I think this may well explain the Maturation Phase. You see, downloading and running a program, only to discover it is really a dog (no offense to the canine readers, who are no doubt corresponding with the equine readers about performing a little bodily harm on yours truly) really takes the starch out of the whole discover/investigate/pay/download cycle. I find there is an instant rush that occurs once I hit that “Click To Purchase” button. It is a short-term rush, but often may be extended when one finds the program an absolute gem. When it stinks, well, all that rush becomes one of guilt and anger. Who needs that?

So, I put the program away for a time, let it Mature, and once every trace of afterglow from the purchase has gone, plus a little while to see if there’s anything else new that I absolutely cannot live without, the program makes it to the on-deck circle. This is the stage in which the manual, which I have so lovingly printed (on three hole paper, naturally) and placed into a binder and labeled with some really spiffy Sharpie Gold and Silver pens, comes into play. Suddenly, there appear highlighters, stickies and page dividers, and the game is afoot! Now, if the add-on happens to be a dog, at least I’ve managed to get some enjoyment out of it!

For example, I am involved with FsPassengers, a gem if ever there was one. Part of this program involves creating ones own airline. Being the insufferable child that I am (just ask The Boss, she’ll tell you), I set off to learn about repainting aircraft in order to create my own personal airline. This resulted in, what else, a purchase (Rush --- > Afterglow). FSRepaint was added to my repertoire. This baby did not make it to the Mature phase, but rather went directly to the manual/highlighters etc. In no time, I was well on my way to creating (resurrecting, actually) my new carrier, YellowBird.

One thing you must know about repainting. It is a bitch to learn to do correctly. No, really. The basics are quite easy, and FSRepaint is quick and mostly effortless. But, to my critical eye and unpracticed hand, the results were less than satisfactory. The aircraft had the colors I wanted, but there was no depth, no character, no smudges or marks indicating use. Off to Google we go …

What a mistake! Right up there with Custer taking the advice of his buddy who said to him “C’mon, General, just one last stand and then you can go home…” Rather than bore you with the gory details, let me provide you with a few basics.

First, you must become intimately familiar with a freeware program called DXTBmp. Many thanks to creator Martin Wright, without whose creation I would have no hair at all left on my head. It may be obtained here: http://fly.to/mwgfx/

With this program, you navigate to your chosen aircraft texture file, usually found in the FS9/Aircraft/xxxx/texture. A bit of advice: COPY THE TEXTURE FILE FIRST! Work from the original if you like (I do), but always have that safety net for when you manage to create something totally awful, which believe me, you will. When you do, just rename the duplicate texture file to what the original was, and you’re back to square one.

So, we’ve installed DXTBmp and have navigated to the texture file of our target aircraft. Now, look only for those texture files that end with the letter “t”. For example, the default 737 is called “b737_T. On default aircraft, there are few. On many payware, there are lots. Open each one till you find the fuselage, elevator, and anything else your creative urge is telling you to paint. They open one at a time, and there is this terribly convenient button at the bottom of DXTBmp which, when pressed, neatly sends the texture file right to the paint program of your choice. This may be any paint program, freeware or payware. I believe you may even use the default paint program that comes with Windows. I was originally using PaintShop Pro 5, but have recently (translation, The Boss is gonna be pissed again) graduated to PaintShop Pro 9.

I am the last person you want to have giving you direction using a paint program. All I know, I’ve managed to figure out blindly. I didn’t have a manual for PS5 (thank you, eBay), but got one with PS9, and the things you can do are amazing! Be warned: this takes gobs of time. One other piece of advice: Use layers! Add that logo in its own layer, then a company name somewhere nice on the fuselage or elevator in another, then any grime or smudges you’d like to add to give the aircraft that “user friendly” look in yet another. The other thing to keep in mind is, this takes practice! You will find that your technique will improve with each one you do. And, there is a ton of resources on the web dedicated to repainting. Here are a few:

http://members.lycos.co.uk/mcwdainow/

http://graphicssoft.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=graphicssoft&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.xanthic.net%2Ftutorials%2FTutorials28-bottom-main.htm

http://www.graphic-design.com/Photoshop/tutorials/0409-06.html

http://www.wilsonsairspace.com/hlp/helprp1.html

One thing I’ve found particularly convenient about having started with FSRepaint. It permits you to see the results of your artwork without having to first open FS2004. Childish and lazy… how lucky can The Boss get?

A late breaking update: I’ve just read in a forum that the demo version of FSRepaint may be used for the purpose of previewing your artwork. Where was this guy when I was typing out my account number? Timing, people, timing!

So, when you find yourself looking at that icon on your desktop, and you can’t quite decide whether to click on it or not, you may be experiencing the Doldrums. Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valor, and you find yourself unable to justify a new add-on, or there just isn’t anything you find worthy of your hard-earned cash. Can’t quite motivate yourself to fly, but your desire to mess with flightsim remains. There is more than one way to skin the proverbial FS cat. Try repainting!

Three Green!

Chip Barber
rfbarber@optonline.net