The latest 1CGS Developer Diary update brings with it some great new screenshots showing off the Me262 cockpit, new crew added to the M4A2, and a new visual effect for Tank Crew that will eventually spread to the rest of the series too.
Inside views of the Schwalbe
We’re treated this week to two beautiful new screenshots from the Me262. This jet interceptor and fighter-bomber was the first operational combat jet fighter in the world. Recreating this piece of aviation history has been a multi-month long process for 1CGS with a lot of focus and attention being put into it’s flight model and its jet engines. We’ve seen the exterior in previous developer diaries and now we get to see the interior.
The interior of the 262 is actually an interesting one from the viewpoint of how simple it is. Though a leap forward in aviation as far as the engines are concerned, the 262’s cockpit looks no more complex than that of the Bf109 with a cleanly laid out design. Recreating the jet in IL-2: Battle of Bodenplatte puts us in touch with this unique piece of history.
I’m looking forward to getting my hands on this aircraft. It should be an interesting experience.
Tank Crew M4A2 crew and effect updates
The M4A2 Sherman is now available in Tank Crew for players with early access. One thing not yet in the Sherman is the crew but 1CGS is now adding them to the tank (literally putting the crew in Tank Crew) giving this near ubiquitous American tank animated crew members to drive this tank.
Also coming to Tank Crew is a new particle based effect that will let the team include some interesting features such as fire and smoke inside the cabin. I’ll let Han tell this part of the story:
And another screenshot shows a new particle-based effects technology inside the cockpits in the first-person view. In the first stage, we will introduce this system for tanks (the effect of a fire starting from spilled fuel, the effect of extinguishing this fire, smoke when the engine is damaged, powder gasses when firing from a cannon and a machine gun). In the medium term, we also plan to use this technology for airplanes:
Han on 1CGS’s Developer Diary #2
Tank Crew once again offers 1CGS to offer cross pollination of technologies with smoke and fire effects for Tank Crew eventually making their way into the aircraft of the series. I suspect that smoke in the cockpit is just one of many effects that the team might be able to offer. Would an improved oil splatter pattern be another? I’m sure.
Future updates
This update also teases future updates and some big features. Battlefield Marshal is now in development and, according to the update, nearly completed. This feature will give multiplayer servers the chance to have a team commander role which can direct the battle on both the ground and in the air.
The Me262 is expected to arrive sometime in May along with two Flying Circus Aircraft (the Albatross D.Va and S.E.5.a) and two new tanks to Tank Crew (likely the T-34 model 1943 and PzKpfw IV Ausf.G).
The Arras map is also hopefully going to be shown off sooner than later with progress on this map being done by Ugra Media.
Attention after will turn towards three critical Allied aircraft – the P-51D-15, the P-38J-25, and the Tempest Mark V (Series II). Also don’t forget that 1CGS is planning on adding the AI (for now) B-25D Mitchell which saw service with the RAF in western Europe during this time.
We know that the Mustang is intended to arrive in June or July although we also know that plans do tend to sometimes change. Might the Mustang launch alongside another Allied fighter? These are possibilities as we enter the home stretch for Bodenplatte over the next several months. Can you tell I’m excited? Stay tuned folks for some significant updates over the coming weeks and months!
Stormbirds 
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