sinbad

Hi Wilches- The Strutter project is moving but only glacially. I began this project after assisting Dagaith before he went into the army. I then promised to finish the original work, and despite my fumbling with 3dMax, that was done. When I attempted to resume work after RL intervened, I found that I needed to reinstall 3dMax 2009. Unfortunately that was is somewhat problematic, as the prior BAK version I had from years ago did not transfer (except for a limited period) to my new computer. I have not yet been able to locate a genuine copy of 3dMax 2009. As I understand it, Max 2009 is the only version that will transfer functional LODs to First Eagles. Autodesk no longer sells it and those I now find only pirated or copies available on line. I now have only a trial version that requires reconfiguration tweaking at each load. Combined with my feeble ability to recall and recover my previously limited skills, that makes it a slog to actually do anything. The bottom line is that there is a WIP, but it will be a while before I make real progress. If I can locate, obtain and execute a valid install of a genuine copy of 3dMax 2009, that will be a real help. My objectives include: mods to all versions for functional air brakes and fuel pumps, cellon overhead panels (all nearly done before the interregnum) and accurate horizontal stabilizers and windscreens for the French versions. I already have a package of skins, and a lot of research for more. I am installing a new 2 TB Data drive today and that will help. Thanks for your continuing interest.

Hi VonS Thanks for the interest in the FM- Thats a releif as well as encouragement. After all, if we cannot get realistic performance the modeling and skins are a waste of time and the A/C might as well look like a watermelon!

Hi Mike- I guess the 9700 goes ahead of the DH-4, but both are on the desktop. You are correct about the direction/mode of operation for the stub air brakes/flaps. They were only marginally effective, and many pilots didn't like the "floating" effect they had. Whatever the label, operation did make a difference,and while I once identified a way to incorporate the effect, my fumbling with FM's is much more confused than my fumbling with 3dMax CS3. When everything went on hold, I believe I was close to correctly modeling the operation, but not the FM effect. I'm hoping that someone more proficient than I am can help with the FM, while I concentrate on getting the rust off the rest. You are also correct about Dagaith; I came on board this project to help him as he was about to go into the army. After I finished the 9400 and A2 models I totally lost contact. He should have finished his tour of duty by now. I hope he's OK and his absence is not combat related.

Thanks White Knight! There will be a lot of slogging tho - The disk and files settings on my new computer are different from those saved back in the paleolithic age when I put these projects on hold. I need to reconfigure the 3dMax files before I can do anything.

Hi Mike- No you didn't miss it, but the fact that you asked may have helped resurrect the project. Reports of my demise are erroneous. For about two years now, RL diverted me from important things - including the 9700, the U.S. Airco DH-4 w Marlin guns and related skins. Both of these projects are now back on my desktop - thanks for the prod. Now I need to remember what I forgot about 3D Max. In addition to some more work on the mesh and the skins, both need some help with the FM's, especially the 9700 Strutter. Actually the entire Strutter family of FM's needs some help, in part b/c they all had aboriginal flaps, in aprt because of the slight dofferences between the British and the French builds. The 9700, of course carried bombs, and the FM needs to be adjusted for the weight (and then the absence thereof). Some 9700 pilots were eager to behave as though they were scout pilots when the bombs were gone. The single place Strutter was then no longer easy meat. Regards,

Superb! This is what i was hoping for when I did the Hamriot skins way back in the Palolithic Age.

Excellent work. This is a fantastic contribution!

Thanks. According to my doctor my obsession with detail is uncureable . . .

Thanks for the continuing interest - and patience. In one way or another I've been working on this since 2009. It's especially time consuming now because I'm just coming up to speed with 3dMax (thanks again Stephen1918). When he went into the army, I promised Dagaith, the original creator of this plane, that I would finish and mod it, but I had no idea it would take this long. Here are the latest screenies- There is still some ini work to do (such as the bomb bays and flaps). The skins are derived from my 2009 work, but the new bits are skinned with 3dMax or decals. It will take some time for me to learn how to properly unwrap and generate real bmps. The poly count is high, but the newer machines we have now render with very good FR. I smoothed the wheels and prop and added several new bits. The Admiralty did produce props, but I'm not sure the about the lamination.

. . .and you don't have to calculate the exchange rate for rubles . . . ;)

Another great bit of work. You get so much excellent detail done so quickly!

Each day I become even more impressed with the quality and pace of the goodies we get from Stephen1918 and ojcar. First terrific new sea terrain with float planes and now a really immersive campaign! It's tough to keep plodding and modding. I really am moving, you just can't see it. The Admiralty had some very special equipment in these planes. Each little bit takes research, and a lot of funbling (sic) with 3dMax. The Rotherham is whirring merrily now, and I've been upgrading the 9700 cockpit. Soon I'll have to deal with unwrapping and skinning these new bits.

Another splendid addition! I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again -- you make wonderful new planes faster than I make mistakes. Congratulations on this and the innovative new terrain. I'm tempted to take a break from cleaning up the 9700 to do some skins. TK made it possible, but you, ojcar and the rest of us can keep this sim growing. On to August 2014!

Another splendid addition! I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again -- you make wonderful new planes faster than I make mistakes. Congratulations on this and the innovative new terrain. I'm tempted to take a break from cleaning up the 9700 to do some skins. TK made it possible, but you, ojcar and the rest of us can make it happen. On to August 2014!

Very good work. Perhaps we don't need any more help from TK to get this sim ready for the 100th anniversary of August 1914. If there is going to be a true WWI torpedo plane, Stephen1918 will certainly be the one to do it. Cuckoo ?

Hi Stephen1918 & gambit168 Thanks for looking in. The markings are decals that accurately depict known 3 Wing aircraft SN and ID patterns. There is one AC that has a white flash on the turtledeck, that belonging to the 3 Wing leader. The markings load automatically. That's one bit completed because I've done that sort of thing before. The rest is all new to me. This whole project is a mod of the original 9400 model by Dagaith back in 2010; he did most of the really impressive work. I'm just redecorating the already baked cake. The cellon panels turned out to be quite challenging, both for research and execution. There is a lot of internal and external bracing. There is still a lot more to do; I fuss with it nearly every day now, and I haven't forgotten the DH-4 Liberty. I'm presently trying to sort out the loadouts, animations for the Rotherham prop and the airbrakes/flaps. I doubt I'll have any hair left in a week or so . . .

Hi Quack74- The Rotherham prop is not functional yet. That's one of the bits that needs more work.

The lads from 3 Wing are moving along, with help from ojcar and Stephen1918. Still a bit of bother with the Rotherham pump and the loadouts, but we'll get all the bits in a line in a few . . .

Proper RNAS PC-12 and markings. Cellon Panels fitted. More work to do though . .

Hi Panama Red! There are a few variations between the French 1B1 and the Brit 9700, but I'll mod those after this one is done. I also need to finish the DH-4 Liberty mod. We need to tinker with the FM and loadout and a few other things, but as long as I stay off my OCD meds I'll get it done.

The RNAS is responsible for all air combat action over the sea. This one should be useful when Germany finally send some ships out. sinbad

TK once said the FE was a "niche within a niche." TW is a business and must generate funds for the payroll. All that is a reason we need to do a good job with the mods in order to increase interest in the game so TK will then have more reason to upgrade the engine. Our mod team is getting better and better. All this must be done as a team effort, there is no other way to get there.

Superb! Take your time though. You are proving the value of FE as an open code game. Hopefully TK and his team will pitch in with some mods to the game engine, but if not work like this will keep FE alive and well for us.

Well it's about time you got these guns delivered! Getting this airplane ready for combat will take at lot more effort than I've seen so far! The United States declared war in April 1917. At this rate it will be over a year before the Liberty planes see real action! The Marlin is an excellent weapon. It fires faster with much less mechanical trouble than anything at the front, but it usn't at the front yet! If it wasn't for Stephen1918 this plane would never be ready at all!

We've waited for these for a long time. It's good to see that so much careful work was not buried. Excellent ! Many thanks Jan !!!