nations/squadron markings for skins

[yes]

how are yall adding custom nations and/or squadron markings?

 

im making some skins from AC:Z and i kinda need to add nations for, well nations. and also squadron markings too (tail numbers included btw)

Edited December 3, 2024 by yes

[EricJ]

I don't know what Cat file the Nations.ini is in, but if you do a massive dump with the CAT Extractor you can get a virgin copy of it, and by following the same format you can add other nations (and new ones) to that file. Then you put it in the Flight folder in your mod folder, and the nations would appear.

[+daddyairplanes]

similar to what he said about nations also applies to squadrons, and the SQUADRONLIST.INI. the one difference is that file goes in the PilotData folder, not the Flight folder (no i dont know why the difference)

and the rest,  is upto to you and the image editor of your choice

[+Menrva]

While reinventing the wheel is a nice modding exercise for those who don't know how to add nations yet, I'd rather suggest downloading this package of mine which includes all Ace Combat nations with known insignia. I created it exactly for those users and modders who wanted all such insignia from the Ace Combat universe, ready for use. It also offers a good example on how to add nations in general, anyway.

Beware, the above mod removes all stock nations, so it only offers those of Ace Combat.

With it, the only task for skinners is to add decals properly like it is done for the stock aircraft of Strike Fighters 2 (for references, one should unpack the decals.ini file of stock aircraft skins).

[+daddyairplanes]

11 hours ago, Menrva said:

With it, the only task for skinners is to add decals properly like it is done for the stock aircraft of Strike Fighters 2 (for references, one should unpack the decals.ini file of stock aircraft skins).

get get a mod thats decal heavier like mine or Wrenchs also. 

one note, if you put all the decals as level 2 (serial numbers) it will work so long as you have all the decals in the noted folder. i find that useful even for insignia (that would normally be level 0) when one or two might be full color and the rest subdued. if you go that route with a decal that is the same across the board, simply put it as "decalName.tga" in the folder. then if you have one or two different. then simply make the different one "decalName(whatever number).tga" in addition to the regular one.

you'll have to add the new nation specific decals to the noted decal folder anyhow since its not a stock nation and wont pull from the main game files. adding nations does make life tremoundously easier though when selecting teh aircraft in game