Gday folks,
Here's a quick render (very early WIP) of a beloved aircraft that is sorely missing in FSX. I've seen several projects come and go around the traps and its a shame none have come to fruition. This is my first proper project and I can tell you its a steep learning curve. It would be a dream to actually finish this project (couple years maybe ;D) because I think it is one of the most beautiful aircraft well ahead of its time. 8-)

If anyone has any pointers or helpful tips/material, it would be massively appreciated it. I'm also looking for some High Quality 3 view drawings/blueprints. :)

http://www.simviation.com/phpupload/uploads/1315851987.jpg

Thanks for looking. :)

Cheers
Mitch

Looks nice, but please tell me you are going to increase the polycount on that!   ;)

Xpand wrote on Sep 12^th, 2011 at 7:36am:

Looks nice, but please tell me you are going to increase the polycount on that!   ;)

Oh indeed, like I said a very early WIP. I might restart the fuselage once I find some HQ blueprints. ;)

You have to sign up for a free account to get a high res, but here you go: http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints/modernplanes/modern-sa-st/20243/view/starship/

I can't wait to see this thing in FS! :)

There's one at a museum in town....when you get to detailed work I can try to get you some pictures. 

RaptorF22 wrote on Sep 12^th, 2011 at 3:13pm:

You have to sign up for a free account to get a high res, but here you go: http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints/modernplanes/modern-sa-st/20243/view/starship/ I can't wait to see this thing in FS! :)

Thanks, I already found the exact same high res blueprint elsewhere. I was hoping to find something much more detailed though.


Jayhawk Jake wrote on Sep 12^th, 2011 at 6:12pm:

There's one at a museum in town....when you get to detailed work I can try to get you some pictures.

Thanks for the offer Jake. I'm quite jealous you have the chance to visit a Starship, is it the one at The Kansas Aviation Museum (NC-41)? There are a few still around in Kansas.

You couldn't believe the joy I had when I found out there was a Starship in Australia. It's in a different state but one day I have to go check it out. :D

Just a quick update. Pretty much everything was completely re-done since the last shot. I'm satisfied with the fuselage and canard mesh, still a bit of shape work on the wings. Engines and tip sails are next.

Any questions feel free to ask. :)

http://www.simviation.com/phpupload/uploads/1316227237.jpg

Thanks for looking. :)

Cheers
Mitch

Another update, fuselage was re-adjusted after discovering my 3-view's weren't to scale ( :-[). Added a few little details here and there, inlcuding landing gear. I want to completely re-do the engine nacelle, I'm having trouble with its complex shape and mating it to the wing but all part of the learning process. :)

Incase you missed it, early export attempt into FSX, no problems on that front.

http://www.simviation.com/phpupload/uploads/1317690774.jpg

Thanks for looking. :)

C&C welcome
Cheers
Mitch

Looking great, Mitch!! :)

Thanks Raptor. :)

Well, its exactly one month ago when I started this project and its amazing to see how much progress has been made since the first preview. Currently adding all the little details, you can't really see in this picture but the canards have the correct 23 vortex generators on each. The tipsails also have these little vortex generators. According to gmax its around 93,000 polygons, after optimization it sits around 60,000. Next will be cutting the control surfaces, wheel wells, vents, doors and windows. Animation and texturing will come in time, if I can learn how to do them. ;D

Latest build successfully exported into FSX pics here

Here's a small preview of the latest build:

http://www.simviation.com/phpupload/uploads/1318477067.jpg

Thanks for looking. :)

C&C welcome
Cheers
Mitch

Looking great Mitch!  :)

Awesome...........I've fiddled with GMax a little bit but have never made anything more than simple geometrical shapes...........got stuck trying to texture them.

Anyway....well done and very impressive.....looking forward to flying your masterpiece, Mitch ;) 8-)

A little late on the "draw", but if you haven't seem this site yet, you may find it useful:

http://rps3.com/Pages/Starship%20Resources.htm

Groundbound1 wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2011 at 10:50am:

A little late on the "draw", but if you haven't seem this site yet, you may find it useful: http://rps3.com/Pages/Starship%20Resources.htm

That website has been a massive help in modelling the landing gear and smaller details, I would be lost without it.

Thanks anyway. :)

I've also found a brilliant free yet powerful rendering program called Kerkythea. It simply imports a 3ds file and after a quick play with camera's and lights here's the result:

Of note is the new build engine nacelle
http://www.simviation.com/phpupload/uploads/1319424439.jpg

Cheers
Mitch

New update. Finally got around to cutting the windows out and apply a glass texture to them. Started working on the insides of the fuselage as well. Currently sitting at 55k polygons. :)

Does anyone know of a good tutorial or can explain to me the exact process involved in adding textures/maps etc. I can't find a decent one for FSX and gmax?

http://www.simviation.com/phpupload/uploads/1320334160.jpg

http://www.simviation.com/phpupload/uploads/1320348121.jpg

Looks awesome Mitch. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Hi Mitch,

I've started on this tutorial: http://www.simviation.com/gryphon/tutorials/gMax_10.htm

This one is a bit advanced, but I am sure you will figure it out..  http://www.aerodynamika.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1126473781

there are many tricks, with shine, g,ass, etc, but the basics are the same. Once you get to map them, it will be a battle 90% won!

Mitch....once again , Let me know if you need any help (Animations, wheel turnings , flaps movements ,props etc)

but just in case (Maybe you already know this) and if it is this can work out for others  8-)

for propelers you need to make a 360º animation that last from 0-100
you need to create 3 pieces Once for still and off animation ,one for slow when propelers is starting and blurry when is running same goes for tires

I'm using Brett Henderson's Saab 340 as and example

http://www.simviation.com/phpupload/uploads/1320387321.jpg

many others animation DOES NOT require attachpoint/Visibility including ALL VC animation Buttoms levers , Only these two "Tires and Engines or propelers"
the rest you would use just the animation tool


the Propelers in "Blurred" is a double faced disc  using a drawing texture in a transparent mode -50 in opacity
http://www.simviation.com/phpupload/uploads/1320400573.jpg

Looks fun can't wait to fly it. [smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

nice 8-)

i still need to get my aircraft to fly the right way around.  :D

jetprop wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2011 at 3:59pm:

i still need to get my aircraft to fly the right way around.  :D

Well, it is just a matter of rotating it with 180 deg in Gmax...

When in left view, you will see the left side of the model, and the same with right, but in front view, you will see the rear, looking towards the front.

Unless I am HUGELY missing something...

tried that.
for some weird reason it doesn't work.

anyways,that model was just for getting to know some of the stuff.
i will make a new model so...

Thankyou gents. :)


JakesF14 wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2011 at 6:15am:

Hi Mitch, I've started on this tutorial: http://www.simviation.com/gryphon/tutorials/gMax_10.htm This one is a bit advanced, but I am sure you will figure it out..  http://www.aerodynamika.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1126473781 there are many tricks, with shine, g,ass, etc, but the basics are the same. Once you get to map them, it will be a battle 90% won!

Thanks for the links Johan, very helpful. I've followed the first tutorial and have achieved some form of a texture map on my aircraft however the textures I've applied appear to be very, very low-resoulution. I've used a 1024x1024 base and even tried a 4096x4096 texture base but they yield the same results, very pixelated. Its probabaly just a problem on my end, perhaps I missed a step?

See picture here

Cheers

You using gmax?
Costumize/preferences: Viewport Tab/Configure driver
Make background/download texture size 1024.

Well, the way I use to map is grab the part that I want to map, for example the fuselage, and isolate it from the other parts by hidding them. Then take a print screen of it in the viewport that is best (in round fuselages like yours you're better off using the left viewport) with the best zoom I can get while the part is still all in screen.
Then paste that print screen in photoshop or whatever and select only the flat grey viewport with the fuselage in it and copy it. Create a 1024^2 px or 2048^2 px to paste the fuselage and remove the flat grey part that outlines the fuselage. then just resize and move it around to fit the texture better.
In gmax you add a UVWmap modifier to the fuselage, make it square and align it to the side view. Then add a UVWunwrap modifier to position the fuselage edges on the texture. Make sure you have the texture material applied to the object. Ah, and the material must be FSX material and to display the texture on the viewport you have to click on the blue cube on the material editor. To display the map in the UVWunwrap editor click on the pick texture rollout and select your texture...
Here's an example of a texture sheet from my S-46 Orca:
http://www.simviation.com/phpupload/uploads/1325163981.jpg