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VFR Simulations Cessna 170B Project update thread.
- Thread starter fsxar177
- Start date
fsxar177
Long-Time Enthusiast
Thanks gents.
Ryan,
We considered more 'stock-ish' looking cowlings. However, essentially, it's one of the 'cons' if you want to call it that, of the big Lycoming 4 cyl. Firstly the filtered air inlet doesn't come close to aligning. Second, the side blister is a must to clear the cylinder heads. And thirdly, the exhaust holes must be patched. Almost always the nose-bowl is replaced, to accommodate the large starter ring gear. Usually the end result is pretty noticeable, though some of these things can be disguised. Currently there are two primary STC's that are commonly used for the Lycoming conversion, though many have been done with others and or field approval.
The Continental 360 fits in the stock cowling nicely, with almost no externally visual modifications. Maybe your dads friend has that? I know Shawn Holley up in AK, who has won numerous Valdez STOL competitions runs the TCIO-360 in his airplane, with the stock 54 cowling. In fact we're working on including that conversion as well, if we can dot some I's and cross some T's. The TC motor is kinda the big brother to the C-145/O-300, and is also a 6 cyl.
Thanks,
- Joseph
Ryan,
We considered more 'stock-ish' looking cowlings. However, essentially, it's one of the 'cons' if you want to call it that, of the big Lycoming 4 cyl. Firstly the filtered air inlet doesn't come close to aligning. Second, the side blister is a must to clear the cylinder heads. And thirdly, the exhaust holes must be patched. Almost always the nose-bowl is replaced, to accommodate the large starter ring gear. Usually the end result is pretty noticeable, though some of these things can be disguised. Currently there are two primary STC's that are commonly used for the Lycoming conversion, though many have been done with others and or field approval.
The Continental 360 fits in the stock cowling nicely, with almost no externally visual modifications. Maybe your dads friend has that? I know Shawn Holley up in AK, who has won numerous Valdez STOL competitions runs the TCIO-360 in his airplane, with the stock 54 cowling. In fact we're working on including that conversion as well, if we can dot some I's and cross some T's. The TC motor is kinda the big brother to the C-145/O-300, and is also a 6 cyl.
Thanks,
- Joseph
fsxar177
Long-Time Enthusiast
Ryan,
Wow, excellent looking bird right there. That is a more rare Lycoming O-320 conversion. (Smaller 4). With constant speed prop. Probably offers 15-20hp advantage over the stock engine, and you are right, it fits nicely. It would be a carbureted engine, as you can see it retains the sheet-metal 'box' or scoop under the cowling, as the original did. Not as many people did this conversion, as with the added cost, most would spend a bit more and vouch for the 180hp. I notice the Sportsman STOL is installed on that 170 as well. Nice setup.
Tire options will be 6x6, 7x6, and 8x6 on the smaller end, with possibly 26", and at least 29" and 31" Bush tires. So 5-6 options, plus another tailwheel. At least three sets of gear legs. From the earlier, more squishy gear, to the mid-range and much desired 'Lady leg', and finally a stiffer C-180 gear leg. A couple floats as well. No intention of Ski's at the moment, as there just isn't any way that I can see of really getting a handle on properly simulating snow.
The pre-order is significantly discounted. It is set-up more or less as a means of some of our supporters contributing during the development process.
Best,
- Joseph
Wow, excellent looking bird right there. That is a more rare Lycoming O-320 conversion. (Smaller 4). With constant speed prop. Probably offers 15-20hp advantage over the stock engine, and you are right, it fits nicely. It would be a carbureted engine, as you can see it retains the sheet-metal 'box' or scoop under the cowling, as the original did. Not as many people did this conversion, as with the added cost, most would spend a bit more and vouch for the 180hp. I notice the Sportsman STOL is installed on that 170 as well. Nice setup.
Tire options will be 6x6, 7x6, and 8x6 on the smaller end, with possibly 26", and at least 29" and 31" Bush tires. So 5-6 options, plus another tailwheel. At least three sets of gear legs. From the earlier, more squishy gear, to the mid-range and much desired 'Lady leg', and finally a stiffer C-180 gear leg. A couple floats as well. No intention of Ski's at the moment, as there just isn't any way that I can see of really getting a handle on properly simulating snow.
The pre-order is significantly discounted. It is set-up more or less as a means of some of our supporters contributing during the development process.
Best,
- Joseph
fsxar177
Long-Time Enthusiast
Just a little word of update.
A few milestones reached this week, with the 3d mesh.
1.) Rigging all of the control surfaces.
Including building the aileron hinges, flap tracks, elevators. And setting each up for the correct animations.
2.) Completed the interior shell with provisions for multiple interior options, and extended baggage compartment.
3.) Corrected under-side of the fuselage to newly acquired measurements. (Needless to say, I was off by about 2" previously).
The exterior model is 95% complete, and marked for UV mapping. We're shooting for around 1,000,000 polys with the finished model, with virtually no noticeable performance impact. (Our test-bed model is around 500,000 polys, with multiple animations plus Diffuse, Specular, and Bump texture vertices and it is working flawlessly with very little VAS usage). I intend to keep the aircraft hardware friendly, without sacrificing detail. Every aspect of the mesh has been designed around accommodating this.
I'm finishing out little details that are options, such as fairing, gear legs, and propellers. I should be working toward doing the layout of the final Paintkit by sometime next week, which will include drawing the Normal maps. At which point I will shift my focus almost entirely into the instruments and VC. At some point the 3d mesh for the Continental C-145 engine, and the Lycoming IO-360 will then both be fitted.
Not a whole lot to show, but thought I'd attach a couple from this week's work.
- Joseph
A few milestones reached this week, with the 3d mesh.
1.) Rigging all of the control surfaces.
Including building the aileron hinges, flap tracks, elevators. And setting each up for the correct animations.
2.) Completed the interior shell with provisions for multiple interior options, and extended baggage compartment.
3.) Corrected under-side of the fuselage to newly acquired measurements. (Needless to say, I was off by about 2" previously).
The exterior model is 95% complete, and marked for UV mapping. We're shooting for around 1,000,000 polys with the finished model, with virtually no noticeable performance impact. (Our test-bed model is around 500,000 polys, with multiple animations plus Diffuse, Specular, and Bump texture vertices and it is working flawlessly with very little VAS usage). I intend to keep the aircraft hardware friendly, without sacrificing detail. Every aspect of the mesh has been designed around accommodating this.
I'm finishing out little details that are options, such as fairing, gear legs, and propellers. I should be working toward doing the layout of the final Paintkit by sometime next week, which will include drawing the Normal maps. At which point I will shift my focus almost entirely into the instruments and VC. At some point the 3d mesh for the Continental C-145 engine, and the Lycoming IO-360 will then both be fitted.
Not a whole lot to show, but thought I'd attach a couple from this week's work.
- Joseph
FlyingsCool
SOH-CM-2019
I wonder what happened to them? Sounds like he was nearly finished.
falcon409
SOH-CM-2026
Taking orders for 5 years for an airplane he heralded as basically unlike any other ever built. . .far ahead of anything available for flightsim. . . .unless he passed away unexpectedly or was hit with some other personal tragedy that he has never been able to recover from (and those are certainly real possibilities) then he took a lot of very trusting people to the cleaners, with nary an explanation as to why.
If someone in this community knows what has happened to him or his airplane (no conjectures or assumptions please) it would be nice if they came forward and at least gave some resemblance of an update. . .if at all possible.
Mach3DS
Charter Member
I know that he recently had his first child. So life may have caught up with him in a big way. lots of new variables that one may have not planned for with that bundle of joy.
Alan_A
Charter Member
Worth noting also that over the past five years, the bar has been raised a lot for flightsim development. What was a groundbreaking feature set five years ago won't past muster today. As a result, development times have gotten much longer, even for established developers. And for a lot of solo practitioners, it's got to be a struggle - look at Marcel Felde, who delivered a couple of truly remarkable products, but had to call it quits on his Pilatus Porter. So I can easily see somebody, especially a first-timer, getting into a project with the best of intentions, and then drowning in it. As for the cost, I'm out $20, but I'd hardly call that being taken to the cleaners - it's more like a very small risk that I took with my eyes open, and that led to a very small loss (assuming the project doesn't come off). But I agree it would have been better if he'd given us some news, even if it's bad news. Failure happens but it's better if you own it.