Swordsman422

Work proceeds on VF-2 ODS. I think I have one aircraft from the pack knocked out, specifically NE204/BuNo 161299. The rather neglected state of her squadron markings will make her stand out a bit from the other aircraft, which will be much more uniform. Thanks to Reflected for the helmet art, as this skin pack is intended to be used next to his fantastic VF-1 and VF-2 1989 skins. Before anyone asks, yes the MBU-14s have a grey face piece and green hose. When these masks were first introduced in the new grey color, the dye would cause the hose to deteriorate and it would often be replaced with a green hose after its first or second service inspection. This issue didn't last too long, but in 1991 it would still have been a problem.

While still working on VF-84, I've started working on another project that should go nicely with HB's Forrestal-class. I can't find many reference images of this livery and I know that half of the squadron was wearing high-vis gull grey paint for this cruise which have already been covered nicely by Reflected, so this pack will be limited to 4-6 airplanes. Anyway here is some preliminary work on VF-2's ODS low vis livery.

That one's been available since August of last year. It's great work!

I use Photoshop CC, which is the current version. It's ~$20/month but reads the HB paintkit better than anything else. For stenciling and markings, I fall back on my collection of 1/48 decal sheets and a scanner, and scan with high-resolution photo settings. More current companies like Furball Aero, Fightertown, Afterburner, DXM, and SBDecals can be relied upon to have accurate artwork. Older sets from Superscale, Eagle Strike, Aeromaster, CAM, and Yellowhammer are hit or miss. Regardless of the manufacturer, I always check photo references when I can find them, usually from Airfighters.com, airliners.net, and the F-14 Tomcat Association FB group. Another reference I always keep handy when working in photoshop is a US Navy Federal Standard color chart, which allows me to grab color samples in photoshop when I need them. Bear in mind that aircraft paint came in batches, and the varying dyes and age of the paint caused paint of the same color to vary visibly. If you're trying to get accurate BuNos and Modex numbers from a specific deployment, gonavy.jp often has these lists available. I like to think of my work as a sort of medium-quality effort. I like to put out packs covering all or most of a squadron from a specific period or cruise, which means 10-12 aircraft. Aside from a few more obvious differences, I don't try to replicate each squadron aircraft in exacting detail. Doing so will probably be moot once Heatblur solves the dynamic modex issue, and will reduce the needed number of skins per squadron from a dozen to 2 or 3. I'll probably never release an F-14 skin that looks exactly as a particular plane looked on a particular date. I'm not as good as most others and it would prolong my projects beyond my energies to maintain them. Once you get started, choose a process that's right for you and keep at it. I look forward to seeing what you turn out.

Maybe not 102, but a later modex in the series to at least give the appearance of randomness. To be honest, though, it can probably wait until the dynamic modex issue is solved or abandoned.

If I couldn't drop LGBs from it and guide them myself, I'm not sure I'd fly the F-14 as much. It's my favorite fighter, but I didn't really start to care about it until it was toting bombs. Since we can't get the PTID, keeping the LANTIRN and dealing with the "deficiencies" of the fishbowl display is an adequate compromise. Heck, F-14Ds were dropping bombs without PTID until nearly the very end.

The Heatblur F-14A was updated to prevent a conflict and not replace the default AI F-14. You can download IIAF and IRIAF F-14 skins in the user files section if you want to fly against the F-14A-135-GR in Iranian colors.

I'm waiting for the -135-GR Early and -95-GR to tackle any gull grey schemes, but I really like that 1978 VF-142. 1st Tamiya 1/48 F-14A I built was in that livery. I might have to take it.

Successfully guided a cow bomb into a bunker for the first time. Nice to have the GBU-24 working now and ecstatic that my first successful drop with it was from HB's F-14A. I'm so glad we got Bombcats!

I rolled back and reupdated. I dunno what happened first time around. My network could have hiccupped. It's fine now.

That's the only install I have. I'm going around this corner one more time.

It may be working for others, but I even ran a repair and no dice. Here is a couple screenshots of the list with no VF-11 or VF-33. And just for gits and shiggles, the F-14A coremod livery folder. I'll try rolling back and reupdating.

Ran the update and I'm not seeing either of the new liveries on the list.

Please see this thread for discussions on the F-14D, it's technology, and why it's a no for the foreseeable future.

Oh, man, my favorite VF-213 liveries for the A were the ODS and mid-90's paints. These understated schemes just scream "I work for a living" to me, and I love that. Plus they work for the late 135-GR.

Yeah, CVN-71 should get some use with VF-41, VF-84, and my next stop VF-14. While -84 did use this livery on the '93 cruise on Roosevelt, the specific roster I'm covering they were technically homeless and waiting their turn on the chopping block. Aside from 200, 202, and 210, all of the CVW codes had been painted over, in some cases messily, and there were no carrier titles. While that may not seem too great for -84, it's perfect for DCS because not everyone has the SC module, but everyone should have the John C. Stennis and won't have a ship/airwing mismatch for missions and campaigns. If we're being exceptionally nerdy... ...one of their final acts was to shoot some footage for Executive Decision aboard CVN-74. Plus I'm just generally not sorry about choosing their final paint scheme as a subject.

Work continues with the base paint variations: In the background, the overall medium grey to be used by 202 and 210. The midground is the overall light ghost grey for 200, 203, and 204. Finally, in the foreground is the half-painted look of 201. Next is a comparison shot between two TPS variations. In the foreground is the standard TPS used by 207 and 212. 207 will also have a scroll of Jolly Rogers history on the tail. In the background is the TPS variation used by 211 and 213, which differs by lacking the medium grey upper surface on the nose and canopy. I have more stencils and placards to place, then modex numbers and bunos for all aircraft.

And then I reread the post and realized you were asking after the VF-41 livery instead. Sorry about that...

As with the recent VF-41 livery, some of VF-84's aircraft during their final year in service were painted overall medium grey (FS 35237) with light compass ghost grey placards (FS36375). I have references of 202/BuNo 160390 and 210/BuNo 160405 painted this way. A few of the other aircraft were overall light ghost grey with gunship grey markings, or TPS, or in the case of 201/BuNo 160480 the whole front fuselage being darker than the rest of the aircraft. Afterburner, Furball Aero, Superscale, SBDecals, and Fightertown have all offered color reference plates as well, which are easier to work with because you can't really trust photos as color references. Below are both a photo and a built model of 160390. I mean to do a mixture of these, so I have 4-5 base paints to cover all the variations in the squadron.

Whole squadron per usual. I just happened to start with BuNo 160390. For the record, I was already talking with all my previous effort.

With VF-41 done, I guess I'll give them a partner. Not exactly the same period but close enough:

Uploading these now. VF-41 1999-2001. 12 liveries for 11 aircraft. The pack will be broken up into 6 parts because of file size restrictions.

Upgraded my Photoshop and am on the next project. Very beginnings of VF-41 1999-2001. It'll be a bit generic to cover OAF and OEF operations on TR and Enterprise, so no carrier titles or crew names. 11 aircraft will be included.

I fall under the umbrella of "everybody," and I have no great love for the Jolly Rogers (84 or 103) or holiday liveries of any kind since they present the problem of existing for only a few weeks at a time, so I am inclined to agree with Lance. The second of those two VF-102 liveries, the OEF scheme, actually has been covered before and is available in the download section.

No worries, mate. Thanks for keeping a lookout.