Heck

Just when you think you have it right... you discover you have to do it better.... to match the standard of what you've already done... There will be a slight delay, while I fix skulls, but the rest is done.

Thank you, Raven! Incredible. As always.

Almost there....

Beautiful, Raven! I love your P-40 series. I knew I had that P-40 Tomahawk book for a reason.

No matter what flaws it has, caused by the terrain engine, it looks to be and awesome terrain. There are flaws in all the terrains I fly over in Thirdwire sims. If I dwelled on them, I wouldn't be flying at all. Can't wait for your release. Thank you for all your hard work. I've been holding off creating an Italian terrain or objects until you release this.

My thoughts and prayers go out to your family.

Congratulations to you and your bride.

What color were the serial number stencils on Olive Drab US aircraft? Pretty much all modeling sites and artist's paintings depict them in black on the Burma Banshees, but I have seen two photographs; one of Butter Bean II, from Life magazine, and the other, aircraft 64, serial 323304, from the Philip Adair collection, that seem to contradict this interpretation. 323304 is definitely ID yellow in a close up of the tail, it can't be black, comparing the color values in the black and white photo. I have come to believe that the depiction of the serial numbers as black is a misinterpretation of color values from the black and white photos, but I can find no concrete references to the color. I've painted 22 skulls, so of them hand painted from photographs, so I want to get the serials right. Does anyone have a reference that says they weren't ID yellow, other than a modeling site, or artist's interpretation? I have to do 26 aircraft number/serial number combos, and I'm definitely leaning toward ID yellow serials with White aircraft numbers, on those aircraft that carried both. Thanks. PS. This is number 64 from the Adair collection: And this is the link to the copyrighted Life photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougsheley/6131014261/lightbox/

Yeah, those Life magazine shots are great. Thanks for the values, Wrench. I'm going to use those.

Finally finished this one decal setup. It was making my eyes bleed trying to get all the pieces right, because it's four decals in six positions, but I like how it turned out. Fortunately, it's the most complex of the Banshees... The Rough Cobb.

Still plugging away on these. Up to nineteen variations. A few will be named aircraft. A lot of tweaking, adjustment, clean up, and sizing to do, then on to numbers, which will be a whole other issue, if you've ever seen the line up shot of the 89th FS Banshees. Determined to finish and post. Just going to take some time...

I agree. I'd love some of his Jug skins. Obligatory screenshots. These Dauntlesses are all AI. Number 86 moments later: But, they all missed....

God bless her. America needs work ethics like this more than ever.

I've decided to try my hand at creating an actual skin off of Raven's template for the P-40N. It's going to take some time, but I'm going after the 89th Squadron of the Burma Banshees. It'll take time, but I'm going to tackle it. It won't be perfect, I assure you, but I'm painting multiple skulls to use as decals on the nose, and I'm adding layers to the template. If I can find all the pieces for a particular late model N: aircraft number, serial number, skull, and personal name, like Lulu Belle II, I'll include it, other than that, they'll be generic numbers (serial and aircraft) with as many skulls as I can create from pictures from the Adair collection. I've always wanted to be able to do this; it's time to man up and try. You've already seen a crude screenie in the screenshots thread, that's my starting point. Thanks, Wrench, for the number info!

I know all you folks already know about this site, but being late to the parade, I just found it. These are the close-ups, in the field, that really help me with weathering, etc. http://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/p-40-warhawk/p-40n-5-warhawk-15th-fg-on-mankin-island-42-105174/

Thanks, Soulfreak. It was a tutorial I found there that got me started on this. I love their color chip pages too. A great painting reference site.

Thanks, guys. Off to a good start. Lots of research to do now, and layers to add, but I'm finding I enjoy figuring out how to get different effects the way I want them on the skin. This is much more fun than I previously thought it would be.

I know, Wrench. Found sites on the 89th FS, and the 80th FG also. I'm up to 7 repainted skulls for tgas now. Hopefully finish up with about 10 to 12.

Thank you, Veltro. Love all you've given us.

Thanks, Wrench. You're the best. That PBJ looks incredible. This one was a training squadron, but I had to play with it. When it comes to the skulls, I'm going to find as many different ones as I can. Since these are decals, I can make them different for different aircraft.

80th Fighter Group/88th Fighter Squadron. I just carried over the numbers from a previous skin. I'll put yellow ones on it soon. Do you think it looks okay, otherwise?

Need to find number info on these guys. I know this isn't the quite correct skull for a late N, but it's the best one I could find and repaint. Most lineups show a wide variation in skull types anyway. Gotta add a red spinner and paint chipping.

Can we get pop-tarts? I love pop-tarts. I just watched the theme music again. Now I can't see anything. Thanks, Erik.

A little more experimental work using Gimp. Feel free to bash. It's the only way I'll learn.

For fun.