Some WIP Pics of the Sopwith Snipe.

Just to show that I'm really working on the revived Snipe again here are a few WIP pics all in FSX in DX10 preview mode. As you can see I've still a fair bit of work to do on the textures and materials. I've ear marked a few parts to change also.






Cheers

Rob

Any Interest in Sopwith Snipe for CFS3?

That's something that I'd like to know, now that I've revived the freeware FSX version. It would take a while more to convert i.e. part names, animations, model structure, LODS, damage model. Those possibly interested can PM me - robby88 - at Sim-Outhouse. I'm not sure if OFF Phase 3 will allow for 3rd party aircraft. Thus I need to know if there's any interest before going to all the trouble of conversion.

The revived FSX Snipe has a little bit of detail polygon work to be carried out. I might add turnbuckles to the exterior model. Mostly though it's texture and material work and also animations. I want to look at cockpit lighting also. There are many things I'd like to experiment with too. After that flight modeling, sound editing etc.... thus maybe a while yet... we'll see.

The new Sopwith Baby will be more reflective of my current modeling standards, though much of the cockpit will be conjectural as there are no photographs, that I know of, of the Baby's cockpit. The Sopwith & rigging manual drawings I have show the position of the main controls, fuel pump, tank and cables. I'll be using my knowledge of other Sopwith aircraft and fittings to complete the detail in the cockpit. I hope to create a Schneider version also. I say hope as I am still not clear on the health front. However I plough on regardless until something happens.

cheers

Rob

Edit - 9 June 2008 - So far 2 votes LOL - I don't know if that means I'll do it or not, especially as much is happening in my life at the moment.
Edit - 1 July 2008 - We'll see how things go, not much interest by others in the CFS3 version - so FSX only in the interim.
Edit - 20 August 2008 - I hope to start working on porting the FSX Snipe to CFS3 format next month. It will be very much an experiment and may not necessarily result in a CFS3 release.

Sopwith Baby it is then

After a night of agonising & loosing much sleep (LoL), hours of reading and a morning of web browsing I decided on the Sopwith Baby. At the end it was a toss-up between the Baby & a DH.2. As I preferred to make a seaplane, the baby won out. A few tentative aircraft fell by the wayside due to lack of information especially engine control & fuel management e.g. the Short 184 and Curtiss HS-2L. Along the way I encountered a number of aircraft I had never considered before...all seaplanes & flying boats.

Now back to 3DS Max and the all new Sopwith Baby. Let's see how long it takes.... :)

cheers

Rob

Footnote - The new Baby has been placed to one side while I focus on trying to finish the Sopwith Snipe before medical events intervene.

Reshuffling Projects

These last few days I have been working on and reviewing the Sopwith Snipe and also formulating possible future projects. Thus I've withdrawn both the Snipe [now rescinded ..see below] and Fokker D.VIII from my freeware lineup for the time being. These aircraft will be tentatively part of themed WW1 multi-aircraft packs, each focusing on aircraft of particular manufacturers. There is a very nice Fokker D.VIII wip being previewed in the forums at sim-outhouse... which looks as though it will appear for FSX as well as FS2004. I will most likely redo the Snipe from scratch as my modeling skills have greatly improved since first tackling that aircraft almost 3 years ago and I'm generally not happy with aspects of my model. The construction of the Snipe has been interrupted by the Biff, FSX beta testing and more recently cancer and its treatment.

I still intend one freeware WW1 release for FSX by mid year. Whatever I decide it will be all new. The Sopwith Baby model is all new, but I'm leaning towards an aircraft I haven't modeled before and won't fit in with my planned packs. Decisions.....mmmmm? Well off to sift through that pile of Windsock datafiles... ;)

cheers

Rob

[Edit - It's amazing how taking a break makes one look at things afresh. After spending time in FTX Australia Blue and flying a variety of aircraft I decided that the Snipe holds up well, even against some payware aircraft.... so this edition of the Snipe continues to live and is being worked on at this minute...stay tuned.... and will remain freeware. An all new Snipe at a future date, will hopefully be part of another product.

Rob - 19 May 2008.]