Sabres by jocko417 - update for 1.5

Okay... I think I've got my Spec files tweaked to take advantage of the new shine/reflection effects in DCS World 1.5.

First one updated is Pete Fernandez's F-86F. I may tweak the weathering a bit but you get the idea:

I've tried to make the metal appear shiny and reflective, but without losing the point that my textures depict "operational" aircraft and therefore will have dirt, scratches, scuffs, etc., ie: not airshow polish :)

Pics obviously don't show the full effect, you have to see it in motion as the sunlight plays across the surface of the model.

Try it out:

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/1447127/

Comments always welcome, nothing is ever finished ;)

Looks amazing!

Looks fantastic - Well done!

Nice. We can finally create a decent metal skin!

One thing though, the dark panel that runs the length of the wings should not have the V section removed. Check out the photo to see what I mean.

(And having looked at the photo again I have just seen there is a panel in the same section that I have painted that shouldn't be! D'oh!)

Depends on which photo... :devil_2:

Now, truth be told, I have thought about changing it because you do see both styles in photos, and the above is a Sabre Mk.2, equivalent to an F-86E. Note the different walkway stripes due to the slatted leading edge.

Not sure if the F model always appeared like in your photo or not, most period Sabre pics were taken on the ground so you rarely see the wing in plan view...

Maybe I'll leave my Canadian schemes as is and change the North American-built ones :)

If I could keep my nerd hat on a bit longer, the drop tanks on this bird never look right to my Canadian eyes, the later model F-86Fs like this one used a dual hard point wing whereas Canadair kept the single pylon wing on all variants produced... so the BST Sabre has a choice of 120 gal tanks too close together or 200 gal ones too far apart:

Canadair Mk.5:

Green lines are the main wheel strut and wing fence. Single tank at halfway, either 100 Imp. gal or 167 Imp. gal in the parlance of the times (120/200 U.S. gal) :)

North American F-86F-30:

See the difference?

First time I saw Hawk One perform I remember thinking "There's something not right about that Sabre"... turns out it's a bit of a hybrid... Canadair Mk.5 fuselage, Orenda 14 engine (from the Mk.6), but an American -40 wing, with the 12" tip extensions. So, to me, the wing always looks too long and the drops look way too close together ;)

BTW, the Sabres above are from 410 (Cougar) squadron, circa 1951. Early style Vee windscreen and all-fiberglass nose with aluminum gun cam panel at 6 o'clock. Would be cool to have an A and E model for the early Korea days.

/nerd hat OFF

I must confess my knowledge of Canadian Sabres is virtually zero I'm ashamed to say. But I see what you mean about the different style of panel.

I also see what you mean about the pylon spacing.

Regarding the dark panel issue, I took my main reference from an excellent two page colour photo in Wings Of Fame Volume 10, page 34/35 which shows a good view of the upper surfaces of a factory fresh F-5 model in flight, close up.

To be honest I am not even sure what the dark panel really is. I assumed it was a painted step area for ground-crew.

I agree it would be nice to have the A/E models. However their absence doesn't mean we can't skin them. I still did "Peg "O" my heart" which was an A-5, and I have my eye on several E schemes.

At heart I'm a Mustang fanatic but the Sabre runs a close second. In fact i never saw a North American aircraft I didn't like.

Yeah, I always figured the area between the wing spars was skinned with a different alloy or something. Or maybe it was painted like the P-51 wings.

There's a boat load of early Sabre Mk.2 skins I could do if we ignore the fact the wing is wrong for that type. The RCAF had some pretty elaborate squadron art in the early NATO days, just before the Mk.5 arrived the powers that be decided to tone things down a bit and went for a more standardized look.

427 "Lion" squadron Mk.2:

Have started to do proper helmet art now, as much as I can due to the mapping of the helmet (side is mirrored so no words or numbers...). Also, it's difficult to find examples of all helmets, and squadron helmet art sometimes changed, usually mimicking aircraft paint scheme changes. While I try to be as accurate as I can be sometimes you have to compromise :)

439 Squadron used red stripes running fore and aft to denote pilot 'job title'... Squadron Commander had three stripes, Flight Commanders had two, ordinary fighter jocks had a single stripe.

421 Squadron:

427 Squadron:

Lion rampant was actually at the back of the helmet (with pilot nickname) but this won't work due to the center seam of the mirrored mapping.

434 and 444 Squadrons both used this style, which is going to give me fits...;)

Something new, Sabre 23315 of No. 401 "City of Westmount" (Rams) Squadron, RCAF Aux., based at Montreal, Canada, circa 1950s.

Just have to add the blue fuselage stripe:

UPDATE: Normal Maps

Still W.I.P, adjusting how heavy rivets vs lines are, etc. Finally got around to changing the fuselage panels to match the Orenda-powered Sabre 5 and 6. I don't think I'll bother changing the wing panels as the pylons, etc. wouldn't line up properly due to Canadair using the single hard point wing (F-86F-20 and earlier I believe).

Also finally got around to improving my intake shading.

New:

Old:

Older version intake metal was darker than outside, shading too abrupt and too far back. Both shots taken in 1.5 with new self shadowing active.

Just 2 words: wanna have :-) keep up your great work jocko

I love new skins and effects jocko..keep up the great work. It looks like an outstanding improvemente

Any updates here jocko? Would love to fly some Canadair or CAC Sabres :-)

Hi guys, just coming off a very busy period at work, but things are starting to cool off now. Should be able to get back at it seriously over the next couple of weeks. My apologies for the silent treatment ;)

My apologies for the silent treatment ;)

Hey no problem, we just missing your superb work :thumbup:

BTW: Your Golden Hawk skin looks really bad in 1.5.2 (shining blue instead of gold)... But don't hurry. One sabre after the other :pilotfly:

Glad to see you are coming back. I was getting lonely on here.

Hey no problem, we just missing your superb work :thumbup:

BTW: Your Golden Hawk skin looks really bad in 1.5.2 (shining blue instead of gold)... But don't hurry. One sabre after the other :pilotfly:

Try it now :)

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/793979/

New version has updated Canadair Mk.5 panel lines and matching normal map.

Aaaaannnd...

Reality check ;) Golden Hawks at Nellis AFB ... maybe 1960?

Whoops! Fixed a couple of errors, new version available, same DL location in post above :)

Jocko, although I'm a great fan(atic) of You natural metal finish effect on other liveries of Yours, I have to say the golden one above is a bit meh. Basically, it looks just like a yellow paint with semi-gloss coat sprayed over.

I admit I don't know anything about spec maps to judge whether it's possible to obtain metallic gold look (as in '60 photo) in current gfx engine.