• There seems to be an uptick in Political comments in recent months. Those of us who are long time members of the site know that Political and Religious content has been banned for years. Nothing has changed. Please leave all political and religious comments out of the forums.

    If you recently joined the forums you were not presented with this restriction in the terms of service. This was due to a conversion error when we went from vBulletin to Xenforo. We have updated our terms of service to reflect these corrections.

    Please note any post refering to a politician will be considered political even if it is intended to be humor. Our experience is these topics have a way of dividing the forums and causing deep resentment among members. It is a poison to the community. We appreciate compliance with the rules.

    The Staff of SOH

  • Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.

    Post 16 Update

    Post 17 Warning

Just Flight's Wildcat

R

RobH

Charter Member
I think it looks much better without so much shine on it. I have been messing around with Martin Wrights MDL Material Editor for FSX. Still trying to get more realistic.

Here is what it looks like "as is"

mccuskey1.jpg



And here it is after my tinkering.

F2_1.jpg


F2_2.jpg


F2_4.jpg


F2_5.jpg
 
Thanks Roger. Good call buying it on sale.

Here is the look I am trying to achieve, I think I need to add just a little more shine back to it.

wildcatshine.jpg
 
Yes, probably a little more. How are you using model mat X? I've only ever used the previous version on Fs9 aircraft?
 
Well, LOL, I am not really sure, since this is my first time using it ever. But, I will try to make sense, lol.

Of course, be sure to make a backup of your model file. Open the model file in MDL X. Scroll down through the top left window, and look for the main texture files, for instance, AH_Wildcatfuse_t.dds. On the right side, in the colour selector, change the R,G,B values, leaving the Alpha one alone. At this point I changed it to 40,40,40,0. As you know, the closer to pure black you get, the less shine there will be. To the left of the colour selector, there are two color chips with arrow buttons beside them. You want to click on the bottom arrow button of the specular chip. Then click on "send modified material back" button. It will then add your color you created in the colour selector. Do this for all the fuselage and wing textures. Then click on "save updated mdl" when you are done. Not sure if this is the correct way to use this program, but I am happy with the results so far. Hope I made some sense, lol.
 
Thats why I like SOH if you are not careful you mite learn something. Thanks Rob!
Now I have had this program on my PC for a couple of years but never could figure it out.
I figure if it will work for planes it might dull down the deck on M Davies terrific CV32 because when I did those textures
for the deck I never could get the shine out of it.
View attachment 55562
 
Thanks guys. Gradyhappyg, your welcome, glad I could be of help for once, LOL!! Your deck looks good.:salute:
 
wow....now I may even go for the wildcat......where is this program? I used to use the one for FS9 but that one delat with the model and not the textures.
 
Dear Rob

You hust sold me on this-overlooked the sale at JF

Now I can decomission my Donationware in FSX

Only missing point is such a repaint



Roland
 
OK, I may also have to succomb to the sale - this may well complete my collection of (well known) Grumman fighters. Like the de-shined work - these subtle changes have made a big difference.

Question: did most buy the combined package? The description of variation between the various packs was not clear whether all the same models are in all the packs, i.e. if they are, you may not need the combined pack if there are sufficient repaints around.

Re repaints: I could not find RobH's paints he appeared to post last year here in the SOH Warbirds Archive under "RobH" but maybe they are back a few pages in (would have thought they would more recent and somewhere in pages 1-2).
 
The matt version is looking good. These aircraft were painted with a matt finish, meaning little or no shine whatsoever. In 1942 the paint scheme was non-specular Blue Gray over non-specular light Gray. Also, the paint on these aircraft quickly became dull due to the harsh sea environment. Just imagine running your hand over one of these Wildcats and feeling the chalkyness of the paint as it oxidized out in the sun and sea spray.

I'm looking forward to your finished paint as this is a nice model and your paint will make it even nicer.

Although not in color, these Grumman photos will give you a good idea of the low level of reflectivity these paint jobs had back in the day...



View attachment 55578

View attachment 55579

View attachment 55580

View attachment 55581

View attachment 55582

View attachment 55583

View attachment 55586
 
Thanks everyone! :ernae:

The program you need is here: http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/index.htm It wont let me direct link to it. On the left side of the page, click on Programs List. Scroll down the page until you see MDLMat, click on that. Then scroll down until you see MDLMatXX, click on the yellow dot to download. You will have to have his latest set of DLL files installed for it to work. The link for those are on the page of Program files, at the very bottom.

Expat, the repaints are there, but with this system, I don't know how to get you a link to them. They are also on Flightsim.com as well.
 
mal998 said:
The matt version is looking good. These aircraft were painted with a matt finish, meaning little or no shine whatsoever. In 1942 the paint scheme was non-specular Blue Gray over non-specular light Gray. Also, the paint on these aircraft quickly became dull due to the harsh sea environment. Just imagine running your hand over one of these Wildcats and feeling the chalkyness of the paint as it oxidized out in the sun and sea spray.

I'm looking forward to your finished paint as this is a nice model and your paint will make it even nicer.

Although not in color, these Grumman photos will give you a good idea of the low level of reflectivity these paint jobs had back in the day...
Click to expand...

Thanks Mal, the hardest part is trying to find that "happy medium". As these pics show, they had a little shine in the beginning, might also be the lighting too. And as some photos show, yours included, they almost had no shine at all, probably later in the war, and with a lot more wear and tear.

The repaints have already been uploaded, they were uploaded several months ago. All I have done now, is dull the model down. The nice thing about this program for those that want to dull their model too, they can set how much shine they actually want on their Wildcat.

View attachment 55595View attachment 55596View attachment 55597
 
One of the many adding to the most classic Wildcat WWII photos would be on the USS Ranger during Operation Torch
 
expat said:
OK, I may also have to succomb to the sale - this may well complete my collection of (well known) Grumman fighters. Like the de-shined work - these subtle changes have made a big difference.

Question: did most buy the combined package? The description of variation between the various packs was not clear whether all the same models are in all the packs, i.e. if they are, you may not need the combined pack if there are sufficient repaints around.

Re repaints: I could not find RobH's paints he appeared to post last year here in the SOH Warbirds Archive under "RobH" but maybe they are back a few pages in (would have thought they would more recent and somewhere in pages 1-2).
Click to expand...

:bump::bump::bump:

I'm bumping this as I have the same thoughts.
I have enough spare change for one package, but which one?
Is the combined one all the aircraft from the other 3, minus some paints?:confused:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top