F7F Tigercat New VC for FSX & P3D

Update:

I needed to learn effects, so I built a fluorescent lighting effect for the new VC in low intensity blue for the restoration bird.
I love the way the effect throws real light and illuminates the base color work with even the knobs, nuts and bolts throwing light. All of the parts are interactive with the ambient light source, thus eliminating the need to bake highlighting into the night texture. The composite effect allows for building a LM texture sheet that will act as an additive color layer to the projected light, rather than painting in highlights etc.

The trim rings have been re-worked to throw a bit more light from the correct directions and I some adjustments on the "spot" light lighting on the pilot switch box. From this point the occlusion shadows can be added at switch cover bases and other locations wanting a bit of darkening.

Also, I exorcised the gremlin in the HSI that caused it to "short out" in flight. It's all a learning curve.

A few shots of the night time VC with the UV lighting illuminating the "office". Even with all of this high end poly work and 2048 texture sheets, the model is making 60 FPS in the air...still well within tolerance.


32406789731_2b8c5fa89c_o.jpg


32150189710_54fdc4e914_o.jpg


32529162485_0903273d7f_o.jpg


32150188800_c193723b5c_o.jpg
 
The Classic Military VC.

I've gotten the military VC up to speed with night gauges and LM lighting for all surfaces. I'm still experimenting with the variables in the model light rendering, combined with light effects and gauge back lighting to find a balance. This is what I am looking at right now. I like how the Shockwave exterior lighting is picked up on the VC panel.

The builds are at the stage where I am adding the small detail gauges, individual knobs, switches and labeling. I'm hand painting all of the gauge faces...hash mark by hash mark. There will be two sets...factory fresh and service worn.

In the aggregate, the environments are beginning to represent the complexity of these last generation radial fighters. Impressive technology for their day.

Feel free to comment or leave constructive critiquing.

32582404806_6cd42519ac_o.jpg


32582405206_6d950b5f61_o.jpg


32582405496_de09eef5b9_o.jpg


32582405756_691e02b967_o.jpg
 
Gordon,

Nothing short of amazing! These are going to get a lot of use in my sim, once released.

Looking forward to them.
 
I love the progress Gordon. It's good to know there will be factory fresh and worn gauges. Thank you for the previews.
 
Since I'm documenting the process, I thought I'd add some details.

I've been hedging on the radio sets while I developed the other VC components. The entire time I've been scouring the web for source material.I finally found an incredible source for the Bendix ARC-5 radio sets, complete with comprehensive HD photos and a 300 page original tech manual. The data allowed me to template the faceplates in 3D Studio to get hyper accurate placements and typeface styles for the modeling.

Before the digital age of instant fonts, type facing was done by hand. I am the proud owner of an original LeRoy Lettering set that was handed down to me from my dad who used it while working for Jack Northrop as a flight test engineer developing the original YB-49 flying wing. The set is complete and in pristine condition with the expanded set of large letter rules. I've had this set for many, many years and intend to re-produce digital copies of ink lettering from the original LeRoy set. Once I get a master set on velum, I can digitize those and turn them into font sets. That's a ways down the road, but on my punch list.

These are some photos of the first development set of ARC-5 radios for this airplane. There were a number of radio options in the F7F, so I'll be making a few variants. One thing I was able to resource was the actual texture of the paint on the boxes. I've tried to reproduce the heavy textured "hammer" finish in the modeling. The effect is very close to my reference data.


32572380881_8229cff2d6_o.jpg


32572370731_b6911dd776_o.jpg


32572377961_5be9cf251d_o.jpg


32572374081_695ba420a5_o.jpg
 
Gordon,

Like all your work on the Tigercat so far, that is just stunning!

Great job, and really love your attention to detail, and making sure things are right.

Cheers

Paul
 
Wow,wish you could have heard me say that,lol,mom busted in my room thinking I'd just moaned ow,low n slow like..lol..anyway G that's just awesome,love your work.looking forward to the finished product.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top