Trials & Tribulations of Sarcoma & 3D Modeling

I have had to take an enforced break from any modeling actvities this last week due to the ravages of sarcoma and its treatment combined with infection.

However all is not bad. I managed to get a few hours work on the Snipe yesterday, and to say I am pleased with progress is an understatement. The exterior model is coming along nicely and I'm very pleased with the cockpit. I have decided to create an additional new texture map for the external model cockpit which will add a bit of time to the project as it will also involve a bit of remapping.

At times I find it hard to believe that this is my own creation. I hope others find it as much a pleasure to fly as I do. The only question is whether I'll have it finished before I have surgery which will be sometime in the next three weeks. I can tackle a few hours every other day at the moment. The poor old Fokkers will have to take a wee bit of a back seat for now..... this damn sarcoma!!! :( boo.... hiss.... etc. etc.

cheers

Rob

Diary of a Fokker Part 1: Decisions & Preparation

I was hoping to blog the progress on the Fokker D.VII as I work on it. Anyway first up one has to make a number of design decisions.

I am only a couple of days work into the project. Day 1 was mainly refreshing and reviewing my earlier research and reference material of which I have a great deal.

Day 2 was mainly spent scanning drawings and measuring them in Photoshop. For reference in 3DS Max I usually map reference drawings to the sides of a box, created to the dimensions of the aircraft. One has to be careful with published dimensions and I usually check and compare amongst a number of references before modeling. One thing I did learn early with WW1 aircraft is that one cannot just accept the published height of the aircraft. Frequently the mapped side view drawing had slightly oval tires when using published height dimensions. When it comes to the aircraft profile I usually measure from the highest point on the profile drawing, usually the top of the propellor, to the bottom of the tire. I measure length, height and wingspan in pixels and use proportional arithmetic to calculate the height in meters using published dimensions for span and length. I then create a box in 3DS Max using these dimensions. I convert the box to a mesh, invert the normals and then explode the mesh. Mapping the drawing is then relatively easy.


Fokker D.VII view box

As to decisions - the goal is to create a museum quality 3D model, as detailed as possible while still offering reasonable perf in FSX. The first decision is easy - target platform FSX. I am not planning on modeling the Fokker D.VII for any other flight simulations at this stage. I have no interest in FS2004 at this stage, CFS3 has OFF and Rise of Flight already has a very nice Fokker D.VII in the base package. The Fokker D.VII was built by 3 different companies, Fokker, Albatros and Albatros subsidiary OAW. This introduces visual variations, mainly in cowling and finish. The Fokker D.VII could also be powered by a number of different engines, Mercedes DIIIa 170 h.p., DIIIau 180 h.p. or BMW.IIIa 185 h.p. There are visual difference between the 3 engines. Additionally design changes, changes on the louvres, changes in exhaust type etc, were ongoing throughout the war.

Initial decisions made are to model at least one different model from each manufacturer and also at least one BMW IIIa model. Consideration will be made during construction as to cowling exhaust variations. Thus there will be at least 4 different visual models.

How detailed will we go? As the goal is to create a museum quality model it is intended to at least equal the detail inherint the Sopwith Snipe, only tighter and more accurate employing the experience gained in creating the Snipe and the earlier Bristol Fighter F.2B. This means every screw, bolt, nut, clamp, fitting that is visible in the cockpit, will be modeled. Expect highly detailed Spandau guns. I have a few experiments in mind, along the way so detail will be taken further. Externally I have yet to make a decision on how detailed I will model the engine or how much I will make visible. Tentatively I would like to have removable engine cowlings and panels.

I will start the model from the inside and model outwards. I have already started modeling the tube frame. At this stage I do not plan to model the interior structure of the wings, but will allow for that at a later date if I create a model for rendering also.

Other decisions - well heaps more has to be decided. At this stage whether it will be payware is not known. Hopefully it will be but that depends on how things go.

One other decision just made... revival of the Fokker D.VIII. This will be approached in the same way as the Fokker D.VII and use some of the same parts.... however at this stage the D.VIII will comprise of one visual model, probably FSX only (unless also for ROF?). The FSX version of the D.VIII is probably going to be freeware.



Now back to the Sopwith Snipe.

cheers

Rob

Fokker D.VII next on the production line

With having cancer in the form of sarcoma it's difficult making long term plans, however I can still model albiet in a stop/start and, at times, a haphazard manner.

At long last I've decided that the Fokker D.VII will be the next serious project for FSX, on completion of the Snipe. It's an aircraft I have started a couple of times before only to later scrap. And it's a good thing too as my modeling skills have improved greatly over the last 3 years along with much experience. Indeed the Fokker D.VII is second only to the Biff as a WW1 topic I am very fond of (mind you I've a whole list of favourites).

Basically the decisions were between WW1 or later aircraft such as the Bristol Bulldog, Hawker Fury/Nimrod, Curtiss P6E, Boeing F4-B/P-12, and if WW1, whether to adopt a themed approach i.e. moving from 1916 through to the end of the war or model aircraft that I like in any old order. I decided on the latter approach as these will probably be low cost payware for FSX. I've spent a small fortune on reference material over the last few years and it would be nice to recoup some of that.

I still hope to squeeze a freeware Sopwith Baby in there, sometime during the next 12 months. As the Baby's cockpit would be partly an artist's interpretation it's only fair that it should be freeware.

Next on the list are 3 Junkers early metal monoplanes, then looking into my crystal ball I can also see a member of the Albatros D series and a Sopwith Camel. I'd love to cover the SE5a too but that's been covered by a few others including Alphasim. Which Albatros ? .... that's a tough call .... I might group them in packs. Anyway these are very tentative and we'll see how I go. At least by posting these thoughts publicly they stand a chance of being followed through. I intend to stick with topics for which I have much reference material, thus the creation process will be much faster.

It's amazing how making a decsion can brighten oneself up.... in the meantime back to the Snipe, hopefully all the loose ends on the external model will be tied up by the weekend.

Happy simming :)

cheers

Rob

Cockpit almost there.....

Just three pics of the cockpit. I have a few days break then resume work the exterior next week. From now on the cockpit is mainly tweaking and fixing. Notice the lamp wires....? :)



cheers

Rob

Snipe WIP Pics - Sept 2008 #1

Hi reader(s) :) LOL - I'm having a bit of respite from radiation therapy and have manged to complete a bit more work on the Snipe i.e. the placards etc. I'm happy with the results. It's now more or less refining the cockpit textures and materials. The exterior model is fairly generic at the moment - I have a few bits and pieces to complete such as the tail skid bungy, and making the skid steerable and also have a few details such as the external cockpit and things such as filler caps to complete visually. I'm a bit behind where I would like to be, as the pain from the sarcoma was very severe for a while. It's now more manageable. Rock on!!!







cheers

Rob

Some Snipe Cockpit WIP Pics

I just thought I'd post the latest WIP pics of the Sopwith Snipe cockpit. I'm at the detail, dirt and specular stage of the cockpit now. These pics are all in simulator shots in FSX in DX10 mode. Hopefully the visuals will be complete soon. Yes that word again.... soon lol. I'd like to have the Snipe finished visually by the 21 August.... we'll see. After that sound and flight modeling. Hopefully the Snipe will be released by mid October.





Rob

Some Biff Stats

It's been a long time since I checked the download statistics of the various versions of my Bristol F2B. There are 3 versions - FSX, FS2004 and CFS3. The Flight Simulator versions are further broken down into 4 packages each. I was a bit surprised at the download numbers and their break up. Anyway as at 14 July 2008 ........

FSX - Base package = 17,224
FSX - Total all FSX packages = 38,292

FS9 - Base package = 3,340
FS9 - Total all FS9 packages = 9,783

CFS3 - total packages = 11,265

Total Base packages = 31,829

Total All downloads = 59,340

I think I can say the Biff has been a success. I'm especially surprised at the high number of downloads of the CFS3 version. Also note the low download numbers of the FS9 version. I don't know if these numbers can be extrapolated into possible payware success of other aircraft.

These download figures come from Sim-Outhouse, Simviation, Avsim & Flightsim.com. The FSX version was also distributed on PC-Pilot's cover disk and the Russian games magazine Igromania's cover DVD.

cheers

Rob

3D gauges and FSX.

Having cut my teeth in modeling for CFS3 I am a staunch believer in 3D gauges. Indeed I do not anticipate creating 2D gauges until I come to HUDS, MFD's, GPS etc. For ordinary needle based instruments I find them smoother and simpler to implement with little or no impact on performance (fps), especially for WW1 & WW2 fighters. The Sopwith Snipe uses 3D gauges as did the Biff. My other planned projects will use 3d gauges if they ever see the light of day.

Unfortunately cancer is a bit of a wildcard in my life presently, throwing a spanner in the works as to my planned projects. The only thing definite is the previously shown Sopwith Snipe, which I hope to complete visually this month, all being well. After that comes the F6F-3 (very much WIP for CFS3/FSX) and a to be decided jet, probably an F-84G, as learning exercises in aircraft of different genres for FSX. These are planned as freeware. I had planned to create payware WW1 aircraft also (and have several in WIP), however my personal circumstances are affecting these plans also.

cheers

Rob

(EDIT - 20 August 2008: I've reworked the F6F-3, but I'm in no hurry to complete it given personal circumstances and the excellent WIP F6F-3 being created by RealFlight. Any possible WW2 freeware projects are still TBD. The F-84G is still planned - though will be 2009 now as I'll concentrate on WW1 payware if I pull through on the health front after October.)

Dusting the Cobwebs

While my personal news last week was not good I'm continuing on with my 3D endeavours. They're therapuetic in themselves. It's going to be difficult to plan ahead at times.

My focus is on finishing the Sopwith Snipe for FSX which is in the middle of texture and material development stage.

I have had 3 weeks away from the Snipe to finish water and terrain mesh for the CFS3 ETO enhancement project. It's completed to the stage that the team can assess its worth with respect to the work involved in correcting the GSL to align with the terrain. Most of the work has been on creating water meshes much of which has to be hand edited. Most of the data in stock CFS3 is out of alignment with the SRTM data by a 100+ meters or so. The team are voting on it and I await their verdict. LOL..... I now know how politicians feel ;) A 'no' verdict will free me up to work on aircraft, though I will be dabbling in CFS3 scenery on a personal level, especially after radio therapy and surgery in the coming months.

The other aircraft I will be resuming is the F6F-3. It was originally intended for a Marianas theatre I was experimenting with for CFS3. It was put aside last year so that I could focus on WW1 aviation and also to accomodate surgery and recovery. It has always been planned to resume serious work on this aircraft in July 2008. The only thing that may change is the initial intended target platform which was CFS3. This may change to FSX as the initial platform target. However it depends on the amount of work involved. I've yet to set up material properties for the F6F-3. We'll see how things go ...... hopefully both platforms, but probably my last CFS3 aircraft even if I do.













EDIT: PS - With the advent of Realflight's F6F-3 and other priorities I've slowed up on work on the revised F6F-3. I hope to eventually complete at least one WW2 freeware aircraft however any decision will be after October 2008 ... maybe much later).

Cheers

Rob

For the time being........

.......I won't be posting much here. It's a case of here we go again with cancer.

For updates please check Rob's Cancer Journey

http://sarcomabattle.blogspot.com/

Hopefully I'll be back.

Rob