Which of these '51D skins would you like to see submitted? Straw poll!

[crazierthanu]

Double, grim reaper, and daddy's girl are my favorites.

However, they're all great skins and I appreciate the effort you put into making them, even if they all will never be accepted into the game. 

[oboe]

Thanks for participating everybody.   Here are the final results:


And your winners:

1st PLACE - Lt Col Elwyn Righetti's "Katydid", 55th FG, 338th FS



2nd PLACE - Lt Col Gordon Graham's "Down For Double" from the 355th FG, 354th FS



3rd PLACE - Maj William Shomo's "The Flying Undertaker" of the 82nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (PTO)


Now comes the toughest part for me - weathering, scratches, glare and shadowing, layer balance adjustments, etc.  So back to the skinning cave I go!

[Fencer51]

Oboe, scenarios could use a late 354th FG / 9th AF skin like Grim Reaper.  Could you please add that one as well.

[oboe]

Oboe, scenarios could use a late 354th FG / 9th AF skin like Grim Reaper.  Could you please add that one as well.

Absolutely!  Accurate skins for scenarios really add a lot I think.  Consider it done!

Capt Lowell Brueland's "Grim Reaper" of the 354th FG, 355th FS


By the way, I notice that all of the ETO 51s selected have bare wings - lacking the black theater ID stripes.  Can anyone find a picture of any of these planes with the black ID stripes on?   During what time frame and by what units were the black theater ID stripes used?  I have to think at least one of these birds would have them...

[Krusty]

Speaking of the wings....

They have panel lines. They probably shouldn't. BMF P-51s had the panels sealed plugged and painted over with silver paint. This was done during construction of the wings at the plant and they rolled off the line this way. You would have access panels (gun bays, gear wells) but none of all the rivets and panel lines that you have there...

Surprised nobody else mentioned it before me? 

[Fencer51]

Speaking of the wings....



Surprised nobody else mentioned it before me? 

He knows and is going to take care of it so I didn't point it out.

[Krusty]

Ah, okay... I recall the other recent P-51 skin thread where I mentioned it. I didn't notice where Oboe said he'd fix it for these. 

[oboe]

Ah, okay... I recall the other recent P-51 skin thread where I mentioned it. I didn't notice where Oboe said he'd fix it for these.  

These were just quick work-ups to try to decide which scheme I liked best on the metal base.  Then I decided I should have community input.  Lots of detailing left to do and hope I can get it right!  

I wonder though, under combat and hard conditions - would the paint flake or crack along the panel lines, revealing some of the panel structure underneath.

Also I found a pic of Grim Reaper with theater ID stripes on upper wing so I'll add those.

[Devil 505]

Oboe, I for one would like to see shots of the wings sealed and unsealed for comparison. I think the sealed wings look kinda boring. Although, I want to see what you can do with it.

[oboe]

Oboe, I for one would like to see shots of the wings sealed and unsealed for comparison. I think the sealed wings look kinda boring. Although, I want to see what you can do with it.

I agree, its boring.  Its almost like you cannot make it look as real in the game if you show a realistic level of detail, but exaggerating details a little bit somehow ends up making it look more authentic.    I'll just have to try it and see how it goes; it's all about achieving the best balance of what the game can show versus what we percieve as a realistic or authentic look. 

[Slash27]

Did any of these get accepted Oboe?

[oboe]

They never made it past the work up stage; RL intervened.  Though now I can continue on them with spec and bump mapping.

[lulu]

Grim Reaper  for me but i wish to have an all metal colored p51 !


 

[ALFAMEGA51]

Gimme Daddys Girl!!!!!   

[TwinBoom]

Bad Angel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! P.T.O.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!