Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: Greebo on February 23, 2018, 03:01:23 AM

Title: 12th Kokutai D3A1
Post by: Greebo on February 23, 2018, 03:01:23 AM

Thanks to Lyric1 for finding me the info for this skin.

This early production D3A1 Val was assigned to the 12th Kokutai at Hankow in China in the summer of 1940. Here they were used for combat testing of the new dive bomber against the Chinese while other squadrons went to sea to perform carrier trials. The standard IJNAF scheme at this time was either silver lacquer or NMF with a black cowling. Judging by the photos of this and similar Vals there is no visible panel variation so I have gone for a silver lacquer finish.

(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=391914.0;attach=29253)

(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=391914.0;attach=29255)

Title: Re: 12th Kokutai D3A1
Post by: oboe on February 23, 2018, 06:51:07 AM

Looks superb, Greebo.   Very realistic-looking finish!

Title: Re: 12th Kokutai D3A1
Post by: Vraciu on February 23, 2018, 08:01:26 AM

Most excellent work, Sensei. 

Title: Re: 12th Kokutai D3A1
Post by: Devil 505 on February 23, 2018, 08:04:53 AM

Beautiful.

Title: Re: 12th Kokutai D3A1
Post by: Mister Fork on February 23, 2018, 11:28:17 AM

It's boooooooeeeful man, just booooooeeful. :)

Title: Re: 12th Kokutai D3A1
Post by: lyric1 on February 23, 2018, 11:51:46 AM

 :aok

Title: Re: 12th Kokutai D3A1
Post by: Nefarious on February 24, 2018, 09:14:12 AM

Looking good! <S>

Title: Re: 12th Kokutai D3A1
Post by: Volron on February 24, 2018, 10:44:54 AM

 :x :rock :salute

Title: Re: 12th Kokutai D3A1
Post by: ML52 on February 24, 2018, 04:53:56 PM

Greebo what do you mean by "panel variation"?

Title: Re: 12th Kokutai D3A1
Post by: Greebo on February 24, 2018, 06:00:29 PM

If you look at many photos of natural metal finish aircraft you can see a subtle variation in tone between the individual sheets of aluminium that comprise the skin. Some of the sheets were of different alloys, thickness or just came from different batches. Recreating this tone variation on a skin is a good way to make the surface look more like metal and less like grey paint.

As I said this tone variation was missing in the Val photos I looked at. However Lyric1 has also found me some photos of B5N1 Kates with a similar silver scheme but on these there is a noticeable variation in tone between panels. So the early Kates featured a natural metal finish rather than silver paint.

Title: Re: 12th Kokutai D3A1
Post by: Kanth on February 24, 2018, 10:28:00 PM

Val looks great in silver!!  :aok

Title: Re: 12th Kokutai D3A1
Post by: caldera on February 28, 2018, 04:02:41 PM

That is boss!