Woah-ho-ho-hohhh...

Looks incredible!! So sleek!!

Are you planning to make it for FS9 or FSX - or will it be compatible with both?

Looks like just your taste Locke. Ive noticed that you only do unusual aircraft. Very very nice. I should  be able to help out with the airfile when the time comes. Let me know if and when.

Some cockpit detail in the works . . .

Greg Ebnit EApilot wrote on Aug 31^st, 2007 at 6:13pm:


Supposedly it was pretty loud.

I haven't added this part yetm, but the prop shafts (2 of them) go past each of your elbows as you are sitting in the cockpit, not underneath you.  The noise from that alone would be deafening!

Nice ...

You might want to check Bill (LIonheart) Ortis'  payware....

http://www.lionheartcreations.com/Bugatti.html

Interesting.

There is a Bugatti Veyron listed in my website as one of my future projects. When that comes around, maybe we can start a race with both Bugattis.

Ive been waiting for one of these for so long. Ever since i saw this in the EAA Museum in Oshkosh Wisconsin ive wanted one for FS really lookin forward to this

AWESOME!!

Finally a freeware one.

I saw pictures of an electric R/C version and have been looking for a fs one ever since. I tried the old fs98 one in FS2k4 and it worked (sort of). Didn't look good though.

looking awesome Locke!

Thanks, folks!  I'll get some more images up when I get home tonight.  Should be ready for texturing in a week or so!

I finished the exterior model, to a certain degree.  There are probably two or three more parts that need to be added or fixed.  But this is basicly what you're gonna see in the sim (minus the atrocious coloring! ).  I did take a few liberties with the cockpit, since good images of it are hard to find.  Plus I didn't think the setup (as I saw it) was ergonomic to a pilot (who will be added soon).

THE COCKPIT:







OPEN GEAR, ETC.



A GOOD PERSPECTIVE:



Is there anything anyone can see that might be wrong or need adjusting (withing reason)?  I want to get the parts correct before I start texturing.  It's maddening to get everything textured and then find out that a certain part doesn't fit!

Flight dynamics will begin in a couple of days!  Are you ready, Greg?

Yep let me know when and what you want me to do. That is looking great Itll be a pleasure to give you a hand on her.

Looks wonderful!!!!! Great! I can't await flying it....

Looking real good Locke, keep it up!!

Jon

Quote:



Lol cool.  It really does look better than the payware IMO, I wouldn't mind what guages you use.  But again, you're making it mainly to test your own schools so don't do anything to accomodate us as much as yourself 

The cockpit looks AWESOME!  Be proud! If you aren't, I'll kill you ! No of course not, but it's really great! 
Will the exterior be textured a bit more, or does it keep blue?

-The Revelator - Please don't call the police I don't kill anyone! 

PS: Can you add The texture template bmp's to the final package?
I and I think many others would like to repaint it... 

swordfish1227 wrote on Sep 10^th, 2007 at 5:14pm:


1.  I do believe the transition you speak of will be less prominent in FS than in Gmax when I convert.
2.  The paint is by no means finished.  It's just in the preliminary stages right now, just so I have everything mapped to the correct coordinates.

The intakes (I'm actually not sure WHAT they are) do need a bit of work . . .

Quote:


The texture templates will be included with the package in both PSP and PhotoShop format for those wishing to repaint.  I need to do a considerable bit more work with the textures first, so it might take a while, yet.

Exterior model is 95% done.
VC is 25% done.
Textures are 35% done.
Airfiling hasn't been started.
Panel hasn't been started.

Looks incredible Locke!

Stubbedtoe18 wrote on Sep 17^th, 2007 at 5:03pm:


I don't know, ARE you able?

Just a bit of a laugh, there . . . at this point, I'm working out fine details and the like on the model.  Textures have a rough completion (does anyone remember if I have to add an alpha channel to the lightmap textures?) and I'm getting ready to start with some airfile work tonight.  As soon as I get it set up for FS flying, I'll take some shots in the game.  Don't count on anything incredible right now, since the computer I'm going to use to take the shots is a lame duck . . . but it will give you a sense of where I'm at.

I'll get back to this thread in a few hours!

Just so everyone knows, this project is going to take a little longer than I thought.

Many, many modelling issues to overcome . . .

I don't know if fiinishing this is going to happen . . .  . . . I tried several times last night to get good textures to work on my model, but I haven't been able to get anything satisfactory.  I just don't have the knack for good blending and shading that would be necessary.  I'm putting the project on hold for the next few days and taking some time to do a little repainting, to see if I can get anywhere with that.

CAFedm wrote on Sep 18^th, 2007 at 2:44pm:


A fairly good idea:

Anyone interested in a colaboration on these textures?  I can send out blank PSP and PSD formats to work with.

yes.... right so...... don't be discouraged, world goes on, and your great project will, too! 

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!

ITS FIXED!  I did it!  No more crazy exporting shtuff, no more giant aircraft!

Now for the rest . . .

I have no idea what the issue was, really.  I started a new scene, then merged the original scene into it.  I then created new exterior and interior nodes and linked the appropriate parts together.  Worked like a charm!

Now on to the flight dynamics and gauges!

Hey super!!! I prefer planes that are rolling on a taxiway, not swimming
I feel the time to wait for this bugatti gets shorter and shorter..... 

Stubbedtoe18 wrote on Oct 13^th, 2007 at 9:26pm:


Actually, yes!

As of a couple of days ago, the flight dynamics are almost done.  Just a little more tweaking to get the airspeed up and we'll be ready to move along to the hard bits . . .

Still working on the VC gauges.  They are a mystery to me, since I know diddly about XML programming.  But I'm getting the hang of it, slowly but surely.  I plan on testing a few of them in the next couple of days.

The 2D panel (if I include one) will be minimal, since the Bugatti is being designed to fly from the VC.

Greg is already doing some work with texturing, and I'm fairly sure I'll include it in the initial release.

"She'll go faster . . ."

--Howard Hughes

Paint the pilot, Greg!  It would look spectacular with a yellow pilot suit, maybe with some blue or white highlighting.

Hey Rev. Not sure how to do the AA on that in PSP 9 the textures are already 1024X1024 so if you can shed some light on that for me that would be cool.
here is a texure variation. French Airforce.

Not sure exactly what you mean Toe. Have to be a little more specifc what parts you are talking about. It seems to run great probably running at 30 FPs in that shot.
Edit- French Camo

hey greg, how about a camo in blue & light blue or grey & silver?

Looking awesome locke!

Q: How many textures?

A: MANY!

Any texture I am given, I will take a look at.

What I said about the lines - forget it. I thought it's the textures, but now I think that's just FS.

looking awesome guys!!

one more texture question...

is there going to be a "stock" pure blue mirror finish? w/o the stripes?

You guys are very skilled!

I just read through this whole thread, and it's really cool to see a project take shape and turn into something awesome.

Excellent work guys, I can't wait.

Thanks Toe. Lockes got a great aircraft here. Hes working on the gauge programing right now. Glad you like the black and gold excellent suggestion.

Well, for an update;

I have finished the model itself.  Unfortunately, I cannot get the VC to work AT ALL, so for the moment I am scrapping the project (sorry, Greg).  It will probably come back in a while, but for right now I am done dealing with it.

I may end up just donating it to SimV and FFDS at this point, since I am inept at gauge manipulation in general.  I'm sorry if anyone had their hopes up, but I have no idea what is wrong with the aircraft.

I hope you figure this out, I'd hate for the quality to go down...  When you're ready to work on it again, please: just set out a help thread in here or somewhere and figure out what the issue is.  Those paintjobs and craft just look astounding.  Why don't you release it now without the VC working and just update it when you find out the issue?

Thanks ya'll.  I refuse to release a shoddy product, since I have downloaded so many like that in the past that appeared to be unfinished and hastily thrown together, and I simply discarded them and never thought about them again.  I never want that to happen to my aircraft, so I won't release it without a full complement of working parts.

She will fly, fellas.  Just give it time . . .

Hey all. I was just thinking Locke you may be able to work out a reasonable VC gauge configuration using some default gauges pretty easily. The VC of the Bugatti has 8 very large modelled gauge bezzels on it. Why not just put a VC poly spanning across those gauges and find some suitiable vintage looking gauges and center them over your modeled gauge housings. Ill post a pic here for an example.

Edit-
I just took a pic of the VC and pasted some sailplane gauges over the bezzels for an example. Not sure what goes in the circled areas but those could be seperate VC polys with what ever gauges you need set to display on them in the CFG. Seems a shame not to find a reasonable solution to make the aircraft functional now that you have come this far and with so many interested in the project.

Yeeeh! That's the right way!  Great it's rolling again... I'm looking forward to see it rotating...

(For those who don't know it - to rotate means mainly the same as to take off)

best,
rev

Locke, is this still being worked on? or has it been placed on the back burner until a way to make the vc gauges is found?

Greg, could you try a Frecce Tricolori paint for this bird? it is a blue paint with grey undersides and three stripes that make an italian flag.

I'm glad to hear that your still working on it. Gauge creation will be a major hurdle for me also, luckily it will be a while before I get into that department.

I can't offer any help with your gauges but there is a program that lets you create your own gauges. FS Panel Studio will let you create your own gauges... They are not 3D but if you use the idea Greg was talking about I think it would come out looking very nice.

This is sort of how I want to do the VC gauges in my F100, Model the outer rim into the VC model and put the gauge poly behind that rim... Just like Greg showed us.

Your model looks great and I would love to see it released.