Quote:
Originally Posted by Igo kyu
To me, the strangest thing is how different the engine damage models of the P39 and P40 are, despite the engines being the same.
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Yep, and the P-38 engine damage model seems to be different from those two, and it also used the same engine.
What I'd really like TD to do is take a close look at engine damage models for all planes. Unless there is documented evidence that changes to radiator and/or coolant systems affected the engine's durability, or that a particular plane's engine was armored, the effects of engine damage should be based on the engine, not the plane.
That is, X amount of damage in Y location to an Allison V-1710 engine mounted in a P-38, P-39, P-40, or P-51A will make that engine fail in a more or less identical fashion. No more "immortal" P-39 engines and fragile P-40 engines.
There should also be some consistency in damage modeling for all nationalities. If the Yak series and LaGG-3 engines are tough to kill, then the Bf-109, Macchi MC.205, MS.406, Ki-61, Hurricane, Spitfire and P-51 engines should be just as tough. Conversely, if TD's research indicates that inline engines should be fragile, then all the Soviet inline fighters will have to be "nerfed" in terms of their ability to withstand engine damage.
My ignorant opinion is that "reality" lies between the current extremes. A "one shot kill" that instantly knocks out an inline engine should be impossible for a rifle-caliber bullet at all but the closest ranges, and very rare for 0.50 caliber bullets and cannon shells at any range. Such hits should only represent the sort of damage that makes the engine fall apart - like a crankshaft breaking or cylinders flying out of the engine block.
Instead, there should be some chance - based on angle of deflection and caliber of the bullet, that a bullet will penetrate the engine block and cause loss of coolant, oil and/or compression (for hits that penetrate the cylinder).
Depending on bullet caliber and number of hits, that should make the plane lose coolant and oil at a more or less fixed rate, with accompanying rise in engine temperature, which ultimately makes the plane's engine seize.
In no case should a plane's engine explode due to fire, and turning off the engine (but cutting off fuel to it) should give the pilot a chance of controlling a fire by letting it self-extinguish, unless there is a fuel or oil tank right next to the engine without an intervening firewall.
The problem is that while it's comparatively easy to model flight characteristics, there isn't nearly as much information available on ability of airframes and aircraft components to withstand damage, and the limitations of the game make it necessary to model certain types of damage in an unrealistic fashion (e.g., blowing off the wing of a B-17 or the rear fuselage of a Wellington).