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Abrams P-1 Explorer WIP

I must have been flying too much! Gordon, this is awesome! Incredible good modelling. Never saw this one coming!:applause:


:dizzy:

Cees
 
It truly is a work of art. I imagine the view from the cockpit is awesome, given the position - right out in front! NC
 
txnetcop said:
I figured that is where the instrument panel would be...simply OUTSTANDING!
Ted
Click to expand...

I was lucky enough to get some high res shots of the airframe awaiting restoration at the Smithsonian, but there is not a lot of data on the cockpit layout apart from the hulk as it sits now.
The instrument layout is a complete scientific wildazz guess. The airplane was pressurized, so I'm setting up that system in the right pilot switch panel array. I can place the hardware and plumbing based on the photos I have.

The rudder pedal setup is very unique for this airplane, and it sits right out in full view...so....I'm trying to suss out how the cables etc. ran at the cockpit bottom. I've got a pretty good idea. Same for the quadrant. The cowl flaps look like they were operated by a large knob/cable setup that runs in a huge, exposed conduit. That one will be really unique and will develop the ambiance in the "office" in a very 30's way.

I've still got to correctly model the pilot and passenger doors, which had a lovely cathedral arch look. Vent windows are in the works tool.

Concurrently, I'm working on another plane at the request of the original developer. That one is in the animation/coding stage with the VC in early modeling stages. I tend to break up projects in order to not get buried.

Hey Cees.
Funny thing about flying. I go to beta test the model(s) or scenery projects and only get a few minutes of seat time, then go back to the modeling. It's getting to the point where the modeling is more intoxicating than the sim. :very_drunk:
 
Navy Chief said:
It truly is a work of art. I imagine the view from the cockpit is awesome, given the position - right out in front! NC
Click to expand...

In the screen caps, the VC shot out the front says it all. With the live lighting and reflections the pilot view is kind of breathtaking. You look down through your legs and see terrain floating by.


Funny thing about that particular screen shot Chief, I was flying the plane on autopilot from KBIH to KLAS which is about an hour and a quarter. I went back to 3DStudio to do some modeling work and when I came back to the sim...there was that incredible view looking east towards Lake Mead. I hit the PrtScn key and saved that gem.
 
Daveroo said:
wow thats nice.and the owens valley..never been there,but lone pine is my next home...i hope...ive always day dreamed of a plane like this,or something similar,my idea is to have 2 seats right up front in a "glass nose",with a view directly downward as well..maybe the pilot/pilots higher up and behind...the two infront being spotters or observers for fire or law enforcement...or..same idea,only one up front in a movable turret,like the nose turret on a B24,only one with great vis downward...along with the goodies modern electronics give.and optics........oh hell i know what i mean anyway............:encouragement:
Click to expand...


Well...you need to get out to the Owens Valley ASAP Dave. lol

BTW, I've slated the entire Eastern Sierra from China Lake to Reno Stead for development to the same level you've seen in my screen shots and video. If you haven't seen the video, go to YouTube and search Gman5250...you'll see all my current work there.

If you're going to Lone Pine you'll be looking straight up 15,000ft. at Mt. Whitney. I'll be 3D mesh modeling that whole section of the range when I do the Lone Pine scenery.
 
outstanding work, Gman..thank you for taking the time out to post updates.
I had seen a few photo's of this airframe in an old copy of Air & Space..totally anachronistic to the '30s era - beautiful design.
I'm sure you will capture the cockpit experience utterly
Carry on and thank you for your efforts
 
Although not exactly the type of aircraft you'd see doing touch & goes on a carrier, I will have to try it, just for the view from that cockpit! NC
 
Navy Chief said:
Although not exactly the type of aircraft you'd see doing touch & goes on a carrier, I will have to try it, just for the view from that cockpit! NC
Click to expand...

Stall speed @75 MPH...
Carrier speed 33 Knots

You'd come over the transom around 45 MPH relative. Easypeasy....
 
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I've never gone through the process of building an airplane before, but my philosophy is learn along the way and do it right...to the best of my ability.

The process includes learning Quixel, an extremely powerful Photoshop addon. IMHO, this is some of the best money I've spent in a long time. At the outset, I committed to constructing the interior as a Quixel learning process. I've attached some preliminary shots of the Quadrant with basic texturing applied in the Quixel workflow.

The main advantage of Quixel is that it lets the artist develop normal and albedo (texture) maps in live 3D space with all lighting, specular and bumps active. It affords a painter a view of how the finished "live" model will behave in the simulator. It's a big learning curve, and very much an artistic exploration. Fun stuff.

The screens are live renders from the application in Photoshop...no post processing or enhancements.

Comments and input always appreciated.



28289419105_73740da54e_o.jpg


28007900410_5bedc31941_o.jpg
 
I agree "G"... Quixel is a phenomenal add on tool for PS. It's a must have for me!!! :adoration: The proof is in your example of the P-1!! :encouragement:
 
Nice work G. :encouragement:

And I envy you as I would love to be able to use Quixel, but this would require a completely new PC and quite some new software. But the result pf the things you do with it really looks amazing.

Cheers,
Huub
 
Looking really nice G! the Lever handles wood grain and paint wear with the bumps are absolutely superb! The best I've seen. Are you using specular in the VC? That's one thing I've noticed that is lacking in many aircraft. Generic VC specular. Custom specular in the VC and detailed bump mapping will really bring out the realism and immersion which this obviously does! Nice work!
 
000rick000 said:
Looking really nice G! the Lever handles wood grain and paint wear with the bumps are absolutely superb! The best I've seen. Are you using specular in the VC? That's one thing I've noticed that is lacking in many aircraft. Generic VC specular. Custom specular in the VC and detailed bump mapping will really bring out the realism and immersion which this obviously does! Nice work!
Click to expand...


Thanks Rick,

I'm definitely including bump and spec in all of the interior modeling. It's always been a disappointment to me in many payware aircraft that those features are left on the design room floor...doesn't make sense. At this stage of the project I'm flying the airplane in heavier weather conditions to gauge light changes inside the cockpit. At this point the bump/spec active components are very convincing. You know the drill, keep experimenting with alpha and other bits till things look good.
 
Gman just a question, Is the Tigercat VC taking a backseat to this project? No worries if it is because I cant imagine how great itll be with the techniques youre learning on this one :applause:
 
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