Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: bravoa8 on November 30, 2009, 03:43:19 PM

Title: I16 skin!
Post by: bravoa8 on November 30, 2009, 03:43:19 PM
Here's my I-16 skin I've been working on. I still have to do the panel lines but the coloring is pretty much done, It was in the 12th IAP in WW2.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2757/4147706099_497da9c738_b.jpg)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2712/4148464914_82d8d61cf7_b.jpg)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/4147706421_0042b507fb_b.jpg)
Title: I16 skin Update!
Post by: bravoa8 on November 30, 2009, 06:22:54 PM
Ok here it is with the panel lines and wear and tear marks.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2505/4148089531_301facb634_b.jpg)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2667/4148089667_3a392a4756_b.jpg)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2734/4148089863_486d2d5974_b.jpg)

So does this skin meet the qualifications (Does it look good enough)?
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: 5PointOh on November 30, 2009, 06:40:52 PM
Use the print screen function on your keyboard to take a screen sized picture, then put into a jpeg format, and attach it to the boards using the "additional options".  As far as your skin goes, to me the stars do not look uniform to me.  Try this website: http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/  ---> downloads and look for fonts, insignias.  They will make it slightly easier on you. 
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: Citabria on November 30, 2009, 07:05:46 PM
has no detail

blah
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: bravoa8 on November 30, 2009, 07:20:55 PM
Use the print screen function on your keyboard to take a screen sized picture, then put into a jpeg format, and attach it to the boards using the "additional options".  As far as your skin goes, to me the stars do not look uniform to me.  Try this website: http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/  ---> downloads and look for fonts, insignias.  They will make it slightly easier on you. 
Thanks for the site and yeah the stars aren't very good I'll try those from that website. :salute

has no detail

blah
Have some respect Citabria it's the first skin I've ever made and I'm not very good at art stuff.
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: Kweassa on November 30, 2009, 07:23:09 PM
Quote
Have some respect Citabria it's the first skin I've ever made and I'm not very good at art stuff.

Artists don't demand respect - they deserve it.

If you think this is harsh, just imagine what its like to be Lindsay Lohan.
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: Megalodon on November 30, 2009, 07:36:02 PM
Use the print screen function on your keyboard to take a screen sized picture, then put into a jpeg format, and attach it to the boards using the "additional options". 

I am unable to open any of your skins.
the way he put it on the board is just fine.
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: bravoa8 on November 30, 2009, 08:13:06 PM
I changed the stars up a bit do they look too big?
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: Killer91 on November 30, 2009, 11:02:38 PM
Stars may be just a bit to big but overall A+!
Not bad for a first skin. I say make more!!

And maybe someday one of em will get put in the MA :)




has no detail

blah

And how do you know if that fighter group had more detail than that?



Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: Krusty on November 30, 2009, 11:09:03 PM
You need to develop an eye for accuracy... For example the star on one side of your fuselage was way too high, and the other side maybe too low.

One example is that you've added some details like panel lines and what looks like some paint chipping near the rivet lines, but on the other hand you've got no stains, leaks, from exhausts, oil, hydraulics, gun barrels, and so forth.

For the first issue, look at some reference photos. I wouldn't simply say "I made the stars bigger!" unless you looked at a reference or photo, and realized they were too small before. I would also suggest looking at the stars you have on your wings. They're not true stars (the angles are off, some thinner, some thicker, off-angle). If you're having troubles put a template layer underneath of some picture or something, and trace a new layer on top of that (to get the right size/angle/proportions).

For the second issue you'll need to experiment and see what you can pull off. Forum feedback will be VERY useful for your first few skins, and in fact most experienced skinners still look for forum feedback.
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: bravoa8 on November 30, 2009, 11:16:22 PM
You need to develop an eye for accuracy... For example the star on one side of your fuselage was way too high, and the other side maybe too low.

One example is that you've added some details like panel lines and what looks like some paint chipping near the rivet lines, but on the other hand you've got no stains, leaks, from exhausts, oil, hydraulics, gun barrels, and so forth.

For the first issue, look at some reference photos. I wouldn't simply say "I made the stars bigger!" unless you looked at a reference or photo, and realized they were too small before. I would also suggest looking at the stars you have on your wings. They're not true stars (the angles are off, some thinner, some thicker, off-angle). If you're having troubles put a template layer underneath of some picture or something, and trace a new layer on top of that (to get the right size/angle/proportions).

For the second issue you'll need to experiment and see what you can pull off. Forum feedback will be VERY useful for your first few skins, and in fact most experienced skinners still look for forum feedback.
Thanks for the tips. You see I'm not much of an artist at all this is pretty easy for me because this squad just had green planes. I'm not good at the stars or rivet lines on the wings I just can't seem to figure out what color shade to use anyway here's an update picture.
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: 5PointOh on November 30, 2009, 11:45:48 PM
Bravo, which editing program are you using? Follow Krustys tutorial, its a great starting point, and where it came together for me on how to approach a skin.  Then listen to the "useful" critism from people like cactus, plazrus, fencer, greebo, Krusty, ect ect.

For me it been a lot of trial and error, and a lot of good tips from other. The more different viewpoints you get and ideas from others will help get the ideas bouncing around in your head. I'll try to help you the best I can.  Good work and keep at it.
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: Krusty on November 30, 2009, 11:58:16 PM
Here's the problem: Your stars are still hand-drawn, and not "perfectly symmetrical" stars. They're also in the wrong places.

This is why you need to have some sort of reference point. You need something to work towards. Ideally that's real WW2 photos (if you can find 'em!) and/or technical drawings showing locations of national markings or panel lines, and so forth.

So, when checking what's wrong with your fuselage stars, you might compare them to the real deal here:

http://razorbackeaa.org/Airshow-Best-Pix/images/Polykarpov%20I-16%2001.jpg
http://www.air-and-space.com/20060612%20Camarillo/DSC_7463%20Polikarpov%20I-16%20Type%2024%20N30425%20left%20side%20l.jpg

And notice that they need to be in a certain spot on the fuselage. They also need to be in the same spot left and right (make them symmetrical on the skin).

Then, when comparing where your wing-stars go, you might look at some things like these to ensure you've got them placed/sized properly:

http://data.primeportal.net/hangar/bill_spidle/polilatpov_i-16/polilatpov_i-16_2_of_6.jpg
http://www.letletlet-warplanes.com/wp-content/gallery/i-16-safonov-final/polikarpov-i-16-10.jpg

And note things like where the light blue stops and the camo starts, or the color of the exhausts, or the minor details you may want later.

I would suggest... for now... using the default skin to create your stars. Hide your other layers or put another copy of the default in a way so that it's UNDER your "stars" layer. Turn the opacity down on the stars layer, so that you can "see through" it halfway. Then use a line tool, selection lasso line tool, or whatever tool you're comfortable with to draw lines from the points to each other and fill it in afterwards with a paint bucket.

Then restore the opacity to 100%, and remove the extra layer you created (or un-hide the layers you hid so you could see the default again).
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: Larry on December 01, 2009, 12:13:45 AM
And how do you know if that fighter group had more detail than that?


  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: Banshee7 on December 01, 2009, 01:12:30 PM
And how do you know if that fighter group had more detail than that?


 :rofl :lol :rofl


Ummm...WOW
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: Motherland on December 01, 2009, 01:47:47 PM
And how do you know if that fighter group had more detail than that?
:lol


There are two things you need to do without even going back to the skin;

First off you should post the profile,
Second you need to do some research, on colors, markings, wear patterns, construction etc...
For example, the outer wings, and I think the tail surfaces are fabric, and I think the fuselage is made of wood. These are things you would have to keep in mind when detailing those areas.
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: Krusty on December 01, 2009, 02:04:40 PM
No wood. I think I-16s were metal. Check out some of the pictures I posted links to. You can see the subtle dimples from rivets and braces.

While I think most folks go WAY overboard on fabric-covered control surfaces, the vertical tail fin on the I-16 definitely looks "ribbed" -- you can see the structure under the fabric. That's definitely one case where making it obvious is the right path to take.

However, you'll note that you really can't see the same thing on the control surfaces, just the stabilizer ;)
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: StokesAk on December 01, 2009, 02:24:12 PM
I think it looks good for the first time, it could use a little more detail, but im not on to talk you should have seen my first attempt.
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: 1pLUs44 on December 02, 2009, 01:34:28 AM
Artists don't demand respect - they deserve it.

If you think this is harsh, just imagine what its like to be Lindsay Lohan.


 :O

Oh, and the skin looks pretty good, just need to fix some things up. For some reason, the green looks excessively bright, but that's about it, and it may be how the skin actually looked.
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: bravoa8 on December 02, 2009, 11:03:41 PM
:O

Oh, and the skin looks pretty good, just need to fix some things up. For some reason, the green looks excessively bright, but that's about it, and it may be how the skin actually looked.
Well I think the skin is supposed to be that bright.

Anyway here's an update I moved the stars down and added more exhaust stain. Could someone kind of tell me a few tips on how to make the rivet lines?

Bravo, which editing program are you using? Follow Krustys tutorial, its a great starting point,
I use GIMP and I've been reading Krusty's tutorial some.
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: bravoa8 on December 03, 2009, 11:57:43 AM
Whoops forgot the picture. :rofl
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: StokesAk on December 03, 2009, 02:50:50 PM
I've been reading Krusty's tutorial

Lol
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: bravoa8 on December 03, 2009, 07:49:48 PM
Lol
What's so funny about that? :confused:
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: StokesAk on December 03, 2009, 08:11:46 PM
What's so funny about that? :confused:

Long story.
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: Krusty on December 04, 2009, 12:17:38 AM
If you have comments, or wish me to add or change something in my tutorial, by all means share with me.

I put it up only for the benefit of others.

If, on the other hand, you've got some snide remarks, I'll pass on the "share with me" part.
Title: Re: I16 skin!
Post by: Strip on December 04, 2009, 01:22:33 AM
If you have comments, or wish me to add or change something in my tutorial, by all means share with me.

I put it up only for the benefit of others.

If, on the other hand, you've got some snide remarks, I'll pass on the "share with me" part.

Or you could ask him to donate his time, effort, and energy in an attempt to give people direction.

I wonder how far he would get Krusty?

Strip