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

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.]

WW1 Freeware line-up rationalised

Due to delays caused by personal factors, the desire to create aircraft for other eras, and the desire to create payware aircraft I'm reducing my WW1 freeware lineup for 2008 to just the Sopwith Snipe and Fokker D.VIII. I still hope to create a freeware F6F-3 and F-84, mainly as learning experiences before creating payware aircraft of these and later genres.

I may move forward on creating low cost payware WW1 aircraft (for FSX) once I formulate a strategy that I am happy with. Unfortunately health issues are still a bit of a wildcard, however I plan to move forward on the creation of a couple of aircraft, most likely WW1 or pre WW2.

cheers

Rob.

(EDIT - 20 August 2008 : As mentioned in later posts the Fokker D.VIII has, for now, been dropped as a freeware project and replaced by an all new Sopwith Baby, which should appear sometime during 2009).

Fokker D.VIII

I've mentioned this aircraft in previous blog posts. Anyway today celebrates my return to aircraft modeling after radiotherapy (I've been busy on CFS3 terrain work for a couple of weeks). Today I refreshed my memory on where I was at with the Fokker D.VIII, created new wheels and refreshed some minor smoothing issues on the prop. Most of the work so far is in the Oberursel and prop - about 2 1/2 days so far - less than 20 hours work including the prop and new Oberusel/Le Rhone.



The current delaying issue is the Spandau which I want to make as detailed as I can, for use in many other aircraft. These days I generally create an aicraft shell and then work from the inside out, hence the lack of struts at the present moment.

Cheers

Rob

PS: As per my earlier posts the Fokker D.VIII is only for FSX at the present moment. I'm not sure whether OFF Phase 3 for CFS3 will allow third party aircraft. If it does, and I receive enough requests I may consider a CFS3 version. If I did it may take a while for the CFS3 version to appear.

EDIT - August 20, 2008. As mentioned in subsequent posts the Fokker D.VIII is tentatively pla nned for a possible future payware release for FSX.