Project Licenses Plates

[Ice]

I asked about it in the screenshot thread and on second thought searched the forum on it, and found that is has been discussed and requested many times before.
BMS had devs working on it, for a while, but the current status is that it is on hold. There are more urgent things to do.

None the less, we the community have requested it many times before …… Licenses Plates as Buzzz called it in his article……getting different reg-numbers on our aircraft.
On all the threads I found discussing this I have placed a heads-up to this thread to get, hopefully, something organized. If something is already cooking, now is the time to mention it.

I am not familiar with skinning and LodEditor and understand (I think) that it’s a lot of work. I can only wish for others with more talent, skills and time to take up the challenge.
Buzzz told us that he had some work done on a tutorial on the matter. Hope he will find the time and passion to finish it so we could get a jump-start on this initiative.
So let’s hear it. Is it possible to get this work done and implemented? Anybody able and willing?

I’ll keep updating this first post with collected new info on the matter.

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

Working order:

• Finding correct serials for current active aircrafts

  • North Korea
  • South Korea
  • …
  • …

• Correcting skin art - see article on skinning by Buzzz

• Changing models

Volunteers:

• Silverson - western aircraft / Korean Theater
• Arty - F4Patch / general GFX work
• Ala12Charlie - to be determined

Needed software:

• LodEditor v 6.2.3

Tutorials:

• Creating license plates - Part 1 by Buzzz

Resources

• F-15 - F15e.info
• F-16 - F16.net
• F-22 - F16.net/F-22 db
• F-35 - F16.net/F-35 db

[Buzzz]

@Ice:

… and understand (I think) that it’s a lot of work.

In fact, the skinning/modeling job is only half of the job.
It’s just a matter of knowing well what you do in lodeditor. How much work is a function of many different places on the model show the serials. If it’s only on the tail, it’s a piece of cake.
The other half can by done by anyone : getting a list of real serials for all the skin sets an aircraft has. If you have an aircraft with, let’s say, 9 skin sets, you’ll need to find 9*4= 36 serials. I guess this will be easy for US jets with huge production, but it’s hard if you have limited number of jets or limited information on serials (USSR, north korea,…)

[Ice]

Thanks for the update Buzzz.
How about getting that tutorial finished?

[Silverson]

I’ve already done that for emf Theater, it was rather easy. I’ll see what future holds for my spare time and I may volunteer to do this for other western jets in Korea.

[Buzzz]

here is something to start with : https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/entry.php?140-Creating-license-plates-Part-1

[Arty]

@Buzzz very nice guide but u lost me on step 10. I would appreciated more detailed photos like exactly on the step like a total newb (like me that never worked on Lodeditor) could do it too. Waiting for the 3ds part… Oh This is good this is good… small steps to perfections… good.

So first a models list… Second contributors list than a progress list… than a nice f4patch to distribute to the community till they get full integrated by the team…
We could also have 2 teams. One for Korea and one for Israel… right? Or first Korea and than Israel? Or Israel has it already? Or Israel first? Don’t ask me… I prefer Israel… lol

Come on guys… come on… report in.

I’m in.

[Ala12Charlie]

Good job with the tutorial, but as I have never worked with LODeditor, I have not heard very well, matter of practice… awaiting for 3ds part

[Buzzz]

I have made this a long time ago. Just wanted to complete it before publishing, and then finally forgot to publish it at all.
I may do a Tutorial vid instead. It would be easier to follow.

[flyway]

@Buzzz:

I have made this a long time ago. Just wanted to complete it before publishing, and then finally forgot to publish it at all.
I may do a Tutorial vid instead. It would be easier to follow.

That’d be awesome.

[Ice]

Is this the correct LodEditor (v 4.2.1.0) available?

[Silverson]

Search for v6.2.3

[Ice]

This post is deleted!

[Ice]

@Arty:

@Buzzz very nice guide but u lost me on step 10. I would appreciated more detailed photos like exactly on the step like a total newb (like me that never worked on Lodeditor) could do it too. Waiting for the 3ds part… Oh This is good this is good… small steps to perfections… good.

So first a models list… Second contributors list than a progress list… than a nice f4patch to distribute to the community till they get full integrated by the team…
We could also have 2 teams. One for Korea and one for Israel… right? Or first Korea and than Israel? Or Israel has it already? Or Israel first? Don’t ask me… I prefer Israel… lol

Come on guys… come on… report in.

I’m in.

Ease up Arty.

What is it you would like to take on in this project?

[Arty]

I can do F4Patch (https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?10205-F4Patch-Guide) and I sure can help on putting the license plates. I can manage simple gfx tasks u can look and for my mod’s on tracers - long heat blur and flares… (https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?10176-Arty-Particle-System-Modifications)

So is my bio good did I get the job?

[Ice]

@Arty:

I can do F4Patch (https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?10205-F4Patch-Guide) and I sure can help on putting the license plates. I can manage simple gfx tasks u can look and for my mod’s on tracers - long heat blur and flares… (https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?10176-Arty-Particle-System-Modifications)

So is my bio good did I get the job?

All good by me Arty. Just wanted to get it clear so the volunteers get to do what they know best and like most.
So F4Patch and GFX for you. Noted.

[Silverson]

I just want to share some thoughts about the project.

First of all we need to acquire modding (skins and models) licenses from the BMS team. Second, there’s no meaning in modifying the F-16s if there will be a model update (JH) that will go the official way. We need to put them on hold. We can start with the F-15C and F-15E (if we manage to open them in LE :P). This seems to be a good resource for the Strike Eagle, and websites such as airliners.net and airfighters.com can prove helpful too.

I can easily find my way around 3DS Max and the LOD exporters, especially when it comes to simple designs like the ones needed here. I’m also very keen in LodEditor model operations and skinning in Photoshop.

@ Arty: Can you append models and update parent records via F4p?

Edit: The Eagle/Strike Eagle may be a no-go. Given that the bug is already being reworked, we’re left with the raptor and the cat (no GAC birds).

[Arty]

@Silverson:

I just want to share some thoughts about the project.

First of all we need to acquire modding (skins and models) licenses from the BMS team. Second, there’s no meaning in modifying the F-16s if there will be a model update (JH) that will go the official way. We need to put them on hold. We can start with the F-15C and F-15E (if we manage to open them in LE :P). This seems to be a good resource for the Strike Eagle, and websites such as airliners.net and airfighters.com can prove helpful too.

I can easily find my way around 3DS Max and the LOD exporters, especially when it comes to simple designs like the ones needed here. I’m also very keen in LodEditor model operations and skinning in Photoshop.

@ Arty: Can you append models and update parent records via F4p?

Edit: The Eagle/Strike Eagle may be a no-go. Given that the bug is already being reworked, we’re left with the raptor and the cat (no GAC birds).

There is something on the works for that too… There was a plugin for that but doesn’t work as said. Pumpy is using another way and Zelegent has edited this dll Pumpy uses so it will work with BMS folders. So some testing must be done and see how it goes.
If that doesn’t work we will have to do it by the usual way … and than distribute the database file and the dds files…

[Buzzz]

@Silverson:

We can start with the F-15C and F-15E (if we manage to open them in LE :P)

Unfortunately, you can’t.

[Ice]

Could someone with more technical insight then me, make a general setup of what needs to be done and what tooling is to be used to do what?
Or in this case tools available but not working properly and need an alternative or fix?
Maybe even a list of ppl that have done previous work on this. Maybe even get them involved?

What I am looking for is to get a general overview of what we are up to. This way it is easier to get others joining and talk about things when ppl involved are on the same level of knowledge and are familiar with the road ahead and have the bigger picture.

So let me start (in random order):

• updating airplane models to have the best serial number functionality in respect to weight and general/new implementation structure (tail, nose, fuselage, top, bottom)
• updating/creating skins (first for the newer models)
• gathering resources on serials/aircraft
• gathering tooling (best tool for the job, fixing buggy/not working tools, implement working routines)
• tutorials for all us noobs that are willing to help (the better the tutorial the more help we will get)
• boundaries to work in, set by the BMS team (the more we align and gather info about future implementations, the better)
• get a first cycle completed to see if all we have done above gets a good end result and a happy customer
• let’s focus on new, get the right flow and work environment before heading back in time correcting all that’s wrong and fulfilling everybody’s wishes
• all my brain is not capable of pruducing at this point in time …… and then some

[flyway]

@Buzzz:

In fact, the skinning/modeling job is only half of the job.
It’s just a matter of knowing well what you do in lodeditor. How much work is a function of many different places on the model show the serials. If it’s only on the tail, it’s a piece of cake.
The other half can by done by anyone : getting a list of real serials for all the skin sets an aircraft has. If you have an aircraft with, let’s say, 9 skin sets, you’ll need to find 9*4= 36 serials. I guess this will be easy for US jets with huge production, but it’s hard if you have limited number of jets or limited information on serials (USSR, north korea,…)

Could you start with this part (tail only numbers)?
That’s only what I need…