22 Fighter Squadron, Bitburg "F-15A"

[EricJ]

Some progress. Now I have to find the pilot patches and figure out how that works out:

[EricJ]

Well I managed to figure out the patch file, so that's done. I uploaded it as a version 1.0 or so, maybe some user feedback will improve it. Anyway @streakeagle, I'll post the update when it's active

Edited May 8 by EricJ

[NRG-Vampire]

3 hours ago, EricJ said:

...maybe some user feedback will improve it

Maybe i'm a bit late to respond but just be sure removing the shadows/dirt on the wing+belly pylons and the inner side of the vertical stabs what is the most unrealistic part of the template: it tries to imitate kinda fake ambient occlusion effect but in a very ugly way.
Unfortunately no REAL AMBIENT_OCCLUSION = 9; EDM map added to the F-15 model, however would be very useful with an arg-based-visibility "texture-switch"  (Mi-8 model use it) around wing/belly pylons especially when external fuel tanks hang on these.
( Iv never seen a single Eagle with dirty tails. There are weathered and worn-out tails but not dirty/shadowed )
IRL the inner surfaces of the vert-stabs are a bit cleaner than the outside coz of the smoother airflow between the tails. Turbulent airflow develops mainly on the outer side at/during high AOA: can cause the flutter effect and harmful/damaging vibrations )

https://airfighters.com/photosearch.php?key=F-15A&lim=5&dis=tiles


 

Edited May 8 by NRG-Vampire

[EricJ]

Yeah I messed up in doing the occlusion layers. It's not bad so far. But, I might remove it based on your advice. I don't like baked in shadows myself (I think that's a bit much, and in some cases it works, so hit or miss), but it's my first F-15, so I'll take it and work on it.

[NRG-Vampire]

3 more suggestions:
1. If you are making really old (1976 and before) skins then make all the wheels fully black. I mean not only the rims but the tires as well. Tires are treated/painted on the old A/B variants unlike the later models what got natural look.
2. ... dark red canopy frame(s) and black ejection seat - AFAICR only testbed Eagles got gray seats.
3. ...and what most of the Eagle skinners usually forget (Mach3ds made it very nicely/authentically) under&behind  the movable/rotatable wedge/pyramid shaped intake doors there is an unpainted (maybe primer only) triangle shaped surface on the fix part (visible when intake door lowered). Moreover on old F-15As this part is larger (on moving doors too) than on later C/D variants. Tthere is this unpainted surface on the E models too but it covered mostly by the front edge of the CFTs.

ps. I'm a little confused because it looks like these larger "triangle" parts are painted white in the bottom picture: BT-76-0036

Thanks

Edited May 8 by NRG-Vampire

[EricJ]

I'll see what I can do

[EricJ]

Anyway got these fixes in before it being approved:

- Black wheels

- Removed the occlusion stuff, I didn't like it that much anyway, so it'll look more real.

[EricJ]

Now available:

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3344654/

[NRG-Vampire]

11 hours ago, EricJ said:

Now available:

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3344654/

Thanks
few problems:
EFT texture with unique name needs a "false" in the description.lua
with closer look: top part of red stripes on tails show former yellow-black checker texture (WA) 1 pixel height-line surplus
missing dark red canopy frame(s) and black ejection seat

[EricJ]

5 hours ago, NRG-Vampire said:

Thanks
few problems:
EFT texture with unique name needs a "false" in the description.lua
with closer look: top part of red stripes on tails show former yellow-black checker texture (WA) 1 pixel height-line surplus
missing dark red canopy frame(s) and black ejection seat

EFT Texture? What does that mean?

Not sure about the seat, may be a separate model. EDIT: It's not mapped on the template anywhere, so you'll have to live with it.

Got the canopy

Edited May 10 by EricJ

[Fisherman82]

8 minutes ago, EricJ said:

EFT Texture? What does that mean?

Not sure about the seat, may be a separate model. EDIT: It's not mapped on the template anywhere, so you'll have to live with it.

Got the canopy

I just did these skins myself, the ejection seat texture is from the textures for the A10, thats why its not mapped in the textures for the F15C.

[EricJ]

Yeah SOLIDKREATE just sent me the stuff for it, but thanks man.

[EricJ]

[NRG-Vampire]

4 hours ago, EricJ said:

EFT Texture? What does that mean?

Not sure about the seat, may be a separate model. EDIT: It's not mapped on the template anywhere, so you'll have to live with it.

Got the canopy

Sorry EFT: External Fuel Tank

Full list:

livery = {
    {"pilot_F15_00_helmet",    DIFFUSE            ,    "pilot_f15_helmet", false};
    {"pilot_F15_00_body",    DIFFUSE            ,    "pilot_f15_00_a", false};
    {"pilot_F15_patch",    DIFFUSE            ,    "pilot_f15_patch_65a_sqdn", false};
    {"f15stab",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f15_stab_v", false};
    {"f15stab",    NORMAL_MAP            ,    "f15_stab_v_nrm", false};
    {"f15stab",    DECAL                ,    "f15_decol", false};
    {"f15stab",    DAMAGE                ,    "f15_damage_main", false};
    {"f15numbers",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f15_numbers", false};
    {"f15bottom",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f15_bottom", false};
    {"f15bottom",    NORMAL_MAP            ,    "f15_bottom_nrm", false};
    {"f15bottom",    DECAL                ,    "f15_decol", false};
    {"f15bottom",    DAMAGE                ,    "f15_damage_main", false};
    {"f15_selfillum",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f15_glass", false};
    {"f15_selfillum",    SELF_ILLUMINATION    ,    "f15_glass", false};
    {"f15_afterburn",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f15_afterburn", false};
    {"f15_afterburn",    SELF_ILLUMINATION    ,    "f15_afterburn", false};
    {"f15_lights_190",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f-15_bano", false};
    {"f15wingl",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f15_wing_l", false};
    {"f15wingl",    NORMAL_MAP            ,    "f15_wing_l_nrm", false};
    {"f15wingl",    DECAL                ,    "f15_decol", false};
    {"f15wingl",    DAMAGE                ,    "f15_damage_main", false};
    {"f15_glass_main",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f15_glass_refl", false};
    {"f15_glass_main",    DAMAGE                ,    "f15_damage_main", false}; 
    {"f15_glass_main",    GLASS_OPACITY,    "f15_glass_dif", false};
    {"f15nose",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f15_nose", false};
    {"f15nose",    NORMAL_MAP            ,    "f15_nose_nrm", false};
    {"f15nose",    DECAL                ,    "f15_decol", false};
    {"f15nose",    DAMAGE                ,    "f15_damage_main", false};
    {"f15wingr",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f15_wing_r", false};
    {"f15wingr",    NORMAL_MAP            ,    "f15_wing_r_nrm", false};
    {"f15wingr",    DAMAGE                ,    "f15_damage_main", false};
    {"f15_headlight_209",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f-15_light", false};
    {"f15_lights_191",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f-15_bano", false};
    {"f15_lights_199",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f-15_bano", false};
    {"f15_cockpit",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f15_cockpit", false};
    {"f15_lights_192",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f-15_bano", false};
    {"f15_aces2",    DIFFUSE            ,    "a-10_eject_seat 1024", false};                                        -- Ejection Seat
    {"pilot_F15_00_helmet",    DIFFUSE            ,    "pilot_f15_helmet", false};
    {"f15_headlight_208",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f-15_light", false};
    {"f15PTB",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f15_ptb", false};                                                                    -- External Fuel Tank(s)
    {"f15centr",    DIFFUSE            ,    "f15_centr", false};
    {"f15centr",    NORMAL_MAP            ,    "f15_centr_nrm", false};
    {"f15centr",    DAMAGE                ,    "f15_damage_main", false};
}

 

Edited May 10 by NRG-Vampire

[EricJ]

Thanks, got it. Will upload shortly though.

[streakeagle]

On 5/9/2025 at 2:05 PM, EricJ said:

Now available:

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3344654/

Looking good. You got the red canopy rail. But the front windscreen should have the same red-brown outline, as shown in several of the photos in this thread.
I tried to find out why this was red. Some claimed it was some form of anodized metal that was a special non-magnetic alloy to avoid interference, others said it was a sealant. Google AI was interesting, it claimed that only certain F-15Es had the red frame and that it was that color so rescue crews could easily see it. I don't know where Google AI got that idea, but as far as I recall, only the F-15E prototype had the red rails because it was really the original F-15B prototype. I would have to look up my references to see if early production F-15Es had the red rails. I know the early F-15 paint schemes because I grew up with the F-15A/B and early F-15C/D: I saw their colors in person at airshows and built models that had the correct colors for 1970s/1980s Eagles. Real Eagles have "tail feathers" on their nozzles, too

[EricJ]

31 minutes ago, streakeagle said:

Looking good. You got the red canopy rail. But the front windscreen should have the same red-brown outline, as shown in several of the photos in this thread.
I tried to find out why this was red. Some claimed it was some form of anodized metal that was a special non-magnetic alloy to avoid interference, others said it was a sealant. Google AI was interesting, it claimed that only certain F-15Es had the red frame and that it was that color so rescue crews could easily see it. I don't know where Google AI got that idea, but as far as I recall, only the F-15E prototype had the red rails because it was really the original F-15B prototype. I would have to look up my references to see if early production F-15Es had the red rails. I know the early F-15 paint schemes because I grew up with the F-15A/B and early F-15C/D: I saw their colors in person at airshows and built models that had the correct colors for 1970s/1980s Eagles. Real Eagles have "tail feathers" on their nozzles, too

I see what you're talking about, easy fix.

[EricJ]

Here you go. There's a part in the front of the windshield, but this should be good now.

22 FS Bitburg.7z

[streakeagle]

On 5/14/2025 at 3:58 PM, EricJ said:

Here you go. There's a part in the front of the windshield, but this should be good now.

22 FS Bitburg.7z 21.34 MB · 1 download

I finally got to see how this looked in game. It is pretty amazing! Very few skins from this era are available, and most are less than accurate. This is a major upgrade for cold war F-15Cs.

I only have two criticisms left.
1. The centerline fuel tank was untextured: green digital camo look. I didn't try the wing tanks, so they may or may not have the same problem.
2. The canopy bow is missing the red frame. If you look at the photo a couple of posts above, you can see there is gray on the bow, but a thin stripe of the red between the gray and the canopy glass.

On 5/8/2025 at 5:50 PM, NRG-Vampire said:

3 more suggestions:
1. If you are making really old (1976 and before) skins then make all the wheels fully black. I mean not only the rims but the tires as well. Tires are treated/painted on the old A/B variants unlike the later models what got natural look.
2. ... dark red canopy frame(s) and black ejection seat - AFAICR only testbed Eagles got gray seats.
3. ...and what most of the Eagle skinners usually forget (Mach3ds made it very nicely/authentically) under&behind  the movable/rotatable wedge/pyramid shaped intake doors there is an unpainted (maybe primer only) triangle shaped surface on the fix part (visible when intake door lowered). Moreover on old F-15As this part is larger (on moving doors too) than on later C/D variants. Tthere is this unpainted surface on the E models too but it covered mostly by the front edge of the CFTs.

ps. I'm a little confused because it looks like these larger "triangle" parts are painted white in the bottom picture: BT-76-0036

Thanks

 

I love these photos. This is what the F-15s I saw in person and built as models looked like! My 1/72nd scale F-15A had the "FF" skin. My 1/48 F-15A had the classic Eglin "Gulf Spirit".

[streakeagle]

This was the 1/72nd kit I had. When I was finished, it looked just like the box photos.

[EricJ]

7 hours ago, streakeagle said:

I finally got to see how this looked in game. It is pretty amazing! Very few skins from this era are available, and most are less than accurate. This is a major upgrade for cold war F-15Cs.

I only have two criticisms left.
1. The centerline fuel tank was untextured: green digital camo look. I didn't try the wing tanks, so they may or may not have the same problem.
2. The canopy bow is missing the red frame. If you look at the photo a couple of posts above, you can see there is gray on the bow, but a thin stripe of the red between the gray and the canopy glass.

I love these photos. This is what the F-15s I saw in person and built as models looked like! My 1/72nd scale F-15A had the "FF" skin. My 1/48 F-15A had the classic Eglin "Gulf Spirit".

Okay I don't know if the grey area is a part of the C model (looks like something that is a part of the overall model, and not a mistake on my part), so I'll see what I can do. I'll fix the rest though.

22 FS Bitburg.7z

Edited May 16 by EricJ

[SOLIDKREATE]

On 5/16/2025 at 2:25 AM, EricJ said:

Okay I don't know if the grey area is a part of the C model (looks like something that is a part of the overall model, and not a mistake on my part), so I'll see what I can do. I'll fix the rest though.

22 FS Bitburg.7z 21.34 MB · 5 downloads

 

Thanks Eric, downloaded! Can't wait to showcase mine soon.

[EricJ]

10 hours ago, SOLIDKREATE said:

 

Thanks Eric, downloaded! Can't wait to showcase mine soon.

No problem, yours look good too, may check them out as well...