SOH A-26 Invader, the story continues ...

[fliger747]

I am not anywhere near a rivet counter, but a note on the prop domes, there is a dome breather hole on the very tip of the dome. A nut and a breather held in with a circlip. Absolutely amazing the technological advances in aviation and technology in such a short period!

T

 

[fliger747]

I don't know if you guys have these drawings or not? If so no worries!

T

 

[gman5250]

I don't know if you guys have these drawings or not? If so no worries!

T

You must be psychic.

I'm working on the nose gear right now. Moving to mains next. Those drawings would be great help, at the moment I'm using Kermit Weeks video as reference. High quality video...up close and personal

 

[Milton Shupe]

You must be psychic.

I'm working on the nose gear right now. Moving to mains next. Those drawings would be great help, at the moment I'm using Kermit Weeks video as reference. High quality video...up close and personal

These may be useful.

 

[gman5250]

These may be useful.

Beautiful...TY sir.

 

[gman5250]

NO modeling changes yet to the R-2800 C52W, but the existing looks good in black...just add grime.

 

[PhantomTweak]

but the existing looks good in black...just add grime.

Yes, they really do, and yes please do!

I like planes with grime. Makes them look more real to my eye.
The one's you show look like they just came out of the box from the factory. Bright shiney paint. Yes, it looks very good, but after it's first start, no radial looks anything like that. The paint on the cylinders will start to bake a bit, even high temp paint, and there will be oil. Everywhere. Radials leak. They're like Harleys And oil attracts dirt like a magnet.
THAT'S what a real plane looks like. Not factory fresh, shiney-new, but used. Flown. Maintained.
Mechs bang things around, wrenches slip and hit painted surfaces, screwdrivers slip, fluids leak and are spilled...
You know what I mean.
The only really clean part, I mean REALLY clean, is the canopy/windscreen. They get cleaned by the plane captain every morning, at least. VERY thoroughly.

But it overall looks great so far!
Pat☺

 

[Milton Shupe]

Dirt and grime are easy to ask for and tough to deliver realistically but that will change with new texturing tools.

One must choose whether to get it now in its beautiful condition or wait another 6-12 months for all the things we would like it to have, striving for perfection versus a dang'd good likeness and fun to fly.

Meanwhile the developers have fun flying and showing and ultimately get burned out or jump into another project before its delivered. Wait some more ...

Careful what you ask for.

 

[gman5250]

Dirt, Grime and Technically Perfect Radials

The value of a thread like this for a developer is the feedback. In my case, I take the feedback and determine what is realistic for me to invest in a project. My primary work is developing future payware. My secondary projects are like the one we are discussing here, the B-26K Counter Invader.

I'm taking the feedback on which radials are most authentic, armament, paint schemes and other bits that go into the release version. In real world terms it is impossible to release a one size fits all version of an airplane.

My solution is to build the model, in this case a freeware, to a level that I am satisfied will provide enjoyment to the community in general. To do that I create the model at a near perfect level of finish, the way all of the parts would assemble and roll out the door at the factory. In the case of the K, there will be a paint kit included that will give everyone the ability to dirty up the airplane to their own requirements. Included in the PK will be layers that can be applied to existing paints to add wear, grime and paint chips for those who want to use a "turn key" approach.

BTW...Mr. Shupe is correct that new tools, PBR, particle physics and a bunch of other goodies will make future airplanes hyper realistic. That comes at a cost to the developer and end user. The developer is forced to choose which platform they will support, the inevitable backlash from their consumer base and cost benefit of their final decisions. The end user will need to consider the investment required to operate a state-of-the-art simulation. There are already hot debates on the forums about this very issue, and at the end of the day it comes down to the devs and end users final decisions as to what suits them best.

The airplanes I show are intended to inspire people to create their own skins from basic foundations. I encourage people to learn to use the PK and explore the possible. For an even more fulfilling experience, learn how to use the SDK and available tools...then begin to explore the new frontier. It's satisfying and keeps the brain cells stimulated.

 

[fliger747]

The old joke about Radials is to stop and fill the oil and check the fuel, if it's not leaking it's empty? With modern seals etc the R985's which I have driven a lot aren't too bad though they blue smoke for a bit on startup. Last Summer we got to fire up one of Cliffy Everett's (sadly he died in Dec.) C46's. Talk about blue smoke the Mx stand used to board at the rear was actually covered in oil, rather heavily! These large (155 cu in) cylinders have to have quite a bit of cold clearance due to the thermal expansion differences between the Alloy pistons and the Steel Cylinder barrels. One reason you want to warm them up before takeoff!

The C series engines were quite an advancement over the earlier B engines. They were considerable more highly stressed, allowing higher takeoff and Mil Power applications and ratings up to 2800 Hp WEP with Water Meth injection. One of the major upgrades was to the lubrication system, with improved scavenging. One estimation was that the B engine used as much as 400 hp slinging oil around inside the engine at high rpm. Of course everything has it's costs, less heat carried away by the oil, but improved forged cyl heads helped somewhat.

Amazing these engines, the R2800 are still being used in commercial service now nearly 80 years since their initial inception! A lot of the commercial operators have disconnected the high blower as they don't need the altitude performance any more.

Great project!!

 

[PhantomTweak]

I sincerely apologize if I came across as complaining. I didn't mean that at all!
I was just giving my feedback, my take on the plane as it is, especially given the sentence about adding grime. I tend to stay in the VC anyway, so the outside is strictly, to me, secondary. NOT that I don't appreciate the hard work put into the outside of these planes at all. I really do. Especially since I have all the artistic capabilities of a small rock. I can't even draw a straight line with a ruler. If it weren't for all the painters out there providing all the different paints for planes, I'd have a hangar full of base models, probably all pure white, or something.

I really do appreciate the hard work put in on this, and every other freeware plane out there, whether I fly them or not. If it weren't for them, I'd only have the FSX default planes.

Keep up the good work. I will fly, and enjoy this plane when it's published.
Thank you!
Pat☺

 

[gman5250]

I sincerely apologize if I came across as complaining. I didn't mean that at all!
I was just giving my feedback, my take on the plane as it is, especially given the sentence about adding grime. I tend to stay in the VC anyway, so the outside is strictly, to me, secondary. NOT that I don't appreciate the hard work put into the outside of these planes at all. I really do. Especially since I have all the artistic capabilities of a small rock. I can't even draw a straight line with a ruler. If it weren't for all the painters out there providing all the different paints for planes, I'd have a hangar full of base models, probably all pure white, or something.

I really do appreciate the hard work put in on this, and every other freeware plane out there, whether I fly them or not. If it weren't for them, I'd only have the FSX default planes.

Keep up the good work. I will fly, and enjoy this plane when it's published.
Thank you!
Pat☺

Don't apologize Pat, I understood the intentions of your comments and appreciate your observations.

My post, in general, describes my approach to my development style. I am primarily focused on building the canvas for others to work out from. When I say that the SDK and tools are available for everyone, I'm really encouraging more people to dive in and learn the skill sets for the enjoyment and satisfaction derived from the process.

It has changed how I look at the entire simulation experience.

 

[roger-wilco-66]

Thanks for your hard work on the Invader (and other aircraft or sceneries), Gordon! To me, this always has been a great source of inspiration for my own efforts. You're among those who always raise the bar!

Luckily I had no problems with the latesst Win10 updates and 3dsmax, although I somehow think that it has gotten slower.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[gman5250]

Update on the K.

A Gmax/Microsoft SNAFU rendered my Gmax DOA, even with a new download and fresh install. Subsequently...I've brought the 3DStudio interior and exterior models up to snuff and the project is picking up where we left off prior to the glitch. The re-boot took a bit of time...I'll bill MS once Congress gets done with Mr. Zuckerberg and moves on to bigger fish. (sorry...).

Also, I've finally sorted out the source of my constant Win10 misery. Turns out its a nifty little feature MS uses to keep their various paying errr...clients updated on my every key stroke. I removed the offensive feature, and I'm able to actually get a bit of work done. Windows Compatibility Telemetry
More on that in a separate thread.

Back on point...
The props have been mapped specifically for the square blades, the nose and main gear have been massaged, tires are bump mapped, the radials have been poly optimized and other improvements are included. The model has been outfitted with TrueGlass rain effects and the lighting will support P3D Dynamic Lighting effects.

The model is performing beautifully in P3Dv4, and I'm currently working on squeezing the model into FSX.

A couple of happy snaps........dirt optional

 

[blanston12]

Looks fabulous Gordon! Still waiting with great anticipation.

 

[NAVY DOC]

Looking Brilliant Gordon,

Patiently anticipating its release. And all your others.
Also glad to see you on board with the Jetstar.
Boy, I think you need a couple more projects. You've still got a couple minutes left on your calendar don't ya.

Thanks for all your work,
Doc

 

[gman5250]

Looking Brilliant Gordon,

Patiently anticipating its release. And all your others.
Also glad to see you on board with the Jetstar.
Boy, I think you need a couple more projects. You've still got a couple minutes left on your calendar don't ya.

Thanks for all your work,
Doc

Thank you sir, much appreciated.

I'm concentrating on getting this project wrapped up along with the F7F Tigercat, then clearing the decks for the Jetstar. My scenery work is also closing in on being ready for the market.

IMO...sleep is highly over rated.
But seriously, solving the piggin' Win10 Telemetry curse has changed the game.

 

[fliger747]

Lovely 3D work. What is possible in the sim today has vastly complicated the development and time required. Beyond the basic sim aircraft many projects have a lot of workarounds contained in .Dll's. An example is a certain P3D Corsair in which we went through lots of hoops to get an R2800 that had realistic falloff in power with altitude and a shiftable blower. Other "stuff" was incorporated, but the point is that there is probably a sweet spot where development time and effort hits most of the points without getting carried away.

The basic sim is incredibly ancient in today's environment and could be considerable improved, but the heyday of huge studios to develop high fidelity desktop flight simulations is probably dead.

Keep up the wonderful work! T

 

[wellis]

Thank you sir, much appreciated.

I'm concentrating on getting this project wrapped up along with the F7F Tigercat, then clearing the decks for the Jetstar. My scenery work is also closing in on being ready for the market.

IMO...sleep is highly over rated.
But seriously, solving the piggin' Win10 Telemetry curse has changed the game.

As usual, gorgeous work Gordon. I too am very much looking forward to this one.

 

[roger-wilco-66]

Looking better and better! Come to think, there's a helmet that has gotten stuck in the pipeline. I see to getting it ready tomorrow.


Cheers,
Mark