JG53 Bf-109E-4

[Serenity]

Alright, I know im still working on another 109, but while I wait on responses from you all, I had a lot of free time to start on this.

A Bf-109E of JG53, circa July 1940. Note the lack of noseart, and the red band over the nose. For those who arent familiar, this is reffered to as the 'Red Band of Shame', and was ordered to be placed over the Geschwader insignia of ALL aircraft in the Geschwader because JG53's Geschwaderkommandeur married a Jewish wife. This led to a form of rebelion in the Geschwader where members began painting over the swastikas on the tail to show their support for their Geschwaderkommandeur.

Note: This is just a preview. Still needs refining and weathering. Also, The markings on the side are very close together. Ive done two versions, one compact, as seen here, and one where the markings are more seperate. The only picture I have of this aircraft is at an angle, and the distance is hard to judge. Unfortunatly, their are aircraft from the same staffel, in the same time period, with markins both spread out and compact, so when im closer to finished, I will post pictures of both and see which you all think looks correct.

[DaddyAck]

Sweet, one of the JG53 Emils with the red band painted around the cowl. 

[Delirium]

You should 'paint over' the swastika on the tail... as long as none of it is showing, it would be acceptable to submit imho.

Good start, regardless!

[moot]

Serenity you keep making the same mistakes.  Pimp shots need to be well lit so that others can easily 'read' the details of the skin.  The side fuselage on the two side shots are almost completely dark.
Your panels are still completely flat, like all you did was pour a bucket of paint in photoshop.  You asked what I meant in the other thread where I mentioned this, and like I said there, look at the other skinners' work, Wotan and Fester and Greebo's.  You'll see there's some more or less subtle things done so that the skin doesn't look like a flat sheet of pixels on a 3D model, but closer to a real piece of imperfect paint on imperfect metal.

You should also try to give your panel lines and rivets some variation.  As it is they look too regular.  It breaks the illusion.

[Serenity]

Serenity you keep making the same mistakes.  Pimp shots need to be well lit so that others can easily 'read' the details of the skin.  The side fuselage on the two side shots are almost completely dark.
Your panels are still completely flat, like all you did was pour a bucket of paint in photoshop.  You asked what I meant in the other thread where I mentioned this, and like I said there, look at the other skinners' work, Wotan and Fester and Greebo's.  You'll see there's some more or less subtle things done so that the skin doesn't look like a flat sheet of pixels on a 3D model, but closer to a real piece of imperfect paint on imperfect metal.

You should also try to give your panel lines and rivets some variation.  As it is they look too regular.  It breaks the illusion.

Like I said, this is VERY basic. I havnt really even started working on this one yet. I was just sort of 'claiming' it before someone else made her. And as far as these 'subtle variations', its great to see them, not so great to try to figure out how to get that result.

[moot]

You have a few tools to help you get those subtle variations, any combination of: Layer blending modes (in photoshop at least), brush types, and filters (in photoshop).  If you don't know what something does.. Try it.  If you don't find a brush that's the right shape for what you want to paint, tailor-make one yourself.. There's tons and tons of tutorials on these simple features on the internet.

[Serenity]

You have a few tools to help you get those subtle variations, any combination of: Layer blending modes (in photoshop at least), brush types, and filters (in photoshop).  If you don't know what something does.. Try it.  If you don't find a brush that's the right shape for what you want to paint, tailor-make one yourself.. There's tons and tons of tutorials on these simple features on the internet.

I use GIMP, but Ill give it a whirl. Im still working on the G6 though, so any changes would first be seen on that.

[moot]

Serenity, there's a version of GIMP called GIMPstudio (or something like that), that has an interface made to be as close to PS' as possible.
Remember that most of the time (until you get very good at this sort of thing at least), it won't be just one tool that gives you the result you're looking for, but a combination of one or two or more tools.

[Serenity]

Serenity, there's a version of GIMP called GIMPstudio (or something like that), that has an interface made to be as close to PS' as possible.
Remember that most of the time (until you get very good at this sort of thing at least), it won't be just one tool that gives you the result you're looking for, but a combination of one or two or more tools.

Yeah, as far as making the patterns smoother on the splinters, I have been combining the spray function and the smudge to try to soften it up. Im not sure what you mean by the panel lines looking too regular though. In all my experience, panel lines are straght, one end to the other. A plane with jagged panels usually has something wrong.

[Motherland]

Serenity,
Try using the paintbrush instead of the pencil for diagonal panels. It works much better.

[VonMessa]

Smudge & soften brushes 

[Serenity]

Serenity,
Try using the paintbrush instead of the pencil for diagonal panels. It works much better.

Motherland, Mesa, will do! Thanks for the tips!