[Stealth]

Does anyone know how to make a custom Orion name-plate?  someone requested it for my 'tutorials' page, but i don't know how to do it either ... if someone would tell me basically i'd experiment, but right now i've got no idea!  also, is this only for FS2 or do FS1 orions have nameplates too!

Let me know
thanks
~Stealth~

[Thor]

Please, someone tell him.  that would be useful in the T-V War project

[Petrarch of the VBB]

Simply open the original Orion blank nameplate in PSP, (I forget it's name) and add some text to it! If you want the text to look worn and weathered, then I can't help you.
Look on the VWatch archives for a mod that includes many nameplates (there is one) and ask its creator.

[Galemp]

Dark made those nameplates and he's gone. Making the 'painted' look is simple:

• Put your opaque lettering on a blank nameplate with the Stop font (on my page.)
• Open both your nameplate and the blank one in an editing program that supports layers.
• Add your nameplate as a layer on top of the blank one.
• Set the transparency how you like.

So you get semi-transparent text on a normal nameplate.

[Stealth]

yeah but i know SQUAT about MODding, so exactly how do i go about doing that.  what programs, etc.

if you give me enough help you can wear my avatar

[Stunaep]

well, you need a new Orion model, so just copy and rename the one you have, then copy the table data (use notepad to open ships.tbl and find the Orion entry), rename the POF File entry to the new Orion POF you created, then save.

Then you need to make the new nameplate. Instructions on how are stated above, so I'll skip that. When your nameplate is complete, save it in 256 pcx, as a new file (e.g. CustomOrion1.pcx). You don't want the nameplate to show on the regular Orion, right?

Now you need a POF editor. Either Kazan's PCS or the latest edition of Modelview will do. All you need to do, is to open the custom nameplated Orion POF, replace the current nameplate texture (simple rename thing), with the custom one, save and tadaa!

[Petrarch of the VBB]

You dont even need a pof editor, say you call the pof capital81, and all the maps xxx81, then open up the pof in notepad or a hex editor and change any refs to 01, to 81!

[CP5670]

I used to do that all the time in the old FS1 days...

One technique that I found useful many years ago was to copy and paste the individual letters from existing ships to form new names. Not quite perfect, but it works.

[Petrarch of the VBB]

Is that so? I'll have to try it.

But wont you be rather limited? You only have "Bastion" and "Galatea" to pick you letters from, what is you wanted "GTD Xozkom"?