Great news folks, the wonderful Phil at Virtavia has given me permission to release the RF-8A/G conversion as freeware
I'm going to make some last minor model adjustments and I'd really like to try to add that unique "hump" on the upper fuselage to really get the shape right before final texture improvements. Release should be good within a couple of weeks. Model now also converted for P3D v4 - both types will be included so that all users can enjoy the update, regardless of platform.
A quick shot of the current build in P3D v4, over San Diego.
Absolutely outstanding news and great shots.
I think you’ve done a great job on the shape of the camera bays. They’re subtle but complex and easy to get incorrect.
I hope you don’t mind a bit of constructive input - bear in mind I was involved in the original, so I’m pretty attached to the subject and this model. A potential area to look at is the nose. I say potential, since it’s tricky with the black radome still painted.
The common pre TPS (gull grey over white) never, to my knowledge, had the full nose painted. They were generally white underneath, with the top painted black to match the anti-glare black area forward of the cockpit. There was a small tip of the nose area that was usually black (a few where white).
This would clarify whether you added the nose viewfinder port. I think you did, but it’s hard to see. Unfortunately I’m on my tiny iPhone on a beach vacation, so I can’t get you great pics. But here’s a link showing the viewfinder port and the white underside, and the small extent of nose actually painted:
http://www.vfp62.com/rf8_info.html
So seeing it in the right colour may clarify the other “potential” area - the shape itself of the nose. It was a shorter, pointier, sharper nose, similar to that of the used in the AN/APQ-83 equipped F8U-1E (F-8B) and F8U-2 (F-8C) than the larger, later AN/APQ-84 equipped D or E nose models.
You may have the right nose profile, but it’s hard to tell in all black.
Not sure if if this would add complexity, but a point of unresolved cleanup I felt was originally needed was over the variable-incidence wing angle jack. I think the diameter is too thick to scale, compared to what we see in photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisstreckfus/3021360962
http://picdeer.com/media/2064370528743322977_6990636245
I hope the help, and when I return Sat morning I can assist in more detail if required.
Thanks a ton for this.
Meanwhile, take care, and advise if you need anything else - have lots of resources at home if required.
Best regards,
Daniel