The next conversion project WIP

Tako_Kichi

Tako_Kichi

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I was poking around in the dusty recesses of my FSX back-up hangar, ya know, the folder where you stick all the aircraft you are not currently flying but you've pulled out of your active FSX install and then forgotten about! Yeah THAT ONE! :oops: ;)

Well I discovered a forgotten gem and when I looked at the thumbnails I just knew I had to make a P3D conversion with PBR textures because it just screamed "DO IT!!!!!" at the top of it's lungs! :eek::giggle:

So what is it I hear you ask!

THIS!​

reno_1.png
reno_2.png
reno_3.png
reno_4.png

What a beauty in P3D!

I already have the two prototype bare metal textures done (one USAF, one RAF) and I then have an ANG scheme, the Tuskegee Airmen scheme and a couple of armed camo versions to do.

Watch this space! :devilish:
 
In FSX I have Manfred's DC3/C47, Flight Replica's Canadair Argonaut/North Star (essentially Canadian built DC4s but with RR Merlin engines) and JF's DC6 but I don't think I've ever had any of the Cal Classics DC7 versions. Are Cal Classic aircraft all 2D panel only or do some of them have proper VCs now? I only fly aircraft with a VC and I can only convert aircraft to P3D that have a proper external and internal model (like FSX models).

P.S. I just tried to DL a DC7 to take a look at it and all links on the Cal Classic site linking back to the Flightsim.com library are dead! :oops: :eek:
 
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Here are the two prototype XP-72s (one USAF, one RAF).

proto_USAF.png
proto_RAF.png

Plus three of the PA ANG scheme with a rocket load-out.

PA-ANG_1.png
PA-ANG_2.png
PA-ANG_3.png

I have the Tuskegee bare metal scheme to do and then two camo schemes!
 
Milton Shupe's Spartan 7W Executive to P3D PBR standards.

Capture.jpg
 
The final round up of textures for the Republic XP-72. (y)

First off the Tuskegee Red Tail version.

Tuskegee.png

Next up is the USAF camo version with guns, bomb and rockets!

USAF_1.png

This is the USAF camo version without the bombs (but still with guns and rockets).

USAF_2.png

Finally here is the Vietnamese Air Force camo version.

VAF.png

Now I need to package it all up and get it uploaded!
 
gray eagle said:
Milton Shupe's Spartan 7W Executive to P3D PBR standards.

Capture.jpg
Click to expand...

I've started looking at the Spartan Butch but there is an issue that I have not yet been able to resolve and it may turn out to be a show stopper! I've even asked for help over at FS Developer with no luck so far. The problem is that the cockpit glass is disappearing at certain viewing angles. It was also very 'milky' when I first started working on it but at least I have been able to tone that down a bit.

This is what it first looked like:

Glass_shine.png
Glass_missing.png

This is what I have now:

Glass_3.png
Glass_4.png


If I can't fix the glass issue it may stop any more work unfortunately! :(
 
Tako_Kichi said:
I've started looking at the Spartan Butch but there is an issue that I have yet not been able to resolve and it may turn out to be a show stopper! I've even asked for help over at FS Developer with no luck so far. The problem is that the cockpit glass is disappearing at certain viewing angles. It was also very 'milky' when I first started working on it but at least I have been able to tone that down a bit.

This is what it first looked like:

View attachment 161656
View attachment 161657

This is what I have now:

View attachment 161658
View attachment 161659


If I can't fix the glass issue it may stop any more work unfortunately!
Click to expand...

I appreciate the effort. (y)
 
I've replaced both of the fresnel textures with known good ones from aircraft that do not display this issue and the problem persists. Then I went into the material editor in MCX and played with the FSX fresnel settings (those options do not appear in the P3D v4 settings and I am keeping the glass as a FSX material) with no difference in the sim. Then I turned off all fresnel options in the FSX materials menu and the problem is still there so I don't think it's a fresnel issue at this point.

I went back and did the conversion again right from the start and while the error is still there it is less noticeable this time so I may have to live with it. It only shows at one specific external viewing angle (on each side) and as I fly from the VC 90% of the time I don't normally see it! I personally would rather have this classic available in P3D v4+ as it does look good with PBR textures. I've also reworked the VC panel textures by up-sizing them to 2048 instead of the original 1024 and then making all of the labels again so that they are legible at any viewing distance and while I was in the texture I changed the black levels to make the background less dark so that you can actually see things instead trying to find a black cat in a coal mine! :oops: :LOL:

Would people be happy with the glass issue just to have this classic in P3D v4+ or do I move on? :unsure:

Let me know.
 
It's not needed on a P3D v4.4+ model with only PBR compatible textures ...but... this model (and all the others I've done) use a combination of FSX and P3D with PBR textures. The glass on all of them remained a FSX texture as I have not found out how to make a PBR glass texture yet! I've found nothing in any of the P3D SDKs that explains how to make a PBR glass at all! Glass was always funny stuff to get right on FSX models and it appears to be the same in P3D. Unfortunately there is a history of 'secrecy' among the FSX/P3D developer communities where people don't give up 'trade secrets' even to fellow developers!

I only got where I am today because I was lucky to find 'mentors' who were willing to stop what they were doing to tutor me when I had issues. Sadly they have all either moved on or passed on! :(
 
Perhaps Youtuber Adam Prestidge could help. His video is also showing how to PBR aircraft, perhaps he may know how to crack
that nut on your glass issues.

 
I saw that video last year and his brush is a bit broad when it comes to detail, lots of talk in general but nothing specific.
 
Just as my two-penny's worth, my first PBR conversions were of the Warbirdsim Mustangs and the canopy glass was an awful blue. So, since then, the first thing I convert is the glass. It can be a bit of a battle with the glass alpha and the diffuse setting in MCX, to get the best colour and depth, but it's well worth it.

Atb and keep up the good work

DaveQ
 
Hi Dave, I DL'd your tutorial and worked my way through it and while it did tone down the shine and reflections the glass disappearing at certain view angles remains. BTW that was my first attempt at making PBR glass as I'd not found a tutorial specific to that before, I do have your great tutorial on converting FSX aircraft to P3D and that is what got me started on this journey.

Here is the first of three shots I took in P3D after going through your tutorial.

DaveQ-1.png

The glass is clear, non-milky, not too shiny and dark enough to look realistic and to tell that it is actually there.

DaveQ-2.png

Panning to the rear starts to show the front right windshield glass disappearing but the co-pilot glass is still visible.

DaveQ-3.png

The final shot shows how the glass looks like it has disappeared from the windshield and co-pilot window when you pan just a little more. What's interesting is that the rear windows never disappear at any viewing angle.

I am starting to wonder if it is a 'normal' issue on the glass parts of the model themselves and the 'normals' somehow need flipping or resetting maybe? I don't have the GMAX source files so I can only use the MCX tools but I am pretty sure I saw something a while back about 'flipping normals' somehow in MCX.
 
Tako_Kichi said:
Hi Dave, I DL'd your tutorial and worked my way through it and while it did tone down the shine and reflections the glass disappearing at certain view angles remains. BTW that was my first attempt at making PBR glass as I'd not found a tutorial specific to that before, I do have your great tutorial on converting FSX aircraft to P3D and that is what got me started on this journey.

Here is the first of three shots I took in P3D after going through your tutorial.

View attachment 161804

The glass is clear, non-milky, not too shiny and dark enough to look realistic and to tell that it is actually there.

View attachment 161805

Panning to the rear starts to show the front right windshield glass disappearing but the co-pilot glass is still visible.

View attachment 161806

The final shot shows how the glass looks like it has disappeared from the windshield and co-pilot window when you pan just a little more. What's interesting is that the rear windows never disappear at any viewing angle.

I am starting to wonder if it is a 'normal' issue on the glass parts of the model themselves and the 'normals' somehow need flipping or resetting maybe? I don't have the GMAX source files so I can only use the MCX tools but I am pretty sure I saw something a while back about 'flipping normals' somehow in MCX.
Click to expand...
I Like the rivet detail. Congrats on your forward progress.
 
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