Mikey's Models: The P3Dv4/5 Frontier

[mikeblaze]

I just posted the P3Dv4/5-converted DWAI 707 family of models to my drive, in the Boeing folder. Seven main variants, twelve models, and 55 of my hundreds of repaints. On to the DWAI DC-8s now, I have them basically converted, but have to hard-code everything and do metal textures, so hopefully I can get them knocked out by tomorrow (less variation models, and I may skip the 70 series because of AIA). I will let the 707s sit for a few days, then post them to AVSIM. I even pooped out a logolight variant for the 707-320BC model, but read the documentation, these are only a stop-gap until bigger and better things come along in a few months.....

:{)

[mikeblaze]

I just posted the DWAI DC-8 models into my drive, converted to P3Dv4/5. I included all five main variations (10/50/61/62/63), to include both of the DC-8-62 models that Dee did (version-2 is the most used in the hobby), plus 61 of my repaints. I am passing on Dee's -71 model, as the AIA model is well in-use by repainters now. Again, this is a stop-gap measure until I get some new modeling done this fall, so WYSIWYG.

:{)

[noob21]

Can't wait to see images of the progress

[mikeblaze]

I just put the P3Dv4/5 NAAI 707-320 in the drive, and this plus the two DWAI packages (707 and DC-8) will be at AVSIM tomorrow.

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[mikeblaze]

So, this is a new tactic...

I am treating the Google drive as my beta-test folder for new material now. There is a new folder in the P3Dv4/5 models section, labeled 'Ilyushin', and there are two big packages in there:

A very re-worked RATS Il-86, with more textures (48 total), courtesy of cgold.

The first converted TCAI package, the Il-62. I emptied cgold's paint locker with this one, 221 textures in all. As a result, I kept the aircraft textures in a common-use folder which needs to be copied into either the P3Dv4 or v5 models, it's very straightforward, since the v4/v5 differences are the models, effects, and common textures. The package is nearly 80MB with just one common aircraft textures set, I am trying to keep things below 100MB for people using DSL internet.

Neither package has instructions for now, just a simple copy where it needs to go. If the feedback is quiet, or small adjustments are needed, I will do them in about a week, add the obligatory AVSIM and original author documentation, and send them on their way.

I have working conversions done for the TCAI Tu-154B and Tu-154M, but there are around 50 different model variants, so it will be a bit. I hope to have these done by the end of the month.

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[smiley]

Thank you so much for these wonderful models being brought over as native to P3Dv4-5. My 1983 and 1998 flightplans and repaints are getting better and better thanks to these.

Cheers

Miles

[mikeblaze]

I'm on a little conversion rampage today.... more new models available in the G-drive:

CPAI Fokker F-27 family, FH-227 and the F-27-100/200/500.

CPAI Convair CV Liners, CV340/440/580/640.

These are bare-bones packages, just the basics as CP originally released them.

I might do some painting for these this week before I kick them out the door to AVSIM. The CVs are begging for all sorts of military painting (USAF/USN/USMC), and I already want to do SVA for the CV340; plus a few F27s I skipped recently because of this impending package.

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[mikeblaze]

So, this is why we beta test.....

The CV340/440/640 (nosegear steering) and the CV640 (still props) need little coding fixes, and they are already fixed and re-posted to the drive.....:{)

[mikeblaze]

More models today in the locker...

DWAI Lockheed L-1329 JetStar, with the ZAS paints
DWAI DeHavilland DHC-7
MPAI BN-2AM3 Trislander, the first conversion of one of my own models, and I added half a dozen new paints.
DWAI CV880, with everything I have painted in the past.
DWAI CV990, straight from the CalClassic vault.

The Convair four-holers are more of WYSIWYG, no-frills, but they are more of the 'holy smoker' jets of the time period, plenty of exhaust filth, lol.

And, I added the missing common textures to the CPAI propliners (Convair/Fokker).

:{)

[mikeblaze]

4 new models in the drive today:

AIA MD-8x
AIA MD-87
AIA MD-90
AIA 717-200

These are base models only to optimize file size. They have all my usual technique, plus the 8x and 87 have animated engine fans now; and all have common steering nose gear. There are some extra small common textures (128x128) for the new engine fans where appropriate. Also, these are LOD-optimized for P3Dv4/5, only two LODs now. The aircraft density vs. framerate test for the MDs would be either KDFW or KATL in the 1998 time frame.

These were the first models I converted earlier this year, and I went back and brought them to my current process standard.

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[adjetsdesfs]

Great!

[mikeblaze]

3 more AIA model groups today in the drive, the classic 747s (742, 742F, 743). 13 models total, and the -400s are next, perhaps in the next day or so. I didn't do animated reversers (yet), but they have steering nose gear now. Not to undercut the wonderful FAIB models at all, but a majority of the complex logojets (QFA, ANA, and others) have not yet been done on the complex FAIB paint kits. These files are merely to help fill in the AI traffic gaps in 64-bit, and are compatible with all previous AIA repaints after they are converted to DDS. No instructions or documentation for now, but they are self-explanatory for the experienced hobbyists out there. In this case it's faster to convert older models than to paint extremely difficult liveries for newer models.

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[mikeblaze]

AIA 747-400s are on the G-drive; everything but the LCF, which is available from both AIG and a different source on AVSIM (I may do it in the future to match my own process). The -400Fs never had a public paint kit released from AIA, couldn't find one on AVSIM, Flightsim, or even linked from AIA's website. So, the 747-400Fs are models only, no blank white textures. If somebody has access to an AIA 747-400F paint kit, I really don't need it since I just wanted it for the blank white textures. All of the ANA Pokemon, QFA Nalanji/Wunala, and NWA freighter logojets can fly now in the 64-bit world.

Also, I updated the metal maps on the -200s and -300s, I made them a little more basic, since metalizing some parts on a 1024 one-texture mapping of the model kind of over-kills the result IMHO; and this process was also used on the -400s. So, the -200/-300 packages are updated as of about an hour ago, so if you got them, go back and get them again.

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[mikeblaze]

The CPAI HS.748 is re-done and up on the drive...

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[mikeblaze]

Something new and big in the special folder, pending email response for permissions...... screenshots on my other thread.... :{)