F7F Tigercat SOH Project

Wing and fuse panel work and rivet details updated with flush rivets and technically correct layouts.
H-stab is still WIP with more to do on nacelles.

The work is moving along quickly...







 
Gman, that looks beautiful. Will your panel and rivet detail be available in .psd or .psp format in a paint kit?
 
This is why I didn't volunteer!

I can do colors and markings pretty well, but this kind of detail is far beyond my skills.
Beautiful work! :ernaehrung004:
 
TARPSBird said:
Gman, that looks beautiful. Will your panel and rivet detail be available in .psd or .psp format in a paint kit?
Click to expand...

I've been building the PK as I progress with the work. Once we've verified the mapping and all things are go, I'll upload the PK when the model is released.

I'm not sure how the FSX model will lay out, so I'll build a second set of skins if necessary for the FSX model when it is available.

G
 
I think we have all the exterior mods done now and fortunately they have not held up the texture artists (gman5250 and Mike Kelly) who are working at a feverish pace.

Added another model to represent the XF7F-1 Test bed.
 
Mr. Shupe is working on the model variants now that we have the mapping relatively tight.

Here's the new X model and some details I added to the plane(s) today.

The nacelles are now well detailed, the props are textured and the entire airplane is getting touches like trim tab rivets and fabric reinforcement tape on the control surfaces. She's really looking good.

She will stay in the grayscale mode until I get all of the details refined. This is a great format for light rendering evaluation. Once the light and shadow depth are good the details will look good over/under any paint scheme.


X test bed aircraft with those awesome spinners



Detailed the nacelles and gear doors


Wing details with reinforcement tape on the fabric surfaces and trim tab rivets


 
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Thanks guys.

The fundamental details are generally close enough to do some basic color work. Milton sent me the XF7F-1 model so I got up early and went to work in Photoshop. This is the first skin I've done with the new Wacom Intuos pad. What a difference painting with natural strokes.

The source photos show a real work horse of a test bed aircraft. She was rode hard and put up wet, so that's the way I'm rendering her. This is the basic skin...no oil/exhaust stains, heat bluing or detailed weathering yet.

This skin is a WIP, but good enough to show the plane in realistic conditions. Dammmm she's pretty!!!





 
Oh yeah, gman! :jump:

Definitely make her look like a Testbed; not only oil stains & streaks, but superfluous marks, notations and other assorted scribblings that a Prototype would accumulate during her trials...

Awesome work!

Alan :encouragement:
 
Nice work Milton and GMan. I am really liking the look of the prototype. BTW, is your WACOM tablet the newer ones where it has the monitor in it? I have an older one as an input device without the monitor in it, but I just couldn't get the hang of the remote drawing. I've been thinking of getting one of the newer versions for the very reasons you express.
 
Sundog said:
Nice work Milton and GMan. I am really liking the look of the prototype. BTW, is your WACOM tablet the newer ones where it has the monitor in it? I have an older one as an input device without the monitor in it, but I just couldn't get the hang of the remote drawing. I've been thinking of getting one of the newer versions for the very reasons you express.
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Thanks Sundog. Mr. Shupe did the magic...l I just sling the digital airbrushes.

I bought the 17" Intuos Pro. It's a remote tablet, but I can work efficiently with that and the 40" HD screen in the studio/sim room.

The Cintiq is the hands on HD Touch Screen. This is the ultimate for a desktop artist, but it is a pricey item. I definitely have my sights set on the Cintiq 27", but it will have to wait until after I launch the product line and generate the capital. IMHO the Cintiq is the only way to work. Price tag: $2700.00 :dizzy:

That said, I've been painting with a rock (think mouse) since 1993. This tablet is the first I've had...it's like being re-born. I popped for PS CS6 about a year ago, but was never able to fully realize it's potential until I got the Intuos tablet. It's pretty sweet.
 
gman5250 said:
That said, I've been painting with a rock (think mouse) since 1993. This tablet is the first I've had...it's like being re-born. I popped for PS CS6 about a year ago, but was never able to fully realize it's potential until I got the Intuos tablet. It's pretty sweet.
Click to expand...

I gave up on using a rock too... when the first gen Wacom tablets came out, I got the 5x7. Since I refuse to use a mouse except in emergencies and a trackball is awkward for painting/drawing, it was indeed the best alternative. I don't have the 'justification' for a big one but since Win 7 wouldn't play with my old one, there is a purchase in the plan ( might spring for the 8x10 if I can get it past the budget office)
 
Okay, while gman5250 and Mike Kelly are working on the F7F-1, I have now converted the F7F-3S (single seat), the F7F-3N night fighter, and starting on the -3P 2-seater. Should have all done by the week's end.

The good thing about the variants is only the fuselage textures change; all other bmps are the same.
 
Milton Shupe said:
... starting on the -3P 2-seater...
Click to expand...

Now that's something you don't see every day!

The 2-seat photo bird was the rarest sub-variant of the rarest variant. I never heard of such a thing until just now, when your comment prompted me to look it up. Now I'm curious about what the second crew member did, since it appears that the cameras were operated by the pilot in all -3Ps (but maybe not...???).

Will there also be a more prosaic single-seat -3P?
 
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