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F6f3_hellcat released by Captain Kurt!

Captain Kurt

Administrator
Staff member
I've been working on the F6F-3 Hellcat for the last couple of months now. I'm getting more and more OJT (on the job training) about FSDS modeling as I go. It's a complicated aircraft to model, what with the many detailed parts in the exposed wing structures, getting complex animations working well and still keeping the parts in alignment, etc, etc. I've had to redo it many times - mostly correcting my mistakes or adjusting /aligning parts, HA. I'm finally getting it beaten into submission I think. I'm still contemplating detailing the rear engine compartment that would be seen when the cowl flaps are opened. Not much visual documentation from those angles, but otherwise it's ready for texture mapping and later, painting. It may be finished in a month or so.
 

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Kurt

Excellent looking Hellcat :monkies:

Although OJT can be frustrating at times, you certainly do learn from your mistakes :banghead:
 
Blimey CK!

You've certainly moved up several gears, that looks superb.

Regarding cowl flap engine detail, could be done for a no-poly cost with a tex.

Cheers

Shessi
 
Shessi, I actually made a stab at making a tex substitute for the engine compartment but I wasn't very impressed with the result. Perhaps if I can find a suitable photo somewhere it would be more realistic looking. :banghead:
 
Nice one ,Kurt.... looks like we finally get a an official cfs2 version after all!!!! :santahat:


Cheers mav
 
Progress

Final model tweaks completed and it's now fully texture mapped. Working on the VC now; the basic painting done but not completely detailed yet.

map1.jpgvc1.jpgvc2.jpg
 
Hi CK,
Would you consider putting a different/better pilot in, rather than that one?...;)

If you need anything just shout.

Cheers

Shessi
 
Hi Shessi

The khaki figure is much more Navy. Are these guys done in Gmax? I'm working in FSDS2.4. I'd need to be able to get them into that format to get him into the cockpit and tweak him to proportion and position him right. Very nice detail on the head and helmet BTW. The current pilot is modeled after Wolfi's US pilot figure.

pilot.jpg
 
Some progress. I got my hands on the official Navy AN 01-85FB-4 F6F parts publication which made it necessary to make some redesigns for the landing gear mounting, the cowl, the area inside the small rear windows and some other details. Opening the cowl flaps up turned out to be fairly simple because the exhaust piping and firewall took up most of the visible space. Shessi sent me a couple a pilot figure which I added a chute harness, lap belt and a few other refinements while I was positioning him into the cockpit. Thanks Mark. I can start the painting now
 

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