Lt. William Eddins - P-51D "WEE WILLIE" (QP*C) - 52nd FG, 2nd FS - AH3 Rev 2

[Vraciu]

Another long overdue update.

P-51D-20-NA, s/n 44-63490
"WEE WILLIE" - QP*C
Lt. William “Bill” Eddins
52nd Fighter Group, 2nd Fighter Squadron
Italy, 1944

This is Lt. Bill Eddins’ P-51D-20-NA "WEE WILLIE" (s/n 44-63490, coded QP*C) of the 52nd Fighter Group, 2nd Fighter Squadron in Italy, 1944.  The airplane is named after Bill’s son.  Eddins, incidentally, is the cousin of Aces High member TMetal.   This Mustang features the distinct red lettering of the 2nd FS and is interesting in that it has the all-yellow tail but only the inner wing theater bands.   The 2nd FS jokingly referred to themselves as “The American Beagle Squadron” in reference to their Eagle Squadron predecessors.

The 52nd FG was twice awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. After conversion to Mustangs in April-May 1944 the Group concentrated primarily on bomber escort, but still engaged in strafing attacks on targets in Italy, France, Central Europe, and the Balkans before returning to the US in August of 1945.

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I really am working on getting the wings to look good from the cockpit.  I know there is more to be done, but this is another step in the direction I have in my mind.  (Edit in: I’ve noticed a couple things to fix since I posted these.   Nothing major.   Will get to them before uploading.)









AH2 Original Skin Thread: https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,364608.0.html

AH3 Original Update: https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,387322.msg5147405.html#msg5147405

AH3 Revision 1 Thread: https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,394497.msg5234232.html#msg5234232

[Vraciu]

Here's how it has evolved in reverse order with the newest version first.   (This photo was prior to final Spec Mapping.   I will tweak the spec maps a little as I had the panel line shading layer visible when I created them and took this picture.   By turning that layer off I will get a little more shine from this angle, but you get the idea, regardless.  I’m also going to adjust a the serial number on the tail by moving it forward just a hair.)

[Volron]

The Yellow seems a bit "rich", "bold"?  Stands out to me, that is for sure.  I really hope that is the proper yellow (but get the feeling it is not), because I like it.

[Vraciu]

The Yellow seems a bit "rich", "bold"?  Stands out to me, that is for sure.  I really hope that is the proper yellow (but get the feeling it is not), because I like it.

The colors used by the 52nd were really bright.   The lighting engine flares the yellow some depending on angle.   The only option is to desaturate it to the point of blandness which looks terrible.   Until I figure out the secret I decided to stick with the bold look.

I can make it flatter but it doesn't look any better like that.







https://pin.it/2nzkuuX

[FTJR]

Nice job V.
The yellow is a bit tricky, but I think it looks good. 


edit... no black band where the yellow meets the bare metal?

[lyric1]

 

[Greebo]

Great skin Vraciu, nice upgrade.

[Devil 505]

Nicely done, V


Regarding yellow, What makes it so hard to deal with is the fact that computers don't really replicate well. You can't simply darken it without it becoming a yellow-brown. And once you reach yellow-brown, the game engine won't shift it back to pure yellow, it just shows light yellow-brown.

Also, when dealing with these bright colors that tend to flare, make those colors glossier than usual with the P and S maps. it will reduce the angle that the flaring occurs.

[oboe]

Incredible progression on the updates V.  Really great improvement over time.   

How great to have good color photos to work with.   Question though: the aircraft in these photos all show a black border to the front of tail section yellow paint.  Did "Wee Willie" not have this black border?

[Vraciu]

Thanks all. 

No black border.  That's 4th FS.   2nd had red letters and no border for the most part.   The photos were posted for reference to the yellow only.   Sorry for the confusion.   The original thread above also shows a lineup of the squadron and the plane closest to the camera is painted like Willie is below.  No stripe.



Devil, I'll work some more on the spec maps on this as suggested and see how it likes that.

[Vraciu]

Glossier on the P map would be darker right?  Black?

[Devil 505]

Glossier on the P map would be darker right?  Black?

No, lighter.

[Vraciu]

No, lighter.

I saw your maps and I thank you.

So glossier means a sharper reflection.   Lighter.   

[Volron]

The colors used by the 52nd were really bright.   The lighting engine flares the yellow some depending on angle.   The only option is to desaturate it to the point of blandness which looks terrible.   Until I figure out the secret I decided to stick with the bold look.

I can make it flatter but it doesn't look any better like that.

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

https://pin.it/2nzkuuX

Then you got the Yellow.    Love that bright yellow!

As for the Red then:  If you are going off the middle photo, then the Red is good, otherwise it would do with a slight more "rich" to it. 

[Vraciu]

Then you got the Yellow.    Love that bright yellow!

As for the Red then:  If you are going off the middle photo, then the Red is good, otherwise it would do with a slight more "rich" to it. 

Thank you.   The problem with red is when you get richer then it doesn't look painted.   It's kinda' distracting.   I don't have any color photos of the airplane in question so I'm kinda' screwed there.