Geary

I don't think unguided rockets are a terrible idea. I think they are a terrible idea as the only A2A weapon. I created a 'what-if' plane by combining the F-86D/L and K models weapons. The guns and sidewinders of the K are for A2A and the rockets of the D/L are for ground attack. I know this may not have been feasible in reality with space and weight being premium in all fighters, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

claw, The DoDo Award is definitely a front runner for the award name. The F-86D/L were also 'Designed for very specific circumstances.' Thanks for the suggestion. ironroad, Rocket only interceptors seemed to be the thinking of the day by the 'future' planners of their time. Unfortunately, their thinking carried over to the next decade where they may have managed to get pilots killed, captured and maimed in the Vietnam War in the gun less F-4 Phantom IIs. Luckily, the plane was improved during that war to become the premier fighter of the day. It may still receive the award for the specific f*&% up of not initially installing a gun and sending pilots into close-in dogfights in a plane designed to shoot down the enemy from distances well beyond gun range. Luckily, the F-8 got guns and eventually AAMs. The F-89 and F-94 were overtaken by technological advances, but the F-102, although being a super cool jet, is a candidate for the award for the very specific design flaw of NO GUNS. But, it's still super cool. The F7U Cutlass is definitely going to receive this award. It's attempt at winning over Buck Rogers fans with its futuristic design may have been successful but it did almost as much harm to pilots as the Top Gun movie. It's only possible redeeming quality is that it seems to have a roomy cockpit with a great view of the stars at night, much like the back seat of an AMC Pacer of the 1970s. Thanks for your input.

AH-1Z Viper from YAP's Fighter Weapons School (adjusted for SF2)

Good idea … bad execution – in aviation. Throughout my time in the US Army I heard the phrase, ‘Good idea … bad execution’ many times. It usually referred to an idea that sounded good in our heads or on paper but didn’t work as hoped or expected when the idea was implemented. In the past few years as I’ve learned more about one of my favorite airplanes, the F-86 Sabre. More specifically I’ve learned a bit about the design, ‘idea’ and implementation of the F-86D/L and K models of the F-86 Sabre ‘Dog.’ The advantage to MY hindsight and without having unrestricted access to the government procurers and aircraft designers and USAF expectations, requests and problems, is that it’s easy for me to offer my opinion on how ‘stupid’ I think the lack of defensive capabilities were on the D and L models of a good jet. For those of you who don’t know about the F-86 D/L and K models, the US government at the time, mid-1950’s, was terrified of Soviet long rang bombers entering US airspace and dropping nuclear bombs on the continental US. The F-86D/L was designed as an interceptor almost specifically for shooting down bombers. The F-86D was designed without guns or later the capability to carry missiles. It was designed with a ventral pack that carried 24 mighty mouse folding fin aerial ‘unguided’ rockets. The ventral pack would lower from the fuselage beneath the pilot, fire the rockets at the bombers, retract into the fuselage, and the pilot would probably need to leave the area quickly in case he missed or since he had little to do once the rockets were expended. The USAF never changed the weapons capabilities on the D/L models. Within a few years it gave most of the D/L models to the Air Reserve and Guard units in the USA, a sign the USAF wasn’t too happy with the plane. Although, in the USAF’s defense the F-100 Super Sabre was being fielded at the time and was to be a replacement for the older F-86 models. In the meantime … Italy came up with a ‘good idea.’ It licensed the F-86D/L, got rid of the mighty mouse rocket ventral pack, added four 20mm guns in the nose and later the ability to carry AIM-9 Sidewinders. Most European/NATO countries that acquired this particular plane opted for the Italian built F-86K model. To me this was a ‘No Brainer.’ Again, without knowing all the problems faced in designing and procuring the F-86D/L for the USAF, but understanding the fears of the time, it’s easy for me to disparage a plane I like but think it had a major design flaw. In other words, ‘Good idea … bad execution’ on the part of the USAF. Although I do concede that ‘timing’ played a part in this plane’s history, the Italian re-design supports my opinion. So … I’m considering an ‘award’ to give to planes that were possibly ‘good ideas … bad execution.’ I considered calling it the Albatross Award, but the Albatross soars like an angel once it’s off the ground. Any ideas on what to call the award? And any other aircraft idea that might be deserving of this award? Thanks for your time and support, Geary

IDF Suez Mossi (DAT PTO Skin; Wrench's (slightly modified) IDF decals)

F7U Cutlass

Does anyone know which USAF unit flew these colors on their F-86H? (This isn't a quiz. I don't know which unit this is and I would like to. Also any info on the F-86H that's more in depth than Wikipedia would be greatly appreciated.) (This skin is based on an old F-86H Day-Glo Orange skin by Foureyes I found at AVSIM. )

Wrench, Another masterpiece set. Thanks.

Beauty or Beastly? I can't decide if this skin is pretty or pretty ugly.

Yeah. I leave two installs alone for the night...and like rabbits, they multiply. I actually have 34 but one is just a test install.

strahi, I haven't tried converting bump files to jpg, yet. Mostly I don't use bump maps. They're usually way too thick and distort the lines. Not all my bmp's convert well and I have to replace the newly converted jpg with the original bmp. I may try the bump map conversion with I get some free time.

blaze95, Just looked up and downloaded XnConvert. Will give it a try when I get the time. Thanks.

Major Bloodnot, This looks good at the site, but won't download. I'll give it another try later, Thanks for the info. Tappedops, What I mean by rev up is the CPU and GPU call for more power so the power supply, a Corsair 750W PS, revs up to meet the CPU and GPU needs. Means all the fans kick into high gear, too.

Does anyone know of a good, safe batch file converter to convert .bmp files to .jpg? I just took my Europe install from over 21GB down to 14GB by converting skin texture files from .bmp's to .jpg's. It loads faster now and doesn't rev up my computer as much as it did before. I'm using the image processor function in Photoshop CC 2015 and it works ok, but you have to convert one folder at a time. I haven't learned to use the batch processor in Photoshop yet, but when I tried, it stumped me. May have another try later. Need something that allows me to pick and choose multiple folders and doesn't touch the original .bmp's. Took hours to convert my Europe install. Trying to cut down the time considering I have about 33 SF2 installs. Any help is appreciated. Geary

Crusader, Thanks. Glad it stays. I was having a devil of a time trying to figure out how to get rid of it and keep the glass.

I agree. Also works in the '56 Red Tide campaign. Great work!

Wrench, Love your USAFE unit art work on the F-86A models. Outstanding! You've plugged an important hole in the '50s European theatre with these and the F-86F skins. Thanks. Got a question on the A model cockpit. Is it supposed to have the gray line down the middle of the windshield?

I like Ravenclaw's template for it's details. It's very meticulous. I wish I'd used it as the base for my template but I began mine a couple years or so ago when I first started understanding the need for templates.. When I made mine I copied the panel lines and rivets from the 'well weathered' Korea sabre we have here. It's lines are different from Ravenclaw's template and not as exacting. I drew my lines in black and copied them into another layer I placed under the black one and painted those lines white. Now I can offset the under layer and adjust the opacity of the lines and rivets to suit my need. Gives the lines and rivets a slight shadow and 3d look. I can't do that with Ravenclaws because his lines and rivets layers are saved in gray. Would need the original with lines and rivets layers painted pure black. In the meantime, I'm using his detailed and precise stenciled text and some of his other bits to add realism to the skin. I'm grateful for Ravenclaw's conscientious attention to detail. He's set a visual standard that's greatly raised the level of realism in this game and is just awe inspiring to look at.

regula50, Good info. This will help fit these Sabres into correct time frames in campaigns. Thanks,

Fury (Working on the template.)

Wrench, WOW! Looking good. I haven't had the time to work on skins today that I'd hoped to have. Damned real life getting in the way of my fun. I have managed a bit to work on a template. Should make making skins easier... at least that's the plan. Still need to learn to weather. But at least with the template it's just a matter of layers once I hit on the right weathering formula.

Wrench, Are these decals? Nice. Do as many skins as you want.

Cliff, Great site. I wish the pictures were higher rez and downloadable. Wrench, I almost always end up repainting. Unfortunately, I usually end up painting over great weathering to get the lines and rivets from my templates on the skins. One day I will learn to make decals. Just not today. Slant6, I agree. We could use more skinners and information on Sabers in Europe.

Cliff, Great info. Definitely gives me a start. Maybe some of these unit web pages will give up some historical data. Thanks. Wrench, A fount of information, as usual. The 'colorful' skin is quite old. I think the one I tossed into my template blender was 512 px. I bumped up to 2048 then saved it as a large jpg. Helped some but not much. Not sure I'll use that skin. Looking now for what's available for the theatre and time. Don't really want to start 'new' skins. And I still can't make decals. But it's on my bucket list. I'm using your F-86 numbers. I'll look those Squadron Signal books up. Might come in handy if I change my mind and decide to paint new skins. Probably buy a used book as the price of a new one is somewhere over $50. Thanks,

Hi All, I'm cleaning up my Europe install and need information on US F-86s stationed there from after the Korean War until about 1960. I've run a couple of web searches but most of the information I come across is just wiki redundancy and not very specific. I'd like to know more about what versions of the Sabre the US had there then. What units flew them. What did the 'skins' look like? I've run across a few skins here at CA I think fit but would like confirmation: Any and all help is appreciated. Geary