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Scaled Composites Pond Racer

Just thought of something Blake, while I was looking over the screens. Do you have any idea what names are actually on the main gear doors? I assume they are the pilots and crew, but I couldn't find any references to them.
 
falcon409 said:
Blake,
Here are some shots of the revised textures in place. These are 2048x2048 which FSX accepts (makes it nice for maintaining details). Of course they can be reduced back to 1024x1024 for FS9 and I think most of the detail will stay nice and sharp. I also saved them as 32bit for clarity.

For the guys that are working the FDE, I'm not sure if you've noticed this or not in FS9 but for my part, even after engine shutdown, it still sounds like the props are windmilling, even though they are stopped and all switches off. I pulled the mixture back for shutoff, so the engines shouldn't be getting any fuel. I couldn't find anything else in the cockpit that would be on and make the engines think they were still turning.
Click to expand...

Falcon, outstanding work! Mike :applause:
 
Thanks Mike. I'm going to do a bit of work on the flight suit and helmet as well. I wanted to get all the external stuff first though. Still a few things. . .the N-Numbers in a few other places and the word "Rescue" inside the arrow.
 
Ed,
I know that the names are part of the crew, but man, I can't/couldn't find a single good quality photo to work from.

You and Mike's screenshots are awesome. It shows just how bad my computer really is :icon_lol:

Blake
 
I know that the names are part of the crew
Click to expand...
The plane was commissioned and flown by Bob Pond. A friend of his, Rick Brickert was flying it at the time of the fatal crash. HTH
 
norab said:
The plane was commissioned and flown by Bob Pond. A friend of his, Rick Brickert was flying it at the time of the fatal crash. HTH
Click to expand...
The info I found named only Dick Rutan, Mike Melville and Steve Hinton as the pilots who flew her during the test phases, although I can't imagine that Bob Pond didn't fly it at some point. Also, as you mentioned, Rick Brickert was the Race Pilot, both in 91' when it clocked a speed of 400mph in the Silver Class and then in 93' when he was killed making a crash landing.
 
Bob's prop animation is perfect for the Pond Racer and it cures the cloud problem inherent with portovers for FSX. I'm slowly working my way through all the textures now that the externals are complete. Slow going, but I'll get the ones that just need a bit of tweaking to take out some of the rough lines.
 
Google "Rutan's Watergate"

Absolutely fascinating read over at the air racing forum (18 pages worth) from the members of the Pond Racer ground crew regarding the Pond's flights, engines, cooling problems, and the crash that killed Brickert.

I can't post the link because of the 20-post rule.

Also, keep in mind that the Pond Racer was ever-changing in appearance. The rear fins were cut down, intakes enlarged, markings modified, etc. Evident in many photos over the course of its life.
 
Ed,
Now if I can only figure out why the gauge reflections work on your system and not mine :isadizzy: This one had me stumped for two weeks straight and I finally gave up. Apparently it did work! :jump:
 
NWarty said:
Ed, Now if I can only figure out why the gauge reflections work on your system and not mine. This one had me stumped for two weeks straight and I finally gave up. Apparently it did work!
Click to expand...
The only thing I did with that texture was to lighten the Alpha Channel to about 40%. I think when I first loaded the airplane (and the alpha was solid black) most of the gauges didn't even show on the left side. . .after changing the alpha, the gauges returned and the reflections looked fine.
 
There's a new repaint of her in Flightsim.com's screenshot forum. She looks sweet with flames :)

I'd absolutely love to see her in a video, with FSX/multiplayer at Reno, Stead with Mustangs and the other racers. That would be the icing on the cake with her.
 
Hello Blake, that's a hell of an nice airplane. I really enjoy flying it. You did an oustanding job putting it together. Many thanks.

Thanks also for your service.
 
Man, trying to fly this is kind of like trying to run around holding an oar by it's handle and having the oar extending straight out from you.
Looking forward to someone coming up with an update for it. It's like the CG is WAAAAYYYYY to far aft.
I remember seeing video of the real one flying at Reno and thinking it was one of the coolest looking planes in modern times.
Really do think this model looks great though. Could turn into a classic with the right flight model and better sounds.
 
NWarty said:
I'd absolutely love to see her in a video, with FSX/multiplayer at Reno, Stead with Mustangs and the other racers. That would be the icing on the cake with her.
Click to expand...

Maybe not FSX n Multiplayer but ill attempt fs9 with fsrecorder when I get a few hours free :kilroy:
 
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