SOH Team Project - Grumman Tracker, Trader, Tracer

gaucho_59 said:
A very welcome addition... hope to see it soon...
If you can use my services in texturing... let me know...
I think you are familiar with the kind of work I do...
if not... visit: http://westwood.fortunecity.com/chanel/132/index.html
Click to expand...

Here is a copy of an old S2 texture I was updating as I read your news... as you can see... my remake of the fuselage does shape nicely... [the original texture was flat colors... very amenable to repainting but unfortunately the tail assembly has some built in shadings that make it look awfully "bulky" and impossible to correct by repainting...]

View attachment 45439
 
My question...

gaucho_59 said:
Here is a copy of an old S2 texture I was updating as I read your news... as you can see... my remake of the fuselage does shape nicely... [the original texture was flat colors... very amenable to repainting but unfortunately the tail assembly has some built in shadings that make it look awfully "bulky" and impossible to correct by repainting...]

View attachment 45439
Click to expand...

I noticed that in your initial postings your "embrionic" model has some built in shadings on the fuselage...
Now... My question (which I somehow muffed not including it in my posting above) is:
in many models the flying surfaces (especially Ito's) fins, empennages, etc. appear too bulky and out of context with perspective... but being "built in" they cannot be changed... CAN THE SHADINGS IN THE MODEL BE RENDERED SO VERY LIGHTLY AS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO "ACCURIZE" THEM IN THE PAINTING AND/OR REPAINTING OF THE ACTUAL TEXTURES?
 
Gaucho,

The Embryo above is a GMax render, shading in sim will be quite different. I'm wondering if what your talking about is to do with smoothing groups, it's common to apply smoothing to objects, such as wings, control surfaces, etc. This is fine until you apply the same smoothing to a sharp edge on the item, ie. the end plate of a flying surface. Now this should be a sharp edge as in reality it isa smooth surface with the wing. If you apply smoothing to the whole elevator, let's say, in Gmax, it will attempt to round off those edges, hence you get odd shadows round the edges that should be flat.

hope that makes sense, it is a hard thing to get right. Examples with smoothing groups normal and fixed.

View attachment 45445View attachment 45446

Jamie
 
gaucho_59 said:
I noticed that in your initial postings your "embrionic" model has some built in shadings on the fuselage...
Now... My question (which I somehow muffed not including it in my posting above) is:
in many models the flying surfaces (especially Ito's) fins, empennages, etc. appear too bulky and out of context with perspective... but being "built in" they cannot be changed... CAN THE SHADINGS IN THE MODEL BE RENDERED SO VERY LIGHTLY AS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO "ACCURIZE" THEM IN THE PAINTING AND/OR REPAINTING OF THE ACTUAL TEXTURES?
Click to expand...

There are no gmax applied materials or textures here. What you see is a gmax rendering of sorts with only colors used to help along the design effort. An aircraft model surface mapping will eventually occur to provide a starting point for a paint kit to be done by "Smoothie". After the paint kit is completed, it will be available to all repainters.
I do not "colorize" objects in gmax; all parts will be textured externally.

Thanks Jamie for your explanation as well. :)

I have worked all day on revamping the nose and windscreen, side window and eyebrow trying to get some satisfaction from among the 5-6 different 3-views and real world pictures and get the "face" right.
 
She's looking great already Milton, looking forwards to getting that Paintkit started and then sent out to the other painters :jump:

as always, "Smoothie Standing By!" :salute:
 
Exactly on the nose...

JDTinballs said:
Gaucho,

The Embryo above is a GMax render, shading in sim will be quite different. I'm wondering if what your talking about is to do with smoothing groups, it's common to apply smoothing to objects, such as wings, control surfaces, etc. This is fine until you apply the same smoothing to a sharp edge on the item, ie. the end plate of a flying surface. Now this should be a sharp edge as in reality it isa smooth surface with the wing. If you apply smoothing to the whole elevator, let's say, in Gmax, it will attempt to round off those edges, hence you get odd shadows round the edges that should be flat.

hope that makes sense, it is a hard thing to get right. Examples with smoothing groups normal and fixed.

View attachment 45445View attachment 45446

Jamie
Click to expand...

Yes indeed... the second one look ok and can be shaped by texturing... whereas the first example... has an undesirable shadowing close to the edge of the flap... that no matter what you do.. still shows through the texturing...
Thanks a lot... I am a graphics artist foremostly... and never have attempted doing a wire model... Just noticed though... that many a fine model's appearance is ruined by those odd, blunting shades...
Thanks a lot for the know-how...
I can see though, that it can be done as in the second picture and that is quite acceptable...
Can't hardly wait to see this model "in the flesh"... the old one I am reworking the textures is quite a nice model were it not for this problem... excellent wing-folding operation, lndg gear retraction, etc. and lends itself to a nice refinishing... as you can see by the wheel covers I redid, and the access door...(unfortunately it does not open)...
Another problem I have noticed is the shadow of the aircraft (not on this model) sometimes shows the glasswork where it should be just a dark shadow... what is that due to? (I guess I am overtaxing you experts with questions... but if you care to clear this thing too.. I'd appreciate it... I think I am gettting brave enough to attempt doing some model... completely... but not rightaway... need to get some experience first with a construction program)
 
*shakes box*
"Does it have wings?!?!"
"Not yet..."

:icon_lol:

Shes looking better and better each and every day. I dont how you do it Uncle Milton but she a beauty!
 
Cag40Navy said:
*shakes box*
"Does it have wings?!?!"
"Not yet..."

:icon_lol:

Shes looking better and better each and every day. I dont how you do it Uncle Milton but she a beauty!
Click to expand...

LOL I hope to working on the wings Thursday followed by the nacelles, engines, and gear over the weekend.
 
Uncle Milton, this is one airplane that will make up a lot of flight time in my book! Thanks for doing the E-1 first! Look forward to it!
 
The E-1B is why I originally decided to do this project. It came first because it is the toughest to do. The radome has been a real bear to get right, but the biggest challenge is always the fuselage. You must get the fuselage "face" looking right before going further or it will destroy the whole look. I do spend a lot of time trying to get all the mesh as realistic as possible using the 3-views and RW pictures. I do not have teh gmax skills many have but I am persistent. :)
 
Milton Shupe said:
The E-1B is why I originally decided to do this project. It came first because it is the toughest to do. The radome has been a real bear to get right, but the biggest challenge is always the fuselage. You must get the fuselage "face" looking right before going further or it will destroy the whole look. I do spend a lot of time trying to get all the mesh as realistic as possible using the 3-views and RW pictures. I do not have teh gmax skills many have but I am persistent. :)
Click to expand...

And be because you are persistent, we get these beautiful aircraft! So Thank you!! :):):)

That Radome makes me drooool! So beautiful on that aircraft. :):):)
 
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