B-17 Skin Request

[hodag]

Just wondering if anyone takes specific skin requests. I am not quite comp literate enough to create one. My grandfather was a B-17 navigator and I was wondering if anyone would be willing to make a skin for his group/squad. I was just hoping for the tail (group) side letters (squad) and serial number.  He was in the 390th group (square J) 571st Squadron (FC) serial # (231913). If you can help thank you.
http://www.390th.org/museum/gallery/Paintings/Leading_the_Big_Show.htm


Hodag (RV)

[Motherland]

As long as it's a B17G (I'm not very good at visual identification of USAAF variants, so I can't tell from the painting) it's allowed to be done.

If you have photographs of the bird that helps a lot from the skinners perspective.

[hodag]

The 390th flew the 17G, I checked on the site. The only other thing I have is the name. It was "ETOits" painted on the nose in script. I have his logbook with his comments on each mission but no good side view pics of a 390th bomber.

[Lord ReDhAwK]

Heya Hodag,

If someone can give me some more information on it I would be happy to skin it for you.  Period pics are, of course, preferred.  However, we have submitted skins that were approved that did not include period photos (but we had a very accurate history of the aircraft.)  Most skinners try to match the paint and weathering as closely as we can.  Only a photo can provide that information to us.  Things like the number of missions reflected on her nose, any noseart, patched bullet holes or damage, ect. become very important in the identity of an aircraft IMHO.  Just slapping a paint-job on it and calling it done feels incomplete to me.

I'm actually working on a 262 right now, but can drop it temporarily as I already have a 17 template made up from Little Miss Mischief.  I will keep an eye on the thread to see if anything can surface about her.

ReDhAwK

[Serenity]

I was in the middle of toying with a B-17G skin from that same group, (Liberty Belle), but I can certainly change her up and do your grandfather's aircraft! Just get us a bit more info, and I can show you at least a teaser by the end of the week!

[hodag]

I would love to have a picture of his actual A/C but I have none. All I have is the name (ETOitis) and serial number. I have been on the 390th BG website where there is a ton of info, but no pics. I know he flew 25 missions and know where they all were. My father gave me all of his (my grandfathers) WW2 Items (Log, Foot locker, Medals/ribbons, commissioning paperwork, original e6b, slide rule and star chart) but no pics of his A/C. My dad and I have  scoured the net for years and were unable to find anything.  I figured the best I could hope for was to use a similar BG A/C with his info. Here are a few links I found, they are AS much info as I have. Hopefully they can also help with serenitys Liberty Belle skin. Thanks again for your help. It may seem strange to some but its a kind of connection with him for me.

http://www.390th.org/research/Stories/DingDongDaddy-600.jpg   A good view of the nose of a 390th 17. His plane recorded 4 kills (the swastikas)
http://www.390th.org/aircraft/aircraft.htm   Side view of 390th markings. Great sound effect. I do know on his A/C the DI would have been FC
http://www.390th.org/museum/gallery/I'll%20Be%20Around/I'll_Be_Around.htm  Photos of the 17 at the 390th museum.
http://www.390th.org/museum/gallery/Noseart/noseart.htm  A few examples of 390th noseart including Liberty Belle
http://www.framlingham.co.uk/390th%20images/Over%20the%20North%20Sea1.jpg  Nice pic of 390th 571st A/C. Where you see the L his A/C was E. full ser # 231913
http://www.framlingham.co.uk/390th%20images/Low%20over%20the%20North%20Sea1.jpg  Top View

[lyric1]

Nice pics.

[Serenity]

I would love to have a picture of his actual A/C but I have none. All I have is the name (ETOitis) and serial number. I have been on the 390th BG website where there is a ton of info, but no pics. I know he flew 25 missions and know where they all were. My father gave me all of his (my grandfathers) WW2 Items (Log, Foot locker, Medals/ribbons, commissioning paperwork, original e6b, slide rule and star chart) but no pics of his A/C. My dad and I have  scoured the net for years and were unable to find anything.  I figured the best I could hope for was to use a similar BG A/C with his info. Here are a few links I found, they are AS much info as I have. Hopefully they can also help with serenitys Liberty Belle skin. Thanks again for your help. It may seem strange to some but its a kind of connection with him for me.

http://www.390th.org/research/Stories/DingDongDaddy-600.jpg   A good view of the nose of a 390th 17. His plane recorded 4 kills (the swastikas)
http://www.390th.org/aircraft/aircraft.htm   Side view of 390th markings. Great sound effect. I do know on his A/C the DI would have been FC
http://www.390th.org/museum/gallery/I'll%20Be%20Around/I'll_Be_Around.htm  Photos of the 17 at the 390th museum.
http://www.390th.org/museum/gallery/Noseart/noseart.htm  A few examples of 390th noseart including Liberty Belle
http://www.framlingham.co.uk/390th%20images/Over%20the%20North%20Sea1.jpg  Nice pic of 390th 571st A/C. Where you see the L his A/C was E. full ser # 231913
http://www.framlingham.co.uk/390th%20images/Low%20over%20the%20North%20Sea1.jpg  Top View

Alright, I should have at least something for you by saturday night. Im just trying to work out a few kinks with my all-metal skins.

[hodag]

How's it coming? Anything (simple) I can do to help?

Thanks Again,

Hodag

[Serenity]

How's it coming? Anything (simple) I can do to help?

Thanks Again,

Hodag

Its... interesting. All of the highly detailed parts are just about done, Im just REALLY struggling to get the overall bare-metal look that I want from it.

[Lord ReDhAwK]

Heya Serenity,

Not sure what settings you may be using for your materials file.  Figured I would let you look at mine that I used for Little Miss Mischief being she is similar to what you are working with on this one..  Hope they may help some with your problem.

0.302,0.302,0.312,Ambient
0.439,0.439,0.459,Diffuse
0.100,0.100,0.110,Emissive
0.600,0.600,0.610,Specular
8.5000,Power

ReDhAwK

[MotleyCH]

I used the Default Material File, on my B-17 skin. But you may get better results playing with the sliders from the Skin Viewer.

[Serenity]

Heya Serenity,

Not sure what settings you may be using for your materials file.  Figured I would let you look at mine that I used for Little Miss Mischief being she is similar to what you are working with on this one..  Hope they may help some with your problem.

0.302,0.302,0.312,Ambient
0.439,0.439,0.459,Diffuse
0.100,0.100,0.110,Emissive
0.600,0.600,0.610,Specular
8.5000,Power

ReDhAwK

Thanks. I was talking to Motley and Krusty because their metal is absolutely PERFECT. The problem I am having is the bare-metal just doesn't look right. When I get back to my skinning computer Ill post some pictures. Ive always avoided bare metal skins because I know EXACTLY what I want but I have no clue how to get there.