack

I've got two installs of IL-2 on my HD at the moment. One is for playing AAA 1.2, the other for playing UP 1.8

I can switch either one to vanilla 4.09m, if I need to. I like the added aircraft in 1.8 (Nomad, MiG-15, F-86, etc.), and the B-17 cockpit. More play time is needed for me to notice all of the differences, but I'm thinking of sticking to UP 1.8 for the improved clouds, smoke, and fire. Those are changes I notice right away. There's an "improved perfect landscape" mod in UP 1.8, but I can't really tell that it changes anything.

I don't think I would have installed either of these mod packs if I weren't flying in an online squadron that required them. However, I can't say I regret installing UP 1.8 for the B-17 cockpit and F-86 alone.

I'm sure you could just compare the readme files of the two mod packs instead of listening to my rant, if u want an accurate picture of the differences between the two.

UP is the more complete package, it already includes several important mods that are not in the UI package, the Hanger and Fortification mod for example or the shippack 2;
what is missing in UP is the QMB+ which is better than the new QMB in 4.09IMHO;

basically, get UP and wait for the update, you wont be disappointed

100% right !!!

More important mods like engine torqe and reworked/corrected FM's.
More Hardware friendly-4.09m plus mods packeging.

100% UP 1.8
gprr

After being away from any of the forums for Il2 for about 3 weeks I see that there is now UP1.8 and HSFX. What I need to know is what is the best for an off liner. I do have AAA1.2 down loaded but not installed. I may have about 3 to 4 hours a week to fly, so I want the best for me to use, I like all the bells and whistles, or as much as my current system can handle. Thanks

For me and for offline, HSFX is much better than UP1.8 just because UP1.8 is mainly HSFX plus some additional content, but not totally compatible yet (Lots of non working additions, even some that worked flawlessly in HSFX), and a paramount omission: the campaign addon in HSFX, not present in UP1.8 , is the best addon in the whole package for an offliner.

I think that UP1.8 is in fact hiding the amazing quality work that HSFX team did to the community(Off course I understand that that was not their purpose; probably it was even the opposite, acknowledge HSFX results making it their main core). But I find it really unfair; HSFX set of mods,all clean of mistakes and incompatibilities, stands out as a much more "professional" way to do than any other mod team.

the campaign addon from HSFX is the file pack from enjoyrs patch, which you can install to every mod pack - it´s not specific for one of the packs

HSFX has the best code thus far. as of version 4.1

I have AAA UI 1.2 installed, I had HSFX installed while waiting for UP 1.8 to hit the Ethernet. And by far UP 1.8 is the best package out right now if you are not mired in the 4.08 muck and can't leave it behind. I'm in RAF662 and the squad is migrating over to dual installs or solo installs of IL2 and using UP 1.8. Zuti's MDS v 1.0 is what really makes a huge difference for us. The dynamics it brings to Co-ops and Dogfight maps is unparalleled by anything that has come before it. It rivals the immersion that servers in Lock On give with moving vehicles, ships and AI aircraft on a dogfight map, not to mention the ability to refuel, rearm and repair your plane.......... go to Ultra Pack website peruse the 1.8 Read me file and you should be convinced of it's unique offerings. The other great thing is the buttons file support by SAS, you will not find that on HSFX or AAA.

1.8 read me http://il2ultrapack.net46.net/index.php/topic,590.0.html

Of course the way to go now is 4.09; HSFX v4 is 4.09 also. Zuti´s MDS is also present, but I think it´s not the same version; UP1.8 seems to be The Zuti´s "native" pack.

I think still that from a technical point of view, the HSFX quality work is the best; probably when finished and free of non working items it will be like a more updated HSFX version.

Besides this any pack ever will be somewhat outdated since the mods publishing rhitm is so alive .... SAS uncompressed alternative would be the way up to now if you need to have the latest of the last..

Really a whealth of choices, and a nightmare for onliners....

it´s very easy to add all the new SAS stuff to UP 1.8 - it´s very "modding friendly"

Thanks all. I just installed ultra 1.8 and half the new planes are listed but show no 3d model in the view then get errors if i hit fly. So not sure what thats about download didnt have crc errors or anything and the other half of the content is there and working.

Still need to get online one of these days and take the f9f panther out

UP 1.8 has some bugs concering the 3D modells of the Ta 152C´s, the Swordfish and one other plane i don´t remember

but a patch is in work - if you want to use these planes, just create a folder called MODS in the IL2 root folder and copy all these planes into it (as separate download pack), with the Ta152C it worked for me the others i didn´t try but has to be the same i think

which Ta-152C mod are you writing about Boelcke?

I have tried both the UP1.8 and HSXF-V4. To me the HSFX-V4 is by far the best.
I could not get the engine management to work with UP-1.8 dont know why but it would not work.
When i tired to use it CTD at 70% or some thing like that.
With HSFX-V4 not a problem to be had. The OFFLINE missions are great also.
Soon the AAA will be bring out their new switcher which will be HSFX-V4.1
The install will be 4.08m-->4.09m--> HSFX-V4--> HSFX-V4.1

HSFX-V4 and UP 1.8 are almost identical in form and function. So HSFX can't be the best by far.
The engine management works ok for me, so it must be a problem with your install and not the pack.

I would say that UP 1.8 is certainly an improvement to the AAA 1.2. It seems to be quicker and also the effects are more dynamic and look better. My game starts faster and it is really easy to add and subtract mods too.

I was with C6 french pack, now i'm using HSFX 4.0, soon 4.1

I guess whatever you will use, UP or HSFX 4.1, there will be 95% common, so as long as host doesn't use CRT=2 playing together will be very often possible.

I suggest to go with HSFX for online core compatibility, then UP either for offline or for specific campaigns.

the ooriginal Ta 152C mod pack:

http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,254.0.html

Thanks for your replies, for now I going to go with UP-1.8.