Geezer

The guys are doing Sterling work on the R.11 files, while I work on the skins. Progress shots below.

Wow! Outstanding work - very impressive. Perhaps gterl, Stephen1918, or Wrench can give you some useful advice, as my only experience with maps has mostly been tinkering with colors of already existing artwork. One thing I have learned is, if you are working in FE2, you can convert the artwork to dds or jpg format to reduce workload on the game engine. Back when TK was responding to comments at his website, he once remarked that the biggest performance limitation was processing graphics. Shot below shows how much reduction in file size there is for dds or jpg format, so there would be a corresponding reduction in your tile artwork for the game engine to process.

Mike Dora suggested the R.11's resolute looking gunners exemplify the French slogan at Verdun: "they shall not pass."

Gterl and I are working on some file exchanges, which prompted me to dust off some old mountain ground objects and resume work.

OK - try this revised LOD. 6-8-2018 R11.rar

Wow! I must have sent you guys an early experimental LOD. I'll make a new one tomorrow.

Yeah, I can fix that when I update the 3D model. I'm waiting to see what else you guys find that may affect the 3D model.

Third Wire's 3D model instructions require flexible guns to point forward, to provide a reference for the game code. Making the guns point aft is accomplished by the entries in the data file. Shot below shows the guns point in the correct direction before exporting the 3D model as a LOD. I do not know what causes the gunner problem ingame, but the model is set up correctly. This has worked correctly before, with the Halberstadt CL4. Perhaps the entries in Laton's old CL4 data file might help you figure out the problem? HalberstadtCLIV_DATA.INI

Lots of character!

Thanks for clearing that up. I got the color scheme off the internet and did not realize it was an N23, not an N17. The "dark" silver artwork is simply a modified version of the "light" silver artwork of the other N17s I have posted. Attached is the original .psd artwork (light silver paintwork) with the Russian markings added. The N17 artwork is interchangeable with the N23 artwork as the aircraft were externally identical. Just transfer layers from one artwork set to the other set if you want to make your own variants. VonS and I discussed gun location and determined that the gun installation varied with the type of synchronizer. The only synchronizer specified by the French government for rotary engines was the Alkan-Hamy type - Systeme de Synchronisation pour Vickers Type 1 (moteurs rotatifs) - that placed the gun slightly offset to starboard. However, early production of the Alkan gears did not meet demand, so several British gun/synchronizers systems - which placed the gun on the center line - were imported for installation on some N17 aircraft. I do not know which type(s) were installed on Russian Nieuports. The Alkan-Hamy gear, slightly offset to starboard, can be identified by the spring loaded rod above the gun barrel and is shown below. Note the cocking lever is the British Hyland Type A, not the standard French cocking lever. Artwork with Russian Markings.rar

Yes, modding has a peculiar fascination doesn't it? I hardly ever fly anymore. My limited time is now spent developing and testing.

George, those are stunning. You do good work!

Busy with Real Life at the moment, but did have time this morning to fool around with the China Skies stuff. Maybe some day...

Gterl: gorgeous! My copy of CS2 does not like to make .tga files. If you are willing to convert .pdf art to .tga, contact me by PM and I'll send you the wake art for the WW1 ships I have inwork. When/if I get the .tga files back from you, I can then send you the complete LODs for the WW1 ships/boats shown below.

Below are my OBJECT/AIRCRAFT files. They are WIPs, except for the Martinsyde Elephant. Also attached are my new WW1 pilot figures, and templates for most of the aircraft. Enjoy! WW1 Aircraft.rar Pilots.rar Templates.rar

Attached is the Russian air service artwork and LODs for the N17. Per VonS' request, the silver colors are bit darker to simulate the Russian paintwork. Russia N17 Artwork.rar Russia Nieuport17c.rar

I'm pretty busy right now. If you guys can cooperate and produce an FM that incorporates all of your fixes and improvements, I'll find the time to update the model and LODs.

Beautiful stuff! If you enjoy tinkering with immersion, then below is some stuff you might find interesting. VonS and I have posted some working files for new atmospherics and aircraft at: 91066-new-aircraft comment=743606

Using the methods described above, I just took these shots. A bit melodramatic, but nothing succeeds like excess!

For dramatic dogfight screenshots: 1) Start a Single Mission using large numbers of the aircraft you select (FE2 will go as high as 16). 2) Using map (M), vector your flight towards enemy formations, just like a normal mission. 3) When battle is joined, pause the game (ALT+P) and use Free Camera (CTRL+F12) to move around the dogfight. 4) Look for interesting shots. 5) Old pulp magazine covers will give you an idea of a dramatic layout. Generally, you want one aircraft to be close to the camera and others to be nearby. Long distance shots are less dramatic than shots taken at close or middle distance.

1) Get a good session running 2) ALT+P= Pause game 3) CTRL+F12= Free camera (use mouse to point in desired direction, left/right mouse click to move forward/backward)

Specifically, which SF2 files did you insert into your FE2 install, and where did you insert them?

Assisting VonS and myself are two other guys with excellent backgrounds: Mike Dora and jeanba. Jeanba is a consultant who has helped with structural and operational research, while Mike is a retired RAF squadron commander who is also active at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in upstate New York. Some shots and recent comments below: "Well I hope it flies better than our Rhinebeck Caudron G.3. On a good day they get it to run straight down the field with 4-5 feet of daylight beneath the wheels. Actually this machine is the worst we have for ground handling. Those struts and booms may look delicate at a distance, but close up they are thick and heavy, the tail booms are like old-fashioned wooden clothes poles! Plus with the length of ground contact of those lower booms, it is a bit of a pig to manhandle." Shameless plug: a new Sopwith Dolphin will be ready for their 2018 season, so if any fans are in upstate New York this summer, drop by the aerodrome.