BlitzPig_EL

The biggest reason for the Zero's high speed lack of maneuverability wasn't that it lacked hydraulic boosting of it's ailerons, but rather that it's ailerons were nearly full span. Lots of (most) WW2 fighters did not have boosted control surfaces and still maintained a high degree of maneuverability as speed increased. As to FFB sticks, I don't think there are any commercial mass market ones available anymore. Only some VERY expensive boutique models built one at a time and sold in tiny numbers. None the less the effect of stiffening controls can be simulated without force feedback.

The Japanese suffered similarly in New Guinea as well. Over half of IJAAC pilots with over 350 hours of combat experience were lost in the New Guinea campaign, essentially gutting the core of the Japanese Army's best pilots, losses that were never effectively replenished.

That's hilarious. An old USN "standard" type super dreadnought battleship, in pre WW2 configuration in the carrier's escort group. The USN standards could barely make 21 knots in calm seas, and were never used with the fast carriers because they were too slow

USS Alabama was attached to the British Home Fleet for a while and was used as bait to try to get Tirpitz to come out and play. Fortunately for the Germans, she stayed in her fjord. My neighbor when I was was growing up was a chief in her engine room at the time she was deployed to Britain. I've always thought that the Bismarcks, as well as the Yamatos were the most over rated things ever built by man.

Capital ships indeed. I would suggest the North Carolina class. The USN's first modern fast battleship class, and the pair of them were active in the Pacific almost the entirety of the war. USS Washington was pivotal in ending the IJN's efforts at directly attacking Guadalcanal, by essentially single handedly turning the Kirishima into scrap metal during her famous night engagement off Savo Island, all the while fending off torpedo attacks from cruisers and destroyers.

Any early Pacific campaign is going to present interesting challenges, to both sides. F4Fs, P-39s and P-40s in the Solomons against A6Ms, and trying to intercept IJN bombers that are coming in, in your slower climbing Allied planes, or P40s and 39s in New Guinea going up against the slow but agile Ki-43, then out of nowhere running in to a sleek, fast and still agile Ki-61 that can stay with you in the dive. Much to look forward to.

In all honesty I'll be happy with any scenario that doesn't involve Bf 109s, FW 190s or other ETO axis aircraft.

New Guinea is my favorite as well. So many opportunities for both multi and single player, over several years of operations, with a myriad of aircraft types. And, it is a theatre that has never gotten proper attention before. Bring it.

Love that early paint scheme.

Just don't use that map for the sim as it's a modern one.

The Boeing 314 Clipper is one of my favorite aircraft of all time.

Please? You know you want it.

I know they have a 100, and I believe they also have an 84. Is that not so?

The dubbed in helicopter sound FX were hokey.

Simply outstanding!

The Imperial War Museum in Britain has had a Ki-84 in their collection for some time, and is currently the only complete example in the world.

Kawasaki has a restored original Hein in their corporate museum, and at least two are in storage in New Zealand as well, awaiting restoration.

I so want to have that Mitsubishi as a flyable in the sim.

It's a pity that after air intelligence and the boffins at Wright field and elsewhere were done with them that so many were scrapped.

Welcome to the muddy world of ground attack! The BlitzPigs specialized in it back in the days of Pacific Fighters. Blowing stuff up is very satisfying, and in multiplayer is/was often the key to victory. We very often flew for the Emperor back then, and owing to the limited numbers of IJN/IJAAC attack aircraft found the Ki-61 to be quite good as a fast hit and run blitz bomber. We also were known to press the H8K "Emily" into that role. The Allies really have the attack role covered, as you note in your post. Don't forget that the P-40 was used to great effect in the attack role in every area it was used in the war against Japan, in particular by ANZAC forces in New Guinea.

What we are discussing is the biggest problem with carrier based campaign play. They were short. Two to four days, then back to Pearl or Yokohama to replenish and lick your wounds. Not the best scenario for long term single player satisfaction, though it will work well in multiplayer. Contrast that with the Solomons or New Guinea, which gives you months to years of campaign game play. Midway makes sense as an introduction to the new sim, but will quickly have to shift to a land based scenario to give sustainable opportunities for offline play. It will be interesting to see how it progresses.

The A6M is a truly beautiful aircraft. Mitsubishi did an amazing job with it, especially considering the difficult specification that was tendered by the IJN for it's design.

Direct hit on the armor belt. If it had hit higher up on the hull, or on the superstructure it would have done more damage.

One squadron of P-26 aircraft were stationed in Hawai'i at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. They were painted black and were intended for the role of night fighter because of the supposed better visibility of their open cockpits. They were never used in action.

Outstanding modeling work. I am looking forward to flight ops from and against either ship.