New to IL-2, Help is Here

Hopefully these links will save you time, and get this great simulation running properly.

Patches / Fixes

Patching Guide:
http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Knowledge_Base&op=show&kid=584

1C Forum Daidlos Team patch disscussions:
http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/forumdisplay.php?f=202

For ATI cards, disable Steam overlay to prevent texture corruption.
The Steam version of IL-2 1946 may still be missing some folders also:
http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Knowledge_Base&op=show&kid=628

Essential Guides

Configuration File(conf.ini):
http://www.allaircraftsimulations.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=29185

FAQ:
http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Knowledge_Base&cat=8

Explanation of Difficulty Settings:
http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Knowledge_Base&op=show&kid=390

Complex Engine Management:
http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Knowledge_Base&op=show&kid=249

Gunnery, Bombing & Tactics:
http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Knowledge_Base&cat=78

Armament Effectiveness:
http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Knowledge_Base&op=show&kid=483

Dart's Instructional Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL23ABD7CBB962A977&feature=plcp

Key Mapping

This is a copy / paste from a long lost ubi forum post from user Skycat_2:

Joystick (MS Sidewinder Precision 2)

Button 1 = weapon 1
Button 2 = weapon 2
Button 3 = weapon 3
Button 4 = weapon 4
Button 5 = flaps down.
Button 6 = flaps up.
Button 7 = field of view decrease.
Button 8 = field of view increase.
Throttle = throttle.
HAT switch = snap views.


Numberpad

0 = Rudder Trim Neutral.
1 = Rudder Trim Left.
2 = Elevator Trim Negative.
3 = Rudder Trim Right.
4 = Aileron Trim Left.
5 = Elevator Trim Neutral.
6 = Aileron Trim Right.
7 = Select Left engines.
8 = Elevator Trim Positive.
9 = Select Right engines.
NumPad Insert = Aileron Trim Neutral.
NumPad Delete = Rudder Trim Neutral.
NumPad - = Decrease Prop Pitch.
NumPad + = Increase Prop Pitch.
NumPad / = Decrease Supercharger.
NumPad * = Increase Supercharger.


Basic Flight Commands

A = Autopilot on/off.
B = Brakes.
C = Chocks in/out.
D = Dive brakes toggle.
E = Engine on/off.
F = Fire Extinguisher.
G = Gear raise/lower.
H = Hook, as in tailhook.
I = Icon Types toggle.
J = Jetison drop tanks
K = Kilos/Knots/Miles per Hour toggle in speedbar
L = Lights on/off in cockpit.
M = Map show/hide.
N = Navigation Lights on/off.
O = Online Rating.
P = Place Change (to move to a different station).
Q = Mute sound (IE, 'Quiet' all.)
R = Radiator positions.
S = Smoke from wingtips.
T = Tailwheel lock.
U = Up increment for manual landing gear.
V = Gun pods on/off.
W = WEP or boost.
X = Time Skip.
Y = Down increment for manual landing gear.
Z = Change gunsight eye position.

C+ALT = Canopy open (If available).
M+ALT = Mirror show toggle (If available).
S+ALT = Seat Raised/Lowered (If available).
F+ALT = Fold Wings (If available).

A+Shift = Auto Level Pilot.
B+Shift = Bail out.
F+Shift = Fire Extinguisher.

A+CNTRL = Attatch/Detatch Aircraft.
D+CNTRL = Dimmer for gunsight.
F+CNTRL = Feather Propellor.
I+CNTRL = Toggle Speedbar/ Position Hint (alternate).
L+CNTRL = Landing Light toggle.
M+CNTRL = Mute radio key.
R+CNTRL = Radio channel switch.
T+CNTRL = Drop tanks (alternate).

(= key) = Increase Mixture.
(- key) = Decrease Mixture.
Backspace = 'No Cockpit View' toggle.
Delete = Gunsight view.
End = Normal View.
Page Down = Wide View.
Home = Jump to Cockpit #1 (Pilot).
Tab = Radio Comms.
` = Multiplay Chat.


Gunsight Controls (for gyroscopic sight)

Insert = Toggle Sight Mode.
Up Arrow = Increase Sight Distance.
Down Arrow = Decrease Sight Distance.
Right Arrow = Adjust Sight to Right, or change wingspan preset.
Left Arrow = Adjust Sight to Left, or change wingspan preset.


Bombsight Controls

CNTRL+Up Arrow = Increase sight altitude
CNTRL+Down Arrow = Decrease sight altitude
CNTRL+Right Arrow = Increase sight velocity
CNTRL+Left Arrow = Decrease sight velocity


Multiple Engines Controls (via Keyboard)

0 = Select All engines.
9 = Unselect All engines.
1 = Select Engine #1.
2 = Select Engine #2.
3 = Select Engine #3.
4 = Select Engine #4.

Useful Utilities / Mods

Hardball's Aircraft Viewer:
http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads&file=details&id=3949

Italian Campaign:
http://www.mission4today.com:80/index.php?name=Downloads&file=details&id=41

Enjoyr's Dynamic Campaign Mods:
http://www.mission4today.com:80/index.php?name=Downloads&file=details&id=1972
http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads&c=566

FaceTrackNoIR:
http://facetracknoir.sourceforge.net/home/default.htm

Graphics Setup / conf.ini

[window]
width=1920
height=1080
ColourBits=32
DepthBits=24
StencilBits=8
ChangeScreenRes=1
FullScreen=1
DrawIfNotFocused=0
EnableResize=0
EnableClose=1
SaveAspect=0
Use3Renders=0

[Render_OpenGL]
TexQual=3
TexMipFilter=3
TexCompress=0
TexFlags.UseDither=0 (only needed for 16-bit color)
TexFlags.UseAlpha=0
TexFlags.UseIndex=0
TexFlags.PolygonStipple=0 (only needed for StencilBits=0)
TexFlags.UseClampedSprites=0
TexFlags.DrawLandByTriangles=0
TexFlags.UseVertexArrays=1 (now works with ATI)
TexFlags.DisableAPIExtensions=0
TexFlags.ARBMultitextureExt=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineExt=1
TexFlags.SecondaryColorExt=1
TexFlags.VertexArrayExt=1 (now works with ATI)
TexFlags.ClipHintExt=0
TexFlags.UsePaletteExt=0
TexFlags.TexAnisotropicExt=1
TexFlags.TexCompressARBExt=0

TexFlags.TexEnvCombine4NV=0 (1 for Nvidia)
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineDot3=1
TexFlags.DepthClampNV=0 (1 for Nvidia)
TexFlags.SeparateSpecular=1
TexFlags.TextureShaderNV=0 (1 for Nvidia)

HardwareShaders=1

Shadows=2
Specular=3
SpecularLight=2
DiffuseLight=2
DynamicalLights=1
MeshDetail=2
VisibilityDistance=3

Sky=2
Forest=3
LandShading=3
LandDetails=2

LandGeom=3
TexLarge=1
TexLandQual=3
TexLandLarge=1

VideoSetupId=17
Water=2 (4 for Nvidia)
Effects=1 (2 not optimized)
ForceShaders1x=0

PolygonOffsetFactor=-0.0625
PolygonOffsetUnits=-3.0

[raven]

I have created a repository with a drop-in config for 2024 that also works with EAX.

You can see and contribute to it here:
https://github.com/raven-intheclouds/il2-1946-dotfiles

[Vukasin SRB]

Can somebody help me!?
I have a problem with a game,when i start it, it wont start game and then crash screen pop of
Contact me on discord so i can show you my problem and hopefully fix it
darko_milicici - my discord

[Relay]

Free look / 6DOF look in IL2 1946 without any cost.
Install "AITrack" and "Opentrack", With a camera , it can scan you head motion

[SNIPER 23]

game srashed

[[SG] Burrito Mussolini]

I can't start the game, i've tried the beta version, fiddled with the config.ini (i have nvidia gpu so i used those settings). I've edited properties dpi, run as administrator, compatability with both xp package 2 and vista. It still doesn't work, i have also tried reinstalling. The game wont start, there is no picture nothing going on in the task manager. If someone knows a fix please help(the game has worked before).

[fart]

You unfortunately cannot control aircraft with the mouse in this game. Buy a joystick if you want precise movements. They're cheap, don't worry.

Your keyboard isn't impossible to use to fly, but it's not recommended. I've shot down some aircraft using my keyboard.

[Le Possum]

Really very useful! Thank you very much for this essential technical and practical guide.
+ =

[Nice_Nick]

is there anyway to setup freelook? I find it frustrating that the mouse is the only freelook control, and cannot be rebound. I've played other flight sims using my xbox controller's right analogue stick for freelooking, and it works seamlessly on other platforms. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[seanquigley4547]

hello having an issue where the game will not recognize mouse commands of anysort so cant even begin to play any ideas?

[Captain Hawker]

Thanks