A return (of sorts)... P-51B 374th FS, 361FG - Bald Eagle

[B4Buster]

Yeah, I was talking about the bare metal parts of the A/C as far as panel "depth" is concerned.

Really does look good though...This skin must have been a hute PITA.

[Knite]

Yeah, I was talking about the bare metal parts of the A/C as far as panel "depth" is concerned.
Really does look good though...This skin must have been a hute PITA.

Ah, ok, so the depth of the panel lines on the METAL you didn't think were deep enough? Not a problem. The way I set these things up changing something like that shouldn't take more than 5-10 minutes.

Thanks. You're right though. =) This skin has been a huge PITA...  It started as a BLUE P-51D, as the profiles and photos of a restored bird I had all showed that, but after a lot of assistance (thanks!) turns out the restored bird was made off of incorrect information, and the profile off the restored plane. Digging deeper found this as a P-51B, and some information has been inconsistant (for instance, the lettering Bald Eagle I've seen as blue, red, and black, as well as it being listed as Bald Eagle III, not just BEagle...). To give you an idea... I generally save anywhere from every 30-90 minutes, depending on how major the changes I've made. My most recent skin back in 2005 had 15 different saves (not including the probably 5-10 saves I had from earlier skins as a "base). This skin? I just finished save v64.

But, honestly, it's giving me the taste of skinning again, and while it seems to be stressing my girlfriend out with all of the hours I'm putting into it, I'm liking it. Already thinking of 2 more projects to put into the works after this. A p38L, and a 51D. Shame the 51 slots are already full, so I might put that one off. Trying to figure out what plane to go with after those though.

[Plazus]

Knite,

That plane looks great! I have one idea for your skin. Is there any chance you could throw in some oil streaks on the nose?

[Knite]

Knite,
That plane looks great! I have one idea for your skin. Is there any chance you could throw in some oil streaks on the nose?

Thanks!

Oil's already done   (Btw, B4B, so is your darker panel lines) Just not in the screenshots yet.  

[Knite]

Instead of telling what's done... I dunno why I just don't show it... yeesh.




Fencer, since a cleaner photograph (*cough*) showed there no green OD on the tail, does that mean the underside black stripe would not be there as well? I have them in my file, but not currently visible.

Also, I decided to go with 7 kill marks as that would account for the 4 grounded 190s destroyed as well as 3 A2A victories. That seem right?

[Plazus]

Knite, after looking at the first profile picture you posted on this thread, I am truly amazed at your effort at skinning such a complex design!  to you!

PS: Looking at the profile picture, I also notice some streaks/tarnishing coming from the exhaust pipes as well. Is it possible to throw some of that in with your already awesome skin?   

[Knite]

Knite, after looking at the first profile picture you posted on this thread, I am truly amazed at your effort at skinning such a complex design!  to you!

PS: Looking at the profile picture, I also notice some streaks/tarnishing coming from the exhaust pipes as well. Is it possible to throw some of that in with your already awesome skin?   

Thanks Plazus.

In the case of the streaks/tarnishing, it's actually already there. Instead of a smoke/carbon scoring, I went for more of a heat/metal bluing effect. If you look carefully you should see it coming in a line directly behind the engine exhausts, across the bottom of the killmarks and through the upper loop in the letter B. Fencer's 1st picture shows the kind of effect I was going for.

[Plazus]

Oh snap! I didnt see it before. Guess Im going to need to clean my glasses more frequently. 

[Fencer51]

Try an RGB of 38/48/66 or a hex# of 263042 for those insignia Knite or 68/62/78 and 443E4E.

[lyric1]

I didn't think kill marks were added for planes taken out on the ground?

[B4Buster]

looks sweet! hopefully someone will come along and create a 361st squad in game.

You're doing the Yellow Jackets justice Knite.

[Fencer51]

I didn't think kill marks were added for planes taken out on the ground?

8th AF policy was to count ground kills.  In fact they were most likely more dangerous to get than Air to Air kills later in the war.  It was part of the policy to kill the Luftwaffe whereever it could be found.

[lyric1]

8th AF policy was to count ground kills.  In fact they were most likely more dangerous to get than Air to Air kills later in the war.  It was part of the policy to kill the Luftwaffe whereever it could be found.

Ahh I know a 9TH airforce guy who was credited with ground kills but was not permitted to have them marked on his plane. Interesting that differant groups had varying policy's.

[Knite]

Hey all,

Here she is, in her about to be submitted glory. Thank you all for the great help you've been and comments!!!

Fencer, I've tried to get the Stars and Bars to 38/48/66 (approx), but have had problems due to the way my paint jobs are. i.e. coloring something never winds up the same color as I made it due to the way I layer things. The GOOD news is I was able to get the blue for the S&B and the actual paint job separated. =) Is this coloration close enough to do the proper colors justice?

Here's the top view, to show just the paint structure and some panneling in general :


Here's the undercarriage. I wanted to show the invasion stripes properly lining up around the fuselage, as well as the panel lining and other details :


Of course, the obligitory, hope this comes close to the proper pictures/profiles shot :


And, just because I wanted to... the business end =) :

[Fencer51]

Looks good, and the tail stripes would not been on the lower elevs without being on the upper.

Try something for me.. use 236/246/242 for the white invasion stripes and 50/50/50 for the black... The black and white were not that "stark" in real life.