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Create New Aircraft for Battle of Britain
by Len "Viking1" HjalmarsonGame: Battle of Britain
Version: UK Release
Category: Air Combat Simulation (WWII)
Developer: Rowan Software
Publisher: Empire Interactive
Release Date: North America - January 2001, UK - Released
Links: | Playable Demo | First Look | Preview | Pilot Career How-To | Flight Models in BoB | The Strategic Side of BoB |
Article Date: January 22nd, 2001
Article Type: How-To
Not happy with the look of the aircraft in Battle of Britain? You want yours to look exactly like that photo you saw of Adolf Galland beside his Me-109? Never fear, the Re-Skinners are here!
Aircraft files for Battle of Britain are found in the Imagemap directory. There are 11 files for the Bf-109, all ending with the .x8 extension.
This first image shows an original wing texture file for the Me-109 in Battle of Britain.
Original wing texture file for the Me109
This second image shows the wing texture file with new paint applied.
Wing texture file for the Me109 with new paint applied
Modifying the Texture Files
The first step to modifying these files is to convert them to .bmp files. The tt2.exe conversion program is included here for you to download.
The command line to convert a texture tile is as follows:
tt2 –r mesfus.x8 –r daypal.pal -w mesfus.bmp
To convert back to an x8 file after editing, simply reverse the line
tt2 –r mesfus.bmp –r daypal.pal –w mesfus.x8
If you execute tt2.exe with no command following, you will invoke the help file, with the list of command options.
Be sure to keep the original files in the Imagemap directory separate by making a backup somewhere. If you need them and haven’t kept backups, you will have to reinstall the game. I prefer to work from a TEMP directory by transferring all the files I need to a new directory. In this working directory you must also have the TT2 program and the BoB palette file, daypal.pal. You’ll find this file in your Imagemap or Landmaps directory.
Increasing the color depth in Paint Shop Pro 5.1 to 16 million colors
Painting your aircraft is a simple process. I used Paint Shop Pro 51. First convert to .bmp format, then save the original palette to a file. Next increase the color depth to 16 million. When finished editing, Load the original palette, which will automatically convert your work back to 256 colors. Then save.
New Paint Schemes
Here are seven new paint schemes. The first is a Spitfire 1a modified by Ctp_Farrel and myself.
DOWNLOAD => SpitfireMk1a.zip
Spitfire 1a modified by Ctp_Farrel and Viking1
The second is a Bf-109 of JG26, III Gruppe by BlueyT.
Bf-109 of JG26, III Gruppe by BlueyT
DOWNLOAD => TJH109Jg26-3.zip
The third is a Me-109 of JG26, III Gruppe by Viking1.
Me109 of JG26, III Gruppe by Viking1
DOWNLOAD => jg26-109mod2.zip
This paint modification follows the JG26 paint scheme but with a silver spinner. I have also added kill markings on the tail.
The fourth is a camouflage scheme for the 109 E4 by Cpt_Farrel, modified by myself.
Bf-109 E4 by Cpt_Farrel, modified by Viking1
DOWNLOAD => 109-RLM65.zip
The fifth is a Hurricane paint scheme with the extra large roundels, again modified by Cpt_Farrel. I cleaned up the roundel textures and removed some artifacts on the tail.
Hurricane modified by Cpt_Farrel and touched-up by Viking1
DOWNLOAD => hurricane_rd.zip
The hurricane is now available in two versions. The above version is simply a cleaned up scheme based on Ctp_Farrel's modification. The second version has some entirely new textures.
In the following image you'll see that the red tape over the guns has been broken. The tape was placed over the gun portals by the ground crew so that later they could quickly ascertain whether or not the guns had been fired - and whether or not the airplane needed re-arming as well as re-fuelling. If the tape was broken they knew they needed to re-arm the aircraft.
This paint scheme also has two additional modifications. Notice that the landing lights are in place, and you will see that the lines on the underside of the wing match the top wing. This is a COMBATSIM.COM exclusive.
Same Hurricane as above, but with further enhancements. Note the landing lights, red tape over guns now broken, and upper and lower wing lines match
DOWNLOAD => hurricane-rd2.zip
The sixth new paint scheme is a Do-17, modified by Cpt_Farrel.
Do-17 modified by Cpt_Farrel
DOWNLOAD => Do17.zip
The next paint scheme is an Me-110, also modified by Cpt_Farrel.
Me-110 modified by Cpt_Farrel
DOWNLOAD => me110_std.zip
Finally, here is a Ju87 Stuka skin by Cpt_Farrel, with fresh rivets added by myself.
Ju-87 Stuka by Cpt_Farrel, with fresh rivets added by Viking1
DOWNLOAD => stuka-yellow.zip
Download the painting package, including the tt2 executable:
DOWNLOAD => bobpaint.zip
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