Laton

Given the events of the last few days I though I’d post my perspective on making models for this sim. This has turned into a bit of a hobby for me, I do it because I enjoy building these things and like seeing them in-game. Prior to 3D stuff I built scale models for quite a few years (more on this later). I don’t claim to make the perfect product either. Probably the best thing I’ve done is team up with v. Deutschmark and peter01 to make this stuff (by the way its not an exclusive team - I'll work with anyone who wants to lend a hand. Its a good way to get your favorite plane built ). We have a good and free flow of information going and it allows me, as a modeller, to make my mistakes in private and get them pointed out before release. And I’ve made a few – I think I got the stabilizer area on the SP3 wrong 3 times before I figured out what was going on with the plans. Take a look at the latest Fokker E.III screens I posted – yep that’s a 7-cylinder engine rather than the correct 9-cylinder – teach me for re-using parts from the Pfalz – it’s fixed now. There will almost always be areas that are not quite up to scratch. It’s often difficult to find good references on rigging, especially around the tail/empennage area. Sometime’s its best to leave something out than get it completely wrong. I’ve found other things that are currently beyond what I can do in 3DS or get working in-game and so I’ll try to represent it but it may not be spot on. I want feed back on this stuff – in the long run it makes me a better modeller. Earlier I said I used to build scale models: I’ll tell you this – the criticism of stuff I’ve seen here is nothing to what you get if you put a finished kit into a competition (I’ve been a competition judge as well so I can be as pedantic as the next guy when it comes to this sort of thing). I’ve had models that I’ve spent months working on shredded by a judge in a comp. in 10 minutes– annoying – Hell, yes - but part of the game. Now, like most people I’ve been around the forums long enough to see all kinds of silly stuff. If you show up in a thread and throw crap at one of my models in general, well, I’ll probably just file your opinion away in the "moron" section. If on the other hand, you show up and question something with references to back you up – great, I’m more than willing to go back and check/correct and possibly fix something (within reason – if a step is slightly the wrong shape then I guess you’ll just have to live with the disappointment). In the end, I want to see FE grow and expand as it’s a fun sim/game and I’d like to see the community stick together and make even more improvements. Most of all – I take a pretty relaxed attitude to the whole thing, lets just have fun.

Hi guys, I've had a lot of requests for this in the last day or so She's under way, I'm trying some new techniques and software, mapping components as I go. Should speed things up a bit. If anyone has photo's or drawings of the cockpit they would be very useful. Cheers

OK, Looks like the relese schedule will go like this: E.III E.I/E.II(?) E.IV Based on differences and how much extra modelling/changes will be needed. The SP.3 will be out sometime soon, then the Fokker's followed by the Strutter and the H-B D1 after that. Peter01 will be doing the FM's for the Fokkers, I know he's been working up a few tweaks for the MS/Pfalz family as well. I'm out of town for a few days at a conference (damn real-life intruding on my hobby ) so if i don't reply to PM's or email for a few days thats why.

Something Italian this time: I'll keep posting progress shots on my site as I go.

I'm reminded of Douglas Adam's description of the Vogon ships: "Uglier things have been seen in the sky, but not by reliable witnesses"

Damn, you guys are good! That should be more than enough. The E.IV is a lot more different than I thought. No real drama though. Was the E.I just a scaled down E.III (or vice versa - however that worked)?

Update on this one: Fully mapped & in-game: Still some more details & rigging to go (there's always rigging to go) My first pit with this one as well: The gunner figure has been very kindly supplied by the A-Team

Rounding out the Pfalz Monoplane family: Pfalz E.IV Two guns, longer nose, wings and a big 160hp rotary engine (with the torque to match) Pfalz E.V Some in-line goodness for those of you tired of spinning engines. Thanks again to v. Deutschmark (skins) & by peter01 (FM) for their amazing work. Get 'em at CombatAce

Well, at least its a start I'll be getting into this over the weekend. The SP3 is almost ready for rigging, which will be time consuming so this will be a good diversion to keep me sane (a dubious pursuit at best anyway).

Outstanding!, if you send me a PM we can set something up.

Hi Lloyd, I don't see why not. At the moment I've only got plans for the two-seater. Do you know if the only difference was the extra seat or was the fuselage stretched/widened in any way?

Brilliant! Those cross-sections and cockpit photos will be especially useful. Thanks

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autom...ode=sst&id=4586 File Name: Pfalz E.V File Submitter: Laton File Submitted: 23 Apr 2007 File Updated: 8 Sep 2007 File Category: Pfalz Pfalz E.V Ver.2 15 May 2007 Model by by Andre (Laton) Simpson Skins by v. Deutschmark FM by peter01 Please check the Readme file for other notes and installation instructions V.2 Incorporates the new V3 FM's by peter01 Click here to download this file

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autom...ode=sst&id=4581 File Name: Pfalz E.IV File Submitter: Laton File Submitted: 23 Apr 2007 File Updated: 8 Sep 2007 File Category: Pfalz Pfalz E.IV Ver.2 15 May 2007 Model by by Andre (Laton) Simpson Skins by v. Deutschmark FM by peter01 Please check the Readme file for other notes and installation instructions V.2 Incorporates the new V3 FM's by peter01 Click here to download this file

I should have known. Thats the one I'll be building it as peter01's request.

and an extra 20hp from an in-line engine. Pfalz E.V - coming soonish.

Hi jojofry, Thanks, always good to know the work is appreciated. As for the Fokker EIII/IV family, the answer is: maybe, but not for a while. It would be starting from scratch rather than a conversion - the current crop of Pfalz/Moraine-Saulnier's all started with the single Type H and the project just ballooned from there - I think the model has been mangled enough I'd like to try my hand at one of the Fokkers some time but there are several other things on the list and Bort's excellent little crates are filling that gap nicely.

These are the main differences: The E.IV and E.V have a longer wingspan than the E.I as well, about 1 meter more total.

Make that two: Pfalz E.IV with two guns, lengthened wings and 160hp twin-row engine.

I guess there are other ways to do it, but this method seems to work for me.

First Parasol's, now a few more monoplanes for the early war period Morane-Saulnier Type H Pfalz E.I (licence built Type H with some changes) Thanks again to v. Deutschmark (skins) & by peter01 (FM) for their amazing work. Get 'em at CombatAce

Here they are. After a lot of work by the team, I'm proud to announce the release of the Morane-Saulnier Type L/Pfalz E.III Packs Available at CombatAce as soon as the upload is done. A huge thanks v. Deutschmark (skins) & peter01 (FM) Each pack contains three variants: Fighter Observation (O) Two-seater, rear gun Armed Observation (AO) Two-seater, forward firing & rear guns *Note the FM"s for the Two-seaters should be considered Beta's. I did some minor tweaks of peter01's work for the initial release. Final ones will be forthcoming soon. All aircraft are good for both Normal & Hard FM's & all are equipped for ground attack. Skinners - included is a set of base templates for you guys to use. All aircraft use the same mapping for the major components so skins are fully interchangeable. More skins soon from v. Deutschmark Have fun with them. Cheers Laton