Skyhawk

[Flyin Illini]

Mike, I don't care if this is in a PM, but how the heck do you paint so many aircraft so fast? What programs are you using? I use photoshop cs3 and it takes usually an hour to do cfg work, folders and paint a hornet squadron and make a call sign. You paint an astounding number so quickly, and I feel I'm near the top of my painting skill and can't go any higher lol.

[mikeblaze]

I have probably painted in excess of 5,000 aircraft in 13 years, and that is not an exaggeration. It's just sheer numbers over time, and not trying to be the best painter in the world. That cuts down supremely on the stress of never quite achieving perfection. I had over 3,400 uploads to AVSIM (and about 100 to the old PAI site) when AVSIM got hacked in 2009. I lost about 1,500 files (along with everybody else who lost files), but fortunately I am a computer file hoarder and have everything backed up on two different systems; plus I religiously rotate hard drives every eighteen months or so to avoid crashes. I bundle-uploaded most of my files back to AVSIM, and am now in the unique postion, in a hundred files or so, to be the only contributor to break 3,000 uploads to AVSIM twice.

As for Photoshop, I've only used it on the last 1,000 paint projects or so, but it's very focused learning to make the program do what I need it to do, not trying to get my head around the vast and powerful features of the program. I figured out how make custom paint brushes in Photoshop, and that first got used in the MiG-21 project, but it is going to be very handy with the USN/USMC Aggressor package I am cooking up after I release all of the base models.

You ask me the time, and I teach you how to build a watch...... that's how I paint so fast.....

[Flyin Illini]

Thanks for reply, that's where the time bug gets me. I really really try to get at 100% accuracy as best I can, I've gotten most military fonts and have used photoshop for 5+ years and its amazing. I do use advanced features as I've continued to learn it and learn more each day. If you ever have any questions about it, send me a pm. I look forward to painting these great models.

[DaleRFU]

I have probably painted in excess of 5,000 aircraft in 13 years, and that is not an exaggeration.

Wow 5000 aircraft, thats impressive.

[mikeblaze]

Here is the 4th installment of my Squid/Jarhead Scooters project, the TA-4F and TA-4J. The emphasis of painting was on utility and training units, so a lot of white and ornage here. I promised paint kits with this release to a couple of people, but I am holding back just a little bit, because I am still doing some unique models for the upcoming Blue Angels and Aggressors packages, so let me have my last little bit of modeling fun with this, and I will make good with paint kits in short order.

In a shameless moment of the snappy humor I am so well known for, I am taking bets on how long it takes for somebody to ignore the text and ask if I am planning on doing Blue Angels or Aggressor packages.........

Have fun with it, as usual....

MP

[mikeblaze]

Almost forgot, this package should be available at AVSIM by this evening, just uploaded it.....mp

[gsnde]

...
In a shameless moment of the snappy humor I am so well known for, I am taking bets on how long it takes for somebody to ignore the text and ask if I am planning on doing Blue Angels or Aggressor packages.........
...

This is border-lining with 'pun indented', Mike

[jcapde]

At the beginning of this topic was a picture of A-4S/SU and the very particular TA-4S/SU. I am loocking forward these models. Living in the southwest of France i can see them in fight above Atlantic Coast beachs. What a noisy show! But Aermacchi M-346 will replace them soon...

Jacques

[mikeblaze]

Just released a substandial service pack that covers nearly all of the USN/USMC Skyhawk model sets. This update is mostly comprised of updated models, but also fixes some textures here and there, and sorts out a config/air file conflict on the TA-4J. As a sweetener, I threw in the A-4F/TA-4F Blue Angels aircraft.

[mikeblaze]

Just a note to everybody....

I am not disappeared, but I am slowed down significantly for the moment. I suffered a significant line-of-duty injury to my shoulder at the end of March (torn rotator cuff), and am trying to rehab and avoid surgery. As a result, I have been put on a light duty profile at my fire department, which actually forces me to go in to work more days a week; therefore I have had significantly less time to model in the off hours. I'm not quitting by any means, but my usual meteoric pace has been fractioned for the time being. I have a couple of things near completion on several of my threads, so I will be posting more pics and projects as I can manage.

I have to clean up some foreign operators, re-do my first Kuwaiti models (horrendous, but a learning experience), and I think this project will be sorted out.

[lewis]

You take care of yourself first, that is more important now. Wishing the best, Lewis

[mikeblaze]

Just to let everybody know, I am on the verge of posting some new pix here of the next Skyhawk chapters (Argentina and Brazil), but will be taking a short halt due to terrible events yesterday in my home state, affecting a fire department literally right next door to mine. I personally knew some of those kids, and my stake in the loss is pretty significant; and I can only imagine the depth of loss for their families, loved ones, and immediate co-workers. So, if you grant me this moment of pause, I will certainly make it worth your while on the back side. I have already received some touching messages from some friends in the hobby, and I thanked them from the bottom of my heart.

Mike P.

[AndyG43]

Mike, I know how you feel; I knew some of the Welsh Guards caught in the Hyde Park bombing back in '82 (one of my workmates was an ex-Guards Colour Sergeant, hence the connection). My condolences to you, and to all affected in this terrible event.

[bismarck]

My condolences Mike.

Giorgio

[Victory103]

Agree Mike, take your time. Got in-laws in PHX with brother-in-law PHX PD. Closer to home here in TX, with the West explosion up the road, 1st responders showing just how serious they take their job and tragically how dangerous they job is.

[mikeblaze]

I have always said that this hobby was a great stress-reliever for the things I have seen in my career; those things over thirty years are the trade-off for being in one of the 'heroic' professions (although I would never admit it myself). Anyways, in-between some busy things going on here with regard to taking care of so many fallen firefighters, I had some off-time to do this; keeps me more or less sane at a time like this. These projects will be posted sometime in the next couple of days to AVSIM, just washing them through Martin's checker program to do last-minute adjustments, and one spine light adjustment to allow for the Argentine avionics. My head's not quite into it as it normally would be, so I am being a little more thorough in packaging. This is a mix of retro and current, you can tell by the paint which is which, lol.

[mikeblaze]

... and some more

[mikeblaze]

.... and not to forget the last one....

[Firebird]

They do like nice, now we can actually recreate the Falklands '82, more or less, once JYs Harrier collection is complete.

[mikeblaze]

Since those Brazilian Scooters are surplus Kuwaiti, you gotta know that the original releases I did (Kuwait, Indonesia, Malaysia) are being brought up to the 'version-2' standard as well for re-release. Those and the long-awaited Singapore variants will round out this project.