Canvas Control surfaces

[Erretje_1.JaVA]

I?m trying to skin a Desert P40 (with Servals Template) and it's looking good so far (I think), but....

I can?t get a nice Canvas look on the control surfaces, it?s just flat (like on the first pic)

I looked an a P40 skin made by MacWan, I see the diffrences (pic 2) but I have no idea how to get this kind of effects on my skin..

I'm working with PhotoSchop CS, still learning the more advances features of the program...

can someone help me with this? some tips and hints welcome

Regards

[adlabs6]

Sure, these are pretty easy. You can make a template for this pretty easy, and then apply it where needed. I the attatched pic, I painted with a 21 pixel soft edge brush in pure black. The verticals are on their own layer, I only painted one, then copied it across. The horizontal is on a layer above. Merge those layers to make it easier to work with the final frame shape.

Now you can place this along the control surface, and set the opacity and blending modes to get a good effect in your paint scheme. Also, try using different brush sizes when making the frame, to make it more to scale with the part size.

When I get back to the PC later today, I'll add some more thoughts to this.

[adlabs6]

Ok, here we go. I apologize for the delay in getting done with this.

I did the process two ways in the attached PSD. On the upper elevator, is the quick easy way. Just some shader lines, and with different transparency, as I mentioned before. The more difficult method is one I used on my skins, and is shown on the lower elevator. Each layer is named to make it clear.

Hope this is helpful, if you need more guidance on it, please post back!

[Serval]

I have decided to make a tutorial about How I make canvas control surfaces:

http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/foru...ticle&artid=26

[Erretje_1.JaVA]

Many thanks!!
it is going very nicely now, I?ll post the result later

[adlabs6]

Interesting technique Serval, I never built my ribs that way. My "hard" method is only three or four steps, so I couldn't make a nice article from it.

But I have time to type out the method now.

• First I make a rectangle marquee in the rough size/shape of the interior of the rib. file rib1

• Next, use the airbrush to darken the marquee on three sides (in my pic the marquee is hiden) The hard part here is keeping the flow even, and feathering out towards the trailing edge of the surface. A pressure tablet is a big help here. file rib2

• Optionally, I deselect the area, and round the eges with a soft brush eraser I round the corners and soften the edges slightly, depending on the look I want. file rib3

• Finally, select the area, and use the move tool ("V" hotkey) and hold "ALT" to drag a copy of the selection. File rib4

For quick work, I hold "ALT" and "Shift" and use an arrow key to move a copy of the selection away from the original. The "ALT" key makes a copy of the marquee, while the "Shift" key moves the selection by 10 pixels with each arrow key press. Then release "ALT" and use the arrow keys (with shift if neeeded) to adjust the position exactly. Repeat over and over, holding "ALT" when ever a new copy is wanted.

Of course, once a large are has been formed by copying, you can then make a new selection of that entire large area, and move it easily to other places.

[1.JaVA_Platypus]

Just a thought... Does "cloth" surfaces have rivets on them? I think it was stitched (is that the proper english word?) Anyways, it is done with needle and thread. After that, some cloth is glued over the stitches. IIRC

BTW, I never bothered with canvas control surfaces myself.

[adlabs6]

Good point. I used to have a few close up photos of P40 control surfaces, but I am not sure where they are now. I think I recall that there were a few rivets (or tacks?) on the ailerons, but the elevators and tail, I just can't remember.

I suppose it could be different with each plane, either with stitching (yes that's the right word) or with tacks or other fastners.

[Serval]

Rivets on canvas doesn't make sense to me. Stitching sounds like the logical one for me.
I looked in my P-40 books.
When on the ground the elevator looks very smooth, so you might think it is metal.
But in flight I have E anf F pictures that clearly show the ribbing effect at the leading part of the elevator. Probably by airflow.

So, at least E anf F versions had canvas elevators.

And another interesting observation is that in flight probably the leading edges of canvas surfaces show 'bigger' ribbing then trailing edges.
Something we can think about to simulate while skinning

[adlabs6]

At Servals request, I've uploaded a new article with better details to our articles area. Hope it's helpful to everyone!