Author Topic: A Skins question..... (Read 1423 times)

humble · « **on:** November 10, 2004, 11:45:08 AM »

I understand that we're limited to historical skins and certainly understand the logic behind it...the barbiefire wouldnt got over on the history channel to well:)....

However, any consideration been given to allow a "squad skin"...it would need to be "historically appropriate" of course. But I think giving squads a chance to create an appropriate skin would be great for the game....some of the squads here trace back to AW on Genie etc...

Kev367th · « **Reply #1 on:** November 10, 2004, 01:28:45 PM »

If the squad is historically based it isn't a problem.
eg when the 38 retooling is done I will be doing a 367th one.

Non historic squads will run into a problem.

68falcon · « **Reply #2 on:** November 10, 2004, 01:37:08 PM »

Where would I find skins for the 68th Lightning Lancers.

humble · « **Reply #3 on:** November 10, 2004, 01:42:21 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Kev367th
If the squad is historically based it isn't a problem.
eg when the 38 retooling is done I will be doing a 367th one.

Non historic squads will run into a problem.

The problem is none of the "historical" squads are really all that good or have any real history behind them (that I'm aware of). I'm thinking of the Nomads, shillegah, FDB and others like that.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 10, 2004, 03:02:17 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by humble
The problem is none of the "historical" squads are really all that good or have any real history behind them (that I'm aware of). I'm thinking of the Nomads, shillegah, FDB and others like that.

Nomads got lucky in that there turned out to be a wartime Fighter Group known as the Nomads.

I didn't know it when I came up with the name, but you can bet I found out

33rd FG Nomads flew P40s, P47s and P38s during the course of the war. They launched into North Africa from an escort carriers with their P40s and fought in the MTO until being transferred to the CBI where they continued in P40s, then got Jugs and finished in 38s.

SO! There is a historical Nomad P38 if it ever came down to it

Top image is a Nomad P38 in Burma. It's one of those hard to find OD/Gray P38Ls too. They had a few to go with their silver birds.

Bottom is the cover of the second volume of the 33rd FG Nomads WW2 History

Dan/Slack

humble · « **Reply #5 on:** November 10, 2004, 03:30:34 PM »

hehe....I Stand corrected...still think a "squad skin" would be a good addition to game play...

oboe · « **Reply #6 on:** November 12, 2004, 09:58:24 AM »

Guppy, was that Phil Cochran's group?

Guppy35 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 12, 2004, 11:24:38 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by oboe
Guppy, was that Phil Cochran's group?

Yep. Inspiration for Flip Corkin in the "Terry and the Pirates" cartoon of the time too

Dan/Slack

Cobra412 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 12, 2004, 01:32:27 PM »

I don't think having a squad based skin for just one airframe would be a bad idea. They would obviously have to be some kind of rules though in making them. They would have to have similiarities to the paint schemes of the era and no outlandish colors. Basically pick a theatre of operation, a time frame and use colors available during that time frame and that theatre.

I made this one just for the heck of it.

moot · « **Reply #9 on:** November 12, 2004, 01:41:47 PM »

is that rabies or beer foam, from the lion's mouth?

Guppy35 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 12, 2004, 02:36:16 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Cobra412
I don't think having a squad based skin for just one airframe would be a bad idea. They would obviously have to be some kind of rules though in making them. They would have to have similiarities to the paint schemes of the era and no outlandish colors. Basically pick a theatre of operation, a time frame and use colors available during that time frame and that theatre.

Of course since the 412th FS was historically a 9th AF P47 Squadron, as part of the 373rd Fighter Group, that would take away from the Mustang theme

They carried the Squadron Code V5 and had no squadron colors to speak of on their jugs outside of the regular black or white ID bands depending on whether it was an OD/Gray Jug or Silver.

Only profile I could find of a 412th bird

Dan/Slack

Guppy35 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 12, 2004, 02:59:35 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by 68falcon
Where would I find skins for the 68th Lightning Lancers.

Can't find any photos of 68th P39s or P38s yet. I'll keep looking.

Flew 39s well into 44 before converting to the P38 as part of the 347th FG, 13th AF.

347th was the last Fighter Group to fly P39s in the Pacific.

Dan/Slack

Cobra412 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 12, 2004, 03:27:45 PM »

Guppy I totally understand there will be some similiarities between squadron numbers and actual real squadrons in WWII. It's more about getting folks involved and feeling more part of the game than just a player in it.

Much like how IL2 does it when they change the last letter of a tail code so your bird isn't just like every other. There may not be a specific nose art for just your bird but atleast it's not an exact duplicate of the bird next to you.

Much like the skin I did above the BM standing for Braunco Mustangs and the M stands for my squadron CO Midnight. Granted this particular bird does have his name on the canopy rail too but it feels more like your bird not everyone elses. I even made him a specific tail number.

In my opinion I don't think the MA is totally a historical venue. Yeah we are flying WWII birds but the actual game play in this arena is far from what really happenend. We've already got the squadron insignias on the side of the bird so that in itself already makes the "historical" skin not so historical when viewed. I think instead we should leave the historical skins to the CT and SEA events. In my opinion more folks would then try those venues and feel like they are more part of what really happenend. When TOD comes online this will come into play even more. I myself could careless how many skins I may have to download to fly a particular theatre on a particular day. Most of these events like the CT and SEA play out for atleast 3 weeks in a row and for the CT a week straight.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 12, 2004, 03:39:06 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Cobra412
Guppy I totally understand there will be some similiarities between squadron numbers and actual real squadrons in WWII. It's more about getting folks involved and feeling more part of the game than just a player in it.

Much like how IL2 does it when they change the last letter of a tail code so your bird isn't just like every other. There may not be a specific nose art for just your bird but atleast it's not an exact duplicate of the bird next to you.

Much like the skin I did above the BM standing for Braunco Mustangs and the M stands for my squadron CO Midnight. Granted this particular bird does have his name on the canopy rail too but it feels more like your bird not everyone elses. I even made him a specific tail number.

In my opinion I don't think the MA is totally a historical venue. Yeah we are flying WWII birds but the actual game play in this arena is far from what really happenend. We've already got the squadron insignias on the side of the bird so that in itself already makes the "historical" skin not so historical when viewed. I think instead we should leave the historical skins to the CT and SEA events. In my opinion more folks would then try those venues and feel like they are more part of what really happenend. When TOD comes online this will come into play even more. I myself could careless how many skins I may have to download to fly a particular theatre on a particular day. Most of these events like the CT and SEA play out for atleast 3 weeks in a row and for the CT a week straight.

Totally agree with you Cobra

I'm not suggesting that you or anyone else should have to adhere to a specific historical ride or markings just because your 412 matches a real one.

The idea of a squad being able to develop markings that fit, within some sort of historical framework makes more sense.

As an example. Back in AW when we were able to do skins, I did one for myself that was not in anyway based on the actual WW2 Nomads 38s. As part of my fooling around, I'd created a fictional history and home for my 38 squad that happened to be MTO, Italy based. So the skin I did was based on the basics of a 15th AF MTO Lightning, meaning I kept the historical red spinners that all 15th AF fighters had. The codes were NO for NOmads, and my 38 was T for +Tiff. The squadron ID colors were fictional.

It was the best of both worlds so to speak

And maybe that's the middle ground. A Squad could present a skin for approval that would combine a historical look with fictional markings that fit for them

Dan/Slack

oboe · « **Reply #14 on:** November 12, 2004, 07:00:02 PM »

I think the idea is cool, and Cobra's skin is very nice, very authentic looking.

But, would these skins be locked for only members of the squad, or would you see and Tom, Dick or Harry flying around using your squad's skin?