HELP PLEASE - F4J SKINS HAVE ME BAFFLED

[jrdani 0]

First of all, I'd like to thank all the modders and skinners for

making SFP1 and WOV the greatest sims ever as for as I'm

concerned. Without your talent and generosity, they would be

getting old and not nearly as interesting. Through your efforts,

they remain young and alive. Its so much fun, even for an old

retired guy like me, to install a new skin or mod, and takeoff

knowing that there are new sights, sounds or effects to enjoy.

Thank you all again..........now to my plea for help:

I'm not new to installing skins or editing files (Decals.ini, etc.), but lately I'm having nothing but problems having F4J skins appear correctly in WOV (my primary sim). A year ago before my illness, I'd installed a dozen or so F4B and F4J skins in WOV with no problems whatsoever, which makes me wonder whether the latest patches (2 & 3) are causing my problems.

 

The primary problem is decals not appearing at all (sometimes partially), usually on the vertical stabilizer, but sometimes as in the case of Allo's USNVF114 Aardvark, the fuselage stripe(s) doesn't appear either. I'm very careful to make sure that all files are in the proper folders and that the TextureSetXXX is in the

plane's .ini file and numbered sequentially. I've worked for 24 hours or so now and tried everything I know with no success.

 

As I always do, before posting a request for help, I've searched every website's forum. In particular, I've looked at every post in this Skinning Forum I thought might be applicable, all to no avail. The last thing I've tried is installing Allo's Aardvark mentioned above in my SFP1 sim, and voila, the stripes, the aardvarks, and everything appears. This must mean that some skins work in SFP1 and not in WOV.........can we know which skins work in which sims without experiencing the "agony of defeat"? Is there anything we can do to make them work in WOV?

 

Please help, I'm worn out from fighting the problem. I look forward to your replies and thanks in advance for any assistance you can give me.

Edited April 3, 2006 by jrdani

[+Dave 2,322]

I need to see the decal.ini and you got a link to that skin.

[jrdani 0]

Thanks for the reply, Dave. The link to the skin is as follows: Allo's F-4J USNVF114 Aardvark

 

The Decals.ini is as follows:

 

[Decal001]

MeshName=fuselage_P

DecalLevel=0

DecalFacing=RIGHT

FilenameFormat=Insignia

Position=4.63,-0.167

Rotation=0.0

Scale=1.85

DecalMaxLOD=4

 

[Decal002]

MeshName=fuselage_P

DecalLevel=0

DecalFacing=LEFT

FilenameFormat=Insignia

Position=4.63,-0.167

Rotation=0.0

Scale=1.85

DecalMaxLOD=4

 

[Decal003]

MeshName=wing_left_outer

DecalLevel=0

DecalFacing=TOP

FilenameFormat=Insignia

Position=-4.241,-0.94

Rotation=40.0

Scale=2.5

DecalMaxLOD=4

 

[Decal004]

MeshName=wing_right_outer

DecalLevel=0

DecalFacing=BOTTOM

FilenameFormat=Insignia

Position=4.241,-0.94

Rotation=40.0

Scale=2.5

DecalMaxLOD=4

 

[Decal005]

MeshName=wing_left_inner

DecalLevel=0

DecalFacing=TOP

FilenameFormat=Insignia

Position=-4.241,-0.94

Rotation=40.0

Scale=2.5

DecalMaxLOD=3

 

[Decal006]

MeshName=wing_right_inner

DecalLevel=0

DecalFacing=BOTTOM

FilenameFormat=Insignia

Position=4.241,-0.94

Rotation=40.0

Scale=2.5

DecalMaxLOD=3

 

[Decal007]

MeshName=fuselage_front

DecalLevel=2

DecalFacing=RIGHT

FilenameFormat=USNFighterNum

Position=8.138,-0.418

Rotation=0.0

Scale=0.55

DecalMaxLOD=3

 

[Decal008]

MeshName=fuselage_front

DecalLevel=2

DecalFacing=LEFT

FilenameFormat=USNFighterNum

Position=8.138,-0.418

Rotation=0.0

Scale=0.55

DecalMaxLOD=3

 

[Decal009]

MeshName=vertical_stabilizer

DecalLevel=0

DecalFacing=LEFT

FilenameFormat=F-4J/VF114/D/Aardvark

Position=-4.40,1.50

Rotation=0.0

Scale=1.35

DecalMaxLOD=4

 

[Decal010]

MeshName=vertical_stabilizer

DecalLevel=0

DecalFacing=RIGHT

FilenameFormat=F-4J/VF114/D/Aardvark

Position=-4.40,1.50

Rotation=0.0

Scale=1.35

DecalMaxLOD=4

Reverse=TRUE

 

[Decal011]

MeshName=fuselage_P

DecalLevel=0

DecalFacing=RIGHT

FilenameFormat=F-4J/VF114/D/Str

Position=0.550,0.200

Rotation=-65.0

Scale=6.5

DecalMaxLOD=3

 

[Decal012]

MeshName=fuselage_P

DecalLevel=0

DecalFacing=LEFT

FilenameFormat=F-4J/VF114/D/Str

Position=0.550,0.200

Rotation=-65.0

Scale=6.5

DecalMaxLOD=3

Reverse=TRUE

 

[Decal013]

MeshName=fuselage_P

DecalLevel=0

DecalFacing=LEFT

FilenameFormat=NationName

Position=-1.450,-0.335

Rotation=0.0

Scale=2.2

DecalMaxLOD=3

 

[Decal014]

MeshName=fuselage_P

DecalLevel=0

DecalFacing=RIGHT

FilenameFormat=NationName

Position=-1.450,-0.335

Rotation=0.0

Scale=2.2

DecalMaxLOD=3

 

[Decal015]

MeshName=vertical_stabilizer

DecalLevel=1

DecalFacing=RIGHT

FilenameFormat=F-4J/VF114/D/NH

Position=-5.80,1.8

Rotation=0.0

Scale=1.65

DecalMaxLOD=3

 

[Decal016]

MeshName=vertical_stabilizer

DecalLevel=1

DecalFacing=LEFT

FilenameFormat=F-4J/VF114/D/NH

Position=-5.80,1.8

Rotation=0.0

Scale=1.65

DecalMaxLOD=3

 

[Decal017]

MeshName=wing_right_outer

DecalLevel=0

DecalFacing=TOP

FilenameFormat=F-4J/VF114/D/NH

Position=4.800,-1.60

Rotation=-20.0

Scale=1.5

DecalMaxLOD=4

 

[Decal018]

MeshName=wing_left_outer

DecalLevel=0

DecalFacing=BOTTOM

FilenameFormat=F-4J/VF114/D/NH

Position=-4.800,-1.60

Rotation=-20.0

Scale=1.5

DecalMaxLOD=4

 

[Decal019]

MeshName=rudder

DecalLevel=2

DecalFacing=RIGHT

FilenameFormat=USNFighterNum

Position=-7.10,2.00

Rotation=0.0

Scale=0.50

DecalMaxLOD=4

 

[Decal020]

MeshName=rudder

DecalLevel=2

DecalFacing=LEFT

FilenameFormat=USNFighterNum

Position=-7.10,2.00

Rotation=0.0

Scale=0.50

DecalMaxLOD=4

 

[Decal021]

MeshName=flap_inner_right

DecalLevel=2

DecalFacing=TOP

FilenameFormat=USNFighterNum

Position=2.2,-1.78

Rotation=-14.0

Scale=0.75

DecalMaxLOD=4

 

[Decal022]

MeshName=flap_inner_left

DecalLevel=2

DecalFacing=TOP

FilenameFormat=USNFighterNum

Position=-2.2,-1.78

Rotation=14.0

Scale=0.75

DecalMaxLOD=4

 

Again, thanks for looking at this. I've had similar problems with other F-4J skins as well and I hope you can steer me in the right direction.

[+Dave 2,322]

Well everything seems to be in order.

 

Does any of the decals have a 000 on the end of them?

[jrdani 0]

Dave, in response to your question, some tga's do and some don't. I'd found your previous post re: the placement of tga files ending in 000 during one of my searches a couple of days ago. I followed your instructions, but it didn't seem to make any difference in my case.

 

I've also read and re-read TK's Decal tutorial and I'm going to read it again when I'm not so tired. However, I haven't seen anything that jumps out at me regarding a solution to this problem.

 

Here's some interesting information based on a little test I just completed. Every F4J skin I installed tonight in SFP1 worked with no problem whatsoever, just by following the usual instructions: "Put each TextureSet in numerical order in the F-4J.ini file and copy the skin's folder to the F-4J folder". The skins were: USNVF31, ATFUSNVF33, USNVF96, VF101, VF114, USNVF151, VMFA212, VMFA235 and VMFA333. I took a close look at each one and every decal and marking shows perfectly. Conversely, I've tried at least 6 or 7 of these same skins in WOV with 1 or more decals missing or partially missing. If anyone needs specifics on any of these, I'll be glad to furnish them.

 

I don't remember ever seeing a caution that certain skins were only for SF and would not work on the same plane in WOV. As I mentioned in my initial post, because I didn't have SFP1 yet, I'd installed probably 12-15 skins in WOV about a year ago with no problem at all so this recent development was a surprise. I appreciate the help from all of you and I know that you experienced fellas can resolve this issue or maybe know someone who already has. I didn't think there was that much difference between the two sims, architecturally speaking, but if there is, maybe there's a conversion procedure that might correct the skin incompatability. Thanks again for taking the time to help.

[+Dave 2,322]

Get me link to that skin< I will check it out in WOV. We will get to the bottom of this.

[jrdani 0]

Thanks again Dave.............the link to that skin is: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?download=1392

Edited April 3, 2006 by jrdani

[+Dave 2,322]

Ok dude it works fine in my copy of WOV. I think you may need to do the dreaded uninstall and reinstall.

[+JSF_Aggie 1,292]

"but sometimes as in the case of Allo's USNVF114 Aardvark, the fuselage stripe(s) doesn't appear either"

 

I don't think that stripe is a decal. Isn't it painted on the .bmp? I'm at work so I can't check.

[eightlein 10]

disregard

Edited April 5, 2006 by eightlein

[TheEdge 0]

Hello.

 

Usually this decal problem happens when you select the last number of the number.lst for your aircraft.

Try to selecter any other numer an try again, it should be ok!

 

It happens with some skins but we don't know why! Maybe it come from the number.lst file?