After a couple of weeks hiatus on the developer diaries, we’re back with 1CGS newest update on the future of IL-2 including our very first look at some 3D models slated for IL-2: Battle of Bodenplatte and a hint at when the new early access period will begin.
Spitfire and Bf109
Two of the aircraft slated for release with IL-2: Battle of Bodenplatte are the Spitfire IX and the Bf109G-14. Today we get our first look at their untextured 3D meshes and they are up to the standards you’d expect from the 1CGS team.
The Bf109G-14 is what you might call a very late model Bf109G-6. It has a lot of features of the G-6 with an attempt at standardizing all of the sub models and making production easier. The new canopy should make visibility better!
Meanwhile we’re also seeing the Spitfire IX for the first time and the visuals confirm what we already know. We’re getting a Spitfire LF.IXe with the ‘E-type’ wing armament of two Hispano Mark II cannons in the outboard cannon positions and two Browning M2 .50cals in the inboard cannon positions. This packs greater punch than the earlier Spitfire ‘B-Type’ and ‘C-Type’ armament.
The image also confirms what we we’re speculating on but didn’t know for certain: clipped wings! Many Spitfires of both the Mark V and IX series had their wings clipped improving roll rate at the expense of high altitude performance.
New Po-2 images
We’re getting another look at the Po-2 with the untextured meshes looking like they have made progress. If we’re seeing the aircraft at this stage, similar to the Bodenplatte aircraft, it probably means that the third party builder has come through and produced something that the team can work with to implement into the game. Good news for fans of the Po-2.
The Po-2 was simple to operate and flown by many combat and training squadrons. It’s slow speed was used to great effect at night harassing enemy troops and dropping small payloads. It was mass produced and used all over the Eastern Front and will be nice to see as an extra type in the series.
If and when the Po-2 comes, it will be as a separate Collector Plane.
New tank for Tank Crew
Progress is being made on Tank Crew as well with first images of the Tiger I tank. For IL-2 players who have had only the Panzer III to operate with, having a heavier tank like the Tiger I will certainly appeal to many.
This is an opportunity for the series to draw in customers interested in past titles like Steel Fury while also appealing to War Thunder tankers who feel that the series there is having difficulty maintaining historical levels of detail (I know a few who don’t like it when Tigers are up against ATGMs for example).
Other details
IL-2: Battle of Bodenplatte is just getting started but it sounds like we may be several weeks away from potential early access. The developer update suggests that once we have both Spitfire IX and Bf109G-14 that we’ll see the first early access content get integrated into the core of the series.
The two will surely be good for dueling each other until more content can arrive.
We also have some fun artwork showing off what a German WWI pilot looked like. Potentially indicating some upgrades to the pilots being ported over from Rise of Flight. Exciting!
Read the whole update here.
Stormbirds 
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