Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: USRanger on June 25, 2009, 05:20:33 PM
-
The new .bmp is out. C'mon skinners, let's see some new typhie skins! :aok
(http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/5976/typh1.jpg) (http://img394.imageshack.us/i/typh1.jpg/)
-
Jumped the gun. Forgot the Skin Viewer needs updated first. Would only be viewable on the beta terrain offline atm.
-
Well you can always get started. I was going to do some 262s but I can start typhies if that is what people want more.
-
I like how they added the cockpit area from the looking down view. Don't think I've seen that before. Aren't they usually side view only for the fuselage?
Fencer,
Typh=more in-game usage 262=sweeter skins
Tough call bro. You decide, you're the artiste. That 262 skin you made me will be seeing some action soon via offline missions. :salute
-
Greebo, nice job on the default, mechanical bits look great. I know what I'll be doing during the next three days off I have :)
-
I'm still working on my Spitfire skins atm, however, I'll be doing some TYPH/TEMP skins for sure. :x
-
Hmm, started work on this one and I can't get it to show in the offline Beta... I moved a couple of my skins from AH2 into the Beta skins directory and they don't show up either. Is this something to do with the Beta? I'm continuing to work on the Tiffie but it may have to wait until the new version or until the Skin Viewer is updated.
-
Jacko, can you post details on the camo your doing please.
-
You can't see skins in the beta, but you can see the new shapes in the skin viewer. Hit the "browse" button in the viewer and navigate to the stdshape.res file in the beta directory. The Typhoon and the other new planes will then be available in the drop down list.
-
Sure thing Kazaa, it's a 439 RCAF bird, 5V-X, named 'Nicky'.
Greebo, I pointed the skin viewer to the beta shapes file and I can see the new models but my work can't be seen by the skin viewer either. Still fiddling with it.
-
Most likely problem is a naming issue, as I can see my skins using the beta's stdshape.res file in the viewer. The folders for Typhoon skins should be named typhoon_1, typhoon_2 etc. the skin itself is typh1.bmp and the name text file is typh.txt.
-
Hmm, that's what I've got. Although my text file is typhoon.txt, not typh.txt. I thought the text file matched the folder name, not the skin file name? Still can't see 'em, all I get is the default skin again when I select typhoon_1 :-/
Are there any more files which need to be in the folder besides the bmp and txt files in order to get the bmp to show?
-
Actually I think you are right about the text file, it probably should be typhoon.txt. However it is not important WRT the skin viewer, it only matters for viewing the skin offline in the game and you can't do that in the beta anyway. Besides, my default Typhoon skin does not have a txt file in its folder and that still works OK in the viewer.
Not sure why this is not working for you though, has anyone else managed to view their own work on a Typhoon skin in the viewer?
-
I have a question for you skilled skin crafters. Is it basically possible to make whatever skin I like and apply it in the MA?? So if I wanted say a Baby Blue Niki or any combination of different colors and have the capability of making my own it is possible?? Or do they all have to be historically accurate?? Thanks
-
For the MA skins have to be historically accurate, no fantasy subjects allowed.
-
Historically accurate only in the MAs.
Bah! Ya beat me by a second Greebs. :lol
-
Sheesh... got it fixed. I was pointing the skin viewer to the Beta's stdshape.res file and wasn't getting anywhere. Then it hit me - the viewer was installed in the HTC\AH2 directory. I DL'd another copy of the viewer and installed it into the Beta and by using that copy I can see my work. I had assumed (yeah, there's that word...) that the viewer just needed to be pointed at whatever stdshape.res file the user wished to reference but I guess it also has to be in the same directory as the skin files you wish to view.
-
Kazaa, I'm also planning to do a 440 RCAF Tiffie named 'Pulverizer IV', flown by Harry Hardy, a pretty famous aircraft. I'll probably stick to Canadian Tiffies from 143 Wing for now :)
Progress (BTW, thanks again for the great default skin Greebo, and thanks to Waffle for such a great model):
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/jocko417/tiffie1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/jocko417/tiffie2.jpg)
Only about 1/2 way done, still a lot of details and weathering to be added... and I haven't even started the (TEDIOUS) rivet layers yet :eek:
Hooray, two spinner textures, one for engine off and one for engine on... now we can finally have spinners with prop holes in 'em.
-
Looking good Jocko. :aok
Personally I like to get all the tedious stuff like rivets out of the way first and save all the nice stuff like colour schemes for later.
-
Looks great Jacko, I'm going to wait for Greebo to release the Tempest's .BMP file before I start a new project. :D
-
If there is a Tempest in the new version, I've not been told about it. I suppose it is possible there is a secret plane or GV to come, for instance I had no idea about the T34/85 in the last version. However as Waffle and Superfly have had to do all the new terrain textures and other artwork for this version I'd have thought they would have been too busy.
-
If there is a Tempest in the new version, I've not been told about it. I suppose it is possible there is a secret plane or GV to come, for instance I had no idea about the T34/85 in the last version. However as Waffle and Superfly have had to do all the new terrain textures and other artwork for this version I'd have thought they would have been too busy.
Me-163 looks like a go.
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,267853.0.html
-
Greebo, what you see above is some pretty heavy duty procrastination on my part ;)
Has the 163 been remodeled or is it just a FM change?
A new Tempest model would be the cat's derriere, the poor Hawker line really looks dated compared to some other types in the game. I'd love to see the Hurricane models updated, there are SO many paint schemes one could skin the Hurris in it's a pity there's only 15 slots available.
-
Me-163 looks like a go.
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,267853.0.html
The flight model is independent from the 3D model. The 3D model is the same.
-
Looking good Jocko. :aok
Personally I like to get all the tedious stuff like rivets out of the way first and save all the nice stuff like colour schemes for later.
For some reason I love doing all the tedious stuff like rivets and panel lines and hate doing the painting. I usually get everything but the major weathering and markings done before I even start on painting.
-
Generally my way of working is to start with all the base layers that other layers are built from. I paint the base colour layer for the skin first. Then I skin half the basic panel line, fastener, fabric structure and rivet layers all at the same time. I'll skin one wing, one half of the fuselage etc in false colours, edit them until I'm happy that everything lines up and then copy and paste them to the other half of the skin. This stuff takes week or two to do and can be a bit of a grind at times.
At some point I'll skin all the interior bits as well. This is pretty much a seperate project, with its own layers.
Then I start on all the 3D stuff, creating multiple copies of the base layers to get drop highlights, stronger hatch lines, worn rivets and so on. I also add shadow and highlight effects and create the 3D fabric effects. This stuff is more interesting as you have to think. Also you see big improvements in a fairly short time, a few days normally.
Then I use several copies of the base paint layer to create the camo scheme, erasing different areas of this layer for each new colour. Simple markings are painted right on the skin, complex noseart sometimes gets its own multi layer file and is shrunk and pasted in later. All this can be anything from an evening to a few days to do.
Last thing is the weathering, there might be 20 layers or so and it can take a week or two. I like this as its an area where you can express yourself a bit.
I agree about the Hurri BTW, lots of camo schemes and also a load of interesting 3D effects to do on it. Its one of the more popular MA rides that hasn't been redone yet, so hopefully it won't be much longer.
-
In a perfect world I'll do the panel lines completely, rivets completely, make sure everything is lined up right and then start the camo and markings. Then I dirty everything up. This time around I'm like a kid in a candy store - I've got all these RCAF Tiffie references and until now have never had a nice model of it to skin, so the usual order has gone out the window :D Too excited!
Progress:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/jocko417/tiffie3.jpg)
-
She's looking mighting fine Jacko, any chance you have vent as I would love to pick your brain for a couple of mins.
Jacko, btw what software are you using to skin your camo?
-
In a perfect world I'll do the panel lines completely, rivets completely, make sure everything is lined up right and then start the camo and markings. Then I dirty everything up. This time around I'm like a kid in a candy store - I've got all these RCAF Tiffie references and until now have never had a nice model of it to skin, so the usual order has gone out the window :D Too excited!
Progress:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/jocko417/tiffie3.jpg)
:O
-
In a perfect world I'll do the panel lines completely, rivets completely, make sure everything is lined up right and then start the camo and markings. Then I dirty everything up. This time around I'm like a kid in a candy store - I've got all these RCAF Tiffie references and until now have never had a nice model of it to skin, so the usual order has gone out the window :D Too excited!
Progress:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/jocko417/tiffie3.jpg)
Love the detailing on the wings with the darker swatches giving the appearace of 3D. :aok
-
Thanks guys, I think I've finally nailed a technique for getting a realistic 'dimpling' effect for riveted surfaces. One just has to be careful not to over do it, what looks really nice from an exterior shot can look really heavy handed from within the cockpit when you look out over the wings. Since the cockpit is where we spend most of our time it's taken some experimenting to get a nice balanced effect. After I finish with this beast I'll have to go back and change all the rivet layers on my Spit templates.
Kazaa, I use GIMP for just about everything except: Photoshop for drawing the original 'dot' rivet layer, making roundels. PSP for doing the code letters and serials, just because I'm more used to it's text interface and it makes things faster. I used to use the other two progs for other things but GIMP has really evolved over the years and it does a lot more things now that it never used to. Only thing is it doesn't like hyper threading much so it's not totally stable on my machine. I save my work a LOT! :) BTW, what do you mean by 'vent'?
-
ventrilo
-
ventrilo
He wants to chat.
wrongway
-
He wants to chat.
wrongway
Ventrilo has a chat
-
Ventrilo, it's crystal clear VoIP
I have access to a private server if your able to spare some time to chat.
-
I'll have to look into that, I'm actually not the most tech-savvy person, only got a cell phone a year ago... and after it rang almost non-stop the first few days I remembered why I'd put off getting one for so long ;)
Finished the wing underside rivets and added some 3D shading to the ailerons and elevators. Tail section rivets done. Tomorrow should see the rivets all completed and then I get to scuff the crap out of it. :devil
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/jocko417/tiffiea.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/jocko417/tiffieb.jpg)
MP131 served with No. 438 (Wildcats) RCAF as F3-J. Flown by Norm Dawber. Nose art was provided by the Disney corporation, who has done nose art for many squadrons during many conflicts.
Today 438 Sqn still uses the Wildcat art in it's shoulder patches, like this one for desert use:
https://www.dbembroidery.com/product_info.php?products_id=17189&sid=f5bc4393d818fe5d4dae4491e89c18d5 (https://www.dbembroidery.com/product_info.php?products_id=17189&sid=f5bc4393d818fe5d4dae4491e89c18d5)
-
Redid the stripes, more of a 'brush stroke' effect added, added underside weathering... ok, time for bed... who needs heroin when you can skin?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/jocko417/tiffiec.jpg)
-
Nice work on the 438 Tiffie Jocko
Greebo did a 438 bird too based on info on a Tiffie pilot who's grave I saw in Normandy and info from Halliday's book on the RCAF Tiffies and Temps. Would be interesting to see your 438 Tiffie and Greebo's winging up :)
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,266016.0.html
-
One minor thing you might want to consider Jocko. On most photos of Canadian Typhoons I've seen the bomb rack is painted the same colour as the D Day stripe on the wing. The RCAF squadrons generally used bombs all the time while the RAF squadrons switched between bombs and rockets, more often rockets. So RCAF Typhoons would usually have had the bomb racks already fitted when the stripes were painted on.
-
Generally my way of working is to start with all the base layers...
Well, but for the new aircraft models, you're doing it all from scratch...
Regardless gentlemen, I'm personally jealous of these late AH2 model revisions as they look phenomenal, and are starting to date some of the earlier 2nd models, IMO. I'm curious though, that if that is the default Typh model, is it 512X512 or 1024X1024? Greebo, you guys do a great job on these aircraft.
Jocko, awesome effect on the rivet lines and a great looking bird.
-
Yeah, there's a good write up about Ted Bugg in Halliday's Typhoon and Tempest , a book which has become invaluable lately and one which I'll be referring to often when I start doing the hard weathering. Lots of great photos.
Speaking of photos, wrt the bomb racks Greebo do you have any shots you can post? So far in every photo I have seen the racks are a neutral colour, presumably Med Sea Grey. Page 71 of Halliday's book has an excellent shot of this. As I'm looking through the book I'm beginning to think my wing stripes are slightly too thin and a bit too far outboard, according to the majority of pics ;)
Stoney, you're right about scratch work. I tried it on the Lancaster once and just about went mental. Luckily we have great starting references in the form of 1024x1024 default skins for the newer aircraft which makes it much more enjoyable. I made my Spit IX template from a 512 default and it wasn't this much fun... ;)
EDIT: Ok, Greebo I found some shots of the racks being painted black to match the stripes and it confirms my stripes are too far outboard. Good catch.
-
Glad you found something Jocko, I needed to get home before I could check. I was going to suggest the photos on page 613, Vol 4 of the 2nd TAF book series or page 24 of the Squadron Typhoon book.
Incidentally while looking for that I spotted a mistake I made on the default Typhoon skin. The gun barrels are painted the same colour top and bottom, they don't have their lower halves painted in the lighter grey like I have got it.
-
Another other thing I just noticed on this photo. The D Day stripes have been removed down to the yellow stripe outboard of the inner cannon and down to the light grey inboard of the cannon. So you get a slight step in the stripes either side of the inboard cannon. Not sure if all Typhoons were done this way, but it seems to make sense. I'm going to adjust my D Day stripes to this layout.
(http://www.gfg06.dial.pipex.com/photos/RCAFTyphoonphoto.jpg)
-
I did some searching and although I found a couple of pics that do show top and bottom colours on the cannon fairings, the majority of pics show a solid colour, three Ocean Grey and the outer starboard one Dark Green (assuming the aircraft was factory painted). Another nice catch. :aok
The yellow ID marking was painted between the cannons as well so the invasion stripes pic might just be the stripes wearing off due to wear and tear on the more accessible areas of the leading edge of the wing.
Et voila, as the French say, I can only assume it means 'I've finally finished those ******* rivets'...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/jocko417/rivets1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/jocko417/rivets2.jpg)
-
Out come the whips and chains...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/jocko417/doors2.jpg)
-
Getting dirtier...
Aircraft is RB281, Hugh Fraser's "Nicky". Coded 5V-X, it served with 439 Sqn, RCAF. Fraser's third kill was an Me-262, and it's victory marking was painted next to the other two, only in red.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/jocko417/dirty1-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/jocko417/dirty2-1.jpg)
Still some small details to be added, like the rudder trim tab actuators, the screws on the cannon fairings, etc, plus I want to do a couple more Dark Green layers so the camo doesn't look the same on every skin.
-
Really nice work jocko. :aok