CFS3 and addons

[Masaq]

Have registered an account for us at:

http://www.combatfs.com/

name TnTmember
pass tacteam


As there's some pretty neat addons there - Nation Expansion Pack, for one -
http://www.combatfs.com/index.php?loc=downloads&page=info&FileUploadName=RCAF_Gunner&FileID=1989

which also needs:

http://www.combatfs.com/index.php?loc=downloads&page=info&FileUploadName=RCAF_Gunner&FileID=1990





Right, I've installed the NEK and it's update ^^


I've then installed the following:

Imrovement to the sky:
http://www.combatfs.com/index.php?loc=downloads&page=info&FileUploadName=bzhyoyo&FileID=2388

Scenery Manager, which updates a bunch of textures and allows dynamic weather etc in campaigns. It's a bitch to set up properly but following the instructions works fine:
http://www.combatfs.com/index.php?loc=downloads&page=info&FileUploadName=Winding%20Man&FileID=2597

and optional update:
http://www.combatfs.com/index.php?loc=downloads&page=info&FileUploadName=Winding%20Man&FileID=3809



Aircraft:
I've got all of them from Aviation History.org - http://avhistory.org/communityserver/default.aspx

Really really good models and realistic flight models etc. They're a bunch dedicated to really good quality textures, models and physics. I've just flown their Spitfire mkXIV and it's about a thousand times better than the in-game default one, it really is.

I've set up an account with them to download, same username and password as above.

Before you can install the aircraft, you need the following installed in addition to the Nation Expander Kit (above):

http://avhistory.org/communityserver/files/folders/aircraft_shared_foldersfiles/entry974.aspx
http://avhistory.org/communityserver/files/folders/aircraft_shared_foldersfiles/entry630.aspx
http://avhistory.org/communityserver/files/folders/avh_weapons__special_effects/entry1105.aspx
http://avhistory.org/communityserver/files/folders/avh_weapons__special_effects/entry1038.aspx
http://avhistory.org/communityserver/files/folders/avh_weapons__special_effects/entry1104.aspx
http://avhistory.org/communityserver/files/folders/avh_weapons__special_effects/entry1037.aspx

Installation readmes are included.


Then you can select any of the aircraft on the site, download and unzip to \CFS3\aircraft\



It looks very complicated but honest, it's not difficult once you set down to it.

If you download any big heavy bombers, you need to add this:
http://avhistory.org/communityserver/files/folders/utils/entry1089.aspx

That makes airfields large enough to house the things like the B-17 and Wellington.




Finally, after installing all these updates:

BEFORE RUNNING THE GAME

You need to download and run this batch file. I've double-checked it, all it does is delete any *.bdp files in the game directory. This forces the game to rebuild its library of aircraft, effects etc when it next reboots, finalising the install.

http://avhistory.org/communityserver/files/folders/avhistoryfiles/entry800.aspx




Again, the AvHistory planes are about a million times better than the MS ones and well worth installing.


Some screenies of how it looks now:


http://www.christies.org.uk/images/ScreenShot015.png


http://www.christies.org.uk/images/ScreenShot019.png





Mas.

[Masaq]

Bumpage for the new links.

[epoch]

:eek:

Gaming isn't supposed to be hard work!!

[Masaq]

Heh, it's only a little more complicated than LOMAC - the .zips just need to be downloaded and unzipped to the right place.

The only really complicated one is the scenery mod, but that can be ignored...


Gotta say, flying on ultra-realistic is about the only way that the flight model starts to feel as decent as LOMAC.

[Masaq]

Oh, and the "Firepower" expansion pack looks worth a peek... apparently it improves the game to the standard it should have been at release lol.

[epoch]

I have an addon - Battle of Britain - can I install it and still have those addons? If so, in what order, and will it affect my online play?

[Masaq]

Whoa... you'd have to check out a CFS3 website for that. I'm pretty sure you can install updates and have them play just fine but I have NFI what order you'd have to install them in. Might be worth having a two copy job - one clean with only new aircraft for MP play and one tinkered with for addons etc, possibly?

[MadTommy]

cheers Mas.. i'll have a look at this at some point... the stock graphics are pants! :p

[Masaq]

I think the engine limits how pretty the objects can look - most buildings are very very simple box models. Going to investigate some new textures for them, they're not great even with that scenery pack.

Definitely put on the AvH planes - their cockpits and the plane's handling characteristics are so superior to the stock stuff it's unreal.