Ok, so i'm thinking about starting a VA, but i need some help. I'm wondering, how do i get planes in my VA colors? I am an active photoshopper, so i could make my own logo, and airplane colors, but i have no idea on how to actually paint the planes. And where do you get the planes you wanna use from, and the panels? Do people use already existing freeware or payware planes? Or do they get someone to do the plane and panels themselves? And in that case, where? Regarding to website, i have some experience in building websites, so that's not an issue.Any and all tips will help, thank you.- Norwegian.

Hey Norweigian, re the repaints most payware aircraft supply a paint-kit which is basically a layered photoshop file. All you need to know about painting you can find out here at avsim in the following forum:http://forum.avsim.n...painters-forum/If you want to get the VA started quickly though you may be better off trying to find someone who already knows how to do repaints based on your designsAnd re payware vs freeware aircraft, most VAs will have a fleet list and allow staff to use either (usually) payware or freeware models, this does mean you have to do two repaints for each model, but not everyone can afford to buy every payware aircraft in your fleet.Good luck, keep us posted on progress :)

Thank you for your answer :)Do you know where i can get some freeware planes that comes with, or has downloadable paint kits? And also, do you know where i can get panels for various planes?Thanks :)

Dude, have you heard of avsim.com??? :)Seriously, use the file library and you will find all the panels you could want. Re paint kits your best bet is to get them from the website of the original model developer. Google is your friend

Definately go to Avsim or Flightsim.com and search the library for 'paint kit' or 'paintkit' plus whatever plane you are using. All of the Project Opensky or Posky planes have paintkits, same for the airbus models from IFDG and Project Airbus. Also the SGA, Tin Mouse, and Kitty Hawk planes. Im an avid paint kit hoarder myself, so if you have any trouble finding any, let me know.

A lot of it depends on what kind of VA you want to build. Do you want to use big tubes, vintage airliners, or smaller general aviation aircraft? We use a lot of payware aircraft and scenery, but we do our best to build our routes so that people who can't afford oodles of payware can still fly with us. With us, Premier Aircaft Designs provides freeware for most of the aircraft we use. Actually, the default FSX fleet is pretty good when you look at it. You have to be aware that not everyone is willing to spend hundreds of dollars on addons in order to fly with your VA. The paint thing is not that big a deal except maybe for screen shots. We really don't care what livery our guys are flying in as long as they are flying. YMMV.

Hey Syd, just wanted to say am impressed w your VA website and the whole concept as published. Looks like a really positive philosophy, very refreshing.@Norweigian - let me know how you get on locating repaint kits etc, I work for Tandberg (a Norweigian company) and have been to Norway a couple of times. Would be happy to help you and paint a couple of liveries once you settle on a design

Thanks, Dean. We definitely "march to a different drummer." Our CEO refuses to even use the term "virtual airline."

I've been painting aircraft since 1998 and it seems with each new version the tiles get more difficult. I won't even try FSX anymore, I have some PMDG and most of the POSky kits, as wells as the iFDG. Once you learn how though, you'll have everyone and their brother knocking your email door down wanting you to paint for them. Best advice it to take a while and learn for yourself.

Yeah some kits are a nightmare huh Pete, once you have one sussed I find it best to bash out a few repaints while it's trips and traps are fresh in your mind. I'm in the middle of doing some for the Simcheck A300 which actually has a real nice kit

The ones that give me fits are the one that have the fuselage in three or more sections. It is so hard to get the stripes to line up, and I'm pretty good with Photoshop.

Dean I liked the POSky kits because most gave you a profile of the complete aircraft, all of the tiles and tail already lined up. Erick Cantu did the same thing with his 2006 EMB-120 for FS9, that made it so much easier. Some of PAD's aircraft are like that plus they're frame friendly, and that's what a lot of folks forget. They want these high poly aircraft that kill frame rates, I try to explain find one that flies decent and get yourself a great panel and sound package. I mean, where do you fly; from the cockpit or from spot plane? It's nice to have a good looking fleet but if some of your guys are flying a slideshow where the fun in that?

Yeah some kits are a nightmare

You should see the paint kit for the Wilco 737 Evolution. Yikes!

Hello again! Thank you deeknow, i'll be in touch when i've decided on the paint scheme :) I'm currently in the process of getting myself a domain, and a buddy of mine is helping me out with a website, it isn't up yet, and probably wont be for a while, i'll keep you updated :) But what i have decided on, is the name, and i have made myself a logo to go with it. I'll attach it below, it's a wallpaper in size 1920 x 1080 :) If anyone have any suggestions on paint scheme to go with the logo, please share them :) Thanks for helping guys :)

And by the way, does anyone have any experience with the Integrated Pirep System? Can anyone tell me about it? What do you think is the best pirep system? Thanks.