Got it wrong there mate. I'd pretty much guarantee that we ALL like (and appreciate) weathering here but everything has it's day (moment) and it's likely that fighters are not flavour of the month at this moment in time.
As no one else has commented.. good as this paint is, the weathering looks selective mate. Panels.. fwd roundels and checkers have a tick.. fin RWB don't have the same degree, likewise the black lining on the wings.. anti glare on the nose.. cockpit surround.. roundels upper and lower wings.. underwing reg.. wingtop tanks look new and show tonal changes (especially the front section.. shot 3 and 4).
You're a talented bloke Ben but don't expect plaudits with every release mate. Call this constructive criticism (which is exactly what it is)
I think that Silver/Metal textures must be the most difficult ones to produce - simply because of the way that the light reflects from them. It can be very difficult to stop it simply looking like plain white at certain angles. Love the Lightning (and who doesn't? :dance: ) and a nice repaint you've done here me thinks.
Do you use Alpha Channels?
I have tried them in the past, but found that they were a little too uniform and made my plane look too "chocolate-boxy" and also had problems with the alpha swamping the finer details. Though admittedly, I'm by no means an expert in using them and in truth probably gave up with them too early! Repaints though are I think are personal, I read elsewhere, someone say they prefer cleaner looking aircraft - personally for me it's the dirtier the better - be brave with weathering stick some dark browns/yellows/greys and blues in there!!