[Billfish]

Originally posted by R_Target:Rivet lines are overdefined on all IMO for an NMF skin, but again, they could be just right with some green in there.

Fair enough, and repeated by others elsewhere so back at it, a big part once more re-evaluating photographs and some specifications
in some research papers by the true Ki-61 experts over at www.j-aircraft.com .

There was one aspect of Jester's template once I got it working that I REALLY liked....Just as said above the absense of rivet "lines", yet I
couldn't get it to where I wanted it....In kind his template a tad more factory fresh then what I wanted.

Okay, so I began trying to adjust layers from other templates that gave me some of the effects I wanted. In this case darker rivets,
and more intense panel lines. It looked awful....Then tried turning off layers. First the dark rivet lines that go over paint, that
looked really odd. Then the opposite light shading which cost me some deformation yet I kept at it. Then a couple other
layers......and I was left with a rather minimal template YET I liked the smoother effect.

The problem was with each layer turned off more and more rivet detail was lost and could not darken what was there. Fine, made a new copy
layer of his rivets, then darkened it.....Ah better.

TESTB before removing layers, TESTD before rivet darkening, TESTE after new rivet layer.

http://www.speedyshare.com/724220175.html

At this point I'm thinking of adding a third, and seeing how it looks when slightly blurred. In kind I need to darken and enhance some of
the panel lines and access covers a bit.........SO this not done......Yet I'm thinking I like it more based on some
photographs considering the following:

A study was done by Mr. J. Long wherein he checked the average lifespan of a Ki-61 in New Guinea based upon known failure dates or when
so damaged either from accidents, malfunctions, shoot downs or attacked on the ground and found that on average the aircraft lasted 3-4
months......That's 3-4 months from the day they left the assembly line. So staging, then either flown island hopping or shipped to the
Philippines, then waiting to be picked up, flown on through the chain to Western New Guinea, prepped, then flown onto units. So not
a lot of action.

Below some good examples of bare metal Ki-61. The first two from Akeno I believe or perhaps the factory, and no doubt in good shape to show
off the aircraft. The last what I think may be a crash and or fire victim.....In between where I want to go.

K2