SOH Team Project - Grumman Tracker, Trader, Tracer

Thanks Milton, and on behalf of myself and Nick, thank you for granting us this opportunity to work on the thing! :salute:
 
That's superb Milton ! and congratulations to the team.
May I ask you your settings for the materials to have such reflective effect?
I experimented several settings.
as an example, for ambient, I have R 70 B 70 and G 70 ; diffuse same and Specular level 40 and Glossiness 100. Specular is almost white with RGB at 229.

it's always tricky as some planes and specially military aircrafts, which doesn't have to be shiny by definition... (sometimes:icon_lol:)

Cheers
Pierre
 
Rep said:
That's superb Milton ! and congratulations to the team.
May I ask you your settings for the materials to have such reflective effect?
I experimented several settings.
as an example, for ambient, I have R 70 B 70 and G 70 ; diffuse same and Specular level 40 and Glossiness 100. Specular is almost white with RGB at 229.

it's always tricky as some planes and specially military aircrafts, which doesn't have to be shiny by definition... (sometimes:icon_lol:)

Cheers
Pierre
Click to expand...

Pierre,

Thank you. Sounds like you are modeling for FSX which is quite different. Only diffuse maps available and no spec/bump/gloss maps in FS9.
For FS9, I simply use a specular value of 35-37 for most major body parts, 50 for the chrome spinners. I use none on the tires but sometimes on the wheels, depending.
The higher values "tighten up" the "glare" so not as wide-spread over the flatter surfaces, but the glare is more intense.

You can add a color for use on the specular but sometimes that gets in the way of some paint schemes.
 
We used to have an S2, in private hands, parked at the airport her in Fairbanks, now it resides at the owners private strip. My recollection of it, in it's original Navy paint, was of a pretty smooth paint job, if not Imron slick. Some fading as one might expect from a plane sitting outside in a hostile climate for years.

Still Putzing along with the flight dynamics. As always, one thing changes another, so finer adjustment of engine power settings, HP and drag continues.

Cheers: T
 
fliger747 said:
We used to have an S2, in private hands, parked at the airport her in Fairbanks, now it resides at the owners private strip. My recollection of it, in it's original Navy paint, was of a pretty smooth paint job, if not Imron slick. Some fading as one might expect from a plane sitting outside in a hostile climate for years.

Still Putzing along with the flight dynamics. As always, one thing changes another, so finer adjustment of engine power settings, HP and drag continues.

Cheers: T
Click to expand...

Thank you Tom for your excellent results to-date. The FM is coming along nicely. :applause:

Some specular lighting, even on dull paint, is necessary. Even old tires have a reaction to the sun's glare. Not to be confused with glossiness, the sun's glare is everywhere, even on roads.
 
Navy Pilot/Co-Pilot

Does anyone have gmax source for a Navy Pilot and Copilot for the 60's era that they would like to donate to the project?

Otherwise, I will try to convert Jan's Army/AF pilot to better suit the Navy aircraft.
 
I cannot provide an aircrew figure but I do recall that bright orange flight suits were in use back in the 60's. RGB of 255/132/72 looks about right on my monitor. They'd be worn by crews who operated over water or non-hostile territory where visibility was more important than camouflage if your plane went down.
 
Any possibility?

Milton Shupe said:
That's looking awesome guys. :applause:

I need to send to you the model updates with the specular highlights to add some realism as well.

I'll package it, upload it, and send you a link shortly.

EDIT: The package was small, so I emailed to you Smoothie. Please share with simkid22.
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Hi Milton,

a
Any chance of you sending me files to work on a paint job? I'd very much like to contribute some artwork...
 
Gaucho, bear with me, weathering etc... should be complete by Wednesday at the latest, then i can release a proper paintkit to Milton for full distribution :salute:
 
gaucho_59 said:
Hi Milton,

a
Any chance of you sending me files to work on a paint job? I'd very much like to contribute some artwork...
Click to expand...

I appreciate that gaucho! We should be getting something out very soon. I am just putting some final changes in the templates, trying to get a pilot figure in the cockpit, and get the glass looking right. I will hopefully wrap up my parts today and send teh base templates off to Smoothie. I do look forward to your contributions. :jump:

Smoothie said:
Gaucho, bear with me, weathering etc... should be complete by Wednesday at the latest, then i can release a proper paintkit to Milton for full distribution :salute:
Click to expand...

Will get you the final stuff late today.

Thanks
 
By George, I think I've got it!

The pilot figure (thank you Mr. Visser) is now in place with a Navy helmet (of sorts), the panels, consoles, and overhead all seem to work fine (will add backlighting once I have Diego's textures), all the little items are in place (except what will be painted in), the glass is much better with appropriate opacity and specular lighting, I engineered some shelving in the back that may take equipment one day but leaving it basic (who goes to the back anyway other than once?), the exterior lighting works (except what will be added after the cockpit panel and gauges are added), the wing fold joint textures have been mapped in, and the hydraulic hand pump handle is now in the cockpit for the gear and flap emergencies.

Hmmmm, now for a co-pilot ...
 
This is the first time I've followed one of your projects from start to finish, and it's exciting to watch the progress. This thread is my first stop every day. I love all of your aircraft, and am especially anxious to try this one out. Incredible. Thanks!
 
patful said:
This is the first time I've followed one of your projects from start to finish, and it's exciting to watch the progress. This thread is my first stop every day. I love all of your aircraft, and am especially anxious to try this one out. Incredible. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Well thank you very much patful; that is appreciated. :wavey: I am happy to do my part to bring something new and different to the community. Thanks also to Fliger, Smoothie and simkid22, Nigel, Diegox, euroastar350, Jan Visser, and all the members here who have assisted with links, pictures, manuals, drawings, photo trips, feedback, input, and support.
 
Me too, this is my first stop every time coming to SOH! It's an exciting project of a plane I have for a long time wanted to see. And it's done justice by the great skills of Milton and all the contributors. Every time I see it, I can't wait to fly it, and especially to paint it! :applause:
 
Lazerbeak said:
Me too, this is my first stop every time coming to SOH! It's an exciting project of a plane I have for a long time wanted to see. And it's done justice by the great skills of Milton and all the contributors. Every time I see it, I can't wait to fly it, and especially to paint it! :applause:
Click to expand...

Well, hopefully, you will not have long to wait. :)

And with the Willie Fudd so near, can the "Stoof" be far behind ...

Merging over newer work to the S2F-3 now ... still a lot to be done though.
 
But of course it simply would not be right to release this fine model until the F7F is finished, Right!! :icon_lol:
 
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