FG-1D Corsair Milviz (preview)

[Bomber_12th]

Some more reference photos of the correct/authentic factory/WWII paint scheme, with all of the original/correct paint finishes, markings, and stencils (the yellow markings on the tail and spinner, as well as the "buzz" numbers are of course Squadron-related).

There were three different blues in play on the original factory FG-1D's - you had glossy sea blue overall, non-specular sea blue anti-glare, and insignia blue stars & bars. On this restoration, all three of those paints are original/as used in 1945.

[Bomber_12th]

Hand-painted demarcation line of the anti-glare shield, painted with non-specular sea blue over the glossy sea blue, all as per original and using the same recipe for the 1945-era paint.

[stovall]

Some preview pictures of the VMF-115 Restored using the upcoming Milviz FG-1D. The only thing left to do is paint the hand painted gray color shown in John's pictures.

[stovall]

Several more images

[deimos256]

So realistically how far out is this aircraft?

[Daube]

The exterior model doesn't look that good on the latest shots.
Materials and textures look a bit outdated, honnestly :/
But I get this is just work in progress.

[jmig]

Here is a right out of the camera shot taken while flying the bird this afternoon.

The program is in the beta stage now. I can't say when it will be out the door. I do know, however, Colin wants to get it to market.

How's that for political speak? Think I could work for the Trump admin?

[roger-wilco-66]

I think that this looks stunningly realistic, and Tom Stovalls great repaints are the icing on the cake! This will be one of the highlight releases for me for this year.


Cheers,
Mark

[SkippyBing]

Any chance the wings will be clipped to make a Corsair IV? Not a deal breaker but it'd be nice for the Royal Navy repaints!

[stovall]

Sorry, no clipped wing version.

[stovall]

More preview pictures of the FG-1D VMF-115 with the white painted area forward of the cockpit. Wonder why they did this during restoration?

[stovall]

Several more pictures of the FG-1D restored from the VMF-115.

[roger-wilco-66]

The white painting doesn't make sense, usually a glare resistant paint goes on that location. I suppose you did the repaint by a photo. Maybe this is a primer surface and the aircraft was awaiting a final layer with flat black or something like this?

As always, outstanding captures!


Cheers,
Mark

[Bomber_12th]

Tom,

The anti-glare was/should be blue. While the entire airframe was painted glossy sea blue, the anti-glare was painted non-specular sea blue (which of course just means flat sea blue).

The reason why the anti-glare can appear quite light in some conditions, is because the sunlight when it hits it isn't absorbed as it is in the glossy paint. Under other conditions, the anti-glare will appear darker than the glossy paint because it is flat and doesn't reflect the surroundings.

What I would experiment with doing first is:

Diffuse texture - keep the blue in the region of the anti-glare the same as the rest of the plane, but de-saturate it a bit

Diffuse Alpha - make pure white in region of anti-glare

Specular - make lighter/brighter in region of anti-glare than the glossy sea blue paint

Specular Alpha - make sure it is quite a bit darker in the region of the anti-glare for wider spread of light refraction compared to the glossy sea blue


The restoration is only painted exactly how they originally were from 1945-onward. I believe some were likely painted over-all non specular sea blue as well (same paint as used for the anti-glare on the glossy sea blue examples).


See my post on the previous page and the photos of the aircraft and how the anti-glare looks compared to the rest of the aircraft under in-direct light (the anti-glare actually appears darker than the glossy sea blue - the two different paints are probably actually the same shade, and only appears darker under in-direct light because flat paint vs glossy/reflective paint).

[roger-wilco-66]

On top of this page are the photos that show this nicely. It is interesting how that paint changes it's appearance und different lighting angle conditions.


Cheers,
Mark

[stansdds]

More preview pictures of the FG-1D VMF-115 with the white painted area forward of the cockpit. Wonder why they did this during restoration?

Great job on capturing the glossy sea blue and the insignia blue, but the gray/white anti-glare panel is incorrect. The anti-glare panel was the same shade of blue as the glossy sea blue, but was a matte finish instead of a high gloss finish. When the paint was factory fresh, the anti-glare panel was quite visible. As the paint weathered, the anti-glare panel gained a slight gloss and the glossy sea blue dulled to a medium gloss and that made the anti-glare panel almost disappear in photographs.

[stovall]

John and standsdds, what you mention makes more sense to me than the light color. Light can really make things difficult to judge the real color. I used the close cockpit photo for the color depicted. It makes much more sense to use the same sea blue color with the alpha and spec changes. Off to get that a try with the results here later today. Really appreciate the help. I know John would know the answer for sure.

The suggested changes really did the trick. Looks very cool.

[stansdds]

John and standsdds, what you mention makes more sense to me than the light color. Light can really make things difficult to judge the real color. I used the close cockpit photo for the color depicted. It makes much more sense to use the same sea blue color with the alpha and spec changes. Off to get that a try with the results here later today. Really appreciate the help. I know John would know the answer for sure.

The suggested changes really did the trick. Looks very cool.

Now it looks right!
Great job with the matte anti-glare panel.

[Bomber_12th]

Just for further reference/clarification, here are some more photos of the restoration under different lighting/angles of reflection/refraction. In this fresh-state, the flat/non-specular sea blue can almost look like flat black at times, compared to the gloss sea blue, as it is far less saturated blue than the glossy sea blue (and the glossy sea blue is less saturated than the insignia blue - the glossy sea blue also has the slightest tinge of green to it, compared to insignia blue).

All photos of the FHCAM restored FG-1D, under various lighting/angles:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/759572...817324/sizes/l
https://www.flickr.com/photos/759572...810453/sizes/l
https://www.flickr.com/photos/510569...777371/sizes/l
https://www.flickr.com/photos/759572...08015/sizes/l/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/759572...24125/sizes/l/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/woodys...890245/sizes/l
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hawgwi...845866/sizes/l
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zrxryd...016522/sizes/l
https://www.flickr.com/photos/woodys...885705/sizes/l
https://www.flickr.com/photos/woodys...761966/sizes/l

Indoors, the contrast isn't as great between the two different paint types, but of course in FSX/P3D, you want to tune everything to look how it should be outdoors/in sunlight:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rsm-pi...687143/sizes/l

As I mentioned before, all of the paints used on this particular restoration (the latest/most authentic Corsair restoration to-date) are all lacquer-based paints made precisely to match those originally used in 1945.


Here are a number of period photos that you can clearly make out the anti-glare shield/demarcation between the flat paint and the glossy paint:

Factory fresh FG-1D's for the RN: https://www.flickr.com/photos/133697...501331/sizes/l
A fresh carrier-based FG-1D: https://www.flickr.com/photos/133697...015929/sizes/l
FG-1D's state-side: https://www.flickr.com/photos/133697...902549/sizes/l
FG-1D in the Pacific: https://www.flickr.com/photos/133697...367916/sizes/l
F4U-4: https://www.flickr.com/photos/133697...5/18469191258/
F4U-4 (in color): https://www.flickr.com/photos/133697...124434/sizes/l
AU-1 (in color): https://www.flickr.com/photos/133697...529201/sizes/l
F4U-5: https://www.flickr.com/photos/133697...105824/sizes/l

[stovall]

A wealth of knowledge John. I am saving everything for future reference but especially for fine tuning the VMF-115. You have my sincere thanks for all your help. I will post more screenshots for any changes.

[stovall]

Two images. One real, the other Milviz FG-1D.

[stovall]

More work done on the Specular files along with their alphas.

[stovall]

More with the Specular changes.

[crashaz]

Especially when a lot of other planes are being passed over. I'm itching for an Airacobra (which is in the works from Warbird Sim I hear) and would really like a Devastator. Also wish Vertigo Studios would do a Cougar to go with their Panther. Really liking the A-20 and B-26 that is being worked on here. I do understand where the payware companies are coming from though. They won't do a TBD payware because it probably wouldn't sell in as much volume as a more popular plane. (Although that's not even always true. Virtavia just put out an XB-46. (Although I think that was just someone doing it for he love of the plane and saying "Meh, maybe I'll make a few bucks on the side.") Well, they got my money, because I like weird, obscure and unusual!

Not payware... but I need to finish it!

[c87]

Is it just my eyes or does the hydromatic prop dome look too long? For me, it's particularly noticeable compared to the photos of the real aircraft.