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 ) because I think it is one of the most beautiful aircraft well ahead of its time.

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.



Thanks for looking.

Cheers
Mitch

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


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

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

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.



Thanks for looking.

Cheers
Mitch

Looking great, Mitch!!

Looking great Mitch! 

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

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?

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!

Looks fun can't wait to fly it.

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


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...

Thankyou gents.

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


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

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: