F14 Skinners thread (Paintkit in 1st post)

Hi all,

Sorry to be "that guy" but.. there was a Low Vis Jolly Rogers skin uploaded to https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com. It was only up for a day or two, but now seems to be removed. Any idea what happened to it or where I can download it? Sadly I didn't get to it in time because of work and now can't seem to find it anywhere.

UPDATE

Strut has just uploaded an awesome set of VF-84 low vis skins. Thanks

On the MiG-21, can the placement locations be edited? Are the coordinates on the model something that the average user can edit?

 

This is what a single decal entry looks like on a Strike Fighters, from one of the available F-14 skins:

 

[Decal002]

MeshName=Nose <-------------------------------Component

DecalLevel=2 <-------------------------------Type (whether this decal appears all the time, only on specific aircraft, or for specific squadrons)

DecalFacing=LEFT <-------------------------------vertical/horizontal orientation

FilenameFormat=F-14D\USNVF213OEF\nosel <---File name and location

Position=4.85,-0.08 <-------------------------------Coordinate position on Mesh

Rotation=0.0 <-------------------------------Rotational orientation

Scale=10.0 <-------------------------------Size position on mesh

DecalMaxLOD=4 <-------------------------------Determines the view distance the decal can be seen

 

I don't have the MiG-21, but from what I have seen of other DCS aircraft, all you can edit are the decals that are visible and what the file names are. You can't edit the position, size, or orientation of each one. Not a big deal when position and size of the text is fairly uniform, such as with the F-15 or F/A-18. Not very useful on the F-14 with so many variations of position and size. To compare, look at VF-1's 1974 livery vs. VF-154's 1999 livery. Very different placement and size. If HB tried to replicate this with existing dynamic system, either VF-154's numbers would be spread out too far if the numbers in the decal file were the correct size OR VF-1's numbers would be out of alignment with the red stripe on the fuselage and look wrong. Alternatively, they could have multiple entries for possible modex locations and it would be up to the skinner for them to the active or not, but that would bloat the size of the text file.

 

In Strike Fighters, you can't type in a number and expect it to show up like in DCS. You have to make a selection from a dropdown menu. In the case of the skin I drew the above entry from, you only have the modex numbers available in that squadron and can't put in your own. Each three-digit number has to be its own .tga file, and in fact this skin was edited so that the modex number and safety placards were all specific to the aircraft selected.

Variable serials in DCS can't be repositioned in the description.lua, they're hard-coded into the model when skinning it. You can see the vertexes for the serial locations on some paintkits' uv maps. Most planes have several options for different skins that are left blank when not used on a particular skin, but I imagine the main issue HB is running into is getting the kerning to look right, which isn't exactly easy when 1's are significantly narrower than every other digit in USN font. For example, X10 and X11+ modexes look very wrong on the DCS F/A-18 because kerning can't be dynamically set.

Some really well done skin mods in this thread for sure. I'd like to request if anyone wouldn't mind creating this Sluggers paint scheme, would be very much appreciated! :D

Guys can you help me with export settings from GIMP? I can export the dds and I hit generate mipmaps and I still see the texture pop out when I zoom out of the aircraft in the f2 view.

Guys can you help me with export settings from GIMP? I can export the dds and I hit generate mipmaps and I still see the texture pop out when I zoom out of the aircraft in the f2 view.

Are you referring to when you zoom out in F2 and the texture changes? the tomcat requires a separate LOD file for far views.

Are you referring to when you zoom out in F2 and the texture changes? the tomcat requires a separate LOD file for far views.

yes this!! how do I make the LOD file ?

yes this!! how do I make the LOD file ?

Short version: You need to pull the "HB_F14_LOD1_3in1.dds" file from another skin, ideally one that's similar in case you don't redo every single texture.

Next, take each dds texture, shrink it to 512x512, and paste it into the LOD file. It helps if you have some of the grid snapping turned on in Photoshop. Otherwise you have to zoom in and align them.

Once you've placed each texture over its respective spot, save it like you did the other skin .dds files and voila.

Oh, almost forgot, you need to add this to the description.lua:

{"HB_F14_LOD1_3in1", 0 ,"HB_F14_LOD1_3in1",false};

Short version: You need to pull the "HB_F14_LOD1_3in1.dds" file from another skin, ideally one that's similar in case you don't redo every single texture.

 

Next, take each dds texture, shrink it to 512x512, and paste it into the LOD file. It helps if you have some of the grid snapping turned on in Photoshop. Otherwise you have to zoom in and align them.

 

Once you've placed each texture over its respective spot, save it like you did the other skin .dds files and voila.

 

 

Oh, almost forgot, you need to add this to the description.lua:

 

{"HB_F14_LOD1_3in1", 0 ,"HB_F14_LOD1_3in1",false};

You are the best!! thank you !!

Isoko, are you going to release these?

VF-32 Swordsmen Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003 PACK

I'm still working on painting.

I hope it can be released in about one to two months, but the release date is still unknown.:doh:

Here are some recent Pilot & RIO custom textures.

- Rear Admiral (lower half) : RADM (LH) -

- Captain : CAPT -

- Commander : CDR -

- Lieutenant Commander : LCDR -

- Lieutenant : LT -

- Desert Camuflage Helmet Cover -

Hi ISOKO,

plesae stop or i am getting a heart attack!:music_whistling:

Brilliant work buddy and so many details. Fantastic, i must admit i cant wait for these beauties!

TY

Heatblur should hire Isoko, they need someone with attention to detail like that.

VF-32 Swordsmen Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003 PACK

I finished adjusting the gloss of each marking.

I noticed a problem.

LANTIRN POD cameras are not fully stowed in standby mode.

I emailed them to Heatblur to confirm the problem, but there was no reply after several weeks.

Are they going to fix this problem?

I can't proceed with painting without confirming this issue:(

Current LANTIRN standby mode

Correct LANTIRN standby mode

Click here for reference

I hope the Heatblur team is watching this thread.

I noticed a problem.

LANTIRN POD cameras are not fully stowed in standby mode.

I emailed them to Heatblur to confirm the problem, but there was no reply after several weeks.

Are they going to fix this problem?

 

I can't proceed with painting without confirming this issue:(

I see the issue as well, but I wouldn't hold your breathe, they probably won't prioritize it over other existing issues.

Anyone else getting this error when unzipping the textures

Error: Bad data in file "D:\Restored Files\DCS Skins\F-14\HB_F14_EXT_TAIL.psd"

Irrecoverable Error: Bad data detected.

How do we paint the crew names on the other side? I only seem to have a texture for one side!

Ignore me, helps if I open all the layers! Doh!

Hey Isoko, I doubt we Mind if the Lantirn pod doesn’t line up.

Hey Isoko, I doubt we Mind if the Lantirn pod doesn’t line up.

hi mate:thumbup:

Is my operation wrong? I would be happy if you could tell me more.

I want to know if HB is aware of this problem and is willing to fix it.

Depending on their response I have to repaint LANTIRN significantly.

Isoko, think about it this way. If you fudge it so the existing model looks right, you'll have to correct it later if they fix it. I'd gamble on the fix and place the placards and fasteners accurately.

Any one know where the underside of the speed brake is???

Any one know where the underside of the speed brake is???

Good question. I'd like to know too.

Considering HB hasn't fixed a single of the several fisual bugs/inaccuracies yet I would not get my hoped up that they fix the LITENING anytime soon. You should just release your work regardless, it's truly outstanding stuff!

Perfection doesn't exist because everyone who pursues it, dies trying. Worst case scenario something gets fixed/moved, the livery needs a minor tweak, and the file on User Files gets updated.

Isoko you are doing an amazing job!!! Looking forward to adding your skins to my collection.

 

 

For anyone else - I know it is way fictional but would anyone try to make the Blue Angles skin for the Tomcat? If it's a dumb idea I understand. Just seen these photos on the web and thought what could have been lol.

Oh my god how awesome would that have been Tomcat blue angels.