Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: MotleyCH on August 08, 2011, 12:04:28 AM
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Since they've upped the slots up.. I'm going to touch up this skin, I was working on a few years ago.
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/grimsfx/ahss5.jpg)
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(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/grimsfx/364thpony.jpg)
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Keep at it, Motley! Looks like your spinner isn't fully colored.
Also close inspection of either Fester's of Catuskooler's P-51D skins would be helpful for additional information on panel line sections and rivet and screw patterns.
I'd also refer you to Fester's skinning tutorial here:
http://www27.brinkster.com/tjlaven/ah (http://www27.brinkster.com/tjlaven/ah)
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Nice catch on the spinner.
I bumped up the rivet layer a bit. I made a little more progress today and noticed even more things that need to be touched up. :bhead
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/grimsfx/364thfg789.jpg)
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It never ends, does it? Always see something else t tweak. btw, top of rear fuselage is different shade than sides - its a separate pience on the bmp file in lower left corner, IIRC.
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Motley,
Best of luck on skinning! I am not a skinner but I can provide some critique if you would like.
A few things I am noticing on your skin thus far:
-Panel lines and rivets on the wings appear to have the same opacity/transparency.
-Stars and bars are not quite accurate. The blue outline around the white bar needs to be thicker. Also double check the blue circle field where the white bars connect. The borders don't line up correctly.
-Spinner isn't correctly colored. (oboe mentions this)
-Oil stains from engine exhaust does not extend far enough down the fuselage.
-Specularity on the OD covering needs to be turned down. The OD paint is too shiny.
-The "Silver Streak" noseart is too faint. I would recommend making the noseart look like it is freshly painted (within 1-2 weeks) by turning down the opacity/transparency so that it looks more vibrant.
-The blue and white stripes around the spinner does not look consistent. Perhaps posting a few pictures of this profile would help us point out more details that are missing.
Your bare metal finish effects appear to be coming to life. I would look at some of the bare metal skins that Fester, Cactus, and Greebo made. These should give a clearer idea of how to simulate metal stress, fatigue, and general wear and tear. I wouldn't overdo the "wear and tear" details too much, as that might detract from the immersion of the skin itself. Remember that the typical AH gamer will be in the MAs flying from within the cockpit. I would add subtle details around the wingroots and flaps to give the pilot something to look at while he/she is flying. This ups the immersion factor by a little bit as well.
Just food for thought.
Looking forward to more progress!
:salute
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Here's some more updated screen shots..
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/grimsfx/ahss11.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/grimsfx/ahss14-1.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/grimsfx/ahss12.jpg)
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Looks awesome sir!
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Thanks!
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Bare metal finish looks good, noseart, panel lines, and rivets also look good. The only thing I am really noticing right now is the blue and white spinner. It may just be the stretching issues around the nose, but the blue/white pattern looks a bit "off". White spinner is too "white" and clean. Add a very subtle weathering detail on the spinner so that it doesn't look too cartoonish.
Submit when complete. :aok
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Thanks..I'll work on the nose section.
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Motley also should tell you, the wings of the P51 were painted silver, even on the bare metal versions. I'm planning on giving my skins some kind of treatment to show the paintwork instead of alot of rivets and heavy panel lines there. Jsut haven't decided how to handle it yet.
Fencer can show you all sorts of pictures that show the painted surface. I dunno if it was both upper and lower surfaces, but I think it was both.
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The only panel lines on the wings should be the access panels (ammo bays, landing gear) because of the previously mentioned silver.
They plugged the seams and painted over them. This was in an attempt to make the wings laminar flow. It never really worked, but that's how it was done.
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Ok guys. I'll tone down the rivets effects on the wings.
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Keep the rivet effects on the ailerons and flaps though, those weren't painted/
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Will do, thanks, Obe
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Keep the rivet effects on the ailerons and flaps though, those weren't painted/
I just want to say :salute
ever since I started the skinning thing I have seen nothing but helpful remarks from you, I don't take to people very well but your all right in my book :salute
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Motley,
Look at where "Silver Streak" starts in relation to the blue and white nose checks in the photo below It's almost up against them. Also I'd suggest double checking the size of the fuselage star and bar as well as the codes. My first impression was they are just a bit too small. Nice to see a 364th bird getting done :)
(http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery/364g/5y-mbar3.jpg)
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Another photo of "Silver Streak" off the Little Friends website. Clearly an earlier photo as it has the remnants of the fuselage D-Day stripes, full serial and grayed out star and bar on the fuselage.
Might allow you to add some more detail with those bits.
(http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/gallery/364g/5y-mbar4.jpg)
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The stars are bars are the same size as the default skin, so I'll have to look at the photos more closely. I'll re-sketch or stretch the nose art and try the invasion stripes next.