Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: Vraciu on May 10, 2017, 06:47:49 PM
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First pass over this one--consider it a preview. I have more work to do on it and I've already noticed things I missed just editing this post...but it's a start.
I guess I am holding out hope that Skuzzy will retire some of the old skins to make room for updated ones. Or perhaps I am just addicted to skinning. Any way...
Maj. Bill Price flew this P-51D as part of the 353rd FG, 350th FS. He was credited with seven victories. It is named "JANIE" after his sister. (The nose art is a place holder for now. I need to tweak it.) The "Plane Resurrection" TV series featured a Mustang rebuild in these markings. It flew for a few years but was badly damaged in a crash (2016).
I only found two photos of the real plane. Maybe Lyric1 can dig something up.
(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=387037.0;attach=27494)
(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=387037.0;attach=27496)
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I like it!
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I like it!
Thanks bro. My first skin took me six months and, looking back on it, it was terrible...
While I have some more work to do (mistakes reveal themselves after a day away from it) I did this in three hours. :x
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Maybe Lyric1 can dig something up.
Quick 5 second search I have these two.
Are they the ones you have?
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/232726
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It looks great Vraciu, colours look right and the weathering is good. It needs the metal to reflect more than the paint but I guess that is because your effects files haven't been altered to suit this skin yet.
As the slots are all full have you though about skinning something other than P-51s?
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It looks great Vraciu, colours look right and the weathering is good. It needs the metal to reflect more than the paint but I guess that is because your effects files haven't been altered to suit this skin yet.
As the slots are all full have you though about skinning something other than P-51s?
I was gonna say the same thing. Put your talent in other rides too :) you'll do great!
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(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600x315/b3/4d/b2/b34db2a46ffad8926ffa348727325f83.jpg)
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Quick 5 second search I have these two.
Are they the ones you have?
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/232726
Correct. I saw those. That's all though. :(
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It looks great Vraciu, colours look right and the weathering is good. It needs the metal to reflect more than the paint but I guess that is because your effects files haven't been altered to suit this skin yet.
As the slots are all full have you though about skinning something other than P-51s?
You are correct. The spec maps need work but it looked okay as is so figured I would share.
I've considered other airplanes but not sure which one to tackle next.
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I was gonna say the same thing. Put your talent in other rides too :) you'll do great!
Thanks, man. I'm thinking about it.
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(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600x315/b3/4d/b2/b34db2a46ffad8926ffa348727325f83.jpg)
Cool machine. Wish it had a home. :(
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I've considered other airplanes but not sure which one to tackle next.
Well it is largely down to what floats your boat of course but you could take a look at the P-47s, the D-11 has no more slots but all the other variants have a fair few left. There is good info on a lot of interesting schemes for it, both painted and NMF. Also the P-47D-40 and M can use exactly the same template as each other so you get two lots of skins for the price of one. The D-25 is very similar too, just the compression flaps and fin fillet are different. The N has the same fuselage but a completely different wing.
Set against that there is a little bit of stretching on the top and bottom of the fuselage and its one of the earliest AH2 shapes so there's a possibility that HTC may replace it some time in the next couple of years.
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Well it is largely down to what floats your boat of course but you could take a look at the P-47s, the D-11 has no more slots but all the other variants have a fair few left. There is good info on a lot of interesting schemes for it, both painted and NMF. Also the P-47D-40 and M can use exactly the same template as each other so you get two lots of skins for the price of one. The D-25 is very similar too, just the compression flaps and fin fillet are different. The N has the same fuselage but a completely different wing.
Set against that there is a little bit of stretching on the top and bottom of the fuselage and its one of the earliest AH2 shapes so there's a possibility that HTC may replace it some time in the next couple of years.
Good to know. I will chew on it. It will be easier to do now that I've figured out how to see my layers list. The learning curve won't be so painful this time.
Still holding out hope for some P-51D slots to open up someday. :D
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Don't forget that P-38's are somewhat popular in the MA.
Also, P-39's and P-40's get lots of use in events - so there's lots of room for a variety of schemes there.
The new SBD will need some good coverage as well. USN, USMC, U.S. Army, and RNZAF all used them extensively.
If you feel like branching out to fill needs for events, we can use some more Stukas and He-111's before August's Battle of Britain 12 hour scenario.
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Don't forget that P-38's are somewhat popular in the MA.
Also, P-39's and P-40's get lots of use in events - so there's lots of room for a variety of schemes there.
The new SBD will need some good coverage as well. USN, USMC, U.S. Army, and RNZAF all used them extensively.
If you feel like branching out to fill needs for events, we can use some more Stukas and He-111's before August's Battle of Britain 12 hour scenario.
Yeah, that photo 38 is on my list, too.
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Anyone have advice on the wing root olive drab pattern? The restored warbird had the demarcation on the lower part of the fairing. I left it on the top part because I don't have a good shot of it. Thoughts?
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The reference pic makes it look like the OD just barely extends onto the fuselage. I'd say what you've done already is fine.
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The reference pic makes it look like the OD just barely extends onto the fuselage. I'd say what you've done already is fine.
Ok. Thanks. :salute
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With all the respect they deserve............ :salute I really think this is an upgrade over some orphans. BIG TIME. Skuzzy....................... ............................. ... ;)
That said.......
Some of the checkers are not bent the right way. Did the airplanes themselves have angles on the checkers? Do I need to adjust them?
(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=387037.0;attach=27672)
(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=387037.0;attach=27674)
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Check this image here- there answer is YES and NO, you don't need to adjust them. Check the top portion of this image.
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600x315/b3/4d/b2/b34db2a46ffad8926ffa348727325f83.jpg)
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This is a great skin.
Maybe not as how I rendered it....but it's a great skin as a concept...
Should be in the game IMHO by any skinner. It's just cool in a lot of ways.
DISCUSS!! :)
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Check this image here- there answer is YES and NO, you don't need to adjust them. Check the top portion of this image.
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600x315/b3/4d/b2/b34db2a46ffad8926ffa348727325f83.jpg)
You are so right, Mr. Fork. Well..........maybe. They look bent.
What am I seeing here????????????
<S>
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Looks pretty good.
If possible, you need to add checkers to the exhaust fairing.
Also the colors on the "Janie" script don't look correct. There was no white outline and the color may be black or at the very least a darker red than what you have.
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Looks pretty good.
If possible, you need to add checkers to the exhaust fairing.
Also the colors on the "Janie" script don't look correct. There was no white outline and the color may be black or at the very least a darker red than what you have.
So drag the black onto the exhaust? I was hesitant to do that.
Is not he outline on the JANIE noseart in some of the original photos? I don't like what I have....but................ Fade it and dump the outline?
I'm fighting with the nose art a lot. Good catch.
:salute
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Looks pretty good.
If possible, you need to add checkers to the exhaust fairing.
Also the colors on the "Janie" script don't look correct. There was no white outline and the color may be black or at the very least a darker red than what you have.
Haven't done the exhaust fairing yet as I'm still aligning the checkers on the cowl.
I switched the script to black. I'm still eliminating the white outline. Does the script need to be thicker? Seems to be thicker and more slanted/italicized than mine. (I just realized I need to move it up more...)
Also, does anyone have a higher res pic of this shot?
(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=387037.0;attach=28206)
(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=387037.0;attach=28210)
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I knew you'd be back. :aok
The script does look like it should be thicker, and also moved forward a but so that the "J" is partially under the exhaust fairing.
Other things to consider: The tops of the "J" and "a" look open and not closed, as you drew them. Also, the spacing between the letters looks to be a bit too much.
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I knew you'd be back. :aok
Thanks, brother. Just needed to clear my head. Good to be back at it. :salute
The script does look like it should be thicker, and also moved forward a but so that the "J" is partially under the exhaust fairing.
Other things to consider: The tops of the "J" and "a" look open and not closed, as you drew them. Also, the spacing between the letters looks to be a bit too much.
I think my mistake was using the warbird version as my pattern. I can't find any photos of the real airplane with a good angle on the script. I will work on those suggestions. That J looks worn more than open by design, no?
Skuzzy was talking about a vector art program. Can I do something like that with GIMP?
I don't think I have a steady enough mouse to freehand this. I need to trace something big and shrink it down without losing resolution. :headscratch:
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It could be wear, there does seem to be a faded curve in the "J".
As for vector art, you need a dedicated program for that. I don't use one, so I can't recommend any.
A useful tool in Gimp that may help you with script (and other curved shapes) is the "Paths" tool.
Working large and then resizing is a good idea, but works better for images than for text. Just cleanup the blurring with a 1 pixel paintbrush or eraser.
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I will also be updating this one and submitting it so again, please, nobody kneecap me. :cheers: