F14 Skinners thread (Paintkit in 1st post)

[CheckGear]

I'd also love to see all the VF-21 liveries, especially the final four on this decal set:

 

VF-21 liveries in the 1990s were some of the best ever.

[captain_dalan]

On 12/9/2020 at 5:15 PM, Tomcatter87 said:

Since I somehow associated the Black Lions mostly with the Super Tomcat, I wasn much into them. But right now I stumbled across that F-14A CAG bird from 1995 - holy cow (lion?), what a beauty!

Man, the Lions existed long before the Delta Cat! I even prefer the colors they wore in the A's to the colors they wore in the D!

[captain_dalan]

On 12/5/2020 at 5:22 AM, Uxi said:

 

That's gonna open up the F-14D thing again.

Hopefully not! All i want is one for the 70's -80's Alphas!

[CheckGear]

2 hours ago, captain_dalan said:

Man, the Lions existed long before the Delta Cat! I even prefer the colors they wore in the A's to the colors they wore in the D!

 

Same! I loved the mid-to-late-1980s liveries and the mid-to-late-1990s liveries, both!

On that note, I'd love to see a full array of lvieries for VF-213's sister squadron, VF-114:

[ben_der]

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3313936/ grab it while it's still hot

 

 

[ShinyMikey]

Looks very nice VFlip!

[CanopyJettison]

really good skin, please dont forget to submit to the contest

[Skysurfer]

Really nicely done! Great late -A Tomcat.

[Swordsman422]

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.

 

 

[prccowboy]

[Semi-Fictional] F-14A VF-191 "Satans Kittens" BuNo 159870

 

Most of my livery work is fictional and for use in our virtual squadron (about 130 skins to date), but I wanted to give some recognition to one of the lesser known Tomcat squadrons, work on an -A livery, and give something to the greater DCS community, while also representing our virtual squadron (the "40th SOC") where we have some great livery artists and why I started skinning in the first place, so here is the result:

 

Although based on the actual BuNo 159870 (circa 1988), this skin is technically "fictional" because I modified the tail art, added nose art, made up helmets and drop tanks (couldn't find examples of the real thing), added some artwork to the cockpit (with night lighting included) and even changed the color of the yaw string to match squadron colors. Nevertheless, all the changes were kept in the "plausible" theme.

 

The nose art is a "mash-up" of many authentic variants of the Tomcat "Gotcha Baby" art but modified even more to match the theme of the "Satan's Kittens" squadron. Most of the work is in the diffuse detailing and custom roughmets, ex: I wanted the engines to appear as something that was in service, metallic, and showed signs of repair, oxidation, corrosion, and heat stress

 

I have uploaded the files to DCS User Files, here: "https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3314009/"

 

 

Edited December 22, 2020 by prccowboy
added link

[isoko]

[ben_der]

Time we get the HGU 55

Looking awesome as always @isoko

[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.

 

 

 

 

[Moorhuhn]

VFlip, awesome Black Aces Submission for the contest.

Thanks man.

 

Please to all the others, submit your awesome skins too. please

[CheckGear]

4 hours ago, Swordsman422 said:

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.

 

 

 

 

 

That is UNSAT!!! IS THAT THE KIND OF PRIDE YOU TAKE IN YOUR AIRFRAMES? WHAT'RE YOU ALL DOING ALL DAY, ANYWAY? NOBODY GOES HOME UNTIL I CAN SEE THE TAIL INSIGNIA CLEARLY FROM A HALF MILE AWAY!!!

[isoko]

Have a great new year!

[catchforusthefoxes]

6 hours ago, isoko said:

Have a great new year!

So exited for these!! 

[=Skywarp=]

On 7/2/2019 at 10:23 PM, rassy7 said:

Quick question: If I create a separate RIO helmet, where do I put it in the "HB_F14_LOD1_3in1" file? There is only one helmet square.

I'd like to learn how to deal with this file too... for two separated helmets...

[LanceCriminal86]

4 hours ago, =Skywarp= said:

I'd like to learn how to deal with this file too... for two separated helmets...

The file does not allow for separate helmets, nor is the Tomcat currently set up for separate Pilot and RIO bodies.

[=Skywarp=]

But I was able to put different helmets for pilot and RIO, as some skinners did the same with Maverick & Goose and Iceman & Slider.

 

What are the implications?

 

Edited January 3, 2021 by =Skywarp=

[LanceCriminal86]

On 1/2/2021 at 4:59 PM, =Skywarp= said:

But I was able to put different helmets for pilot and RIO, as some skinners did the same with Maverick & Goose and Iceman & Slider.

 

What are the implications?

 

 

*Sigh*

 

You can have separate Pilot and RIO helmets.

 

You cannot have separate Pilot and RIO bodies at this time.

 

The LOD only has one helmet slot and it will apply it to both helmets.

 

There are no "implications", we've been able to have the separate helmets since the beginning. Heatblur has to actually define a separate area for the RIO helmet in the LOD, and they would need to do the same with the pilot body to the RIO body and give it a separate reference ID for the LUA so it can use a separate file. 

 

Heatblur is in the process of redoing the pilot bodies to include the HGU-55 helmets, I'd expect when that is done and the new pilot bodies implemented, we might see the split between pilot and RIO bodies and they may re-address the LOD files.

[Jackjack171]

Out of curiosity, why would you want 2 separate bodies?

[LanceCriminal86]

1 hour ago, Jackjack171 said:

Out of curiosity, why would you want 2 separate bodies?

 

Because, depending on what details you want, a Pilot and RIO have different patches, firstly the Pilot and NFO patches/wings are different, and quite often the ones on their suits were as well. For the 99% of users here, totally irrelevant. But for folks looking to put together specific jets and crews, or recreating specific photos, it can matter. Not every pilot might have a Top Gun Patch, or their RIO might not. Sometimes pilots flying with HGU-55 helmet but RIO using an HGU-33, weird stuff like that. Even RIOs from a different squadron, I believe "Bio" has mentioned pilots and RIOs sometimes flying their sister squadron's jets. Recently he mentioned in a photo he posted that the CAG riding backseat in the photo had his helmet taped half VF-1 and half VF-2!

 

I'd post some pics but many were nabbed from closed Facebook groups so not sure I really have permission to share them. But, here's an example of VF-201's final flight crew as they took their last Tomcat "JIMBOB EXPRESS" to AMARG:

 

 

 

A separate photo shows LCDR Burns on the left not wearing a Top Gun patch, while the RIO/CO CDR Paine does. This is also relevant if you want to include ranks for pilot/RIO, as often they were not the same. Again not important for folks just here flying jets. But most folks in the skinning groups/threads are into details, so putting it out there.

Edited January 4, 2021 by LanceCriminal86

[Jackjack171]

2 hours ago, LanceCriminal86 said:

 

Because, depending on what details you want, a Pilot and RIO have different patches, firstly the Pilot and NFO patches/wings are different, and quite often the ones on their suits were as well. For the 99% of users here, totally irrelevant. But for folks looking to put together specific jets and crews, or recreating specific photos, it can matter. Not every pilot might have a Top Gun Patch, or their RIO might not. Sometimes pilots flying with HGU-55 helmet but RIO using an HGU-33, weird stuff like that. Even RIOs from a different squadron, I believe "Bio" has mentioned pilots and RIOs sometimes flying their sister squadron's jets. Recently he mentioned in a photo he posted that the CAG riding backseat in the photo had his helmet taped half VF-1 and half VF-2!

 

I'd post some pics but many were nabbed from closed Facebook groups so not sure I really have permission to share them. But, here's an example of VF-201's final flight crew as they took their last Tomcat "JIMBOB EXPRESS" to AMARG:

 

 

 

A separate photo shows LCDR Burns on the left not wearing a Top Gun patch, while the RIO/CO CDR Paine does. This is also relevant if you want to include ranks for pilot/RIO, as often they were not the same. Again not important for folks just here flying jets. But most folks in the skinning groups/threads are into details, so putting it out there.

 

I see your point. Kind of like in the RAG where the instructors have different helmets and patches. Thanks man, I brain farted when I posted earlier!

[LoganTMT]

What do I save the textures as to get the Textures to work when I'm saving to the Intel Texture Works? What Compression do I use for it? Like is it a BC1 or BC7?

 

Thanks,

Logan Thurman