Just bought the game from GoG, and would greatly appreciate some expert guidance. I've gone through this forum a tiny bit, and still want to know more.

Brief facts: System: Ancient Dell OptiPlex 760, Core2Duo system, Win 7x64, 8GB RAM, 1TB HD, NVIDEA 710 graphics card. Led Monitor, 1920x1080 native resolution, with DVI connection I can play IL-2 1946 with almost all settings maxxed out on this system, so it suits, for the moment. Planning a far more advanced system within the next 2 years.

I an very much a newbie, but I (with considerable help), have gotten EAW and Mig Alley to run well on my system. So, while not particularly bright, I can be led to appropriate downloads/patches, and install them.

So, before I install the game, what should I know in a "general guidance" sort of way? Which version(s) of game to bother to install--Gog includes a few versions. Updates /patches for original game (GoG might have included some)? User-made Mods for the game? I understand there is a stand-alone version of the game available, and plan to experiment with that, once I have the original game settled-in.

If you folks are anything like the very helpful people on the EAW forum, I would like to thank you in advance!

We are nowhere near as nice as the EAW folks

I would suggest you install the BMS mod for Falcon. I feel it's the finest version of the sim going.

Look at Ice's install guide and that's got you covered.

BMS Install Guide


Good luck and ask any questions that arise.

Yes, I saw that during my look-around, and it looked attractive. On my to-do list.

As I understand it, the Mod requires a virgin copy of Falcon 4.0, and no other version. Is that correct? IIRC, the Mod only detects for the mere presence of the game. The Mod does not reference the base game at all, IIRC. I hope GoG hasn't made the installation of the Mod impossible, but they seem to only update with "official" patches, so perhaps things will work out.

Thank You!

Yes, a copy of Falcon 4.0 is needed. It must be installed for the registry checks.

As far as I know the GoG version is fine.

Having an awful time with the V3-V5 torrent downloads. I found a "all-in-1", V1-V5 zipped file, in a thread on that site, that I'll try.

It worked! New stand-alone game is fully updated, and running fine, so far as I can tell.

Graphics are fully modern, and give nothing away to any sim.

Awesome, good hunting.

Thanks! It will take quite a bit of effort/time to learn how to fly this aircraft properly, that's for damn sure.

You definitely have the correct expectations and attitude here. Best of luck!

And Falcon is one of those lifetime pursuits that is WELL WORTH IT.

Eugene