Drop tank for Luftwaffe aircraft

[XQ_Lothar29]

Hello everyone in the Modifications section.

I've had the idea for a mod for a while now, with no practical use beyond aesthetics.

Obviously, I don't have the slightest talent for it, so I'm turning to all the "Wizard" artists who can create incredible things.

The idea would be to create a 300-liter drop tank to replace the SC250kg bomb on the Messerschmitt or the FockeWulf.

I'm not very good at making mods; at most, I modify existing ones to tweak them a bit to my personal taste.

I know that torpedoes were created for the He 111, and that's where the idea for drop tanks came from, simply as a visual trick for videos and little else.

Would anyone be willing to make it or at least try?

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 20 by XQ_Lothar29
It was not explanatory enough

[Blitzen]

Any progress?

[kraut1]

On 1/20/2026 at 1:42 AM, XQ_Lothar29 said:

Hello everyone in the Modifications section.

I've had the idea for a mod for a while now, with no practical use beyond aesthetics.

Obviously, I don't have the slightest talent for it, so I'm turning to all the "Wizard" artists who can create incredible things.

The idea would be to create a 300-liter drop tank to replace the SC250kg bomb on the Messerschmitt or the FockeWulf.

I'm not very good at making mods; at most, I modify existing ones to tweak them a bit to my personal taste.

I know that torpedoes were created for the He 111, and that's where the idea for drop tanks came from, simply as a visual trick for videos and little else.

Would anyone be willing to make it or at least try?

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 1/22/2026 at 6:56 PM, Blitzen said:

Any progress?

First release:

SC250-300ltr-only-optical-Drop-Tank-v1.zip

(It's the already existing Drop Tank that does not work)

Added later: updated version v2, 300ltr. tank now suitable for all BF109, FW190, Ju87 and 45 gallon tank for Spitfire
Empty-Drop-Tank-Modv2.zip

 

 

Edited January 26 by kraut1

[kraut1]

I have minimized this answer, it is my additional Drop Tank Mod topic that has been merged into this topic

 

@XQ_Lothar29

 

 

Edited January 26 by kraut1

[kraut1]

New Info: there are different SC250 existing, this MOD works currently only with the BF109!
edited later: v2 released, 300ltr Drop Tanks are suitable for all BF109, FW190, Ju87 and Spitfires (45gal tank)

Edited January 26 by kraut1

[XQ_Lothar29]

5 hours ago, kraut1 said:

 SC250-300ltr-only-optical-Drop-Tank-v1.zip

(It's the already existing Drop Tank that does not work)
New Info: there are different SC250 existing, this works only with the BF109!

Note: when installed all SC250 for BF109 are Drop Tanks.

In the current early version the tank will explode (hopefully ) late after 1 hour = 3600seconds

for request:

https://forum.il2-series.com/topic/1615-drop-tank-for-luftwaffe-aircraft/

@XQ_Lothar29

 

Oh, thank you!!! I don't know how to thank you for such a great and exceptional modification. 🫡

[kraut1]

12 hours ago, XQ_Lothar29 said:

Oh, thank you!!! I don't know how to thank you for such a great and exceptional modification. 🫡

@XQ_Lothar29

JoboRei with 4x SC50 + 2 x 300ltr Drop Tank (empty)

[kraut1]

Hi @XQ_Lothar29,

Here the final version.

All "Tanks" with empty with reduced weight.

Because my Mod has been merged into yours by the Admins, It would be great if you could upload the Mod to the Main Post of this thread.

ADDED LATER: @pufff has released a similar Mod with US Drop Tanks / see below

Drop Tank SC250:
For BF109-E7...BF109G6; FW190-A3, -A5

Drop Tank SC250_late:
For BG109-G6...BF109-K4; FW190-A6/-A8/-D9

Drop Tank SC250 Ju87:
Ju87-D3, -D5

Drop Tank 45gallons for Spitfire:
tested: Spitfire IXc; Spitfire IXe, Spitfire XVI

3 Additional modded sc500 are existing but deactivated by renaming

Mod - Download:
Empty-Drop-Tank-Modv2.zip

 

Edited June 12 by kraut1

[Yankee_One]

Thank you

 

and outstanding job. Love this mod!

A must have for me!

 

A question anyways.

Where do you have the dds files for the drop tanks?

Are those in game or did you make them?

 

S!

Edited January 24 by Yankee_One

[kraut1]

2 hours ago, Yankee_One said:

Thank you

 

and outstanding job. Love this mod!

A must have for me!

 

A question anyways.

Where do you have the dds files for the drop tanks?

Are those in game or did you make them?

 

S!

The Developers have already worked on the drop tanks some years ago.
But I suppose due to technical restrictions by the WW1 RoF engine the drop tanks never worked in respect of fuel supply.

But the German 300ltr tank and the british 45gallon tank are existing since some years (3D model, texture) in the IL-2 files.
The british 90 gallon Spitfire tank has a very specific shape, when I tried it it was totally misaligned.

US and RU tanks are not existing.

My job was to copy the path / file informations of the 3d model of the drop tanks in the to be modded bomb files.
And I deactivated the bomb fuses (set to 7200seconds for arming and activating)

In respect of the definitions the original drop tanks are containers:

 

Mod download:
Empty-Drop-Tank-Modv2.zip

 

I have created this mod in the same way as I already did with the parachute supply container for the HE111:
(see the last reply)
https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/87878-any-chance-adding-cargo-carrying-to-he111/

 

Edited January 24 by kraut1

[Yankee_One]

Hut ab!

 

Danke für die Info und diesen MOD.

 

 

Grüße nach HESSE😉

Edited January 24 by Yankee_One

[Yankee_One]

Tried this mod and i´am so happy and glad!

So many years of waiting and now this mod!

Outstanding! Those ac looking so damn good and sexy.

I won´t miss it any more!

I can´t say enough THANK YOU for this mod!

 

You made my day brighter!

 

Thank you kraut for your time and giving us this fantastic mod!

 

S!

 

 

[E69_julian57]

Hello @kraut1

This mod is visually appealing, but I understand that the bombing feature works.
I haven't tried it yet.
Thanks for your mod – it looks great. 👍

Edited June 2 by E69_julian57

[Yenns]

Any chance we could get tanks for the P-51s and P-47s?

[kraut1]

8 hours ago, Yenns said:

Any chance we could get tanks for the P-51s and P-47s?

With the current available 3D models / textures US tanks are not possible.

And because the  Drop Tank feature has been cancelled by the Developers because it does not work I don't think that they will add US ones.

[Yenns]

that's a shame, I guess there's no way to important the models from elsewhere and replace some bombs with it? Wouldnt rly serve a purpose in game but would be stunning for photos. Mustangs and other escort fighters rly feel naked without them.

[kraut1]

2 hours ago, Yenns said:

that's a shame, I guess there's no way to important the models from elsewhere and replace some bombs with it? Wouldnt rly serve a purpose in game but would be stunning for photos. Mustangs and other escort fighters rly feel naked without them.

Yes, import is not possible. You could make a suggestion, to add them.

[pufff]

Shoot I thought I was the first to notice the drop tank models in IL-2 and substitute them for bombs. I modified the British drop tank dds file (I thought it was a 108 gallon tank) to remove some mounting hardware that appears to be unique to the Spitfire Mk IX.  I was able to add the British drop tank to P-51s, P-47s, a P-40 and a P-39 by replacing US M64 and Russian FAB250 bombs with the drop tank. Here's my drop tank mod for download. It includes the German 300L drop tank as well and that's the only drop tank I verified - it releases from a 109F-4. If anyone uses this mod and wants what I assume is an authentic Mk IX weapons pylon, I'd delete the file I modified at data/graphics/ammo/textures/ftank_spitixe_45.dds.  

https://youtu.be/V-tIROOxGSU

Edited June 19 by pufff
I messed up a pathname in the comment.

[Blitzen]

13 hours ago, pufff said:

Shoot I thought I was the first to notice the drop tank models in IL-2 and substitute them for bombs. I didn't deactivate the bombs in my mod. I did modify the British drop tank dds file (I thought it was a 108 gallon tank) to remove some mounting hardware that appears to be unique to the Spitfire Mk IX.  I was able to add the British drop tank to P-51s, P-47s, a P-40 and a P-39 by replacing US M64 and Russian FAB250 bombs with the drop tank. Here's my drop tank mod for download. It includes the German 300L drop tank as well and that's the only drop tank I verified - it releases from a 109F-4. If anyone uses this mod and wants what I assume is an authentic Mk IX weapons pylon, I'd delete the file I modified at data/graphics/ammo/textures/ftank_spitixe_45.dds.  

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/oiw4vtqfurcla/drop_tank_mod_nonMkIX

https://youtu.be/V-tIROOxGSU

Is this a separate mod from the German drop tank one initially posted, which works great.I'd like to be able to have drop tanks on all the Anerican fighters that used them during the war-will this one do the trick?

BTW Thank you for your effirts!

[kraut1]

13 hours ago, pufff said:

Shoot I thought I was the first to notice the drop tank models in IL-2 and substitute them for bombs. I didn't deactivate the bombs in my mod. I did modify the British drop tank dds file (I thought it was a 108 gallon tank) to remove some mounting hardware that appears to be unique to the Spitfire Mk IX.  I was able to add the British drop tank to P-51s, P-47s, a P-40 and a P-39 by replacing US M64 and Russian FAB250 bombs with the drop tank. Here's my drop tank mod for download. It includes the German 300L drop tank as well and that's the only drop tank I verified - it releases from a 109F-4. If anyone uses this mod and wants what I assume is an authentic Mk IX weapons pylon, I'd delete the file I modified at data/graphics/ammo/textures/ftank_spitixe_45.dds.  

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/oiw4vtqfurcla/drop_tank_mod_nonMkIX

https://youtu.be/V-tIROOxGSU

Great, we have now 2 mods for drop tanks!

You are definately the first who invented the Drop Tank for US Fighters! 🏆
@Yenns

Because this is Post is from @XQ_Lothar29 and not from me both mods can exist in parallel here....

[pufff]

I reviewed the previous mod (empty_drop_tank_modv2) to convert German 250 kg and British 250 lb bombs to drop tanks. It had no files in the ammo folder so I deleted my ammo folder files except for a modified dds file. I verified that works in the game - nice.  I merged the previous "German" drop tank mod with mine. It wouldn't hurt to overload my download version with the previous empty_drop_tank_modv2 but it's not necessary. I noticed the bomb fuse parameters Kraut1 changed, along with bomb "mass" adjustment, and a collision property. I added those parameters to my converted bombs although the drop tank weight is no longer empty for the British tanks. I calculated it for 45 lbs of 87 octane + 15 kg empty weight (more for the 90 gal slipper tanks).

I noticed the three Spitfire slipper tanks actually do fit where they're supposed to be on the Mk IXs and Mk XIVs except they're about a foot or so too low when replacing a GP500 bomb - the only one that currently goes in that spot. The slipper tanks would fit much better if the Developers added a Weapons mod to allow a smaller bomb to be selected under the Spitfire fuselage. Dear Santa ...

The 45 gal underwing tank dimensions are 84 x 15 (Dia) inches. A 108 gal tank measures 100 x 21 inches according to the IWM. The 45 gal tank is 80% of the size we'd like to see on a US aircraft.

For game users, the table columns highlighted in yellow show which drop tanks will be selected for various bomb configurations.  The P-38 has no drop tanks. The 45 gal slipper fuel tank for the Typhoon is not configurable since it can't carry a single bomb under the fuselage. Now if the Developers would ...

https://www.mediafire.com/file/betlke24s4f9tn5/drop_tanks_mod_v2.zip/file

 

 

Edited June 13 by pufff
Changed download file from unzipped to zipped

[pufff]

A rescaled British 40 gallon tank might pass for the British 108 gallon tank used on some fighters. It appears this would involve modifying model file Ftank_SpitIXe_45.mgm (then saving it with a new name). There doesn't appear to be a Great Battles plug-in to convert the mgm file to a Blender compatible format for mod. Anyone know about that? If the format problem could be resolved, I would think rescaling the drop tank to make it 1.19 times longer and 1.4 times larger in diameter would be a relatively easy task. With three US and four British weapons pylons available, the larger drop tank should fit close enough on some of them.

[Blitzen]

This may have already  been asked,but,do the drop tanks when dropped on targets still act as the bombs they replace visually.

BTW Thanks for this oft asked for mod !🥸

[kraut1]

On 7/10/2026 at 5:41 PM, Blitzen said:

This may have already  been asked,but,do the drop tanks when dropped on targets still act as the bombs they replace visually.

BTW Thanks for this oft asked for mod !🥸

We have in this topic now 2 different alternative drop tank mods. In my basic mod and in the Puffs bigger mod (that includes my mod) the bomb fuses (activation and delay time = 2hours) are deactivated.

[kama1]

do the droptanks increase the flight time?