I've been working on the flight dynamics for the past week or so, and have gotten a lot done, but I still can't work out a few niggles.

The main one is that while the Bugatti is sitting on the ground, it looks like this:



And I can't get it to sit correctly.  I've changed the CG point, the ref datum, the contact points and the static cg height, and none of it works.  The model center is at the 0,0,0 point, so I set the ref datum at that, and the CG is in between the two engines, which are housed in the fuselage behind the pilot.  The static cg height and contact points are taken directly from Gmax (gear contact is exact), but I still can't get it to work.

Greg Ebnit got it to look right, but for some reason, his version was about five feet long instead of the actual length? ???  How did that happen, Greg?  Any ideas?

I would love it if someone here would just take a look at it.  I don't expect any miracles, but it would certainly give some perspective on why it's acting like that . . .

Quote:


Parts are named correctly, but that doesn't affect the airfile systems.  If everything is right in the airfile, it should float over the ground regardless of the model itself.

Hey Locke. Sorry about that I changed the measuring preferences from inches to Feet with Decimal inches when I was measuring for Data input. That I think Is the problem on the length difference. Try switching it back to your preference and export again.
Im actually waiting to hear back from you as far as the performance so I can further tweak say roll, pitch, and other  Dynamics.
Never fear my friend we will get theses minor bugs worked out.
I realy like the looks of this model. The quality of the detail is realy good. I love the Super shinny blue   . Ive got a repaint in mind for this one.

Edit- A hurried email. When I sent the model back I was hurrying so that you could have a chance to look at it on Sunday night and didnt put alot of info in the email.
I think the problem with the aircrafts height in your version has to do with your exporting process.
I started with the model you sent in the model file I then adjusted the contact points to around 8 feet to get it to set right. Ounce I fixed the Aileron problem I exported the edited model again which raised it and put the model back to its true Height about -3.757. It may be that its either the difference in the Units set up or a difference in the Interior model placement because after I exported the VC was not displaying correctly. I export my models without the Exterior and Interior node linking convention. When I exported the model I just selected all the parts and didnt change your set up although I didnt see an Interior node in the part Hierarchy.

Hey Locke did you try eliminating the Exterior and Interior nodes? Maybe try that and export everything as just a bunch of loose parts. Of course you need to have all your animated parts linked to their dependencies. Other than that there should be no need for linking.
This is the way I exported the Dashes and it worked great with no diserniable draw backs or glitches. For a long time I used a grouping method on export wich caused alot of problems with animated parts scaling on me when I would ungroup. After some scolding  I finally changed my ways and began exporting as above with alot less problems.
One problem that will arise though  is the pilot will be visible from the VC. This may work in your favor if you wish to see the pilot and his arms and hands at the controls. I have some XML code that will put a switch in the VC to either show hide the pilot. Using the Visible In Range Param. This can be a neat effect to have or hide if you are thinking of linking the hands/arms to controls animations. Adds a little to the game emersion.

Are you going to try to get a VC version out later?

Keep it for later use then, save it as a different file for when you do fix the problem.

The FDs are coming along nicely.  Tweaks and fixes have replaced simple cut and paste, so I believe I'm moving along correctly.  I've managed to counteract the extreme pull to the left on takeoff by inserting the line "rotation= 1,-1" (Engine 1, 2, Rotation direction. 1 = CW, -1 = CCW) under the propeller section.  I'm currently splicing in your edits to see what they do to the general handling of the aircraft, and I'm confident that I'm nearing a beta version.

Unfortunately, I don't want to send this model out without first getting the issue I'm having fixed, just as a matter of professional need.  I don't like sending out half-finished or "Because I couldn't get it to work" aircraft, and I don't intend to start now.

Bear with me a bit longer, and let me see if I can work out this troublesome little nit.  It's most likely something so minute that I haven't even thought about it before.

Well . . . I figured out that the problem does not lie with the INTERIOR model!  It's an issue with the exterior.  I found this out by compiling the interior/exterior models of both my Bugatti and my Moller M-505 Junglecat.

Compiling the interior of the Bugatti with the exterior of the Moller made a model that was correctly scaled in the exterior and interior, but compiling the exterior of the Bugatti with the INTERIOR of the Moller gave me a scaled-up exterior model and a regular interior.  The Bugatti exterior was also scaled differently than when I compile the entire Bugatti model.  So that means there is a glitch in the exterior model of the Bugatti!  Which is something I hadn't considered before . . .

So what could it be?  I'll be back with more info later!