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Lets start with some basics. The skin editor opens the "KoreaObj. tex" file and that is where all the offset texture bitmaps are stored. Every building, tank, truck, plane and blade of grass has a bitmap that is the "skin" for that object, except the aerial weapons which are 3d models by themselves and can't be modified at the present.
The process of changing "skins" is really a simple one once you understand it. We will use "Skin Editor" to exchange one bitmap for another. The original art provided in the sim, to the one that you desire. The offset texture numbers (skin) for each vehicle or structure can be found using F4 Browse.
1. Start by placing the skin editor and the artwork you want to use as replacements in the microprose/falcon4/terrdata/objects folder.
2. Make copies of your "KoreaObj.tex", "KoreaObj.lod" and "KoreaObj.hdr" files.
3. Now launch F4 Skin Editor. You will see under "Operation", 2 buttons, "Get Image" and "Set Image". You will also see a drop down menu marked "Bitmap" with choices for some textures, starting with F-16 Virginia Tail. You may choose the existing names, ( F-16 Virginia Tail, F-16 Body or F-16 Right Wing) or you can type in a number that corresponds to a skin (1182= Virginia Tail used in Campaign, 10= F-16 USAF body used in Campaign), etc.
4. Make sure F-16 Virginia Tail is selected and choose "Get Image". Now you get a "Save As" Dialog Box with a thumbnail of the image of the Virginia Tail. Type in "F16VirgTailOrig" and choose "Save". Now we have a backup of the original Virginia Tail art, just in case.
5. You are now back to the Skin Editor main menu. Now choose "Set Image", answer yes to the warning, browse to and select the image you wish to use to replace the original Virginia Tail art with, i.e., "Newtail.bmp", you get a thumbnail of the art you wish to use. Select "Open". You are now back to Skin editor and you may choose "Done". That is it! Repeat this process for each of the components listed below.
6. You can check your work by choosing "F-16 Virginia Tail" in the drop down, select "Get Image" and you can see what artwork is there. You can also see your work in "Tactical Reference". Choose F-16 and your new F-16 will appear as the model.
Now the details on the F-16 skins.
The Sim uses 3 different sets of offset textures, "skins" to depict the various F-16 aircraft. Some are named, (F-16 Virginia Tail) and some are numbered (1182, same as F-16 Virginia Tail). The texture "F-16 Virginia Tail" is used as tail art in TE and IA but the same tail art for campaign is the texture 1182.
To change the Sims original art to the new art replace the texture names and numbers listed on the left with the art work called out on the right.
40----------------------------40-body underside
F-16 Right Wing----------9-rwing-1186
F-16 Left Wing------------8-lwing
F-16 Wing Underside-----underside
F-16 Wing Underside 2---underside2
F-16 Body------------------10-body1 or 10-body2
F-16 Elevators-------------elevators
F-16 Virginia Tail---------tail art of your choice
39----------------------------39-nozzle
9-----------------------------9-rwing-USAF
8-----------------------------8-lwing
1077------------------------underside
1181------------------------underside2
10---------------------------10-body1 or 10-body2
1182------------------------tail art of your choice
1186------------------------1186-rwing-ROKAF
1187------------------------1187-bottom-ROKAF
1185------------------------1185-bottom-ROKAF
1188------------------------ROKAF Tail art
Here is a breakdown for the F-16 aircraft.
Bitmap Number or Name/Location used on F-16
USAF Tactical Engagement & Instant Action
40----------------------------Body underside
F-16 Right Wing----------Top Right Wing
F-16 Left Wing------------Top Left Wing
F-16 Wing Underside-----Bottom Right
F-16 Wing Underside 2---Bottom Left
F-16 Body------------------Fuselage
F-16 Elevators------------ Tires, speedbrake, l gear, top & bottom of stabilators
F-16 Virginia Tail---------Virginia Tail art
39----------------------------Engine Nozzle
USAF Campaign
40---------------------- Body underside
9------------------------Top Right Wing
8------------------------Top Left Wing
1077--------------------Bottom Right
1181--------------------Bottom Left
10-----------------------Fuselage
F-16 Elevators--------Tires, speedbrake, l gear, top & bottom of stabilators
1182--------------------Virginia Tail art
39----------------------------Engine Nozzle
ROKAF Campaign
40---------------------Body underside
1186------------------Top Right Wing
8----------------------Top Left Wing
1077------------------Bottom Right
1187------------------Bottom Left
1185------------------Fuselage
F-16 Elevators-------Tires, speedbrake, l gear, top & bottom of stabilators
1188------------------ROKAF Tail art
39----------------------------Engine Nozzle
Additional Tail art for USAF F-16's are numbers 1183, 1184, 1189, & 1190
You will notice that some art is common to all F-16 aircraft. You can see where you must change not only the "skin" for F-16 Virginia Tail but for #1182 as well, to have the new tail art in TE, IA and Campaign. You can also see that if you change the top left wing, #8 on your USAF F-16, the wing on your ROKAF F-16 will be that same wing and will not match the color of the rest of your ROKAF F-16.
Due to this "common" skin problem we have included complete new skins for both USAF and ROKAF fighters. You will need to change the skin on all 3 to achieve a correct make over.
The national insignia markings go on the top left and bottom right wing of the wings. The original art is mis-marked with both insignia called out on the top left and bottom left wing.
Other aircraft have 1 "skin" for the entire plane. For example, Type in 1127 next to Bitmap, choose "Get Image" and you will find the entire "skin" for the Mig 19. The F-4 is # 1115; the F-15 is # 1114, etc. The F-14 has 2 "skins" 1112 (body) and 1113 (tail). Please refer to the Offset Texture Number document to obtain the entire list.
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