Kiwi skin

[Stumble 86]

Hi everyone,

 

I once tinkered with making skins for RoF... but either its very hard or I need a lot more practice using Gimp (Perhaps both).

 

If there is any super keen skinner out there, I challenge you to replace the roundels with kiwis...

 

I think this would look awesome and set me apart from all you foreigners out there. No offense, but I'm a very proud kiwi

Thanks everyone!

 

Salute!

Stumble.

 

Edited June 9, 2020 by Stumble
Made the pictures a wee bit smaller

[Oliver88 246]

6 hours ago, Stumble said:

Hi everyone,

 

I once tinkered with making skins for RoF... but either its very hard or I need a lot more practice using Gimp (Perhaps both).

 

If there is any super keen skinner out there, I challenge you to replace the roundels with kiwis... like this:

(I would love to make these pictures not so obnoxiously big, but I have no idea how to use this forum either)

 

I think this would look awesome and set me apart from all you foreigners out there. No offense, but I'm a very proud kiwi

Thanks everyone!

 

Salute!

Stumble.

 

Assuming I am remembering correct, when you double click the image you get presented with a dialogue box that allows you to change the image size in your post.

[Gooseh 16]

That'd be a breeze sport. I'll have a go for you. What crate would it go on? 

[Stumble 86]

Mhmmm perhaps a Spad or Camel...

 

I mean if you don't spending your time on it, thanks a lot!! Otherwise I could learn how to do it myself. Are there any tutorials you can link me to?

 

S!

[Gooseh 16]

Don't mind at all. Check your PM.

 

S!

[J5_HellCat_ 151]

I think the Kiwi on the sides and these NZ roundels on the wings would look good on entente aircraft ...

 

Edited March 22, 2020 by J5_HellCat_

[Stumble 86]

Ohh yes I like that idea Hellcat... I don't know much about skins, but what else could I add which would spice it up but still be subtle?

[Stumble 86]

First off, big thanks too @Gooseh for all your help.

 

Secondly, can i have your honest opinions on this Kiwi skin thing I have going on. I think I like It, but I think I've seen someone on these forums with it before. And I'm not sure if I feel right to use it too, considering he had it going first. I cant remember who it was tho...

 

Here's a spad I had a go at. Any suggestions?

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

Stumble

 

Edited April 17, 2020 by Stumble
Fixed image size

[ATAG_kiwiflieger 57]

That looks pretty neat

[Stumble 86]

13 minutes ago, ATAG_kiwiflieger said:

That looks pretty neat

Opp you're the one lol. I can make some changes 😆

 

What do we think about this kiwi? I wish the wings weren't purple...

It still looks very similar tho... Anyone have any Ideas for another NZ related thing I could use?

Edited April 17, 2020 by Stumble

[jollyjack 563]

Jet propulsion?

[Stumble 86]

So... After a very very long time of mucking around in Photoshop I found out how useless I am at it. I get there in the end, but very slowly.

 

Anyways, this is what I came up with. I will change the kiwi since its stolen from ATAG_Kiwiflieger, but the rest I actually don't mind too much.

The changes I made:

- Replaced roundels with NZ Kiwi designs. Top and Bottom.

- Placed a Kiwi on the side

- Added 'S' for Stumble on the sides and top. Not sure why, but I saw that other people do it and it makes it look fancy.

- Painted the cowling red

- And as inspired by Gooseh, I changed the wheels to red and added the RNZAF symbol thingy on the tail.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts? Honest opinions are welcome (But try not damage my ego too much).

 

One problem I have is there's this glossy film on the top... it makes reflections with light look real funny from the cockpit view. You can see that here:

Does anyone know how to fix this? I'm using Photoshop CS6.

 

 

S!

 

On second thoughts maybe I don't like the look of these wheels... It looked awesome on a Camel. But its 1am so I'm off to bed. Thanks everyone for the help

Edited April 17, 2020 by Stumble

[jollyjack 563]

me thinks the alpha layer does that, and messing with it for me gave some funny flyable ghostly transparent issues:

 

[Gooseh 16]

I'm afraid the Russian Design bureau didn't do a very good job with the templates for FC.  The ones I've seen and worked on have been very slapdash to say the least. 

Some other templates have had some 'work' done to them in the alpha channel. A quick look at the Spad 13 seems it's a fair bit lighter that others, resulting in those very glossy surfaces.

 

Spad left, Camel right.

 

Edited April 17, 2020 by Gooseh

[BOO 924]

AS JJ siad, its your alpha. You need to darken the paint layers to a value somewhere above 5 and under 25. Dont go too far though as the normal map likes a little shine to show off its lumps and bumps. 

 

The images shown above show that the weathering has also been added to the alpha for the camel in addition. 

Edited April 17, 2020 by BOO

[Gooseh 16]

But otherwise it's a pretty good effort!

[BOO 924]

you could always use the Fern if the flying Kiwi bothers you

 

 

Edited April 17, 2020 by BOO

[US93_Larner 1609]

5 hours ago, Stumble said:

It still looks very similar tho... Anyone have any Ideas for another NZ related thing I could use?

 

2 hours ago, BOO said:

you could always use the Fern if the flying Kiwi bothers you

 

 

One of our guys is an Australian Austrian Kiwi. His personal marking is a silver fern as well. I believe Keith Caldwell also marked one of his S.E's with a silver fern on the tail...



 

I can only speak from personal taste, but I'd leave the RNZAF roundels off - seeing as they're Post-WW2 and all - but I like my personal skins to be 'plausible' for the time period. I think it's really easy to do 'too much' when painting your own ship - and I've had to strip my own designs back quite a bit in the past! Luckily, 3PG has a pretty firm stance on skins which keeps me in check. 

The RFC XIIIs had a pretty distinctive scheme on them (produced by the Kellner factory), though, which might give you some 'recognisability'! 

 

Edited April 17, 2020 by US93_Larner

[Knarley-Bob 82]

4 hours ago, jollyjack said:

Jet propulsion?

Polite way of sayin' "Passin' Gas"?

[Stumble 86]

3 hours ago, US93_Larner said:

I can only speak from personal taste, but I'd leave the RNZAF roundels off - seeing as they're Post-WW2 and all - but I like my personal skins to be 'plausible' for the time period. I think it's really easy to do 'too much' when painting your own ship - and I've had to strip my own designs back quite a bit in the past! Luckily, 3PG has a pretty firm stance on skins which keeps me in check. 

So do you mean the RNZAF symbol on the tail, or the kiwi roundels on the wings? 

 

I get what you mean with over doing it. It's way too easy to get carried away lol.

 

I'll give changing the alpha layer a go. Hopefully that makes it a bit better.

 

S!

[US93_Larner 1609]

5 minutes ago, Stumble said:

So do you mean the RNZAF symbol on the tail, or the kiwi roundels on the wings? 

 

I get what you mean with over doing it. It's way too easy to get carried away lol.

 

I'll give changing the alpha layer a go. Hopefully that makes it a bit better.

 

S!

if it was my ship - both...I tend to dodge anything post-ww1 hahah 

[Stumble 86]

22 minutes ago, US93_Larner said:

if it was my ship - both...I tend to dodge anything post-ww1 hahah 

Fair enough. My one problem is that NZ didn't have an air Force during WW1. Instead New Zealanders flew for the RFC, RNAS and RAF. But you're right, I should keep it somewhat historicaly accurate.

[US93_Larner 1609]

12 minutes ago, Stumble said:

But you're right, I should keep it somewhat historicaly accurate.

Well, I preach historical aesthetic  pretty hard - Buuuuuut, I'm also of the belief that you get to do exactly what you want with your ship! Do what you think looks good 😉

Edited April 17, 2020 by US93_Larner

[Oliver88 246]

5 hours ago, US93_Larner said:

One of our guys is an Australian Austrian Kiwi. His personal marking is a silver fern as well. I believe Keith Caldwell also marked one of his S.E's with a silver fern on the tail...

 

Harold Beamish another New Zealander also used the fern.

 

 

1 hour ago, Stumble said:

But you're right, I should keep it somewhat historicaly accurate.

 

Second the rest that Larner states also. I also tend to prefer skins to have some historical plausibility and did note the "futuristic" crest and cockades. But being personal skins they are for you (and perhaps your wing-mates) not us. So make the plane yours. If someone else has any problem with them, then who cares, they do not have to install them if its such a problem to them, simples. 🙂

 

10 hours ago, Stumble said:

What do we think about this kiwi? I wish the wings weren't purple...

 

Then change them. 😉

 

 

Am using the latest version of Photoshop. Can change the colour in various methods. For this example I just used the "replace colour" feature. Also could just use the regular paintbrush/pencil with the mode changed to linear dodge or subtract to increase/decrease the RGB values to get to the colour you desire. Am sure something similar exists for your version also. https://planetphotoshop.com/replace-color.html

Edited April 17, 2020 by Oliver88

[ATAG_kiwiflieger 57]

Don't worry about the kiwi icon Stumble, it's not mine - can't remember exactly where I found it but I'm pretty sure it was based on noseart from an RNZAF TBM Avenger.

These skins are looking awesome, keep up the good work

[Stumble 86]

Hey would you look at that! Thanks Oliver!

 

Does it still look too similar to Kiwifleigers one... mhmmm.

 

Also, what do you guys think about changing the tail fin colors? Since the Red, White and Blue are the national colors of the RAF, perhaps I could change it to be a bit more New Zealandish.

 

Maybe I'm over doing it.

 

4 minutes ago, ATAG_kiwiflieger said:

Don't worry about the kiwi icon Stumble, it's not mine - can't remember exactly where I found it but I'm pretty sure it was based on noseart from an RNZAF TBM Avenger.

These skins are looking awesome, keep up the good work

Cheers! I'll look for alternatives, but if not I'll not worry about it.

 

 

S!

Edited April 17, 2020 by Stumble

[Oliver88 246]

5 minutes ago, Stumble said:

Hey would you look at that! Thanks Oliver!

 

Does it still look too similar to Kiwifleigers one... mhmmm.

 

Also, what do you guys think about changing the tail fin colors? Since the Red, White and Blue are the national colors of the RAF, perhaps I could change it to be a bit more New Zealandish.

 

Maybe I'm over doing it.

 

S!

 

The colours are of anyone using a Red, White and Blue coloured cockade, not just the crabs, which also as per the Harvard on your original post includes the RNZAF. So I would say they are already perfectly New Zealand'ish. But again, make her yours, if you want them changed, change them.

[Stumble 86]

How do I get cool fonts which have a black border around the outside. I wanna see if that'll make the S look better.

 

Also, when you used replace color to change that purple, how did you get to not have the bits of purple around the edge? Do I need to go around with a brush to finish it off or is there some fancy setting I can use?

 

And where do I find the Alpha layer to change the darkness? Is that apart of weathering?

 

Cheers!

Edited April 17, 2020 by Stumble

[Oliver88 246]

32 minutes ago, Stumble said:

How do I get cool fonts which have a black border around the outside. I wanna see if that'll make the S look better.

 

Also, when you used replace color to change that purple, how did you get to not have the bits of purple around the edge? Do I need to go around with a brush to finish it off or is there some fancy setting I can use?

 

Cheers!

 

I for the most part tend to hand make the fonts using the various paths and shape tools rather than with text tools. But one method (assuming the various features exists in your older version) you could use to create a border around characters would be to use the magic wand (or other selection tools) to create a selection around the text, then expand (in my version that's under select>modify>expand) that selection, create a new layer, and on this new layer bucket fill the selection with your border colour, lastly move that layer underneath your text layer and bam you have an outline.

 

As for the second question. The answer is in the link provided. Also should have mentioned in case but do not put your desired image onto the skin and then use the "replace colours" features to change the colour of the desired image, the entire skins colours are likely going to be effected, work on a copy of your desired image first, change the colours on that, then add the image onto your skin.

 

Quote

Next, choose the eyedropper with the plus sign to add to the selection. Tap on any areas of blue remaining to change them to yellow. (If you accidentally click in a spot you don’t want to change, hit command/control-Z to undo.)

 

Edited April 17, 2020 by Oliver88

[Stumble 86]

So I managed to fix the alpha layer gloss problem.

 

This is it with the modified kiwi that Oliver gave me (Thanks )

 

In all honesty, I don't like it as much as the old one... But I think its cause it looks too animated. What can I do to make it seem as if its painted on? Perhaps darken it and somehow add weathing over the top?

 

Edited April 18, 2020 by Stumble
Fixed image link

[Stumble 86]

Well here we go. I changed the letters a bit and changed the saturation of the kiwi to make it look a little more painted on. It still looks a bit funny but its enough for me.

And with the whole historical realism thing, I think I'm gonna keep the roundels and RNZAF symbol thing on the tail. This skin is fictional, and i like the idea of having kiwis all around the place. I mean what can I say, we're a proud people

And how does It work with multiplayer? Is there some bundle I need to add it to?

 

S!

[Oliver88 246]

8 hours ago, Stumble said:

And how does It work with multiplayer? Is there some bundle I need to add it to?

 

S!

Well firstly just provide a download link here (google docs, media fire, whatever) for anyone to download your skin should they want to. Secondly should you wish @GCF manages a skin pack that you could get your skins added to whenever the next volume releases;

For others to see your skin they need to have the skin on their computer also and named in the same way. If the skin is a 4K one rather than 2k then they also need to have to 4K skins option enabled in their graphic settings.

[Stumble 86]

I've noticed a lot of people only want historical skins in MP... So I'll make some changes to this one. I guess I'll keep the insignia thing on the side, but I'll get rid of the kiwi roundels and RNZAF badge things on tail. I guess I'll keep the Kiwi, red cowling + wheels and the lettering, but I think I'm gonna change the font to something a bit more WW1'ish.

 

S!

[GCF 379]

3 hours ago, Stumble said:

I've noticed a lot of people only want historical skins in MP... So I'll make some changes to this one. I guess I'll keep the insignia thing on the side, but I'll get rid of the kiwi roundels and RNZAF badge things on tail. I guess I'll keep the Kiwi, red cowling + wheels and the lettering, but I think I'm gonna change the font to something a bit more WW1'ish.

 

S!

 

hi i think you are worrying to much, its your personal skin should be just like you want it, All personal skins, are hollywood skins, so if no one downloads them, there missing out, if you want have 2 skins, one personal, one historical, if it is your personal skin, why not have it like you want ? all squadrons, have mostly hollywood skins. just my thoughts, anyway i like the kiwi and the silver fern. Great skin by the way !

[GCF 379]

Final FCUSB chapter 2 update to here.

 

Please Check i have them all good.

 

[Stumble 86]

Thank you that's all right. Much appreciated!

[Stumble 86]

I'm not too sure how the bundle works... but here is the updated file/name. Its still a fictional skin, so only download if you want. I'm happy with it for now. I just like having something different then default.

 

Name: Z_Spad13_Stumble_Kiwi

Download link: http://www.mediafire.com/file/n0ha411j6waho6p/Z_Spad13_Stumble_Kiwi.dds/file

 

S!

 

PS cheers Paul for the bundle. You're doing an awesome job!