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General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: oboe on August 22, 2020, 05:46:30 PM

Title: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: oboe on August 22, 2020, 05:46:30 PM
I worked this skin up a few years ago but forgot about it.  Rediscovered it recently and spent some time bringing it up to AH3 standards.   I like that this scheme is also on a restored warbird, so people can see it fly in RL or YouTube and then maybe get the itch to fly it in some virtual combat here in AH.

(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400966.0;attach=33109)

(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400966.0;attach=33111)

(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400966.0;attach=33113)

(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400966.0;attach=33115)




     
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: lyric1 on August 22, 2020, 05:52:32 PM
 :aok
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: whiteman on August 22, 2020, 06:04:57 PM
WOW!
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Vraciu on August 22, 2020, 06:10:10 PM
Nice work.   I can't get any plants to grow for my screenshots.   Lol! 

Dumb question.   Is the nose blue or purple?

Really love the subtle metal shading changes.  It's a fantastic effect.  That shot of the right side really shows it well.   I think natural metal has been pushed as far as it can go here with this one.   Really pretty. 
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: oboe on August 22, 2020, 06:24:52 PM
Thanks. 

That spinner is supposed to be blue - the same blue as the checkerboard squares.  I sampled the checkerboard and used the same color blue- but, it looked too intense so I dialed back the Saturation and Opacity - perhaps its still too intense if you are seeing purple.   The first version I found had the blue so muted I would've called it "dusty".    Hard to find the sweet spot, especially with blue it seems.  Everybody sees it a little different. 

There may be something going on with the spec or power map as it relates to the shape of the spinner and angle of sunlight too - it looks shinier than the checkerboard, but they have the same values in the Spec and Power maps.  I dunno.

I still haven't found the right way to utilize the reflections from the ENV map.  I *think* they can add a lot but I'm put off by the "glass" look it imparts.  I used to have that problem with the SPEC map - now I make sure the dirt and grime and rivet shadow/glare of the diffuse map are enhanced in the SPEC map.  I think that's whats responsible for the variation in the shine, which I think adds a realistic touch.   I haven't found a way to get that variation on the ENV map - the reflections just seem to be OFF or ON, and when they are on, the surface looks like glass.
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Vraciu on August 22, 2020, 06:28:19 PM
Well, people don't always see on their ends what I see on mine, but it has a bit of purple as I see it.

It's definitely different than the insignia.

Based on your style you won't go wrong dialing it back.   How much and in what manner I'll leave to the two Jedis to explain.    :)
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Vraciu on August 22, 2020, 06:31:19 PM
Also, I agree about blues.   They're murder to figure out as you'll recall with the B of Preddy's I did.
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: oboe on August 22, 2020, 06:44:30 PM
Yes I recall that.

Interesting to see the difference in the spinner hue between the last shot and the first ones.  Doesn't look the same to me, but the screenshots are all from the same session...

Brueland's Mustang also has the goofiest looking application of D-Day invasion stripes I've seen.  they left them extend slightly above the Star and Bar and left them showing through the fuselage ID letters.  I think it looks better when they take the time to trim around the shape of the insignia myself.
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Vraciu on August 22, 2020, 06:50:02 PM
It's a killer skin.  I would reduce the saturation some to fit the rest of your paint.   You have that Taylor/Trudgian style and it would be in keeping with that. 
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Devil 505 on August 22, 2020, 07:13:00 PM
Excellent job, Oboe..

I agree about the blue. A bit too purpleish and bit too bold, in my opinion.
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: LCADolby on August 22, 2020, 11:49:49 PM
Excellent, just superb  :aok :aok
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Nefarious on August 22, 2020, 11:55:35 PM
What An amazing skin. You keep outdoing yourself it seems. Great work.  :cheers:



Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Palace Cobra on August 23, 2020, 11:06:57 AM
Superb.
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Greebo on August 23, 2020, 12:26:59 PM
Fantastic looking skin Oboe, really nice work.
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Mister Fork on August 23, 2020, 12:45:56 PM
Bueeeeeful Oboe Bueeeful.
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Shuffler on August 23, 2020, 01:34:50 PM
Nice looking skin
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Vraciu on August 23, 2020, 07:14:44 PM
How do you get the grass to show up?
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: oboe on August 23, 2020, 08:27:10 PM
Here are my graphic settings if it helps.  I haven't done anything special to my knowledge in order to get grass to show up.

(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400966.0;attach=33117)

Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Vraciu on August 23, 2020, 08:35:38 PM
Thank you.  What terrain are you using?  Maybe that's the issue.
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Spikes on August 23, 2020, 08:47:07 PM
I worked this skin up a few years ago but forgot about it.  Rediscovered it recently and spent some time bringing it up to AH3 standards.   I like that this scheme is also on a restored warbird, so people can see it fly in RL or YouTube and then maybe get the itch to fly it in some virtual combat here in AH.

(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400966.0;attach=33109)

(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400966.0;attach=33111)

(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400966.0;attach=33113)

(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400966.0;attach=33115)




     
Wow.
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: oboe on August 23, 2020, 09:53:23 PM
Thank you.  What terrain are you using?  Maybe that's the issue.

Sure thing.  I'm using CraterMA.

How's this blue for the spinner? 
(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400966.0;attach=33127)
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Devil 505 on August 23, 2020, 11:12:00 PM
I like it.
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: lyric1 on August 24, 2020, 12:33:53 AM
 :aok
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Vraciu on August 24, 2020, 03:43:35 AM
Sure thing.  I'm using CraterMA.

How's this blue for the spinner? 
(https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=400966.0;attach=33127)

Thanks. 

Yeah, that blue is real good.  Make the checkers match (I'm assuming they're supposed to be the same blue) and you've nailed it. 

Beautifully done, my friend.   :salute
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Nefarious on August 24, 2020, 05:19:09 PM
That is, by far, the best P-51 skin in the game. Hands down, no contest.
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Vraciu on August 24, 2020, 06:56:00 PM
 :rofl

*pokes Oboe knowingly*

(Told ya.)

 :rofl
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: oboe on August 24, 2020, 08:54:00 PM
Thank you, Nefarious.   I don't think I've produced anything that can touch Cactus' "Dizzy Rebel" but I appreciate the kind words.

Vraciu, were you able to get the grass to show up in game?
Title: Re: 9thAF P-51D 354thFG/355thFS Capt Lowell Brueland "Grim Reaper" S/N 44-63702
Post by: Vraciu on August 24, 2020, 08:57:57 PM
Thank you, Nefarious.   I don't think I've produced anything that can touch Cactus' "Dizzy Rebel" but I appreciate the kind words.

Vraciu, were you able to get the grass to show up in game?

Just got home from a five-day Legacy contract trip (thank Gawd--every penny helps).   I will try later tonight or tomorrow. 

I think Dizzy Rebel is gorgeous, too.   That guy forgot more about skinning than I'll ever know.   That's a nice compliment to Cactus on your part.