Home Fries' UH-1 Skin Pack Release/Update Thread

Copied from the original thread:

Given the number of skin packs I've released (and updated), creating and updating individual threads would be a huge undertaking not worth the effort. Therefore, I'm consolidating my current and future UH-1 skin releases to this thread.

I'll start with the most recent addition to the collection: the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Skin pack, which represents a series of reinforced composite squadrons over the last 20 years or so. The skin pack is designed to allow mission builders to create medium to large scale helicopter operations allowing unique helicopters in each slot, but without requiring a lot of texture overhead. There are a total of 168 combinations encompassing all reinforced squadrons. Here are some screenshots:

The file can be found here, as well as CombatAce and LOF.

Likewise, all of my files can be found using the link in my signature.

In building the MEU Skin Pack, I made some global updates to common textures that have been incorporated into my other US skin packs. Therefore, all of my Huey skin packs have been updated (though some with additional improvements as well).

• US Army Desert Skins (CombatAce, LOF)
  
• Medal of Honor Skin Pack (CombatAce, LOF)
  
• USMC Vietnam Skin Pack (CombatAce, LOF)
  
• USN HA(L)-3 Seawolves (CombatAce, LOF)
  
• 2/17th Cavalry Vietnam Skin Pack (CombatAce, LOF)
  
• 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) Vietnam Skin Pack (CombatAce, LOF)
  
• 4th Aviation Battalion Vietnam Skin Pack (CombatAce, LOF)
  

Of note the USMC Vietnam Skin Pack now includes two additional skins from HML-167. These skins will also be included in an upcoming HMLA-167 Skin Pack.

335th Assault Helicopter Company

The 335th Assault Helicopter Company (AHC) Vietnam Skin Pack has just been released. The skin pack contains eight skins, including two skins from the 82nd Aviation Battalion, which later became the 335th AHC.

Here are some screenshots:

"A" Company of the 82nd AvBn deployed to Vietnam in 1965 with glossy black Hueys, as is shown here:

Within a year, they developed a two-tone camouflage scheme. In 1966 they became the 335th Assault Helicopter Company "Cowboys".

During the 1966-67 timeframe, they had a unique four-color scheme for their recovery helicopter, named "Horse Thief."

They finally went to conventional US Army paint schemes in 1968.

The skin pack can be found here, as well as CombatAce and LOF.

Note: upuaut's template from this post is in hand, and new 335th skins are forthcoming.

Fixes have been uploaded for the USMC Vietnam Skin Pack and the HMLA-167 Skin Pack. Likewise, texture improvements for Marines in desert flightsuits have been added to the HMLA-167 and USMC MEU skin packs.

Here are some screenshots of the HMLA-167 Skin Pack:

The HMLA-167 Skin Pack is available here, as well as CombatAce and LOF. The other skin packs are linked in previous posts, as well as my signature.

The HMLA-169 "Vipers" UH-1 Skin Pack has been released. The skin pack includes six different aircraft (including one CO bird) in both normal and weathered (desert) versions. HMLA squadrons fly both Hueys and Cobras, so these skins are designed to be used with the fictional Ka-50 and SA342 skin packs from the same squadron until the cobra is flyable.

Additionally, the HMLA-167 skin pack has been updated to version 1.5, which now includes weathered (desert) skins for all compass grey aircraft (e.g. 1999 and later).

HMLA-167 Skin Pack

HMLA-169 Skin Pack

Note: these skin packs, along with the MEU skin pack, use an EXE installer that creates common texture folders and an autoexec.cfg (if you already have one, you can make manual changes). I would like your feedback on this system; if it works I intend to apply it to my other skin packs.

A Note About Autoexec.cfg:

Rather than copying texture files to their respective livery folders, I prefer to use a series of common texture folders along with unique filenames. This allows a single instance of many of my common textures, and keeps the hard drive footprint to a minimum (especially nice if you run a SSD for your system drive).

The installer will add a series of folders to the DCS Texture path; if you do not have these folders created, then it is no problem. The autoexec.cfg included will automatically point to the Texture folder in your Saved Games\DCS folder, and regardless of whether you run the Open Alpha, Open Beta, or Release version of DCS, the path will always point to your Saved Games\DCS\Texture folder. Again, this saves space on your hard drive.

If you use your own Autoexec.cfg, then when prompted to overwrite you can click "no". This will create a file called autoexec.new, and you can manually make the updates as you like. Just don't modify the top line with the file date; this is used by the installer for version control. However, feel free to include it in your existing autoexec.cfg, so you don't get prompted to overwrite until there's another update to the autoexec.cfg.

If you inadvertently overwrite your autoexec.cfg, it is actually backed up as autoexec.old. Just open it and copy the appropriate information to the new file.

The HMLA-269 Gunrunners skin pack is released.

Marine Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMA) 269, commissioned in July 1971 at MCAS New River, NC, has the distinction of being the first Attack hHelicopter squadron in the Marine Corps. HMA-269 flew the AH-1J until December 1977, when it received the AH-1T. The Gunrunners then made history again in 1979 by being the first Marine Squadron to fire a TOW missile from an airborne platform.

In the early 1980s, HMA-269 received its first UH-1N Hueys, and as a permanent composite squadron was redesignated HMLA-269. Since then, the Gunrunners have deployed to hotspots such as Iraq, Kosovo, Somalia, Liberia, Haiti, and Afghanistan.

Today the HMLA-269 "Gunrunners" fly the UH-1Y Venom and the AH-1W Super Cobra.

This is a collection of six UH-1 skins representing HMLA-269. The skins included are:

HF-00 (2010)

HF-01

HF-04

HF-07 (ca. 2009)

HF-22

HF-44

Additionally, the other HMLA skin packs in the previous post have been updated to the 1.51 standard, with minor weathering added to the pilot nametags.

The HMLA skin packs have been updated to 1.51b. The update is a new installer that allows you to install textures to the livery folder like traditional skins, as well as an option to extract a JSGME compatible mod if you don't wish to use your Saved Games folder. Additionally, a missing texture from the HMLA-167 skin pack was restored. Finally, the latest b version adds USAF Adversaries as a selectable nation.

EDIT: The US Army Desert skin pack was also updated to 1.11. This adds the installer, updates the pilot textures, and assigns USAF Adversaries as a selectable nation.

The Vietnam era Hueys will follow

US Army Desert Skins

HMLA-167 Skin Pack

HMLA-169 Skin Pack

HMLA-269 Skin Pack

All Huey skin packs (except for the 335th AHC) have been updated. The left door gunner now shows the proper patch textures, the units have been added to the USAF Adversaries faction, and the installers have been updated to install to both DCS 2.5 and 1.5 Legacy.

In fact, some of these skin packs haven't been updated in a few years, so the installer offers the JSGME compatible install that may not have been previously present. This includes the USMC Marine Expeditionary Unit skin pack, which now includes both full install and JSGME options.

The 335th AHC pack is now updated to the latest standard. Additionally, I have improved the camouflage skins to be more historically realistic. Thanks to upuaut for the patterns.