Testing a new metal look

[Serval]

Hi,

I'm testing a new metal look on the P-47.
Here is an impression and I'm curious for opinions.

Two notes: I toned down the very bright panels allready and the Gear doors are white. I just put and existing painting on it, to give it a nice look.

[RAF_Loke]

Looks good, not to shiny but still metallic.
Of course it would be better to test it out my self to give a full feedback.

[adlabs6]

Yes, I like it. Perhaps the trianglular lighter panel on the right wing is a touch too light, IMO.

BTW, happy birthday Loke! (The main portal page shows it under the calendar.)

[Serval]

I know about the panel. I toned it down a little allready, but still posted the screenshots.
But I'm glad it's there, since it also brought up a nice response about panels being different.

Someone said it was the first attempt he saw where someone tried to make the different panel look with brighter and darker panels.
But those brighter and darker panels are from my old template and are in all my P-47's
I just forgot to tone it down earlier. Since it had a nice colour for my older (much brighter) metal look.

I'll post a P-47 and a P-51 skin here that I'm working on, so you guys can test it.

BTW: I often use 8:00-11:00 or 14:00-17:00 for testing, since I think 12:00 gives a very one sided reflection.

[RAF_Loke]

Thanks Adlabs.
Gonna buy a new Videocard now

[adlabs6]

I know about the panel. I toned it down a little allready, but still posted the screenshots.
But I'm glad it's there, since it also brought up a nice response about panels being different.

Someone said it was the first attempt he saw where someone tried to make the different panel look with brighter and darker panels.
But those brighter and darker panels are from my old template and are in all my P-47's
I just forgot to tone it down earlier. Since it had a nice colour for my older (much brighter) metal look.

I'll post a P-47 and a P-51 skin here that I'm working on, so you guys can test it.

BTW: I often use 8:00-11:00 or 14:00-17:00 for testing, since I think 12:00 gives a very one sided reflection.

Yes, I do like the multiple panel shades. In photos I've got of bare aluminum panelled planes this is common. You've captured it pretty well. And yes I've certainly seen it before from several authors.

Indeed, I never liked the 12:00 reflections for the same reasons. Aside from the reflections, often some details appear to be hidden. I think my best screenshot ever was that Me262 at dusk. Nice colors, and shading in that screen.

[Serval]

Happy birthday Loke.

I didn't notice it before.

[RogueSnake]

Look'n good dude, And merry christmas to all you sim paint'n junkies Very cool banner BTW


Ok, this metal thing. I don't know if you remember, but I posted pics of a 38 in here a while back, and we discused metal, the IL2 engine etc.

Well, after that, I did a ton of research. My goal was to find as many color pics of a P-38(or any bare metal WW2 fighters) as I could. And study them.

Well, I found a lot, be shure. Including 1 color guncam of a P-38 in action over normandy. I also found guncam(B/W) from FW-190s attacking various Allied AC, including the P-38.

After studying all this information. I came to a major concluision. The Blue that everyone use's in metal skins is unrealistic. In fact, unfound in any pics. Mybe a slight hint of it, but not anywere near the amount I've seen others, including me, use in bare skins.

And what we often try to avoid, (skins being to White) is how they looked in real life!

In my research I looked at metal tiles, at texture web pages. And it made me realize what our current skins look like. "Steel AC" rather than "Aluiminum AC"

So I went back and removed alot of the "Blue/Brown" aka earthtone's from my P-38 template. What was left, in game, looked alot more like the P-38's in the photos and movies.

Brushed Aluiminum dosn't reflect colors as good as steel. Polished mybe, but ww2 brushed no.

This is what I came up with, and to me it looks better. "To me" I said So its only my opinion. The P-47's above look great. I might ton down the blues alittle, but would just be an experiment.

These are pics from my 38 template, still unfinished. To me, its a step in the right direction as far as "Brushed Aluimium goes" Remember that "Brushed". We get into the Polished area, its a different story.



my 2 cents, more like 5 dollors

[RogueSnake]

War time, unpolished


Show time, polished


Again, some blue, but low levels. I realize that the top pics were taken on a cloudy day

[Serval]

Good finding Rogue Snake

I do agree here. I had brighter metal before (look at my skins that are on-line)
But got many comments that is was too bright.
Almost everyone compares with what they see in the museum or at the airshow (up to P-51's that look like mirrors) and compare the skins with that.
I remember that when I started with my metal I more and more made them dirty. Back then it was 'not done'. I still remember the discussions where I came to the conclusion that people wanted the camouflaged aircraft as worn as possible and the aluminium as shiny as possible.

I still want to put up my (almost pictures only) weathering tutorial that just shows some old not restored aircraft.
As a 'part 2' I want to put up a tutorial about aluminium. Not about how to create the effect, but just comparing: aluminium paint, unpolished and polished aluminium, and the 'chrome' P-51's.
It is well known that oxidating aluminium does turn white, but people just don't realize it I guess. Or simply prefer what they see at the airshows.
Just to make people realise that there are many different aluminium effects. Something to consider before creating aluminium or before critisizing it.