[Billfish]

Please compare the following 4 Ki-61 skins "in the sim", rolling the aircraft to look at it from all angles even rolling it onto its back. What I need opinion on is "just" how the bare metal looks. To me the lighter version looks too white, the darker too gray yet it may just be my machines brightness set up. I've included 4 versions so the effect can also be compared peeking through camo.

Remember, the bare metal is the only concern.....Unfortunately I've not the time atm to finish my new Ki-61 template. So what this is, is an old hobbled together template of which simply due to a well past due need I intend on coming up with various AI skin packs much like the "Falcons of New Guinea" Ki-43 pack.....Meaning, for the 68th & 78th Hikousentai alone there will be roughly 50 skins.

Thanks for any feed back.

http://78sentai.org/78thFiles/BareKi61-BL.bmp

http://78sentai.org/78thFiles/BareKi61-BD.bmp

http://78sentai.org/78thFiles/BareKi61-CL.bmp

http://78sentai.org/78thFiles/BareKi61-CD.bmp

K2

[max_thehitman]

I personally like what you did with these skins. Looks very good.
Not too bright and not too dark. Just the right amount of bare-metal effect and
that old-tarnished metal/paint effect. I personally like it.
In the game, it all depends on how the "Sun" is positioned and how it shines on teh aircraft.
So depending on the time of day, they might look better than on other times and how the
sun shines on them. I like these. I say, its good to go!
Congratulations on a good job. Very good craftsmanship!
Cheers
MAX

[Trooper117]

looks good to me..

[Fireskull]

Hi,

All of them look good to me. Numbers 3 + 4 are my choice if I would select for a mission. Most aeroplanes in WW2 looked weathered to various amounts. The Ki should definately be one of those planes with weathering.

[Romanator]

I think the lighter versions of each look best, at least on my computer. Great skins!

[Ostrogoth]

Each looks fine. Do you have them w/out markings?

[David603]

Both finishes look good but my preference is for the lighter version.

[Silverback]

Great job on all of them, but I think #4 has the most realistic looking bare metal.

[Billfish]

THanks for the kind words all, yet what I really need are suggestions and criticisms to get it looking right not just passable.

Thanks again,

K2

[Fireskull]

THanks for the kind words all, yet what I really need are suggestions and criticisms to get it looking right not just passable.

Thanks again,

K2

Billfish, I suggest adding wear in the spots that the pilot often makes direct contact. There could be wear applied to the surface of the skin under the canopy and on the wing where the pilots arms, hands, and feet repetitively make contact with the skin as he (or she) and the ground crew climb onto and off the aeroplane. What about engine fluid stains under the engine cowling? Ground crew maintenance caused some dripping and spilling of fluids which would stain the skin under the engine.

To me, the general effect is about right for a K-61 skin.

[max_thehitman]

THanks for the kind words all, yet what I really need are suggestions and criticisms to get it looking right not just passable.

Thanks again,

K2

To really be "looking right" as you said, you will have to go to the original airplane , photograph it about
a 1000 times and then go to your PC-photoshop, slice every single image and make a skin out of it.
A photoreal skin.
But that is impossible.
SO your best bet is to do what you just did. It looks good as it is.

You want more suggestions ?...
Paint chips where there is something rubbing against it. Friction creates the paint to chip. So, think of
places where that happens on an aircraft.... flaps moving ... wheel doors opening and closing... cockpit canopy sliding
back and forth.... all kinds of doors being opened and paint chipping in and around the edges.
But sometimes these details will not be noticeable by people using your skin.
I know, I have done quite a few skins already and no one has said they liked those details. I even added little details in some areas of the aircraft where you see a hand-print from a greasy-mecaniques hands near the engine or near the ammunition/guns doors. He put his greasy hands on the airplane and forgot to clean it ! hock: LOL
These are all very nice details that we like to add to OUR skins, but sometimes ONLY WE know they are
there and its our "special skin", it is our art, but no one else will notice these things.

Let me ask you, did YOU EVER LOOK inside the wheel doors when the aircraft has the landing gear down?
I bet you never looked in there.
But even I have gone as far as making that area of a skin to look nice.
Because only a crazy artist like me looks at ALL the airplanes details including the little holes underneath
the airplane or wheel wells. But that is only me. I am a crazy artist. I like seeing details. But most people
will NOT notice these litle things.
So do not hit your head too hard trying to make the "perfect" skin, because there is not such thing as the perfect skin.
its only a game and what really counts is flying the airplane. If you want the real thing, you might as well go
to a historical museum and ask if you can fly one of their airplanes. LOL :wink:
Like I said before, this skin of your looks great! Its good to go!
Congratulations !

[Billfish]

Thanks for the consideration all of it taken under advisement.

K2