Something Different (RAAF Mustang A68-1)

[Bomber_12th]

This is only a repaint for Warbirdsim's "Little Friends" product, which I hope to have finished up/uploaded here tomorrow. The base textures are almost completely new/different than those used in "Little Friends", and are of the same type developed for Warbirdsim's up-coming P-51D-5-NA set, "Little Friends II".

If interested, I'll let you know when it has been uploaded. If you drag the images into a new tab, you can view them at sometimes more than double the resolution displayed here, in order to get a better sense of/look at the details.

 

[Bomber_12th]

One more screenshot...it definitely is a fun ride, and fun to 'show off' in - it looks all business.

 

[jeansy]

thanks mate

 

[Bomber_12th]

Matt, I think I am definitely starting to get into a "Aussie-Mustang" sort of groove/interest - there will certainly be a few more RAAF repaints made this week. ; )

 

[jeansy]

Matt, I think I am definitely starting to get into a "Aussie-Mustang" sort of groove/interest - there will certainly be a few more RAAF repaints made this week. ; )

great news

heres something that might help http://www.adf-serials.com/2a68.shtml

 

[Bomber_12th]

Thank you Matt, that is an excellent site!

My interest in A68-1 goes back to when I saw this documentary for the first time earlier this year, about the story of the "Emu Mustangs". Really interesting viewing if anyone has yet to see this (and worth watching again if you have).

"Mustangs at Emu"
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8_xQcfls3A
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA1wvAiuj2o
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snhrqd5RT-A

 

[ColoKent]

I'm an Aussie Mustange nut too...

....here's a good link with a few Aussie P-51s-- to include a few post war schemes:

http://grubbyfingersshop.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=5_8

Kent

 

[ZsoltB]

Very Great repaint!

 

[calypsos]

Will it work with either of the other Mustang packs?? I drew the line at purchasing yet another (re-paint, mainly) pack at a high price.

 

[jankees]

Thank you Matt, that is an excellent site!

My interest in A68-1 goes back to when I saw this documentary for the first time earlier this year, about the story of the "Emu Mustangs". Really interesting viewing if anyone has yet to see this (and worth watching again if you have).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snhrqd5RT-A

Thank you for that link, John!
It's fun, 'cos it starts with an interview with Len Beadell, an old hero of mine. I must have read all his books on outback roads at least twice, and I've driven quite of few of them too!
That certainly brought back memories!

 

[Bomber_12th]

Will it work with either of the other Mustang packs??

I'm sorry Calypsos, but this repaint was made to specifically be applied to one of the models in "Little Friends".

I drew the line at purchasing yet another (re-paint, mainly) pack at a high price.

Do you really believe that? If that was the case I could have put "Little Friends" together in two weeks or less. When I read comments like this, I regret the 2-3 years I invested working on these aircraft in all of their different forms, so that there wouldn't be just another single generalized hodge-podge of a P-51D. I've definitely learned my lesson - never again.

It's all just repaints, right?

 

[Bomber_12th]

 

[Bomber_12th]

 

[Milton Shupe]

John,

I think these are the most awesome products I have seen to-date. So much detail and realism just boggles my developer mind. Excellence throughout.

 

[DaveQ]

There are lots of us out here who really do appreciate your work John. Don't give up on us all just yet.....:salute:!!

From what you're saying the new -D5 will have a new paint kit. Will it map to the existing 'Little Friends'?

DaveQ

 

[calypsos]

Do you really believe that? If that was the case I could have put "Little Friends" together in two weeks or less. When I read comments like this, I regret the 2-3 years I invested working on these aircraft in all of their different forms, so that there wouldn't be just another single generalized hodge-podge of a P-51D. I've definitely learned my lesson - never again.

It's all just repaints, right?

I believed that because that was the impression I got (from a thread here, I think) when it was released, the first two packs are indeed works of art, I (not being a total P-51 addict) decided that those two packs gave me all the Mustangs I need. I am just a sucker for an RAF 'D' type roundle on bare metal! Now if there was an F-82 pack, that would get my credit card flexing.

 

[skyhawka4m]

Actually John you know as well as I do there are more variants you "could" do if you wanted to and frankly...I'm happy as hell to have all the ones you have done. The level of realism you have given me with these mustangs without taking the fun away by making it over complex works for me. Accusim or not....these in my eyes blow evverything else on the market away.....just my two cents...and thanks again.......oh wait....Can you do a P-51D with a DF loop?? :salute:

 

[ColoKent]

I have been thrilled...

...with the two packages I bought. And I agree with Calypso-- I'd LOVE an F-82 package and would instantly buy it!

Kent

 

[Bomber_12th]

I'm sorry to have had a little bit of a "flip out" earlier - I'm not really looking for any additional praise, I just wish there would be more understanding at times about all that has gone into each individual product, but even after writing the pages and pages I have about the differences, I find it hard to get across all that there is (without also sounding like I am repeating myself).

If interested, I have finished and uploaded the repaint of A68-1 to here and also to Flightsim.com. When it becomes available, this link should take you to it in the SOH libary: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?catid=3&linkid=4898

My initial decision to make this repaint for "Little Friends" is simply because it is the most advanced/detailed Warbirdsim product released to date, but for Calypso and anyone else with the "Restored Part 2" product, I'll also start working on producing this repaint and release it for that product as well. There are several changes that will have to be made in order to support one of the models in the "Restored Part 2" product, but it shouldn't take too long, and the texture work will also display just the same on it as it does on "Little Friends" - i.e. the same reflective/specular effects.

It is a big file, as I have also made changes for the landing gear leg, door, wheel, and tire textures, new bump/normal maps (depending on what you call them), unique/specific specular maps just for this scheme, and all of these texture files are included in the aircraft's texture folder.

Here are a few more screenshots of the final work:

 

[Bomber_12th]

From what you're saying the new -D5 will have a new paint kit. Will it map to the existing 'Little Friends'?

DaveQ

Dave, yes it will! The difference of course is that the panel lines, rivets, and fasteners around the tail, nose, and other select regions of the aircraft, as well as the various differences in holes/ports around the aircraft, are different between early and late examples, so these layers as well as all of the levels/detail layers that go with those are quite different. The D-5 paint kit also has fabric elevators instead of the metal type, etc. With the D-5's, I also created all new specular maps/specular map alpha channels and new bump/normal maps, and I have adjusted these too, with all of the layers as mentioned above, to work with the later-models of "Little Friends". I'm still working on finishing up the extensive paintkit for the up-coming P-51D-5-NA set, and then I will focus some time on updating the older "Little Friends" paintkit set with the new textures, and send out new links for it to those who are interested.