How to Install skins

[OG_FC]

Hello to Everyone just got Battle of Stalingrad would like to use some custom skins that I found here on this forum/ looked through the root files not sure how to find the skins folder. Any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks in Advance 51st_FC.

[szelljr]

BOS-data-graphics-skins---

[Raptorattacker]

21 hours ago, szelljr said:

BOS-data-graphics-skins---

... and then (obviously) the particular model of plane's folder.

If you're using 4k custom skins you will also need to place the corresponding 4k .n file in it's folder as well which can be found at

BOS>data>graphics>Planes>[name-of-plane]>Textures.

The best thing to do is to re-name the original .n file by just knocking off the _B at the end of the filename (He111H16_B.dds becomes He111H16.dds).

[OG_FC]

Sorry For not replying sooner Thank You... 

[Querky1231]

I tried adding the skin files to graphics/skins/[plane]/

 

And the textures to graphics/Planes/[plane]/Textures

 

I am still unable to get the skins to show in game (under Custom) or in the Viewer.

 

I have enabled Custom Skins, so I feel like I'm missing something else.

[56RAF_Roblex]

6 minutes ago, Querky1231 said:

I tried adding the skin files to graphics/skins/[plane]/

 

And the textures to graphics/Planes/[plane]/Textures

 

I am still unable to get the skins to show in game (under Custom) or in the Viewer.

 

I have enabled Custom Skins, so I feel like I'm missing something else.

 

That is odd.  The file you added is a DDS file?      If you add  XYZ.dds to xxxxxxxx\1C Game Studios\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data\graphics\skins\P39L1  then it should be visible in the viewer.

[Querky1231]

Yes. It is a .dds and I believe I have everything else right. I work in software, so this is really making me pull my hair out!

[THERION]

1 hour ago, Querky1231 said:

Yes. It is a .dds and I believe I have everything else right. I work in software, so this is really making me pull my hair out!

 

I've once read on this forum, that depending on the OS version you're running, you might encounter some trouble in installing the game in the standard program

folder ("Program Files (x86)"). So, perhaps you can just make a test and move your entire game directory (IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles) and place it directly in

the root of your hard-disk, then start the game by selecting the il-2.exe (run as administrator, if you want).

[56RAF_Roblex]

Sorry. I cannot see any problem there.  Just to reassure you that you have not done anything silly here are the screenshots from my own G4 folder with the same directory structure

 

 

 

The only difference I can see is that you have 'IL-2 Sturmovic Great Battles'  while I have 'IL2-Sturmovic Battle Of Stalingrad'.    All I can suggest is some sort of 'permissions' issue.   I do run IL2 with Admin rights but the Viewer does not have them and still sees the skins.

 

Is it just these skins that you cannot see or do custom skins not show up for any aircraft?

Edited February 28, 2019 by 56RAF_Roblex

[sniperton]

@Querky1231, do other skin folders work correctly, or is your problem only related to the Bf109G4?

[Querky1231]

No, none of the other skins for any plane appear in game or in the viewer.

[BOO]

I recently uninstalled and reinstalled the game via STEAM. I did this without rebooting inbetween. When i was exporting skins from gimp into the folder i noticed they were not showing up in the viewer but old skins I hadnt reinstalled  again were. Then, reloading the folder the skins would appear. In MP one mission i could see squa skins, the next i couldnt.

 

I seems something went astray in the reinstall process and somhow, two versions of the folder existed somewhere. After a fresh reinstall in which i rebooted in between all is back to normal. 

 

So, perhaps reinstall you game to see? Cant say it will help but justsharing my experience.

[theredsnatter]

Was this ever resolved?. I am having the exact same problem and im wondering is it something to do with Steam?

[rasor607]

The skin files I have downloaded from this site are pds file not dds. can I use this format ?

 

[szelljr]

4 hours ago, rasor607 said:

The skin files I have downloaded from this site are pds file not dds. can I use this format ?

 

I think you downloaded some templates, not skins. You can use for making skins.

Edited June 12, 2020 by szelljr

[BoresightHenk47]

Hi,

 

Il2 Forgotten Battles installed this week and it is great!

 

But how could I install new skins?

In data,  graphics, skins I have all aircraft of the game, but every map is empty. However in game I can select the various skins which are in the selection section.

 

Thank you in advance.

 

 

 

[TexasTC]

I’m old. Haven’t played in years. And can’t figure any of this out. Been on YouTube and here but I evidently need someone to take me by the hand and show me how and where to DL skins. I have battle of Stalingrad, Moscow, Bodenneplatte, 1946 and the cliffs of dover. Do you download thru Steam? I used to could do this. Windows 10 is a bit new to me.

 

i can’t even find 

BOS-data-graphics-skins

 

 

im not really that old. Only 49

Edited July 14, 2020 by TexasTC

[BoresightHenk47]

 

Under Il-2 Sturmovik Great Battles is a file named data. In this file is a file named graphics and so on one for skins. 

(I have Bodemplatte and others downloaded in the official IL2 webshop during the recent sale).

 

Under the file Skins are all aircraft of the game, but every map is empty.

By playing in the game I can select the various planes/skins which are in the selection section of the game without problem.

 

My question is:

Where should I place newly downloaded skins (in which file)? For instance a new skin of a P38J25 in the map with the same name P38J25 under the file Skins in  Graphics? 

However that file is empty now.  But in the game I can select various P-38s.

 

 

 

Edited July 15, 2020 by BoresightHenk47

[BoresightHenk47]

Anyone?

[No_85_Gramps]

They go in the folder that matches the plane. These folders are empty by default, they are for user skins. So for a P-51 skin, place it in

Data/graphics/skins/P51d15.

Edited July 22, 2020 by No_85_Gramps

[Madcop]

HUGE skins Folder (33Gb)

 

I'd like to get this folder out of my SSD so as to save place.

 

Is there a way to place it on another disk ?

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Madcop

[THERION]

3 minutes ago, Madcop said:

HUGE skins Folder (33Gb)

 

I'd like to get this folder out of my SSD so as to save place.

 

Is there a way to place it on another disk ?

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Madcop

 

Do you mean, installing your skins out of the game? As far as I know, there is no way to run the game with those skins stored

on a different disk. All has to be kept together.

[SARFlytitus]

@Madcop @=o=THERION : Having all of the downloaded skins on another disk than the one where IL2 GB is installed, is perfectly feasible using "symbolic link".

 the procedure is well explained at the following link:

https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php?topic=58387.0

 

Indeed I have three installations of IL2 GB on three separate SSDs, one for VR, another NO-VR with maximum graphic settings for the purpose of making screenshots and finally a third to test MODS without taking unnecessary risks. All have access to the common skins folder  ( 73Gb of skins!!! )located on a fourth 2 TB HDD using the "Symbolic Link".

hope this help

?

 

[TG-55Panthercules]

2 hours ago, =o=THERION said:

 

Do you mean, installing your skins out of the game? As far as I know, there is no way to run the game with those skins stored

on a different disk. All has to be kept together.

 

Been a few years since I tried this, and it was with RoF at the time, so I'm not sure if it would work the same way with IL-2 GB.  I was doing it with respect to moving my RoF MODS off of my space-limited main drive, but I think the concept might be applicable to the skin files themselves.  At any rate, there was a way using the concept of symbolic links to be able to put all your mods onto a separate hard drive, and make JSGME think they were on the main drive.  You might want to explore the possibilities of using this approach with the IL-2GB skin files.

[Madcop]

Thank You, SARFLYTITUS, I will try this trick, but I am a little bit anxious as I am not what you would call a PC geek.

I am a little bit afraid by this Link Shell Extension installation. It looks a little bit like Greek for me....

Anyway I suppose I'll have to try as this looks like being my sole alternative...

 

Thanks a lot. ?

 

Madcop

[TG-55Panthercules]

I found the instructions I made for myself back when I was using symbolic links for my RoF mods - I've pasted them in below, in case you might find them useful:

 

Run the following from an elevated (admin) command prompt (there's a separate entry on start menu for this):

 

mklink /d "(insert full path to the new (empty) folder you want to create)" "(insert full path to the existing folder you want the new one to point to)"

 

example - using symbolic link to enable RoF MODS to be stored on a different hard drive (e.g., drive F) from the main RoF games folder on drive C :

mklink /d "c:\Games\Rise of Flight\MODS" "f:\RoFMODS"

 

In this case, put all the actual mod package files in the "real" folder (F:\RoFMODS) and JSGME will think they are in C:\Games\Rise of Flight\MODS where it expects them to be

Edited July 25, 2020 by TG-55Panthercules

[Madcop]

Thank-you TG-55.

 

With your system, do I still need to install  " Link Shell Extension" or do I have to use the command prompt only...?

 

Sorry for this....

 

Madcop ?

[Madcop]

Just downloaded  and executed Link Shell Extension. That took me  1 minute.

Next I followed the steps explained by Storebror . It took one hour for both Il-2BoX and DCS.

Everything is now working like a charm.and I saved 85Gb frrom my SSD.

 

Thanks to all. 

 

Madcop ?

[SARFlytitus]

?

[crewchief]

I have a very similar issue to that described by Therion in February 2019. I have downloaded the Hell Hawks campaign skins and tried to get one to show up when I start the game and select the P47-D28. Previously I have not had any luck with getting any downloaded skin to show. I have put the skin file (P47d28_386th_Polly.dll) in Program files (x86)/1C Game Studios/IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles/data/graphics/planes/P47D28/Textures unsuccessfully. I also tried Program files (x86)/1C Game Studios/IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles/data/graphics/skins/P47D28. Both these folders appear to be part of the current setup that the game runs from and the files are dll format. I have tried both with mods on and mods off. I suppose it is possible the files for the Hell Hawks campaign might go elsewhere but I am puzzled why I cannot get any skin files to show up at all. I am running Windows 10. I saw somewhere that it might be a permissions issue but I have no idea where to look to resolve that.

 

Any help most gratefully accepted.

 

Crewchief

[crewchief]

Correction to my previous post. The files are dds which seems to be the correct format. When installed in the skins folder initially the properties box brings up a warning "This file came from another computer and might be blocked to protect this computer" with an unblock box. I have ticked this but it makes no difference and the skin is still not visible within the game. The file is accessible to everybody using the computer when I open the security tab within properties so if it is a permissions issue something very obscure is going on.

 

Crewchief

[JV44HeinzBar]

Hi,

I recently started downloading some of the fantastic 4k skins put on here by some talented people. Unfortunately, I have run into the same problems as previously mentioned. I place the new skins in the appropriate folders, as well as, the texture folder, and the skins do not appear when I go to custom skins.

 

Example path: Z:\Steam\steamapps\common\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data\graphics\Planes\Bf110G and

Z:\Steam\steamapps\common\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data\graphics\Planes\Bf110G2\Textures.

 

I did notice something odd concerning the pathway in my folder. I have a separate folder named "skins" which is outside the normal pathway. Ex. Z:\Steam\steamapps\common\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data\graphics\skins. So, I have the 2 folders found inside 'graphics', "Planes & Skins". The Planes folder lists all the planes available in the game, while the Skins folder only shows this set of folders:  _Sdkfz184, 109g6Late, C47A, HurricaneMkII, P47D22, and SpitfireMkVb.

Does anyone else have this in their graphics folder?

 

TIA,

HB

[crewchief]

My own problem was due to operator dimness. I had assumed that all the downloaded skins would appear with the existing ones and had not appreciated that they were only visible by clicking the Custom option. All skins now useable and very good they look too.

 

Crewchief 

[kroepke10]

Hi crewchief,

What do you mean with "by clicking the custom option"? I put the plane in data/graphics/skins and data/graphics/Planes/FW190A3/Textures/custom_photo.

But no changes to see.

[RNAS10_Oliver]

On 2/12/2021 at 6:32 PM, kroepke10 said:

Hi crewchief,

What do you mean with "by clicking the custom option"? I put the plane in data/graphics/skins and data/graphics/Planes/FW190A3/Textures/custom_photo.

But no changes to see.

 

He means changing the drop down to show "custom" not "official" skins;

 

 

Seems that you have gotten the folders muddled up there. As custom exterior skins for that plane would go in \data\graphics\skins\Fw190A3 but and the data\graphics\Planes\Fw190A3\Textures folder is used for the bump maps (ignore these) and cockpit photos. If you have installed a custom cockpit photo then you also need to enable it on the "pilot stuff" tab.