sKiNZ.dojak.com

Work In Progress : October '05

Vodka powered zippo lighter!
Too lazy to change the whole index page so here's the latest from the MiG-3 in a time warp. Bolts & rivets finished, so basically consider everything done - except for weathering (sigh) & paint chips (groan). Got a few new tricks up my sleve for some new weathering ideas ... we'll see how it pans out.

30th October '05

MiG-3 still going ... no really!
Finished the basic panel lines ... phew! What a fiddly job. Think they're all done, according to the 3 view line drawing I have from some Russian site that r0x0rz! Very little done in the way of artistic licence so should keep the rivet counters happy. There will be 2 basic skins for the MiG-3 model - one for the MiG-3 & one for all the rest ... MiG-3 AM-38, 2xShKas or whatever. The difference amounts to leading edge slats (no problem going AM-38 to -3), exhaust stack holes & panel lines around them (another layer to turn on/off) so not as much work as the Il-2 by any means! Also, contemplating uploading some templates that I'm not going to be using again ... they'll only be in Paintshop Pro format though as they don't convert to Photoshop very well. I'll see how it all goes ...

15th October '05

MiG-3 in progress ...
Started in on a new template. I've got some really good skins for the MiG-3 family, but in my boundless arrogance I believe I can do a better job! Also, I want a chance to try out some Compans-esque photorealistic style skins. But dont hold your breath, it may take forever ... in the pics here we have rebuilt 'parts' layer, with bits from Adlabs & ATS42 skins & a new cockpit by me from screenshots in game. Finding the basic areas using nasty bright colors - a bloody good trick that takes time at the start but saves time later on. Basic shadows & hilights laid down & finally basic colors applied.

8th October '05

Frank madness! And some beans ...
Updated my old Frank template ooh ages ago, tweaked it a bit recently & finally got around to doing more than the plain green skins. Found some great templates from Dude163 in my Ki-84 reference folder so expect a few more. Which reminds me, I really must do some more Il-2 skins too ...

5th October '05

God lord, the P-63 is up now too!
Amazing! I never thought I'd be finished that bugger. Tried something a little different with this one. Built it up from the schematics I had downloaded from somewhere, so it's almost pixel perfect as far as panel lines & rivets (yes rivets) go. Did a few thing different with the weathering, especially the paint chips. Gad, they took forever. I think there's about 5 layers, instead of the usual 1! I did mean to upload WIP shots of that but erm ... never got around to it. So ... what shall I do next? I'm thinking MiG-3 or hit the La's. I'm liking the wood & metal construction of those panels ...

3rd October '05

I-185 skins up!
What a lazy bastard I am. Here I am, quietly working away on a couple of template & not even uploading WIP pics. Oh well, you cant have your Super Rata & eat it too can you :) Ah, the poor unloved I-185 uber-n00b weapon ... well, I love it anyway - it's an I-16 on steriods! Good ol' Polikarpov! Anyone with color profiles for the I-185 please email them to me ... profiles are few & far between for this lovely bird!