The idea behind this personal project was to create assets for a simple top down WW2 plane shmup, based on my very first computer science project from high school. The original used 2D vector graphics and for this I wanted to upgrade to 3D for 2.5D gameplay. The plane assets needed to be low poly due to their very small size on screen but still be detailed enough for some closer shots and to support a more realistic PBR texture. Historical accuracy was a critical part of the development and design of these assets but some changes were made in the interest of gameplay and fun.
This particular asset, the P-51D Mustang, represents the player. The player's goal is to destroy all enemy planes while also protecting allied bombers, who could be damaged by those enemies that make it past the player intact.
P-51 Turntable