HiRes Weathered P47c Thunderbolt "56th.FG,61st.FS." for Emil's ETO 9th.USAAF.& 2nd.TAF Campaign

This Weathered P47c (circa: May 1943) skin (HV-W) is based on an aircraft of 
the 61st.Fighter Squadron, 56st.Fighter Group of the 8th.USAAF stationed at Horsham St.Faith, 
England engaged in the Allies Battle for Europe. 
One of the most successful Fighter Groups in the ETO with a total of 1000+ German fighters to it's credit.

This aircraft "Little Butch" was the mount of Captain Robert Wetherbee 'A'Flight Commander. 
Capt.Wetherbee was shot down 26th. June 1943 when the 56th.FG. was bounced by 
Fw190s of JG2 near Forges, Belguim. The 56th. providing support for B-17s that were withdrawing after 
bombing the air depot at Villecoublay near Paris. Being at a height disadvantage the 56th. 
was badly mauled by attacking Me109s and Fw190s. At the end of the 20 minute air battle the 56th. 
lost four of it's pilots and could claim only 2 Focke-Wulfs as destroyed. 
As an aside: Capt. Wetherbee's squadon CO. Maj. Loren McCollom's aircraft was called "Butch".
  
The aircraft's colour scheme and Squadron markings where derived from a coloured aircraft 
profile plate found in the "Osprey Aviation Elite #2" Publication (2000) "56th. Fighter Group" 
series by Roger A. Freeman. The colours are as accurate as possible with the use of standard EAW Palette. 
Further reference material came from a 1998 Squadron/Signals Publication 
"Thunderbolt-The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in the European Theatre" by Ernest R.McDowell.... 

Special thanks to Alessandro Borges for his excellent EAW Batch File Converter V1.5 Utility...

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original HiRes P47C Modder Notes:
Due to the increasing number of files required, in order to minimize the download size, 
the pcx files are not included. However, do not fear, the zip file contains a batch file, P51BHRTPC-PCX, 
for converting tpc to pcx using gpmTpc2Pcx.exe for those who want to try their hand at skinning. 
Simply place this file and the accompaning file, gpmTpc2Pcx.exe, 
in your folder containing the tpc files and execute. 
This batch file is courtesy of John "Chompy" Masters who also created the 3d model. 
Much thanks to you John!


USE.
Simply extract all the files into your EAW folder, or install into your skin manager program as it's 
instructions reccomend. To uninstall, just delete the files listed below.

The new High res 3dz set for the P-51 B is based on the same 3dz's from the P-51 D, 
with a few changes to get the look right, and incorporate the Malcolm hood sliding canopy.  
The cockpit 3dz's have also been altered to add a few changes I thought neccessary -
1.  Wide view armour added
2.  Bars removed to match Malcolm hood view,
3.  "Deflection" type gunsight/instrument panel
4.  High res wingview added.

The new 'Damaged Torn Off Wings' (TOW) and 'roughly torn off' wing stub have been added to the aircraft 
to give more realistic looking damgage FX.

The only changes to the main file set (when compared to the D's files) are the inclusion of 
separate TOW damage PCX's.  The Complete file list and their uses are as follows-

PP51bA.3dz = 3dz file for the Left rear fuselage and tail
Pp51bB.3dz = 3dz file for the Right rear fuselage and tail.
Pp51bC.3dz = 3dz file for the Cockpit area.
Pp51bE.3dz = 3dz file for the Right wing.
Pp51bF.3dz = 3dz file for the Front fuselage, left and right
Pp51bG.3dz = 3dz file for the Left wing.
Pp51bH.3dz = 3dz file for the Gunst type transparent shadow.
Pp51bL.3dz = 3dz file for the Left Torn Off Wing (TOW).
Pp51bM.3dz = 3dz file for the Medium Distance Model (MDM).
Pp51bP.3dz = 3dz file for the Propellor.
Pp51bR.3dz = 3dz file for the Right Torn Off Wing (TOW).
Pp51bS.3dz = 3dz file for the Long Distance Model (LDM).
Pp51bU.3dz = 3dz file for the High res Wingview.
Pp51bV.3dz = 3dz file for the Cockpit - left side.
Pp51bW.3dz = 3dz file for the Cockpit - right side.
Pp51bY.3dz = 3dz file for the in cockpit view of the prop.
Pp51bZ.3dz = 3dz file for the Gunsight and seat.

Pp51bFRT.pcx = file for the FRonT fuselage L and R (F.3dz)
Pp51bLEX.pcx = file for the Left wing (G.3dz)
Pp51bLTW.pcx = file for the Left Torn off Wing (L.3dz)
Pp51bMEX.pcx = file for the MDM and LDM (M and S.3dz)
Pp51bREX.pcx = file for the Right wing (E.3dz)
Pp51bRTW.pcx = file for the Right Torn off Wing (R.3dz)
Pp51bTEX.pcx = file for the cockpit, shadow, prop and cockpit prop (C,H,P and Y.3dz's)
Pp51bTLL.pcx = file for the TaiL Left and rear fuselage (A.3dz)
Pp51bTLR.pcx = file for the Tail Right and rear fuselage (B.3dz)
Pp51bTRA.pcx = transparency file for the TEX file
Pp51bV.pcx   = file for the cockpit (V and W.3dz's)
Pp51bVTR.pcx = Transparency file for the cockpit (clear glass gunsight mod)
Pp51bWNG.pcx = file for the High res wingview (U.3dz)
Pp51bX.pcx   = file for the cockpit guages (X.3dz) 

The X.3dz (guages) is not included.  It's the only file I haven't altered!!

As always, there are still a few rendering issues that I have been unable to solve.  
This 3dz is optimized for D3D, but if there is demand, I can work on a separate Glide 3dz.

PCX files have been omitted ONLY to save space.  If you want the PCX files, 
D/L the P51B HR TPC-PCX batchfile from my site.  Likewise, if you want to do a skin for these 3dz's, 
D/L the P51B HR PCX-TPC batchfile.  Both batchfiles convert all 14 texture files with a double click.

**** Skinners take note -  The PCX's with this aircraft use different palettes.  
Save and use the palettes that the PCX's come with unless you want spotty problems!  
The FRT, TLL, TLR and TEX use a modified 'blue' palette, LTW and RTW use a modified palette, 
and the rest use the default Mustang palette (from memory!).  I have blank skins if anyone wants them *****

Thanks to All who helped with the original P-51D HR model, 
Salty for the great textures which make up the base skin and the MEX, 
for the aircraft/pilot info at the top of the page, and for great construction and skinning detail help. 
Mr J for his Malcolm hood version of the D (the C.3dz uses this) and for his transparency ideas on non-TEX files,
JWC for the wide view armour idea,
Peregrine for the Deflection gunsight idea.
Migge for the cockpit and guage textures
Sorry, thanks and S! to anyone I forgot.

Feel free to send any comments, questions, feedback etc.

John "Chompy" Masters,
4th January 2003.
jdmasters@ozemail.com.au
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~jdmasters/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Skinner Note:
Would like to extend my personal thanks to John "Chompy" Masters for his excellent work in making the 
movable flaps and sliding canopy addon for this sircraft model plus the remodelling of the verticle 
and horizontal tail assembly.
This particular skin was developed to be used in the P47C Slot for Emil's 9thUSAAF/2ndTAF Campaign.....
Install the *.3dz & *.tpc files into your EAW directory.....

Enjoy and watch your six....

David "Skylark" Phillips     