P-47 Progress Thread

[Frosty]

Do you have the consolidated effects installed?

https://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?catid=161&linkid=23722

No, I still use the effects that came with ETO 1.50. But I will certainly give yours a try, thanks!

 

[sixstrings5859]

Thanks Andy. Forgot to install it. Will do tomorrow. Excited to see the changes made ! Thanks for all the work involved. Regards,Scott

 

[Pat Pattle]

Hey Joost, looking fantastic! Any idea of when we will be able to get our grubby mits on her?

 

[Frosty]

Hey Joost, looking fantastic! Any idea of when we will be able to get our grubby mits on her?

Whenever you want, if you'll accept the state she is in now .
There was a time I thought that I was pretty close but it seems that saying about the last 5% taking the most time is true... (Or something to that effect). Actually, I am not even at the last 5% for LOD100... Fortunately, the dreary winter season is an excellent time to spend my free time modeling. Maybe I'll post a download link for this epsilon version (wouldn't dare calling it a beta ): It flies, it shoots & drops bombs and you can have a look in VC as it is now (best done using a head tracker). It may give people something to play with during the coming holidays...

BTW, good to see you back in the saddle!

 

[gecko]

These are most impressive! I can't imagine the horror of seeing the stock bomb models strapped to that beautiful aircraft. That's an impressive variety and it's particularly good to get the flat belly tanks that will actually fit under the aircraft!

 

[sixstrings5859]

Fantastic news ! Can't wait to get my hands on these P-47's ! What joy ! Long live CFS3 ! Regards ,Scott

 

[Frosty]

Okay, here goes: Since you folks have been waiting for so long and I like to keep my promise, here's a WeTransfer link to the 'epsilon' version to play with if your Christmas dinner doesn't turn out to be what you hoped for or if you just want a hands-on update on the P-47:

https://we.tl/t-6WWX93SkER (This link expires after a few days)

There's a couple of things you need to keep in mind:
1: IT IS WIP!
Let me repeat that: The model is NOT finished!! This means that many things you will see, are not how I want them to be when the model is published for real. This goes especially for the VC's modeling, paintwork, and weathering. Those are all in various stages of development. So, while I appreciate feedback, I think it is of little use to let me know that X or Y looks unfinished, dull, plain or unrealistic. Most of your expected remarks probably already are on my list. However, if you should detect any glaring mistakes or errors, feel free to let me know! I am always happy to learn from you or discuss how I came to do things the way I did them.

Why then share a model in this state you may ask? Well, it's already been so long (and it will require even more time to finish), you all have been very supportive, some people are apparently very eager (I am looking at you, Scott! ) and Christmas might simply be a good time to share something. Anyway, I hope you don't mind and will still enjoy it.

2. For the moment, the flight model is Aviation History's for their P-47D-26. The D-25 and D-26 are pretty similar, flight model-wise - as far as I can tell.
I couldn't find whether I am allowed or not to include their files with this model but all credit goes to them. I only changed some file names and references, the contact points section and some basic strings in the .xpd for loadout and UI description purposes. The AvHistory readme is included.

3. The R2800 sound pack is a freeware one found on the internet created by Gary Jones. His readme is also included.

4. So it is only me who is to blame for the modeling and the painting!


What do you get?
A historical P-47D-25 model that flies, shoots and can be equipped with the AN-M38A1 practice bomb to hone your bombing skills while you wait for the finished product. It includes a cold start engine smoke effect, a designated bomb crater model for the M38A1 and a spotting smoke effect. The VC is best enjoyed using a head tracker of some sort; the VC is the place I hope you will spend the most time in, so it is the most detailed part of the model.


How to install?
1: After unzipping the files, it should simply be a case of dropping the contents into your ETO install. I can't remember seeing any overwriting prompts but should you encounter one, it's best to cancel and make a backup of your original files first.
I placed the files in a folder structure (including a description file) that can also be used by JGSME, should you prefer in- and uninstalling files in your precious CFS3 installation that way (that conveniently takes care of any possible overwriting troubles). So you can also add the entire top level folder into your JGSME mods folder (but if you have renamed your ETO install anything else than "CFS3 ETO Expansion", you have to rename the top level folder first).

2: If you want to add the start-up smoke and spotting smoke effects to your install, you have add the contents of the "Add To EffectsXML.txt" -file to your effects.xml file. You can place the strings anywhere between the opening ("<Effects>") and closing tags ("</Effects>") but just above the closing one makes 'em easier to find again if you want uninstall the effects.


Controls:
Right now, the cockpit is partially clickable, meaning that you can use your mouse to manipulate various controls. This may be indicated with a custom cursor (I would like to know if you find them intuitive). Due to CFS3 limitations, there isn't always a visible animation (yet) but the control might work anyway. For most functions there's also a CFS3 tool tip when you hover your mouse over them. In most respects this is similar to the SJ (RSM) Spitfires (sans the RMS functionality), so I hope it feels fairly familiar. I don't think it is necessary to (re)assign any controls if you have the SJ Spitfires installed. Feel free to explore the cockpit!


Known issues:
- Don't try to fly at dusk or night because the perspex and instrument glass turn opaque. I am not sure what causes this but it needs to be solved before night flying is an option.
- I added LG indicator lights for my personal convenience (and later P-47 models) although the D-25 didn't seem to include these; I couldn't find them in the pilot's manual, nor on any factory blueprints. Previous and later versions of the P-47 did seem to have them. If anyone can conclusively prove or deny their existence in this model of the P-47, I would be most grateful! (But why leave them out for this one subvariant?? And how would a pilot know the state of his LG?)

Happy holidays!!

 

[sdsbolt]

Just what I needed for this Christmas eve insomnia So many nice details to study even if a few are yet to be finished.


Skin looks great with bump mapping. Does CFS3 display the full 4096 texture?


Happy Holidays!

 

[Frosty]

Just what I needed for this Christmas eve insomnia So many nice details to study even if a few are yet to be finished.


Skin looks great with bump mapping. Does CFS3 display the full 4096 texture?


Happy Holidays!

Thanks!
Yes, CFS3 displays the full textures. You may have to set this in the config program. They won't work in the .mos file, though, as pointed out earlier.

 

[greycap.raf]

OK, time for me to step in and adapt the fine tuned air file from my own overhauled stock models for this. Ready in a few.

EDIT - that didn't take long. Now it's a true AvHistory 4.00 series model and the credits can be shortened to simply "Flight Model by gregoryp of AvHistory (P47M) modified to reflect the P-47D series by Rene Leppä." as all bubbletop D models had the same engine specs. Fine tuning for the dorsal fin will be done when necessary, if necessary. The files are named so that they drop right in to this particular example.

As a bit of feedback, the tailwheel animation looks odd. The doors are flapping with the suspension movement like the gear was trying to retract over bumps.

 

[sixstrings5859]

What a wonderful Christmas present ! Been looking forward to this for a long time ! Excited ! Thank you so much. Made my year ! Regards, Scott

 

[greycap.raf]

If during the next year someone asks what I was doing on the Christmas night, the answer will be "effects for Joost's Thunderbolt". Surely enough I was already in bed but thought that why the heck not, got up and did these. And now I'm going back, they're good enough for place holders.

<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="US_AAF_L3_gunsight" PosX="0" PosZ="-0.6" PosY="0.97" Pitch="90.2" MinVel="-999999" MaxVel="999999"/>
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="fx_ac_Light_formation_red" PosX="5.25" PosZ="0.36" PosY="-0.13" MinVel="1" MaxVel="65"></Effect>
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="fx_ac_Light_formation_green" PosX="5.25" PosZ="-0.07" PosY="-0.14" MinVel="1" MaxVel="65"></Effect>
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="fx_ac_Light_formation_yellow" PosX="5.25" PosZ="-0.48" PosY="-0.13" MinVel="1" MaxVel="65"></Effect>
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="fx_ac_Light_nav_green" PosX="5.98" PosZ="0.28" PosY="0.02" MinVel="1" MaxVel="65"></Effect>
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="fx_ac_Light_nav_red" PosX="-5.98" PosZ="0.28" PosY="0.02" MinVel="1" MaxVel="65"></Effect>
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="fx_ac_Light_landing" PosX="-1.76" PosZ="-0.3" PosY="-0.65" MinVel="1" MaxVel="55"></Effect>
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="fx_ac_Light_tail" PosX="0" PosZ="-7.55" PosY="0.29" MinVel="1" MaxVel="65"></Effect>
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="fx_N_gtrail" PosX="6.2" PosZ="-0.5" PosY="0" MinVel="41" MaxVel="53"></Effect>
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="fx_N_gtrail" PosX="-6.2" PosZ="-0.5" PosY="0" MinVel="41" MaxVel="53"></Effect>

 

[Frosty]

@Rene [using the quote button doesn't give a quote, so I'll do it like this] Oh wow, thank you!!

Re: the TW/door animation; It is correct that the doors move in sync with the tail wheel suspension. The doors do not have a separate opening mechanism but are mechanically connected to the TW yoke with rods. They are pushed open/closed by the TW gear's lowering/raising, resulting in movement when taxiing over uneven terrain. Of course, the RL aircraft's tail wheel is really weighted and doesn't bounce up and down that much but the principle for the 3D model remains the same. If you lower the gear in flight and use an outside view to inspect the TW from behind, you'll see the mechanical linkage. It wasn't an easy animation to do, as there are multiple moving parts that rotate in different axes: The tail wheel yoke, the oleo and connecting linkage w. hydraulic operating cylinder (difficult to see from the outside but it is there), the rotating brackets that connect the rods to the yoke and keep 'em oriented (they would twist off otherwise), the rods themselves and finally the tail wheel doors. And even then it isn't perfect but the opening/lowering is quite fast and some parts are quite small...

If you think the TW bounces too much, maybe we need to adjust the stiffness of the suspension. I can send you the blueprint(s) with the RL undercarriage ranges of motion, including suspension. However, it doesn't say anything about the stiffness of the oleos.
Otherwise, it might be the general design of the CFS3 engine and we have to live with the somewhat exaggerated animation.

 

[MajorMagee]

Here's a couple of more effects lines for the xdp file if you're using AnKor's Shaders to provide contrails and the uv interior lights to use with any future clight gauge textures.

<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="fx_high_contrail" Location="emitter_eng0_exh_r" />
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="fx_high_contrail" Location="emitter_eng0_exh_l" />
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="cockpit_light_uv" PosX="-0.275" PosZ="-1.33" PosY="0.75" Pitch="100" Heading="20" MinVel="-999999" MaxVel="999999"/>
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="cockpit_light_uv" PosX="0.275" PosZ="-1.33" PosY="0.75" Pitch="100" Heading="-20" MinVel="-999999" MaxVel="999999"/>

p.s. Is it just me, or is there an odd bit of unpainted metal on the top of the cowl flap?

 

[Pat Pattle]

Joost - a very big THANK YOU for allowing us to have a sneak preview.

She's a real beauty! Absolute first class piece of modelling, how many thousands of hours have gone into this so far? Probably best not to count!

This screenie doesn't do it much justice I'm afraid, so much better in-sim.

 

[Frosty]

There's one kinda important thing that I forgot to mention: The materials are created with Ankor's d3d8.ini set to "EnvReflection=5" and "Glossiness=5". If you have chosen other values for your ETO setup, the model may look differently from my screenies.

Here's a couple of more effects lines for the xdp file if you're using AnKor's Shaders to provide contrails and the uv interior lights to use with any future clight gauge textures.

<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="fx_high_contrail" Location="emitter_eng0_exh_r" />
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="fx_high_contrail" Location="emitter_eng0_exh_l" />
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="cockpit_light_uv" PosX="-0.275" PosZ="-1.33" PosY="0.75" Pitch="100" Heading="20" MinVel="-999999" MaxVel="999999"/>
<Effect Type="Track" EffectName="cockpit_light_uv" PosX="0.275" PosZ="-1.33" PosY="0.75" Pitch="100" Heading="-20" MinVel="-999999" MaxVel="999999"/>

p.s. Is it just me, or is there an odd bit of unpainted metal on the top of the cowl flap?

Ah, How could I have missed that? I had to re-export the model again to rectify some stuff and must have overlooked that. It is the top web piece that goes between the two cowling flaps. Don't know what happened to its texture and orientation. I'll redo that and upload again in a few days - I'll wait a bit to see if more like this turns up. Even for a temporary upload, this is really annoying!

And thanks to you for the effects!!

Joost - a very big THANK YOU for allowing us to have a sneak preview.

She's a real beauty! Absolute first class piece of modelling, how many thousands of hours have gone into this so far? Probably best not to count! ...

My pleasure and I don't want to know . It certainly keeps me off the street at times.
BTW, Is your cowling in the VC OD green or black? It's a bit difficult to see in your screenie but it should be green.

 

[sixstrings5859]

Beautiful and a blast to fly ! Overwhelmed with gratitude !

 

[MajorMagee]

Please let me know when you are finished with the gauges, and I can create clight files for them if you would like me to.

 

[Pat Pattle]

BTW, Is your cowling in the VC OD green or black? It's a bit difficult to see in your screenie but it should be green.

It's green Joost.

 

[Frosty]

Please let me know when you are finished with the gauges, and I can create clight files for them if you would like me to.

I still have to study that part but those are the pretty glowing instruments dials, aren't they? I'll let you know - Thanks for your offer!!

It's green Joost.

Thanks for letting me know!