(Select WORD WRAP) 17 December, 2000 WILLIVONBILL'S DIRTYBIRDS FOR WINGSTRUT 2.2!!!!!!! It took three months.... Over 2,000 handpainted aeroplane bitmaps.... The air war over the Western Front just got a little dirtier.... The DirtyBirds are here.... Tired of squeeky clean 'factory fresh' planes populating the skies over the Western Front? Ready to fly a mount that looks like it has seen its share of action? Then this graphics patch for WINGSTRUT 2.2 might just be for you! How To Use the DirtyBirds! If you can unzip a zip file, then you can use DirtyBirds! WARNING!!! Before you go any further, please be aware that unzipping the DirtyBirds into WINGSTRUT 2.2 will overwrite the original aeroplane .bmps. You will want to either back up your current Wingstrut 2.2 shellpat folder or have the original Wingstrut 2.2 zip file handy in case you decide you don't want to use DirtyBirds. That way, if you want to get rid of the DirtyBirds, all you have to do is re-install the original Wingstrut 2.2. This would overwrite the DirtyBird graphics files and restore the original Wingstrut 2.2 .bmps. Now then, lets get on with it... shall we?? First, using VonTom's Campaign Manager (you ARE using VonTom's CM, aren't you?!?!?), take Wingstrut 2.2 and WingDate 2.2 out of use. Second, unzip DirtyBird zip files 1 through 5 into the Wingstrut 2.2 Shellpat folder. When you unzip the files, it will ask you if you wish to overwrite the old files. Take a deep, cleansing breath... and indiciate 'yes' to overwriting the old files. Third, create a new file folder and call it something like... DirtyBirdDate. Unzip the three DBdate zip files into this new folder. After you are done unzipping the DBdate files, you should see 18 folders with names like '150801' and '180324'. These are Date Folders... those funky folders that let cool changes occur in RB3D as the Sim's date advances. You need to get the DirtyBird Date file .bmps into their corresponding WingDate 2.2 Date file. All you have to do now is open up one of the DirtyBird date folders and use the 'select all' function from the 'Edit' drop down in the explorer task bar to select all of the DirtyBird .bmps within a specific date folder. You can now 'copy' the files and 'paste' them into the corresponding date folder in WingDate 2.2. Or you can choose to drag and click the DirtyBird .bmps into the corresponding WingDate date folder. Again indicate that you wish to over write the original .bmps. Repeat for each of the 18 different DirtyBird date file folders. Remember... put them into the corresponding WingDate 2.2 date file folder. Finally, use CM to put your Wingstrut2.2 and Wingdate2.2 patches back into use. Go Fly... Enjoy............. Careful though, you might find yourself so busy enjoying the DirtyBirds that you might forget to check you six!! No worries though... DirtyBirds still look good when they are going down in flames! This graphics patch couldn't have come about without the gracious consent of Todd 'Wingstrut' Comeau... thanks for letting me muck up your beautiful aeroplanes! And a huge THANK YOU to Ishmael... if not for his ground breaking graphics work, this patch could not have happened. Further heartfelt thanks for letting me use some of his Fokker D7s within the patch... Much of the Fokker D7 area is HIS fine work. Finally, a big 'Thank You' to my dear wife... thanks hon, for being a very understanding 'DirtyBirds' widow for the last 3 months. Any comments/feedback/questions... just drop me a line at the Delphi flight sim forum... Cheers!!! WILLIVONBILL NOTE: This is a graphics patch, and as such, should have no ill effect upon your computer. However, you are using this patch at your own risk and of your own free will. The author of this patch holds no responsibility for any damage that might be caused by using this patch. This is an 'unofficial patch' and is distributed at no cost to the public.