[SKIN PACK] 53rd TFS BITBURG F-15A and F-15C RELEASED (27 SHIPS)

[SOLIDKREATE]

I wonder if I could find where the F-15 gets its weapons from in the folders and just make them then add them to the .LUA?

[streakeagle]

14 hours ago, SOLIDKREATE said:

I wonder if I could find where the F-15 gets its weapons from in the folders and just make them then add them to the .LUA?

I copied the dds files from one of the stock early F-14A skins, then added the lines that overwrote the default AIM-7M model dds files with the copied F-14A dds files. So, if you could make your own dds files or get permission to use/edit Heatblurs dds files, you would just add them to the skins.

One of the skins with missile skin files is Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\CoreMods\aircraft\F14\Liveries\F-14A-135-GR\VF-1 Wolfpack NK100 (1974).zip

the description.lua needs these lines added to the "livery" list to use them when located in the same folder as the skin:

{"AIM-7M",    0    ,"aim_7f_Diff", false};
{"AIM-7M",    13    ,"aim_7f_Diff_RoughMet", false}
{"AIM-7M",    1    ,"aim_7f_Diff_Normal", false};

The other skins pointed to those files:

{"AIM-7M",    0    ,"../VF-1 Wolfpack NK100 (1974)/aim_7f_Diff", false};
{"AIM-7M",    13    ,"../VF-1 Wolfpack NK100 (1974)/aim_7f_Diff_RoughMet", false};
{"AIM-7M",    1    ,"../VF-1 Wolfpack NK100 (1974)/aim_7f_Diff_Normal", false};

I don't know if you can point to these zipped up core files in the F-15 skin lua files, but if you can, that would be better than the default AIM-7M gray body/white nose skins.

[SOLIDKREATE]

What do we all think of the new 'Cans'? All new textures from a REAL F-15. Special thanks to @NRG-Vampire for making me push myself.

 

Edited June 13 by SOLIDKREATE

[NRG-Vampire]

Interesting. That nozzle a bit too dark and brownish. The bluish wear of the lower/inner petals are "slightly" excessive IMHO. (need to be more metal looking and reflective - unfortunately you have to "touch" the roughmet map also to bring the correct effect)

Edited June 13 by NRG-Vampire

[SOLIDKREATE]

I used this picture for the moving parts. I'd be able to work with yours better becaus ethey are straight on. I wish the engine model had all of the moving parts. There is a lot of variation between all the F-15's I find. I guess it is a matter of taste? I found the roughmets. I need to make my own so I can edit each color though.

Edited June 13 by SOLIDKREATE

[SOLIDKREATE]

@NRG-Vampire Made my own custom editable RoughMet texture. More shinny or is this good? Looks way less 'flat' then my post (2 above middle pic).

 

Edited June 13 by SOLIDKREATE

[NRG-Vampire]

Look nice Much more metallic now

[EricJ]

Looking good man, I like it too.

[SOLIDKREATE]

Expect release tonight or very early Sunday -8 GMT. All 27 skins are done however I need to update the nose LG door serial number in 26 planes because I forgot to change them as I went  

[NRG-Vampire]

Copy that, but what happened with the side numbers on the rear end of the wing pylons ? (Your first release 76-0015 included/showed that)

[NRG-Vampire]

On 6/11/2025 at 7:03 AM, NRG-Vampire said:

Unfortunately not much photo of 76-0074. Last time that was a Luke bird.

Surprisingly 76-0074 LA got side numbers on the wing pylons as well. (front edge, under launcher rails)

 

[SOLIDKREATE]

1 hour ago, NRG-Vampire said:

Copy that, but what happened with the side numbers on the rear end of the wing pylons ? (Your first release 76-0015 included/showed that)

 

Ah, unfortunately I cant do that. The STBD side has the numbers mirrored because ED only used one pylon model to support both.

Edited June 15 by SOLIDKREATE

[SOLIDKREATE]

RELEASED

[streakeagle]

On 6/8/2025 at 7:31 AM, SOLIDKREATE said:

 36th FW, 53rd TFS
F-15A 7 F-15C SKIN PACK

 

DOWNLOAD LINKS PART 1 thru PART 6 (15JUN2025) :  

• https://drive.google.com/file/d/12VokT7iAkPHaXeCbhOTYUwi48AnCzYMO/view?usp=sharing,
• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KnsMn22NC17RFBktpCRsLcLjtPDvIpCo/view?usp=sharing,
• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TRzoT-XjiObgPMX5wn6YthWDue35rLIb/view?usp=sharing,
• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UTXrv74gUHsGPKyEc3wDB1-TyDOpLztJ/view?usp=sharing,
• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oYp4Ep1wNxE9GxgkRbD16snuvCXfc9nM/view?usp=sharing,
• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q3AqKkTvQOgn_fC69TWO63dnpUmySDDr/view?usp=sharing

 

Thank you

@Texac ROUGHMETS (I edited the engine panels) @lee1hy PERIOD CORRECT WEAPONS 

@streakeagle @NRG-Vampire @EricJ

 

Files go in: C:\Users\yourusername\Saved Games\DCS\Liveries\

 

-camera%20-432.356965%201.705451%20-988.402609%20-cameradir%200.638283%20-0.545602%200.54306

SKIN PACK LIST:

• 75-0049, F-15A-14-MC - COMPLETE
• 75-0074, F-15A-14-MC - COMPLETE
• 76-0015, F-15A-15-MC - COMPLETE
• 76-0016, F-15A-15-MC - COMPLETE
• 76-0035, F-15A-15-MC - COMPLETE
• 76-0043, F-15A-15-MC - COMPLETE
• 76-0048, F-15A-16-MC - COMPLETE
• 76-0050, F-15A-16-MC - COMPLETE
• 76-0069, F-15A-16-MC - COMPLETE
• ===============================
• 79-0053, F-15C-25-MC - COMPLETE ("TIGER ONE", 84 TIGER MEET)
• 79-0059, F-15C-26-MC - COMPLETE
• 79-0064, F-15C-26-MC - COMPLETE
• 79-0066, F-15C-26-MC - COMPLETE
• 79-0067, F-15C-26-MC - COMPLETE
• 79-0073, F-15C-26-MC - COMPLETE
• 79-0074, F-15C-26-MC - COMPLETE
• 80-0013, F-15C-27-MC - COMPLETE
• 84-0002, F-15C-37-MC - COMPLETE
• 84-0007, F-15C-37-MC - COMPLETE
• 84-0009, F-15C-37-MC - COMPLETE
• 84-0013, F-15C-37-MC - COMPLETE
• 84-0014, F-15C-37-MC - COMPLETE
• 84-0015, F-15C-37-MC - COMPLETE
• 84-0016, F-15C-38-MC - COMPLETE
• 84-0019, F-15C-38-MC - COMPLETE
• 84-0023, F-15C-38-MC - COMPLETE
• 84-0025, F-15C-38-MC - COMPLETE 

Now off to make the 525th TFS.

Outstanding. I will try these out tonight. I will add them to the early cold war 1973-1977 server missions, particularly the Fulda Gap mission which already has AI flights out of Bitburg.

[SOLIDKREATE]

8 hours ago, streakeagle said:

Outstanding. I will try these out tonight. I will add them to the early cold war 1973-1977 server missions, particularly the Fulda Gap mission which already has AI flights out of Bitburg.

In that case I will edit all the A models in a special skin pack for you. I have to remove the gun port shroud and make it grey. I also have to remove the inboard v.stab Eagles.

Hey do you guys want me to make the Bosnia/Herzegovina pack or the Desert Storm Pack? If not I'm going to make the 525th TFS for 1984. 

Edited June 15 by SOLIDKREATE

[EricJ]

I'm down for some, though I do recommend that you use the simple nomera system rather than making a whole pack personally. I mean it's your sanity but yeah that would be nice actually.

[streakeagle]

2 hours ago, SOLIDKREATE said:

In that case I will edit all the A models in a special skin pack for you. I have to remove the gun port shroud and make it grey. I also have to remove the inboard v.stab Eagles.

Hey do you guys want me to make the Bosnia/Herzegovina pack or the Desert Storm Pack? If not I'm going to make the 525th TFS for 1984. 

You don't need to go to the trouble, but if you are willing to do it, the A models need the full red frame on the front windscreen and the AIM-7Fs should be the white body/grey nose/steel fin skin.

But I am perfectly happy with what you have already released, so don't waste any time on early A skins unless it is trivial and/or fun for you.

[streakeagle]

@SOLIDKREATE I think the AIM-7F dds files you provided in your skins are being ignored. The default AIM-7F uses the 3d model/dds files of the AIM-7M. When AIM-7Fs are loaded, they are using the AIM-7M files.

[NRG-Vampire]

Thank You doing these skins, however I'm sad a bit knowing only a few people will download (4GB) the whole pack (and use) what is 6GB in the un-zipped file-folders.

Lots of complaining about here this forum their storage capacity is limited and using "almost/all-the-same" (and not well assembled pack) skins is wasting storage space for some numbering variations on the tail/nose. (See the HB-F-14/F-4 users: no dynamic numbering)

Not mentioning the usage of BC7-DDS, which has been questioned by many. I know it results a nicer image but again results in larger files. (alpha channel is unnecessary/useless here for diffuse/roughmet textures)

I know you've worked a lot on these, but should be compressed/shared/merged/binded properly IMHO. I estimate it (all the 27) should be around 400MB only.

Thanks again taking your time for making these skins

Edited June 16 by NRG-Vampire

[SOLIDKREATE]

1 hour ago, NRG-Vampire said:

Thank You doing these skins, however I'm sad a bit knowing only a few people will download (4GB) the whole pack (and use) what is 6GB in the un-zipped file-folders.

Lots of complaining about here this forum their storage capacity is limited and using "almost/all-the-same" (and not well assembled pack) skins is wasting storage space for some numbering variations on the tail/nose. (See the HB-F-14/F-4 users: no dynamic numbering)

Not mentioning the usage of BC7-DDS, which has been questioned by many. I know it results a nicer image but again results in larger files. (alpha channel is unnecessary/useless here for diffuse/roughmet textures)

I know you've worked a lot on these, but should be compressed/shared/merged/binded properly IMHO. I estimate it (all the 27) should be around 400MB only.

Thanks again taking your time for making these skins

 

I wanted to do some 'Shared Folder' stuff that you talked about but I have included so much detail that the only thing that is really the same across all birds is the 'f15_center'. The usage of one file was negligible. Beleive me, when I saw tha size I gasped too, LOL. It's why I made it six parts. People can pick and choose which ones they want.

 

@streakeagle Already started the process for the early A's. Thanks for the tip on the full red frames. I think the orginal author of the weapons made them when they changed how skins were coded. I do not have the knowelege on how to fix this. The generic numbering makes my 'Forrrest Whitaker Eye' act up. =O) LOL

Edited June 16 by SOLIDKREATE

[SOLIDKREATE]

POLL ADDED FOR NEXT PROJECT EXPECTATIONS

[NRG-Vampire]

The main problem not the BC7 usage (what is double size because of the useless totally white alpha channel) instead of BC1 (quality degradation is minimal IMHO) but you are using totally same files (checked writing date/time - even seconds) for that 27 skins. I think usage of BC7 (lossless) or BC3/BC5 (with alpha) to consider using only when Alpha channel used too (for decol, glass, damage, dirt, puddles, season-skins, light, self-illum and normal maps/textures are used, diffuse not using alpha at all here with the F-15C model)

So, 41 files for each skins multiplied by 28. (there are doubled AF-84-0015 files inside the AF-84-0016 folder)
As I see the files are differ only: description*27, stab*27, nose*27, bottom*23, wing-L*2, center*2,
Numbers texture not used when decol is empty. All the missiles textures, all the cockpit, seat, pilot, helmet, patch, glass, wing-R, PTB (all: diffuse+roughmet) are the same in each skin-folder.

"I wanted to do some 'Shared Folder' stuff that you talked about but.." - I respect your decision, but if you don't mind I will delete the totally same files (except only 1 or as many differ) and put these "only1" files into a shared folder. Sure I need to edit the description(s).lua to point to that "shared" folder.
I guess it will about 1GB the pack. After that I will convert all to BC1 what will half size.

I writing these problems/advices  just because you are going to make other skin-pack(s) as I see and I believe that these changes will make your life easier next time like reducing storage space and loading time/memory usage for the increased satisfaction(s) of others.

ps.: Voted to 525th TFS F-15A skins  but I don't mind if you make some SP or CR liveries as well

Edited June 16 by NRG-Vampire

[SOLIDKREATE]

13 minutes ago, NRG-Vampire said:

The main problem not the BC7 usage (what is double size because of the useless totally white alpha channel) instead of BC1 (quality degradation is minimal IMHO) but you are using totally same files (checked writing date/time - even seconds) for that 27 skins. I think usage of BC7 (lossless) or BC3 (with alpha) to consider using only when Alpha channel used too (for decol, glass, damage, dirt, puddles, season-skins, light, self-illum and normal maps/textures are used, diffuse not using alpha at all here with the F-15C model)

So, 41 files for each skins multiplied by 28. (there are doubled AF-84-0015 files inside the AF-84-0016 folder)
As I see the files are differ only: description*27, stab*27, nose*27, bottom*23, wing-L*2, center*2,
Numbers texture not used when decol is empty. All the missiles textures, all the cockpit, seat, pilot, helmet, patch, glass, wing-R, PTB (all: diffuse+roughmet) are the same in each skin-folder.

"I wanted to do some 'Shared Folder' stuff that you talked about but.." - I respect your decision, but if you don't mind I will delete the totally same files (except only 1 or as many differ) and put these "only1" files into a shared folder. Sure I need to edit the description(s).lua to point to that "shared" folder.
I guess it will about 1GB the pack. After that I will convert all to BC1 what will half size.

I writing these problems/advices  just because you are going to make other skin-pack(s) as I see and I believe that these changes will make your life easier next time like reducing storage space and loading time/memory usage for the increased satisfaction(s) of others.

ps.: Voted to 525th TFS F-15A skins  but I don't mind if you make some SP or CR liveries as well

 

 

By all means if you can make this smaller and keep all the serial numbers and manufacturing block rev's in place, let me know. I'll re-upload it and credit you. We can probabaly delete all the weapons since Steakeagle said they are busted anyway. That should knock another 1 GB off too. Let me know man.

[NRG-Vampire]

How do you/he mean "busted" missiles ?
Not authentic/realistic looking ?

[SOLIDKREATE]

Some one here said that the ED missile are taking over what is in my pack.