Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: Vraciu on April 15, 2017, 06:40:43 PM

Title: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Vraciu on April 15, 2017, 06:40:43 PM
Well, as you can see, the Mustang Mafia has been hard at work creating and updating our skins.

This skin took a hit in the conversion from AH2 to AH3 because of how the process created the Normal and Spec maps.  I've gone in and updated these along with some tweaks to the diffuse.  I have more to do using what I've learned on my recent work--but this will make the airplane viable again in the game.

 :salute

(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=386592.0;attach=27358)

(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=386592.0;attach=27360)

(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=386592.0;attach=27362)

(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=386592.0;attach=27364)
Title: Re: Maj. John Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Guppy35 on April 15, 2017, 08:57:52 PM
James Howard.  Everyone of us old folks who built models in the late 60s and 70s built the Monogram 1/48th Mustang in his markings.  It was a right of passage :)

(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/Monogram%20P-51B%20Mustang%20BB_zpstpcq12yl.jpg) (http://s152.photobucket.com/user/guppy35/media/Monogram%20P-51B%20Mustang%20BB_zpstpcq12yl.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Maj. John Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Devil 505 on April 15, 2017, 09:16:35 PM
Looks pretty great.

You still need to work on those lower vent slots on the belly. I still see essentially black rectangles for the radiator and oil cooler.

Try to use a single pixel black line for the hole and then a subtle gradient to simulate the indentation.

Like these vents from my 109E's:
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff252/DropkickYankees/Vents_zpshujf05zp.png~original) (http://s241.photobucket.com/user/DropkickYankees/media/Vents_zpshujf05zp.png.html)
Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Vraciu on April 15, 2017, 09:19:29 PM
James Howard.  Everyone of us old folks who built models in the late 60s and 70s built the Monogram 1/48th Mustang in his markings.  It was a right of passage :)

(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/Monogram%20P-51B%20Mustang%20BB_zpstpcq12yl.jpg) (http://s152.photobucket.com/user/guppy35/media/Monogram%20P-51B%20Mustang%20BB_zpstpcq12yl.jpg.html)

Typo.  Thank goodness I caught it before it was too late...   Or maybe not.   I guess the stupid thread title is stuck!!!    :bhead

(Nope. It took.  Whew.  Man, that would have been embarrassing.)
Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Vraciu on April 15, 2017, 09:20:01 PM
Looks pretty great.

You still need to work on those lower vent slots on the belly. I still see essentially black rectangles for the radiator and oil cooler.

Try to use a single pixel black line for the hole and then a subtle gradient to simulate the indentation.

Like these vents from my 109E's:
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff252/DropkickYankees/Vents_zpshujf05zp.png~original) (http://s241.photobucket.com/user/DropkickYankees/media/Vents_zpshujf05zp.png.html)

I'll try that.

 :salute
Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Vraciu on April 15, 2017, 09:32:38 PM
How about this one?

(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=386592.0;attach=27367)
Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Devil 505 on April 15, 2017, 09:58:57 PM
Fade it out another 1/3 to 1/2 and that will do fine. Also remember to add it to your Normal map.
Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Vraciu on April 15, 2017, 10:16:05 PM
Fade it out another 1/3 to 1/2 and that will do fine. Also remember to add it to your Normal map.

Will do.  That 109 vent of yours was the clue.    Massive improvement.

Normal map next...

(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=386592.0;attach=27369)
Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Devil 505 on April 15, 2017, 10:40:55 PM
Another nifty trick with the Normal map is to add a white gradient to the door itself to make it appear cracked open a small degree.
Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Vraciu on April 15, 2017, 11:37:57 PM
Another nifty trick with the Normal map is to add a white gradient to the door itself to make it appear cracked open a small degree.

Ah, cool.  I will try that, too.  I gotta' do the wing fences like Fencer does them as well...
Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Greebo on April 17, 2017, 05:17:34 PM
Looks good Vraciu and the vent shading is a nice improvement. I'd suggest making the lines for the flap hinges and gear doors darker than the rest of the panel lines. These lines represent gaps in the structure rather than than panel overlaps and so should be more visible.
Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Vraciu on April 17, 2017, 06:18:26 PM
Looks good Vraciu and the vent shading is a nice improvement. I'd suggest making the lines for the flap hinges and gear doors darker than the rest of the panel lines. These lines represent gaps in the structure rather than than panel overlaps and so should be more visible.

Will do.   Thank you.    :salute
Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: FTJR on April 24, 2017, 06:19:23 AM
Looks good Vraciu
Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Vraciu on April 24, 2017, 11:39:12 AM
Looks good Vraciu

Thanks man. 
Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Vraciu on November 05, 2017, 09:06:16 AM
Another tweak.   Devil has been asking about this one so...

(It pixelated in the transfer.  I'll fix that when I get back to my main computer.)

(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=386592.0;attach=28695)
Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Devil 505 on November 05, 2017, 10:22:36 AM
Looks great.
Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Vraciu on November 05, 2017, 10:52:42 AM
Looks great.

Thanks man.

I missed the fuel stain.  Next revision I will fix it. 

Title: Re: Maj. James Howard - P-51B "DING HAO!" 354FG - AH3 Update
Post by: Vraciu on November 06, 2017, 05:34:46 PM
The more I study this the more I think the leading edge paint was pretty much intact.  A lot of other 354th Mustangs support this.  So...   I think I will leave the upper surface paint chips and put the leading edge back the way it was.    :headscratch:

(http://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/media-27695.jpeg?itok=qpR_mrPK)