jaymar921 · Nov 2, 2026 · Nov 2, 2026 · Nov 2, 2026 · Nov 2, 2026 · Nov 2, 2026
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,21 @@ All notable changes to this project are documented here. The format follows
 [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/). Pre-releases (`1.0.0-alpha.N`) mark the phases on the
 way to 1.0.0; see [docs/ROADMAP.md](docs/ROADMAP.md).
 
+## [Unreleased]
+
+### Added
+
+- Placeholder loader modules for every supported version that is not ported yet: Forge, NeoForge
+  and Fabric on 26.2, 26.1, 1.21.11, 1.21.5 and 1.20.6, and Forge and Fabric on 1.20.2 and 1.19.4.
+  Each downloads its loader and only logs at startup; none of them is built by default or shipped
+  in a beta. See docs/DEVELOPMENT.md.
+
+### Changed
+
+- The supported version list for final releases is now 26.3, 26.2, 26.1, 1.21.11, 1.21.5, 1.21.1,
+  and 1.20.6 on Forge, NeoForge and Fabric, and 1.20.2 and 1.19.4 on Forge and Fabric (25 jars). 1.20.1
+  is no longer planned, and older versions are no longer frozen after 1.1.0.
+
 ## [1.1.0-beta.6] - 2026-11-01
 
 Phase 10 of the road to 1.1.0: the rest of the equipment. Betas are not uploaded to CurseForge,

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ textures and sounds load unchanged.
 > **Status:** on the way to 1.1.0, now at phase 10 (`1.1.0-beta.6`). Every helicopter, plane,
 > tank, car and ground vehicle can be placed, crewed and driven with the original handling, all
 > 229 weapons fire, and the scripted HUDs, fuel, the vehicle screen and all of the original's
-> equipment are in, down to UAV stations, the drafting table and the team manager. Betas 4 to 8
-> ship the Forge 26.3 jar only; every loader and Minecraft version comes back for 1.1.0. See the
+> equipment are in, down to UAV stations, the drafting table and the team manager. Betas ship the
+> Forge 26.3 jar only; 1.1.0 ships on Forge and Fabric for every version from 1.19.4 to 26.3, and
+> on NeoForge from 1.20.6 (see [supported versions](docs/ROADMAP.md#supported-versions)). See the
 > [roadmap](docs/ROADMAP.md).
 
 ## Showcase video

diff --git a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ loader. The top layer is a thin module per loader and Minecraft version, which c
 lower layers together with its own glue into one jar. See
 [DEVELOPMENT.md](DEVELOPMENT.md#three-layers).
 
+Only 26.3 and 1.21.1 have the middle layer so far. The other supported versions have placeholder
+loader modules (`scaffold=true`) that compile neither lower layer: just an entry point that logs,
+against that version's loader and toolchain. Porting a version means adding its
+`minecraft-<version>` folder, copying the loader glue in and dropping the flag.
+
 The shared code reaches the loader in two ways only:
 
 - **`Platform`**, installed by the loader module before anything else runs: the game and config
@@ -78,9 +83,9 @@ NeoForge rolls the camera the other way round from Forge, so its mixin negates t
 
 ### Minecraft 1.21.1
 
-`minecraft-1.21.1` is a copy of `minecraft-26.3` ported back, so the two read side by side. After
-1.1.0 it is frozen (see [supported versions](ROADMAP.md#supported-versions)), so the copy is not
-kept in step by hand beyond that. What differs:
+`minecraft-1.21.1` is a copy of `minecraft-26.3` ported back, so the two read side by side. During
+the betas it is not kept in step; each final release brings it, and every other
+[supported version](ROADMAP.md#supported-versions), up to date again. What differs:
 
 - **Rendering.** 1.21.1 has no render states or submit step. Each renderer fills the same state
   object itself at the start of `render` and draws straight into the `MultiBufferSource`, so

diff --git a/docs/DEVELOPMENT.md b/docs/DEVELOPMENT.md
@@ -4,19 +4,21 @@
 
 | Tool | Version | Notes |
 |------|---------|-------|
-| JDK | 25 (and 21 for the 1.21.1 modules) | Gradle provisions them through the Foojay resolver if none is installed. |
+| JDK | 25 (21 for 1.20.6 to 1.21.11, 17 for 1.19.4 and 1.20.2) | Gradle provisions them through the Foojay resolver if none is installed. |
 | Gradle | 9.8.2 | Use the wrapper (`./gradlew`). Loom 1.19 needs 9.8. |
 | ForgeGradle | 7.x | Forge modules. Sets up Minecraft through the Mavenizer on first build. |
 | ModDevGradle | 2.0.x | NeoForge modules. |
-| Fabric Loom | 1.19 | Fabric modules: `net.fabricmc.fabric-loom` for 26.x, `-remap` for 1.21.1. |
+| Fabric Loom | 1.19 | Fabric modules: `net.fabricmc.fabric-loom` for 26.x, `-remap` for 1.21.11 and older. |
 | Forge | 66.1.0 for Minecraft 26.3 | |
 | NeoForge | 26.3.0.99 for Minecraft 26.3 | |
 | Fabric | Loader 0.20.1, Fabric API 0.165.0+26.3 | |
 | Forge | 52.1.20 for Minecraft 1.21.1 | Built with ForgeGradle 7 and the official mappings. |
 | NeoForge | 21.1.265 for Minecraft 1.21.1 | |
 | Fabric | Fabric API 0.116.17+1.21.1 | Loom remaps the jar, which is obfuscated on 1.21.1. |
 
-All three use Mojang's official names, so the shared code reads the same on every loader.
+All three use Mojang's official names, so the shared code reads the same on every loader. The
+loader versions of the [placeholder modules](#placeholder-modules) are in their own
+`gradle.properties`.
 
 The first build downloads and decompiles Minecraft once per loader, which takes a few minutes.
 Avoid running a second Gradle build (for example an IDE import) while that is in progress: both
@@ -37,9 +39,9 @@ wait for the other process to finish and build again.
 
 Shared properties live in the root `gradle.properties`: `mod_version`, the mod metadata, the list
 of loader modules (`platforms`) and the library versions `common` compiles against. Each loader
-module has its own `gradle.properties` with its loader, Minecraft and Java versions. During betas
-4 to 8, `platforms` lists only `forge-26.3`, so CI and the release build one jar; the other modules
-stay in the repository and come back to the list for 1.1.0 (roadmap phase 13).
+module has its own `gradle.properties` with its loader, Minecraft and Java versions. During the
+betas, `platforms` lists only `forge-26.3`, so CI and the release build one jar; the other modules
+stay in the repository and come back to the list for each final release (roadmap phase 13).
 `mods.toml`, `neoforge.mods.toml`, `fabric.mod.json` and `pack.mcmeta` are filled in from them
 at build time. What every loader module shares (source folders, jar contents, manifest, file
 names) is in `gradle/loader.gradle`.
@@ -59,6 +61,7 @@ neoforge-26.3/                 NeoForge glue, plus a camera mixin
 fabric-26.3/                   Fabric glue, plus mixins for what Fabric API has no event for
 minecraft-1.21.1/              the same shared code, backported to Minecraft 1.21.1
 forge-1.21.1/, neoforge-1.21.1/, fabric-1.21.1/   the loader glue for 1.21.1
+<loader>-<version>/            placeholders for the other supported versions (see below)
 gradle/loader.gradle           what every loader module shares
 docs/                          documentation and content format guides
 .github/workflows              CI and release pipelines
@@ -98,6 +101,31 @@ to all three loader modules, so the IDE shows it under whichever it picked; it c
 of them on the command line. After pulling the split, re-import the Gradle project; the old
 `forge-26.3` run configurations still work, the NeoForge and Fabric ones are new.
 
+### Placeholder modules
+
+Every [supported version](ROADMAP.md#supported-versions) has a loader module, but only 26.3 and
+1.21.1 are ported. The other 19 (`forge-`, `neoforge-` and `fabric-` for 26.2, 26.1, 1.21.11,
+1.21.5 and 1.20.6, plus `forge-` and `fabric-` for 1.20.2 and 1.19.4) are placeholders: each pins
+its loader, mappings and Java version, and holds only an entry point that logs a line at startup
+and the mod metadata. Their `gradle.properties` sets `scaffold=true`, which tells
+`gradle/loader.gradle` to leave out `common` and `minecraft-<version>`, so they build before that
+code has been ported to their version.
+
+They are not in `platforms`, so CI and the betas never build them. Build or run one by passing
+the list on the command line:
+
+```
+./gradlew :forge-1.20.2:build -Pplatforms=forge-1.20.2
+./gradlew :fabric-1.19.4:runServer -Pplatforms=fabric-1.19.4    # runs from ./run-1.19.4
+```
+
+Porting a version for a final release: add `minecraft-<version>` (copied from the nearest ported
+version), copy the loader glue from the ported module of the same loader, remove `scaffold=true`
+and add the module to `platforms`.
+
+There is no `neoforge-1.20.2`: ModDevGradle needs a "moddev bundle" that NeoForge 20.2 does not
+publish, so NeoForge support starts at 1.20.6, the next supported version.
+
 `Mod/` holds the original `MC1.7.10_mcheli_1.0.3.zip`. It is git-ignored. Download it from the
 [MCHeli CurseForge page](https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/mcheli-minecraft-helicopter-mod/files)
 and put it there: `runClient` and `runServer` import it into `run/mcheli/imported` through the

diff --git a/docs/ROADMAP.md b/docs/ROADMAP.md
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ tagged pre-release that installs and runs on its own.
 | 3 | `1.0.0-alpha.3` | Weapons and combat | Implemented, in-game test in progress |
 | 4 | `1.0.0-beta.1` | HUD and polish | Done |
 | | `1.0.0` | Release: code-only jar | Released |
-| 5-13 | `1.1.0-beta.1` to `beta.9` | Content packs, NeoForge and Fabric, 1.21.1, equipment, workshop, 1.20.1 ([plan](#road-to-110)) | In progress |
+| 5-13 | `1.1.0-beta.1` to `beta.9` | Content packs, NeoForge and Fabric, equipment, workshop, every release version from 1.19.4 to 26.3 ([plan](#road-to-110)) | In progress |
 | | `1.1.0` | Release on CurseForge | Planned |
 
 ## Phase 1: foundation and flyable helicopters
@@ -139,35 +139,40 @@ Rules that hold for every beta:
 | 10 | `1.1.0-beta.6` | The rest of the equipment (Forge 26.3 only) | Released |
 | 11 | `1.1.0-beta.7` | Workshop: model, parts and tuning (Forge 26.3 only) | Planned |
 | 12 | `1.1.0-beta.8` | Workshop: textures, sounds and sharing (Forge 26.3 only) | Planned |
-| 13 | `1.1.0-beta.9` | Every loader, 1.21.1 and 1.20.1 | Planned |
+| 13 | `1.1.0-beta.9` | Every loader on every supported version, 1.19.4 to 26.3 | Planned |
 | | `1.1.0` | Release on CurseForge | Planned |
 
 The order is deliberate. The registry and the source split come first because everything else
 sits on them. Content packs come before the workshop, since the workshop's output is a pack.
 The loader split and 1.21.1 come right after packs, while the code is still close to 1.0.0;
 from then on each feature is built once in shared code and only its Minecraft glue is written per
-version and loader. Betas 4 to 8 build only the Forge 26.3 jar, since six modules on three
-toolchains made every build slow; phase 13 writes the glue for the rest, adds 1.20.1 and ships
+version and loader. Betas build only the Forge 26.3 jar, since many modules on three toolchains
+made every build slow; phase 13 writes the glue for every other version and loader and ships
 every jar again.
 
 ### Supported versions
 
-MCHeli stopped at Minecraft 1.7.10. 1.1.0 is the bridge back: it runs on the versions most
-players and modpacks are on today, so anyone can pick the mod up again, and then follows the
-latest Minecraft.
-
-| Minecraft | Also runs on | Java | Forge | NeoForge | Fabric |
-|-----------|--------------|------|-------|----------|--------|
-| 26.3 | | 25 | yes | yes | yes |
-| 1.21.1 | 1.21 | 21 | yes | yes | yes |
-| 1.20.1 | 1.20 | 17 | yes | the Forge jar (NeoForge 1.20.1 is a Forge fork) | yes |
-
-Each major version gets its most played minor rather than its last one (1.20.6 and 1.21.11 have
-few players). Nothing below 1.20.
-
-**After 1.1.0, the 1.20.1 and 1.21.1 builds are frozen.** They get no further fixes or features;
-development continues on the latest Minecraft version only, and players are expected to move
-up with it.
+MCHeli stopped at Minecraft 1.7.10. Final releases (1.1.0, 1.2.0 and so on) run on a wide range
+of versions, so players and modpacks can pick the mod up wherever they are. Betas are Forge 26.3
+only.
+
+| Minecraft | Java | Forge | NeoForge | Fabric |
+|-----------|------|-------|----------|--------|
+| 26.3 | 25 | yes | yes | yes |
+| 26.2 | 25 | yes | yes | yes |
+| 26.1 | 25 | yes | yes | yes |
+| 1.21.11 | 21 | yes | yes | yes |
+| 1.21.5 | 21 | yes | yes | yes |
+| 1.21.1 | 21 | yes | yes | yes |
+| 1.20.6 | 21 | yes | yes | yes |
+| 1.20.2 | 17 | yes | no | yes |
+| 1.19.4 | 17 | yes | no | yes |
+
+That is 25 jars per final release. NeoForge starts at 1.20.6 (ModDevGradle, which builds the
+NeoForge jars, cannot set up NeoForge 1.20.2), and 1.19.4 is the oldest version.
+Older versions are not frozen: every final release ships on the whole list again. Every pair
+already has a Gradle module; the ones not ported yet are placeholders that only load and log
+(see [DEVELOPMENT.md](DEVELOPMENT.md#placeholder-modules)).
 
 ## Phase 5: groundwork (`1.1.0-beta.1`)
 
@@ -290,21 +295,24 @@ built here syncs to other players with no extra work.
 - [ ] Package browser, author credits shown in game
 - [ ] Operator approval before a player's new vehicle goes live on a server
 
-## Phase 13: every loader, 1.21.1 and 1.20.1 (`1.1.0-beta.9`)
+## Phase 13: every loader on every supported version (`1.1.0-beta.9`)
 
 Betas 4 to 8 ship only the Forge 26.3 jar, to keep builds fast. This phase brings the features
-added since beta.3 to NeoForge, Fabric and 1.21.1, and adds 1.20.1, the largest modpack version
-and the furthest from 26.3. All jars ship again from here on.
-
-- [ ] Every module back in `platforms`; phases 8 to 12 ported to NeoForge and Fabric on 26.3 and
-      to all three loaders on 1.21.1
+added since beta.3 to NeoForge, Fabric and 1.21.1, and ports the mod to the rest of the
+[supported versions](#supported-versions), down to 1.19.4. All 25 jars ship from here on.
+
+- [x] A Gradle module for every version and loader pair, the missing ones as placeholders that
+      download their loader and only load and log
+- [ ] Every module in `platforms`; phases 8 to 12 ported to NeoForge and Fabric on 26.3 and to all
+      three loaders on 1.21.1
+- [ ] `minecraft-26.2`, `minecraft-26.1`, `minecraft-1.21.11`, `minecraft-1.21.5`,
+      `minecraft-1.20.6`, `minecraft-1.20.2` and `minecraft-1.19.4`, each replacing its
+      placeholder modules with real glue
 - [ ] `common` compiles for Java 17 (no pattern matching `switch`, no `SequencedCollection`
       methods)
-- [ ] 1.20.1 on Forge and Fabric. NeoForge's 1.20.1 is a fork of Forge 47, so the Forge jar is
-      tested there instead of built twice
-- [ ] Vehicle items keep their vehicle in NBT, since data components only arrived in 1.20.5
-- [ ] Rendering, networking and registration for 1.20.1
-- [ ] Legacy importer and content packs checked on 1.20.1
+- [ ] Vehicle items keep their vehicle in NBT on 1.20.2 and 1.19.4, since data components only
+      arrived in 1.20.5
+- [ ] Legacy importer and content packs checked on every version
 - [ ] The phase 7 smoke tests for every jar
 
 ## 1.1.0 release
@@ -314,7 +322,7 @@ No new features after beta.9; a `1.1.0-rc.N` follows only if beta.9 testing find
 - [ ] Every phase checklist done on every supported Minecraft version
 - [ ] A 1.0.0 world and the beta worlds load with their vehicles and items intact
 - [ ] A pack made in the workshop on one version loads on every other supported version
-- [ ] Tag `v1.1.0` in both repositories; upload one CurseForge file per Minecraft version, with
+- [ ] Tag `v1.1.0` in both repositories; upload one CurseForge file per Minecraft version and loader, with
       the player-facing changelog from `docs/CURSEFORGE.md`
 
 ## Open decisions

diff --git a/fabric-1.19.4/build.gradle b/fabric-1.19.4/build.gradle
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+plugins {
+    id 'java'
+    id 'idea'
+    id 'eclipse'
+    id 'net.fabricmc.fabric-loom-remap'
+}
+
+apply from: rootProject.file('gradle/loader.gradle')
+
+loom {
+    runs {
+        configureEach {
+            runDir = "../run-${minecraft_version}"
+        }
+        server {
+            programArgs '--nogui'
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+dependencies {
+    minecraft "com.mojang:minecraft:${minecraft_version}"
+    // 1.19.4 is obfuscated; Mojang's names keep the code the same as on Forge and NeoForge.
+    mappings loom.officialMojangMappings()
+    modImplementation "net.fabricmc:fabric-loader:${fabric_loader_version}"
+    modImplementation "net.fabricmc.fabric-api:fabric-api:${fabric_api_version}"
+}
diff --git a/fabric-1.19.4/gradle.properties b/fabric-1.19.4/gradle.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# Minecraft 1.19.4 on Fabric (placeholder until the port, see docs/DEVELOPMENT.md)
+loader=fabric
+minecraft_version=1.19.4
+minecraft_version_range=~1.19.4
+fabric_loader_version=0.20.1
+loader_version_range=>=0.16.0
+fabric_api_version=0.87.2+1.19.4
+java_version=17
+scaffold=true
diff --git a/fabric-1.19.4/src/main/java/com/jnhprojects/mcheli/fabric/McheliFabric.java b/fabric-1.19.4/src/main/java/com/jnhprojects/mcheli/fabric/McheliFabric.java
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package com.jnhprojects.mcheli.fabric;
+
+import net.fabricmc.api.ModInitializer;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
+/**
+ * Placeholder entry point for Minecraft 1.19.4. It only proves that the module builds and loads;
+ * the Fabric glue from fabric-26.3 replaces it when this version is ported for a final release.
+ */
+public final class McheliFabric implements ModInitializer {
+
+    private static final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger("MCHeli");
+
+    @Override
+    public void onInitialize() {
+        LOGGER.info("MCHeli Rework placeholder loaded on Fabric for Minecraft 1.19.4; no content yet");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/fabric-1.19.4/src/main/resources/fabric.mod.json b/fabric-1.19.4/src/main/resources/fabric.mod.json
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+{
+  "schemaVersion": 1,
+  "id": "${mod_id}",
+  "version": "${mod_version}",
+  "name": "${mod_name}",
+  "description": "Helicopters, planes, tanks and vehicles for modern Minecraft. This build is a placeholder: the port to this Minecraft version is not done yet. A ground-up rework of MCHeli 1.0.3 by EMB4, which stopped at Minecraft 1.7.10. The vehicles come from your own copy of the original: put MC1.7.10_mcheli_1.0.3.zip from the MCHeli CurseForge page into the \"mcheli\" folder of the game directory.",
+  "authors": ["JayMar921 (rework)", "EMB4 (original author)", "Fureniku (CurseForge maintainer)"],
+  "contact": {
+    "homepage": "https://github.com/JnH-Projects/MCHeli-Rework-Forge",
+    "issues": "https://github.com/JnH-Projects/MCHeli-Rework-Forge/issues",
+    "sources": "https://github.com/JnH-Projects/MCHeli-Rework-Forge"
+  },
+  "license": "LicenseRef-MCHeli-Rework-1.0",
+  "icon": "mcheli_logo.png",
+  "environment": "*",
+  "entrypoints": {
+    "main": ["com.jnhprojects.mcheli.fabric.McheliFabric"]
+  },
+  "depends": {
+    "fabricloader": "${loader_version_range}",
+    "fabric-api": "*",
+    "minecraft": "${minecraft_version_range}",
+    "java": ">=${java_version}"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/fabric-1.20.2/build.gradle b/fabric-1.20.2/build.gradle
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+plugins {
+    id 'java'
+    id 'idea'
+    id 'eclipse'
+    id 'net.fabricmc.fabric-loom-remap'
+}
+
+apply from: rootProject.file('gradle/loader.gradle')
+
+loom {
+    runs {
+        configureEach {
+            runDir = "../run-${minecraft_version}"
+        }
+        server {
+            programArgs '--nogui'
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+dependencies {
+    minecraft "com.mojang:minecraft:${minecraft_version}"
+    // 1.20.2 is obfuscated; Mojang's names keep the code the same as on Forge and NeoForge.
+    mappings loom.officialMojangMappings()
+    modImplementation "net.fabricmc:fabric-loader:${fabric_loader_version}"
+    modImplementation "net.fabricmc.fabric-api:fabric-api:${fabric_api_version}"
+}
diff --git a/fabric-1.20.2/gradle.properties b/fabric-1.20.2/gradle.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# Minecraft 1.20.2 on Fabric (placeholder until the port, see docs/DEVELOPMENT.md)
+loader=fabric
+minecraft_version=1.20.2
+minecraft_version_range=~1.20.2
+fabric_loader_version=0.20.1
+loader_version_range=>=0.16.0
+fabric_api_version=0.91.6+1.20.2
+java_version=17
+scaffold=true
diff --git a/fabric-1.20.2/src/main/java/com/jnhprojects/mcheli/fabric/McheliFabric.java b/fabric-1.20.2/src/main/java/com/jnhprojects/mcheli/fabric/McheliFabric.java
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package com.jnhprojects.mcheli.fabric;
+
+import net.fabricmc.api.ModInitializer;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
+/**
+ * Placeholder entry point for Minecraft 1.20.2. It only proves that the module builds and loads;
+ * the Fabric glue from fabric-26.3 replaces it when this version is ported for a final release.
+ */
+public final class McheliFabric implements ModInitializer {
+
+    private static final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger("MCHeli");
+
+    @Override
+    public void onInitialize() {
+        LOGGER.info("MCHeli Rework placeholder loaded on Fabric for Minecraft 1.20.2; no content yet");
+    }
+}