Scooters pack - VA-12 skin incomplete?

[Mr_Tayto]

Question mark on the title because I am flying a VA-12 Skyhawk at the moment and noticed the Ubangis logo on the fuselage is missing. I just wondered if this is on purpose or for some other reason. Everything else is perfect!

 

I would have tagged the creator but I can't remember who it was (and couldn't find their name in the readme). EDIT: I see now it's @Nyghtfall

 

Edited November 11, 2024 by Mr_Tayto

[+Nightshade/PR]

I would suggest reloading the Scooter Decals. It looks fine from my install.

 

[Mr_Tayto]

41 minutes ago, Nightshade/PR said:

I would suggest reloading the Scooter Decals. It looks fine from my install.

 

Goddamn! That's perfect. This is what mine looks like below. What have I done wrong? (And how should I fix it?)

 

 

Edited November 11, 2024 by Mr_Tayto

[+Nightshade/PR]

Usually reinstalling the decal package(s) will fix this one. Somehow, some of them aren't there: it happens with this game sometimes.

[Mr_Tayto]

3 minutes ago, Nightshade/PR said:

Usually reinstalling the decal package(s) will fix this one. Somehow, some of them aren't there: it happens with this game sometimes.

Thanks, I'll have a look.

 

Hmmm. Given the sheer size of the mod, I'm wondering if I downloaded and unpacked, but never actually installed it. Looking through the mod folder that was installed already, there's nothing like the number of folders in there as the mod folder. I'll give it a go.

[Mr_Tayto]

Having reinstalled and had another go, it's no different. But I did wonder if the fact I'm playing it on Burning Sands (1959) might be the issue. It's entirely possible that the mod only works for actual Vietnam scooters (given that's its name) 

 

Anyway, when I've done this campaign I'll go to Vietnam

[+Nightshade/PR]

That would be my guess at this point. That specific scheme may not have been used on A-4's at that time. Have you looked at it in another mission from later years to see if it shows up?

[Mr_Tayto]

10 minutes ago, Nightshade/PR said:

That would be my guess at this point. That specific scheme may not have been used on A-4's at that time. Have you looked at it in another mission from later years to see if it shows up?

Not yet, will give it ago later when I can play again.

[Wrench]

is the skin "year dated"

meaning, in the texture set ini

StartDefaultDate = ****

also, is the badge a DecalLevel=1 or  =0???

[+EricJ]

Nightshade/PR and Wrench might be right as USN jets had varying looks depending on deployment or year. I know more or less looking at Super Hornets of today where the same squadron has different markings, to include insignia, but overall follows a pattern anyway.

[+daddyairplanes]

what terrain it is shouldnt matter to the decals showing up

look at the decal ini for the affected skin folder.

- look at entries for Fuselage. should have something like "squadron logo" "ubangi" "unit" or whatever. probably should be entries for both sides

- next look in the decal folder it points to for the decal you need. ie if its "unit123" or "ubangi"

if either of these two are missing, no decal will show.

- next look at the decal size. if its really small (double digit kb sized) then it might have been exported wrong. in GIMP you must make sure the RLE compression box is unchecked. otherwise it wont show in game. not checking it tends to create a tga file that small, most will be 256 kb or bigger

- if all these are good, try changing the decal level to 2 in the ini. yes it makes it a serial but it will show on all of them so long as you dont have another numbered version (do this only if the decal nume doesnt have a number following). it works, i know cause im lazy and leave em all as 2 generall even when its more properly a 0 or 1

hopefully this helps

[Mr_Tayto]

25 minutes ago, daddyairplanes said:

what terrain it is shouldnt matter to the decals showing up

look at the decal ini for the affected skin folder.

- look at entries for Fuselage. should have something like "squadron logo" "ubangi" "unit" or whatever. probably should be entries for both sides

- next look in the decal folder it points to for the decal you need. ie if its "unit123" or "ubangi"

if either of these two are missing, no decal will show.

- next look at the decal size. if its really small (double digit kb sized) then it might have been exported wrong. in GIMP you must make sure the RLE compression box is unchecked. otherwise it wont show in game. not checking it tends to create a tga file that small, most will be 256 kb or bigger

- if all these are good, try changing the decal level to 2 in the ini. yes it makes it a serial but it will show on all of them so long as you dont have another numbered version (do this only if the decal nume doesnt have a number following). it works, i know cause im lazy and leave em all as 2 generall even when its more properly a 0 or 1

hopefully this helps

I can't find any of these files; I'm guessing they're something I need to unpack via that Mues program - honestly I've never worked out how to use it and it terrifies me to try to "pick it up as I go along", in case I break something I can't fix! 

[+daddyairplanes]

um,  try looking here for the skin folder

look for the decal.ini and open it with Notepad or someother simple text editor

as for the decals them selves, look here

all of this is in your saved games ThirdWire folder, no need to unpack anything once the mod is installed or use any viewers.

not to be mean, but this is pretty basic modding stuff

[Mr_Tayto]

I know, which is why i'm so confused I can't find it! No decals.ini 

 

I have done this before ;)

 

Edited November 11, 2024 by Mr_Tayto

[+daddyairplanes]

unpack the mod in some separate area (not your mod folder), then go hunting in there for what youre missing

[Mr_Tayto]

8 minutes ago, daddyairplanes said:

unpack the mod in some separate area (not your mod folder), then go hunting in there for what youre missing

Yeah I have that in a seperate folder from earlier. That's been the issue. I forgot that they sailed with the A-4E in '66 (but weirdly with the A-4C_65 in '70?)

 

Problem solved. I have the wrong aircraft selected for the squadron and time period, so it seems there's a "standard" early A-4 with the right colours but none of the decals. Sorry for any timed wasted all!

[+daddyairplanes]

no worries

nothing like a little detective work to distract from chores im supposed to be doing

[Wrench]

yup, I was supposed to vaccuum today...

it also appears the Ubangi's head is PAINTED on the skin, hence no decal