Another skin request

[Chief]

I was truly blessed that TK and crew used some of the info I supplied them to replicate the A-4 for VMA-121. I was with that unit from about 1961 till the middle of 1963. I was wondering if some of the skin specialists out there would be willing to replicate the unit's A-4's I was assigned to until my discharge in 1964, VMA-311 Tomcats. That would be the iceing on the cake. Thanks and Semper Fi!

[kris]

this 1 ?

 

[Chief]

HeeeHaaw! That's the unit OK. That particular model of A-4 was just coming into service as I left. VMA-311 had the A4-E series while I was with them and the paint schemes were fairly consistent amoungst all the West coast squadrons ie. Squadron 2 letter tail designator VK, WL,WP, etc,, the squadron symbol mid fuselage both sides, and the wing tips and verticle stabilizer tip painted the primary color found in the squadron symbol (green, red, etc.). As an aircraft structural mech, I had the honor of painting the squadron symbol in "huge" size on the side of the squadron hangar facing the flightline at MCAS El Toro. That took o few days! Sort of like Michaelangelo doing the Cistine Chapel, paint a bit and then step way back and see if it looked right and so on till completion.

Would be great to see all the A-4 units stationed on the West coast and either enroute aboard carrier to or already at Iwakuni and Atsugi, Japan. Those would be VMA-121, VMA-311, VMA-223, and VMA-211. Just a wish list for some ambitious "skinner" who loves the A-4. Take care and Semper Fi!

[kris]

well im a 30 year old Noriwigian so i dont know nada zip about it...lol

 

If you have any ref pics it wold be great, im still learning this skinning thing but im getting there :roll:

[Chief]

Kris,

I sent an aircraft paint scheme doc to Skunkworks that I had sent to TK while he was devloping the sim. It has the A-4 scheme that was appropriate to the a-4's of VMA-121, VMA-311, and VMA-211. It is supposed to be posted in the "Downloads" section of that website. I was not able to post it here as I don't have a website to submit HTML doc thru. Thanks for your interest. I am now 60 years old and I feel fortunate to even be able to operate my computer, so I know that "skinning" is way beyond my capabilities. Take care and have a nice day. Semper Fi!

[+MadJeff]

I was not able to post it here as I don't have a website to submit HTML doc thru.

Chief, you don't need a website to post the files, just email them to me and I'll host them here.

 

I've got to work on a skin submission form here to make it easier or at least more intuitive to submit files for hosting. Looks like I have something to work on today.

[kris]

Chief:

I cant for the ¤%&(¤&(.....argh, hehe find any good ref pics, if you have any lying around drop me a e-mail at jan_kris@gamebox.net.

 

have a limit of 500kb on it im afraid, or you can follow the link to my own site (in sig) and post some on my forum. (that was the add for today, just finished uploading the site )

[kris]

very mutch work in progress but im getting there. To clean as it is now

 

a few things, cat on tail, both sides? cat mark on fuslage, both sides?

 

also the # on the tail, all pic i see they diff frm the # on nose, what # you want on?

 

 

[kris]

oh 1 more thing, i couldent find a pic showing the underside, is the grey all around or does it have a brighter underside?

 

Also need to brighten up the nose

[Chief]

Kris,

You the Man!!! That is looking fantastic. I will try to send you the paint scheme doc to your website. The underside of the Marine A-4's were white that blended into the gray topside color. If I remember, the line of separation extended forward and aft from the wing root and was a wavey pattern (not a hard straight line). A note on your rendition, the A-4's of VMA-311 did not have the "Tomcat" on the verticle stabilizer during the 1960-1965 time frame. That came after, I believe during their deployment to VietNam. But hey! I'll not be nit-picking your work. I'm thrilled with it and I'm sure many others will be also. Thanks for your work.

[Chief]

Kris,

One other item if I might. On a line with the Nationl Ensign but under the horozontal stabilizer (midline of the fuselage) was the Bureau of Aeronautics number for the aircraft with the model of aircraft centered above the number. They were in fairly small letters so it may not be possible to put them on your model. If I can get that doc to you , you will see a better example of wht I am trying to describe. Thanks again.

[kris]

i sent u a URL for the skin, wont release it until you say its good enough

 

 

 

[Chief]

K ris,

Looks great! Two changes before release if possible. The VMA-311 on both sides of the aft fuselage need to be the same size as the "MARINES" script. Also, would it be possible to put "A4E" above the BUNo under the horozontal stabilizer. The script size would be the same as you used for the BuNo. Thanks.

[kris]

Can do, the vma takes 12.3 sec....that other thing u have to explain...no clue what u mean...lol

[kris]

Mean like this? :

[Chief]

Kris,

I apologize for not being clearer regarding the info that was on the aircraft midline fuselage under the horozontal stabilizer. You have placed the six digit Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) number on the aircraft in the correct place ( full six digit number under the horozontal stabilizer, plus the last 4 digits of that number in larger size script on both side of the tail fin right above the horozontal stabilizer). In the last pic you posted, you have all the right info, just that the larger numbers on the tailfin (0035) should be 0105 to reflect the last 4 numbers in the 6 digit BuAer Number. Also the "A4E" model designator would have been centerd over the 6 digit BuAer Number. This means every plane would have 4 different numbers on the tailfin reflective of their individual BuAer number. The numbers on the aircraft nose have no connection to the BuAer number and are either assigned by the individual squadron or Aircraft Wing. Hope this isn't to confusing. You have done a great jod of replicating VMA-311's A-4e's of the 1963-64 period and I am very satisfied if you left it in the last iteration. Semper Fi![/u]