F-86F Sabre profile

[Skyraider3D]

Hi all,

Yes I am not mistaken, I am indeed posting in the 2D section for a change! :D

I was asked to make a profile illustration of the Sabre and rather than spending lots of time making a 3D model I decided to do it 100% in 2D. Since the profile only needed to be in web resolution, it meant I could do it in a few evenings opposed to a few months (or years! :lol:).

http://skyraider3d.military-meshes.com/gallery/F-86F-25_52-5277_profile.jpg

The profile shows F-86F-25 Sabre, 52-5277, as assigned to 1st Lt. William Campfield and 2nd Lt. Robert F. Escalle with the 45th Fighter Squadron, based at Sidi Slimane air base in French Morocco in 1954.

I hope you like it! :)

Jim Escalle made a website about his father's flying career, which can be found here: http://www.jimmylescalle.com/robert_escalle_photo_scrapbook.htm
He also made a website about the 45th FS, here: http://www.45thfs.com/

[kevjon]

For a 2D profile it looks very 3D. Excellent stuff !

[rodrigomierh]

nice job, i like the metal finish a lot, especially around the tail, it looks spot on.

[franken_johan]

For a 2D profile it looks very 3D. Excellent stuff !

Agree with Kevjon. It looks very 3D. I swear I can see the bump and reflection maps! Also the environmental reflection from below looks not like the natural, clean and crips 2D as I'm used to. This is meant as compliment :D

[Mirko]

This looks beautiful! Great work Ronnie!
:salute:

[Hitori Kyo]

great work, no crits what so ever !

- Hitori kyo

[Demons7th_Delta]

One of my favs.. funny before you posted this, I snagged a few prints of this bird maybe to do in the future :)

[falcon012]

Superb profile Ronnie. Just as super-detailed as your 3D work. Everything looks perfect - reflections, shades, colors. Very realistic.

[Skyraider3D]

Thanks very much guys! I'm glad you enjoyed my little excursion into 2D profiles. I know I did :)

[Igitur]

Superb, very nice!

[MagnumHB]

Agree with Kevjon. It looks very 3D. I swear I can see the bump and reflection maps! Also the environmental reflection from below looks not like the natural, clean and crips 2D as I'm used to. This is meant as compliment :D
Yeah, theres definitely something more tactile to it then just the regular weathering you see on the average profile. Coming from a 3D background must have helped a lot in that regard.

[Galgot]

I don't believe you Ronnie ! I can see a nice bump map there...:lol:
Very nicely done ! :cool:

[kiwi123]

Great stuff ! Where's the pilot ? :lol:

[Skyraider3D]

I can see a nice bump map there...Close! It's a line drawing layer, with the Emboss filter applied to it and set to Overlay blending! ;)


Where's the pilot ?He just dropped his contact lens!
Seriously though, I really don't like the look of pilots in a profile illustration. Claes Sundin for instance has a habit of adding pilots to his profile illustrations (although on the prints he sells they seem to be removed). Though they may add life, I prefer the look of a profile without occupants :)

[Supah]

Nice to see someone else doing jets in profile too :) I was starting to get a bit worried with all the props.

[Zaraza]

Nice profile Skyraider. Good shading.

I noticed a couple of things though, that seem to be a bit off to me.

First, is the general shape of the plane.
The nose seems to be too thin and sharp and the belly (from bottom lip of the intake and to the leading edge of the wing) is a bit too "curvy." There is something going on with the fuel tanks - either too small and too far forward or it has to do with their shape. The fin is too tall and plane's tail pipe appears to be too thin. I am attaching a composite image showing a photo of an actual F-86F overlapping your profile. Also attached is an original photo and a link to it's original location. http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0984898/L/

Second, is markings.
The fonts used on the profile (FU-277 and the serial on the tail) don't match those used on the actual aircraft. Please see attached image of an F-86 from the same unit and time period. The link to its original location is also provided. http://www.45thfs.com/airborne_photos.htm

And lastly, in my personal opinion, the plane looks like it is made from clay and then painted with silver paint. Not sure how to explain this, but it doesn't seem (to me) to have this metallic skin look.

I hope you don't mind these minor crits, otherwise - great profile.

Zaur

[Skyraider3D]

Thanks for the comments, Zaur.

The shape of the F-86 comes from the Matsuba Minoru drawing. Though not perfect, it was close enough of a match.

I believe the font I used is correct though. The airplane you show is a different machine. I had a number of photos to work from and they seemed to show the angular font.

As for the metal finish... I know what you mean. Where the sky reflection stops it looks a bit gritty. I somehow couldn't completely get rid of that effect.



I had a better look at my reference material and you are right... it does use a different font! Well spotted.

I forgot to mention...
There is something going on with the fuel tanks - either too small and too far forward or it has to do with their shape.The tanks shown are ferry tanks. The tanks on the photo are much smaller.
There were three or four different varieties of tanks for the Sabre. The ones I have are correct for the 45th (I actually added the smaller ones at first and was corrected by Jim).

Thanks again for your help. If I find the time, I'll update the profile.

[Lukem]

Superb work - love it!

Do you mind me asking what software you used to paint it?

[Skyraider3D]

Just Photoshop :)