Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: Motherland on December 31, 2007, 06:25:48 PM
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OK... I dont have any more stupid questions about GIMP. Ive found everything I need and I started my skin, which is looking nice so far (I havent done panel lines or dirt yet, but...) Anyway, I have some questions.
First of all, the aircraft is a 9./JG3 109F4, "Gelbe 7" of Oblt. Viktor Bauer, in winter Camoflauge. (Ill scan the profile Im using up)
First of all, what font should I use for the "7"? Second, on the top of the wing, what Iron Cross should I use? Just a standard black cross with white and black outline? Or just the black outline? Third I need to know what RLM color is beneath the killboard on the rudder... lemme scan it up real quick.
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Its most likely RLM75 or RLM74. The plane would have been 74/75/76 in March 1942. The upper wing markings would have been most likely white outlines only.
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Originally posted by Fencer51
Its most likely RLM75 or RLM74. The plane would have been 74/75/76 in March 1942. The upper wing markings would have been most likely white outlines only.
When I said winter camoflauge... I meant its white. Its scanning right now...
#6
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/9JG3profile.jpg)
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Yes I know, I have the profile in a book. >G<
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Originally posted by Fencer51
Yes I know, I have the profile in a book. >G<
How would you be able to see the upper wing markings if they were white then?
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dirt, mud, chiping
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Well.. I looked around and you might have a valid point. They were probably the white with the black centers. Considering the upper and lowers have the black outlines they probably are the black cross with white outline.
Remember the white covering the plane is white wash not paint, is it not?
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same style as used on armored vehicles a water based white wash over the original camouflage there was usually a rough border around any markings national insignia etc.
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Originally posted by Motherland
When I said winter camoflauge... I meant its white. Its scanning right now...
#6
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/9JG3profile.jpg)
what book is that
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"Osprey Aicraft of the Aces; Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front". The Yak profile I posted is also from an Osprey book, "Yakovlev Aces of World War II". They are good books.
Another question: Would the Killboard be mirrored?
Edit:
A little bit of progress. Im still getting used to this whole thing so Im moving at a crawling pace.
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss11.jpg)
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss10.jpg)
Need to take pictures with the killboard that I just finished.
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss12.jpg)
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Looks good so far.
Regards,
Subway
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Wouldn't this look so good with a Gelbe 7 on it? I still need the font...
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss15.jpg)
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss16.jpg)
I know the panelling is still far from done, but I think its finally starting to come together...
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looks fantastic 762R excellent work
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Originally posted by boingg
looks fantastic 762R excellent work
Thanks! Maybe after this I can do a JG11 skin...
!
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Nice! :aok
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Looking good so far, mate.
Don't be affraid to get her dirty... this is the Russian front.
:lol
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For the "7" it's best to make it yourself. Scale the profile into the same size as the skin, lower the opacity so you can see through it. Use a polygon select. Paint fill (i.e. bucket). Copy and paste for the other side of fuselage.
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I don't think the the kill markings were mirrored, mate. In the photos I've seen they have all been on the port side of the rudder, unless of course the pilot was particularly good and had many kills.
I cannot be quoted on this but I would consider it unlikely that the markings were replicated on the other side.
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I think they were the same on both sides of the rudder. Most model kits give you decals for both. I've seen some warbirds with them on both sides, and most artwork of an ace's plane has them regardless of which side you look at.
Not the best proof, but altogether it adds up to suggest the kills are on both sides.
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Originally posted by Xasthur
Looking good so far, mate.
Don't be affraid to get her dirty... this is the Russian front.
:lol
Havent gotten that far yet. Its described as 'heavily weathered from the Russian Winter"... You can bet it will be. I just hope I dont OVER weather it, which I have a tendency to do.
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Having problems with GIMP.
I cant seem to get the blur to work for the weathering.
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Just wanted to point out something. You might already have spotted this. The whitewash paint was only applied to the upper surfaces. The lower surfaces would still be (most likely) Lichtblau.
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Originally posted by Krusty
Just wanted to point out something. You might already have spotted this. The whitewash paint was only applied to the upper surfaces. The lower surfaces would still be (most likely) Lichtblau.
After I started looking at paint schemes a bit more, I started to wonder about that. Thanks Krusty.
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(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss22.jpg)
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss23.jpg)
Still cant figure out how to use blur/smudge...
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The blue would most likely extend up the tail as well.
The white is too solid, too uniform. It would be an uneven paint application, and perhaps might even wear down to show the original paint underneath (quite common with this paint, but it depends on if you've got that "look" in mind for this skin or not)
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Ive been experimenting with how far up the tail to go and how far back.
With wearing away of the wash also (thus the 'halo's' around the crosses and markings)
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Originally posted by Motherland
[BStill cant figure out how to use blur/smudge... [/B]
Go to "Filters"/"Blur"/"Gaussian Blur"
You can adjust the severity of the blur using the Gaussian Blur control. Make sure that you don't blur the same image twice. Rather, if you don't like how the first blur turns out, go back using CTRL-Z, either increase or decrease the blur value, and re-blur the image.
You can also create a blurred edge on a layer by using the "dodge" function.
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I guess GIMP just doesnt like me. I tried to do this, but upon getting to blur I was met with the pleasant surprise that all blur filter option things were greyed out. I know Ive probably done something really stupid, so please dont get TOO frustrated with me :lol
I redid the haloing effect to make it more apparant, also..
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss25-1.jpg)
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Originally posted by Motherland
I tried to do this, but upon getting to blur I was met with the pleasant surprise that all blur filter option things were greyed out.
I'm at a loss on that. I've never had any trouble with the blur filters before.
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Is it a difference in the free downloaded version, and the purchased version?
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Originally posted by Angrist
Is it a difference in the free downloaded version, and the purchased version?
No, its free to download. There is no purchased version of GIMP.
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maybe it something simple like "selecting" the layer you wish to edit with a "select all" kind of thing.
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I dunno... all I did was make a new layer ('exhaust'), draw some dark lines with the pencil (so I could get a feel for what I was actually going to do when it came to the exhaust), went up to the Filter drop down list and put my cursor over blur... and everything was greyed out. I know I must be missing a step.
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/gimptardout.jpg)
The exhaust layer is selected... I have 8 layers including the base image and the exhaust.
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Originally posted by Motherland
The exhaust layer is selected... I have 8 layers including the base image and the exhaust.
Disco!!!
Go to Image/Mode/RGB. You can't do Blurs in Indexed Mode... You always want to work on your master skin in RGB mode...at least I always do.
(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p61/stonewall74/GIMPScreenie.jpg)
You may want to set up your desktop like I have mine, where you can access the image and the tool dialogues simultaneously. Prevents a lot of flipping back and forth when you want to change tools or layers.
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Originally posted by Stoney74
You may want to set up your desktop like I have mine, where you can access the image and the tool dialogues simultaneously. Prevents a lot of flipping back and forth when you want to change tools or layers.
Hey! Thats a good idea. thanks.
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A little fun with blur got me this...
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss26.jpg)
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss27.jpg)
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss28.jpg)
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Got Gelbe 7 a bit dirty.
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss33.jpg)
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss30.jpg)
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss32.jpg)
I've only worked on the wings so far, as you can tell.
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I present to you...
Gelbe 7, flown by Oberleutnant Viktor Bauer, Staffelkapitaen of 9. Jagdgeschwader 3.
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss42.jpg)
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss39.jpg)
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss38.jpg)
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss40.jpg)
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss37-1.jpg)
Coming to skies near you...
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss43.jpg)
Also, inevitably, coming to skies near you;
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/ahss44.jpg)
Still have some minor detailing to do, but the bulk is done.
Big thanks to Stoney74 and Fencer. I would have been screwed without you two :aok
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very nice! I think the underside "black/oil/mud" is too dark. I think it should be a bit more opaque, thin it out a bit so it doesn't stand out so much.
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Originally posted by The Fugitive
very nice! I think the underside "black/oil/mud" is too dark. I think it should be a bit more opaque, thin it out a bit so it doesn't stand out so much.
The... burn/oil behind the oil cooler, as I look at other's skins, is a bit dark. The mud though, is intentional. Mud was notorious in Russia, of course. The big mud streak behind the gear comes from a 109 with the same mud pattern. Saw a photo of it in a book... the 109 had been upturned. Apparantly this was a common pattern because they had to taxi at walking speed during muddy periods to prevent the mud from the wheels flinging up into the radiator.
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Outstanding for a first skin, well done.
My nit-picks with it so far are:
Your yellow 7 looks very pixelated and blurred. Maybe that's to do with the distance at which it is being viewed and your graphics set up.
This brings me to a side point. Have you got the Hi Res pack installed? Having that installed will give you a massive improvement in the way your computer displays rivets and panel lines on the skins you're using in-game.
If your computer is not up to the task of running the Hi Res pack on a usual occasion I suggest you do what a squadie of mine suggested to me when I started on my old computer.
Install a seperate version of aces high and name it Aces High Skin or something. Set up your graphics (at the splash screen when the game starts, not in-game) to the maximum your computer can handle (even if it only runs at 6 FPS or whatever, you can still get screenies) and install the Hi Res pack.
The trick is, every time you start up the game and change graphics settings the game rebuilds the graphics cache which takes a long time and would get very tedious if you had to do that all the time. Do all of your skinning in the AH Skin directories and take your screenies there and use your regular copy of AH for playing.
The second is that you have a fairly dramatic cut off in dirt on the underside of the fuselage immediately after the rear section of the wing joins the fuselage.
I've never seen marks like that before and I would suggest that the aft fuselage could do with a few flicks of mud and assorted dirt and what-not. Not as severe as right behind the the wheel tracks, of course... but this is Russia, after all. :aok
Also, you've missed a few of the spars on your canopy. The front and rear sections are white, the openable section is black.
Excellent job though, mate. Really done well.
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I am, infact running the HiRes pack with 1024 textures with... 1280x980 or something like that screen resolution(for some reason it still looks crappy in screen shots! Im running the highest I can to get this thing and it still doesnt look as nice as others. :mad: )I need to fix the 7... when I was running GIMP in indexed mode none of the layers were mixing with those below them (my panel lines looked horrible on the upper wing surfaces from the cockpit, I had to redo them). I didnt even notice the 7, thanks.
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Keep at it...it's looking good.
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Another thing when taking screen shots for folks to review...
Make sure you take shots with the sun behind the camera, so the exposed surface of the aircraft has light on it, and is easy to see. Some of those posted above have some dark shading, and its difficult to tell how exactly some of the detail would look in full light.
I typically roll inverted to turn the belly up for a shot, for example.
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Nice Job, 7!
Can't wait to try it out.:D
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I just noticed that your Yellow 7 is the wrong type of 7.
It drops down at the top left hand corner.
The seven should appear as this this one does '7' with just two lines, horizontal and diagonal, not the vertical, horizontal and diagonal.
It's a minor gripe but that's the sort of thing that would piss me off if I realised that I'd missed something like that with one of my skins.
Looking good mate, I've got a winter 109 G2 lined up much like this one.