onairprojects

Well ladies and gentlemen, we’re at a new interactive point in the program. This is where I’
ll be discussing projects that you can do with Microsoft Flight Simulator. One of the more
popular projects that people take part in is called repainting. Repainting is the process in
which we transform our default aicraft into a livery other than what they are wearing out of
the box. For example, Orbit Airlines Boeing 737-800 can be transformed into a Southwest
Airlines 737-800 through the magic of repainting. Even the general aviation aircraft now
have a blank (otherwise known as a white) paint job in the Flight Simulator. Is Microsoft
becoming aware of this and starting to provide what has been known as Paint Kits to the
flight sim community out there? Before it was very difficult to repaint an aircraft from Flight
Simulator, because you had the previous markings to contend with while struggling to do
your paint job to the best of your ability.
  Today we’re going to start off with an easy livery scheme for one of my newest favorite
aircraft in the Flight Sim package. This aircraft comes right out of the box, so you don’t
have to worry about having to download anything to use it. We all ready have the tools (for
those of us who have the deluxe edition). You will need to first of all have a some sort of
paint program. The program of choice for me is Photoshop some hardware that you get for
the computer such as the graphire tablets with the pen and mouse come with free versions of
these programs. Other people preferred to use Jasc Paintshop Pro. I’ve tried that one, but I
don’t know - to me, Photoshop makes it a lot easier to work with. Again, if you’re going to
go with that one, go with the free package with one of the Graphire tablets. You’ll save
yourself a ton of money with it for Photoshop is really an expensive piece of software,
(which don’t ask me why, but guess they figured that it’s worth it) and at least you can get a
prior version that way. Just read the packaging to it, and it should state what it comes with,
Jasc or Photoshop. Also, you can use a utility called the Gimp, which is a freeware
repainting utility, not just intended for Flight Sim use, but art usages as well for the PC.
Their website address is http://www.gimp.org/ and don’t forget, it’s free, so
whooohoooo!!!!!
  All right, ready to get going? I’m going to be describing the standard way to do the
repaint. We’ll be repainting the Maule Orion from it’s default white texture to one that will
match real world registration N4657K. It is a beige and green scheme, and will be quite easy
to manipulate the shapes used for the repainting process.
  You will want to first of all, as always, want to make a back up of your texture file. One
way to be able to keep the default texture in the aircraft as a back up and have on to modify
is simple: go to your sim objects airplanes folder and open up the Maule (no skis) folder, and
right click on the first texture. Select the send to, and then choose My Documents. There
you go! You’re all set to modify that one by using the one in My Documents because the
original is still with the Maule. Pretty spiffy, eh?
  The next thing you are going to want to do is go to Airliners.net. Unfortunatly, they have
strict rules about posting pictures from their website on others, so you’ll have to go to their
photo search page, Select USA for the country, type in Maule in keywords, and search. You’
ll want to go to page 3 for this reference picture. They’re really handy to have to get perfect
color matches using the eye dropper tool.
  The first thing for today in repainting 101 is we’re going to be discussing changing formats
of textures. Unfortunately, FS X works in DDS format. Don’t ask me what made them
change over, but someone over at Microsoft had the brilliant idea of doing this. At least the
upgraded their version of Image Tool, a free utility that comes with the GMAX program that
will allow us to “see” those DDS formatted textures. The GMAX program is available in the
Flight Simulator X’s SDK folder on DVD 2 in the package.
  These are the steps you will want to follow to convert your first texture:

1. If you all ready have the SDK installed, go to Start and click on Search.
2. Click on All Files and Folders.
3. In the all or part of the file name type in image tool.exe this will be all together, no spaces.
4. When it comes up, right click on it, and select send to, and desk top.
5. You will then want to go to the desktop, and double click on Image Tool.
6. Select File, Open, and then go to the Back up that you made earlier.
7. Select the Texture folder. Open up the file Maule_M7_260C_T.
8. Select Image and Extract Mip Maps.
9. Close out all Mip Maps and do not save until you get to the first largest one. You will
want to save this one. I saved it as Maule.
10. Afterwards, you will want to close the one in back of it, and then go to file save as and
select Bitmap from the drop down arrow.
11. You will then want to go to Format, drop down to 24-bit, and click on it.
12. Save the image again. You now have a workable texture for repaints.

  Now that wasn’t so bad was it? Next week we’re going to start working on the
conversion process of the textures. That’s where it’s going to get really into the nitty gritty
aspect of repainting, for some planes require textures to be reversed on the other side while
some do not, and there’s many other little tricks you’ll pick up there. You can follow along
on my website under the On Air Projects link on the main menu.

Okay, we’re here with part 2 of Repainting 101. This is where we’re going to really
get into the nitty gritty aspect of repainting. This is where you’ll be spending the
most time with your work, and away from the sim too yes, you will actually be away
from it for a little bit - have faifth! Be Strong! It’ll be okay! Okay - now that the panic
is over, open up your paint program of choice.   I’m going to be explaining how to do
things in photo shop, but it should be pretty similar I believe if you use Paint Shop
Pro.
   What your going to want to do is open up the bip map file that we made last week
entitled Maule. You will then want to minimize it, and open up the picture of the
Maule we will be repainting. It’s okay to have more than one item open - you’ll just be
switching back and fourth between the work spaces.   You’ll want the other picture
open basically just for reference material for proper matching of colors.
   When you start your repaint, you will want to start to work with a generally easy
location of the plane.   Start off with the rear tail section with the beige pin striping on
top of the green lines. Here’s how I make the lines in photo shop to be able to be
used as simple layers:

    1. Use the Rectangle Marquee Tool. Drag it out to best match the space on the
appropriate spot of the fuselage.
    2. Minimize the Maule bitmap, and you will want to maximize the photograph.
Use your eye-dropper tool, and click on the beige section of the pin striping.
    3. Go back to the Maule work space, and select paint bucket. Change the
opacity of the layer to about 90% so you can still see the rivets and panel lines
though your new paint. Do the same with the “Fill” factor of the layer properties.
    4. To match the endings with slanted lines on the body, such as windows, you
will then want to go to Edit/Transform/Distort and then drag the side closest so that it
is at an angle, and matches up with the window frame.
    5. For each section, you can create a new layer. Simply go to layer, new, and
you can type in what ever name you want for it. Make it something recognizable so
you will be able to go back to work on it later if needed.
    6. This is where repainting can get a little tricky. How do you make curves? Well
to make a curve, this is a step that I have learned from Bill Browning over at
Eaglesoft.   You make a new layer, and use the rectangular
Marquee tool. You will then want to Switch to the Eliptical Marquee tool, and then
make the appropriate oval/circle shape over the rectangle. Select Edit and Cut from
the menu. The result? A nice crisp clean edged curve that can now be sized to what
ever aspect you wish so it fits appropriately.
   7. Now that you know how to do the basics of repainting, how do you do
lettering? Simple. There is a website that I downloaded what I like to call Aviation
style lettering, called Dafont.com. You will want to go to http://www.dafont.com, and
download Phase 05 font. That is the closest match of aviation lettering that I have
come across to this date.
   8.   What you will want to do to add the text, select the T in the tool bar. Then a
cursor will appear with line in a box, click on it, and you can type out the registration,
(choose the black lettering for it) and type N4657K. You will then want to select
Edit/Transform/Skew, and slant it slightly to the right. Bingo! You just did your first
text in the proper format on a planes body.

Well, there you have it for repainting 101 week 2. Next week, we’ll take a look at
some of the detailing aspects, like making parts dirty and weathered looking,
because lets face it - aircraft are not always brand spankin’ new. Some do have
wear and tear marks on them, and this will be your perfect opportunity to be able to
explore fooling around with these effects.