RCN_Moose

Progress continues...

Let me know if this is the one you are talking about. As you can tell from the quick test I did, the scheme isn't going to line up as well on the KA-50.

Have any good pics?

No rush. As to posting screenies, if you go to advanced mode when you're doing your reply, there is an attachment tab, that will let you upload files

Questions are good. Try it out and then post what you aren't sure of so I can add it in.

$51...wow. The last time I looked on Ebay for them they were going for well over $100. Mind you that was over a year ago. Was it new in box or someones castoff?

So there have been alot of requests for a tutorial on adding skins for Black Shark. Now I have never written a tutorial before, but thought I'd give it a try. Attached is my WIP so far. (it's not done) But I'd like some feedback from people (especially those that don't know what they're doing :D) to see if it makes any sense so far. It's a standard word doc (though I had to zip due to size...it has a few pics) If you have the time, download it and see if it makes sense so far. Thanks. Completed version has been posted to Lockonfiles Version 1.1 now available Changes for Version 1.1 -Fixes a couple of typos -Adds information for the multiple skin files for correct damage textures -Adds additional photos to assist with color schemes (courtesy of MadTommy) -Amplifies section on adding KA-50 to other countries

I'm using that exact combo, works fine. Just plug both sticks in, and setup your controsl in game to do what you want

It's definately the best FF joystick out there. Mines starting to show some wear, especially in the POV switch. It's a shame that MS stopped making them. As to setting it up, it's really personnel preference. I use mine with the throttle from a X45. The only issue I have, and this isn't related to BS, is there is no way to adjust the FF on Vista. The native drivers support it, but there is no adjustments (ala the XP software)

Well I scrapped my original attempt at an origna digital camo pattern. Here is attempt #2. Much larger pattern with clean breaks to help break eye lock. The colors are still based on the in game scenary though...

That is wicked. I can only shudder at the thought of trying to get all the parts to line up correctly in a KA-50 skin....

Aha, thats where the files located for the exhausts...been looking for that for ages. It sucks that it will change all of them however......

Theres actually up to 12 files you can use. There is also a PAINT3 (l5 and l5 in lma7)which includes things like the inside of the helo (ie the underside of the gear covers) It is not in the template, but you can extract it from an existing cdds file if you want to modify it. The other file you could include would be a custom numbers.tga (l17) if you want to have custom numbering for squads, etc. The best way I have found for creating one is to open an existing one (I use the supplied example) and modify it. ie open the example lma7, change the .bmp files to whatever yours are called in your cddsf file, change the color_scheme to a new random number, and change the color_name to whatever you want your skin to show up as in the list. Then save the changes. When you 'make' the modman pack, you select your cdds file, and add it, then select the lma7 file, add it, pack it and away you go.

Not true :) I just got a new pair of Parade Boots.

Version 2 of the CADPAT is finnished and uploaded to lockonfiles, should show up shortly. This is a stand alone skin, with a larger scale CADPAT design, and markings from 3 Wing, 439 Squadron. I've gotta say that getting the camo pattern to line is a b*$...

In short you don't Every skin uses all 11 files. However, many skins will only have 3 or 4 or 6 in the cdds file. This is because the others are generic and they are using existing ones. (ie the rotors and masts) Take alook at your KA-50.skins file. This lists all the skins in the game, you will see that they all have 11 different bmps, plus 2 tga files. BUT, the majority of them use the same bmps for many of the files. The easiest way to see what each of the files does, is to paint it a solid color, making each one a different color. Then make a skin and look at it in game. Taking all of those PSD and converting them to skin is abit more involved. Basically you need to save the PSD's as a bitmap. You can then either rename them to match an existing skin and copy them into the TempTextures directory (fastest method, good for checking on your work) or convert them to a cdds file and create a brand new skin in the necessary files (or create a lm7.skin file and use MODMAN 7)

CDDS Studio http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/forums/downloads/lomac/18/cdds-studio-107/

the background layer is actually a color template, so if you turn off all the others you can see what parts are what. (but basically you are right, the color scheme group is the majority of the it) As to getting everything to line up nice........well I don't know of any easy way. I through the files in the temptextures directory using an existing name so they over write an existing skin, then load a game using that skin, then look and see what I need to change/move. There are also 5 or 6 other files that have pertinant information. Mostly for the rotor blade mounts, shafts, wheels, landing gear, etc.

Thanks pitbull, thats what I was thinking too. Esp after that awesome grey/silver Camo came out. If only getting all the edges to play nice together was as easy as throwing on the paint. :)

The filenames listed in the skin/lma7 file are CASE sensistive. If you list the files in your cdds here, and post your skin.lma7 file it should be easy to fix. You're not seeing any textures because it can't find the files its looking for. Example, your cdds texture file is KA-50-PAINT1-DEF.bmp, but you skin file tells it to look for Ka-50-Paint1-DEF.bmp

So I'm reworking my fictional Canadian CADPAT design. Out of the 4 I made, its the one I like the least. This is what I have so far. Let me know what you guys think.

Canadian Skin Pack V1.4 has been uploaded to lockonfiles. It should show up later today. No change to the skins, but the rar packs are now MODMAN 7.1 compliant.

You can't. The skin is set when the scenario is created. There is no way (that I know of) that the skin can be changed on the fly, or even in the lobby. Sucks I know.

amazing

Skypat, Disregard the issue. The fault was mine. I can not duplicate it. I believe I may have had MODMAN open while I was playing around with some of the skins.