Goran_M

Spent the day yesterday tidying up the center console. Cutting some polys and making sure it all lines up nicely. Also, I made a successful export to the simulator and have seen the aircraft sitting on the ground at Miami. (No screenshots of that just yet. It wasn't scaled properly) So after all that, I spent the night making the Engine instruments panel and started on the Captains panel before I decided it was enough since the sun is well and truly up and I need some zzzz's. Anyway, Engine instruments... By the way, I am way ahead of where I was when my PC got the virus. Back then, I hadn't done the center console so things are progressing fairly quickly. Today I have to have an animating session with Reuben to get some manipulators done on the Saab.

I plan on adding a few retro, late 70's early 80's bits and pieces around the cockpit. But I won't mention what they are. I'll let you guys find those in future renders. Lol @ Zach! A lot of hours have been spent at the keyboard trying to get used to Blender and building these aircraft. If people like the work I do, then all the late nights (Sometimes watching the sun come up through my bedroom window after a long night of modelling), junk food and often times, stressful situations (I've had Blender crash to desktop a few times after I was modelling for about 4 hours and none of the work was saved.) are all worth it. Cheers Goran

INS will be programmed to replicate the Delco Carousel unit. It will also have fully functioning IRS alignment utilizing the overhead INS panels. Goran

I have the pricing already figured out. This add on will cost $6500. And for every purchase, you get a brand new top end PC for only $1 more! But wait!!! That's not all. If you're one of the first 100 people to call NOW, you get a free 747-200 add on! ;D Just better clarify...polys are still fairly low and when I finished the modelling, I'll be culling some more polygons. So far, the entire aircraft has about 270 000 polygons.

I was going to start on the main panel for the 747, but have decided to get started on the center console as the INS is going to be programmed very soon. I started on the Center console last night and have just about finished it this afternoon. Possibly a few tiny little adjustments. Anyway...Overhead, FE panel and Center console... Goran

Use the merge tool. Alt M and then select where you want to merge them. You have to do them 2 at a time. ie. Select 1 vert, select the next, Alt M, merge to wherever. You could also use the Snap tool and then remove doubles when you're done. Goran

Just a small heads up for everyone who is interested. There is a committed team of 3 people working on the Saab with a 4th person lending an occasional hand to try to get it out as soon as possible. I sincerely appreciate all the emails I am getting and the interest shown in these forums. I love keeping the interest alive by posting regular updates so I can keep everyone informed. Rest assured, Theo, Reuben and myself are working some ridiculous hours (often starting around 9am and going to sleep in the early hours of the morning) to get this project finished and to a standard we are all satisfied with. Over the last few weeks, there have been some unforeseen challenges we were faced with that took some time to resolve. There were some texturing, blender and dataref issues and some of the gauges were behaving very strangely. Only recently have we been able to get them working somewhat correctly. If there are any updates to be posted about the Saab, I will make sure they are posted as soon as there is something worth posting. Posting updates on what datarefs were added and adjusted or what textures were fixed is not really something that many people are interested in and is taking time away from the task at hand. I have a deadline in mind and both Theo and Reuben are definite about reaching that deadline. I don't want to give out "near definite" time frames, but it will be ready in a matter of weeks. Cheers Goran

Thanks, Maxime. Re: the Saab. She's getting a service. When she's ready, you'll be the first to know.

The FE panel is about 95% finished. Unfortunately, I have to start the main Captains panel from scratch. Overhead is done but I want to go over it and make sure it's all positioned properly. To me, it somehow looks incorrect. The crash didn't really put me behind because programming won't start until the end of the month and I'll get to where I was within the next week. Goran

Thanks for your comments Zach! My wife disagrees with your last statement, however. ;D Kesomir, 20/20 hindsight. BUT, I recently did install Ubuntu and was messing around with it. I love it, btw. All the blend files would not have been salvageable, as far as I know, because I think the windows volume has to be mounted in Ubuntu. While I was playing around with it, I could not see any files or folders that were part of Windows installations and the projects I am working on are all part of the "My Documents" folder. It's all over and done with now, anyway. I've had a couple of people on skype ask me, how can I be so calm about losing all my work and starting again. Well, what's the alternative? Getting mad? Smashing my computer? It was one of those classic cases where I got knocked down (HARD), getting up, dusting myself off, and starting it again. And keeping a clear head about it. I did, however, curse virus makers all over the world for a few hours. Cheers guys, Goran Tough way to learn a valuable lesson. Goran

ok, now I get you. I thought you meant I made a post about losing the 747 over at the org. I like how you think. You look deeper than most people I know. Goran

Can you show me a link of where you read it? I never posted about this on the org. Maybe you are referring to Jasons Starship when he lost it about 6 months ago. Goran

I didn't want to mention anything about this until I felt it was the right time. On Christmas Eve, I had a weekly Virus and Spyware scan scheduled for 11PM. After a day filled with food and kids, I decided to sit down and work on the 747. The virus scan finished and it detected 1 virus, 1 malware and 4 or 5 spyware. My Anti Virus recommended a PC restart to complete the deleting of the offending virus and other nasties. I restarted the PC after saving my work. Upon re-booting, I would get to the Windows Logo and it would shut down and continue to restart. It was stuck in a boot up loop. Instead of risking any further problems, I decided to re-install windows on my 2nd hard drive in the PC and retrieve all my stuff that way. No go. Windows needed to delete all partitions and then re install. So yes, I lost ALL my work, manuals, blend files, programs, documents, absolutely everything. But, here's what was salvageable. Reuben had the Saab blend file as he was working on animations. Theo had the Bonanza and all the UV maps for the Saab. The Hawker 4000 and the 747-200 were both gone. A few days later, Jason (Airbus) and I started talking on Skype and I told him what happened. He mentioned he had a very late version of the Hawker 4000. The only things missing were the pilots seats. Ok, that was saved. But my jewel, the 747, no one had it. I felt so sick to my stomach. I actually threw up when I realized there was no way for me to get it back. I also came very close to quitting the 747 project. I took a day off on Christmas day, reflected on everything, and decided to get started on it again from square 1. Again, I built the exterior in a couple of days and got started on the flaps and control surfaces. Then, I caught up with "Indi" and mentioned to him what had happened. He asked me if I sent it to anyone in "dropbox" and I told him I did send a few versions to Theo (which he subsequently sent back after UV mapping some small sections). He said the web based interface of Dropbox keeps images of deleted files. (Something I had no idea about.) I went to the web based dropbox and low and behold, I found the 747 deleted files. However, A lot of the engineers panel was missing (it only had the electrical and pressurization panels) and the Main panel was not built yet. The overhead panel was intact. I was happy the gear was there because that was a real pain to model. So for the last 2 weeks, I have been pumping the creative juices into the Saab manual and catching up on the 747-200 modelling. BACK UP YOUR WORK PEOPLE. I took it for granted. No more. In saying this, I have an improved FE panel I have been working on. I got my hands on a panel diagram manual used by British Airways and have been modelling against that so it is more accurate than before.

Unlikely dead or dying. If you start seeing artifacts on the screen, I would say it's on its way out. Adjust settings and then set them as default. Goran

Working like crazy. 4 of us are working on this Aircraft now (i'm actually working on the manual) to get it out as quickly as possible with little or no bugs. There are a few things giving us problems that we are trying to sort out and they are proving very stubborn! Once we sort out these issues, it will be ready for release. Goran

So would you be willing to fly a Saab 340 with an immaculate flight model but with 3D modelling and texturing like this? http://www.simviation.com/fsnd/images/2008-11-15_12-53-33-749b.jpg I think what SHOULD be available is a combination of well presented 3D modelling, flight modelling and texturring. Goran

If Boeing are going to license it, it better have a realistic cockpit. Not to mention the correct airfoil data. We'll see how it turns out. Goran

I'm probably not going to make a Saab 2000. The reason for this is: The Saab 2000 has an identical FMS and display screens as the CRJ-200. So for 2 X-Aviation developers to make 2 completely different aircraft with identical FMS and displays makes it seem like "who copied who in this situation??". I did ask Anton for a license for the CRJ FMS he is making for Javier, but he made me understand this way of thinking and after considerring all the options, I tend to agree with him. In saying this, there is a payware Saab 2000 being developed by someone at x-plane.org. He made an early flight model for me and he also showed me some early blender work and it looks very promising. I told him the project was his and he feels as though he can tackle it. The 340B WILL be made as soon as the A is released. While I make those, the Hawker 4000 will be programmed and that will take about 2 months (hopefully), then the 747-200. I have another project planned for after the 747-200. I've told Theo about it and he doesn't want me to do it. He said "No No No No No". But I'm the boss so he can shut up. (I love you Theo. You know that!) He hates it because it's another big one. AND a texturing nightmare. (And no, it's not an A380) No word on that project just yet. When I finish modelling the 747 and the upgrades to the Saab 340B, THEN I'll mention my next project. Goran

Apologies for the delay in getting this aircraft out. Unfortunately, we missed our target, only because we want it to look just right. Performance-wise, it flies exactly as it should. I've had a REX airlines Saab 340 pilot take the planemaker flight model on a few trips and he's very happy with how it handles. The only things holding us up now are a few texture issues (which Theo cannot sort out until Saturday as he's out of town) and the complex animations involving things like the altitude/airspeed spinners on the main panel. Everything else is fairly straightforward. Again, many apologies for the delay as I know, judging from the emails I have been getting, many of you are waiting for this aircraft. Very soon. Goran

Very soon. Ironing out a few little gremlins. Goran

Obviously, a lot has been said about the A380. Well, Peter has been following the talk around the various forums and has offered an explanation about why he did what he did. In it, he admits to paying someone for modelling it. Something I knew for quite a while but left up to him to divulge. Anyway, his statement: http://petersuv.vs120062.hl-users.com/A380/poligons.html Goran

No one wants this to turn into a debate. Personally, I do have Peters A340, and for the money I paid for it, it's not bad. It's not what I expected, but it was probably one of the more better add ons for X Plane that I saw when I bought it. The only thing most of us have an issue with is, it's a 1.5 million polygon plane (Way too excessive. Not necessary to model that many polygons); by his own admission, it is lacking some systems pages. So it's not like, "I finished it so it's time for release". But he knowingly put it up for sale with missing systems pages on the displays for an inflated price. That should be an early to mid Alpha version. The texturing needs some improvement, and from what I have noticed, most people want an accurate representation of the aircraft for that amount of money. Sure, if you want a plane with some rudimentary instruments and systems that somewhat reprsent the A380, then by all means, buy his plane if you don't mind paying that much. I have no doubt it is an accurate flight model. But the systems cannot be programmed unless you have the FCOM and AOM. And I seriously doubt Airbus Industries will part with that information lightly. Personally, I have a lot of respect for Peter. He runs his own website and does most things on his own. But I believe if you're going to do something for a profit, make sure you do it properly. We'll see how it goes. I'm sure people will post comments about it either here or at x-plane.org.

48 hours one time on the Hawker 4000. A few 33 hour sessions. But averaging about 19 hours per session now. Goran

Been a while since I posted something up. Been a crazy week. Work is continuing at a "constant" pace on the Saab. I'm organizing the manual and a tutorial while Theo and Reuben are tying up the loose ends on their respective work load. I have seen a few screenshots of the textured panel and overhead and it looks incredible. No screenshots yet as SOME colors are slightly off and Theo is going to "tweak" them. Won't be too much longer! Thanks for the comments, P-38. I'll see what Theo can do about a Pen-Air. Goran

on his website, he says not all systems pages have been done on the displays...yet. Goran