Multiple Plane Skins help

[Ells228]

Ok guys,

I'd like to have one plane model (as an example the F15) with the option of multiple skins, one skin for each tail number of the Team 1 to 9.

 

I have the dds files for each skin, but need to assign them in Lock On.

 

Who do I do that?

 

This is what I've figured so far:

 

Each plane with it's unique tail number would need it's own skin.

Then in the config files for your mod, you list out what skins are available.

 

Looking at the VTB mod, there are several files, one for each skin with a unique tail number.

F-16C-PAINT-DEF-R1.bmp.dds

F-16C-PAINT-DEF-R2.bmp.dds

F-16C-PAINT-DEF-R3.bmp.dds

F-16C-PAINT-DEF-R4.bmp.dds

F-16C-PAINT-DEF-R5.bmp.dds

F-16C-PAINT-DEF-R6.bmp.dds

F-16C-PAINT-DEF-R7.bmp.dds

F-16C-PAINT-DEF-R8.bmp.dds

 

The section below of the meinit.xml file is for the F15 which the VTB's use.

- <Plane CLSID="{CD247E45-4702-4E3A-A659-4F5E0E645D2B}" Cannon="yes" EmptyWeight="12790" HumanCockpit="yes" MaxFuelWeight="6103" MaxHeight="18300" MaxSpeed="2649.6" MaxTakeOffWeight="30845" Name="F-15C" Rate="50" Shape="f-15" WingSpan="13.05" WorldID="6">

 

So for each skin you have (with unique tail number on it) you need to have a ColorScheme section for it.

ColorScheme section is under Payloads which is under the Plane section above.

 

- <ColorSchemes>
 <ColorScheme CLSID="{A7C18417-3EA1-4B2B-B2FE-2D68E35ACCD1}" ID="9" Name="IDF/AF F15 Standard" /> 
 <ColorScheme CLSID="{2e57406b-0ad2-4531-8dc4-e9ba59be6167}" ID="0" Name="Thunderbird 1 Boss" /> 
 <ColorScheme CLSID="{3506c4fe-4c3a-4d79-b232-fd000ec65b9c}" ID="1" Name="Thunderbird 2 Left Wing" /> 
 <ColorScheme CLSID="{abd15535-a4ba-451a-8583-6d796c35747b}" ID="2" Name="Thunderbird 3 Right Wing" /> 
 <ColorScheme CLSID="{8238d333-c109-43dc-8cae-74e92799270a}" ID="3" Name="Thunderbird 4 Slot" /> 
 <ColorScheme CLSID="{a4492e44-06bd-4ed8-b744-f5fd4be4b2c8}" ID="4" Name="Thunderbird 5 Lead Solo" /> 
 <ColorScheme CLSID="{c0ee4ef9-9328-4a38-871e-1dfbd1efd41f}" ID="5" Name="Thunderbird 6 Opposing Solo" /> 
 <ColorScheme CLSID="{1a27ede8-236a-42c6-b7c5-2f2f2620fd26}" ID="6" Name="Thunderbird 7 Backup" /> 
 <ColorScheme CLSID="{2a31c5f8-df20-4af3-bd7d-ccbb8a64b5cf}" ID="7" Name="Thunderbird 8 Backup" /> 
 <ColorScheme CLSID="{8e75a77d-c944-4f43-9441-787e03d6b68f}" ID="8" Name="54th FS (AK) AFB Elmendorf (early)" /> 
 </ColorSchemes>

 

Now what I still need to find is how the xml file assigns the .bmp.dds file to the id number.

 

There are a few files in the mod zip which I think define the clsid in the meinit.xml file and assign the .bmp.dds files

F-15-OBLOMOK-WING-L.cmd

F-15-OBLOMOK-WING-R.cmd

 

When I open up the WING-L file in notepad, I see this at the bottom:

�   F-16C-PAINT-DEF-L1.BMP          F-16C-PAINT-DEF-L2.BMP          F-16C-PAINT-DEF-L6.BMP          F-16C-PAINT-DEF-L9.BMP          F-16C-PAINT-DEF-L10.BMP         

 

And when I open up the WING-R file in notepad, I see this:

�   F-16C-PAINT-DEF-L1.BMP          F-16C-PAINT-DEF-L2.BMP          F-16C-PAINT-DEF-L6.BMP          F-16C-PAINT-DEF-L9.BMP          F-16C-PAINT-DEF-L10.BMP  

 

So my assumption is that there must be a program out there (maybe ModMan or 3dMax with the ED plugins) that you can assign a paint scheme to the flight model.

 

Can someone point me to the next step.

 

Thanks

RED10|Ells

[EricJ]

If present, open the .skins file for the appropriate aircraft, which AFAIK is like the F/A-18A/C, F-15C, and like the Su-25T. The .cmd file has all the texture assignments, and cannot be changed, at least the amount of skins. Granted... nobody's tried with adding textures to the .cmd file, but the general rule that the CLSID is what it "looks" for, and maybe hardcoded into the .exe file.

 

Verdict? No, you cannot add skins. However, ED plans to allow more skins to be added through the .skins setup for ALL of the aircraft, or the vast majority.

[Ells228]

Thanks Eric I'll take a look.