And now for something completely different

[GiantFlyingRobots]

...nah not really, just another Mustang thread.

Taking my inspiration from Gamary and Jarink, I have created my own Mustang Blank canvas. This is not a quite the finished version (gun sight hor-tail, plus the usual layer adjustments) but its close enough to one to show here, unless you guys have any improvement suggestions. Fire away if you do.

First scheme of the tablet will be Lou IV, followed by the rest of the Bottisham Four.

[GrubbyFingers]

Oh! Very nice!
That lighting is superb. It never ceases to amaze me how you guys can all draw the same aircraft, and yet it is different every time. (This is a good thing.) Different approaches, different weathering, different textures, different attitudes and skill levels.
I must say, GFR, that you have something special here. Well done.
Graeme.

[santynus]

Wow...
Great work GiantFlyingRobots
Very nice the metal effect!!!

[Kakukk]

LOLLLL
It's very niceee!!!!
Congrat my jedi master!

[Vacajun]

Magnificent!Wow! Many other words of congratulations. Along with Santyus and 9,000 others, I'm needing a quick comment on how you did that metal work!

Only picky comment for your consideration: I think the leading edge of the shadow cast by the horizontal tail on the fuselage is curved in the wrong direction, indicating sun above and at rear instead of forward and above. Better yet, for the X-section of the Mustang, just take the shadow's curvature out.

Great job GFR!! Looking forward to the Four!

[GiantFlyingRobots]

Ok then, here is my deepest darkest secret(not really) on how I did the reflective metal for this mustang. Actually, The way I achieved it, it couldn't be simpler I use 3 layers, base layer made entirely with a very light gray, 2nd layer is a cool medium gray that starts at the bottom and goes to about the half way mark, it is then given a very large amount of Gaussian blur. So far so simple. layer 3 is where it gets tricky (again not really I just added that for effect) get a medium size brush and draw a slightly wavy line across the middle. Add a vertical motion blur, and then another Gaussian blur. Adjust the layer levels(but keep the white at a high level) how you see fit. Season to taste and you should be done.

Oh and get into each layer with the smudge tool, it helps break it up a little, stopping it from looking like a regular gradient.

This technique looks its best after you add your lines a rivets.

Hope this makes some sense and works for you, I think it has worked ok in this instance.

This image is pretty much all there is to it.

[Vacajun]

GFR,

Thanks for sharing!!

[Jarink]

That looks really cool. I'm going to regret asking, but how long did it take you to get this far?

[BLOWHARD]

Really REALLY nice!
One thing though, the exhaust seems a little green, is it or is that just my monitor?

[GiantFlyingRobots]

Jarink I have probably spent < 10 hrs thus far, I reckon that the P-51 is by far the easiest profile subject around, not too many complex shapes, predominantly made of metal, mostly flat sided and lots of good reference material around.

BLOWHARD, it is obviously your monitor, as it looks fine on mine. Has anybody else noticed this? It is supposed to be a oily brown and washed out black.