Boeing 747-200

[Sopwith]

Not a big red clowns nose man, I mean I really want a decent 747 but not with a big red nose.

However, thinking about it, attaching wings to it would be ok.

[Simmo W]

Thinking laterally? A gpu and team? A bonus sundowner and xaviation tshirt for free?

[Goran_M]

How's this for lateral thinking?

http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php?topic=794.0

[Sopwith]

So that is the addition, an extended cockpit, another 6 yards of fuselage, another 60 passengers. What would you call that?

[Sopwith]

Why is my Karma -1. I work at Karma. There have been occasions in my life where I really could have stuck it to someone I didnt like, but I didnt, because it would be bad Karma. So I join X-pilot and they give me -1 as my Karma score.

Rashid Pundit Ashima gave me a +7.

She knew something.

[Goran_M]

So that is the addition, an extended cockpit, another 6 yards of fuselage, another 60 passengers. What would you call that?

You forget the extra screens on the panel.

;D

[gilbenl]

So that is the addition, an extended cockpit, another 6 yards of fuselage, another 60 passengers. What would you call that?

I call it a completely different plane...

You gotta remember man, it's not an "extended" cockpit. It's a completely different cockpit! With a completely different cockpit comes a whole new range of systems programming. Hell man, even knobs which seem similar to the -200, are different in the -400! Also, the wings, engines, pylons, flaps, gear, fuse, ACF file all need changing, and that's the short list. Same thing is true with a DC-10/MD-11...very similar; totally different.

I understand where your coming from, but when you actually see the planes side-by-side, I think you'll have a greater appreciation for just how different the Queen and the Princess are.

In the process of doing this, I will probably compose a list of all of the exterior differences as there really isn't one that exists. As the list grows, I think it will also give ya'll a better idea of the huge task we face!

[Sopwith]

A captain, dont let me slow you or discourage you, I dont have the slightest doubt that this is going to be a great success.   

[MaidenFan]

Wow, this thing is coming along nicely?

[Goran_M]

I was looking through my old renders of the 747 and realized I had quite a few that I hadn't posted.  Seeing as it has been quiet around here lately, I thought I might throw some up.

[MaidenFan]

Cool, thanks!!!

[Sopwith]

Stunning Captain, stunning.

[Sopwith]

How is your project going captain?

[Goran_M]

Still working on other things while mixing in the 747. 

We still have a Saab to finish (340A and .

I can't say when the 747 will be finished as there are a huge amount of gauges to animate and program and there's no point animating them all and then testing them.  I have to program 1-4 gauges,  export them, test them and fix them if they need it.  I can say programming all the gauges can take about a month to 6 weeks. 

And nothing on the 747 is even textured yet. 

Actually, I lie.  The fuselage has been "experimentally" textured.  But nothing can be programmed and animated until Theo finishes the textures.

I'm still optimistic about a pre-christmas finish.

[Lukasz]

Another hotshot

While WIP updates are nice and good and bring peace to the hearts of everyone interested and I thank developers for releasing them, I suggest that anyone who is impatiently awaiting an aircraft to be released, actually try to make one. Maybe then, you'll see, that's not that far from building a real plane, in terms of general experience - and so is the time required. Lots of research, lots of reading, many hours of 3D modelling and flight testing. Some of the literature has to be purchased, and don't think, it's a cheap hunt on ebay, one book can be as expensive as a whole decent payware aircraft, or even more. Now, change "3D modelling" into "working in a workshop" and you'll get the picture. Of course that is, if you want to do it properly, as is the case of Captain's B747.

Real B747 (or any airliner for that matter) is build in many factories, by thousands of employees of various specialised companies. How many dev teams are that large and how many of these talented people can work 2-3 shifts, like the big, real factories do?

Recommended reading:

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/facilities/

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/692983/

Mind you, I'm also silently, patiently awaiting the B747

[Lukasz]

I'm far from blaming anyone Why do you think I have chosen that signature? Even I'm sometimes guilty of thinking, "if it's done on a computer, it has to be easy". In fact, for the most of the time - it isn't. And I can assure you, that it took me more, than 10 days to stop drooling over the gauges on Sundowner and actually start flying Kidding aside, the panel alone was one of the reasons that I've purchased it.

tease BTW there are 4 repaints for the Sundowner already, awaiting for the paintkit... /tease

[Airbus]

Gona poke my head in here, take a look at the main gear doors(ALONE)! Grand parent boning all over the place! This 747 will be one badassed add on!

http://www.airliners.net/photo/El-Al-Israel/Boeing-747-258B/1215049/L/&sid=92519ed64aee3362a1bd12246e10b2c8

[Lukasz]

Indeed, there must be something big going on, if Airbus is praising Boeing Nice photo by the way!

[hobofat]

Still working on other things while mixing in the 747. 

We still have a Saab to finish (340A and .

He said Saab!  Hehe, just excited is all.

[Sopwith]

Well I certainly didnt think that I was in any way pressurising the team by making the occasional enquiry. Imagine the captain making the announcment that they were going to build a 747-200 and there was no feedback.

Total silence.

They would think "well whats the point".

So I occasionally ask what is the state of play just to let them know that there is an audience and that audience is interested in their progress and looking forward to flying the aircraft, also to let them update us in a more general sense if they wish.

So my enquiry is more of a "Hi were all still here" than a "what the hell are you doin".

[Lukasz]

As I said, I don't blame you It's just the two posts in a row, that caught my eye. I'm sorry, if I misjudged you. And I'd hardly called a 14-pages thread, as a "no feedback" I can only imagine the positive madness, that's going to start, after the Jumbo gets relased. Planes that big, popular and well crafted doesn't just "show up", imagine what would happen if Elvis himself got into a city bus, to have a ride

[Goran_M]

Ok, first, some clarification and a request.

Both Theo and myself do this aircraft development full time.  And when I say full time, I mean at least 9 hours a day, 6 days a week.  Me?  I do 7 days a week.  So we have come up with a work schedule that suits us both and we always have something to do. 

So here's what's been happening.

Theo has nothing to do on the Sundowner update at the moment.  I'm working on the majority of it.

The Saab is getting some rebuilding done.  Better detail in the mesh.  So Theo cannot do anything on that until I finish with it.

So Theo opted to do some texturing on the 747.  Before you look at it, I would like to ask a favor.

Please do not ask Theo, Cameron or myself for any kind of release dates on the 747.  I have gotten a few emails from some of you asking for a release date and the truth is, we don't know.  What I am aiming for is sometime before end of the year.  That usually means + 2 or 3 months past the expected release date.

We have been extremely busy with other things which will be known very soon.

But for now, here is the very first screenshot of a fully textured 747-200 throttle console.

Theo's texturing and my 3D model.

As always, comments are welcome.

[-TheoGregory]

And a few others...

C&C Welcome.

[samen]

I am screaming! The textures are fantastic, I pride myself of sitting in all Boeing 747's mainline (B741, B742, B743 and B744) and I am still fifteen. Really waiting for this one. Sitting on a B743 in two weeks time and If I am lucky like last year I might get the boeing 747-100.

[scubajuan]

Awesome! When is this plane being released? hehe, just kidding. Looks fantastic, keep up the good work and be assured that when this baby is released you can count on me buying it. Rather wait for a completed product than get all hyped, pay for stuff and the feel disappointed with the over all quality. Take your time to do it right. and thanks for the updates, is nice to have something new to drool about.