A-7 Paint kit and repaints...

[Duckie]

Steve,

I apologize for not finding the TPS paint (I looked again and I still can't find it) - but assuming it indeed was done, I apologize for stating I was quite sure it hadn't been done. I honestly had no knowledge of it. Looking forward to it, nevertheless, for sure!

Zsolt - great paint. The PMTC schemes are really smart, interesting alternatives to the mainstream schemes. The PMTC F-4s and F-14s looked great in it, and the A-7 is no different. Well done.

Thanks to you both.

dl

No worries dl. I searched and couldn't find anything either. I start off choosing subjects I like but I also try not to duplicate something that's already been done. In some cases I may duplicate something because I prefer my own version. Anyway, I do this for the fun of it and it's a bonus that some others may like what I do.

So, thank you for your willingness to help.

===========================

"Z" -- I like that PMTC paint also. Nice job.

[fsafranek]

Just Uploaded.
BTW - Does anyone know if either of these VA-195 birds have been painted and freely available to the public? I know the Hi-Viz CAG bird is has been done.

I've seen the VA-195 birds on the Aerosoft Kitty Hawk deck. Might be nice to match up the repaint with that cruise.

[Duckie]

I've seen the VA-195 birds on the Aerosoft Kitty Hawk deck. Might be nice to match up the repaint with that cruise.

Now that's a thought. Where might one get a peek at the paint schemes for these 195 birds?

Speaking of peeks, here's a peek of the TPS fuselage I just finished. Tail, wings and bottom yet to do, as well as the 2-tone bottom demark.

[nigel richards]

Now that's a thought. Where might one get a peek at the paint schemes for these 195 birds?

Speaking of peeks, here's a peek of the TPS fuselage I just finished. Tail, wings and bottom yet to do, as well as the 2-tone bottom demark.

A pure joy to see your wonderful creations, Steve!

Power to your brush, Sir.

[Navy Chief]

Steve, that looks amazing! Pete

[Duckie]

A pure joy to see your wonderful creations, Steve!

Power to your brush, Sir.

Hey Nigel, thank you, sir. You are too kind. How ya been? Well I hope. Hopefully your brush hasn't had much rest (translate that "Lockheed!"). ;-))

Steve, that looks amazing! Pete

Thanks very much Pete.

[nigel richards]

Hey Nigel, thank you, sir. You are too kind. How ya been? Well I hope. Hopefully your brush hasn't had much rest (translate that "Lockheed!"). ;-))

LOL. No rest for the wicked, Steve.

Re; Lockheed - Dots and lines nearly done, always the most time cosuming part. Enjoyable though, as you well know - really gets you familiar with the aircraft you're working on.

Great to see ya matey - keep up the good work!

Nigel

[Victory103]

Really great looking paints gents, I'll take them all, pre/post TPS and Air Guard! Also keen on a -195 paint to go with the rest of the air wing on the Kitty for future missions once I figure out how to make them.

[Warhawk1130]

Now that's a thought. Where might one get a peek at the paint schemes for these 195 birds?

Speaking of peeks, here's a peek of the TPS fuselage I just finished. Tail, wings and bottom yet to do, as well as the 2-tone bottom demark.

I did them already..they should be around here somewhere.

[fsafranek]

Now that's a thought. Where might one get a peek at the paint schemes for these 195 birds?

Can't vouch for accuracy since I didn't do them but here are the A-7E's from VA-195 and VA-192 on board the Aerosoft Kitty Hawk.

[Duckie]

Thanks Frank. Now on the list.

[Duckie]

Should be up within the next couple of days...

[ZsoltB]

[delta_lima]

Wickedly awesome repaints, lads!

Zsolt, that "Euro One" scheme is very smart - very much "business" - lovely.

Steve, that TPS scheme looks great - looking forward to it.

cheers,

dl

[Navy Chief]

Can't vouch for accuracy since I didn't do them but here are the A-7E's from VA-195 and VA-192 on board the Aerosoft Kitty Hawk.

Just for grins, I checked the BUNO 157492, depicted on those birds. Actually was a A-7E BUNO. NC

[Duckie]

VA-195_TPS "403" has been uploaded.

[Duckie]

VA-195 Hi-Viz almost done...

[delta_lima]

Looking good there, Steve!

dl

[Duckie]

Looking good there, Steve!

dl

Thanks dl. Working on the fuselage band and that might take me longer than what I've done so far!

[delta_lima]

I wondered if you'd do it - most pics I've seen of that scheme have it.

That said, no one would blame you if you couldn't, though. I understand the Virtavia A-4 has some kind of mapping glitch that prevents those kinds of bands from being done - I believe recall skyhawka4m saying that ... which is sad, since that band is very smart-looking on the A-4 schemes (Clansmen, etc.)

Wonderful work - looking forward to these!

dl

[Duckie]

I wondered if you'd do it - most pics I've seen of that scheme have it.

That said, no one would blame you if you couldn't, though. I understand the Virtavia A-4 has some kind of mapping glitch that prevents those kinds of bands from being done - I believe recall skyhawka4m saying that ... which is sad, since that band is very smart-looking on the A-4 schemes (Clansmen, etc.)

Wonderful work - looking forward to these!

dl

Thanks dl.

The A-4 fuselage top, aft of the cockpit back, is not mapped separately and so a lot of stretching causes huge deformities of any attempt a placing longitudinally shaped graphics anywhere in that area. Anything that varies off the vertical by more that a couple degrees is almost hopeless.

The Razbam A-7 has some deformity along the transition from the vertical to the horizontal but because the fuselage top is mapped separately I think kit can be worked out with patience and time. So fear it looks like it will work.

[ejoiner]

Thanks dl.

The A-4 fuselage top, aft of the cockpit back, is not mapped separately and so a lot of stretching causes huge deformities of any attempt a placing longitudinally shaped graphics anywhere in that area. Anything that varies off the vertical by more that a couple degrees is almost hopeless.

The Razbam A-7 has some deformity along the transition from the vertical to the horizontal but because the fuselage top is mapped separately I think kit can be worked out with patience and time. So fear it looks like it will work.

Steve, this is looking awesome. I always prefer fleet birds to the CAG birds for some reason. Makes it feel "more real" like every day operations.

Those warping lines are a pain, but if you can match the warp to the stretch of your artwork, thats where the experts show up! In any case, I will add this one to the hangar as soon as you release it!

Off to fly your most recent lo viz A-7! I am having to remind myself not to forget our A-4's!

E

[delta_lima]

Steve, this is looking awesome. I always prefer fleet birds to the CAG birds for some reason. Makes it feel "more real" like every day operations.

E

100% agreed. Nail on the head.

DL

[Duckie]

VA-195_TPS "403" has been uploaded.

OOPS! Guys, I was just informed that I forgot to include my generic set of specular files in the VA-195_TPS upload. Thanks to Eric Joiner for the catch!

EASIEST and QUICKEST FIX is to download any of my previous 3 A-7E repaints (VA-12, NATC, or VA-147) and copy ALL of the specular files from any one of these texture folders and paste them into your VA-195_TPS texture folder. There should be nothing overwritten as these spec files will be new to your VA-195 folder.

Here are the 5 file names you'll need.

Droptanks_t_spec.dds
FuselageA_t_spec.dds
FuselageB_t_spec.dds
parts_01_spec.dds
wings_t_spec.dds

I apologized for the SNAFU. Will try to do better next time!

[ejoiner]

OOPS! Guys, I was just informed that I forgot to include my generic set of specular files in the VA-195_TPS upload. Thanks to Eric Joiner for the catch!

EASIEST and QUICKEST FIX is to download any of my previous 3 A-7E repaints (VA-12, NATC, or VA-147) and copy ALL of the specular files from any one of these texture folders and paste them into your VA-195_TPS texture folder. There should be nothing overwritten as these spec files will be new to your VA-195 folder.

Here are the 5 file names you'll need.

Droptanks_t_spec.dds
FuselageA_t_spec.dds
FuselageB_t_spec.dds
parts_01_spec.dds
wings_t_spec.dds

I apologized for the SNAFU. Will try to do better next time!

Duckie, with payware releases coming out as "beta" that we all pay for happily...I see no problem with a little "beta" correction in an excellent repaint!!!

The real benefit for me locally is that I will add the generic *_spec files to all my local repaint copies unless they already have some from the author. This improves the whole experience locally for me thanks to you. (BTW, I did the same on my machine with Zsolts excellent pilot repaint with the MPU-5 gray helmet).

I cant wait for the tacpack enabled A-7. I've gotten to where I almost exclusively fly aircraft with tacpack because it makes the whole experience that much better. Now if Virtavia could just tacpack my A-4 I would be in HEAVEN!


E