Just wondering how large can you make the biggest map in game - what are the limitations. Can you make a map as big as this one right here?

You probably could, but I doubt your computer or the ones that will come out in the next 50 years will be able to handle it.

Wow. I really should expand on that.

I have no idea what the actual limitations are, but maps in this game are created through the use of TGA image files for everything. So the bigger the map, the bigger the image files you need to create.

When I built the first versions of the Solomons maps, it was the biggest map ever made for Il2. Some of the beta testers told me that it took up to 7 minutes to load on their old machines.

I also made a test map of the entire Aleutian chain once, and even without objects it took a few minutes to load. You see the game has to load things in order : the image files for the map (terra forming), then the elevation data, then the textures, then the objects on the map.

Object placement requires a lot of RAM, which you may have noticed if you play online and your game loads a mission with lots of objects, it sometimes stays stuck at a certain percentage until all the objects are loaded. If on top of the map's stationary objects you add more objects in the FMB, your load times would be enormous.

I seem to remember reading that there really is no limitation to the size of the map in itself.

But...

The game WILL limit movement and spawning of aircraft etc if the map is larger than 1000x1000 km...

Look here for more info;

Clash of Eagles

Reminds me of MSFS a long time ago when I took off from Hawaii in a 747 and put it on azimuth for San Diego and set the autopilot, then I went to bed and in the morning 7 or 8 hours later I don't recall exactly, I found my calculations were pretty close becasue my plane was pretty much on target with the coast line in site. I grabbed an NDB and a VOR and I ended up landing in SD. Its not something I ever did again.

How do you make a map for Il-2?

Look up the map making tutorial at SAS. It explains everything.

Will do! Thanks Skunk!

Edit: Looks like there's a lot of mapmaking at SAS. But found no where to download them. Do you have to register at SAS of can you download them elsewhere?

You may have to register to see their mapmaker's forum.

Hmm, ok. That sucks a little bit. Well it looks like 99% of the maps require UP3 etc. etc. anyway which is to bad.

Why is that too bad? 99.9% of new maps are mod maps, meaning you need a modded version of the game. The Solomons maps started out as mod maps.

Since no official 1c tools have been made available, the only way for anyone to make a map is to do it via a modded install. So its only natural that the tools and the knowledge available is on a mod forum.

So if you are interested in making maps, then you have no choice but to go mod.

You answered you own question there, Skunk.
In my opinion bad since I play the Stock IL-2 1946 patched to 4.11. Except for that I only use the Hakenkreutz enabler and skins.
I do not use UP3 or DBW or any other mod.
So to me it is very bad that there are no tools in the stock game for building maps or the possibility to download and add maps without havingen to use mods.

Would be very nice to be able to make your own map in the FMB similar to other scenario editors or mission builders