AB Fighter Plane Reviews

[Yubided 465]

Hey Paul, I'm wondering whether you've flown the Spit Vb in a while? I took it out for the first time today.

 

Something that may surprise you, considering your reviews of the type, is that I found it worked best above 3 km altitude. Everything just seems to work better. Of particular note, it climbs better the higher it goes. I wasn't having any trouble keeping up with supposedly better climbing types. It still has the classic Spitfire energy retention problems but that's mitigated by it's ability to recover altitude (in shallow climbs, not zooms) provided you don't get too low in a pursuit. It's quite deceptive - I found I could maintain about 18 degrees nose up doing 280 km/h (with performance mods unlocked) and 30 degrees with WEP for a slight loss of speed (I'd go 25 degrees once I dropped past 280 km/h). Before I knew it, I'd be at 5 km and once I got up there I could go slightly nose up and do 450 km/h.

 

The Hispanos aren't terrible against bombers too - far better than German and Japanese 20 mm cannon. You really have to be frugal with the ammo though. Suffice to say I'll be paying a lot more respect to Vb flyers (particularly those at altitude) when I'm flying other types. I think I've been lucky not to bump into someone who really knows how to use the plane. It's a lot better than I thought (or perhaps we thought, judging by your videos). It could also be that the flight model has been changed since you did the reviews. I'm not suggesting a re-review but if you happen to take it out, let me know if you think the flight model has changed.

Edited July 29, 2014 by Yubided

[long5hot 7,302]

Thats interesting - I flew my stock level Vb for the first time a few days ago and was pleasantly surprised as well. Same BR as the IIb, but to me it immediately felt like a better plane.

[Yubided 465]

Thats interesting - I flew my stock level Vb for the first time a few days ago and was pleasantly surprised as well. Same BR as the IIb, but to me it immediately felt like a better plane.

 

For me the IIb is the better turner and feels like it performs slightly better at lower altitudes. I found myself making turns out of dives in the IIb that I couldn't do in the Vb. Once the Vb got above 3 km it felt better, and kept getting better, in overall performance compared to the IIb. That said, I still think it's better to take the IIb up to around 4 km so that you can trade altitude for speed out of hard turns.

Edited July 29, 2014 by Yubided

[Resonance84 28]

I'm wondering whether you've flown the Spit Vb in a while?

 

Thats interesting - I flew my stock level Vb for the first time a few days ago and was pleasantly surprised as well. Same BR as the IIb, but to me it immediately felt like a better plane.

 

It seems the FM had it's energy retention issues fixed.  I dunno what developer went out and cut off the drogue chute from the old one but thank you.  It feels like a more natural progression from the IIb; mostly the same aircraft with a little more power.  I haven't tried out the Vc to see if it's FM got boosted by association.

[tx141 815]

Hey Paul, I'm wondering whether you've flown the Spit Vb in a while? I took it out for the first time today.

 

Something that may surprise you, considering your reviews of the type, is that I found it worked best above 3 km altitude. Everything just seems to work better. Of particular note, it climbs better the higher it goes. I wasn't having any trouble keeping up with supposedly better climbing types. It still has the classic Spitfire energy retention problems but that's mitigated by it's ability to recover altitude (in shallow climbs, not zooms) provided you don't get too low in a pursuit. It's quite deceptive - I found I could maintain about 18 degrees nose up doing 280 km/h (with performance mods unlocked) and 30 degrees with WEP for a slight loss of speed (I'd go 25 degrees once I dropped past 280 km/h). Before I knew it, I'd be at 5 km and once I got up there I could go slightly nose up and do 450 km/h.

 

The Hispanos aren't terrible against bombers too - far better than German and Japanese 20 mm cannon. You really have to be frugal with the ammo though. Suffice to say I'll be paying a lot more respect to Vb flyers (particularly those at altitude) when I'm flying other types. I think I've been lucky not to bump into someone who really knows how to use the plane. It's a lot better than I thought (or perhaps we thought, judging by your videos). It could also be that the flight model has been changed since you did the reviews. I'm not suggesting a re-review but if you happen to take it out, let me know if you think the flight model has changed.

 

Hmm, I have not noticed any major changes to the Spitfire Mk. Vb since the pair of reviews I did concerning the plane. I decided to take it out for a couple of games last week as a back-up plane for when my Spitfire F Mk. IX was shot down.

 

I will take a look into this, give me a week or so and I will get back to you. Thank you for bring this to my attention Yubided. :)

 

It seems the FM had it's energy retention issues fixed.  I dunno what developer went out and cut off the drogue chute from the old one but thank you.  It feels like a more natural progression from the IIb; mostly the same aircraft with a little more power.  I haven't tried out the Vc to see if it's FM got boosted by association.

 

In fact, I may post-pone running a re-test of the Spitfire Mk. Vb until I get around to upgrading my Mk. Vc as then I can, if necessary, review both planes in a single week. I will be sure to keep an eye out for possible energy retention enhancements in the Mk. Vb as it used to struggle to build energy back up below speeds of 250 km/h.

 

Update 29.07.2014:

• Sorry for no new reviews in the last couple of days folks, running behind schedule a little bit due to work-related appointments.
• Timetable has been shifted as follows: MC. 200 Serie 3 review by Thursday, F8F-1 review by Saturday, Yak-3 re-review by Sunday.
• I will also be putting up a new tips video this weekend concerning how I climb.

Thank you for your patience, all the best. :)

[tx141 815]

Update 31.07.2014:

• MC 200 Serie 3 review has been uploaded, you may view it here, or using the link on the first post. I was quite surprised at how well that plane performs with speed.
• F8F-1 Bearcat review is next, due on Saturday.
• Starting to finish off upgrading the Tempest Mk. V, review due sometime next week.

Thank you as always for your continued support.

 

P.S. Does anyone know who I should contact in order to ask for this thread to be pinned?

[long5hot 7,302]

P.S. Does anyone know who I should contact in order to ask for this thread to be pinned?

 
Bigyin pinned my thread after someone asked him to do so, I'd say he'd be the guy. Edited July 31, 2014 by long5hot

[BlaZebura 3,688]

Any plan for Spitfire MkVc review? It's one of the hidden gems of the british tech tree. I have killed numerous late war props at low level with it(probably due to being badly flown)
The 4x20mm Hispanos will shred anything with a well aimed burst and they feel even more deadly than the Typhoons due to how close the guns are set to each other

[tx141 815]

 Bigyin pinned my thread after someone asked him to do so, I'd say he'd be the guy.

 

Thank you, I will get in touch with him sometime this week, although I doubt the thread will be pinned as yours is already a highly relevant AB thread (I mean no offence when I say this). :)

 

Any plan for Spitfire MkVc review? It's one of the hidden gems of the british tech tree. I have killed numerous late war props at low level with it(probably due to being badly flown)
The 4x20mm Hispanos will shred anything with a well aimed burst and they feel even more deadly than the Typhoons due to how close the guns are set to each other

 

The Spitfire Mk. Vc review will be coming sometime in the near future, I am currently working hard on finishing off my upgrades for the Hawker Tempest Mk. V, a plane which I am really falling in love with. I have played a couple of games in the Mk. Vc and I will say that in stock condition, it seems to bleed speed horrifically and struggle to re-build energy, although this is based on roughly five fly-outs.

 

Update 03.08.2014:

• Apologies, running behind by a day, trying to make up for lost ground. The reason for the delay is due to the arrival of the Summertime event; I intend to use this event to unlock a number of premium tanks/planes for future reviewing, in particular the fabled Boomerang Mk. I.
• On a brighter side, F8F-1 Bearcat review is up! You may view it using the link below (pinching a small technique from Mr. Long5hot!) or from the first post link. The plane is essentially the F6F-3 on steroids.

[media='305x420']http://youtu.be/IOzs8ZE4rM0[/media]

 

• The next plane to be reviewed is of course the Tempest, episode 3 of Tx's Tips will be up by Tuesday.
• Yak-3 final review also on the horizon.

Enjoy! :D

[Bramborough 376]

I've seen you mention the "How I Climb" tutorial video; really looking forward to that.  Good sustained climb technique is quite important in GS maps (which are the majority) for most fighters.  I think I've got a decent method, but am sure I could use some pointers.

 

I guess my point is that the climb video would pertain much more widely than any single-plane review...if that factors at all in your prioritization scheme.

 

I think you'll really like the Boomerang.  Weird little plane...it doesn't really stand out in any one area; it's not fast, it doesn't climb particularly well, etc.  But somehow all its attributes mesh well together, and the Boomer just feels to me "greater than the sum of its parts".

 

EDIT:  Great F8F-1 video.  Really enjoyable.  I do have one comment...it's just an observation, not a criticism...and doesn't even necessarily apply to just this video or you in general.  I've felt this way about many of the other youtube WT videos I've seen.  To wit...how the heck do you manage to come across SO many "willing targets"?  Just feels like they cooperatively lined up to provide juicy opportunities.  I have a hard time finding such easy marks in my battles, lol.

Edited August 4, 2014 by Bramborough

[tx141 815]

Update 05.08.2014:

• Decided to redo the new tutorial video as I wanted to make it more user friendly, upload date has been delayed until Wednesday but I think the new diagrams (etc.) I have added will make it more useful.
• I will post proper replies to any comments on my videos or forum posts on Wednesday.

Sorry, busy busy busy! :D

[Yubided 465]

EDIT:  Great F8F-1 video.  Really enjoyable.  I do have one comment...it's just an observation, not a criticism...and doesn't even necessarily apply to just this video or you in general.  I've felt this way about many of the other youtube WT videos I've seen.  To wit...how the heck do you manage to come across SO many "willing targets"?  Just feels like they cooperatively lined up to provide juicy opportunities.  I have a hard time finding such easy marks in my battles, lol.

 

That's what sets Paul apart from most other players. He's very good at picking his targets and disposing of them in one pass. There are just as many easy marks in most games. The trick is getting into a position where you can bounce them. I don't pretend to be at the same level as Paul but, in my experience, there are two things that will "illuminate" the easy prey:

 

1. Altitude (preferably altitude supremacy). Altitude gives you space to 1 v 1 and often puts you well above vultures. Altitude can be traded for speed for maneuvers and to escape. Altitude gives you the option to BnZ and stall-out climbing pursuers. Altitude allows you to see more prey. 

2. Discipline - by which I mean you fly an aircraft tactically, to its strengths, and you don't break those tactics even if it means leaving a crippled opponent to the vultures. Knowing what the opponent's aircraft can do and flying accordingly is also handy.

 

Sounds easy right? In theory it is, but consider that most players looking to do well are going to be naturally aggressive. The two elements I listed often feel as though they are at odds with what feels actively (and positively) aggressive in-game. What you have to continuously remind yourself of is that these two elements remove a lot of the recklessness and risk associated with the aggression. Those that take the time to position themselves advantageously and attack using an aircraft's strengths / opponents weaknesses will rapidly start to see everyone else who doesn't as "willing targets".

[Resonance84 28]

 

EDIT:  Great F8F-1 video.  Really enjoyable.  I do have one comment...it's just an observation, not a criticism...and doesn't even necessarily apply to just this video or you in general.  I've felt this way about many of the other youtube WT videos I've seen.  To wit...how the heck do you manage to come across SO many "willing targets"?  Just feels like they cooperatively lined up to provide juicy opportunities.  I have a hard time finding such easy marks in my battles, lol.

 

That's what sets Paul apart from most other players. He's very good at picking his targets and disposing of them in one pass. There are just as many easy marks in most games. The trick is getting into a position where you can bounce them.

 

To be a contrary I would point out that his format is based around a certain amount of cherry picking, as does the vast majority of WarThunder YouTube's you'll come across.  He's mentioned in Tx's tips that his long-term kill/death (kill/sortie?) is around 2-to-1.  Even if you are the kind of crack shot that Tx141 is it is probably unrealistic to expect all of your games to look like his vids.  That said, it's not pure luck either; you need to set yourself up to capitalize on those opportunities.  Sometimes though, skill aside, you'll just have a bad game because of factors outside your control.  

[Yubided 465]

Pretty sure it's 5:1 actually. I sit between 2:1 and 3:1 across all types. 5 kills without loss isn't hard to get at all if you play super cautiously and take your opportunities (my biggest problem - I miss killing shots a lot). I play a lot more aggressively than Paul and I have a number of types in the 6:1 range.

 

Then there's the likes of AIM_120_AMRAAM... I remember looking at his card and seeing a few 50+:1 ratios. I was still rolling my jaw back into my head three days later.

 

That said, I agree, everyone has bad games eventually.

[tx141 815]

I've seen you mention the "How I Climb" tutorial video; really looking forward to that.  Good sustained climb technique is quite important in GS maps (which are the majority) for most fighters.  I think I've got a decent method, but am sure I could use some pointers.

 

I guess my point is that the climb video would pertain much more widely than any single-plane review...if that factors at all in your prioritization scheme.

 

I think you'll really like the Boomerang.  Weird little plane...it doesn't really stand out in any one area; it's not fast, it doesn't climb particularly well, etc.  But somehow all its attributes mesh well together, and the Boomer just feels to me "greater than the sum of its parts".

 

EDIT:  Great F8F-1 video.  Really enjoyable.  I do have one comment...it's just an observation, not a criticism...and doesn't even necessarily apply to just this video or you in general.  I've felt this way about many of the other youtube WT videos I've seen.  To wit...how the heck do you manage to come across SO many "willing targets"?  Just feels like they cooperatively lined up to provide juicy opportunities.  I have a hard time finding such easy marks in my battles, lol.

 

The climb video is now up, please see below. :)

 

Concerning the Boomerang, unfortunately due to the rather large requirements for unlocking the plane during this Summer's Event, and the lack of free time I have at the moment, unlocking said plane is going to be a distant dream. I instead plan to pool together any Golden Eagles I continue to earn through special events in order to purchase this aircraft, and also use any money I could eventually earn off my work (i.e. via Youtube) as I want to put the money back into the game.

 

I have heard so many different opinions about the Boomerang that I really wish I could see for myself what the fuss is about! :P

 

With regards to the F8F-1 review, thank you. Following your addendum, I would agree that in a number of instances my opponents do come across as willing targets. While I do not consider myself to be a "pro" or anything special, I would like to point out perhaps the three main reasons as to why I can sometimes make such easy work of my foes:

1. Experience: As you know, I have played a large number of games in AB mode, and so I was once an easy mark. I quickly realized the importance of constantly looking around, as you may have noted during some of my reviews where I almost develop an OCD complex for checking my tail. Moreover, I am always switching my gaze from my plane to the little radar in the top right corner, making sure that if an enemy plane is spotted local to myself, I am aware of it as soon as possible. Ergo, one could essentially put this down to heightened awareness, something that comes with time and develops naturally in everyone.
2. Energy: In about 75% of cases, I will always make sure I have both the altitude and speed advantage, meaning that I have the greater energy. I will admit now that I used to spend entire matches up at 6000m+ in my BF 109 G-2 / P-47D Thunderbolt, performing huge energy dives on targets who had to spend ages trying to climb up to my position, making for easy targets. Over time, I have dropped my altitude roof as my confidence has grown, and I can usually predict when an enemy plane will begin to stall out (check out my Yak-3 montage here, the number of "stall kills" I perform will show this to a great degree) or struggle to turn with me.
3. Luck: While more of a random factor than anything else, I sometimes get lucky and enter a game where no-one wants to climb above 5000m. Moreover, I can be put against teams who lack any sense of spatial awareness, which is where I can pick up huge numbers of kills in planes such as the FW 190 A-5. If I go up against like minded players, then the game changes completely into a long, drawn out chess match where I wait for my opponent to make their move.

  As you play more and more games, the kills will come, and you will develop a new-found confidence in what you can and cannot do in a given plane, in a given match.

 

I hope that provides a better insight. :)

 

Update 06.08.2014:

• Later than expected, Tx's Tips Part 3 is up and may be seen using the embedded video below, or the link in the first post. This video covers my climbing technique in detail.
• Yak-3 Final Review is due for Sunday.
• Tempest Mk. V review is in the works.

Sorry for the delays! :D

 

[media='315x420']http://youtu.be/u-cSsUWRXBE[/media]

[tx141 815]

That's what sets Paul apart from most other players. He's very good at picking his targets and disposing of them in one pass. There are just as many easy marks in most games. The trick is getting into a position where you can bounce them. I don't pretend to be at the same level as Paul but, in my experience, there are two things that will "illuminate" the easy prey:

 

1. Altitude (preferably altitude supremacy). Altitude gives you space to 1 v 1 and often puts you well above vultures. Altitude can be traded for speed for maneuvers and to escape. Altitude gives you the option to BnZ and stall-out climbing pursuers. Altitude allows you to see more prey. 

2. Discipline - by which I mean you fly an aircraft tactically, to its strengths, and you don't break those tactics even if it means leaving a crippled opponent to the vultures. Knowing what the opponent's aircraft can do and flying accordingly is also handy.

 

Sounds easy right? In theory it is, but consider that most players looking to do well are going to be naturally aggressive. The two elements I listed often feel as though they are at odds with what feels actively (and positively) aggressive in-game. What you have to continuously remind yourself of is that these two elements remove a lot of the recklessness and risk associated with the aggression. Those that take the time to position themselves advantageously and attack using an aircraft's strengths / opponents weaknesses will rapidly start to see everyone else who doesn't as "willing targets".

 

Thank you for the compliment, I strongly agree with your two main points, especially your point concerning Discipline. From my own personal point of view, I always remember this: if I leave an opponent burning and heading towards terra firma, yet a friendly takes the kill, it was my kill in reality and I do not need a visual aid to tell me so. I do not mean to be arrogant in saying this, but it is the mind-set I try to employ in said situations.

 

The best kind of aggression is that which an opponent never sees coming, as then they will struggle to react to it at the correct moment, hence the ruthless efficiency that one can dispense with a foe.

 

To be a contrary I would point out that his format is based around a certain amount of cherry picking, as does the vast majority of WarThunder YouTube's you'll come across.  He's mentioned in Tx's tips that his long-term kill/death (kill/sortie?) is around 2-to-1.  Even if you are the kind of crack shot that Tx141 is it is probably unrealistic to expect all of your games to look like his vids.  That said, it's not pure luck either; you need to set yourself up to capitalize on those opportunities.  Sometimes though, skill aside, you'll just have a bad game because of factors outside your control.  

 

 

I am grateful for your post Resonance84, as you do indeed put my reviews in context. I will agree that the work I present is "cherry-picked" in order to demonstrate where I have found the greatest success with the plane in question over a single game. I would never expect every game to swing the same way, and I do indeed have my losing streaks where I struggle for kills, ergo I expect the same of those who view my reviews, to take my advice and, if they decide to, apply it where necessary at their own pace in order to maximize any potential improvements they may experience.

 

For reference, and I will indeed post this in the first post, I have a K/D of roughly 5:1 and a K/F of approximately 2:1. Still, statistics aside, we all have our ups and downs, and I suffered way too many of those when upgrading my G-6.

 

Pretty sure it's 5:1 actually. I sit between 2:1 and 3:1 across all types. 5 kills without loss isn't hard to get at all if you play super cautiously and take your opportunities (my biggest problem - I miss killing shots a lot). I play a lot more aggressively than Paul and I have a number of types in the 6:1 range.

 

Then there's the likes of AIM_120_AMRAAM... I remember looking at his card and seeing a few 50+:1 ratios. I was still rolling my jaw back into my head three days later.

 

That said, I agree, everyone has bad games eventually.

 

Aye, I shall agree to that. :)

Edited August 6, 2014 by tx141

[Bramborough 376]

Excellent climb video, some food for thought there.

 

My own technique is largely similar, with alternating WEP and no-WEP periods, but I try to balance climb angle and airspeed.   Specifically, I attempt to bleed speed off as little as possible, and maintain a minimum (somewhere between 280-320kmh, depending on the aircraft).  The idea is that climbrate isn't just about angle.  More airspeed = faster airflow over the wing = more lift.  In order to maintain that minimum speed, I shallow the angle during the non-WEP periods, as low as 10 or 12 degrees, sometimes even less.  Whether that is actually faster than your method, however, I have no idea.  Going to have to take my Spit IX into test flight to see.

 

Where I think I need refinement, regardless, is in the length of WEP usage.  I've been exhausting it during each WEP stage.  Intuitively, I like your method better, of shorter WEP and recovery intervals.  I also like the idea of having altitude thresholds to  turn WEP on/off.

 

EDIT:  Been trying your method for the past 24 hrs, mainly with Bf109's and the FW190 A8.  Your technique is superior to what I had been doing.  Shorter-but-more-frequent WEP bursts work much better.  I'm converted.  I've also abandoned the varying climb angles, no longer using the "stair-step" flight profile.  I do retain the emphasis on airspeed, however, by using a slightly shallower constant angle; I'm usually somewhere around 17-18deg.  Have been getting up to good bomber-intercept altitudes in less than 2 minutes....with decent airspeed, cooler temps, and left-over WEP to spare at the top of the climb.

Edited August 7, 2014 by Bramborough

[*konate95 8]

Thanks for the instructional video.

F4U's re-eval?

[tx141 815]

Excellent climb video, some food for thought there.

 

My own technique is largely similar, with alternating WEP and no-WEP periods, but I try to balance climb angle and airspeed.   Specifically, I attempt to bleed speed off as little as possible, and maintain a minimum (somewhere between 280-320kmh, depending on the aircraft).  The idea is that climbrate isn't just about angle.  More airspeed = faster airflow over the wing = more lift.  In order to maintain that minimum speed, I shallow the angle during the non-WEP periods, as low as 10 or 12 degrees, sometimes even less.  Whether that is actually faster than your method, however, I have no idea.  Going to have to take my Spit IX into test flight to see.

 

Where I think I need refinement, regardless, is in the length of WEP usage.  I've been exhausting it during each WEP stage.  Intuitively, I like your method better, of shorter WEP and recovery intervals.  I also like the idea of having altitude thresholds to  turn WEP on/off.

 

EDIT:  Been trying your method for the past 24 hrs, mainly with Bf109's and the FW190 A8.  Your technique is superior to what I had been doing.  Shorter-but-more-frequent WEP bursts work much better.  I'm converted.  I've also abandoned the varying climb angles, no longer using the "stair-step" flight profile.  I do retain the emphasis on airspeed, however, by using a slightly shallower constant angle; I'm usually somewhere around 17-18deg.  Have been getting up to good bomber-intercept altitudes in less than 2 minutes....with decent airspeed, cooler temps, and left-over WEP to spare at the top of the climb.

 

Thank you, and I am glad to hear the technique has worked well for you as well. :)

 

I used to use a similar technique to yourself, switching my climb angle during non-WEP periods, but I one day noticed a couple of friendly planes just constantly climbing to higher altitudes at a given angle, and so I thought I would investigate how I could replicate this myself, hence my technique. I shall admit that the Mk. IX prefers an angle of roughly 20 degrees in my technique (as highlighted to me by another friendly Youtuber), and I believe this can be realized much more easily via the use of the IAS (Indicate Air Speed) measurement rather than the standard TAS (True Air Speed) measurement.

 

Thanks for the instructional video.

F4U's re-eval?

 

I just need to get my review of the Tempest Mk. V done and then I shall get to work on the evaluation of the F4Us. :)

 

Update 09.08.2014:

 

• Yak-3 final review has been uploaded and may be viewed below, or by using the link in the first post.

[media='315x420']http://youtu.be/DA1ntaW7Cd4[/media]

 

• Now working on my review of the Tempest Mk. V, that should be up by tomorrow.
• I will then shift my focus onto the F4Us.

Minor Update:

 

  I have spent the whole of today upgrading my F4U-1d and so the Tempest Mk. V review will be delayed until Monday now. Additionally, the history of the Tempest Mk. V is quite bewildering, and so I am currently attempting to contract it down for the review. Sorry for the inconvenience!

 

Thank you for your continued support folks! :)

Edited August 9, 2014 by tx141

[Bramborough 376]

This is going to sound like an over-eager paid advertisement (and also somewhat repetitive, as I already commented on these two videos).  But I feel compelled to emphasize again how much these last couple of videos have helped in the past few days.  I feel like my game has been bumped to a new plateau.  As already mentioned, the climb video has helped tremendously at match start.  The F8F game has changed much in how I approach the game in a lot of fighters.  And I haven't even been flying the F8F, so it's not the aircraft-specific stuff.  But rather a general approach; choosing targets, lining up shots, avoiding threats.

 

About an hour ago, had a 10-kill / 0-death battle (Bf109 F-4/trop).  That may be ho-hum for some, but I'm pretty proud of it...especially the "0 death" part.  I've had a (very small) handful of double-digit kill games in the past...but I'm 99.99% certain that this is the first one in which I didn't lose multiple planes in the process.  I used to consider any battle "good" in which I managed to kill more than I died, say 4 kills and 3 deaths or whatever.  Lately, I've started to get a lot more 4-0, 5-1 type matches.  It's still very rare for me to get enough kills to top the chart in results...but I notice that I'm MUCH more frequently one of the highest-KDR players on either side now.  Some fellow might have 9 or 10 kills...but often he's burned 6 or 7 aircraft to do it.  Meanwhile I may have only popped three or four enemies...but I'm flying the same plane I spawned into battle with.

 

I credit tx141 for much of this.  I've watched quite a few youtube videos over time, and have picked up a lot of knowledge from all of them.  Your vids aren't radically different from many others, but somehow your presentation and style are just making it "click" for me in a way which hasn't quite happened before.

 

Keep up the good work!

[_SouthPaw_ 339]

I really enjoyed watching your videos.  Its helped me alot in the tier 3 area which is something i very new to. So i appreciate your hard work to make these!

[tx141 815]

This is going to sound like an over-eager paid advertisement (and also somewhat repetitive, as I already commented on these two videos).  But I feel compelled to emphasize again how much these last couple of videos have helped in the past few days.  I feel like my game has been bumped to a new plateau.  As already mentioned, the climb video has helped tremendously at match start.  The F8F game has changed much in how I approach the game in a lot of fighters.  And I haven't even been flying the F8F, so it's not the aircraft-specific stuff.  But rather a general approach; choosing targets, lining up shots, avoiding threats.

 

About an hour ago, had a 10-kill / 0-death battle (Bf109 F-4/trop).  That may be ho-hum for some, but I'm pretty proud of it...especially the "0 death" part.  I've had a (very small) handful of double-digit kill games in the past...but I'm 99.99% certain that this is the first one in which I didn't lose multiple planes in the process.  I used to consider any battle "good" in which I managed to kill more than I died, say 4 kills and 3 deaths or whatever.  Lately, I've started to get a lot more 4-0, 5-1 type matches.  It's still very rare for me to get enough kills to top the chart in results...but I notice that I'm MUCH more frequently one of the highest-KDR players on either side now.  Some fellow might have 9 or 10 kills...but often he's burned 6 or 7 aircraft to do it.  Meanwhile I may have only popped three or four enemies...but I'm flying the same plane I spawned into battle with.

 

I credit tx141 for much of this.  I've watched quite a few youtube videos over time, and have picked up a lot of knowledge from all of them.  Your vids aren't radically different from many others, but somehow your presentation and style are just making it "click" for me in a way which hasn't quite happened before.

 

Keep up the good work!

 

I am glad to hear the overall format of my videos has allowed you to improve your game with time, and very well done on the 10-0 in the BF 109 F-4/Trop! 

 

Will do! :D

 

I really enjoyed watching your videos.  Its helped me alot in the tier 3 area which is something i very new to. So i appreciate your hard work to make these!

 

Thank you, and I am glad to hear you are enjoying the reviews. :)

 

Update 11.08.2014:

• To start with, I have uploaded my review of the Hawker Tempest Mk. V (Series II) which you may see via the embedded link below, or using the link in the original post:

[media='315x420']http://youtu.be/mDWrGO1xXwY[/media]

• Following this, I am currently working on reviewing all three of the Corsairs for this week. I have also been working on trying to shift my videos into 1080p, and my next episode will test this feature. Stay tuned for this!
• Tx's Tips Episode 4 will cover the upgrade process, where I highlight the upgrades I aim for when trying to develop a new fighter. This will be a short episode uploaded towards the end of the week.

[*konate95 8]

Yes!!! I need help that bad. 1:6 kill ratio, here!

[tx141 815]

Update 13.08.2014:

• The week of F4U Corsair reviews has begun! We start with my review of the F4U-1a which you may see using the embedded link below, or by using the link in the original post.

[media='315x420']http://youtu.be/Oh5yrh6Rkfw[/media]

• Additionally, this review, and all those which shall follow it, are now being rendered in 1080p HD! I finally found a work around to render in 1080p and I hope this has made a significant difference to the quality of the video.
• Tomorrow: F4U-1d review.
• Friday: F4U-1c review.

Stay tuned! :D

[Renegade61 651]

Good video as always mate. However, there was definitely room for a few more "Ergo's"!  (sarcasm off..lol.)  :good: