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Post by FlyNavy on Apr 10, 2009 13:28:15 GMT 12
Major rework of the Goshawk fuselage (and a word about quality)indiafoxtecho.blogspot.com/2009/04/major-rework-of-goshawk-fuselage-and.html"As some (well very few) of you have noticed there was something "wrong" in the Goshawk... While I think it captured the "look and feel" of the real machine, some dimensions and proportions were, in fact, inaccurate. This was not done intentionally, but it was a sort of "error propagation" that sometimes happen when some "artistic" touch is applied to what is, basically, an cold automatic process. While I like adding some artistic touch here and there (I think it helps making the thing more "striking") I simply could not stand the fact that, from some angles, the Goshawk did not look quite right. So, I took it back in the modeling hangar and made a major rework, checking it towards a 100% accurate "blueprint box". It turns out that there were several areas that could be improved. I knew that the model was longer and taller by roughly 30cm... but the inaccuracies affected the general shape much more than I tought. In detail: - fuselage "slope" towards the tail was wrong, and, in general, it was too "rounded" - the tail itself was too big, and too "straight" - the stabilizers were too wide, and the shape was incorrect - the air intakes were slightly too small - the hook "support" was slightly too big, while the hook itself was a little "stubby" After 4.5 hours of tweaking the result is that now the dimensional error is less than 1%... and the model looks better. Now my two cents on freeware "quality"... I recently saw a post in a forum that was complaining about the Goshawk geometric accuracy - the message was like "well I don't think is good, but as it is freeware I think it is OK". There were two things I did not understand: 1) why the authour did not drop me an email. I am adult - I can take the criticism: I think criticism can help me making better models. And it will not spoil the fun I have in making them and flying them. I may agree with a comment or not....but ultimately let's call this whole thing for what it is: A VIDEOGAME. Nothing more. Don't be afraid of commenting my work. 2) Much more important: I cannot understand the logic for which if it is freeware then the "quality bar" is lower. Sure, professional payware has, on the average, a quality level that is impossible to reach for freeware - which lacks the resources that payware can afford to employ. But on the other hand, in freeware you can develop interesting models that have little or no commecial value. And it is basically the only way in which you can have unusual planes or scenery. There are some amazing freeware addons out there. I think I will be reviewing some in this blog sooner or later. The fact that a project is freeware, to me, does should not be a reason not to try to deliver the best possible software. I like trying to do the best I can for the sake of doing it. And ultimately, it is just a videogame so...when I am not having fun I can quit. End of this big post. The new Goshawk will be released as soon as I finish improving the rest of the package." |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Apr 11, 2009 9:14:50 GMT 12
I take it you are a keen flight simmer FN?
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Post by FlyNavy on Apr 11, 2009 9:50:09 GMT 12
Yeah as keen as NOT! But... Some other FourEye members are makin' an KAHU Skyhawk for FSX so I keep me hand in using FSX Accelerator mit Hornet and the Goshawk. Helped the Goshawk chap Dino correct a few things and he is obviously very good at his work; and amenable to fix it as we see from his website. No other aircraft would interest me in FSX except the neverbeforementioned Tomcat on the same Goshawk website above. There is no other way to land an aircraft other than by using the AoA indexer. Otherwise what is there to look at other than the mirror/runway and line up of course.  ;D One day I hope to afford a SCREEN that will fill the wall in front of an uptodate computer so that I can carrier land more easily. Sadly until FSX carrier landings were almost impossible and anything sold that said otherwise (that even worked) were fibbers to be kind. Trouble is seeing the ship at a reasonable distance is impossible; so only with some deck spotting can one can get close to then use the mirror etc. Maybe there are ways around this like having the mirror in another window view but as mentioned having messed with previous versions of Fsim until frustration set in I leave it alone mostly. Doing FCLP (without a mirror) is fun at NAS Nowra though. You see some videos of my testing on FileFront at: hosted.filefront.com/SpazSinbad/2116553OR start at: hosted.filefront.com/SpazSinbad/To be clear - otherwise Fsim has bugged me enormously over the years. I have put a lot of effort into it and been disappointed every time. Too much emphasis was put on eye candy at the expense of flight characteristics and easy changing of same. A pity. However I look forward to the four aircraft mentioned getting even better. There are excellent websites supporting the Hornet Accelerator by the way. Here is a start: www.fsdreamteam.com/forum/index.php?board=4.0NOT forgetting I look forward to any progress on the KAHU for FSX. |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Apr 11, 2009 14:36:31 GMT 12
OK.
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Post by FlyNavy on Apr 18, 2009 0:04:41 GMT 12
T-45C Goshawk version 1.50 released "I've just finished uploading another Goshawk update to avsim and flightsim. File name is t45cfsxf.zip. Version number is 1.50. Hope you'll like it. ********************************************************** T-45C Goshawk for Flight Simulator X: Acceleration - V1.50By Dino Cattaneo (Released April 15th 2009) Please visit my blog for updates: indiafoxtecho.blogspot.com/********************************************************** VERSION 1.50 - CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS RELEASEFirst, my apologies to Russel R. Smith for having misspelled his name in the previous release. Visual model:- Major rework of the fuselage, tail and stabilizers. An accurate dimensional check revealed that some dimensions were inaccurate. In particular, the plane was taller and longer than it should be, and the fuselage shape was incorrect. Also, stabilizers were bigger than they should be and the shape was incorrect (too rounded). In consequence of these changes, most of the geometry had to be revised/redone. Now, dimensions are much more accuarate. - Lower side of the wing now blends to the fuselage more smoothly. - Removed optional model with additional gear door animation. I know that the "relaxed" gear doors are a characteristic feature of the Goshawk, but I had not time to replicate the changes I did the the "default" model. Sorry. - Fixed USMC repaint showing "NAVY" below the wing - Fixed miscellaneous materials shininess mismatch. Interior model:- Major rework to the canopy geometry. Added missing canopy controls. - AoA indexer position reworked for better readability.- Added "WHEELS" advisory lights next to the AoA indexer. The light turns on when FULL FLAPS are out and the GEAR is up. This is not 100% correct, I guess, as AFAIK in real life most of the times the "WHEELS" light is also linked to some sort of RPM pickup (i.e. low RPM and flaps down -> light suggests to the pilot to extend the landing gear if the gear is up, as he/she is probably landing) Still, while inaccurate, should work as intended most of the time. - HUD is now slightly more translucent. Sorry, this is not as good as some users wanted but it is the best I could do with the time I had. Still, may not be good enough for night operation. - Increased translucency of the instruments glass. Less dramatic, more readable (and realistic, I think). Flight model:- Further tuning to the yaw MOI. - Further tuning to gear contact points. Now the catapult should not disengage unintentionally anymore."
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Post by FlyNavy on Apr 18, 2009 5:38:22 GMT 12
19.6Mb new Goshawk download from avsim: (see above) library.avsim.net/sendfile.php?Location=AVSIM&Proto=ftp&DLID=137943File Description: FSX:ACCELERATION BOEING/BAE T-45C GOSHAWK V1.50 The T-45C Goshawk is a heavily modified version of the Bae Hawk single engine jet trainer,adapted to aircraft carrier ops. This package contains an entirely new visual model,with self shadowing,bump mapping and photoreal hi-res textures,working virtual dynamic cockpit, 3D gauges,and reasonably accurate flight model. Version 1.50:major rework of the external model;misc visual and functional improvements. Acceleration package required for HUD,MFD,sound and carrier ops. Designed by Dino Cattaneo. Filename: t45cfsxf.zipLicense: Freeware Added: 17th April 2009 Author: Dino Cattaneo Size: 20097kb library.avsim.net/sendfile.php?Location=AVSIM&Proto=file&ImageID=240669 |
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Post by FlyNavy on Apr 19, 2009 6:58:42 GMT 12
T-45C Hotfix (version 1.51) sabato 18 aprile 2009
"I've just realized there are a couple of minor mistakes in the file I've released yesterday: a minor bug in the landing gear animation makes part of the gear structure to peek through the right wing. It is very annoying for me - I also made a minor tweak to the aircraft .cfg that should improve the roll behaviour. I am releasing version 1.51 right now to avsim and flightsim file name is T45CFSXG.zip.
I know this may be confusing, but I think it is better to release the full package again rather than a patch (wich is easily lost in such vast libraries). There is a chance that Avsim may reject the upload, as "quick fixing" is against their policy. If so, I will release a separate patch asap.
My sincere apologies for the inconvenience - all I can say is I am sorry. Err is human.
VERSION 1.51 - CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS RELEASE
Visual model:- fixed animation bug (a small part of the landing gear was peeking through the wing)
Flight model:- decreased Roll MOI and Coupled MOI (slightly better behaviour during barrell roll)- changes to aircraft.cfg mirrored to alternate .cfg with proper fonts."
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;D