posted 07-24- 10:24 PM               

Although I can't take advantage of it with my humble 333MHz machine and Voodoo 2 Diamond Monster 3D II video card, I thought it would be beneficial to the community at large to provide my schemes in the size I've always done them at (512x512), rather than their reduced form, now that FS-SDOE can (with the latest patch) take advantage of 512x512 textures (once all of the SM files are updated). With the exception of the Spitfires, the bases of the schemes are enlarged original 256x256 images, so the improvements there will be nominal. However, modifications I've made, such as redoing the national insignia and the coding should be considerably better. All of the schemes are now 512x512. This does not affect performance for those of us with slower systems, especially since the latest patch allows one to limit the texture size. My board won't handle anything larger than 256x256 regardless!

First off, RAF Harkness has outgrown its original home due to the size of the 512x512 files. It has now moved to: http://rafharkness.mybravenet.com

Secondly, the Additional Squadrons have gotten their own extensive section. Most 'scheme' pages now link to at least one squadron for that aircraft type for use in the game. There is also a separate Squadrons page with links to all of the squadrons and an explanation of my "Squadron Philosophy" for FS-SDOE. There are also several new squadrons in addition to what I had available before. In light of some more information I have been able to dig up, some of the original FS-SDOE squadrons have been assigned new aircraft types (in an effort to give them priority) and a couple of squadrons which were available have now been deleted (in line with my 'one squadron per aircraft type' philosophy). All squadron crests have also had the Queen's crown replaced with a King's crown to make them more WW2 acuarate.

Third, a modest (two schemes, Lanc and Mossie) Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) section has been added, with its own slightly different banner (the RAAF got one too). There is also a new aircraft type section for the Spitfire VB LF featuring a South African Air Force (SAAF) scheme. Additionally, there are new schemes (one each) for the Lancaster, Mosquito FB, Spitfire IX, and Corsair II (a replacement, since my old Corsair II was little different from the default one!).

Finally, in order to make the schemes more enticing and not just larger versions of what went before, I have taken the opportunity to make the schemes more historically accurate. Primarily, this involved changing the codes and serials on the aircraft to match their former "Inspiration" credit, but occasionally, it involved more. I have outlined the changes for schemes which have had more (or in a couple of cases, less) than just their codes and serials changed below:

Lancaster II
- Serial removed for historical accuracy of the plane now depicted.

Special Lancasters
- Both schemes: No change beyond 512x512 improvements.

Beaufighter 21
- Burma: No change beyond 512x512 improvements.

Mosquito FB
- Standard: Code color changed for historical accuracy.

Mosquito PR
- Camo: Three code letters now instead of just one for historical accuracy.

Spitfire VB
- Standard: 'Nigeria - Ijubu Province' added ahead of cockpit.
- Dieppe: Skewed Polish insignia added below cockpit.

Spitfire VIII
- Standard: 'Spirit of Kent' name and logo added.
- D-Day: Two letter 'initials' codes instead of three.

Spitfire IX
- Africa: Polish insignia added below cockpit.

Spitfire XIV
- Standard: Spinner color changed and Griffon engine 'bump' added.

Typhoon
- Early: Renamed 'Early' instead of 'Standard', and name 'Farquhar IV' and rank insignia added above engine.
- D-Day: A single initials' code replaces the standard three letter codes.

Royal Navy
- Barracuda, Europe (HMS Furious): Codes changed (both letters and style), upper wing roundels changed (no white), historical reference improved.

RAAF
- Mosquito FB: Anti-glare black removed for historical accuracy.
- Beaufighter 21: Roundels changed slightly (more white), fin 'flash' added.
- Spitfire VC: Rank insignia added below cockpit.
- Spitfire VIII: 'Ace' insignia added to tail and rank insignia added below cockpit.

USAAF
- Beaufighter VI: No change beyond 512x512 improvements.
- Spitfire VIII: 'Fargo Express' nose art added.

The Enemy
- Both schemes: No change beyond 512x512 improvements.

Enjoy!

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Be seeing you,
3dp
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