Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: whiteman on December 01, 2020, 09:56:02 PM
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Webb became an ace in a day during the Marianas Turkey Shoot downing 6 D3A 'Vals' in under 5 minutes and was credited with 2 more probables due to his gun camera malfunctioning after the 6th. This occurred after VF-2 flew from the Hornet to attack an airbase on Guam, he radioed “I have 40 (Japanese) planes surrounded and need a little help.”
His Navy Cross Citation reads as follows:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade (then Ensign] Wilbur Butcher Webb (NSN: 0-285707), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron TWO (VF-2), attached to the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-12), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Marianas Islands, on 19 June 1944. Pressing his low-level attacks over a Japanese airfield and in the face of intense hostile anti-aircraft fire and attacks from enemy fighter cover above him, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Webb fought his plane courageously to engaged and shoot down six enemy dive bombers and probably destroy two others. By his brilliant airmanship and devotion to duty, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Webb upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
On that day he flew no.31. That plane was so badly shot up, 147 bullet holes, it was picked of anything they could salvage and sent over board. The next day he flew no.36 and was one of the few to make it back aboard the Hornet. 106 Pilots had to ditch after chasing the Japanese fleet into the dark knowing they most likely did not have enough fuel to make it back. There is a photo of that one so i settled for it. Profiles of 31 seem very generic. Maybe if i find something better on it it could be an option down the line.
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6e/4a/b6/6e4ab6e6fca6164b71296484cc32bc82.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50669894778_ca22801fa2_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kcwspu)Webb 1 (https://flic.kr/p/2kcwspu) by whitemanLS1 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/94381131@N04/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50669894728_cec6d131b5_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kcwsoC)Webb 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2kcwsoC) by whitemanLS1 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/94381131@N04/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50670639581_285d9f0ba6_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kcAgNV)Webb 3 (https://flic.kr/p/2kcAgNV) by whitemanLS1 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/94381131@N04/), on Flickr
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:aok
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Dang thats fine work Whiteman. The underside weathering looks super realistic. I could turn that bottom screenshot into a really authentic period-looking B&W photo I bet.
Based on the artist's profile, it looks like the leading edge of the lower wing has a narrow band of the upper wing color. If you added that, you can create the finely feathered edge boundary between the upper blue and the lower grey-white. Otherwise, its just a razor-straight perfect edge where the two differently-colored surfaces meet in the 3D mesh. Its a small detail but it might be worth it.
:salute
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Looks good, but I think you missed the mark regarding the demarcation between the Sea Blue and Intermediate Blue on the cowling and forward fuselage. To me it looks much less wavy and the big wave aft of the cowling is caused by exhaust staining of a very light color. You can even see the light staining on the upper wing near the root in the reference picture.
I'd try reversing the light and dark exhaust colors you have and widening the lighter shade so that it gives that wavy look over the lower edge of the sea blue.
Based on the artist's profile, it looks like the leading edge of the lower wing has a narrow band of the upper wing color. If you added that, you can create the finely feathered edge boundary between the upper blue and the lower grey-white. Otherwise, its just a razor-straight perfect edge where the two differently-colored surfaces meet in the 3D mesh. Its a small detail but it might be worth it.
I also noticed that on this skin. I wonder if the other 3-color Hellcats he's done are the same way and we've missed it until now. It would be a huge improvement to extend the top color to the forward edge of the lower wing segment on the bitmap.
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It came out to damn light and i didn't even notice. I'll fix those and the exhaust.
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That's a great looking skin Whiteman although I agree with previous comments regarding the leading edge and exhaust.
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Looking good! Can't hurt to have more Grumman Cat Skins! <S>
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Although I agree with previous comments regarding the leading edge.
A couple of sister squadron mates as an examples.
(https://i.imgur.com/ORbQ8GRh.jpg)
https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/f6f-hellcat/f6f-3-hellcat-11-of-vf-2-on-the-catapult-on-board-the-carrier-uss-hornet-cv-12-may-6-1944/
(https://i.imgur.com/GFqhdlRh.jpg)
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Pretty cool lyric. That last photo looks like the light blue has been extended on the leading edge of the wing, and the upper surface dark blue doesn't quite reach into the underside white.
One more small point - looking at the color profile and the on-deck photo, the panel lines on the upper wing surface and the fuselage sides aren't as heavy or noticeable as they are on the skin. Could maybe dial them back a bit, esp on the top wing surface...
It's a gorgeous tricolor skin, Whiteman.
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Good blue stuff. Keep it coming. :)
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(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50673244638_25ac8a0789_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kcPCcG)webb6 (https://flic.kr/p/2kcPCcG) by whitemanLS1 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/94381131@N04/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50674073102_247428fbe4_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kcTSty)webb4 (https://flic.kr/p/2kcTSty) by whitemanLS1 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/94381131@N04/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50673244618_9190c146f5_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kcPCcm)webb5 (https://flic.kr/p/2kcPCcm) by whitemanLS1 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/94381131@N04/), on Flickr
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:aok Looking forward to seeing her in game!
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:aok
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Great improvement.
Only thing I'd suggest is treating the wingtip to the same coloring as you did to the leading edge. It's still changing colors on the hard edge.
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I think some of it looking light is the direct sun hitting it, it’s definitely the same as the upper surface