homepage Forums Air Combat & Civil Aviation Wings: Over The Reich Wings: Over The Reich - FAQs & Reference WoTR Plane Skinning Thread

This thread is for discussing custom skinning techniques and issues for the aircraft in Wings Over the Reich. Many of the techniques will be similar for other games, with differences in the naming and file type.
Here is a tutorial video that discusses the process:


Software used in the above tutorial:
GIMP
DXTBMP
Irfan View


Link to Sandbagger's Files:
Sandbagger's Files Page <- Download the WoTR Skins Mod and you are good to go!

Link to Hurricane Serial Numbers Range

Here is the link to the Wings Over Flanders Fields Skinning thread, which has many tips that will prove useful for WoTR as well...
Wings Over Flanders Fields Skinning Thread
This thread and this post will be edited and updated with the latest information regarding this topic.

Thanks to OBD Software, Robert Wiggins and Sandbagger for making this possible!


Last Edit: 3/18/19 reason: added serial numbers range link

Oh, you tease!!!

Great job RR, a natural video presenter

Everything is ready! Skin On!

That video is far more informative and easier to understand than the other videos that were put up... (remember I'm a numpty).
Skinning has always been a black art to me, but I might try and give it a go now...

I would start with something simple like a new camo pattern or a personal insignia (or both!) and go from there. With the separate layer template it is really easy now.

* also, make sure to ask questions, we'll get you straightened out!

**edit again! And save often! I didn't stress that in the video. And if you mess up, don't forget the robust undo feature...

Great Job. Wonderful Details. Right Then everyone Skin !

Very nice Sir. I love that you can add in the kill grid and then go back after each confirmed kill and erase the transparency(?) as you progress through your Campaign. I think I am going to have to try that. How or where do you find the nose art / markings ? I know you created yours but are there common sources to find real ones?

S!Blade<><

I just googled wwii fighter nose art and got a bunch. It might be trickier to find a picture that is at just the right angle for cropping. You might want to just look at generic clip art collections for images that would be appropriate with minimal work.

Where are the layered templates though, most importantly though is the alpha layer, can't find them anywhere?

The "WOTR Skins Mod V1.4" is on Sandbaggers site and contains all the templates and alpha ".bmp" layer.
Have you downloaded it? The link is defined in the fiert page of this thread.

Oh I see, I'll take a look. I was looking for something labeled ' template' rather than 'mod'. Thanks

Very informative Rick, thank you, answers a lot of questions for me, some of which I didn't even know I had.
Jerbear

Heh, glad it helped, and glad to see this thread getting some action!

Mr Rawlings: U never cease to amaze me. Great information . Well done.

Ah, but that was over a year ago! What have I done for you lately?!?

Edit, OOops! Was thinking of Robert Wiggins and not reading Rick_Rawlings,...Duh. Well, anyway, Rick, I am starting to poke into learning Gimp 2, but there is so much to learn, as I have never used proper photo editing software, only Ifranview. I really want to add the German kill crosses to my Hurricane as you showed in your tutorial. So, Someday this will be helpful SIr!!!

S!Blade<><

It's actually one of the easier things to do, a cross layer and a copy of the underlying paint scheme layer that you paste over the top. So three layers: Underlying paint scheme, crosses on a transparent background, copy of underlying paint scheme pasted on top...You just erase a little of that top later each time and it will reveal a new cross! Also, when you rectangle select the underlying paint layer, if you don't cancel the selection, when you paste it into the top layer, it will be perfectly centered! You just anchor it and you are good to go!

Yea, what you said, simple, got it, no problem. I think I will just follow the tutorial verbatim to do this then hang up my skinning shoes and call myself a professional skinner.

S!Blade<><