"Flander Fields" RB3D patch is an unofficial patch for the RedbaronII and Redbaron 3D game. The patch modifies the paint schemes of aircraft, the squadron assignments, the aircraft assignments, the aces present in the game, the squadron insignia, and the squadron and ace information.
The patch uses the brilliant UOP3.0 patch authored by Sygrod and Baron von Benz as the chassis. Any schemes, artwork or editing that wasn't modified in the FF patch is from the UOP3.0 patch.
The original game has sparse colouring of the allied side, especially the RFC/RNAS and in several cases ( such as the Sopwith Camel ) , all squadrons use a default all green plane, with squadron insignia ignored. The FFpatch modifies this so the variaiton in squadron markings and insignia is present on the Flanders front.
Several new air arms and squadron have been added to the game via this path as well as some lesser known aces in order to convey the variety which appeared over the Fields in WWI as well as make the game more enjoyable. Subsequently in the FFpatch , the Belgian Aviation Militaire, the Marine Flieger Jasta's, the Australian Flying Corps and several lesser known RFC/RAF squads are included.
In the name of variety too, several aces have been added, such Frederick Gillet, the lesser known second top scoring American ace who flew with the RAF. Grid Caldwell as been added as he was the top scoring New Zealand ace. Willy Coppens has been added as he was the leading Belgian ace, as well as Andre de Meulemeester, another Belgian Ace. The leading Scottish ace, John Gilmour has also been added.
The German scout squadrons, aircraft and markings have all been redone by Steve Belanger of the Aces Paint Shop. The detail in these aircraft and schemes is excruciatingly brilliant and by far the best aspect of the FFpatch ( for me anyway ). If you are into flying for the Germans, the level of detail Steve has added may enrich your RB3D experience. Also JGIII's Jasta 36 has ben added to the game making the JG complete.
If these are what you think make for an exciting landscape of squadrons and personalities to populate your WWI virtual world within the historical boundaries enforced by history then this patch may be of use to you.
The FFpatch can be downloaded from either the Download page or from here.
The files will need to be unzipped into the RedBaron3d/ directories or in the case of the RedBaron II game into the RedBaronII/ directories.
FFpatch_V1_data001.zip
- unzip to RedBaron3D/data directory.
FFpatch_V1_shellpat001.zip - unzip to RedBaron3D/shellpat
FFpatch_V1_shellpat002.zip - unzip to RedBaron3D/shellpat
FFpatch_V1_shellpat003.zip - unzip to RedBaron3D/shellpat
FFpatch_V1_shellpat004.zip - unzip to RedBaron3D/shellpat
Yes but FFpatch in it's current incarnation doesn't take advantage of the Campaign Manager's features fully. Vontom's brilliant Campaign Manager is available at wings-of-valor on their 'Files' page.
Yes but only if you use the FFpatch in conjunction with VonToms Campaign Manager from wings-of-valor on their 'Files' page.
The choice is yours. If used in conjunction with , once again VonToms brilliant Campaign Manager from wings-of-valor on their 'Files' page., you are able to load and unload patches at will and for MMP play. Alternatively adding the files ( which cause the conflict with MMP ) from UOP3.0 which enable the Sopwith Strutter and Bristol Fighter to be assigned missions in Single Player are offered as an option on the Download Page.
The basis for the FFpatch is to concentrate on the variety present in the Flanders region. Subsequently four Belgian Aviation Militaire squadrons have been added, three Marine Flieger Jasta's, three Australian Flying Corps squadrons, six RFC/RAF squadrons , JG III's Jasta 36 and a French Naval squadron.
The
Belgian Aviation Militaire :
The
Marine Flieger Jasta's :
The
Australian Flying Corps :
The
RFC/RAF Squadrons :
GAS
:
The
French Navy :
The RAF used three main dopings for their aircraft that had the best protective qualities for the aircraft linen and gave camouflage over France. The most common doping was Clear doping which was a biscuity colour and used on the undersides of the aircraft to protect the linen against weatherin as well as seal it. Some early aircraft in particular flew with CDL upper surfaces as well. In the game you will find yellowy/biscuity coloured BE2's, DH2 nacelles and a Sopwith triplane flown by Roderic Dallas of 1 RNAS which is all over CDL.
PC12 was the most protective doping of the ones the British developed and was composed of brown ochre and red oxide which gave it a middling brown colour. The Triplanes apparently are stil unknown as to which was doped in PC12 or PC10, so in the game a variety of colours are apparent on these aircraft. The Sopwith Triplanes of 10 RNAS, 9 RNAS and the French Naval Esc are depicted in PC12. The Sopwith Dolphins (Spad XIII ) of 79 and 87 RAF are also depicted in the PC12 doping. The Sopwith Snipe of 8 RNAS is another aircraft depicted in the patch in the PC12 doping.
PC10 was the doping which gave the highest protection and camouflage subsequently it is also the most common doping worn by RFC/RNAS/RAF aircraft. PC10 was composed of a mixture of yellow ochre and lamp black. PC10 can give some scale modellers heart attacks and the debates are numerous, but basically it comes down to how you want to represent it as the green end of the spectrum or the brown end of the spectrum.
Before the protective coating 10 was first applied it was mixed with either cellulose or oil varnish and a green "shift" occured in the doping giving the doping a greeny/brown appearance. As the aircraft weathered the green shift disapeared somewhat and the aircraft was more browny than greeny/brown. Apparently as the war went on the PC10 doping became more brown in colour as well. In the patch the RAF/RFC/AFC squadrons are equally divided as to which have brown and which have green upper surfaces.
This is where the suspension of disbelief is required. I have modeled a Sopwith Pup's aircraft skin to appear like a DH5. Basically if you see a dark brown Pup , you are facing a DH5. The Hanriot too is modified textures or plane skins from a Sopwith Pup and only appear with the Belgian Aviation Militaire. The Sopwith Dolphin is based on the Spad XIII and taken from the templates that appeared in the UOP2.7 and were done by Beery. The FE8 is based on a DH2 and is fairly similar to the DH2 except it appears in the green tinged doping.
Schemes for certain planes will, but the majority will be the standard defaults as per in UOP3.0.
Originally the scope of the patch was to expand the variety and artwork of the unit's in the Flanders Region, until Steve started doing the German Scout schemes and did it for all the Jasta's. No matter where you fly the German scouts are redone, Cameron did the RFC/RAF/RNAS aircraft and the redid the roundals so they were anti aliased on the French aircraft that the Brits fly. The rest is as per UOP3.0, neither Steve nro myself are overy knowledgable on the French aircraft and BvB, who did the French aircraft in UOP3.0, does the best French aircraft. So they were left alone. The FFpatch is definately an expansive experience if you fly German on any front. The variety opposing you though is greatest in the Flanders Region as this is were most of the detail in the allied air forces have been redone and more squadrons added.
This is due to the Sopwiths wings being thinned in chord so that ( in BvB's words ), they dont look like flying venetian blinds. The smaller chord however shows up as odd in the in cockpit view for the triplane. Toado has supplied a fix for this and it is available on the Flanders Fields Patch Add ons page.
Special thanx to Sygrod of the Sygrod's RB3D Tech Siteand BvB of the Red Baron II Paint Shop whose artwork and hex editing this FFpatch is based upon. Any decisions as to whether a squadron is added or deleted or whether an ace is added or deleted were done by cam. It is my idea of what would make a fun game as well as an historically bounded game.
Credits
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