Thursday 17 December 2015

DCS: Fw 190 D-9: Gerhard Barkhorn's "Black < 5-+-" of Stab/JG 6

 DCS 2.X Compatible!

Assigned as Geschwaderkommodore of JG 6 in early 1945, Barkhorn flew the Dora on the Eastern Front until his medical leave, after which he joined JV 44 under Adolf Galland. Like with all of his planes, "Christl" is written just below the canopy.

Includes:
- Versions with and without swastika
- Completely remade normal and specular maps
- Completely remade weathering
- Texture files are less compressed and higher quality (Minimal to no effect on performance or loading times, though larger filesize in return)

Installation:

#1 Unzip folder to Your DCS installation folder/Bazar/Liveries/FW-190D9
#2 In skin folder, choose .lua file from two sub-folders for swastika or clean and copy file to skin folder with other files (Default .lua file is for swastika!)
#3 In DCS, select "Payload" tab in Mission Planner and select the skin from the Paint Scheme dropmenu below


Download:
 Mediafire



 

Tuesday 24 November 2015

DCS: Fw 190 D-9: "Yellow 3" of 3./JG 6(?)

Heavily worn and repaired Dora, possibly belonging to JG 6 found at Reichenberg in May, 1945. Werknummer unknown.

Includes:
- Versions with and without swastika
- Completely remade normal and specular maps
- Remade weathering
- Texture files are less compressed and higher quality (Minimal to no effect on performance or loading times, though higher filesize in return)

Installation:

#1 Unzip folder to Your DCS installation folder/Bazar/Liveries/FW-190D9
#2 In skin folder, choose .lua file from two sub-folders for swastika or clean and copy file to skin folder with other files (Default .lua file is for swastika!)
#3 In DCS, select "Payload" tab in Mission Planner and select the skin from the Paint Scheme dropmenu below


Download:
 Mediafire 


 

Thursday 19 November 2015

Review - "Focke-Wulf Fw 190D camouflage & markings" Part I and Part II



Hopefully this review does not come out as too disjointed and merely a collection of notes, but regardless, what I think about these books is here.

While this is quite late, with the books being sold out almost everywhere and people enthusiastic about the subject probably already own both by now, topics in these books stay relevant and are always open for discussion and debate.
Both books will be looked at as basically one, as they are just parts of one whole. Even the page numbers continue from book to another.

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

True to the title, these books cover the camo and markings of Doras from the very first prototype to the last planes captured on film, along with unique characteristics of different manufacturers/assemblies and how these changed as the war neared it's end.
While aesthetics are the main focus, they still cover the birth and life of different prototypes, some operational history (Even on gruppe level) and other operations such as repairs.

Part 1 covers the aforementioned operational history, unit and maintenance markings, werknummer typology, tail bands, Focke-Wulf -built prototypes and Focke-Wulf -built Doras (Werknummer 21xxxx)
Part 2 continues with Weserflug (Werknummer 40xxxx), Mimetall (Werknummer 500xxx) and Gerhard-Fieseler (Werknummer 60xxxx) Doras and any related prototypes, goes deeper into operational history with gruppe -level service then ends with a compilation of planes from same unit, werknummer listing of known Doras and corrections and clarifications to some discussions in Part 1

Information and theories here are presented well with support from available documents and photos (B&W, colour and modern photos from pieces of scrap), but especially concerning late-war Luftwaffe camouflage, the norm is more or less well-educated speculation.
As such, there are claims/theories that have little to no support and even presented photographs seem to argue with (f.ex. AG Weserflug -built Doras and paint used)
Of course, all speculation JaPo does is within reason, and the true answer is probably lost forever anyway.

Detail is put into covering things such as different types of ID plates used by manufacturers, using pictures of scrap to identify important details and offer additional insight, even to things I'm personally indifferent to. Credit where credit is due.

Homever, some things do bother me.

Strange decisions were made with some colour profiles. F.ex. "Red 13" of JV44 is extensively covered in photos, but lacks a fully detailed colour profile, while just a few pages earlier, a bird without a single photograph has a full page port-side colour profile. Of course the former is covered in smaller, less detailed quick profiles, but I certainly would prefer to see full profiles for all planes, at the very least ones so well documented.
Few colour profiles also seem to be missing details apparent in photographs, although these are minor.

For whatever reason, odd lines or descriptions of photographs are included, such as a certain photograph of the "Blue 12, 500570", where an American MP appears to be frisking the surrendering pilot, writing states that how he is "..having his personal belongings "liberated" by an American soldier...".
Not only is it irrelevant whether this is true or not (Never explained), in an otherwise nearly academic study this type of pointless and snarky comment sticks out like a sore thumb. Of course, it is possible nothing was meant by it, but it sure annoys me to no end. Just don't do that.

Thankfully, colourful comments are kept to minimum and subtitles or notes are mostly used to describe what is not necessarily immediately apparent from a photograph.

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

That is really all I can think to say about "Camouflage and markings", it simply offers everything I expected of it, and more. A wealth of photographs and information I had never seen before, theories and explanations that some I do not agree with, but still got me heavily interested and made me question my own views about the subjects further.

I definitely recommend these books to anyone interested in the subject, provided you don't already own both. But they may prove hard to find, and I wouldn't hold by breath for a re-print or e-books.

What needs to happen with "Camouflage and markings":

- Part 3, obviously
- E-books! For all parts. With detail-oriented material like this, a computer screen definitely defeats a large, heavy book for both research and comfort of consumption.

19.11.2015

Friday 2 October 2015

DCS: Fw 190 D-9: "White 3" of 5./JG 26

"500572" photographed near Løgumkloster, Denmark on May 5th, 1945. The entire tail and rudder of this crashed bird are replacements from another Dora.

Includes:
- Versions with and without swastika
- Completely remade normal and specular maps
- Remade weathering
- Texture files are less compressed and higher quality (Minimal to no effect on performance or loading times, though higher filesize in return)

Installation:

#1 Unzip folder to Your DCS installation folder/Bazar/Liveries/FW-190D9
#2 In skin folder, choose .lua file from two sub-folders for swastika or clean and copy file to skin folder with other files (Default .lua file is for swastika!)
#3 In DCS, select "Payload" tab in Mission Planner and select the skin from the Paint Scheme dropmenu below


Download:
 Mediafire


Tuesday 25 August 2015

DCS: Fw 190 D-9: Doras of 7./JG 26 pageant



DCS: Fw 190 D-9: Doras of 7./JG 26 - "Brown 18"

"500698" surrendered to RAF personel at Schleswig-Land on May 5th, 1945.

Includes:
- Versions with and without swastika
- Completely remade normal and specular maps
- Remade weathering
- Texture files are less compressed and higher quality (Minimal to no effect on performance or loading times, though higher filesize in return)

Installation:

#1 Unzip folder to Your DCS installation folder/Bazar/Liveries/FW-190D9
#2 In skin folder, choose .lua file from two sub-folders for swastika or clean and copy file to skin folder with other files (Default .lua file is for swastika!)
#3 In DCS, select "Payload" tab in Mission Planner and select the skin from the Paint Scheme dropmenu below


Download:
  Mediafire


Friday 21 August 2015

DCS: Fw 190 D-9: Doras of 7./JG 26 - "Brown 14"

Photographed at Nordhorn-Klausheide early spring 1945.

Includes:
- Versions with and without swastika
- Completely remade normal and specular maps
- Remade weathering
- Texture files are less compressed and higher quality (Minimal to no effect on performance or loading times, though higher filesize in return)

Installation:

#1 Unzip folder to Your DCS installation folder/Bazar/Liveries/FW-190D9
#2 In skin folder, choose .lua file from two sub-folders for swastika or clean and copy file to skin folder with other files (Default .lua file is for swastika!)
#3 In DCS, select "Payload" tab in Mission Planner and select the skin from the Paint Scheme dropmenu below


Download: Mediafire


 

Saturday 8 August 2015

DCS: Fw 190 D-9: "Black 5" of Stab/JG 26

"401392" was one of the Doras surrendered to RAF at Flensburg-Weiche, along with birds such as Götz's D-13 "Yellow 10". Like Götz's "Yellow 10", "Black 5" was transported to the US for evaluation and it also participated in airshows, later most likely scrapped in 1947.

Includes:
- Versions with and without swastika
- Completely remade normal and specular maps
- Remade weathering
- Texture files are less compressed and higher quality (Minimal to no effect on performance or loading times, though higher filesize in return)

Installation:

#1 Unzip folder to Your DCS installation folder/Bazar/Liveries/FW-190D9
#2 In skin folder, choose .lua file from two sub-folders for swastika or clean and copy file to skin folder with other files (Default .lua file is for swastika!)
#3 In DCS, select "Payload" tab in Mission Planner and select the skin from the Paint Scheme dropmenu below


Download: Mediafire


 

Friday 31 July 2015

DCS: Fw 190 D-9: "Yellow 11" of 7./JG 2

Destroyed Dora belonging to JG 2 found at Rommelhausen/Stockheim in May, 1945.

Includes:
- Versions with and without swastika
- Completely remade normal and specular maps
- Remade weathering
- Texture files are less compressed and higher quality (Minimal to no effect on performance or loading times, though higher filesize in return)

Installation:

#1 Unzip folder to Your DCS installation folder/Bazar/Liveries/FW-190D9
#2 In skin folder, choose .lua file from two sub-folders for swastika or clean and copy file to skin folder with other files (Default .lua file is for swastika!)
#3 In DCS, select "Payload" tab in Mission Planner and select the skin from the Paint Scheme dropmenu below


Download: Mediafire


 

Thursday 23 July 2015

DCS: Fw 190 D-9: Doras of 8./JG 6 pageant


DCS: Fw 190 D-9: Doras of 8./JG 6 - "Blue 12"

DCS 2.X Compatible!

Heavily repaired and touched-up "500570" surrendered at Fürth. Extensively documented on colour films and both b&w and colour photographs.

Includes:
- Versions with and without swastika
- Completely remade normal and specular maps
- Remade weathering
- Texture files are less compressed and higher quality (Minimal to no effect on performance or loading times, though higher filesize in return)

Installation:

#1 Unzip folder to Your DCS installation folder/Bazar/Liveries/FW-190D9
#2 In skin folder, choose .lua file from two sub-folders for swastika or clean and copy file to skin folder with other files (Default .lua file is for swastika!)
#3 In DCS, select "Payload" tab in Mission Planner and select the skin from the Paint Scheme dropmenu below


Download: Mediafire



 

Tuesday 21 July 2015

DCS: Fw 190 D-9: Doras of 8./JG 6 - "Blue 9"

"211063" surrendered at Halle.

Includes:
- Versions with and without swastika
- Completely remade normal and specular maps
- Remade weathering
- Texture files are less compressed and higher quality (Minimal to no effect on performance or loading times, though higher filesize in return)

Installation:

#1 Unzip folder to Your DCS installation folder/Bazar/Liveries/FW-190D9
#2 In skin folder, choose .lua file from two sub-folders for swastika or clean and copy file to skin folder with other files (Default .lua file is for swastika!)
#3 In DCS, select "Payload" tab in Mission Planner and select the skin from the Paint Scheme dropmenu below


Download: Mediafire


 

Saturday 18 July 2015

DCS: Fw 190 D-9: Doras of 8./JG 6 - "Blue 2"

"211094" photographed next to "Blue 1" (Foreground) at Erfurt-Nord.

Includes:
- Versions with and without swastika
- Completely remade normal and specular maps
- Remade weathering
- Texture files are less compressed and higher quality (Minimal to no effect on performance or loading times, though higher filesize in return)

Installation:

#1 Unzip folder to Your DCS installation folder/Bazar/Liveries/FW-190D9
#2 In skin folder, choose .lua file from two sub-folders for swastika or clean and copy file to skin folder with other files (Default .lua file is for swastika!)
#3 In DCS, select "Payload" tab in Mission Planner and select the skin from the Paint Scheme dropmenu below


Download: Mediafire


DCS: Fw 190 D-9: Doras of 8./JG 6 - "Blue 1"

"211925" surrendered at Erfurt-Nord and photographed along side of "Blue 2", "Blue 4" and "Blue 11"

Includes:
- Versions with and without swastika
- Completely remade normal and specular maps
- Remade weathering
- Texture files are less compressed and higher quality (Minimal to no effect on performance or loading times, though higher filesize in return)

Installation:

#1 Unzip folder to Your DCS installation folder/Bazar/Liveries/FW-190D9
#2 In skin folder, choose .lua file from two sub-folders for swastika or clean and copy file to skin folder with other files (Default .lua file is for swastika!)
#3 In DCS, select "Payload" tab in Mission Planner and select the skin from the Paint Scheme dropmenu below


Download: Mediafire



 

Sunday 12 July 2015

DCS: Fw 190 D-9: "Red 18" of I./EKG(J)

Training unit Dora "211115" found abandoned at Pilsen, Czech Republic.

Includes:
- Versions with and without swastika
- Completely remade normal and specular maps
- Remade weathering
- Texture files are less compressed and higher quality (Minimal to no effect on performance or loading times, though higher filesize in return)

Installation:

#1 Unzip folder to Your DCS installation folder/Bazar/Liveries/FW-190D9
#2 In skin folder, choose .lua file from two sub-folders for swastika or clean and copy file to skin folder with other files (Default .lua file is for swastika!)
#3 In DCS, select "Payload" tab in Mission Planner and select the skin from the Paint Scheme dropmenu below


Download: Mediafire 


 

Friday 10 July 2015

DCS: Fw 190 D-9: "Black < o" of Stab II./JG 6

 "211934" surrendered at Fürth on May 8th, 1945. Carrying Gruppe technical officer markings, pilot captured on coloured film is unknown.



Includes:
- Versions with and without swastika
- Completely remade normal and specular maps
- Remade weathering
- Texture files are less compressed and higher quality (Minimal to no effect on performance or loading times, though higher filesize in return)

Installation:

#1 Unzip folder to Your DCS installation folder/Bazar/Liveries/FW-190D9
#2 In skin folder, choose .lua file from two sub-folders for swastika or clean and copy file to skin folder with other files (Default .lua file is for swastika!)
#3 In DCS, select "Payload" tab in Mission Planner and select the skin from the Paint Scheme dropmenu below


Download: Mediafire