"Horse's Itch" - 357th FG, 363 FS - P-51D

[Devil 505]

Paint the edge of the lower stab with OD green.

[Vraciu]

Paint the edge of the lower stab with OD green.

Will do.


Hitech, I tweaked the specular for the markings.   They're not glossy, but they have a slight sheen.   You can see the curve of the wing and fuselage in them now.  The white washes out the panel lines no matter what I try, but that's okay I guess.

The color is slightly off because GIMP does a better job when it converts to 32-bit BMP than PSP 5 does with 24-bit.   It's subtle but it makes a difference.

[Skuzzy]

Now that is acceptable.  Not perfect, but much better than what you originally submitted.

[Vraciu]

Now that is acceptable.  Not perfect, but much better than what you originally submitted.

Awesome.  I will keep tweaking it some more to make it better then I will throw it in for your review.  PM with any suggestions if you prefer not roasting me in public!  LOL

Thanks everyone for their input.  We'll keep improving it.   <S>

[Vraciu]

Paint the edge of the lower stab with OD green.

Not sure if it should be more obvious, but it is definitely breaking up the stark straight line.

[Devil 505]

Looks good. Just noticeable enough.

[Vraciu]

Looks good. Just noticeable enough.

Awesome.   This change will help with two of my Bs.    Thanks!

[Greebo]

As for the flaps and such are you talking about the lighter spots and seams?   I borrowed that effect from the default B.   Kinda' like a paint wear thing I guess.  What would make it look better?    Darkening them?

What I see is bright lines offsetting the panel lines by one pixel on just the flaps and tail surfaces. If this is a drop highlight it should be a lot less powerful and should match the highlights on the rest of the skin. If it is paint wear it should be a lot less continuous, just random small patches of it as on your gun hatches etc. The control surfaces would not normally have that much wear anyway, you mainly get that on areas you've paint chipped, the wing where it is walked on, the leading edges of the wings and on the edges of hatches. If it were me I'd just get rid of them.

[bustr]

From the factory weren't the wing panels except for the fillet, flap, aileron, and removable panels filled with putty then painted with aluminum lacquer? You would have more of a ghost indent at the panel lines and rivets.

I suspect all of you know this page in your sleep.

http://www.ipmsstockholm.se/home/north-american-p-51d-mustang-in-detail-revisited-part-2-wings-and-tails/

[Vraciu]

From the factory weren't the wing panels except for the fillet, flap, aileron, and removable panels filled with putty then painted with aluminum lacquer? You would have more of a ghost indent at the panel lines and rivets.

I suspect all of you know this page in your sleep.

http://www.ipmsstockholm.se/home/north-american-p-51d-mustang-in-detail-revisited-part-2-wings-and-tails/

Yep.  But popular consensus seems to be that while that's more realistic it's bad for immersion.   So I've intentionally hardened the effects of rivets and panels on the wings.   I'm still more subtle than many.   

I'm working on it though.  I will keep experimenting for something that will do both. 

[Vraciu]

What I see is bright lines offsetting the panel lines by one pixel on just the flaps and tail surfaces. If this is a drop highlight it should be a lot less powerful and should match the highlights on the rest of the skin. If it is paint wear it should be a lot less continuous, just random small patches of it as on your gun hatches etc. The control surfaces would not normally have that much wear anyway, you mainly get that on areas you've paint chipped, the wing where it is walked on, the leading edges of the wings and on the edges of hatches. If it were me I'd just get rid of them.

I've toned down the lines.  I am going for a slightly reflected seam edge.   Will eliminate the rest later--or darken them.   Going to experiment a little to see what looks best. 

[bustr]

Soften all but the gun panels and inspection plates and you will be there. Especially if when the sun reflects at an angle it's like looking at painted over flush rivet dimples. In the photos from the restoration, you still see the lines, they are soft.

[Vraciu]

I'll try it. 

[Skuzzy]

Okay, we played a bit with the power and specular.  Put these in your folder and take a look at it in the game.

[Vraciu]

Will do, sir.  Standby one I shall return.