Warlord64

Here is My 2nd entry to the Livery Competition (not sure We are allowed more than one) 'Calamity Jane' - 92nd BG, 326th BS, Podington, Stn 109, Bedfordshire England 1944 Aircrew 2/Lt A.A. Lindstrom, Pilot 2/Lt G. Davis, Co Pilot 2/Lt F. McGeary, Navigator 2/Lt M.J. Rosenkrantz, Bomber S/Sgt L.H. Jodoin, Top Turrent Gunner Sgt R.G. Dutton, Ball Turret Gunner Sgt R.W. Lessard, Waist Gunner Sgt R.W. Jerome Jr, Tail Gunner S/Sgt K. Bovanizer, Radio Operator DOWNLOAD: B-17G 'Calamity Jane' - 92nd BG, 326th BS, Podington, Stn 109 , Bedfordshire England,1944 (digitalcombatsimulator.com) Please Note the improved Metallic look in the screenshots were achieved with a MOD available here:

Well Spotted Megalax

Hey Guys The Pilot normalmap is Haunted A little off topic but has anyone else noticed the ghostly faces on the Aircrews Leather Jackets.

Thanks Art-J Agreed and I totally understand every ones frustrations especially with all the time they have invested in making these excellent skins, We will just have to wait and see what ED response is going to be.

Hi Mach3DS The Work around I did with the JSON file was just to take the Glossy Grey Default Skin and give it a proper Metallic finish and because the JSON is a root texture file it will by default automatically apply the change to ALL the skins in the Liveries folder the same way the original JSON file did. This was just a way of vastly improving the already existing Model basis but still allowing folks to implement their own skins with either Spec or RM. Even if ED does implement RMs Not everyone has the time, inclination or ability(Me for One) to go into every individual skin and tweak the Channels RGB of every RM dds. Regards Keith

Thank You Art-j As You say the skins should be stock skins that are all supposed to work out-of-the-box for all DCS customers, without touching any files but every body is unhappy with the original ED lack of specularity. The Work around I did with the JSON file was just to take the Glossy Grey Default Skin and give it a proper Metallic finish and because the JSON is a root texture file it will by default automatically apply the change to ALL the skins in the Liveries folder the same way the original JSON file did. Even if ED does implement RMs Not everyone has the time, inclination or ability(Me for One) to go into every individual skin and tweak the Channels RGB of every RM dds. Regards Keith

Let folks make their own choice to go with whatever method suits them rather than just dismissing an alternative option. If the update overwrites the json just replace it again it takes 2 seconds and until ED moves to RM then We have to find our own work arounds. I was just giving a solution I found that worked and was a simple fix that greatly improved the default specularity. Also when I Delete the json the skins default back to the original Glossy Grey settings and are devoid of any depth of Specular shine.

Hi Mate Thanks For the Diffuse Skin base colour I use a light Grey (949694) When Making the Specular Skins the base colour needs to be almost White for the Mirror Effect ( fffbff ) and a Medium Mauve ( c03ed0) for Brushed Effect BUT variations of Mauve will give contrasting results so just experiment with it.

Hi Art-j I have made a new b-17glods.json file to achieve any combination of reflection from Brushed to Mirror and anything inbetween. This will also Automatically be applied to and Enhance the Default B-17 Skin as well as Pre-made Custom Skins with NO Texture Editing required. This will work with My "Flak Eater" skin from 2017. Regards Keith

No Problem Mate, Happy to help out when I can

Hi Mate I have made a template for the Painted ROTOR and Rotorblured and an example of how to set up the Spinner paint is added just read the desciption file. B-17G Painted ROTOR Template.zip

Here is My entry to the Livery Competition. B-17G 'Little Miss Mischief' of 324th, 91st BG. 1944 The Nose Art for this crate has been signed by renowned artist Tony Starcer. I have also included a No Codes and a Generic 324th, 91st BG skin as required by the Rules of the Livery Competition. B-17G 'Little Miss Mischief' of the 324th BS , 91st BG (digitalcombatsimulator.com) Please Note the improved Metallic look in the screenshots were achieved with a MOD available here

Cool, whatever works best for You

Hi Guys I and many others found it very difficult in the past to get any sort of descent reflectivity for the B17 by just editing the Specular / RoughMets alone which never seemed to give any satisfactory results so I experimented and found that editing a certain value in the JSON folder is what made a huge difference. I am not very tech minded but it works and will give far superior results than the Default set up. Click link Below

True, But until ED implements a better option then alternative solutions are all We have for now and are better than what was already available

Hi Guys I and many others found it very difficult in the past to get any sort of descent reflectivity for the B17 by just editing the RoughMets alone which never seemed to give any satisfactory results so I experimented and found that editing a certain value in the JSON folder is what made a huge difference. I am not very tech minded but and it may not be the perfect fix but it works.

Hi Guys I am Planning to do some more B-17 Skins soon, in the meantime I have found a Quick and Easy fix for the terrible in Game Specularity on Bare Metal for the B-17. Just go to link above and follow the instructions. Cheers Keith

Hi Guys Anyone who has flown the B-17G will notice that the aircraft is more of a Glossy Grey than Metallic so I made this Mod to address this issue. All You have to do to achieve Metallic Reflectivity from Brushed to Mirror Effect that is compatible in Specular and Roughmets* INSTALLATION Can be used with OvGME and should also work with JSGME(Not Tested) with this Zip file B-17 Metallic Mod_By Warlord64 (mediafire.com) (Re-Enable after Updates) Or Alternatively Just go to C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World OpenBeta\Mods\tech\WWII Units\Shapes make a Copy of the original b-17glods.json file and then replace it with the new one Below. That's it Done.( With this option When DCS Updates You Will need to Overwrite the updated b-17glods.json with this Modded one.) PRE-MADE CUSTOM SKINS This will Automatically be applied to and Enhance the Default B-17 Skin as well as ALL Pre-made Custom Skins and any New skins with NO Texture Editing required at all . Open MODELVIEWER and You will see the difference straight away. SKIN MAKING TIPS TIP.. For the Diffuse.dds Skin base colour I use is a light Grey (d3d7db) but variations of Grey will also give contrasting results. For BARE METAL UN-PAINTED SURFACES using the Layered SPECULAR Template The base colour of the Spec.dds skin for example needs to be almost White for the Mirror Effect ( fffbff ) and a Medium Mauve ( c03ed0) for Medium Shine and Dull Mauve( 9c66a3) for Brushed Effect BUT variations of Mauve will give contrasting results so just experiment with it. Decals: I Recommend Light Brown (886d29) which has just enough sheen to prevent Haloing around larger Decals and National Markings, however for very small lettering/Bomb Kill Markings etc DO NOT create a Layer for these in the Specular Template as this WILL cause Haloing on the finished Skin. For PAINTED SURFACES using the Layered SPECULAR Template To achieve a Flat Matt Painted Surface I Recommend a Dark Green (23cb23) and for a Satin Surface I recommend Light Brown (886d29) * Roughmets If You have made Skins With Roughmets instead of Specular Ensure that ALL Roughmet.dds Skins for the Fuselage & Wings etc have been included in Your Custom Skin folder. PLEASE NOTE The Default B-17G Skin and any Custom Skins appearance will also be dictated by these factors so if a Painted Surface appears Shiny, Glossy or Fragmented then that is down to the Colour choices and description.lua Scripting of the Skin Maker and NOT this Mod. Also on the Propeller Rotor's for the Mirror Effect Skin You will need to copy the Rotor and Blurred Rotor skins Below into skin folder and add these lines to description.lua {"B17G_ROTOR", 0 ,"b_17g_rotor_d", false}; {"B17G_ROTOR", 1 ,"b_17g_rotor_n", true}; {"B17G_ROTOR", 2 ,"b_17g_rotor_s", false}; {"B17G_RotorBlured", 0 ,"b_17g_rotorblured_d", false}; {"B17G_RotorBlured", 2 ,"b_17g_rotorblured_s", false}; Cheers Keith null B_17G_RotorBlured_S.dds B_17G_ROTOR_S.dds B_17G_RotorBlured_D.dds B_17G_ROTOR_D.dds b-17g.lods.json

Hi Art-J I have sent the skin You requested to Your PM

Hi Chris I have not been on the DCS Forum for a while and just saw Your Post. Here is the XP-47N Skin You requested. By the Way did You know that 227387 was used an early testbed for Ejector Seats in 1946 as shown in photo. Hope this is what You wanted Cheers Keith DOWNLOAD XP47N_227387 (mediafire.com)

Hi Peter Here is the updated Simplified version of the latest Mig-21bis Phase 1 Template that I have adapted by merging the Layer groups into single units helping to de clutter each one and making it more User Friendly. Mig21-bis Template Phase 1 Simplified (mediafire.com) I must state I did NOT create THIS Template I just adapted the Official Leatherneck Simulations Mig-21 bis Phase 1 Template so as to make it more manageable and full credit goes to Rudel and the Developers at Leatherneck Simulations for creating the Original Template.

Hi Rudel I have deleted the Old Template and as stated in My last post above I have now Simplified the New Mig-21 bis Phase 1 Template currently available at Leatherneck Simulations and as yet I havn't seen a Phase 2 version so I assume the Mig-21 bis Phase 1 Template is still the newest one.

Hi Rudel No that was based on the older version and was made before the Official Leatherneck Simulations Mig-21 bis Phase 1 Template was released. The Template is awesome However I and others find the Phase 1 Template very overwhelming especially as each part has hundreds of Layers for every small detail so I have simplified it by merging the Layer groups into single units helping to de clutter each one and making it more User Friendly. I hope You don't Mind Rudel But if You do I am happy to remove this post. Cheers Keith Mig21-bis Template Phase 1 Simplified (mediafire.com) I must state I did NOT create THIS Template I just adapted the Official Leatherneck Simulations Mig-21 bis Phase 1 Template so as to make it more manageable and full credit goes to Rudel and the Developers at Leatherneck Simulations for creating the Original Template.

Cheers Rudel_chw that worked Thanks Mate

Thanks Guys I Appreciate all the advice. I will stick with the 32 GB Ram and will upgrade to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB GDDR6X Graphics Card