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my DC-8 Project
- Thread starter Mr.FaosFX
- Start date
Update
Work on the landing gear continues. I am starting with the principal components and animations. Then I'll build the smaller bits one or two pieces at a time to keep things simple as I get into the more complex animations. But the next step will be to export to FSX and make sure everything is working as intended so far. The second picture below is the first export from GMAX, which I did some time ago. The model has progressed a good deal since then.
I still have a long way to go to get where Mr. Faos is at. I still need to finish the engines and the thrust reversers, modify the fuselage extensively where the stabilizer attaches, cut the elevators and trim tabs, and so on.
Work on the landing gear continues. I am starting with the principal components and animations. Then I'll build the smaller bits one or two pieces at a time to keep things simple as I get into the more complex animations. But the next step will be to export to FSX and make sure everything is working as intended so far. The second picture below is the first export from GMAX, which I did some time ago. The model has progressed a good deal since then.
I still have a long way to go to get where Mr. Faos is at. I still need to finish the engines and the thrust reversers, modify the fuselage extensively where the stabilizer attaches, cut the elevators and trim tabs, and so on.
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Looking real good Michael! I am very busy with packing and moving to my new place, the computer will be the last item to go. I'll have power at my new place on the 26th or sooner I hope but internet access will not come, not until January 6th, so my next update is long, long away.
Keep at it bud! :-] I'm really tired now, heading off to bed, later everyone.
Keep at it bud! :-] I'm really tired now, heading off to bed, later everyone.
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Hi Michael,
Yours is also a fine looking piece of work!
This may even ignite a previously not present interest in the dc8...
From the first screenshot it appears that there is still some smoothing grouping work to be done on the split between the fuselage halves. Or maybe the verts in that area need some welding. Or is it the gmax viewport lighting that's playing tricks here?
But that's only a side note, the model is looking great already!
Keep up the good work!
Grt
Willem
Yours is also a fine looking piece of work!
This may even ignite a previously not present interest in the dc8...
From the first screenshot it appears that there is still some smoothing grouping work to be done on the split between the fuselage halves. Or maybe the verts in that area need some welding. Or is it the gmax viewport lighting that's playing tricks here?
But that's only a side note, the model is looking great already!
Keep up the good work!
Grt
Willem
Hi Willem,
In the first screenshot the fuselage halves are not welded. One half is a mirrored instance of the other half. When I exported the model for the in-game screenshot, I deleted the instance, then cloned and mirrored the second half and then welded the two together. I also welded the nose cone on at that time. So in FSX you can see the fuselage is smooth. But for the ongoing modelling I need the fuselage in two pieces with the nose cone detached until it is completely finished. I still have to model two of the three intakes in the nostril, remodel the tail as I mentioned and add numerous other details before I can finally weld the two halves permanently.
It is odd that there hasn't been much in the way of DC-8 models for FS. I find the classic jets more interesting to fly -- the ones with an FMC pretty much do everything for you.
Good luck with your move Mr. Faos.
In the first screenshot the fuselage halves are not welded. One half is a mirrored instance of the other half. When I exported the model for the in-game screenshot, I deleted the instance, then cloned and mirrored the second half and then welded the two together. I also welded the nose cone on at that time. So in FSX you can see the fuselage is smooth. But for the ongoing modelling I need the fuselage in two pieces with the nose cone detached until it is completely finished. I still have to model two of the three intakes in the nostril, remodel the tail as I mentioned and add numerous other details before I can finally weld the two halves permanently.
It is odd that there hasn't been much in the way of DC-8 models for FS. I find the classic jets more interesting to fly -- the ones with an FMC pretty much do everything for you.
Good luck with your move Mr. Faos.
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Yep that makes sense!
That's why on my F27 you also see only one wing, one landing gear etc.
I follow the same routine.
grt
Willem
Gear and contact points set up.
Not really a lot to show here as all the recent work has been in setting up the contact points and basic gear animations. Just getting the contact points and gear compression right so the plane sits one degree nose down and behaves properly with a full load took a couple of evenings. It seems that you can only use a tiny amount of the nose gear compression for static compression -- you need a lot left for dropping the nose when the brakes are applied. If the suspension on the nose gear bottoms out, the nose wheel will sink through the tarmac. It doesn't help that the static compression figure in the aircraft.cfg file is for an empty aircraft, but all the published dimensions I have are for a fully loaded one. Anyhow, it's finally all working in the sim, but I will have to tweak it again when I rake the nose gear forward after it's all modeled. Right now only the basic parts are done as I wanted to get the principal animations in place before adding in the smaller bits that will be linked to the bigger ones.
Not really a lot to show here as all the recent work has been in setting up the contact points and basic gear animations. Just getting the contact points and gear compression right so the plane sits one degree nose down and behaves properly with a full load took a couple of evenings. It seems that you can only use a tiny amount of the nose gear compression for static compression -- you need a lot left for dropping the nose when the brakes are applied. If the suspension on the nose gear bottoms out, the nose wheel will sink through the tarmac. It doesn't help that the static compression figure in the aircraft.cfg file is for an empty aircraft, but all the published dimensions I have are for a fully loaded one. Anyhow, it's finally all working in the sim, but I will have to tweak it again when I rake the nose gear forward after it's all modeled. Right now only the basic parts are done as I wanted to get the principal animations in place before adding in the smaller bits that will be linked to the bigger ones.
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Two big projects, it's becoming interesting . well sorry I see in the landing gear main and nose, something , a little more detail, or something, don't know, I never have made a plane
. well sorry I see in the landing gear main and nose, something , a little more detail, or something, don't know, I never have made a planeWell, yes there will be a lot more detail. There are many more landing gear parts to model. Just look at Mr. Faos's complete gear models to see how much. I'll have to make some decisions about how much to put in (all those hydraulic lines and hoses!), but there will be a lot more than what is shown in the screenshot above.
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Nice work, lol our DC8 noses look identical, you did a good job with this. I have been tempted to work on mine but I need to get the issues on my end sort out first :-]
The smaller gear parts like links and hydraulic hoses if you want to go that far, that stuff is very tedious. I would I say I spent about a month modeling all that stuff.
Keep it up!
The smaller gear parts like links and hydraulic hoses if you want to go that far, that stuff is very tedious. I would I say I spent about a month modeling all that stuff.
Keep it up!
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Well everyone, I like to wish you all a great Merry Christmas ... I just got power connected at my new place and right now, I am about to move the computer over there, I have no idea when i'll have internet access again possibly by mid February ... I will be working on the DC8 project tho, I don't need internet access for that ......so what will happen is...I will continue to work on the human models once I am settled into my new place and then when I return online, the update that will follow will be one massive update on all the changes that took place.
Until the next time guys, I can't tell you all when I'll be back but I'll be back for sure I can tell you that.
And when I return, I can't wait to see the progress you would have made on your model Michael, keep up the good work and keep these guys bellies fool with your updates! :-]
Merry xmas all, Mr.FaosFX ... signing off!!
Until the next time guys, I can't tell you all when I'll be back but I'll be back for sure I can tell you that.
And when I return, I can't wait to see the progress you would have made on your model Michael, keep up the good work and keep these guys bellies fool with your updates! :-]
Merry xmas all, Mr.FaosFX ... signing off!!
A merry Christmas to you too!
I'll continue with the occasional update over the holidays. I'm taking a break from the landing gear and redoing/finishing some other parts that I'm not quite satisfied with. So there won't be any dramatic looking progress for some time.
I'll continue with the occasional update over the holidays. I'm taking a break from the landing gear and redoing/finishing some other parts that I'm not quite satisfied with. So there won't be any dramatic looking progress for some time.
Work on the Tail
Re-did the vertical fin and tweaked the rudder. Added the rudder trim tab. Completely remodeled the tail to accommodate the stabilizer fairings. I ended up having to redo a lot of it two or three times after taking the screenshot shown below. It took a long time to get the tail right. I'm now working on the elevators and trim tabs. Still haven't decided if I will do all the hinges on the control surfaces as Mr. Faos has done, or just paint them on. They look good on his model, so I guess I will probably end up adding them.
Re-did the vertical fin and tweaked the rudder. Added the rudder trim tab. Completely remodeled the tail to accommodate the stabilizer fairings. I ended up having to redo a lot of it two or three times after taking the screenshot shown below. It took a long time to get the tail right. I'm now working on the elevators and trim tabs. Still haven't decided if I will do all the hinges on the control surfaces as Mr. Faos has done, or just paint them on. They look good on his model, so I guess I will probably end up adding them.
Work on elevators
Finished the basic forms for the stabilizer and elevators. Had to do it twice as the first time I tried to model the rounded off tips before cutting the elevators and that didn't work out. Much easier the other way around. I still have to do the elevator trim tabs.
No longer have to concern myself as to whether my model could work in MS Flight as it is now obvious that will not be possible or even desirable.
I am wondering if anyone reading this has access to a DC-8? There are many little details that are hard to model from the photographs I can find on the net. Like the fairings that go over the trim tab linkages. I am not sure how they articulate when the tabs are adjusted. I am starting to think about the flaps as well and there is a lot of detail on the underside of the wings that I am unlikely to find good photos of.
Here is how the tail is now looking:
Finished the basic forms for the stabilizer and elevators. Had to do it twice as the first time I tried to model the rounded off tips before cutting the elevators and that didn't work out. Much easier the other way around. I still have to do the elevator trim tabs.
No longer have to concern myself as to whether my model could work in MS Flight as it is now obvious that will not be possible or even desirable.
I am wondering if anyone reading this has access to a DC-8? There are many little details that are hard to model from the photographs I can find on the net. Like the fairings that go over the trim tab linkages. I am not sure how they articulate when the tabs are adjusted. I am starting to think about the flaps as well and there is a lot of detail on the underside of the wings that I am unlikely to find good photos of.
Here is how the tail is now looking:
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Hey all im back!! Unfortunately I have no internet access on my system but I did get s new shiny samsung fascinate phone for christmas. I can post updates but not on occassion as It is very involved with the phone. I did very little work on the dc-8 but things should pick up slowly. Updates from me should start to turn up soon. For now, i can use the net on my phone atleast.
Michael, good job there and happy late new years to everyone!!
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
Michael, good job there and happy late new years to everyone!!
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I have completed some work but had to stop because I no longer have my pc stand as im building a new one. The pc is in the floor and I always end up with numb fingers and back pain from laying on floor. Ill have to finish my new pc stand before I do any more work. Sorry this thread has slowed down but surely enough, it will pick up again. Thanks guys for being so patient, thanks to michael for updates on his model as well. As for the HJG folks, im still here, just sort of still working things out at my new place.
spring and summer should be exciting.
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spring and summer should be exciting.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
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good news, I found a way to use the internet on my pc through the phone with out tethering or 3g wifi fees and since I have an unlimited data plan, I am in the green. wow 3G is really fast, I couldn't imagine what 4G is like, probably almost broadband.
anyway, glad to be back like this, sweet, I feel like I can breathe. I am still working on my pc stand and when all that locomotion is done, I should be back on track here, now, see you guys later...I have numb shoulders now...araraghgh
anyway, glad to be back like this, sweet, I feel like I can breathe. I am still working on my pc stand and when all that locomotion is done, I should be back on track here, now, see you guys later...I have numb shoulders now...araraghgh
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Wow
My first post here. I was doing some research on the DC-8 when I stumbled upon this thread. To Mr.FaosFX and Michael2, well done on your projects! And thank you for such fastidious research and dedication to detail, it's been a pleasure to watch your projects come alive on this thread. I'll be watching for more.
Mr.FaosFX, I think you had posted that you bought a cutaway drawing, could you please let me know where you got it (PM OK if you like). Where I'm coming from is I'm building an actual 1/10 scale flying RC model and trying to get some very accurate distentions determined, so that's why I'm looking for specific drawings, etc. It's pretty tough to locate detailed factory drawings but I've run across several line drawings, etc, though I'm still looking for more.
The version I'm building is the DC-8-21 with the turbojets. My favorite version is the -61 with the JT-4D turbofans but I'm really trying to accurately model the first turbojet version for historical purposes and also with the scale I'd doing, the -21 is already 150" long and that's good enough for now!
Great work guys, I'll be watching!
My first post here. I was doing some research on the DC-8 when I stumbled upon this thread. To Mr.FaosFX and Michael2, well done on your projects! And thank you for such fastidious research and dedication to detail, it's been a pleasure to watch your projects come alive on this thread. I'll be watching for more.
Mr.FaosFX, I think you had posted that you bought a cutaway drawing, could you please let me know where you got it (PM OK if you like). Where I'm coming from is I'm building an actual 1/10 scale flying RC model and trying to get some very accurate distentions determined, so that's why I'm looking for specific drawings, etc. It's pretty tough to locate detailed factory drawings but I've run across several line drawings, etc, though I'm still looking for more.
The version I'm building is the DC-8-21 with the turbojets. My favorite version is the -61 with the JT-4D turbofans but I'm really trying to accurately model the first turbojet version for historical purposes and also with the scale I'd doing, the -21 is already 150" long and that's good enough for now!
Great work guys, I'll be watching!