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my DC-8 Project

Would you like me too...

  • Release the DC8 series in sequence with no VC, only wing views; then the VC comes as an update.

    Votes: 10 47.6%

  • Keep working until the VCs are complete, this may take a very long time!!

    Votes: 11 52.4%
  • Total voters
    21
Update!

Well the main landing gears are complete and textured, finally.

2eztzwz.png

Completed main landing gears, I may tweak these in the future tho.

* I wonder if Flight Simulator supports IK animations. I read in my 3ds studio max bibble that you can copy and paste the keys from one IK chain to another and even mirror the object and its pivot achieving a picture perfect animation on the opposite side. That's pretty interesting, but the setup of IK is very involved and I'm not sure if FS even understands it or what MakeMDL would do with it.

2v99829.png

Have not been a while since you guys have not seen it!

And of course, the promised video on my youtube channel can be viewed by following this link >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XkPAwqGbuM

I floated and "dropped" on the landing, not always a good thing, still getting used to the 'height' of the DC8 from the eye point view. I'm used to flying DC10s, A380 and 747ns so I tend to flare based on my experience from flying those aircraft, lol.

Well, I am tired ... going for a nap, later guys.

Keep tuned, nose gear is next! :-]
 
Mr.FaosFX said:
n4gix that is an awesome tire shot
Click to expand...

I found that via Google.com using the keywords "aircraft tires" (w/o the quote marks of course), then ticking on IMAGES. It was among the 6+ million hits.

I frequently browse through such images for inspiration and/or outright rustling... ;)

I also long ago reverted all of my machines to use the "Classic Desktop" view. After all, I don't spend very much time simply starting at the bloody desktop anyway! :D
 
Mr.FaosFX said:
* I wonder if Flight Simulator supports IK animations. I read in my 3ds studio max bibble that you can copy and paste the keys from one IK chain to another and even mirror the object and its pivot achieving a picture perfect animation on the opposite side. That's pretty interesting, but the setup of IK is very involved and I'm not sure if FS even understands it or what MakeMDL would do with it.
Click to expand...

FS9 doesn't support IK, FSX does.

But I wouldn't bother with it, as FSX is very restrictive about the kind and complexity of IK animations it allows to export.


My Do328's landing gear used to be IK animated, but I settled for conventional keyframes in the end, since FSX didn't display the animations properly.
 
Heretic said:
FS9 doesn't support IK, FSX does.

But I wouldn't bother with it, as FSX is very restrictive about the kind and complexity of IK animations it allows to export.


My Do328's landing gear used to be IK animated, but I settled for conventional keyframes in the end, since FSX didn't display the animations properly.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought. I really don't see a place for IK in aircraft, yes maybe the landing gears since they have pivots and the animation of wing glex, etc. but where I really see it being of any use is in scenery moveable gates as they have pivots they swivel on. By the way, when you use conventional keyframes thats called FK 'foward kinematics' where as the part you move, moves everything along with it, IK on the other hand, only affects the parts working upwards from the object you are moving, up to and including a terminator limb...thats why animations can be messed up if you don't apply the terminators where needed. I also believe it taxes the simulation as FSX itself has to have the programming implemented to make it all work.
 
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I will be taking a break from the project next week guys...this means I will be doing no work on the DC8, I need some time to re-charge! :cool: I may however, choose to work on it if I am in the mood during that week but highly unlikely I've been modeling non-stop for the last two months ever since this started and I feel I need to take a break, so if you see no updates, now you know why.

Guess you'll see the nose gear completed at another time but not anytime soon.
 
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I-K animation is most useful for "skinned-boned" animations, such as animated people, animals, and the ubiquitous boarding gates...

For complex non-boned animations however, use of contraints is extremely useful, but they must be collapsed to keyframes before exporting.
 
Update!

I'm back on the project again now after a small week break. I did however, work on the nose gear at some points from time to time but not for a whole lot. I did get some good work done but more is required to finish off the nose gear assembly.

2eclp4k.png


The tires need to be modified for the front and I need to add the struts and do the animation but overall, the nose gear is looking great. I plan to finish it today if all goes well.

What will happen after the landing gears are complete? I will enter model reconditioning, verifying all the work that has been done. The next task however, is modeling of the exterior cockpit that with two pilots inside. However, I may skip this and start work on the wing control surfaces but guess you will find out on the next update.

Alright, I'm hungry ... heading out to the mother's restaurant before I get back on this today.

Later guys.
 


Gimme a shout if you want them. You'd need to do some plastic surgery for the flight engineer though.
 
Heretic said:


Gimme a shout if you want them. You'd need to do some plastic surgery for the flight engineer though.
Click to expand...

How nice of you to offer these but because the project is part of HJG, this would create conflict. I also would rather model my own models myself to keep this project a complete learning experience. Using your human models would be 'cheating' my way into development, altho it would improve the time it takes to develope I must not, very sorry but thanks for the generous offer :-]
 
Update!

2nhq0io.png


Added some more struts into the nose gear, I believe that is all of them. Next I will add the compression strut connector from the upper shaft to the lower shaft and add the rest of the details in, then modify the tires, link everything and animate!

I'm taking a quick nap right now.

Later folks.

OOPS! Almost forgot the export pictures!

296gads.png

This bird looks even more beautiful in FlightSim! Imagine what it will look like when it's textured mapped, oh joy!!

35ajiol.png

I would retract the gears but the nose gear is not animated only the doors are.

By the way, I know the nose gear is tilted forwards a few degrees, I have it straight for now for easier modeling, when it is complete, it will exhibit the forward tilt from the bottom.

Ok, now I can take that quick nap which usually turns into a BIG nap.

Later all.

ZzzZZZ...
 
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Still working on the nose gear here, I am back online after an ISP melt down that lasted 1 day, drove me crazy but I worked on the DC8 for the most port. I should have the nose gear done by tonight hopefully, doors will require some modifications, just working out the last details.

Later guys.
 
I'm having a bit of a dilema with a part, if anyone can help, it would be appreciated. I'm trying to model a small part but I'm having doubts about its shape or how it actually looks, I only have a view of it looking from the right side of the nose gear.

rqygxv.png


The part highlited in a yellow circle is what I need help with. I just need a closer look at this part, possibly a rear view or a photo that shows much more detail.

Here is a little update...

14mdxxd.png


Looking like a mess right now. The sooner I can model this small part the faster I can move on to other details. :-] Thanks guys for the help.
 
Hi, have you seen the link to the magazine I left in your message box?, the magazine have a lot of ideas for repaintings. :cool:,
The chockes for that airplane are really old,sixties style. :D
 
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Tejal Bernardo said:
Hi, have you seen the link to the magazine I left in your message box?, the magazine have a lot of ideas for repaintings. :cool:,
The chockes for that airplane are really old,sixties style. :D
Click to expand...

Yes I saw that magazine, it even has the registration number and history for each proto-type, very interesting, thanks for that. However, someone else in this very same forum handed a link to that very same document! :D

Trying to find pictures for the small part I highlited, not having any luck. Photographers take pictures from the front but not the rear, what is up with that? =/ And when I do find a picture of the rear of that area, it is either too far away or too dark, grrr!! :mad:
 
there is no too much about DC stuff,in spite of the airplane is outdated a little :o it's why I send you the link, I will se if one can find something more about the bird. keep up the good work :cool:
 
I've attached two screen grabs of the area in question. They are from the MK Airlines DVD. The second pic, with the FE's hand on the linkage, is for size reference.

Sorry that I had to use one of those 'download' sites, the pics are too big to be attached here.

Hope they are helpful.

http://www.savefile.com/dl/HGZ7APSW
 
In the picture above, the upper linkage is disconnected from the lower section. The scissors is disconnected for towing/pushback reasons. There is a quick 1/4 turn t-nut that lets the lower half of the scissors drop down and the upper half gets held up by that spring you can see. After the pushback, you line up the wheel and put the two parts back together. Sounds easy, but the key was to stop the pushback as close to center as possible so the two pieces would line up and keep you from trying to manually move the nose wheel (with 4 engines burning in your ear :) )

If you model the lower section like the upper, just without the spring assembly, it will be real close.

The towbar had big pins that went into the center of the wheel hub you can see there also.. hope this helps.

Greg
 
Ztimbre said:
I've attached two screen grabs of the area in question. They are from the MK Airlines DVD. The second pic, with the FE's hand on the linkage, is for size reference.

Sorry that I had to use one of those 'download' sites, the pics are too big to be attached here.

Hope they are helpful.

http://www.savefile.com/dl/HGZ7APSW
Click to expand...

I can't download the file at all, when I get to the download file part of that site, it just keeps refreshing itself over and over.
 
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