This week, the developers at 1C Game Studios updated their developer diary with plenty of new information on how their project is coming along. New additional capabilities for the FW190A-8 that you’re going to want to read about, brief talk about Mach flight model physics, new images of the FW190D-9 and P-47 cockpits, the Bf109K-4, and plenty more to speculate about. Let’s dig in!

Latest map teaser

I want to lead with the latest image that we have of the IL-2: Battle of Bodenplatte map. While the team is still working away on the details, what they are showing us in this screenshot is not a completed section of the map but a prototype of a typical western Europe town.

Getting the row houses right, the buildings all created and setup, and generally getting the typical layout right is important now as the team will apparently have to create 300 “settlements” both small and large. Apparently a “block designer” tool has been created to speed this process along.

While some of the assets may be different, I can only imagine that this may also be a useful tool for the team to use on the smaller Flying Circus Arras sector map too. It’ll be interesting to see how much shared efforts we see between these two map projects.

Upgraded capabilities for the FW190A-8

I think early on, everyone dismissed the FW190A-8 to some degree as being one of the “less hot” fighters compared to such gems as the Bf109K-4, FW190D-9, Tempest, and P-51D Mustang. However, 1CGS is intent on maximizing the use of this workhorse and a workhorse it will be.

New modifications include the ability to remove the MG131 machine guns, the ability to launch new “M8 Panzerblitz 1” HE rockets, and the ability to carry a single SC1000 bomb underneath.

These modifications add on to the other modifications already available for the FW190A-8 making for a total of four different variations of the FW190:

• Fw 190 A-8 (fighter)
• Fw 190 A-8 Sturmjäger (better armoured interceptor)
• Fw 190 F-8 (attack plane)
• Fw 190 G-8 (fighter-bomber)

This is a lot of bang (especially with the SC1000 bombload) for the buck.

As I said at the start of this section, the FW190A-8 may not have attracted attention the way some of the other types in the forthcoming Battle of Bodenplatte release have, it’s turning into one of the most useful types around and I can imagine we’ll be seeing plenty of them online.

More aircraft underway

While we haven’t seen a new aircraft added in since the FW190A-8 came in late July, the team is making great progress on a bunch of types. We’ve already seen images of the P-47D-28 external model and we’re now able to see what the cockpit looks like.

Obviously, we’re still waiting to see what the textures look like in the end but it looks really good so far. The P-47’s cockpit was considered to be quite large and comfortable compared to many contemporary types so it will be interesting to see how that may translate into IL-2.

The FW190D-9 cockpit is underway as well and some sharp eyed community members have spotted what appears to be the EZ 42 gyro gunsight in the FW190D-9’s cockpit.

Again, the cockpit is currently untextured so its not ready for primetime yet but clearly plenty of progress is being made.

The Bf109K-4 meanwhile makes an appearance with its external 3D model being shown off for the first time.

This ultimate version of the Bf109 saw plenty of service in the last year of the war and its immense engine power and cleaned up lines (compared to the G-6 and G-14 anyways) are a powerful combination along with its MK108 30mm cannon. We can see MG151/20 gunpod gondolas on the second image too.

Also mentioned in the update are the P-51D-25 and Tempest Mark V which are apparently also underway in their 3D model development. The P-51 has one interesting tidbit here where the D-25 variant is referenced – previously the D-15 was considered to be the type that the team was focused on. If the D-25 is the go-to variant then we’ll be seeing a slightly later version of the type than before with some small refinements (and potentially tail warning radar).

Mach speed technology

And as mentioned in previous developer updates, the technology underlying very high and near Mach speeds is being developed into the flight model now. This advancement won’t just be affecting the Me262 either as many types will be able to dive to near Mach speeds.

Will this update apply to only Bodenplatte aircraft? The answer is apparently no:

You may have wandered [wondered – ed.] will the new tech work for the existing aircraft released before – it certainly will, we always update all aircraft to take advantage of the new tech so they all have the same modeling fidelity.

Some may have seen this flight model update being squarely aimed at the Me262 alone or at some unannounced jet project but it think it represents an effort to further refine and develop the core flight model systems for the IL-2: Great Battles Series. Near Mach handling and values apply to more than just the Me262 and the developers appear committed to ensure that it will have impacts on other types in the series as well.

Other updates

There are a few other small updates. The Career for Battle of Bodenplatte will now extend out to April 1 according to this post by Black Six:

1,5 months, till April 1, 1945 after last changes in the career timeline.

We’ve also learned that towns will be damagable for Bodenplatte and be able to show progressive damage. As the war rages on in these areas, it should now be possible for towns to look more and more war torn.

Yes, towns on BP map will be damageable, during the mission or initialy by mission design.

IL-2 continues to evolve as a whole series and that remains one of the most exciting things about it on the whole. For the full developer update, I encourage you to read that right over here.