The FDE also got an overhaul to adapt it for FSX. Do not expect Bernt Stolle level quality but at least it handles well in the sim and thrust, take off / landing speeds are roughly right
Back in the CFS 1 days, we would call that "reasonably right".
-
Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.
-
Special Server Maintenance
Just when you think you have everything running some what better...
You get a message from the Hosting company. Short story they need to move us to a new server. I have been working with them to plan a good date for all concerned. Here is what we have come up with as a schedule.
- November 4th 17:00 -5UTC shut off the forums and start backup proceedures. During this time there will be no access to the forums or the Resource Section.
- November 5th Continue with Backups and download same until complete.
- November 6th 7:00 turn over server to hosting company to move system to new server
- November 7th - 8th restore backups and upgrade forum software.
If all goes well we should be back online on November 8th.
To keep you updated we will post updates on AVSIM forums.
Thank you for your support.
F-80 Texture Redux
- Thread starter Mach3DS
- Start date
Back in the CFS 1 days, we would call that "reasonably right".
Mach3DS
Charter Member
The trick with the panel lines is to make them light...lighter than you would think. Then when you create the Alpha Channel create a new image and place the alpha you want then copy the panel lines from the main Paint kit on top and make sure they are all white....this will give the illusion of dirt without having to actually make the "dirt" as painted on. (Which is kind of what it looks like you may have done?) Additional dirt can be made in the diffuse of the paint kit if it's a really dirty bird. Then flatten that alpha image and import it into your paint kit that way (if you're using Photoshop). The same trick can be used when creating the custom specular...however the speculars I shipped to you and Henk should suffice, unless you want to do something completely different! Looking Great!!!! hopefully the PK is working for you! I tried to Copy the layout of the M2M M2KC as I think it's a super easy to use PK and very well done organizationally.
Willy, do a search for Alternate ENVmap and BananaBob if you haven't already.
Willy, do a search for Alternate ENVmap and BananaBob if you haven't already.
Thanks for the tips. I used the supplied alphas as a base layer for the new ones with the painted bits on them.
I experimented a bit on the fuselage there with adding just enough noise to the metal base textures to be noticeable if you looked closely at them. On the panel lines, I'd made those just a bit darker than the surrounding metal on the main texture. I'm still playing around with it getting it sorted out. Once I have the metal where I want it, the paint itself will go much faster.
I do have Photoshop, but use Paint.net as I find it more intuitive for me. I can covert back and forth between the two with no problems.
I experimented a bit on the fuselage there with adding just enough noise to the metal base textures to be noticeable if you looked closely at them. On the panel lines, I'd made those just a bit darker than the surrounding metal on the main texture. I'm still playing around with it getting it sorted out. Once I have the metal where I want it, the paint itself will go much faster.
I do have Photoshop, but use Paint.net as I find it more intuitive for me. I can covert back and forth between the two with no problems.
Progress Report
Still plugging away at it in my spare time. Took one that I recently did an update to and had the layered texture files in a folder still and worked it into the mix. Just the fuselage section here and there's a few more things in the back of my mind that I want to try, but here's what I've got going this morning.
Still plugging away at it in my spare time. Took one that I recently did an update to and had the layered texture files in a folder still and worked it into the mix. Just the fuselage section here and there's a few more things in the back of my mind that I want to try, but here's what I've got going this morning.
Attachments
Stickshaker
SOH-CM-2023
Very nice! Hard to believe that this is merely a mod of the original model, and not a completely new one.
At that time buzz numbers were the norm for USAF aircraft, but somehow the 36th FG got away with using nose numbers instead. (I've got a bunch of reference pics). Any particular nose number or tail number?
Thanks Rick! That paint kit is making a world of difference in how I've been painting them. Still working on getting the shine where I want it. Gonna try a new angle this morning.
My dad flew F-105's at Bitburg, mid-1960's, and the closest thing to an F-80 was the squadron's "instrument currency" T-33. I appreciate your thought, though, Willy!
My fault, got so "hyper" seeing that bee on your jet that I forgot to specify. Showed my dad your work, he loves it and wants me to install the old Alpha F-80 once you guys are done with the enhancements. As an F-100 driver, he helped with the Milviz project, and got spoiled by Rick's beautiful reflectivity work on that new, unpainted aluminum. Seeing that also happen with these "ancient" models is really sweet.
Most of us military drivers flew machines that had been pretty well used by the time we got our hands on them. Our fantasy, especially on the fighter side, was to fly brand-new jets, clean and slick (no external stores). Thanks for letting us live the fantasy in the sim world.
Usually, I use the guys I fly online with as a "sounding board" when I've got some doubts about a paint. The thing about the not so shiny is pretty much what I got from them on that last screenshot. "Overbaked" was one comment. Which I've got agree with. I've been fiddling around with the alpha layers this morning to tone it down a bit, but still keep the shine if that makes any sense. I think I've got it pretty close though.
(I'm retired Navy and we didn't fly very much bare metal aircraft that I was around).
(I'm retired Navy and we didn't fly very much bare metal aircraft that I was around).
Still plugging away at it in my spare time. I've got the 4 main textures (fuselage, both wings & tail) matching color & shading along with the alpha layers for them. Working on the speculars now and then it will be alphas for the speculars. Also set up the dirt/grime layers for easy use as well. My plan is to get everything I can on the master layered files so all I should have to do is add the paint scheme and adjust everything to where it looks acceptable. Right now what I've got is a generic F-80 that's morphing into "factory fresh".
I made the mistake of reading the SDK on texturing and now have just enough knowledge to be extremely dangerous to myself and others. The paint kit now has a bunch of new layers so I can use the one layered file for multiple uses (texture, alpha, specular & the specular alpha) Should save a lot of copy & paste that way although it does jack up the file size.
Also got a new (to me) book on F-80s in Korea with lots of good color pics. I've just skimmed through it a bit so far, but it looks like there's a lot of good paint ideas in there along with some corrections for ones I've done before.
I made the mistake of reading the SDK on texturing and now have just enough knowledge to be extremely dangerous to myself and others. The paint kit now has a bunch of new layers so I can use the one layered file for multiple uses (texture, alpha, specular & the specular alpha) Should save a lot of copy & paste that way although it does jack up the file size.
Also got a new (to me) book on F-80s in Korea with lots of good color pics. I've just skimmed through it a bit so far, but it looks like there's a lot of good paint ideas in there along with some corrections for ones I've done before.
Mach3DS
Charter Member
Fantastic Willy! You'll have to share the final Paint kit with me you're ready. Looks great. One additional thing. I've set the fresnel ramp in the material properties of the model to control the angle at which the reflections show. By playing around with the fresnel gradient (in more ways than simply a straight solid to light gradient) and by adding color to the gradient you can change the outcome of the final product quite a bit. Don't be shy in experimenting. What I provided was simply a best fit for that one aluminum skin but doesn't mean it'll work for every paint. Especially those with a lot of painted areas.