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General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: Fencer51 on August 25, 2007, 08:07:53 AM

Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Fencer51 on August 25, 2007, 08:07:53 AM: Guppy's guys need some 38 skins, I have never done one but am taking a shot at it. This is just the PL/Rivets with aluminum and some basic colors, I need to research weathering and leaks.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on August 25, 2007, 12:41:59 PM: Lots of dirty brown exhaust from the turbos going back to the tail and across the black square. I'll post some photos of the look when I get home.

Anti-glare would be OD green. can't tell if you have it black.

Thanks for taking it on Fencer.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Citabria on August 25, 2007, 10:48:57 PM: looks liek the perfect skin to replace that black ETO p38 skin blight upon the cartoon airplane world
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on August 26, 2007, 12:15:32 AM: Quote
Originally posted by Citabria
looks liek the perfect skin to replace that black ETO p38 skin blight upon the cartoon airplane world

Amen on that one. It's not historical, it's not even remotely accurate. How that one got in, I have no idea :)
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: oboe on August 29, 2007, 02:51:38 PM: How many 474th skins are needed? Are there pics of the desired skins posted somewhere?

Fester, your 361st P-51D is I think the best skin I have seen in the game yet.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on August 30, 2007, 12:44:12 AM: Just two skins for the 474th a J and an L. Not sure how far Fencer got.

I've got the photos and profiles.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Fencer51 on August 30, 2007, 06:54:10 AM: It takes time to skin bombers, update today possibly. My P-38 resources are low. Fortunately I have "Bombers of the 9th AF" and "Tricycles and Truck Sticks".

PM me your photos Guppy, all I have are your profiles..
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Fencer51 on August 30, 2007, 12:08:53 PM: Update. Need to add scratches and work on that exhaust some more.

(http://www.4thfg.org/Fencer/P38_1.jpg)

(http://www.4thfg.org/Fencer/P38_2.jpg)

(http://www.4thfg.org/Fencer/P38_3.jpg)

(http://www.4thfg.org/Fencer/P38_4.jpg)

Guppy, if you want that J as well, best get someone else to do it. I am not going to have time.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Treize69 on August 30, 2007, 12:12:47 PM: At least its a historically accurate black P-38 :)

Kinda looks lie "Itsy Bitsy- the ETO Years"
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Fencer51 on August 30, 2007, 03:37:00 PM: Oh and Guppy clean out your PM box.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on August 30, 2007, 03:37:19 PM: Looks great. Can't wait to send a shot of it to the real pilot :)
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on August 31, 2007, 12:26:11 AM: PM box cleared out.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on August 31, 2007, 12:28:48 AM: Quote
Originally posted by oboe
How many 474th skins are needed? Are there pics of the desired skins posted somewhere?

Fester, your 361st P-51D is I think the best skin I have seen in the game yet.

You want to take a crack at the J Oboe? This is one I'd showed you a long time ago.

Found out after I did the profile that the pilot was Lt. Robert Rankin.
Crew Chief is my favorite fictional one, T/S B. Parttes and his assistant T/S F. Gunz

(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/474th38Jpod.jpg)
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/474th38J.jpg)
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on August 31, 2007, 12:52:34 AM: Fencer, this is the photo I got of Lloyd Wenzel's bird from Mr Wenzel.

crew chief, T/Sgt Ivan Dahn
assistant crew chief, Sgt.John Edwards

(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/11.jpg)
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on August 31, 2007, 09:45:20 AM: Photo of a 474th bird in flight. Not the biggest scan but you can see the exhaust goes back across the tail on both sides.
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/474thbird.jpg)

Another of a 370th bird showing how dirty those 9th AF 38s got
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/38s-1.jpg)
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: oboe on September 01, 2007, 02:03:14 PM: Ho Hum Looks real good, Fencer.

I'd better not commit to anything - I'm back from Ireland now but I'm only home on weekends and wouldn't be able to guarantee I could get it done in time-- I haven't touched skinning in a couple of years so I'd be pretty rusty.

I did start flying again though - but found my Cougar's view hat switch broken and so trying to get used to the feel of an old Saitek X45 I had kept as a spare.

Doin lots of dying but it feels good to be in Itsy's cockpit again...
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: oboe on September 03, 2007, 12:25:34 PM: OK, I dug around a little bit and found a natural metal 38L from the 82nd FG I had shelved - worked all night last night on it using Guppy's guide here and got pretty far.

Is there a deadline date for skin submissions for the scenario? I think I can make certain that Baby Shoes gets submitted, at least.

Would be too much of a shame not to see it in the scenario...

Dunno if I'll get pics out today and leaving for school tonight - but I'll hit it hard this weekend when I get back...
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: oboe on September 03, 2007, 07:10:15 PM: Plenty of weathering yet to do, but you get the general idea. The noseart graphics were lifted right out of Dan's post above. Helpful comments?

I'd really like to experiment with some new weathering techniques.

(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/tjlaven/474th-FG-P-38J-Baby-Shoes-T.jpg)

IIRC, I think I'll need reference info about this bird, Dan, when I submit it to HTC. Can you help me out with that?
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on September 03, 2007, 08:20:24 PM: You bet. 428th FS, 474th FG, Pilot Lt. Robert Rankin. P38J-15LO

Photos of it from later after a belly landing. I'll post em when I get home.

Looks great btw :)
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on September 04, 2007, 01:26:16 AM: The bird in question. I have the 428th FS, 474th FG history and cross checked it with the aircraft letters and the kills and came up with Lt Robert Rankin who had 2 kills and a probable kill flying "S" on different dates.
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/Shoes.jpg)
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: oboe on September 04, 2007, 09:32:08 AM: Great photos Dan. Gotta find a font for the noseart name that's closer to the real thing, though.

I think Word has some facility for bending and twisting text, if we can just find a font that matches the sweepiness of the "S".

I think we'll need book title and publisher info on the source of your photos, too. What a library you must have!

Is the top of the nose red-painted as well, or an extension of the antiglare O.D.?
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Fencer51 on September 04, 2007, 10:44:05 AM: Quote
Originally posted by oboe
Is there a deadline date for skin submissions for the scenario? I think I can make certain that Baby Shoes gets submitted, at least.

Let me know when you submitt it and I will inform Skuzzy that it is for the scenario. They have agreed to add a few skins specifically for the scenario. Kuddos to them for the effort! :aok
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on September 04, 2007, 12:34:36 PM: Quote
Originally posted by oboe
Great photos Dan. Gotta find a font for the noseart name that's closer to the real thing, though.

I think Word has some facility for bending and twisting text, if we can just find a font that matches the sweepiness of the "S".

I think we'll need book title and publisher info on the source of your photos, too. What a library you must have!

Is the top of the nose red-painted as well, or an extension of the antiglare O.D.?

I think that's just dirt from the guns, not an extention of the anti-glare.

Book is "They Geyser Gang-The 428th Fighter Squadron in World War II" by John Stienko. Photos are scanned from that.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Fencer51 on September 05, 2007, 08:41:12 PM: Final update before submission. I will look it over tomorrow night.

(http://www.4thfg.org/Fencer/P38_5.jpg)

(http://www.4thfg.org/Fencer/P38_6.jpg)

(http://www.4thfg.org/Fencer/P38_7.jpg)
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on September 05, 2007, 08:42:43 PM: Looks great Fencer. Many thanks from the 474th :)
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Delirium on September 05, 2007, 10:50:57 PM: Yea, it looks great! :)

Thanks for doing the work involved.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Shuffler on September 06, 2007, 12:23:33 AM: Kudos Fencer
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Soulyss on September 06, 2007, 09:39:22 AM: Looking good, I'll try and bring 'er home in one piece (no promises though :)).
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: oboe on September 07, 2007, 09:05:33 AM: Beautiful job, Fencer. I really like the texture variation you have on the natural metal surface. You using Photoshop? Is that done manually or did you use a particular pattern overlay and reduce the opacity? I have used "Clouds" in the past but don't think it looks as nice as what you've done. Looks very real I think.

Dan, coupla questions about the left phot below:
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/Shoes.jpg)

It looks to me like the black mission record/scoreboard on the nose extends upwards into the antiglare panel - would you concur?

Also, it appears that the spinners are two-tone colored - the nose cone of the spinner is lighter/brighter. Is it actually two-tone? If so, can you suggest the shade of the other color? Or is it just dirt/grime buildup from leakage around the prop roots?
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on September 07, 2007, 12:43:50 PM: Yep it extends up. I messed that up on the profile

As for the color of the spinners. I'm going with what Lloyd Wenzel said about the 428th color being red. They were out of red pain when they did his so it ended up black. It appears single color to me with the dirt, grime, leakage giving it that look.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: oboe on September 07, 2007, 04:36:03 PM: How's this now? Specularity OK? Shade of OD antiglare panels right?
Nose art and insignia correctly placed?
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/tjlaven/P-38-474th-FG-Baby-Shoes-Th.jpg)

I'd like to finish it up tomorrow and submit it, if possible. That's not much turnaround time- usually I let them sit and cool a bit and come back much later for a fresh look.

I suspect it could use more grime, dirt and oil, but I might need to reduce the shine too.

Here's a view from the opposite angle:
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/tjlaven/P-38-474th-Baby-Shoes-Front.jpg)
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on September 07, 2007, 04:56:47 PM: Only thing I'd suggest is moving the black box with the pilots name, bomb symbols etc down so the top edge butts up against the OD Anti-glare instead of overlapping as it is.

Looks great otherwise :)

Thanks for taking it on Oboe
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: oboe on September 07, 2007, 05:09:45 PM: Done, chief!

I'll sleep on it and pending no other mod requests, submit it tomorrow after final weathering/grime/tweaking. I'll have to review how the submission procedure works again.

Glad I was able to help out; I hope HTC likes it and can process it in time for the scenario.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Fencer51 on September 07, 2007, 06:57:06 PM: Thanks Oboe, I was just looking at your's and admiring how the aluminum looked.

I create mine by following some of the tips people have posted in the past. The aluminum is created with 4 layers. 1 Light Grey, 1 Silver, 1 Dark Grey, 1 "blue green" and I tried and like using a 5th layer that is a darker blue at a low opacity and using a brush from Photoshop done multiple times over the surface than using the same brush going back over it erasing at 50% to break it up.

I like Airliners.net and there is a P-51D there that is plain metal aluminum no polish no silver paint. I figure that is how they must have looked when comparing that versus wartime photos that have aged.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1240018/L/ (http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1240018/L/)

or

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1171277/L/ (http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1171277/L/)

and

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1150774/L/ (http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1150774/L/)
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: evenhaim on September 07, 2007, 07:21:49 PM: fester has got an amazing p51d metal texture
his big beautiful doll has been my skin for a while now
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: oboe on September 08, 2007, 02:28:45 PM: OK guys, Baby Shoes The Second has been submitted to HTC. Been a while since I've done this so fingers crossed for no SNAFUs.

Here's some baby pictures:

(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/tjlaven/P-38J-474thFG-428thFS-Side.jpg)

(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/tjlaven/P-38J-474thFG-428thFS-Front.jpg)

(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/tjlaven/P-38J-474thFG-428thFS-FLQtr.jpg)

(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/tjlaven/P-38J-474thFG-428thFS-Rear.jpg)

Its got updated panel line and rivet patterns and new wheel rims, too. Hope you like it.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Fencer51 on September 08, 2007, 05:05:22 PM: Looks great Oboe. Where did you get the stencil info?

Guppy I could use some help with the stencils near the gas caps, and other prominent stencils please.

Thanks.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: oboe on September 08, 2007, 06:07:18 PM: I'm pretty sure I got my stencil from Kev367th - he and I did a number of skins early on. I could zip up and email you the labels layer as a .psd if you use Photoshop.

I feel like redoing some of my earlier skins now - Jandina for sure, and I have one more 38 skin in mind. It's Col Ben Mason's "Billy Boy", which I *think* is a J model. I'll need Guppy's help with some resources if he's willing.

'course that can wait til after the big scenario... I have to get some practice flying!
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Citabria on September 08, 2007, 09:28:57 PM: p38s look nice just wish you guys would not trace those older default panel line and rivet layouts as they are pretty much totally inaccurate. thats the only thing that really bugs me about them.

btw where is kev367th he seems to have disapeared :(
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: oboe on September 08, 2007, 09:56:04 PM: Thanks, Citabria.

I did fix some panel line errors with this one - especially around the inside of the booms just inboard of the supercharger, and again on the small intakes on the outside of the nacelles. Also added a panel seam on the rear of the boom near the access hatch, as in Guppy's profile above. The rivet patterns are also new and more extensive than any I've done before. I'd be glad to have you take a look and offer suggestions for improvements.

I used the wheel rims from the large format illustration of the 20th FG P-38 in David Donald's book, which I think you used as well. I tried to show screws in the same style as you did on your 38Gs, and used a similar dark and light panel line opacity that you recommend in your tutorial.

In all I hope its an improvement from my previous '38 skins.

Don't know where Kev went off to. I have been away too for a while.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Fencer51 on September 08, 2007, 10:47:13 PM: Quote
Originally posted by Citabria
p38s look nice just wish you guys would not trace those older default panel line and rivet layouts as they are pretty much totally inaccurate. thats the only thing that really bugs me about them.

btw where is kev367th he seems to have disapeared :(

Well Fester these are for the scenario and are on a deadline. I have never done a P-38 before so I had to start from scratch with short notice as Guppy had hoped someone else would do them. I noticed the PLs are wrong but I did not have the time to redo them for this submission. After DGS I will do the appropriate research and fix it.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Guppy35 on September 08, 2007, 11:26:22 PM: Looks good Oboe :)

As for resources on the 82nd bird, you bet I'll help :)

I owe ya for many a skin

Kev moved back to England so he's out of action for a bit.

Fencer, as for stencils, I wouldn't worry about it on the L. Those 9th birds were ridden hard and put away wet as the saying goes in that ground attack role. I don't see a lot of stencils on them

I can't wait to get both those 474th birds in the air :)

Thanks a million gents.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Citabria on September 09, 2007, 12:06:49 AM: someone else was scratchbuilding b25 skins and didn't have innacurate lines to trace.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Bruv119 on September 09, 2007, 12:42:14 AM: Quote
Originally posted by Citabria
btw where is kev367th he seems to have disapeared :(

Hulse said he moved back to England I guess he is still sorting stuff out.
Title: How about some Aussie 38's?
Post by: lyric1 on September 09, 2007, 04:02:01 AM: (http://www.picburst.com/uploads/d3e048f8bd.jpg) (http://www.picburst.com) (http://www.picburst.com/uploads/a0b818bc10.jpg) (http://www.picburst.com) (http://www.picburst.com/uploads/ffdc15280f.jpg) (http://www.picburst.com)
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Fencer51 on September 09, 2007, 06:44:02 AM: Quote
Originally posted by Citabria
someone else was scratchbuilding b25 skins and didn't have innacurate lines to trace.

Ah it was you? I thought it was Kev. You should be able to bang a 38 out in a day! Its ok I had nothing else I am handling myself. :lol
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: Fencer51 on September 10, 2007, 04:10:34 PM: P-38L submitted last night.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: lyric1 on September 20, 2007, 07:25:46 AM: This looked interersting. (http://www.picburst.com/uploads/5f24b49199.jpg) (http://www.picburst.com) (http://www.picburst.com/uploads/4eb6fe362a.jpg) (http://www.picburst.com)
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: hammer on September 20, 2007, 07:29:00 AM: It's already in the game

(http://www.netaces.org/skins/p38j/skin11.jpg)
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: lyric1 on September 20, 2007, 07:30:06 AM: Well i missed that one ty.
Title: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: oboe on September 20, 2007, 01:44:21 PM: This is a great way to view all the skins in the game, lyric1.

http://www.netaces.org/skins/skins.htm
Title: Re: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: graybeard19 on August 21, 2012, 03:23:45 PM: :devil, Hi, my dad was assigne to this p38 squadron with the 558th aaa batty. before that he was a b.a.r. gunner with the 104th timberwolf div, 3rd army wounded in Luxembourg during battle of the bulge and went to 558th after his recovery. i have the name of the grandson of the company exec officer. and also the name of a lady whose fathers plane was found in germany in recent yrs from the 428th/474th fighter sq. If you email me, i will get the info to you, I have names and emails of both...nice people...hope this helps...steve in st joseph Mo...
graybeard19@yahoo.com :old:
Title: Re: 474th FG P-38L for DGS
Post by: donna43 on September 24, 2012, 02:25:40 AM: Quote from: oboe on September 20, 2007, 01:44:21 PM
This is a great way to view all the skins in the game, lyric1.

http://www.netaces.org/skins/skins.htm (http://www.netaces.org/skins/skins.htm)

Needs to be updated for the B-29 and JU-87