"Official" F-4E Livery Discussion

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

This livery is a depiction of (then) Col. Robin Olds' F-4C-24-MC Phantom II, S/N: 64-0829 after achieving two VPAF MiG-17 kills which occurred on May 20, 1967 with his Weapons System Officer 1st Lieutenant Stephen B. Croker. (Lt. Croker is identified in several historical documents as Col. Olds' WSO. I could find no reference to "I LT LAFERTY" who is depicted on the nose art).

I've attempted to render this livery to be as close as possible to the famous photo showing Col. Olds in his Boony hat in front of SCAT XXVII including the wearing of the paint. I did have to take some license in the placement of the nose markings since the F-4C has a shorter nose than the F-4E and no gun.

Included also is Col. Olds' helmet (again derived from a famous photograph). I believe the photo depicts his 100 mission helmet and would show more kill markings on the back than his two kills at this time. I found a replica helmet which shows only two kill markings and used that as reference. I also made a fictional helmet for Lt. Croker based on some examples related to the period.

The included images have been Photoshopped as attempt to match the historical photographs.

A big thanks to  MagicaThunder for his "Homemade Paintkit". Link: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3338228/

If you don't know about Robin Olds who retired in 1973 as a Brigadier General and died June 14, 2007, you really should learn about this S/H fighter pilot. Wickipedia is a good place to start: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Olds

Submitted to DCS User Files 7/2/2024. Awaiting approval.

Edited July 2, 2024 by II.JG1_Vonrd

[Bazz_Mulder]

Any chances for 335th FS skin?

 

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

I have heard that the colors that I used on Col. Olds' helmet are incorrect and that the dark brown should actually be Olive Green. Would the photo showing the rear view of the helmet be more correct? Does anyone have some other photographic evidence? I'll try changing the colors and post them to poll what y'all consider best.

Thanks

21 hours ago, II.JG1_Vonrd said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Bazz_Mulder said:

Any chances for 335th FS skin?

 

I'd be willing to give it a go. Do you have any more images of that particular aircraft? S/N 74-644.

Edited July 3, 2024 by II.JG1_Vonrd

[LanceCriminal86]

As discussed a few times the 335th primarily used DMAS aircraft, and officially they'll be done when that time comes. There were older airframes used by the air wing however so we may try to add a few of those DSCG jets space permitting.

Re: Olds' helmet, the one at the AF museum is suspected of being a replica, as photos show his helmet without the high-brow cut and the wear in the paint looks artificial. But colors wise it should be green and tan/brown, we actually did that helmet already but I'm not sure if it's in the common files or not, but it was done. It may have been something intended for the pilot customization.

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

13 minutes ago, LanceCriminal86 said:

Re: Olds' helmet, the one at the AF museum is suspected of being a replica, as photos show his helmet without the high-brow cut and the wear in the paint looks artificial. But colors wise it should be green and tan/brown, we actually did that helmet already but I'm not sure if it's in the common files or not, but it was done. It may have been something intended for the pilot customization.

Yeah, I found photos of the USAF Museum helmet and uniform. I'm going to try and match the colors as well as I can given how color rendering changes due to lighting conditions. That helmet is the 100 mission version showing 4 kills. I'm going to render it as 2 kills in keeping with the time line of this skin.

I'd really like to see the helmet that your team has done.

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

Alright... revision of the helmet complete and has been updated in User Files. Here's the link: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3339337/.

I based the colors on the helmet located at the USAF Museum in Dayton, OH. The markings I based on what is claimed to be an original helmet of Maj. William L. Kirk, a close friend of and squadron mate of Col. Olds. Here's the link to his story: yankeeairpirates.overblog.com/2017/10/maj.william-l.kirk-433rd-tfs-mig-killer.html

I could find no images of Col. Olds' helmet with just the two kill markings and decided to use Maj. Kirk's as reference. I would think that Olds' first two kills should probably have MiG-17 silhouettes but without evidence decided to go with Fishbeds. 

The colors are the best match that I could get given that colors appear different in different lighting, in game and on different monitors / VR.

Phew...

[LcSummers]

@II.JG1_Vonrd

Outstanding job mate!

 

I love this skin and for sure your work!

 

Thank you so much!

 

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

22 hours ago, LanceCriminal86 said:

As discussed a few times the 335th primarily used DMAS aircraft, and officially they'll be done when that time comes.

In that case should I not make a livery? I don't want to step on any toes.

[Gözcü]

F-4E Terminator

 

[LanceCriminal86]

9 hours ago, II.JG1_Vonrd said:

In that case should I not make a livery? I don't want to step on any toes.

Folks can skin anything they like for userfiles of course, there have always been multiples of any one jet of course on there. Everyone takes a different approach and some folks prefer one or the other. As far as the official stuff the goal was to spread as much as possible for variances in the schemes themselves and represent a good amount of the squadrons that operated the E Phantom, which will potentially be expanded on more with whatever decal system can be implemented to help with less weight for multiple tail numbers.

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

@Bazz_Mulder It seems that your request will be fulfilled by the HB skinning team. 

[ehlw1993]

We really need a more dirty and worn out Greek Phantom. Is this already possible to make?

The Greek liveries are too clean!

[tsanis]

 

[aaronwhite]

On 7/5/2024 at 3:32 AM, ehlw1993 said:

We really need a more dirty and worn out Greek Phantom. Is this already possible to make?

The Greek liveries are too clean!

I was thinking about tackling some of the HAF's filthy Phantoms after I finish up my current F-14 addiction!

[Gözcü]

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

Are the colors really as dark as shown in this image? Several photos of this aircraft / squadron are the same. What about this 4 view? This seems more likely to me (but I actually kinda like the dark colors).  

[Gözcü]

F-4E 132.SQ Hançerler Turkey

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

This skin depicts F-4E-60-MC, S/N: 74-0644 of the 335th TFS (”Chiefs”), 4th TFW 
Pilot Lt. Col. Richard B. Myers at Seymore Johnson AFB, NC circa 1982. 

A few things of note in this skin:

The rendering of the "4th Tactical Fighter Wing" badge. As I understand, the badge emblems were water slide decals (like a plastic model) which were protected by a spray clearcoat. These would eventually breeak down and flake off around the edges. The gloss, overspray and chipping were rendered to replicate the photo as best that I could.

The dark fuzzy border of the dark green. I don't know but theorize that the field of the color was applied using masks and then outlined with the spraygun set to no fan (airbrush) to soften the edges. The paint mix used might have been slightly darker. Or maybe it's due to the reflectivity in the thin overspray edges. I've seen similar when I used to paint aircraft.

Shoulder patches for the crew's uniforms.

Custom helmets with the Pilot's and WSO's handles. Totally surmised by me. I could find no references.

Thanks to:
@MagicaThunder for his "Homemade Paintkit"
@MigMaster for providing the correct default colors per @ben_der.
@ben_der for providing the F-4E Wireframes.

Submitted to User Files 7/12/24. Awaiting approval.

[Techy111]

Just wondering if anyone has done the F4 (J I know) of the Playboy Bunny Scheme ? Early WIP if not =

 

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

This skin continues the lifespan of Phantom II F-4E-60-MC, S/N: 74-0644 last seen at Seymore Johnson AFB NC when it was with the 335th TFS (”Chiefs”), 4th TFW. 
It went through aerial target conversion to a QF-4E drone, No. AF262 by BAE Systems at Mojave CA in June 1991. 
It was operated and maintained by the 82d Aerial Targets Squadron at Tyndall AFB FL. It's final day is listed as "Expended 09-NOV-07".

Submitted to User Files 7/18/24

 

 

Edited July 19, 2024 by II.JG1_Vonrd

[aaronwhite]

On 7/9/2024 at 1:03 AM, 141st_Gözcü said:

Pretty sure I just watched this one fly out at the RIAT airshow departures live stream!

[Kerbo 416]

Hello, I have published three JASDF liveries on the userfiles since release:

F-4EJ Kai Early Scheme 07-8428 306th Sqdn :

 

 

F-4EJ Kai 302nd #77-8402 "Phantom Burai" with Corrosion Control

 

F-4EJ Komatsu Air Meet 306th Splinter #47-8340

[SgtPappy]

What resources do you use to make such stunning skins?

I'm trying to find 3rd TFW liveries but I'm having trouble reading the names on the canopy rails:

 

[LanceCriminal86]

21 hours ago, SgtPappy said:

What resources do you use to make such stunning skins?

I'm trying to find 3rd TFW liveries but I'm having trouble reading the names on the canopy rails:

 

Sorry I missed your message, I was out of town on vacation. Typically, I troll through places like Flickr, Facebook F-4 groups, the US National Archives for photos and search them. I also use ForgottenJets serial number listing to search for squadrons or wings and note the serial numbers that were tracked to them, and then search by serial in the above resources and Google image search. Most of the time I'm not able to make out full crew names, especially when only one side of the jet is photographed as the far side usually has the crew chief and assistant crew chief. So it's similar to the challenges with the Tomcat like attempting to get full and accurate crew names and callsigns.

[badger7966]

Im kinda surprised at how slow the skin guru's are at releasing skins for this beast......anybody care to have a bash at these ?