Archive for the ‘Gear’ Category

New and improved Tako sail template

Thursday, August 17th, 2006

The TGA sail template for the Flying Tako allows for some wonderful customization of this lovely little sailing vessel. Alan Kiesler has made it even easier for users of Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro; he’s created files for both graphics apps that include all the alpha channel information and a layer for your own graphics, greatly simplifying the process of making your own custom sail.

I’ve replaced the template download in my original article with Alan’s template package; follow this link to download his generous efforts.

Flying Tako sail template

Thursday, June 29th, 2006

UPDATE: Alan Kiesler created fabu Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro versions of the template, which supercede the original TGA-only version I posted on this site. See below for the download link. Thanks, Alan!

First, the bad news. Due to recent snafus on the Second Life forums (SL account required), the sail template Kanker Greenacre provided for customization of his lovely Flying Tako sailboat disappeared. The topic in which the file was posted on the forums seems to have fallen into a digital black hole, and not even the mighty Torley Linden was able to retrieve it.

The good news: I talked to Kanker, and he mailed me a copy of the template, which I am now hosting.

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Flying Tako 3.1

Wednesday, March 15th, 2006

(right)Flying Tako photo
My favorite vehicle in SL got an extensive facelift. The newest Flying Tako is a sailboat powered by Second Life’s own wind, and it is both fun to sail and easy on the eyes.

The Tako 3.1 sails just as nicely as its predecessor, the 2 series. You have the option of propelling the Tako with SL’s native wind, a fixed “practice” wind, or “race” wind provided in official races. But this is all old news to anyone who’s sailed a Tako before.

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