I've started working on a couple of new aircraft for CFS3/FSX - a F6F-3 and Curtiss SB2C-4. I'll be starting a TBF or TBM soon too. Not sure which version yet. I've heaps of ref material for these aircraft, one of the reasons I'm making them.
PS - I'm also trying to decide on a P-39 version.
Don't expect these soon....2008 sometime.
Rob
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Optimising & Painting the Snipe.
I am still undergoing cancer treatment & don't have much time for hobbies, but enjoy them when I can.
I've worked a little bit on the Sopwith Snipe for FSX. I reduced the number of materials on the model to reduce the number of gpu draw calls as per Adrian Wood's blog. I did not notice any increase in performance by doing so, even though I would have reduced the draw call count by about 30+ draw calls. The way I see things, draw call reduction mainly benefits AI objects, lower LODS of aircraft and autogen scenery objects. There is probably little or slight benefit say in a LOD400 model or virtual cockpit model a couple of draw calls here and there will not make much difference to perf. At least that has been my experience so far.
I notice some modelers/designers again agonising over vertix counts if they exceed 64k vertices. The FSX SDK SP1A x2mdl compiler issues a warning if that number is exceeded. However it is a warning only. The model will still compile correctly if the model is otherewise ok. What the warning does mean is that the vertices in excess of 64k will go into a second buffer & that will entail an extra draw call. On a virtual cockpit model that extra drawcall is not going to observably affect performance. Unless a modeler models everything bar the kitchen sink then it's unlikely that anyone will exceed 128k vertices on an interior model. Whether the forthcoming SP2 SDK changes things remains to be seen.
The resulting model is very shiny at the moment. Hopefully the specular maps will tone that down somewhat. I am now painting detail on to the textures of the external model.
Post script Oct 2, 2007 - I can't say too much at the moment, but the real benefits of using this approach will probably be more apparent in FSX:SP2 & FSX:Acceleration.
Rob
I've worked a little bit on the Sopwith Snipe for FSX. I reduced the number of materials on the model to reduce the number of gpu draw calls as per Adrian Wood's blog. I did not notice any increase in performance by doing so, even though I would have reduced the draw call count by about 30+ draw calls. The way I see things, draw call reduction mainly benefits AI objects, lower LODS of aircraft and autogen scenery objects. There is probably little or slight benefit say in a LOD400 model or virtual cockpit model a couple of draw calls here and there will not make much difference to perf. At least that has been my experience so far.
I notice some modelers/designers again agonising over vertix counts if they exceed 64k vertices. The FSX SDK SP1A x2mdl compiler issues a warning if that number is exceeded. However it is a warning only. The model will still compile correctly if the model is otherewise ok. What the warning does mean is that the vertices in excess of 64k will go into a second buffer & that will entail an extra draw call. On a virtual cockpit model that extra drawcall is not going to observably affect performance. Unless a modeler models everything bar the kitchen sink then it's unlikely that anyone will exceed 128k vertices on an interior model. Whether the forthcoming SP2 SDK changes things remains to be seen.
The resulting model is very shiny at the moment. Hopefully the specular maps will tone that down somewhat. I am now painting detail on to the textures of the external model.
Post script Oct 2, 2007 - I can't say too much at the moment, but the real benefits of using this approach will probably be more apparent in FSX:SP2 & FSX:Acceleration.
Rob
Monday, August 20, 2007
A brief break from aircraft modeling
I haven't really carried out much work in virtual aircraft creation in the last couple of weeks save for reviewing where I am at with the FSX Sopwith Snipe. I have mainly been concentrating in getting to grips with the CFS3 scenery SDK & terrain creation, with partial success so far.
I also have started radiotherapy which has been pretty painless so far, though I have been told things will get worse. Commuting to and from hospital, having lunch etc can take up to 4-5 hours each day all up, so I have less time for hobbies at the moment. I do however prefer living at home during all this. I'd be absolutely bored living in temporary accommodation near the hospital.
Cheers
Rob
I also have started radiotherapy which has been pretty painless so far, though I have been told things will get worse. Commuting to and from hospital, having lunch etc can take up to 4-5 hours each day all up, so I have less time for hobbies at the moment. I do however prefer living at home during all this. I'd be absolutely bored living in temporary accommodation near the hospital.
Cheers
Rob
Saturday, July 28, 2007
This week: a miscellany
Now that I am branching out into terrain & scenery creation, much of the past week has been involved in that pursuit. As I mention in my other blog that project will involve at least one PTO aircraft, at this stage, tentatively a Nakajima A6M2-N Rufe. I'd love to attempt a Betty or Emily but I don't have much interior reference material on these as yet.
This week's aircraft creation activities have focused on the Boulton & Paul Defiant. The most difficult part, the wing roots is over and the airframe now has wings. I'll wait until I have a rudimentary canopy and turret in place before I post any pics. I was also hoping to spend some time on the Snipe's textures last week. However I had a bit of running around on health matters, scans etc., and, as I mentioned, research on scenery matters has taken up much time (the Solomon Islands). I also spent a couple of hours getting the Me. P1112 into CFS3. It's now ready to have the cockpit constructed and the exterior painted. It looks nice, however I'm not sure what to do about an airfile as I won't have much time in the near future.
Rob
This week's aircraft creation activities have focused on the Boulton & Paul Defiant. The most difficult part, the wing roots is over and the airframe now has wings. I'll wait until I have a rudimentary canopy and turret in place before I post any pics. I was also hoping to spend some time on the Snipe's textures last week. However I had a bit of running around on health matters, scans etc., and, as I mentioned, research on scenery matters has taken up much time (the Solomon Islands). I also spent a couple of hours getting the Me. P1112 into CFS3. It's now ready to have the cockpit constructed and the exterior painted. It looks nice, however I'm not sure what to do about an airfile as I won't have much time in the near future.
Rob
Monday, July 23, 2007
Another New Blog : - Scenery Explorations.
I have decided to start another new blog devoted to scenery/terrain creation for CFS3 & FSX. It will also cover my explorations in the world of GIS.
http://scene-explore.blogspot.com/
This blog will primarily focus on aircraft creation & modeling.
Rob
http://scene-explore.blogspot.com/
This blog will primarily focus on aircraft creation & modeling.
Rob
Friday, July 20, 2007
This week... exploring the world of GIS
Continuously working on the Snipe was turning into a bit of a grind and created a need to refresh oneself. I spent a day working on a Clerget 9B engine for inclusion in a number of WW1 projects, however the continual focus on WW1 also requires a bit of a break. Add these factors to MS/Aces lack of interest in a new combat flight sim and the impressive recent release of Mediterranean Air War, MAW, I have decided to enter the world of scenery creation for CFS3. Given that I'll be in and out of hospital for cancer treatment/surgery in coming months, these project will be more dabbling than anything else. It will be the end of the year before I should be back on track. I'll possibly invest in a notebook computer to use later on while in recover/rehab.
Anyway it is refreshing to re-aquaint myself with the world of GIS. I had a strong interest in this a decade+ ago using software such as VistaPro on both the Amiga & Windows platforms.
Ed Wilson (gzr_groundhog) is probably the only person, to date, to really come to grips with scenery/terrain creation for CFS3. Ed's achievements include new maps/terrain for MAW and also a Korea War add-on for CFS3. http://www.koreanskies.com/
I initially hope to experiment with a small area...not sure where.
I'll post further updates & news of my experiments, including any software which may be of use.
The Sopwith Snipe will continue in small doses as will a Me P1112 for CFS3. Even working on it full time I would not be able to complete before radiotherapy so there is little point in rushing & focusing on the one project at the moment.
Rob
Anyway it is refreshing to re-aquaint myself with the world of GIS. I had a strong interest in this a decade+ ago using software such as VistaPro on both the Amiga & Windows platforms.
Ed Wilson (gzr_groundhog) is probably the only person, to date, to really come to grips with scenery/terrain creation for CFS3. Ed's achievements include new maps/terrain for MAW and also a Korea War add-on for CFS3. http://www.koreanskies.com/
I initially hope to experiment with a small area...not sure where.
I'll post further updates & news of my experiments, including any software which may be of use.
The Sopwith Snipe will continue in small doses as will a Me P1112 for CFS3. Even working on it full time I would not be able to complete before radiotherapy so there is little point in rushing & focusing on the one project at the moment.
Rob
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Sun Night WIP
It doesn't look like I've done a great deal to the Sopwith Snipe since Tuesday, but I have. I have remapped the external fuselage, decking & cowl at least twice and each time re-rendered the ambient occlusion maps. That of course meant redoing the external airframe for the interior model too.
I think I can say I can move forward now and concentrate on painting/rendering the textures, though I think I'm suffering from too much Snipe and might have a break for a couple of days.
I might start another aircraft or continue with one of the other WIPS? Trouble is some of these models were commenced some while back and I've changed techniques a bit. Also there is new info available on modeling for FSX.
I haven't forgotten CFS3 either. MS made a mistake in not continuing that franchise and there still a lot that can be achieved with that game engine as witnessed by MAW.
This is all very relaxing & therapeutic if approached at the right pace.
Rob
I think I can say I can move forward now and concentrate on painting/rendering the textures, though I think I'm suffering from too much Snipe and might have a break for a couple of days.
I might start another aircraft or continue with one of the other WIPS? Trouble is some of these models were commenced some while back and I've changed techniques a bit. Also there is new info available on modeling for FSX.
I haven't forgotten CFS3 either. MS made a mistake in not continuing that franchise and there still a lot that can be achieved with that game engine as witnessed by MAW.
This is all very relaxing & therapeutic if approached at the right pace.
Rob
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Tues Night Snipe WIP
Making the most of my time at the moment & thought I'd show a couple more WIP pics, one in games & one in 3DS Max. The textures are slowly taking shape. Much more to do.
Rob
Rob
Monday, July 09, 2007
Again & again
UV mapping that is :) .... however we'll get there. Still working on the Snipe. Time's a bit limited & will become more limited given my situation, however the Snipe is taking shape. I re-mapped the external model...mainly the fuselage and of course this meant re-doing parts of the VC also. Ambient occlusion rendering is a slow business but as one can see the results in the cockpit are effective.
Rob
Rob
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