Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: Vraciu on July 13, 2020, 05:27:50 PM
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Just a quick update to this one using lessons learned. It's not a complete revamp of my previous version ( https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,394618.msg5235852.html#msg5235852 ), just a tweak to the paint and a few sections of metal. With that one I had tried something that didn't work as I hoped it would. I've since learned better ways to do it any way.
I've merely posted it here as a record of where it stands now.
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P-51D-15-NA, s/n 44-15326
"Sizzlin' Liz" - QP*H
Maj. Gerald Emerson Montgomery
4th Fighter Group, 334th Fighter Squadron
Debden, 1945
Major Montgomery was a native of Dallas, Texas, when he entered the Air Corps. He was assigned to the 4th Fighter Group, 334th Squadron on 15 May 1943 and remained with that unit until the end of hostilities. At the completion of his first tour he had destroyed 11 enemy aircraft. His first plane, a P-47 Thunderbolt, was named "Texas". For his second tour he was assigned a P-51 Mustang, which he named "Sizzlin Liz" (one of three aircraft to bear this name). He was quicklyassigned as Squadron Operations Officer where he continued to take a toll on enemy aircraft having 14.5 to his credit when the war ended.
He is believed to have been killed in action during the Korean War while flying F-84E Thunderjets out as Deputy Wing Commander 136th FBW based at Taegu Airfield (K-2) S. Korea. He was flying F-84E s/n 50-1169 when he was shot down by flak over N.Korea on March 3, 1952. He was last seen standing in shallow water near his chute waving his arms and was listed as Missing In Action until May 2004 when he was declared Killed In Action. A grave marker in his name was placed in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honours and a fly-by.
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I have found multiple photos (including one in color) that show the airplane as depicted here, with the large version of the red cowling paint and no invasion stripes so I went with that.
(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400653.0;attach=32821)
(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400653.0;attach=32823)
(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400653.0;attach=32827)
Offsite Gallery:
https://postimg.cc/gallery/TXSxW6C
(https://i.postimg.cc/5QcHQNyL/MODahss37.png) (https://postimg.cc/5QcHQNyL) (https://i.postimg.cc/BPxjT9Py/MODahss39.png) (https://postimg.cc/BPxjT9Py)
(https://i.postimg.cc/1fQn9tLZ/MODahss42.png) (https://postimg.cc/1fQn9tLZ) (https://i.postimg.cc/hhxQWxZr/MODahss43.png) (https://postimg.cc/hhxQWxZr)
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Great job.
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Great job.
Thanks. I'm trying to get a handle on these painted areas.
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:aok
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Nice update Vraciu. Your screenshots' lighting angles are really showing the NMF to good effect.
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Nice one V
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The slight gray-blue tint really is superb :aok
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Seems to be getting more and more photorealistic....
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Sizzlin' Liz sizzles! I think you've got the metal look down pat.
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Vraciu very nice work. Improving and moving towards photo realistic every skin made recently.
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Thanks everybody. I know it's not apparent but I am trying different things. It's subtle but I think over time you hopefully see progression. Sometimes I'm not sure if a change I've made is for the better or not, but I keep experimenting.
:salute
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Can't find a larger version but this is a fair WWII color photo of a '51D from same FG. I saw it and thought of your screenshot. I really wish the AH P-51's inner gear doors would drop when the gear is down and locked and the engine is shut off.
(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400653.0;attach=32833)
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Can't find a larger version but this is a fair WWII color photo of a '51D from same FG. I saw it and thought of your screenshot. I really wish the AH P-51's inner gear doors would drop when the gear is down and locked and the engine is shut off.
(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400653.0;attach=32833)
Thanks, bro. You made my day with that. I was using this photo as my main goal. Kept thinking maybe I overshot the brightness on the metal, but your picture makes me think perhaps not.
(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/skins/stream.php?floc=1&sfile=reference1img.jpg&stype=1&pindex=p51d_21)
Agree on the gear doors, however, they tend to bleed down at different rates depending on how well the hydraulic system holds pressure. So I just chalk it off to the system being above average. Lol
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How do you guys get grass in your screenshots?
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Texture Details I think. It is an option in the graphic settings. It does not say grass, but maybe Ground Texture Detail? Something in that neighbourhood.
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How do you guys get grass in your screenshots?
Drive off the field... :D
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Texture Details I think. It is an option in the graphic settings. It does not say grass, but maybe Ground Texture Detail? Something in that neighbourhood.
Drive off the field... :D
*Glares at Shuffler*
Thank you, Perdue3.
*Ahem*
:rofl
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*Glares at Shuffler*
Thank you, Perdue3.
*Ahem*
:rofl
Notes Vs monitor is plugged in to the motherboard....
:ahand
:rofl
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Notes Vs monitor is plugged in to the motherboard....
:ahand
:rofl
*scowls*
I'm not going to take this abuse much longer! :old:
:furious
It's an outrage!!!!
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I was going to sell you some san augustine grass seed. Don't make me mad. :D
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I was going to sell you some san augustine grass seed. Don't make me mad. :D
That stuff needs way too much water!
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That stuff needs way too much water!
My 3/4 acre yard is covered in it.
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My 3/4 acre yard is covered in it.
Takes way too much water unless you live in Florida or something...
I'm getting my yard filled in with Dwarf Mondo Grass and Vinca. It's covered in Bermuda so the minute it rains the stuff grows like it is in a jungle. I'm slowly crowding that garbage out.
In the Spring I have a sea of Crimson Clover and Bluebonnets, front and back. It's great stuff. The bees and Hummingbirds love it. Caught this little guy visiting.
(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400653.0;attach=32835)
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I live east of Houston and just about have to mow twice a week. I do not water my yard but I do have a Hoot Aerobic System. So it does get that water.
That thin bermuda grass just doesn't do it for my yard. If I stood in my yard and could see dirt... I would have a problem with that... LOL
I think I know what your problem is in your picture now... :D You can't see that thin grass.
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I live east of Houston and just about have to mow twice a week. I do not water my yard but I do have a Hoot Aerobic System. So it does get that water.
That thin bermuda grass just doesn't do it for my yard. If I stood in my yard and could see dirt... I would have a problem with that... LOL
I think I know what your problem is in your picture now... :D You can't see that thin grass.
I leave the clover out for three months. Then I mow it like hay. It's natural fertilizer and makes my Bermuda grass fill in like green carpet. Way denser than St. Augustine (which we had growing up in the RGV).
Had some St. Augustine when I lived in The Woodlands and in San Antonio. It was constant work and once shade covered it the stuff died. Probably my least favorite grass, but glad yours is healthy. Someone told me to dethatch it to make it grow better but now that I don't have any I just let the zero-maintenance Bermuda do its thing.