Replacing default skin?

[dtango]

Hi Folks:

Is there anyway to change the default skin to something different so that when you play back films that aircraft are not in their default skins.  My squaddies and I fly with the same skin made by Cobra412 of our squad but replaying films they all show up with the default skin.

Tango, XO
412th FS Braunco Mustangs

[zmeg]

Replace the planetype.TCA file in your cache\stdshape folder with the .TCA file in the skin folder for that skin.

[dtango]

zmeg:

Thanks a bunch!  I'll try that!

Tango, XO
412th FS Braunco Mustangs

[Dralex]

Originally posted by zmeg
Replace the planetype.TCA file in your cache\stdshape folder with the .TCA file in the skin folder for that skin.

So this skin will be visible only on that PC? All other online pilots will se default skin on this aircraft?

[dtango]

zmeg- worked like a charm!

Dralex - that's correct.  

Also I've created directories for the original .TCA files so that I can replace the ones I swap with them to get back to normal.

Tango, XO
412th FS Braunco Mustangs

[o0Stream140o]

Do I need to change all the files in the cache, if say I was changing the P-51B, to the skin I want?

Stream

[TrueKill]

can u explain it again i dont understand what zmeg said

[TrueKill]

any1?

[Krusty]

Okay Truekill, here's what I did, and it worked...

That is, up until 2.02 rebuilt the cache, and I didn't make notes as to which skins I liked most.


In HTC there is Aces High II, inside that is "cache", inside that are many things. Take note of "stdshape". Open a window to this folder.

Open a NEW folder of "cache" (one step above the first window).


Let's change the P51B. Scroll down inside the "cache" directory until you hit the first "p51b" folder. It is called "p51b1" There are sequential directories named p51b1 through p51b6. Open one.

NOW here's the tricky part. You don't know WHICH directory contains WHICH skin. So once you copy some files you have to open an AH2 film with a P51B in it, check the skin, and try again until you get it right. This is what I forgot to write down. I forgot to note WHICH p51b_ I liked best. I love the one with the RAF camo on top and the partial invasion stripes underneath the rear fuselage but with OD upper wings. Superb skin!

Anyways, so in "p51b1" you have:  
dude1
dude2
markings
p51bart2
p51bsid
p1btop

I really don't care about changing pilots, so forget dude1 and 2.

On the p51 you HAVE to include "markings" and "art" because if you don't you'll have screwy markings showing up. Some use new markings and art files to erase the default skin's markings/art (they make it transparent, and if you don't replace it it's very visible and very out of place).

So I go to stdshape's window (still open). hit "P" to find the p51____ files. CTRL C, CTRL V. Drag and copy files from p51b1 into stdshape, hit "yes" on "replace fils?". Do the same for "markings"

Then try out the film viewer. It will also show up as your default skin now.

Okay, whoops! That's not the skin I wanted (for example). Okay go into p51b2 and copy those into the stdshape folder. You're replacing non-original files, so don't back them up again.

NOTE: p51b2 has a file that p51b1 did not have. p51bart1. You will have to back THAT file up.


What I did was just made a "backup" folder inside "cache". I'd literally copy all the files for a plane into this folder. Then when I dragged stuff over and tried 5 or 6 replacement skins in a row I knew I'd have all the originals backed up. Alternately you can change video settings and make AH recompile the cache if you want to revert to defaults again.

[Krusty]

SECONDARY NOTE: If you have replaced several skins and are trying things out, you may have problems where a file used in one skin needs to be the default file for another skin, so you have the wrong markings (or no markings) and/or the wrong wings or what have you.

I wound up with a yellow camo on my yak9 wings but grey camo on the fuselage (lol)

[TrueKill]

ok thanks got it workin. LOL i was puting the stdshape.RES file in the AHII folder into the cache/skin folders.

[Fencer51]

Holy old Thread Batman..

Sorry to bump this but I have tried it and it does not work now, anyone still able to do this?

Thanks.

[Krusty]

Fencer, were you the one that I PMed or e-mailed instructions on how to do this?

I pulled it off not barely a month ago.


You check the AH skins download page to find the name of the skin you want. Note the corresponding FILENAME with the download link.

Go to your cache directory, and back up your \stdshape\ subdirectory (just copy and paste so you have a copy named "Copy of...").

Go to the directory that matches the filename you found (p51d_10, or 109g2_3 or whatever) and copy the TCA file from there into "stdshape". If you're set to 512 res copy the files marked 512. If you're on 1024 (for screenshot purposes) copy the ones marked 1024. Or hell, if you want to make it easy copy all of them. Over-write the files in stdshape.

To undo, restore the backup or simply delete cache and rebuild.

It will reset by itself the next time you rebuild cache.


EDIT: There's also a way to trick the skin viewer, but I hesitate to tell you how because I don't want HTC to "fix" it.

[Krusty]

Fencer, did you ever get it working?

Using my method I was able to take several screenshots from the film viewer yesterday, including this one:


[EDIT: FYI that's the 3 Stormo skin, not the default]

If you're still not able to do this, let me know where you're having problems.

[Fencer51]

Krusty, no I was not able to get it to work, I will try again some time soon and report back with exactly what I did if it still does not work.

Thanks,