Two livery packs for the new S-3 Viking model

[Tomcatter87]

Dear community,

as a naval aviation geek who likes correct squadrons on the flight deck, I was really looking forward to the new S-3 model that was introduced with DCS version 2.9 . However, there was only one stock skin without any squadron markings available - and so I created two skin packs for the Viking. One contains several High Visibility liveries, mostly from the 1980s, the other one more modern tactical low visiblity paint schemes. While the skins all represent real life paint jobs, they are not 100 percent perfect - some small logos might be missing, the airplanes serial number is untouched and they mostly carry the same modex no. The reason for that is that I wanted to create a handful of skins, representing a handful (or more ) squadrons matching our carriers (including the existing repaints for Forrestal and Supercarrier) and aircraft liveries.

Since there is no official template and the new S-3 model sadly cannot be opened with the model viewer, those repaints were a lot of work and required a lot of trial-and-error-stuff, and constant checking and reloading missions in DCS itself. It would be great for the skinning community if ED could make the models accessible to the model viewer in order to create liveries and to hopefully improve the experience for y'all. @scorch71 was kind enough to let me use his despriction.lua and High Vis Painting as a base for my own work.

Here's the low visibility liveries, including 10 skins for VS-21, VS-22, VS-24, VS-28, VS-30, VS-31, VS-32, VS-33 and VS-38:

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3334240/

...and the more colourful Vikings, 9 skins from VS-21, VS-24, VS-28, VS-29, VS-31, VS-32, VS-33, VS-37 and VS-38:

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3334355/

To install the liveries, copy the folders to [DCS MAIN DIRECTORY]/Bazar/Liveries/s-3b and also to [DCS MAIN DIRECTORY]/Bazar/Liveries/s-3b tanker. The corresponding "liveries" folder in saved games works too, of course.

If you want to use the special bottom texture for the tanker, open up the LUA file inside the tanker livery. Simply change the second column to     
{"low_S3B_Fus_Back",         0 ,"low_S3BViking_Fus_Back_Tanker_Diffuse",false};
and off you go (that means, you just have to add the apart "_Tanker" to that line ).

The skins work for the S-3 Tanker without changing this, I think only the sonar buoy hatches will look like the normal S-3 then.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my skin packs - and if you do: I'd be happy to see some screenshots or videos of the different "War Hoovers" in action / on flightdecks / giving precious fuel.

Edited November 18, 2023 by Tomcatter87

[Woogey]

Thank you for these Tomcatter!  I read that you have a special texture for the Tanker that I assume removes the sonobouy launchers.  Would this not be a true S-3B where as the standard model from ED would be more like an S-3A?  Please correct me if I am wrong.  Really appreciate your beautiful work here.

-Woog

[Nealius]

Something seems to have been broken with the S-3/Tanker liveries in a recent update. Not only user liveries like this, but even defaults that come with official campaigns all show as a blank gray "727" bird. 

[Tomcatter87]

7 minutes ago, Nealius said:

Something seems to have been broken with the S-3/Tanker liveries in a recent update. Not only user liveries like this, but even defaults that come with official campaigns all show as a blank gray "727" bird. 

Yes, that's true. All user files of the tanker version are broken - but only those, the normal S-3 liveries still work. It seems the files from the 3D model have been renamed.  I reported this, ED promised to take a look at it. So if someone manages to make a working description.lua file, just let me know, I'll update the skins. So far I'm out of ideas what to do.

[Stackup]

On 11/13/2024 at 1:22 AM, Tomcatter87 said:

So if someone manages to make a working description.lua file

That's the real trick now isn't it.  It'd be nice if ED would just give us an example of every single description.lua, so we can just make skins.  I just noticed my tankers were screwed up while making a mission.  The default texture files from the tanker have had the "S3B" replaced by "KS_3A", which makes zero sense because the tanker we have in game is just an S-3B equipped with a buddy pod and external tank, not the dedicated KS-3A tanker.  Maybe they're planning on doing more variants although that seems unlikely given they haven't even released the HD version yet...

In any case, there doesn't seem to be any reason to have differentiated the tanker variant from the standard.  The fuel tank and refueling pod model names have also been changed.  I don't remember seeing anyone else paint these yet, but I rather enjoyed that aspect of customization.

[Nealius]

I can't even find the default S-3 liveries folder any more. It's no longer in the Bazaar folder, and doing an Explorer search of the entire DCS root results in zero results except for a zip file in "HeavyMetalCore" that doesn't even have a description.lua.

That said, I tried using "KS_3A" instead and they still didn't work.

Edited November 23, 2024 by Nealius

[Tomcatter87]

Changing the folder name was not something I tried. But since the skins that are saved under S3B Tanker are still listed in the mission editor, I think the old location is still valid. Just the parts from the 3D model seem to have been renamed. An example for a working description.lua file would be a great help. Maybe @BIGNEWY can help? I'd love to update my skins for the community, especially for the upcoming Super carrier update. 

[Nealius]

It seems to be locked in "Aircraft.edce" in the same folder as the textures zip, so not only will we have to wait for Bignewy or someone to give us a working description.lua, livery creators will no longer be able to test their work in the ModelViewer because the edm file is encrypted.

[Tomcatter87]

9 hours ago, Nealius said:

It seems to be locked in "Aircraft.edce" in the same folder as the textures zip, so not only will we have to wait for Bignewy or someone to give us a working description.lua, livery creators will no longer be able to test their work in the ModelViewer because the edm file is encrypted.

Yes, I created my skin packs in the mission editor which was quite a pita.

[sLYFa]

On 11/23/2024 at 12:45 PM, Tomcatter87 said:

Changing the folder name was not something I tried. But since the skins that are saved under S3B Tanker are still listed in the mission editor, I think the old location is still valid. Just the parts from the 3D model seem to have been renamed. An example for a working description.lua file would be a great help. Maybe @BIGNEWY can help? I'd love to update my skins for the community, especially for the upcoming Super carrier update. 

They simply changed the names of the texture sheets called by the model from "low_S3B_" to "low_KS-3A_" as pointed out by Stackup. Simply changing those in the description.lua makes the skins usable again. I've attached an example

description.lua

[Tomcatter87]

4 hours ago, sLYFa said:

They simply changed the names of the texture sheets called by the model from "low_S3B_" to "low_KS-3A_" as pointed out by Stackup. Simply changing those in the description.lua makes the skins usable again. I've attached an example

description.lua 1.4 kB · 8 downloads

Sounds promising! I'll check it out and, if it works, finally be able to update my skin pack. Which will be reorganized now into one S-3 and one S-3 tanker pack instead one hivis and one lovis pack. Thanks a lot, @sLYFa!

Edited November 24, 2024 by Tomcatter87

[Nealius]

Just tested by copying/pasting. It does work!

[Tomcatter87]

The description file is kinda working, so thanks again. However some parts don't work yet, like the rudder and the engines, among others. Seems not all texture sheets have been renamed. But Slyfa's file got me in the right direction, I'll work it out. 

[Nealius]

Concur. Hard to notice on the low-vis schemes but on the hi-vis schemes you can tell the rudder and engine nacelles maintain the default gray.

[Tomcatter87]

So far I was only able to fix the correct tanker fuselage-back being displayed. I tried renaming the fins and the engines part, but to no avail.  

[Esac_mirmidon]

For the stabs and engine check if the skin has custom stab or engine files inside the folder. If there are such files be sure the línes are set to false (that means the files are loaded inside that fólder)

If the skin doesnt have custom stab and engine files, just be sure the description lines are set to true, to load the DCS stock ones.

Edited November 25, 2024 by Esac_mirmidon

[Tomcatter87]

I think that might be it, didnt notice it's set to true in Slyfa's file. Ill try it, thanks!

[Esac_mirmidon]

I've tested myself your pack and thats the trick to make It work. 

And.......

Thanks for your skins, is a must for populating decks. Forrestal high vis Aces is my favourite one.

Edited November 25, 2024 by Esac_mirmidon

[Tomcatter87]

Thanks a lot, @Esac_mirmidon ,  glad my little Vikings find some use. Just updating the files, there'll be a fix for the tankers very soon. 

[Esac_mirmidon]

Glad to hear that.

No more handmade edition.......

[Tomcatter87]

Here's the fix, I'll upload it on the user files section too.

Just unzip it and place the folders with the Skin names into your S-3b tanker folder where you keep the liveries. Then click overwrite.

 s-3b tanker.zip

Edited November 25, 2024 by Tomcatter87

[Rudel_chw]

2 hours ago, Tomcatter87 said:

Here's the fix, I'll upload it on the user files section too.

 

Thank you so much ... really great liveries 

 

 

[Scoop]

@Tomcatter87 could you check Tanker NE and NH low vis as I get a texture missing for the Fin. The DDS file is there for both.

I can't see any error in the lua so could you take a look. Thanks for the great liveries. 

[Tomcatter87]

2 hours ago, Scoop said:

@Tomcatter87 could you check Tanker NE and NH low vis as I get a texture missing for the Fin. The DDS file is there for both.

I can't see any error in the lua so could you take a look. Thanks for the great liveries. 

I'll take a look, thanks. Thought I checked it, though.

[Tomcatter87]

It's really strange, both skins work for me. One idea what could be the problem: The texture file you might be missing is called low_S3BViking_Stabs_Diffuse.dds - the "fin" part is the forward part, excluding the rudder. Should be incuded in my low vis skin pack.