New Hellcat skins

[Greebo]

I've had a few requests for F6F skins which wouldn't work on the old shape, but I promised I'd do them when the new version came out. I'll wait until the skin is available to everyone before starting any more though.

First one is for Rattfink. It is Alexander Vraciu's F6F-3 based on the USS Intrepid in 1944. As far as I know there isn't an F6F-3 in the works so hopefully they will still allow them on the F6F-5 shape. I've altered the panel lines to match an F6F-3.




This is also for Rattfink. It is the VF-31 Hellcat of Lt (jg) Ray Hawkins. Note this was an early F6F-5 which retained the rear windows of the F6F-3. I'm not sure about this scheme, I suspect it may have been a propaganda special and not flown in combat. Anyone have any further info on it?



Hand asked me for a USMC Hellcat so I've skinned this aircraft from VMF(N)-541. Now this was an F6F-5N nightfighter which had a radome under the wing, so maybe it will get rejected on that score. At least everyone will know what's acceptable as a skin if it is refused. Note this particular aircraft did not have the 20mm cannons that later 5Ns had.




Rolex's uncle Commander S. Mandarich was CAG-94 aboard the USS Lexington in late 1944. Rolex tells me the aircraft number was "00". As I've no actual photo of his plane I have based the rest of the markings on photos and profiles of other VF-94 Hellcats. Ironically this is one of the few Hellcat skins which would have worked on the old shape.




This is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Hellcat Mk I flown by Lt Commander Stanley Orr, CO of 804 NAS. The scheme is as it would have looked during the Norwegian Tirpitz raids in May 1944 and is the skin I intend to use in the MA.

[oboe]

Fantastic skins, Greebo!   The newly remodelled Hellcat is off to the best start ever.   

[evenhaim]

  awsome work greebo!

[Fencer51]

ZOMG! Greebo is taking up 5 Hellcat slots with excellent historical requested skins!!1111!!  Oh Noz! 

[jocko-]

Very nice!

[Krusty]

Looks pretty sweet!

I like the tri-color and the FAA skins the best, and will probably be joining you in the MA using the camo skin.

[Motherland]

Very nice!

I noticed the wing lights (not sure what the proper terminology for this is) are in the 3d model! Sweet!

HTC's recent work on the 3d models is very nice!

[Krusty]

I noticed that too!

I'm a little surprised at how LONG the rocket stubs are... are they supposed to be that long from the wing?

[angelsandair]

So Greebo, does the new F6F look new already for you in-game as it's already added into your AHII folder?

[whiteman]

Look freaking great! 

Well if they allow the -5N and -3 skins I'd would love to see a skin from VF-84, this is just the first pic i found for example. If they do allow the others I'll see if can find info and pics of a VF-84 Hellcat.

[Krusty]

Most F6F-5Ps were the same as F6F-5s. Almost all -Ps used 50cals so it's not an issue of armament.

[whiteman]

My brother has a book that has a VF-84 F6F-5N or 5P with 50 cals but we were thinking it might be wrong but thats good to hear. Thanks.

[Wmaker]

Awesome as always Greebo!

The areas around the exhausts for example are simply works of art.

[Greebo]

Thanks for the kind words guys.

Angel, HTC send me a special res file to put in my AH folder for each new skin. This lets me see the new shape in the skin viewer, but not the game.

[Fencer51]

I wonder if HTC would be so kind as to institute a program of releasing said res file and default skin to skinners before they release the plane.

This would allow us to populate the skins upon release rather than wait 5 months as we had to recently for example to see more options to fly.