AB Fighter Plane Reviews

[sidchicken 721]

How about a look at the M.B.157?  It's a plane I've come to enjoy, but it has a few vices that made it frustrating at first, most notably its performance at altitude, control stiffening at speed, and its laughable ammo load.

[tx141 815]

On 3/23/2018 at 12:23 AM, sidchicken said:

How about a look at the M.B.157?  It's a plane I've come to enjoy, but it has a few vices that made it frustrating at first, most notably its performance at altitude, control stiffening at speed, and its laughable ammo load.

 

It's on the list! Thank you for the suggestion @sidchicken, expect the review in mid-April!

 

Update 25.03.2018:

 

To celebrate reaching 4,000 subscribers, I thought I would review a Night Fighter that a lot of you have requested for the last year: the Do 217 N-2. Here we go:

 

Do 217 N-2 - 4,000 Subscriber Special

Next time? The newly introduced Re.2000 serie 1. Until then, take care and good luck in the skies folks!

 

P.S. Thank you for your support to date, I truly appreciate it. 

[tx141 815]

The Re.2000 serie 1!

 

Re.2000 serie 1 - Simple but Sweet

Next time round I take a look at the M.B.157. Have a great Easter folks!

[tx141 815]

The M.B.157 as requested:

 

M.B.157 - Out for the Count

Next time: the Me 410 A-1/U2. Until then, have a lovely week! 

[tx141 815]

The Me 410 A-1/U2:

 

Me 410 A-1/U2 - A Clean Conversion

Next time I will be re-reviewing the Ki-61-I otsu Hien. Until then, have a great week everyone! 

[tx141 815]

As per a subscriber's special request, here is my re-review of the extremely powerful Ki-61-I otsu Hien:

 

Ki-61-I otsu Hien - Fly With Confidence

Next weekend I will be taking a look at the C.205 serie 3. Until then, take care and good luck in the skies! 

[tx141 815]

The C.205 serie 3 (a rather impressive plane may I add!):

 

C.205 serie 3 - Design Recurrence

Next time out? The Dewoitine D.520. Until then, have a great week everybody! 

[sidchicken 721]

I challenge you, Mr. Tx141, to fly the worst aircraft classified as a fighter - none other than the Ki-109!

[tx141 815]

On 5/1/2018 at 12:51 AM, sidchicken said:

I challenge you, Mr. Tx141, to fly the worst aircraft classified as a fighter - none other than the Ki-109!

 

Challenge accepted! I'll look to get a review together for sometime in June if that is okay (schedule for reviews is crazy right now)?

[sidchicken 721]

19 hours ago, tx141 said:

Challenge accepted! I'll look to get a review together for sometime in June if that is okay (schedule for reviews is crazy right now)?

Looking forward to it.

[tx141 815]

The Dewoitine D.520, also known as France's finest Fighter to see service during the Second World War:

 

D.520 - France's Finest

Next weekend? The VB.10C-1. Until then, take care and good luck in the skies! 

[tx141 815]

The Arsenal VB.10C-1, a plane which took 10 years to transition from paper to production!

 

VB.10C-1 - Appearances Can Be Deceiving

Next time out? The P-63A-10 Kingcobra. Keep on flying folks! 

[tx141 815]

The P-63A-10 Kingcobra; the final production block within the "A" variant of the P-63:

 

P-63A-10 Kingcobra - Short Distance Sprinter

Next time I'll be taking a look at the A6M2-N. Keep on flying high folks. 

[tx141 815]

The hydroplane variant of the A6M, as designed by Nakajima: the A6M2-N "Rufe":

 

A6M2-N - Defensive Stance

Next weekend I'll be reviewing the J1N1. Until then take care everyone. 

[tx141 815]

The J1N1 - for those who love learning about the history behind each aircraft, you will love the background to the J1N1 I assure you!

 

J1N1 - Irving's Initiation

Next weekend I will be concluding my reviews of the Kingcobras with the P-63C-5. Until then, take care and good luck in the skies! 

[tx141 815]

The P-63C-5 Kingcobra - my favourite of the three Kingcobra variants currently included in game:

 

P-63C-5 Kingcobra - The Finishing Touches

Next time out I will be reviewing the BF 109 F-4/Trop! 

[Maj_Fox@psn 521]

Hi TX141.

 

Any advise for the P 63 series of machines when they are brand new?

 

Which modules to target first? Do you fly them differently to a spaded version?

 

Cheers.

[tx141 815]

On 23/06/2018 at 00:21, *Maj_Fox said:

Hi TX141.

 

Any advise for the P 63 series of machines when they are brand new?

 

Which modules to target first? Do you fly them differently to a spaded version?

 

Cheers.

 

Hey @*Maj_Fox,

 

My best advice would be to first get the 12.7mm Machine Gun belts (tier I upgrade) in order to increase your damage output potential when you have a target in your sights.

 

From this point onwards, I strongly advise investing in any upgrades that will improve the plane's climb rate AND engine power (i.e. Compressor at Tier II; Engine at Tier III) and grabbing the New 12.7mm Machine Guns along the way. However, do not spend more time than you need to within the upgrade tiers (i.e. to get to Tier II you need 2 upgrades; the same for Tier III; and the same for Tier IV).

 

The reason for this is that the major issue with the P-63s when they are stock is their extreme lack of engine power (more noticeable than most stock aircraft in my experience); but once you get the Engine Injection (Tier IV) this issue disappears completely. Grabbing the climb rate AND engine power focused upgrades along the way will give you a minor improvement that can give you more confidence in flying the plane than when stock.

 

In terms of flight style, I will be putting together a new "stock syndrome" video in August 2018 to discuss my tactics for stock Fighters, but my general rule of thumb is to fly defensively. If you are at altitude, try to position yourself to intercept enemy bombers (i.e. as the 37mm cannon can still be extremely effective even when you do not have the New 37mm Cannon upgrade); otherwise stay over friendly ground units/territory and pick off those who break into your team's territory.

 

In doing this, you can normally pick up a couple of kills (and assists) per game, giving you reasonable amounts of Research Points (i.e. ~1000+ on a victory) to gradually push towards the upgrades.

 

I hope that helps.

 

All,

 

Bf 109 F-4/trop review is now here!

 

Bf 109 F-4/trop - The Star of Africa

Next time up? I'll be taking a look at the last of the Ki-61-I sub-variants: the Ki-61-I Tei. Until then, keep well all. 

[Maj_Fox@psn 521]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

I'm assuming vertical convergence doesn't work in AB to bring various calibre of guns to a single point?

 

Cheers

[tx141 815]

On 26/06/2018 at 06:51, *Maj_Fox said:

Thanks for the feedback.

 

I'm assuming vertical convergence doesn't work in AB to bring various calibre of guns to a single point?

 

Cheers

 

No problem.

 

As for vertical convergence, when I last tested it (two years ago) it seemed to have no effect in Arcade. I can look at retesting it in the near future (i.e. sometime in the next week) and let you know the results.

 

All,

 

Review time - this week the Ki-61-I tei Hien as promised!

 

Ki-61-I tei Hien - Difficult to Swallow

Next time: the Ki-102 otsu. Stay classy! 

[tx141 815]

The Kawasaki Ki-102 otsu:

 

Ki-102 otsu - Give It Space

Next time: the Italian Premium Fighter known as the IAR-81c.

 

Until then, have a great week! 

[Maj_Fox@psn 521]

Hi there.

 

Excellent video as per normal and while we're on the subject of Japanese 2 engine fighter.

 

What's your take on the Ki-45 tei?

 

Air Assault should idea for it with the 2 x 20mm cannons firing up. Still I can't seem to hit anything with them so just fly about waiting for the 37mm to reload.

 

Cheers

[tx141 815]

On 10/07/2018 at 16:59, *Maj_Fox said:

Hi there.

 

Excellent video as per normal and while we're on the subject of Japanese 2 engine fighter.

 

What's your take on the Ki-45 tei?

 

Air Assault should idea for it with the 2 x 20mm cannons firing up. Still I can't seem to hit anything with them so just fly about waiting for the 37mm to reload.

 

Cheers

 

Thank you @*Maj_Fox.

 

I have yet to get around to flying the Ki-45 tei so I cannot comment - I expect its value in standard Air Battles will be limited somewhat due to its armament being split across the nose and Schräge Musik; but time will tell when I review it one day.

 

To All:

 

The IAR-81C review is here!

 

IAR-81C - Slow and Present Danger

Next time? The Firefly FR Mk. V. Have a great week everyone!

[tx141 815]

Review 149 is now live, featuring the Fairey Firefly FR Mk.V!

 

Firefly FR Mk.V - Hispano Hysteria

As it's my 150th review next weekend, I'm not going to reveal the plane being featured in advance. However, I can promise you that a large number of you have wanted to see a review of it for sometime. Take care until then! 

[tx141 815]

For review 150 - the highly requested G.55 sottoserie 0!

 

G.55 sottoserie 0 - Forza Fiat Piloti!

It's been a pleasure to bring you so many reviews in 5 years, and I hope to keep on going for the foreseeable future. Thank you for all your support as always!

 

Next weekend?

 

The SBD-3 Dauntless (with the machine gun pods).

 

Have a great Sunday and a lovely week folks.