Well, for starters, a layered template is exactly that... An image with layers of detail ie. Rivets, panel lines, or weathering. With a template, your workload for the skin you choose to create will be drastically reduced, as you won't have to add those rivets, panel lines and weathering.
Keep in mind, that some people consider a "one layer" pic of the skin with reduced colour, a template, which is not correct. A template should allow you to just add colour, and everything else is already there in the layers, and just needs to be adjusted by the skinner, (ie, the lightness/hue of the rivets/panel lines/weathering layers). All of the above mentioned layers should then appear on top of the colour scheme layer you come up with.
I have created a layered template for the bf109E with the rivets and panel lines, but did not include the weathering as that layer will take me about a year to perfect
http://airwarfare.com/sow/index.php?...tid=11&cid=315
Look for a skinning tutorial for the "old" IL2.. It's the exact same concept.
This one's a good one to get you up to speed...
http://www.mission4today.com/index.p...p=show&kid=484
Here's a site with pleanty of tutorials, tips and advice.
http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/forums/