Classic British Flight Sim

Garry Russell wrote:Perhaps Mark you would consider uploading your Viking paint at Classic British Files?

ATB

Garry

What I'd like to do is revamp it slightly since I have upgraded to FS2004 (always one release behind...) and can now do shiny metal repaints, something not really possible in FS2002 (or at least I never worked ou how to do it). The one I did for FS2002 was a bit flat, so I'll probably redo it with layered alphas to give a bit more of a dull metal effect then upload the newer version to CBF.

Might be a little while, my Mesh is having blue-screen crashes for the second time in twelve months and is likely to be heading back to the factory for another repair, so if anyone else had got one planned or in the paint shop and is closer to completion feel free, if not I'll "polish up" the metal once my machine has been de-loused.

Just as an aside, does anyone know the base colour for the Derby Aviation Dragon Rapides? I've made a set of textures for one but have guessed a grey base, as the excellent history of British Midland by B G Cramp only has black and white photos of the Rapides, but they seem to show a light plain grey with "Derby Aviation" titles, presumably in blue, and no cheatlines. Derby Aviation shared some services from Wolverhampton with Don Everall having had a Wolverhampton Aviation offshoot until 1954, when it became part of DA, and flew to Jersey and Ostend with Rapides from Pendeford until 1957, so it's quite relevant. I'm also working on a Derby Aviation/Airways Miles Marathon for which I'm assuming the cheatlines in the BEA-style livery are blue, two of Derby's Marathons were ex West African so Peter Larkham's current model is quite correct in that respect. The aircraft flew schedules out of Derby and Birmingham to the usual Channel Island destinations, Ostend and occasionally from Derby to Scotland, as well as more obscure airports like Oxford, Northampton and Gloucester on summer Channel Island runs, although I don't know if they ever flew out of Wolverhampton. However they were grounded in the winter as they lacked de icing kit for not only the wings, but the passengers too as they lacked cabin heaters! Peter's model is a particular favourite of mine for short internal trips and I really fancied one in Derby livery, but if people are interested and as Peter has said he is Ok with real liveries being produced for the aircraft (although out of courtesy I will e-mail him before hand) I could upload the Derby Airways scheme (probably G-AMHR "Monsal Dale" as I used to like visiting the real Monsal Dale...) when I've finished it.

Hi Mark,

A great idea We already have the Marathon on our VA fleet along with some of the obscure destinations you mention so anything above and beyond the current BEA livery will be most welcome ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Mark,

I've collected quite a few photos of the Marathon off the net, I'll PM them to you.

Rgds

John

Mark

As to the mental there is no difference that I know of between 2002 and FS.9. You are using a simple alpha channel in grey to produce the shine.

Beware of the "BEA" stripes..they often aren't.

Proportions and position are usually slightly different.

The Rapide base colour could be grey but probably is really silver dope. :think:

ATB

Garry

Garry Russell wrote:
Beware of the "BEA" stripes..they often aren't.

Proportions and position are usually slightly different.

The Rapide base colour could be grey but probably is really silver dope. :think:

ATB

Garry

Yes, I've noticed they do vary. Fortunately the DA Marathons have two thick outers and one thin inner line on the "BEA" style cheatline in a very similar fashion to the BEA textures, although the white space between the outer and middle lines is slightly less giving a much more fine grained appearance which I'll try to replicate as closely as possible.

As for the Viking metal finish, at the time I did the Don Viking (ought to be the name of a Mafia sonsored Scandinavian Airlines jet...) had no way of saving the outer alpha which is why it is a strange slightly khaki grey colour at present, I now know how to do shiny alphas (slightly to excess on my BEA Marathon which now looks like a flying glitterball) and fortunately have plenty of experience of alpha tuning thanks to Train Simulator commercial work.

I think you may be right about the silver "dope", I'll give it a try.

John thanks for your hard work.

I now have these in my 'hangar'.
Such a shame, that Microsoft let this model down with only one side to the empennage. This results in reversed registrations on one side.
I realise, John that this is far beyond your control.
Thanks again.

Regards

Kevin

I've managed to redo the Viking textures in between computer shutdowns so I'll upload them to the Classic British site tomorrow if that's OK with everyone (especially Rick).



I've not been able to track down any photos of the Viking in Don livery so I've done it to match the Dakotas which seemed logical.

Interesting news for Don fans, I've found a reference to the Rapide livery and a photo of one in the Midland Counties book "Aviation in Birmingham", the Rapides were pale blue undersides, white uppers seperated by a red lightning-flash cheatline. If no-one else fancies doing it I'll add it to the list behind the Derby Marathons.

The same book (the Airfield Focus book no, 67 on Pendeford) also described Wolverhampton Aviation's Rapide livery as duck egg blue with dark blue trim. As Derby Aviation and Wolverhampton Aviation were effectively one and the same it would appear that the early Derby Aviation Rapide livery was the same, they certainly had similar style titles on the nose of the aircraft (Wolverhampton Aviation/Wolverhampton Airport on two lines, and Derby Aviation/Derby Airport for the Derby fleet), so I've had a go at doing the Derby Aviation Rapide as well.



Interesting colour scheme which helps explain the two tone turqoise/blue scheme of the 1960's onwards. I'll do a Wolverhampton example as well, and then the virtual fliers can have fun around Jersey and Ostend!

Another "best guess" Rapide livery, Don Everall



This is based on the best available evidence, a written description of the Rapide livery as light blue undersides, a red cheatline and white uppers, and a black and white photo of one of the earlier Rapides which appear to show a three-line cheatline with a centre stripe slightly darker than the two outers, which I've assumed to be black. A number of Rapides have appeared with light-blue underbelly liveries with other operators for which photos exist, so it would appear that a number were probably made available in a livery similar to this which was marginally adapted by their new buyers with lettering and stripes. A black and white photo of G-AHPT appears in the Pendeford book in a basic two tone livery without stripes or titles, however there is a ground to air photo of a Don Everall Rapide landing at Pendeford which clearly shows a three-line stripe laid out roughly as depicted, what appear to be engines with painted or two tone finish, but unfortunately not clear enough to show the lettering style under the pilot's window.

So, I've attempted to create something that replicates what appears to be the livery style, but guessed the colours based on the written description, and the lettering style based on publicity from that period.

G-AHPT was the Rapide which bizarrely crashed on take off from the M1 motorway during construction killing the pilot and the County Surveyor for Lincolnshire.

If anyone can actually remember flying in a Don Everall Rapide (and they were regular fixtures at airshows giving pleasure flights as well as working schedules and charters) and can give some clues as to the actual livery style or lettering I'd be grateful. Otherwise this is the best I can come up with based on the available very grainy black and white photos I've found in books to date. We know Everall flew this aircraft, that Everall Rapides have been described carrying a livery of this style, and that photos of a couple of Everall aircraft show a livery layout similar to this - what we can't find is the lettering style used on the fleetname, the precise colours of the blue and the striping, or whether AHPT actually carried this striped livery or whether it was unique to G-AGLR and AKZO. So, it's not intended to be fictional, but the best guess of what an Everall Rapide would have looked like based on the research I have to hand!

If people consider it based on too much supposition and fictional fair enough, I did it as much for my own amusement, but if people feel they want to use it to replicate Don Everall's Birmingham to Isle of Wight or Birmingham to Exeter services I can upload it.

I'll make a start on the Marathon next!

Mark..

You can only do so much and more often than not, working from written description and 'best guess' is as good as it's going to get. I don't find either of those liveries particularly attractive but.. given the evidence and lack of FS examples, I'll be more than willing to accept these as fair, honest representations of the real thing ;-)

Should further info come to light, then sobeit.

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Hi Again,

Sorry for the long delay but my computer had to go back to base for repairs. However, I've now done a Miles Marathon in Derby Aviation livery, and am just waiting on a courtesy mail checking with the author that he is happy with the repaint before uploading. I can then have a "marathon" :roll: loading session of the two Don Everall aircraft, the Wolverhampton Aviation Rapide and if Peter is happy, the DA Marathon as well. I'll also rework the Marathon with later Derby Airways titles as "Millersdale".

Again apologies for the longer than expected delay but at least they are ready to go now. So those of you desperate to fly Oxford to Jersey will soon have something to fly in...