I'd be reluctant to de-shine the existing skins, like Vraciu I don't think it is right to put my name on what would be 99% another skinner's work. However it is quiet on the new default shape front currently, so I have been thinking of creating a template for one of the existing rides instead. A new template lets me take full advantage of the AH3 lighting effects, shinier metal than painted areas and so on.
From my POV the P-38 has a lot going for it as a skinning subject: It is a fairly popular ride both in the MA and scenarios, no one else is skinning P-38s at present and it has a lot of interesting and well documented schemes including NMF ones. I'd also effectively get three lots of skins for one template as AH's J and L are identical skin-wise and the G just needs some minor revisions. Also all three variants each have at least a dozen open slots for new skins. The drawbacks are that it is a fairly old AH2 shape with relatively low detail as well as some texture banding at the top and bottom of the pod and booms, plus there is always the chance HTC might update the P-38 shape and obsolete the whole project.
If I do decide to skin the P-38s I could also create a "build log" thread, a bit like you get on modelling sites where someone builds a plastic kit over a few weeks. This would give periodic updates on how I do the panel lines, rivets, NMF effects and so on. Would the community be interested in something like that?
