I just upgraded my computer and would like to get back into WWII flight sims. The last one I was able to run was IL2 Stormovik. Not sure how it will run on the new system because I need a new joystick with USB plug, which has not arrived. I would like a Battle of Britain sim, have read quite a bit on the forums, but I am not quite sure if there is a consensus as to which is best. My current system =Windows 7 Ultimate, Intel Core processor at 3.4GHZ,16GB RAM.
Interested in offline only at this point.
Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks!

Joe S

IL2:1946

• One install with HSFX 6.0.17 (for online)
• One install with DarkBlueWorld (a.k.a. DBW, for offline play)
• One install with 4.12 and any mods that can be added manually
• (One backup of 4.11 and maybe one backup of a clean 4.09, if you want to use mods that aren't 4.11/4.12 yet)

There are great Channel maps.


BoB II, for offline play of Battle of Britain, with a dynamic campaign

Cliffs of Dover is the younger BoB game, with fresher graphics and realtime cockpit shadows. It's being improved and patched by Team Fusion.


It depends on what you are specifically interested in. On-line with many different aircraft, off-line, on-line with new graphics (but restricted aircraft set).

Also don't forget the New IL2 in development by 777 that ill be the next big WW2 sim I think in the mean time go for Mission 4 today there are some really good BOB champagnes on there

Given your affinity for Battle of Britain, I recommend getting Battle of Britain II Wings of Victory.

After getting the software, head over to A2A simulations to get the latest community-developed updates.

Community Developed BOB II update

BOB II has one of the best offline dynamic campaigns. Enjoy!

Thanks for your help everyone!

I got my joystick and loaded Rise of Flight Iron Cross, so far, so good. My old IL 2 Stormovik will not install, so I am leaning toward IL2 1946 and perhaps Bob wings of victory. Are there any known installation or operation issues with Il2 1946 and Windows 7 that I should be aware of? Does IL 2 1946 have a Bob component?

Thanks!

Joe S

I'll just quickly quote my repy in this thread :



(heck, even 4.09 could be a good base as a backup)

IL2:1946 has a few channel maps. Some have different scales (not 1:1) and I don't know how good the offline experience is. You could look on Mission4Today for a good BoB campaign.

Joe S......

I was wonder if you got BoB II Wings of Victory to run on your system..????

I got roughly the same spec's as you, but could never get BoBII to run. It would always crash when you hit the fly button in the campaign.... I've tried all the "fixes" listed in a couple of the thead posted in the BoB II forums. But nothing seemed to help, so I just gave up on getting it to work.....

The BDG folk work really hard to help people get past any
startup problems. We know that BoB2 won't currently work with
W8, and is often hampered by antivirus programs, and of course
it needs a real vidcard, not an Intel integrated chipset; but
most other problems can be solved. Did you try describing your
trouble in the A2A BoB2 tech help forum?

The only flight sim have loaded is Rise of Flight, and it works OK, with a few glitches now and then. Have not acquired BOBII Wings of Victory yet, and am a little reluctant to if there are known issues. Maybe I will just get Il2 1946 and live with it.

Joe S

Considering how much you get and how little it costs,
it seems hard to justify passing it up...

PV1....

I never did try the descibing my problems in the A2A help forums, but I tried what was suggested for someone who was having the same problems, just none of it worked.
I'm running a I-7 chip, 6 gig of Ram, Windows 7 and 1 gig ATI 6770 card (slightly dated card) so the inegated card and W8 wasn't my problem.

I might pop in A2A and see if I can find some help. I like playing dynamic campaigns. And as good as REDUX canpaigns are for CLoD, after a couple time playing, you end up knowing every mission by heart......

Yeah forget about your original IL2 .. IL2 1946 is pretty much the best WWII flight sim on the market at the moment.. Some sims do some things better.. but there isn't anything out there that does what IL2 1946 does as completely and well rounded as it does it.. IL2:CoD is much better than it was initially and is very deserving of a look if the BoB is what you are looking for and you really want to stretch your rig out.. BoB:WoVII is ok... it does some things well .. but I always preferred 46 to it.. If you get 46 make and you are installing it on a W7 or W8 rig create a folder called Games and install it there.. then patch it to 4.12.1. See the link to the Nugget's Guide in my sig for more on that.. In the meantime there is a new WWII offering on the horizon from the newly formed 1c/777 company 1CGS called IL2:Battle of Stalingrad that promises to be that next generation IL2 we all have been wanting for almost a decade now.. The site for it is the same on e where the Nugget's Guide is posted.. Pre orders are available..

Thanks for the recommendations,

I just bought IL2-Sturmovik 1946 and tried to install it at c\ubisoft\IL2-Sturmovik 1946 as was recommended above. At 74% the install was unable to find a certain aircraft skin for Boyington and I had to quit the install. How do I get around this roadblock?

Thanks!

Joe S

Pick up Cliffs of Dover and add the Team Fusion patch 4.0 available from the ATAG forums.
Best Battle of Britain era sim ever.



Paul

Just reviewed Nugget's guide to IL-2 Sturmovik 1946. My understanding is that all patches have to be loaded in order to get up to the latest, as opposed to simply loading the latest patch. Is that correct?

Thanks!

Joe S

Yes, that is correct. I think there is a user-made mega patch that will get you close to the current version, though. Search the Mission4Today website for the entire series patches.

I think this is the all-in-one mod that Skycat has in mind. It's suitable "...for people who have Stock 4.07m, or any stock version up to 4.101m. Installing this will give them all stock updates, direct to drive patches, the latest selector, and Also UP3RC4, and of course complete DBW up to v1.71.":

http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,21514.msg239532.html#msg239532

Dark Blue World is, I think it's fair to say, the premier mod for offline IL-2 players, with many new planes, maps and theatres. All the old favourites at their best, and much more besides:

The patch skycat is mentioning is the "IL-2 MegaPatch 4.10.1m_EN" at M4T.
IL-2 MegaPatch 4.10.1m_EN: http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads&file=details&id=4088


I can not stress this enough. DO NOT use the patch mentioned by 33lima until you are well versed in the patching process and are interested in using mods. Another thing I can't stress enough is to keep a clean version of the sim so that you can always start the patching process again. Something you will learn as you add patches or mods is that you can corrupt you install and having a base point to start will make thing go faster after one of those little mishaps.

------------------------------------------------------------

You can get most of the patches right here at SimHQ.
IL-2 Series Downloads: http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/265/1/IL_2_Series_Downloads


There are patching guides at M4T will give you the correct patching order for all versions of the sim.
IL-2 1946 Installation and Patching Guide: http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Knowledge_Base&op=show&kid=584

1.0 - 4.04m Patching and Installation Guide: http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Knowledge_Base&op=show&kid=264


Wheels

No offence but I have to say that I disagree there - provided, as you suggest, you make a simple 'cut and paste' copy of IL2 '46 after installing as a fall-back, installing DBW is little or no more difficult or hazardous than ordinary patching, especially if you use the DBW one-stop super-pack; as described here:

http://combatace.com/topic/78684-a-nieuport-28-campaign-sim-by-sim/page-2#entry631496

IL2 1946 with Dark Blue World is the way to go I agree - for Battle of Britain goodness try using the New Full Monty and some of his campaigns. SAS New Full Monty Campaigns
Some screenies from Convoy Battles Phase!

It is fairly complex and time consuming to download and install but s long as you stick to the instructions then DBW works and is the Dogs!