CrazyD Posted March 13, 2009 Posted March 13, 2009 (edited) Something I've been working on when time permits. Its an attempt at a "Special Forces/Night Mission" kind of skin pattern. The attached pic is a "teaser" night shot of course, and too dark to see much, so I used a flare to try to illuminate some of the skin pattern without giving it all away, lol. CRD edit: forgot to mention RCN Moose - your skull skin is really nice! downloaded but haven't flown it yet (other that to look at it). Edited March 13, 2009 by CrazyD
crazysundog Posted March 13, 2009 Posted March 13, 2009 Looks good, cant wait to see the finished product!
CrazyD Posted March 14, 2009 Author Posted March 14, 2009 Ok, I'm nearly done the skin, and I've run into a problem. This skin of course is fictional and I'm debating on whether it should have a country insignia on it, ie: Canada Flag, Russian Star, etc. I'm looking at it thinking that as a "special ops", you wouldn't put such things on it. Ideas? I'd kind of like to do a "Fictional" international task force, but after working for two whole days in a row on this my mind is fried. Help me here. Also give me an indicator on whether you'd like this to install to Russia, Canada, etc. I'm leaning towards Russia at the moment. CRD
Sharkster64 Posted March 14, 2009 Posted March 14, 2009 My opinion is Canada all the way baby!! But thats just me. [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Call Sign: Warhammer
WRFirefox Posted March 14, 2009 Posted March 14, 2009 ...one with the Russian Star and one "naked" (special ops) at moment im working on an SpecOps Night Mission and this Skin would make it perfect!
CrazyD Posted March 14, 2009 Author Posted March 14, 2009 WRFirefox - I tried to install two versions of my last skin, ie: one for Canada as a selectabe, one as Russian-selectable, and Modman wouldn't let me have both in at the same time (I think it has to do with the unique-id for the skin). So I could do as you suggest and create two (make that three if I were to do a Canadian version also), each with their own unique-id. The only issue with that is that LockonFiles would only host one version of the same file. To get around that, I would upload one to LockonFiles, then the other two elsewhere - any site suggestions?
WRFirefox Posted March 14, 2009 Posted March 14, 2009 here - a real great site - and you can upload it there simple ;-) http://www.virtual-jabog32.de/index.php?section=news Thanks for the outstanding work!!!
CrazyD Posted March 14, 2009 Author Posted March 14, 2009 Here's a couple more screenshots - please note that the yellow numbers on the sides won't be yellow in the final version (installing the number files to "temptextures" doesn't seem to work, but when the final skin file is created, it works ....), and I'm thinking of doing two country files - one Canadian (of course) and one Russian, and the country emblem colour will be more in tune with the skin colours. I'll have it uploaded this evening.
WRFirefox Posted March 14, 2009 Posted March 14, 2009 Great!!!!!! .......when will it be finished?? im staying tuned
CrazyD Posted March 14, 2009 Author Posted March 14, 2009 I have a course I'm attending - so the few touch-ups needed will be later this afternoon - hopefully get them uploaded this evening.
Sharkster64 Posted March 14, 2009 Posted March 14, 2009 Nice skin. The only thing its missing is a Canadian Flag and Roundel. :music_whistling: Looks good though. :thumbup: [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Call Sign: Warhammer
CrazyD Posted March 15, 2009 Author Posted March 15, 2009 Just in the process of making the Modman file, tested it out and found the Numbers22 file didn't take. Is this file supposed to be saved as a tga or bmp file? My last skin didn't have this problem, and I don't think I did anything different, saved as tga and included in the cdds file. Suggestions?
Deadman Posted March 15, 2009 Posted March 15, 2009 Numbers are tga files https://forum.dcs.world/topic/133818-deadmans-cockpit-base-plans/#comment-133824 CNCs and Laser engravers are great but they can't do squat with out a precise set of plans.
CrazyD Posted March 15, 2009 Author Posted March 15, 2009 Ok, I realized I had saved the wrong Numbers22 file, and got that figured out. Then next problem I've run into is the steering gear failed to show up but everything else worked. I've checked and re-checked and made and re-made the cdds files to the point where I got the steering gear to show up, and now the control rod linkages for the rotor mast doesn't show up, yet everything else from the Paint2 skin file shows up. Holy smokes this is a painful process. Not one skin has been able to install smoothly from beginning to end without one issue or another. Here's a screenshot. I have give this a rest for the moment, hopefully someone can provide some insight on this latest issue.
Sharkster64 Posted March 16, 2009 Posted March 16, 2009 Ok, I realized I had saved the wrong Numbers22 file, and got that figured out. Then next problem I've run into is the steering gear failed to show up but everything else worked. I've checked and re-checked and made and re-made the cdds files to the point where I got the steering gear to show up, and now the control rod linkages for the rotor mast doesn't show up, yet everything else from the Paint2 skin file shows up. Holy smokes this is a painful process. Not one skin has been able to install smoothly from beginning to end without one issue or another. Here's a screenshot. I have give this a rest for the moment, hopefully someone can provide some insight on this latest issue. You don't have to save the numbers tga file in your cdds. I never do and they have turned out perfect. I am curious, are you saving all your files as 24 bit .bmp files? If you leave it at 32 bit, you will get an error when creating cdds files. Make sure that all the files you put in to your cdds are 24 bit .bmp . Are you getting any errors when creating your cdds? There should be no errors posted before you hit any key. Make sure 11 out of 11 files are getting loaded. [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Call Sign: Warhammer
CrazyD Posted March 16, 2009 Author Posted March 16, 2009 Ok, did some experimenting to see what happens. First to answer Sharkster -all files are 24-bit (I don't get any higher option - Photoshop 6). I also have 12 files saved to CDDS - I modify the "DEF-03" file so that the inside of the landing gear baydoors match the bottom of the paint jobs (perfection is in the details - and yeah I know, I miss some other details, but I try ...). I don't understand how you cannot have the Numbers.tga included because if you change the colour design of the file, how's BS going to know which tga file to use. If you aren't putting the tga files into the cdds, then were are you putting them? After going over each of the skin files in order to verify they are typed out correct (as well as the skin.lma7 file to match), and remaking the cdds files, I still have issues with the top of the rotormast and linkages missing. I cross-checked the typing with my earlier skin (the Fictional Canadian Standard Camoflage) and the format was the same, though I was getting confused on some of the "LRM" parts as to whether I should use the "-" or "_". At any rate, my earlier skin had no problems before, and the screenshot taken for the .rar file shows the rotor mast complete. Now the top of the rotormast is missing on my previous skin as well as the latest skin, so I'm saying "@#!@%&*$". I thought maybe its because its being installed to the Canada country list, so I remade for the Russia list. Same problem: no top components. And if I select one of the original skins, then everything shows up complete - no problems. So somehow, my skins are at fault. I uninstalled everything Modman had put in before, uninstalled the version 7.1.0.9 and installed the 7.1.10 version before trying to install my latest skin and wondered if that were the cause. I installed RCN Moose's Flaming Skull skin and sure enough - all the parts are there. I tried to search the latest Modman for the sample skin.lma7 file but I couldn't locate anywhere in the folders, so I've been using the one I got from the Modman skin sample that Skypat and VikVaughan put on LockonFiles. Does the latest modman need something that the older skin file doesn't have? I am stumped.
CrazyD Posted March 16, 2009 Author Posted March 16, 2009 (edited) Successs!!!!! After my last post, I re-installed the Modman Slovakian test skin to see what happens, and it too had no problems! So I re-opened that skin file and compared it to my current one and sure enough - I used the "_" instead of "-" for the two of the LRM related files. Skin now works! Now I'm going to remake the skin rar file to install to Canada, and post it, but tomorrow. Its midnight and I have to get up at 5:30. Edited March 16, 2009 by CrazyD 1
Sharkster64 Posted March 16, 2009 Posted March 16, 2009 The reason you don't put the numbers file in the cdds is because it is a .tga file. The cdds studio program does not recognize .tga files, it only recognizes .bmp files. If you try to put the numbers file in there, you will get an error. I'm glad you sorted out your problem though. [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Call Sign: Warhammer
CrazyD Posted March 17, 2009 Author Posted March 17, 2009 (edited) [ATTACH][/ATTACH]Ok, I've created two versions of the Special Ops skin: Canadian and Russian. I've submitted both versions to LockonFiles, hopefully they'll realize the difference and not remove one of them. I tried to get onto the German site (Virtual-Jabog32....) but I can't read German in order to register properly, so both skins went to LoF. At any rate, I'd like to know if people who have downloaded my previous skins have (had?) any issues with my other skins missing textures like I was with this latest skin. I've loaded up those other skins and the rotor tops are there now, whereas yesterday they weren't, so I don't know whats going on. I'd also like to get more info on proper use of the Number22 and 23 files. I installed them with the skin bmps, and they come up when the skin is loaded into the mission selection, so I still can't get around that if I don't include the skin specific Number22 to the skin package, then how's BS going to know to use the dark red numbers as opposed to the yellow or dark brown numbers I used in my other skins? And I still haven't been told where I'm supposed to put those files if they're not supposed to go in the CDDS package. Here's a couple screens of the final product. Hopefully both will be avail tomorrow or sooner. CRD (Ok, never mind, one screenie (Russian). The Canadian one is posted earlier Edited March 17, 2009 by CrazyD
CrazyD Posted March 17, 2009 Author Posted March 17, 2009 I did a quick check, and sure enough, the numbers from my spec-ops skin showed up on my standard fictional skin - so this is something I'll need help to clear up on, as per above post.
WRFirefox Posted March 17, 2009 Posted March 17, 2009 Hi CrazyD - cant find your skin on lockonfiles.com :noexpression:
RCN_Moose Posted March 17, 2009 Posted March 17, 2009 Crazy, Regarding the Number22/23.tga files. If you want to include custom numbers with your skin, you'll need to edit the tga file, then save it under a custom name. IE Number_Crazy Then make sure your lma7 file has whatever name you used in place of the 22/23 Then you have two options for where you put it. You can use MODMAN to just add the TGA file to the Temptextures directory or you can include the file in the .cdds (They say you are not suppose to put mulitple formats in the cdds but I haven't had any issue yet) I'll have to ammplify this in my version 1.1 tutorial.
Sharkster64 Posted March 17, 2009 Posted March 17, 2009 I got error messages every time I put .tga files in the .cdds file so I stopped doing it. I don't use those numbers anyways because Canadian aircraft don't have them, that is a Russian thing. If you want to add those numbers why dont you just create a layer with Photoshop and add it to the bitmap file. [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Call Sign: Warhammer
Recommended Posts