WARBIRDS 3 INSTA-SKINS

for skinning beginners

The following zipped files include graphics files to assist beginners in skinning airplanes for WB3. The files included are layered .psd files that can be read by Paint Shop Pro and Photo Shop.

DIRECTIONS

  • Download the zipped file to a temporary directory.

  • Unzip the file into your Warbirds 3 directory under the location
    skins/{NAME OF ZIP FILE}/offline/generic.

  • Open fuse.psd/wing.psd that you just unzipped with your graphics editor.

  • Goto layer2 and mass change the colors to fit (per guide below).
    Layer2 has the paint, Layer1 has the panel lines.

  • Save your file as a .tga file with the same name (fuse/wing)
    in a directory under skins/{PLANE NAME}/offline, say "myskin".

  • Start WB3 and choose the plane you are skinning.

  • Type the dot command ".planeskin myskin".

  • Hit fly and enjoy the view.

    That's it!

    Some tips to make the process of fine tuning easier:

  • Open WB3 in a window at a smaller resolution. This allows you to switch back and forth between your graphics program.

  • Don't forget to use the command ".flushplanes" after you have made a change to your skin.

  • These files are 1024x1024 and large. You may want to shrink them down to 512x512, but do so after adding noseart, etc.

  • When re-painting the colors, you may try filling with a pattern to get a camo look.

  • You can add panel lines, but remember, it's not panel lines that make a great skin, it's the weathering!

    • THE FILES


    P38         		This file is associated with the P38j, but you may use the same skin for the L version. The color blue is associated with the color used on the topside of your plane, green for the underside. If your plane is all one color, change both of these to the same color. Yellow is the color of the areas painted to combat reflection of the sun on the nose and fuselage. Red is the prop tip, the nose of the fuselage, and the nose cone. If you do not want invasion stripes, these can just be colored out as well. For final touching, add some weathering and nicks and blend in the area where the under and top side paint jobs meet.

    P38f         		This file is associated with the P38f. The color blue is associated with the color used on the topside of your plane, green for the underside. If your plane is all one color, change both of these to the same color. Yellow is the color of the areas painted to combat reflection of the sun on the nose and fuselage. Red is the prop tip, the nose of the fuselage, and the nose cone. For final touching, add some weathering and nicks and blend in the area where the under and top side paint jobs meet.

    Bf109f         		This file is associated with the Bf109f. The color blue is associated with the color used on the topside of your plane, green for the underside. If your plane is all one color, change both of these to the same color. Yellow is the color on the rudder. Purple is used to color in the area most associated with painting the nose. Once again if your plane does not utilize a nose job, just paint it in with the color of your plane. Red is the nose cone. It is reflected, so a spiral is not possible. For final touching, add some weathering and nicks.

    Bf109e         		This file is associated with the Bf109e. The color blue is associated with the color used on the topside of your plane, green for the underside. If your plane is all one color, change both of these to the same color. Yellow is the color on the rudder. Purple is used to color in the area most associated with painting the nose. Once again if your plane does not utilize a nose job, just paint it in with the color of your plane. Red is the nose cone. It is reflected, so a spiral is not possible. For final touching, add some weathering and nicks.

    B17         		This file is associated with the B17g. The color blue is associated with the color used on the topside of your plane, green for the underside. If your plane is all one color, change both of these to the same color. Red is the color on the rudder and the door, to use if you choose to make that different than your top color. Yellow is used on the tips of the props. For final touching, add some weathering and nicks and blend in the area where the under and top side paint jobs meet.

    B24j         		This file is associated with the B24j. PLEASE NOTE: This is a very buggy skin and iEN may re-do it soon, so I did not put much work into it. The color blue is associated with the color used on the topside of your plane, green for the underside. If your plane is all one color, change both of these to the same color. Red is the color of the verticle stabilizers and rudder, to use if you choose to make those different than your top color. Yellow is used for the bottom turret and tip of the tail. Purple is used for the following things: rear/forward turret, gear struts, bay doors, spinners and some trim. For final touching, add some weathering and nicks and blend in the area where the under and top side paint jobs meet.

    B24d         		This file is associated with the B24d. PLEASE NOTE: This is a very buggy skin and iEN may re-do it soon, so I did not put much work into it. The color blue is associated with the color used on the topside of your plane, green for the underside. If your plane is all one color, change both of these to the same color. Red is the color of the verticle stabilizers and rudder, to use if you choose to make those different than your top color. Yellow is used for the bottom turret and cockpit color. For final touching, add some weathering and nicks and blend in the area where the under and top side paint jobs meet.

    ki84         		This file is associated with the Ki84. The color blue is associated with the color used on the topside of your plane, green for the underside. If your plane is all one color, change both of these to the same color. Purple is used for the area typically painted a dark color and Yellow for the typical yellow wing markings on this plane. Red is used for the spinner. For final touching, add some weathering and nicks and blend in the area where the under and top side paint jobs meet.

    Me262         		This file is associated with the Me262, jet fighter. The color blue is associated with the color used on the topside of your plane, green for the underside. That is the only way I split this plane up. Most Me262's had some sort of nice camo for the top color. The skin is really stretched on this plane, so do a lot of blending with your colors.

    Spit IX         		I had left insta-skins for a bit to work on Java Guncam and custom gunsites and textures. However, Zol was inspired by them and created his own insta-skin (I believe based off of Baal's lines). We put it here so Spit lovers could use it and help them get into skinning. The directions are pretty much the same as above. Zol has documented them well. Thanks Zol!


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