Goran_M

We'll see what happens with this plan. One of those "cross that bridge when we come to it" scenarios. Goran

Looking good, Theo.

Panel renders.

Ok, just a couple of things to post. I'm still deciding what I'll do with the pricing system for the Saab series. I just don't want to be painted with the same brush that Captain Sim was painted with regarding their "blocks" system. If it does go ahead, I think it will benefit everyone and will save people a lot of money. Also, this isn't MSFS so things work a lot better in X Plane than FS9 or FSX. Anyway, we'll see what happens down the road. Theo continues to work on the textures for the Hawker 4000 and you can see a recent screenshot of the FMC in the Hawker fleet thread. The bonanza is still on hold until I get all the info from Chris. It will most likely come this week. The Saab is moving along VERY quickly and the modelling for the 340A will be done within 1-2 weeks. For the latest screenshots of the panel, please see the Saab 340 thread. As always, feedback is always welcome. Goran

I have to say I am partly at fault for the walls. Rafael asked for my opinions on the fuse and I mentioned the walls are too thin. If he wanted to add thickness, to make slightly thicker. But you are correct. Rafael, model thickness once you have everything in the fuse completed. Otherwise you will spend hours "cleaning up". Goran

I might have to clarify something. The base package will, for example, cost $20 (NOT final price) and for $5-$10, you can purchase the upgrades. So instead of paying something like $40 up front for a whole package, you can pay for what you really need. It basically means it will cost the same what I would charge for a complete package. This way, beginners can get the benefits of something more "basic" in the Saab 340A without paying for a full package. Goran

Thanks guys. I was actually wanting to know something and I would appreciate feedback on this. There are 2 different variations of the Saab. They are the 340A and the 340B. Also, some 340A variants come with an FMC and some have just a GPS. Then the 340B has more modern displays and comes with an FMC as standard. So, what I was thinking was to make a "base" version of a 340A (with default FMC) and then make separate "upgrades" available for purchase. So a small fee to add the custom FMC to the 340A, then another fee to upgrade to the 340B. I might even include a Saab 2000 for another small fee. I would really appreciate as many people responding to this as possible. Goran

Well, I thought I would post a little update as it has been very quiet around x-pilot lately. The Hawker 4000 is still being textured and is roughly (and I use the term loosely) 60%-70% textured and I can't do anything with it until Theo finishes with it. But I am seeing progress screenies and it is looking very "nice". The Bonanza is still being made but is on hold because the exterior is finished but I'm waiting on interior photos from "Chris" and he's away from home at the moment. He comes back this week so hopefully I can get started on that this week. Now, "Project 3" is the Saab 340. I already have a ton of documentation on it and the AOM that is given to pilots is going to be brought over to my house sometime this week. I was able to model the exterior of the Saab in the last week. I figured I can't do anything on my other 2 projects yet so I'll get started on the Saab. Anyway, here are some screenshots of Project 3. It is still a work in progress. I want to fix a few little things that bug me. Overall, I'm very happy with it.

The analogies I use are to familiarize people with the different types of security that is out there. The main difference is, and I had some kind of problem with this info a few years ago, is that when you buy payware, you don't really own it. You have bought the license to use it on your computer. That's where EULA's come in. If you "owned" it, then you could share it, distribute it, do whatever you wanted to it. Funny business this E business. Goran

Thanks Javier Goran

I KNEW you were making something else. I even asked Cameron and he said "CRJ-200". Javier, you are both in for a wild ride. I have refused to make an airbus purely because of the systems modelling. If anyone did an Airbus, I am happy it was you! Looking forward to it! Goran

Some people don't realize, DRM technology is in use all over the world for many different things. Albeit, in a different form. Many shops have DRM (Security Tag on clothing, beeping barriers, PIN's for ATM's, keys for unlocking your car or your house, even, believe it or not, contraception.). These are all a form of DRM and we, as customers, are forced to accept these forms of security. What a lot of people don't understand is, payware developers create add ons so they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. Some developers do it for fun and don't charge for their work. My hats off to them, but those developers do not work towards a deadline and they develop in their spare time for fun because they have full time jobs that pay the bills. But when a developer spends up to 18 hours a day, 5-6 days a week creating a simming add on only to see that add on end up on torrent sites, it destroys any future add on because the developer just won't bother with making something else which will almost definitely be better unless security can be provided. DRM exists to protect developers and to also ensure developers keep creating more, higher quality add ons in the future. It's a very small price to pay for many hundreds, if not thousands of hours of enjoyment. Just my 0.02 worth Goran

Yes, but not much. It's progressing slowly in the way of textures. I'm talking with Theo on a regular basis and I gave him a deadline we both agreed on for finishing textures for the whole plane. There are few more little things to model but I'm going to do those in the next few days and they are nothing to brag about but I want them done. Theo has so far UV mapped the entire Center pedestal and has begun texturing it. What I have seen looks awesome! I'll be putting screenshots up soon when I feel I have something juicy to show. After texturing comes animations and then the fun task of programming some systems using the new xlua language. Most of the systems will be done with default planemaker programming. The FMC will definitely be custom and that will be taking up the majority of my time. The first screenshot of the center pedestal (textured) will be posted within a day or 2. Also, while Theo textures the aircraft, I have been reading up on, and practising Maya and Lightwave. I don't really want to use Blender anymore. Simply put, that kind of software is superior to Blender. So my next project, the Bonanza G36 will be done entirely in either Lightwave, Maya or 3DS Max. Yes, there are other Bonanzas out there, but this one will have a couple of special somethings that the others don't have. I have 2 more definite projects after that but I will post info on those at a later date. Goran

I've said this to other people who were interested in creating any kind of 3D model and have asked me some questions. If, after you model something, you can sit there, look at it, and honestly say you've done a good job, then you can move on. YOU will know if you haven't done something properly. It's when you finish it, move on to something else, but that little voice keeps telling you, "The ***** you modelled is no good! You need to fix it!" And that voice gets louder and louder until you go back and finish it. Then the voice changes to "That's a kick ass ****** you modelled!!". Learn to be your own worst critic. In the future, if you do end up doing this full time, not many people are going to tell you whether something looks good or not. It's YOUR responsibility to judge that for yourself. And you're at the RIGHT age to start learning that. It would surprise the hell out of everybody here if you model something, are completely satisfied with it, and then make a post that makes jaws drop without asking anyone else if it looks good. As with ANY creative process, it can take a few days to learn the basics of modelling in 3D, a few months to get pretty decent at it, but it takes YEARS to master it. It's hard to tell whether what you have done "looks" right. You would need to provide wireframes and object views from a lot of different angles. When you finish a section and you need help, post it and see what happens. Goran

Rafael, there are many different ways to model in Blender. What's important is you get the best possible result. The way I made my wingbox is different to how many other people make their wingbox. Same with the control surfaces. I did them in a very unorthodox way but they actually turned out exactly how I wanted them too. You will find, in the course of developing this project, new and better ways to model things. Until, one day, you find a workflow for every object, cut, shape, whatever you model that works best for you. That's what ultimately makes this an artform. Keep working on it. What you do today will probably be deleted and re done somewhere down the line anyway. You won't get it "right" the first time and at times you will want to quit. Believe me, I wanted to, more than once. But you learn from the experience. Goran

I was going to describe how I cut holes for gear doors, windows, etc... but Jason found a video that demonstrates it nearly exactly how I do it. I personally think this video is better. So, enjoy the viewing and make some holes. http://www.cgcookie.com/articles/tip-hole-cutting-on-curved-surfaces Goran

I found the best way to make these things. And it works flawlessly. You can get a nice cut in about 10-15 minutes with very little to no triangles for a complex cut like main gear doors or windows. I won't explain it here. It's a bit complex and detailed. I'll probably put up a tutorial soon when I have a spare hour or 2. And it's geometrically 100% accurate in it's method. Very clean modelling. Goran

I thought I'd keep everyone informed on what is happening. I got my hands on some more photos of the Hawker 4000 and I have spent the last few days adjusting things, adding bits and pieces and modelling new things. I can safely say, with the exception of the cabin seating (which I plan on changing to a lower poly version) the entire aircraft has been modelled. I'll spend the day tomorrow modelling all seats and then start on the GA stuff I had planned while Theo textures the 4000. When the textures are done on the Hawker, I'll get into animating it and then take it from there. I have flown the object model of the Hawker and it performs well in the sim with regards to fps. I don't really want to put up more screenshots of an untextured aircraft because there really isn't much to show that is different to what has already been posted. If everything pans out like I expect it to, I'll have the GA released in the next 8 weeks or so and the Hawker a short time after that. Goran

And guess who's texturing it?

I'm at the point now where I've made a list of what needs to be done to finish this project. There is 1 more thing on the exterior to model. However, there are a few small things to model on the interior. The cockpit is still being worked on. I've redone the entire panel and centre console, because, well, surprise, I wasn't happy with how I modelled it before. Things bugged me about it and now it's looking pretty much like I want it to look. Anyway, Theo's been busy texturing Jason's 800. He's still not finished modelling it but it's getting there. However, Theo's gotten a little sick so that may have to be put on hold. Anyway, a small screenshot of the (nearly) completed centre pedestal and main panel. Goran

Absolutely spectacular! You make me want to do circuits around this airport. Goan

:) :D "We got a call from a group of airplane enthusiasts called the RAF." PRICELESS. THAT'S a race!

While taking a break from modelling, I stumbled onto this video. THIS is what I call quality viewing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iK7S4jnIPk&feature=channel Goran

Theo is starting the textures today on the 4000, so I thought I'd post up the last rendered screenshot of it without textures. NOW, I'm happy with how it looks. (Notice I did the wingbox...again!) Goran

A few more screenshots of the 4000 and 800XP. These are all untextured. Only colored in Blender. The 4000 is still getting things ironed out and I'm making sure everything is as smooth as possible. I was experimenting with some things so the screenshots of the 4000 show it without the wingbox and the section of fuselage where the door is located is missing. We have both stripped down a lot of polys. I've gone from 660 000 polys to 350 000. Jason has stripped just under that figure. We have both tested these planes in X plane and they run very smooth. I have 200MB of Sydney scenery installed and I use that for my benchmark. FPS didn't drop below 21 with high detail settings. I will post my X Plane settings up along with my PC specs in a later post so people can compare. The 4000 A render in Blender. Blender lighting and renderring is very unforgiving when it comes to showing flaws in the model. With the nose section attached (minus the door section) Goran