F-35 skin rework

[kblomkvist 433]

Hello all!

I am planning to rework the skin of Klavs81's F-35 to represent one of the most distinctive characteristics of this plane - the "zig-zag" lines on top of the fuselage which are RAM coatings covering the panel lines. The model available here on CA does not represent the panel lines quite correctly.

I have a question for you: have you come across any high quality top-down view pictures of the F-35A? I only found something here and I would like to use such top-downs for reference: 

I would appreciate any help.

Cheers

kblomkvist

[+Nightshade/PR 7,931]

I pulled these from http://www.airliners.net/. Hope they help

[+yakarov79 11,082]

Imagine what you could achieve with BM and SM !

[kblomkvist 433]

Well, maybe I'll try. First I need to learn something more about BM/SM.

[JosefK 911]

Thank you for doing this!  Really want to fly F-35s in the sim with SDBs or nowadays StormBusters.  

[kblomkvist 433]

11 hours ago, JosefK said:

Thank you for doing this!  Really want to fly F-35s in the sim with SDBs or nowadays StormBusters.  

Don't get me wrong. I'm only working on the skin with more accurate details. I'm not working on the 3D model update because I don't have the files and I am not a 3D guy in any way so don't expect to have a totally new version of this plane unless someone else decides to make it. The F-35 is available here on CA, you can have fun with it and even load it with SDBs.

[kblomkvist 433]

I'd like to present some early effects of my fork, let me know what you think. So far, I've only redone the top side of the fuselage.

Before:

and after:

[JosefK 911]

Looking real, looking real!

[Wilches 1,172]

Super!! Photo like. Congrats.

[+Menrva 4,200]

Great improvement, nice job!

[Guest]

Not bad 0.0

 

[+dtmdragon 2,703]

Nice work keep it up 😁

[kblomkvist 433]

I've almost finished the basic skin. I won't mess around with bump/specular maps because AFAIK one needs to add them to the 3D model .max file and I have no access to the model itself. Correct me if I'm wrong here. 

I would like to ask whether anyone with experience in FM tweaks could help with fixing the Lightning's flight model. For me, it's slightly too slow and "bulky" without the afterburner.

[+Menrva 4,200]

16 minutes ago, kblomkvist said:

I've almost finished the basic skin. I won't mess around with bump/specular maps because AFAIK one needs to add them to the 3D model .max file and I have no access to the model itself. Correct me if I'm wrong here.

AFAIK you're right. If the exported .LOD model has no bump/specular maps, those must be added to the source 3d .MAX file. Anyway, your skin is going to be a much needed improvement over the original, so thank you for contributing!

Edited July 22, 2018 by Menrva

[kblomkvist 433]

And here it is finally. I am not going to release it until I'm finished with all F-35A USAF squadrons.

[+daddyairplanes 10,234]

awesome work. one thing i notice looking at the photo vs skin is the air refueling markings(white and black) still contrast quite a bit. if you have it as a separate layer, simply reducing the opacity some should work to gray it out a little. that panel line work kicks ass, looking forward to the rest of the USAF

[+yakarov79 11,082]

1 hour ago, kblomkvist said:

And here it is finally. I am not going to release it until I'm finished with all F-35A USAF squadrons.

 

 

Hoping for templates...or better Israeli ready skins.

[kblomkvist 433]

6 hours ago, yakarov79 said:

Hoping for templates...or better Israeli ready skins.

Why not 

Here's the realistic 140th SQN skin (currently the only operational F-35 squadron in the IDF):

and a fictional one with tail art similar to the one on F-16s of 140th SQN:

Edited July 22, 2018 by kblomkvist

[kblomkvist 433]

I've finished all the USAF squadrons skins except for 461st FLTS as a purely test unit. I used the serial number database to recreate all the serial numbers used by each unit (available here: http://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F-35/serials-and-inventory/).

4th FS, 388th FW, Hill AFB, UT

31st TES, 53d TEG, Eglin AFB, FL

34th FS, 388th FW, Hill AFB, UT

58th FS, 33d OG, Eglin AFB, FL

61st FS, 56th OG, Luke AFB, AZ

62d FS, 56th OG, Luke AFB, AZ

63d FS, 56th OG, Luke AFB, AZ

422d TES, 53d TEG, Eglin AFB, FL

I've also fixed some details.

I only need to do some .ini tweaking including loadouts and the pack will be ready for release.

[JosefK 911]

Thanks for doing this!  

[jack33 90]

Thank´s

[kblomkvist 433]

I'm back with some fresh Japanese content. I may admit that the main inspiration to do this were recent Japan vs Russia scenarios presented by @JosefK

So, here it is. The plain realistic gray skin with no special markings as it is used in the JASDF Rinji  F-35A Hikotai.

And a semi-fictional 302 Hikotai skin with a tail art similar to the one used on F-4EJ Kai Phantoms.

[JosefK 911]

2 hours ago, kblomkvist said:

I'm back with some fresh Japanese content. I may admit that the main inspiration to do this were recent Japan vs Russia scenarios presented by @JosefK

So, here it is. The plain realistic gray skin with no special markings as it is used in the JASDF Rinji  F-35A Hikotai.

And a semi-fictional 302 Hikotai skin with a tail art similar to the one used on F-4EJ Kai Phantoms.

Well then, I guess I'll have to write a F-35A mission into V1 of my project.  ETA is 25 March (my birthday) or sooner.

V2 will have more goodies, but it will take substantial time to deliver them.  Learning curve!

[kblomkvist 433]

USAF F-35A, 65th Aggressor Squadron in "J-20" paint scheme

Edited May 11, 2019 by kblomkvist

[kblomkvist 433]

As you may have seen, I'm currently working on the F-35B skins, starting with the USMC. I encountered some decal problems which have been discussed in the other topic (below) and they have been solved by now (many thanks to @Wrench, @daddyairplanes, @russouk2004 for their advice).

Expect some pictures soon, I will upload the mod when all the USMC operational squadrons are finished. Then, I will make some foreign skins for the F-35A&B before reworking the C skin.

Edited September 9, 2019 by kblomkvist