Super Bug....

[EricJ]

Just a minor update I got from Alfa on his work:

 

Last night I fiddled a little with it - I re-scaled and re-oriented it, but was a little puzzled about the scale....according to the USN fact file the F/A-18F has the following dimensions:

 

Length: 18,5 m

Height: 4,87 m

Wingspan: 13,68 m

 

....but if I scale it e.g. according to height, the length becomes only 18 m and wingspan pretty far from the 13,68 m.

 

Anyway, I adjusted pivot points and animated elevators and the hook under the arguments used by the Lock-on code - which works fine, but for some reason I got an "export module failure" when trying to export it to .lom format......this is not uncommon though and I might get it working if I fiddle a little more with it.

[EricJ]

More news. He's got the 150,000 poly version working, but the 26,000 poly version, is giving him problems. Basically for the other project, the person made a general texture map just to get it within WOE. Well it's causing issues for Alfa when he's trying to export it. Basically it's crashing 3DS MAX when he tries to export. So I figure that the only way I can think of, is have somebody remap the optimized version rather than of course the 150,000 poly version just to keep it simple, and quite easy for those who may want to use it (and just save alot of processor power, etc.) So if you want to help out and texture map it to see if that helps, then give him a shout (Alfa), thanks!

[VMFA-Blaze]

Sounds good Guy.. I'm going to check this out when its done....

 

If its anything like Walmais F-15, this should rock...

 

 

~S~

 

 

Blaze

[sp0nge]

What will it replace if this works out as planned?

[EricJ]

Su-33

[supd0g]

Why replace the Su-33?

[supd0g]

Oh wait i get it...for the hook?

[sp0nge]

Su-33

 

Thanks Eric.

[hitman]

Oh wait i get it...for the hook?

 

No...cuz its the only aircraft that is equivalent to speed to the Hornet that has A2G capabilities.

[EricJ]

Yeah hitman_214th hit it on the head. I flew a WOE addon F/A-18A and then an F model I got a friend hooked me up with. I was just doing some minor acrobatic/violent maneuver testing, and the -A model is actually quite fun to fly, while the -F is a tad more harder to "throw around" so I would guesstimate after adapting the weight of the Su-33 to the weight of the Super Hornet, and probably get a real good estimate on capabilities.

[EricJ]

Alfa managed to get the high poly version working in-sim, and these shots only show the basic animations, elevators and tailhook. Still much praise for what he's done so far. Apparently though, his videocard is better, or whatever reason (I know I placed the textures in there like you said!) it comes up splotchy, but (hint, hint..) the 26,000 poly version from my recollection didn't look any different from this sone, so while it's great that he's got the high poly version going, I would like to ask anybody to look at the low poly version, in order to accommodate other people. It doesn't affect my PC too much, but then again it's out on the sea and that's the only thing flying, and the low poly version still has the mapping error (which I hope somebody could fix?) but here's the .lom file he sent me:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one he did for size comparison. I think what initially threw him off was that he was expecting it to be around the same size as the regular Hornet, which of course the SH is quite larger, but it's been rectified :thumbsup:

 

 

:D

[sp0nge]

very nice

[hitman]

I think Id swap out the current -c model for this baby.

[Alfa]

 

Hmm - strange. On my system the model appears sort of "excessively shadowed" when viewed from certain angles, but not with those distinct black patches as in your shots.

 

I think what initially threw him off was that he was expecting it to be around the same size as the regular Hornet, which of course the SH is quite larger, but it's been rectified :thumbsup:

 

Hehe...no you misunderstood Eric. I certainly did expect the SH to be larger than the C version :) . The problem is that the dimensions of the model(length versus height) don't seem to correspond exactly to those published for the real aircraft - i.e. if I scale it according to stated length, it doesn't fit with the number stated for height.

 

According to the USN fact file, the SH is 18.5 m long and 4.87 m heigh - but if I scale the model to be 18.5 m long, the overall height becomes over 5 m....see? :) . Anyway, this is a minor issue and not something you notice in the game - the comparitive size(to the C version) looks right.

[Alfa]

I think Id swap out the current -c model for this baby.

 

IMO it would be better to swap out the F-18A(has a separate shape file).....thats what I did anyway.

 

Never the Su-33! :D

[Hellcat61]

When can this model be utilized by the general public? It looks excellent! Awsome job.

[EricJ]

lol well yes, but still Alfa, that was my general impression ... :). But yeah I don't know what the deal is really with the splotches...

 

The model can be utilized when these requirements are met:

 

1) Able to replace the Su-33 in function and of course appearance, or the F/A-18A as so desired (I'm looking to replace the Su-33 of course).

2) Animations are complete, as well as weapon positioning on the pylons + MEInit.xml editing

3) Texture maps are redone. The 26,000 poly version is my emphasis since it's more FPS friendly, and as said while there may not be a hit with 150,000 so much, but it's still one aircraft. So if somebody can retexture (texture mapping is jacked up, so Alfa cannot export it properly) that version, then also complete the more complex animations and other necessities to make it fully functional within LOMAC.

 

Unfortunately I don't have 3DSMAX 7 (I have a trial version of 9 only) and no experience, which is why I'm farming it out and thankfully Alfa has taken the time to work on it as he can, or I would work on it myself (I'm not above doing my work, within my expertise). I have quite alot of reference material for most everything (positions of various flaps, airbrakes, shape, etc.), and that's frankly all the support I can give, along with texturing it.

[Alfa]

Just a note..

 

 

The model can be utilized when these requirements are met:

 

1) Able to replace the Su-33 in function and of course appearance, or the F/A-18A as so desired (I'm looking to replace the Su-33 of course).

2) Animations are complete, as well as weapon positioning on the pylons + MEInit.xml editing

3) Texture maps are redone. The 26,000 poly version is my emphasis since it's more FPS friendly, and as said while there may not be a hit with 150,000 so much, but it's still one aircraft. So if somebody can retexture (texture mapping is jacked up, so Alfa cannot export it properly) that version, then also complete the more complex animations and other necessities to make it fully functional within LOMAC.

 

4). verification from the author that the licence agreement that came with the model allows for a *.lom converted version to be used for Lock-on purposes ;) .

 

As is often the case, the licence agreement that accompanied the model makes mention of allowing it to be used in electronic games under certain conditions - namely that the model cannot be accessed or re-distributed by third party, but whether .lom conversion is in compliance with this, is something that needs to be verified by the author.

[EricJ]

Yeah I've put a request (good point man, thanks) for at least somebody from Mesh Factory to answer my question, and so far no reply yet. And this was posted on the Turbo Squid forum. However I found the site (http://www.meshfactory.com) and have sent an email seeing if it's okay...

[EricJ]

Just In:

 

Re: F/A-18F model

From: Marv Mays (mm@meshfactory.com)

Sent:Thu 4/05/07 11:36 AM

To: Eric Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

Eric, As long as the model is converted into a proprietary format, encrypted, or is merged into a some sort of binary executable game file, it would be fine. What we don't want is the model and textures distributed with the sim in a common/commercial 3d format that would allow it to be separated and then re-distributed as a stand-alone commercial 3d model. Let me know if I can be of further assistance! Marv MaysOwner / Lead ArtistMesh Factorymm@meshfactory.com1605 Terrawenda DriveDefiance, OH 43512USAfax: 561.431.2648

[hitman]

:thumbup:

[Alfa]

Eric, As long as the model is converted into a proprietary format, encrypted, or is merged into a some sort of binary executable game file, it would be fine. What we don't want is the model and textures distributed with the sim in a common/commercial 3d format that would allow it to be separated and then re-distributed as a stand-alone commercial 3d model.

 

Yes thats also how I interpreted their license agreement.....and it makes perfect sense :) .

[EricJ]

Hey hitman_214th, could you send that name again? Now that I got some time to sit about, if you could PM me the name I'd appreciate it.

[hitman]

Hey hitman_214th, could you send that name again? Now that I got some time to sit about, if you could PM me the name I'd appreciate it.

 

Inbound.

[JetwasH]

Eric or Alfa

I can help get the maps done for the hornet if ya can pm me yer email ill give ya the details :)