AB Fighter Plane Reviews

[tx141 815]

That's fair.  One of the problems of reviewing a DM subjectively is that your perceptions are altered by your very biases, be them historical fact, reputation, or just what you expect out of a given product.  If you expect a Zero to be weak, you'll perceive it as it.  If you expect a P-47 to be strong but it's not to some arbitrary standard that defines strong, then you perceive it as weak.  I certainly have experienced both of these.

 

My issue is purely when a statement contradicts what can be quantatively measured.  I'd say the F4U or P-47 (and so on and so forth) are worse than average because, under testing, the wings are average to poor on a plane with a reputation for being very survivable (that is, able to get the pilot back to base alive, safely, but what defines this, exactly?) and the tail will lose all control from around a second of 0.30 caliber fire from twin LMGs on a Zero.  When testing a Zero the same way, the wings are similar though the FM seems less affected by the damage (less loss of turn time from the wings going black, though this might be due to its already overpowered flight model having more headroom to lose!)  The plane can certainly take more damage to the tail.

 

But then you have other considerations like pilot vitality.  Once vitality hits 70 (arbitrarily picked), the Zero hardly notices pilot snipes.  But at 30 or less, the Zero sees more pilot deaths than any other plane, and vitality is very difficult to measure because it can be permanently raised but not temporarily reduced.

 

 

I don't think you as obnoxious, or arrogant.  I'm more concerned I might be coming off that way than perceiving you as coming off as such.  I enjoy discussions such as these provided everyone knows that nothing said should be taken as a personal insult.  As I've said, I still feel your reviews are very worthwhile for people to see what will end up being a distilled playstyle of the plane in an ideal scenario; giving players enough information to give them a guideline without showing them exactly how to play a plane, as that would literally take way too long.

 

This is a good thing and very beneficial to the community!  My goal, as I guess it comes down to, is that I see you disagree on a couple points, for instance the A6M2 being fragile, and I guess I'm trying to explain that it's not fragile while going over why it's not fragile such that you can better improve your videos by providing what I see as more accurate information.

 

Ultimately, it's your content, and what you're providing for the community of AB players as a whole is more beneficial than any error that might slip into the review.

 

I am likewise sorry if I sound obnoxious or arrogant, and I definitely don't wish to discourage you from either making these videos or from accepting feedback on them!

 

I am very grateful for the feedback, and I would not say that at all, if anything, you are keeping me in check which helps me to maintain a given standard/

 

There has been no discouragement in your words, in fact, it has been quite the opposite. :)

 

I watched couple of videos, I love it when you talk about historical facts. I'm going to follow your channel , keep with good work,Tx141.  :salute:

 

Will do, as always, if you believe I have got something wrong historically, please inform me and post a source (not just Wikipedia) if possible so that I can verify my mistake and annotate it into the video at a later date.  :salute:

 

arado

 

If not in this lifetime, perhaps the next.  :lol:

 

more Japanese please!

 

Will do, they will have to be low tiers for now seeing as I have only just unlocked my A6M3! :D

[Quax0815 1,989]

I like your channel very much. You are one of the few YouTubers, which do a real plane and fight analysis. You explain the strength and weaknesses of your plane and of the opponents plane. You also explain the mistakes and following manoeuvers in detail. I would appreciate, if more YouTubers would do more in depth analysis.

 

I also appreciate very much, that you show Arcade Matches. Most YouTubers don't. It is interesting, that a lot of professional YouTubers ignore the majority of players. Even if you can learn a lot from RB videos, if playing AB, no doubt about that.

 

It would be great, if you could do more videos about lower tier IV planes or BR 5.0+, like your P-51 Video lately. I was impressed, how you argued against the mainstream opinion.

 

For example reviews of the Spit XVI, Spit Vc, Mustang Mk Ia, Spit IX prem., Yak-9s, La-7s, FW 190 F/A 8, Bf 109 G.

 

I am not really interested in jets. So I am concerned, if it is worth to fly tier IV at all in Arcade, and how to fly on this tier. What are the tactical differences to tier III, if there are any at all. And at what BR does the jet-plague start and how to deal with it?

Edited March 16, 2014 by Quax0815

[tizianenel 2,124]

Watched the A6M2 video and that was a really good explanation of how to play the plane and what it is good for, or at least all of it matches my own thoughts and observations.

I'm particularly impressed at how much you look around in an arcade match, situational awareness being, imo, the #1 skill to have for every plane but particularly for slow ones... I've got a ways to go to match your awareness, I seem to need a lot more time watching a plane before I figure out what it is doing, and you also seem to keep track of planes not currently in view better.

I've seen so many comments about how the "Zeros pwn in furballs" in WT general chat to last me a lifetime, so really good to hear and see how someone actually avoids those situations. Also bonus points for letting critically wounded planes be and focusing on something else.

Not much to comment on now, going to watch more of the videos later and to play some matches myself.

[tx141 815]

I like your channel very much. You are one of the few YouTubers, which do a real plane and fight analysis. You explain the strength and weaknesses of your plane and of the opponents plane. You also explain the mistakes and following manoeuvers in detail. I would appreciate, if more YouTubers would do more in depth analysis.

 

I also appreciate very much, that you show Arcade Matches. Most YouTubers don't. It is interesting, that a lot of professional YouTubers ignore the majority of players. Even if you can learn a lot from RB videos, if playing AB, no doubt about that.

 

It would be great, if you could do more videos about lower tier IV planes or BR 5.0+, like your P-51 Video lately. I was impressed, how you argued against the mainstream opinion.

 

For example reviews of the Spit XVI, Spit Vc, Mustang Mk Ia, Spit IX prem., Yak-9s, La-7s, FW 190 F/A 8, Bf 109 G.

 

I am not really interested in jets. So I am concerned, if it is worth to fly tier IV at all in Arcade, and how to fly on this tier. What are the tactical differences to tier III, if there are any at all. And at what BR does the jet-plague start and how to deal with it?

 

Thank you. :)

 

I have recently had a couple of requests for lower rank aircraft (e.g. Spitfire Mk. I and BF 109 F-1/2), yet I will return to some higher rank aircraft in the near future. The planes I intend to review in the near future are:

 

- La-7

- FW 190 A-8

- Typhoon Mk. Ib/Late

- Yak-9UT

 

I have had a couple of requests to do the F8F-1, yet I have not unlocked either of them yet.

 

To give you an idea of when you will start seeing jets, when I field my FW 190 D-9 and BF 109 G-10 (both with a BR of 5.7), I have seen MiG-9s, early iterations of the Meteor and even Me 163s.

 

Watched the A6M2 video and that was a really good explanation of how to play the plane and what it is good for, or at least all of it matches my own thoughts and observations.

I'm particularly impressed at how much you look around in an arcade match, situational awareness being, imo, the #1 skill to have for every plane but particularly for slow ones... I've got a ways to go to match your awareness, I seem to need a lot more time watching a plane before I figure out what it is doing, and you also seem to keep track of planes not currently in view better.

I've seen so many comments about how the "Zeros pwn in furballs" in WT general chat to last me a lifetime, so really good to hear and see how someone actually avoids those situations. Also bonus points for letting critically wounded planes be and focusing on something else.

Not much to comment on now, going to watch more of the videos later and to play some matches myself.

 

Thank you, I do get rather paranoid as the game goes on! :)

 

I used to use the "Enemy Track" feature, but in the end I found this a less useful feature. It becomes rather enjoyable having to second guess your opponent's tactics and having to manually look around.

 

All the best, and stay tuned!

[JA_37D 718]

Thank you, I do get rather paranoid as the game goes on! :)

 

I used to use the "Enemy Track" feature, but in the end I found this a less useful feature. It becomes rather enjoyable having to second guess your opponent's tactics and having to manually look around.

 

All the best, and stay tuned!

 

That is the one single feature I have not managed to map in with my weird setup (have all on the right keypad and the arrows basically). I have found that the re arrow on screen and the radar does the job okay-ish. ;)s

[tx141 815]

Update 17.3.2014:

 

- Decided to run some tests to see whether it is actually possible to kill an engine in AB via over-use of WEP. It turns out from the planes I tested (BF 109 F-1, FW 190 D-13, Typhoon Mk. Ia, and Yak-3) that you cannot. I have added a short video to the bottom of the review list, showing my results.

- Spitfire Mk. I review will be uploaded within a couple of days.

- BF 109 F-1 review has been recorded and edited, it will be up at the start of next week.

- Currently working on reviewing the P-47D-25 and the Ki-43.

 

Thanks for all the support so far ladies and gentlemen! :)

[DarthHoodie 373]

OS2U or you're not a pro... :D

[weetad 226]

can you do some arcade reviews of some higher tier japanese planes (a6m3, a6m3 mod22 and 22ko, ki-102) ?

[Titan_Alpha 622]

OS2U or you're not a pro... :D

 

When I decided to ace out all the planes I'd previously unlocked I was dreading doing it with the OS2U but when I finally got to it I thought it was a really fun plane to fly.

 

The fact that it's so derpy allowed me to just get stupid with it and not care and for some reason this really increased its fun factor for me.

[Zenith 4,235]

The Hellcat is a beast in 1.37, and probably my favourite aircraft at the moment.

[JA_37D 718]

Update 17.3.2014:

 

- Decided to run some tests to see whether it is actually possible to kill an engine in AB via over-use of WEP. It turns out from the planes I tested (BF 109 F-1, FW 190 D-13, Typhoon Mk. Ia, and Yak-3) that you cannot. I have added a short video to the bottom of the review list, showing my results.

- Spitfire Mk. I review will be uploaded within a couple of days.

- BF 109 F-1 review has been recorded and edited, it will be up at the start of next week.

- Currently working on reviewing the P-47D-25 and the Ki-43.

 

Thanks for all the support so far ladies and gentlemen! :)

 

Nice! More Jug-action, alwats a good thing! Had acouple of sweet games with my D-25 today... 0-0-4 x2 which for me is great.. ;)s

[tx141 815]

OS2U or you're not a pro... :D

 

One day it may happen.  ;)s

 

can you do some arcade reviews of some higher tier japanese planes (a6m3, a6m3 mod22 and 22ko, ki-102) ?

 

Just unlocked the A6M3, I will try and switch the focus towards Japanese planes in the near future, although I have really neglected the Japanese tree. Thanks for the suggestion! :)

 

The Hellcat is a beast in 1.37, and probably my favourite aircraft at the moment.

 

Aye, I decided to take it into a 5.0 BR game the other day (i.e. fielding my P-51D). I think I startled a G-10 pilot in terms of how much more maneuverable the F6F-3 is. I look forward to seeing where the F6F-5 is placed when it is eventually introduced to the game.

 

Nice! More Jug-action, alwats a good thing! Had acouple of sweet games with my D-25 today... 0-0-4 x2 which for me is great.. ;)s

 

Good to hear!

 

I believe the pilot whose name your moniker refers to achieved an Ace in a Day using a P-47? 

[BBosstone 50]

P-47 action. Yes! Unleash the beast, and have some nom-nom bombers combined with some stalling fighter dessert. Good appetite, and finally show them .50s haters their true power. Getting a bit excited.   :fighter:

[Quax0815 1,989]

Update 17.3.2014:

 

- Decided to run some tests to see whether it is actually possible to kill an engine in AB via over-use of WEP. It turns out from the planes I tested (BF 109 F-1, FW 190 D-13, Typhoon Mk. Ia, and Yak-3) that you cannot. I have added a short video to the bottom of the review list, showing my results.

 

Interesting. I would like to see black engines, ripped off wings and more RB FM in AB, but thats perhaps just me.

 

At least, there is perhaps a deadly disaddvantage if you WEP all the time. If you once really need it, it goes off after a few seconds. I will stay with a rather balanced use of this tool.

Edited March 17, 2014 by Quax0815

[t3rm1nAt0r 40]

I think that if you have an engine damage,and you wep,the engine can die.

Anyways,can you make a review of the p-400?i'm curious about it,when i used to fly it i was always going down

[Acht_Acht_Kanone 402]

I think that if you have an engine damage,and you wep,the engine can die.

Anyways,can you make a review of the p-400?i'm curious about it,when i used to fly it i was always going down

In most cases if you have a pink/red engine its going to die sooner or later and if you WEP its going to be sooner.

[Taranok 3,920]

Update 17.3.2014:

 

- Decided to run some tests to see whether it is actually possible to kill an engine in AB via over-use of WEP. It turns out from the planes I tested (BF 109 F-1, FW 190 D-13, Typhoon Mk. Ia, and Yak-3) that you cannot. I have added a short video to the bottom of the review list, showing my results.

Thanks for all the support so far ladies and gentlemen! :)

It's possible to overheat the engine of all the planes you tested (I think) in the strict sense of getting the oil to overheat as well (for radiators) or the engine itself to overheat for the air cooled radials.  That said, as I brought up before, you need to take an air-cooled radial basically at ground level and WEP it continuously forever.

 

Altitude has an impact on temperature, and I'd throw out any opinions you would draw strictly from the footage above 5km alt, as combat above 4k tends to be progressively more rare the higher it is, nevermind planes.

 

That said, your conclusion is more or less still accurate.  I can quibble over the details, but the only thing I'd change is not taking the plane above 5km as a nice baseline.  You WEP basically to climb or gain straight line speed or when maneuvering, you can always let it idle at 100% when treading water and, when at altitude, it cools down quickly anyways quod erat demonstrandum.

 

Also, well done stalling the D-13, that's a practical example of when you want IAS instead of TAS  :yes:    You climbed too steeply and were going way too slow for the lift your plane needed (obviously).

 

That all said, even though it won't change my playstyle too, too much, I really hope Arcade is given more accurate WEP controls, since some planes just get SuperWEP™ while others get next to nothing.  For instance, it's amazing how similar a 109G-2 and an F4U-1C (D can also semi-surrogate in) compare against each other when the G-2 doesn't get the WEP that allows it to climb somewhere around 40m/s at sea level.  I imagine there are numerous balance issues caused by WEP's poor balance, and having evidence to show that it's either impractical to damage the engine (as my described test with the A6M2 suggested from test battles would show) or impossible if you're WEPing for days at altitude, the planes that had historically strong but very short-lived WEPs end up being king, especially when the game mode boosts its performance so heavily relative to its competition.

 

Now do an IAS versus TAS video and join the superior IAS master race :Ds

 

 

In most cases if you have a pink/red engine its going to die sooner or later and if you WEP its going to be sooner.

 

As far as I can tell, damage to an engine is exclusively determined by magic and maybe engine temperatures and so forth.  From what it seems, engines are semi-accurately modeled (as cheaply as can be done).  My hypothesis is radials tend to die faster because the damage model dumps the oil faster than fuel is dumped out of a burning plane and, once the oil's gone, it just murders the plane, whereas radiator engines don't take comparatively as much engine damage and radiator hits don't murder the oil or engine very quickly by comparison, despite radiator hits or even 0.50 cal strikes against an in-line basically killing them outright off single strikes (for radiators, it could take a long time, however, as the leak slowly vented more and more water).  In this regard, the model's still not accurate since radials historically were idiotically difficult to remove sustained flight capabilities from a radial, with the P&W R-2800 Double Wasp having reports of 4 of its 18 cylinders, including the master cylinder, being just gone from the engine, but it was still able to fly back to base and land relatively safely.

 

 

Anyways,can you make a review of the p-400?i'm curious about it,when i used to fly it i was always going down

 

Well, to give you an idea of how bad its DM is, the P-400 (and P-39s) will lose their wings off of less than a second (~half a second) of an A6M2's twin 0.30 cals.  The plane is made of explodium and makes even the P-47 with its buggy and broken tail look like it's accurately modeled by comparison.  This is in contrast to 1.35 and earlier where it was basically as strong as a P-40 in terms of its damage model, which can take a solid 3 seconds of 0.30 cal burst into the wings before they break (which is still ahistorical, 0.30s were horrible in real life for breaking frames and killing planes)

 

While a practical video would help more than words, the only real advice anyone can give is to not get shot at and play with this goal in mind.  The plane seriously can't take hits.  Stay at altitude, boom in, zoom out, and minimize the time at which you can get shot.

[tizianenel 2,124]

I used to use the "Enemy Track" feature, but in the end I found this a less useful feature. It becomes rather enjoyable having to second guess your opponent's tactics and having to manually look around.

I find the biggest shortcoming in this is that the enemy is generally positioned directly behind your own plane, meaning that you can see the direction they are in, but not their orientation. And of course you can only track the locked enemy, and you don't always have the luxury of having locked the correct plane ahead of time.

[newnar 5]

Wow your videos are awesome. Do you mind if I add you in-game?

[Speed59364 6]

Keep the videos coming.

My favorites are already on screen, so i have no wishes.

+1

[tx141 815]

P-47 action. Yes! Unleash the beast, and have some nom-nom bombers combined with some stalling fighter dessert. Good appetite, and finally show them .50s haters their true power. Getting a bit excited.

 

Haha! Aye, I think it will be a review that will do the P-47D proud.

 

Interesting. I would like to see black engines, ripped off wings and more RB FM in AB, but thats perhaps just me.

 

At least, there is perhaps a deadly disaddvantage if you WEP all the time. If you once really need it, it goes off after a few seconds. I will stay with a rather balanced use of this tool.

 

I would agree with you there, I would like free reign of WEP usage, yet either with a time-cap (i.e. after five minutes WEP does not do anything anymore as you have exhausted your 'supply'), or with greater risk of damage to the engine. Still, the current balance is quite pleasant.

 

Your second point is very true, having a little bit in reserve can make the difference in the end game.

 

I think that if you have an engine damage,and you wep,the engine can die.

Anyways,can you make a review of the p-400?i'm curious about it,when i used to fly it i was always going down

 

You are correct, it seems to increase the rate at which the engine dies quite rapidly, especially if your engine is highlighted in a medium-dark shade of red on the plane diagram.

 

I shall put the P-400 on the request list. Hopefully I should have a review up in the next month or so.

 

It's possible to overheat the engine of all the planes you tested (I think) in the strict sense of getting the oil to overheat as well (for radiators) or the engine itself to overheat for the air cooled radials.  That said, as I brought up before, you need to take an air-cooled radial basically at ground level and WEP it continuously forever.

 

Altitude has an impact on temperature, and I'd throw out any opinions you would draw strictly from the footage above 5km alt, as combat above 4k tends to be progressively more rare the higher it is, nevermind planes.

 

That said, your conclusion is more or less still accurate.  I can quibble over the details, but the only thing I'd change is not taking the plane above 5km as a nice baseline.  You WEP basically to climb or gain straight line speed or when maneuvering, you can always let it idle at 100% when treading water and, when at altitude, it cools down quickly anyways quod erat demonstrandum.

 

Also, well done stalling the D-13, that's a practical example of when you want IAS instead of TAS  :yes:    You climbed too steeply and were going way too slow for the lift your plane needed (obviously).

 

That all said, even though it won't change my playstyle too, too much, I really hope Arcade is given more accurate WEP controls, since some planes just get SuperWEP™ while others get next to nothing.  For instance, it's amazing how similar a 109G-2 and an F4U-1C (D can also semi-surrogate in) compare against each other when the G-2 doesn't get the WEP that allows it to climb somewhere around 40m/s at sea level.  I imagine there are numerous balance issues caused by WEP's poor balance, and having evidence to show that it's either impractical to damage the engine (as my described test with the A6M2 suggested from test battles would show) or impossible if you're WEPing for days at altitude, the planes that had historically strong but very short-lived WEPs end up being king, especially when the game mode boosts its performance so heavily relative to its competition.

 

Now do an IAS versus TAS video and join the superior IAS master race :Ds

 

The only problem I had when I tried to keep the plane low was the number of players on the enemy team who would specifically hunt my plane down, which is fair enough seeing as I was alone and miles away from friendly planes. The highest altitude at which I have actually had a dogfight has been about 8000m, but I would agree with you that regardless of BR, it is very rare to enter a dogfight above 4000m (unless one team sends in a large number of level altitude bombers at high altitudes, the resultant dogfights are some of the best I have had!).

 

For me, WEP helps in the initial sprint for altitude, and when trying to get behind your opponent via a sharp turn mid-dogfight. It can be a real game-changer if used in short bursts. (A fan of Latin meus amicus?)  ;)s

 

Yeah, I never expected it to stall, although it does encourage me to take a look at the differences between IAS and TAS. Maybe I shall join the IAS race during the coming summer months!

 

I would say the WEP/110% feature in AB is rather balanced at the moment on the whole, although I would agree with you that certain planes seem to benefit more than others, and it would be nice if perhaps a slightly more historical interpretation was applied in a later patch.

 

I find the biggest shortcoming in this is that the enemy is generally positioned directly behind your own plane, meaning that you can see the direction they are in, but not their orientation. And of course you can only track the locked enemy, and you don't always have the luxury of having locked the correct plane ahead of time.

 

That is true, it is an absolute nightmare at times when you are trying to lock onto an individual plane in the middle of a furball!

 

Wow your videos are awesome. Do you mind if I add you in-game?

 

Thank you :)

 

I do not mind at all, my in-game moniker is tx141.

 

Keep the videos coming.

My favorites are already on screen, so i have no wishes.

+1

 

Will do!

 

Mind if I ask what your favourites are? :)

[JA_37D 718]

Good to hear!

 

I believe the pilot whose name your moniker refers to achieved an Ace in a Day using a P-47?

 

 

Correct sir! All of thr single engined fighters.

[DoobieNoobie 163]

Thank you for the videos i learned more watching you play than the sorry excuse of tutorials of the bigger youtubers, hell i learned BnZing from your FW190 A5/u2 vid back in November,
 i have also became much more patient examining the furballs and preying on the stragglers and the weak like a peregrine falcon. I used to just turnfight in the furballs get 1-2 kills/plane, now i get 3-5 per plane and i rarely die
 So thanks again in teaching me how to play better. Good luck with your channel.

+1

[bonobo_ 433]

Thank you tx141, I just discovered this topic yesterday and then had a look at some of your videos. I found them very instructive.

Congratulations.

 

I saw that on youtube there are some videos not listed in the OP here (e.g. the P-38G). Is it because you consider these videos should be remade for being obsolete - due to FM change or some other reason ?

 

One detail : when you record the videos you have turned off the names of the players which is a good thing. Please also turn off the 'titles' (e.g. 'Cannon fodder') that people show. It's an unwelcome distraction. There's an option to turn these off.

[tx141 815]

Thank you for the videos i learned more watching you play than the sorry excuse of tutorials of the bigger youtubers, hell i learned BnZing from your FW190 A5/u2 vid back in November,
 i have also became much more patient examining the furballs and preying on the stragglers and the weak like a peregrine falcon. I used to just turnfight in the furballs get 1-2 kills/plane, now i get 3-5 per plane and i rarely die
 So thanks again in teaching me how to play better. Good luck with your channel.

+1

 

That is no problem, I am glad my videos have been of use to you.

 

Thank you :)

 

Thank you tx141, I just discovered this topic yesterday and then had a look at some of your videos. I found them very instructive.

Congratulations.

 

I saw that on youtube there are some videos not listed in the OP here (e.g. the P-38G). Is it because you consider these videos should be remade for being obsolete - due to FM change or some other reason ?

 

One detail : when you record the videos you have turned off the names of the players which is a good thing. Please also turn off the 'titles' (e.g. 'Cannon fodder') that people show. It's an unwelcome distraction. There's an option to turn these off.

 

Thank you :)

 

I did not know that you could turn off the "Titles". Those will definitely disappear in future videos as I do find them rather distracting!

 

With regards to the videos not listed in the OP, there are three main reasons why:

1. My earliest videos involved no commentary, and were recorded in replay mode meaning that it is rather difficult to tell what is actually going on.
2. When I started doing commentaries, my focus was less on the plane itself, and so the lack of orientation towards reviewing the plane becomes, in my opinion, a hindrance to prospective viewers.
3. With hindsight, my perspective in some of my early reviews has been rather shallow and ignorant. You picked up on the most crucial example of this: the P-38G. I rushed this review, and showed little respect for the capabilities of the plane. As a result, this video will not go in the final OP list, yet I shall keep it on my channel to remind myself how difficult things can become when you show your plane little to no respect.

If FM changes occur, I shall re-review the plane and amend it onto the OP list (e.g. FW 190 D-13 review) so that it gives the prospective viewer an idea of how the plane's flight model has progressed, and how my tactics with the plane have changed in response to this.