Rev 1.5 : Update the icon and add one Mirror2 with differernt glossness. The differences is :
1. Mirror looks more similar to the liquid glass effect; however, at the near to the direct sunlight angle, it looks like an normal F-35C which is the nature result of a glass.
2. Mirror2 is more metallic shinny which reflects at all angles, looks more consistant, but it is not the real thing, I hadd it just for better photography.
Background of the new stealth coating :
During the conflict with China, the US Navy deployed the F-35C in the carrier Ronald Reagan for months, and they discovered that the ferrite based radar absorption coatings of the F-35Cs are severely rusted. Also, intel shows that the Chinese aircrafts and missiles are using the IRST long distance IR radar systems which can see very clearly the F-35Cs from their huge heat emissions from the engines.
The USAF and US Navy hence are reconsidering the liquid crystal based stealth coatings as the next generation stealth coating as it could be no longer safe to fly the F-35C with the current coating when fighting against the Chinese military forces.
The liquid crystal based stealth coating :
The liquid crystal based stealth coating is kind of transparent sticker which sticks on the F-35C. Although the radar absorption is not as good as the ferrite based stealth coating, it can well absorbe the rippling waves along the aircraft contour which plays even a bigger role than the reflection from the surface of the aircraft. It can also diffuse the IR of the aircraft and confuse the IRST detection system equipped in the Chinese aircrafts and missiles. Another advantage is it is easier to keep the function during the long term deployments in the Ocean as it won't rust.
How does it look like ?
The highly reflective coating looks white from one angle, but looks completely dark from the other angle.
Nice but could we get some of those crescent shapes on the top of the wings going on like in venom0's livery - isn't this the right one, or am I wrong, it just has insane optical illusions going on so they don't always show up as clearly as in these pics:
https://twitter.com/cvvhrn/status/1560864315673960448?s=20&t=-2uVLYzkHn3teKOrPpeNNA
Either way this looks like the most challenging "livery" to represent realistically, kudos to you and venom0 for even daring to take stabs at it.
2 years ago
Well, I used the stock F-35C shape and the stock F-35C texture, but just trying to mimic the effect of the liquid crystal plates with maximizing the PBR parameters (Reflection and metallic); however, the directional full reflection of the liquid crystal seems to be not showing as well in the MSFS....
I am thinking if micro tweaking the NORM and with the implementation of DLSS from the next SU can make it better ?? ??
2 years ago
Josephm700
goggless
Wow..very interesting. Thanks for the background!
2 years ago
totheskies