I've been researching my favorite WWI plane, to the death for some time now...
(Many thanks to Jim Miller, (JFM), for his help and coopperation!)
I have noticed many mistakes, minor for most people, still mistakes though,
on the default D.Va template-skin and therefore to so many skins derived from them.
I was trying to figure out how would have been the best way to address those mistakes,
without so much modding (bump map editing) like in the Johannisthal Mod D.III...
Anyway, long story short, here are my first attempts to do so, first with the camo versions,
that IMO, are most mispresented now, in game...

Generic D.Va (Johannisthal) with dark green-lilac camo.

Corrected placement of the weights table stencil and addition of the centerline stencil, on both sides.
(by default in game the weights table is for a Johannisthal machine, but placed in the OAW spot).

Added missing bolts for instrument fastening at the fuselage.

Elimination from the template and alpha channel, of the engine hood crease, which is an OAW characteristic.

The dark green metal primer used by default derived probably after a misinterpretation in the restoration of the Smithsonian Museum Albatros.
(So it may considered questionable)...
I'm using here a gray color with greenish tint (similar to RAL 02) based on a latest research at "The Aerodrome" matching Methuen to Resene color codes,
which is today's general consensus of the hue of that color had, originally.
(a bit darkened here for a D.Va as the late Dan-San Abbott had suggested)

Identification placards on the upper, lower and fuselage at the appropriate placement for a Johannisthal machine.

Added the Nicht Auftreten! (No Step!) stencil on the lower wing roots leading edge.

Identification stencil on the V struts, corrected.

Added the rigging instructions sheet on the correct placement for a Johannisthal machine,
(here on starboard side, could be on port as well)

The camo pattern is the most typical for a D.Va,
i.e. dark green-lilac-dark green for the upper wing and tailplane,
lilac-dark green for both port and starboard lower wings.
The colors I'm ussing for dark green and lilac are still WiP.
The lilac hue is under debate by many researchers, still...











Next in line is the D.Va dressed as D.V...
We have many of them in game too but, most of the times a little something is misinterpreted or missing...

Generic D.V with dark green-lilac camo.

As for the D.Va above, all the proper ID placards, stencils and rigging sheets are placed in the correct placement, for a Johannisthal machine.
(All the D.V-s were manufactured at the Johannisthal Werke).

the hood crease has been eliminated as well as the fastening belt of the engine hood panels,
(a D.Va characteristic).
Under certain lighting conditions the belt is still visible as the normal map remains untouched.

The color of the metal parts primer has been adjusted.
Looks like the color of the primed metal parts in cockpit.
IMO this way should look the metal parts of all Albatrosse in game.

The camo is a typical camo used by Albatros in mid'17.
The colors of the upper tailplane could be mirrored as well.

I used here another hue of lilac, taken from my friend and profile artist BLOWHARD, (Dave Douglass).

Which one do you thing "feels" better, as the original color is still in dispute.







And a picture of a D.V to be upratted from my still unfinished Jasta 37 pack,
showing the new metal primer and the little details added in close up.



Your comments, (corrections, objections) are most wellcome!

Awesome! I'll never know how some of you folks do this stuff-heck, I don't even UNDERSTAND how you do it!!!!

"A high level of attention to detail" doesn't begin to describe it!!! Beautiful work.

Nice work elephant - I wish I had time to do this.
Working on a Hellcat in Modo/Cinema 4D/Photoshop right now for a non-flight sim related illustration project.
(as well as some other portfolio projects)

Excellent work.

Excellent stuff!!!

Thanks for your encouraging comments, guys!
I did some more work on the D.V, this weekend.
I was so tempted so I did some bump map editing and got rid of the belt on the cowling.
(and not only, but you have to wait a little more to see the results...)
I'm finally pleased with my interpretation of lilac...
Check out this pic against the game's background:



The default lilac in game, is way too dark, IMO...
so that the "dark green" looks light in comparison!

I've started a new PWCG Campaign with Jasta 29 (they didn't have any particular distinction on their planes) set in summer '17,
in order to test those set of skins, that turns into a new Johannisthal Mod for the D.V.
(I'm also putting some work on the D.III Johannisthal Mod in parallel...)
Here's one more of my personal skin from this Campaign.
The serial is fictional but plausible and hand painted as in the real thing...

I would love to have you show me how to get a modified "Bump/Normal map" to show up?
I must be missing how to direct the plane to the "normal" map?
Any help Elephant would be great.

Super18

You have to decode the graphics.gtp files first, with the .gtp file extractor:

http://wwiaircombat.com/articles/kegetys...dding-community

The normal maps are usually found in:
\data\graphics\Planes\'relevant plane's name'\textures

I make a relevant folder structure with the modified normal map and enable it in game as a Mod via JSGME (JoneSoft Generic Mod Enabler).

http://www.users.on.net/~jscones/software/products-jsgme.html

If you find the above procedure too complicated, I could send you the normal map you wat to edit...

Thanks for the fast response Elephant... I did run the .gtp extractor. and can get it saved using PhotoShop, with the "Plugin".
I just can't get it to show up? I've tried both the "Main Texture Folder" and the one that gtp extractor shows, and mods are on in game?

Super

What plane are we talking about?

Jim Miller helped me alot when I was doing WFP for Red Baron. Very knowledgeable, very talented, and very generous with his work. Great to see him involved here.

Elephant
I got it figured out...When I ran the .gtp I had it set to create a separate folder from the ROF folders. And when I went to add the plans folder, I forgot add.../graphics/ in the path! It now finds the textures it needs.

Also not working on any one plane in particular, just saw what you did and like your idea for making different 'Types' with a simple texture change!


Piper

I've progressed a bit but, I'm stuck in a kind of dilemma as I can't really interfere to the actual 3d model...
I've added to the bump map, the instruments' fastening bolts on the fuselage, giving them some volume.
(these bolts are missing and should have been included by default).



I've modified the central upper wing adding the panel and "cutting" the needed holes to hack a D.V appearance...without any bump map compromise,
(OK, I've added only those two bolts, but I'm sure it's gonna be all right without them as well)






Unfortunately I can't do anything to add cables there, nor to model the aileron control shroud!
and here comes the dilemma...
For a more accurate D.V appearance I should also eliminate the parts outlined in red at the pic below:



I can't do it properly without changing the bump map and the hack cannot be perfect anyway,
because even with the panels removed, I can't remove those cables from the wing...
(as result they will look like just growing from the linen!)
So what do you guys propose?
Should I go all the way, (with the controversial results mentioned above), or just leave it as it is now
and retain the compatibility between the two types in game?

I've done it and I'm more than happy with the results...

From the new "universal" normal I can produce the following variants:

1. Albatros D.V early, (D.1000-1099/17),(D.1962-2077/17).
2. Albatros D.V, (D.2078-2361),(D.4403-4702/17).
3. Albatros D.V, (up rated), (same serials as above).
4. Albatros D.Va, (D.5265-5426/17),(D.5600-5849/17),(D.7000-7549/17)
5. Albatros D.Va (OAW), (D.6400-6999/17)

Here are some screens to show you how it's coming up.

Albatros D.V undersides




Albatros D.Va undersides



The access panels may look a bit shallower from default,
but the detail loss is minimal for the gain, IMO...

Albatros D.V camo, upper side details



Albatros D.V lozenge, upper side details



Albatros D.V, V strut detail



Albatros D.V upper wing cut out detail
(the metallic ID placards may need a bit toning down...)



To resume the progress so far:

Albatros D.V camo



Albatros D.V lozenge



Albatros D.Va camo



Albatros D.Va lozenge



Your comments and corrections are always wellcome...

I was kind of drained out of inspiration lately and the project kind of stalled...
Apparently, I've discovered an error in my RoF D.V hack.
I had those bottom wing access hatches eliminated from the D.V, assuming that they were
aileron cable inspection hatches...
but a magnification of Theodore Rumpel's Jasta 16b machine, revealed that the hatches were actually present
and painted sky blue like the rest of the lower wing.
Don't you see them too?



Anyhow, I've restored them back... and been experimenting more with colours.

I made a brand new footstep, as RoF's default one was totally wrong.



I tried also, this colour variation from Aero Concervancy for the metal primer
and tried a new dark green for the upper camo after extended discutions with my friend Olham, from Germany...







What do you think of the changes?

You sir are an obsessive nut. Not that that's a bad thing.

Yes, he is. And its great for RoF!

Water for Elephant, Super work and great detail. I enjoy the D-V in the game and agree it needs work . Thanks.

Hi guys,
I found some spare time last week and worked the Albatros D.V mod.

Look how the new corrected footstep looks in game:





I put some more work on that updated template during the weekend and made finally, the correct early model's nose planking:







The universal normal map works just fine don't you think?
I finaly settled up on the camo colours and created a D.V Mod for JSGME with all the new normal map.
I have added more Generics to the Mod (all the Jastas that first received the D.5, according to PWCG), incorporating the updated template.
I think that in a couple of days I'll be able to release a beta...