Lockheed A-12 V1.1 is out now

[centuryseries]

Updated version available now from Simmarket/FS Pilotshop and PC Aviator. Justflight will follow once they have caught up.

Items fixed/added/tweaked as part of V1.1 are:


1. Right FWD Bypass door needle, now animated
2. Fuel tank popup now allows switching of each fuel tank individually
3. Adjustment of spoiler drag to increase landing roll
4. Fixed installer to enable installation into more than one FS location
5. Added M-21/D-21 mothership/drone combo
6. Throttle housing re-modelled
7. Adjustment of reflection mapping power from 50 to 1 for better adjustment of exterior metal textures
8. Cabin pressurisation - schedule now reflects real life (26,000 feet)
9. Cockpit Gauge glass map adjustments to include subtle reflection of the silver pressure suit
10. Interior Canopy glass now has a very subtle reflection of the pilots helmet.

http://www.glowingheat.co.uk/screenshots/A-12/06924_3.jpg

http://www.glowingheat.co.uk/screenshots/A-12/06924_6.jpg

http://www.glowingheat.co.uk/screenshots/A-12/MD-21.jpg

[flaviossa]

Nice! Thanks mr. David :encouragement:

[strykerpsg]

Beautiful Bird! Absolutely love your SR71 and once i get back into FSX or P3D, this will be part of my collection too. Out of curiosity, is the D21 launch-able? Not that I would expect it to do much but just curious. Apologies if this was asked before and answered.

[centuryseries]

Hi strykerpsg,

The drone is not launchable, but does however add 5,000 lbs to the weight of the aircraft.

David.

[strykerpsg]

Hi strykerpsg,

The drone is not launchable, but does however add 5,000 lbs to the weight of the aircraft.

David.

Thanks David. Admittedly, it still looks soo cool, even if it's just a payload.

[Mach3DS]

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4406/36423482643_dac103e24f_o.jpg

[delta_lima]

M-21 you say?

Now that's great news. Thanks.

[fallenphoenix1986]

Such a gorgeous looking jet.

I'm flying out to Italy in a couple of days but will definitely be picking this up on my return... might pack and re-read Ben Rich's book for the trip now.

[JensOle]

Fantastic model! Went up to 80.000ft today and lost control.. The flight envelope are rather tight (It is quite mind-blowing to see the narrow IAS envelope this bird has!) and need precise flying, this proves welcome challenge for a stick and rudder simmer like me.

Anybody knows the background for the scheme with black leading edges, but rest in bare metal?

[centuryseries]

Hi Jens,

The Lockheed A-12 first appeared in bare metal, however advances in paint work, and probably the need to try out radar absorbing coatings lead to the bare metal with black leading/trailing edges. Eventually, they just became all black.

Hope that helps.

Rick has depicted the M-21 that resides in the Seattle Museum of Flight http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/lockheed-m-21-blackbird

[Mach3DS]

Yes! Correct, this is #06940 M-21. I should release this tomorrow. Here's the inspiration photo for the screenshot. Uses a D-21A drone I think? While the one in the package is the D-21B?

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/images/media/2010_M21_04_1267828237_6338.JPG

[centuryseries]

Yes! Correct, this is #06940 M-21. I should release this tomorrow. Here's the inspiration photo for the screenshot. Uses a D-21A drone I think? While the one in the package is the D-21B?

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/images/media/2010_M21_04_1267828237_6338.JPG

Hi Rick,

The D-21 in the package is the A model - what happened was Lockheed tried a nose fairing and tail fairing on the D-21 that would be pyrotechnically jettisoned prior to launch - however after numerous tests, and lots of damage to D-21's from the nose fairing impacting it's wings and body they decided to do away with the fairings as is depicted in the packaged version.

D-21B was launched by the modified B-52H - 17 launches I believe.

David.

[Mach3DS]

Thanks David, didn't realize that was the only difference. I will update the drone then to match the photos of the 2 tone metal/black scheme then. ETA tonight or tomorrow in light of new info.

[JensOle]

Looking forward to your textures Rick!

The M-21 kind of looks like a creature coming from deep space... It is astonishing how modern the Blackbird family looks after so many years. I have seen the SR-71 up close at the Smithsonian and it sure is an impressive sight in real life.

[Mach3DS]

I've redone the panel lines and rivets to correspond with David's corrections of my previous work, and included updated Speculars as well, to give this one the full treatment. I will update my 2 pack scheme with them as well and the Tail number to something verfiably correct with that paint scheme.

[Mach3DS]

WIP...

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4409/37165761982_fe092206f8_o.jpg

[Mach3DS]

Complete


https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4404/37361960515_8ae5050bca_o.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4388/37218826681_a885d1efc9_o.jpg

[Daube]

These metallic textures are just magnificient.
Of course the beautiful 3D model helps a lot :P

One question though: I just noticed that the textures are reflecting the standard envmap (probably BananaBob's one...) although these pictures are taken from Prepar3D...
Did you deactivate the dynamic reflections ?

[Mach3DS]

Yes. I find that the DR are ok for some angles, but the lighting system is still in need of some work. The DR are not contrasted enough, and are very washed out. I've opted to use Bananabob's and still recommend it as a best results env map for any of my textures. Although the XP-54 which I recently did, looks great either way. But it does have a different look with DR on. Still good though. I'll post a screen with both.

[strykerpsg]

Wow Rick! Just wow indeed on that paint and textures.

[JensOle]

Rick,

Looking very good! Have the bare metal A-12 got the threatment as well? I'm very much looking forward to test your textures, are they available yet?
Where can I find the bananabob file?

[Mach3DS]

Thanks guys. JensOle, yes I have a 2 pack already available here with this treatment to the prototype bare metal as well as a fictional early style paint on the serial number aircraft. The main difference between that early black paint scheme and this one and the all black versions is that the prototype used the sawtooth leading structure which is visible on the bare metal along the chines and leading edges. Later production models only had that saw tooth structure along the leading edges of the wings and not the chines. Which is visible in the speculars of the painted areas. Thanks to Century Series for pointing that out to me.

[JensOle]

Thanks Rick, got it now!

Now we just need a dedicated bare metal KC-135A for those refuelings... the fan engine grey Tacpac KC-135R looks out of place.. Checking out an old MAIW model right now

[b52bob]

Thanks Rick, got it now!

Now we just need a dedicated bare metal KC-135A for those refuelings... the fan engine grey Tacpac KC-135R looks out of place.. Checking out an old MAIW model right now
Been saying this for years

[awstub]

The HJG KC-135A looks pretty good.....don't know how it would work as AI though.
https://simviation.com/hjg/aircraft1/boeing/kc-135.htm



Thanks Rick, got it now!

Now we just need a dedicated bare metal KC-135A for those refuelings... the fan engine grey Tacpac KC-135R looks out of place.. Checking out an old MAIW model right now

[JensOle]

A KC-135, but the wrong model to fit the A-12 time frame. But still jolly fun to try.

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/attachment.php?attachmentid=54212&stc=1

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/attachment.php?attachmentid=54213&stc=1

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/attachment.php?attachmentid=54214&stc=1

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/attachment.php?attachmentid=54211&stc=1

[JensOle]

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/attachment.php?attachmentid=54217&stc=1

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/attachment.php?attachmentid=54216&stc=1

[Mach3DS]

Ok, I discovered that what I thought was complete had a glaring error. So I went back to correect the placement of the pain on the forward fusealge nose section, and discovered that the rear canopy isn't painting! I've contacted Century Series, and he's on it, locating the location of the rear canopy on teh texture sheet for me. So I've revisted my alpha channels in the mean time to get a more used and less reflective look. Looks good with either bananabob's ENV map or Dynamic Reflections ON. This is more along the lines of what DaveQ likes in metal, and honestly, the real deal is more like this than reflective. I know because I've seen it many many times in Real life as it's final resting place is currently the Seattle Museum of Flight. Hope you all like it. Once the final canopy location can be found, I just need to add the paint then edit the specular for that small area and we'll be uploading. Thanks for the interest!

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4391/37141286670_7957b39eac_o.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4450/37367767562_b828b50891_o.jpg

[centuryseries]

Hi Rick,

Just uploading V1.11 to the shops now with the fixed rear canopy texture. I've also added two fresnels for exterior3 and 4.

Looking forward to the finished version. Will let you all know when the package is updated.

Regards,

David.

[centuryseries]

Hi Rick,

Just uploading V1.11 to the shops now with the fixed rear canopy texture. I've also added two fresnels for exterior3 and 4.

Looking forward to the finished version. Will let you all know when the package is updated.

Regards,

David.

The update is done and uploaded to the shops excluding fspilotshop who I'm waiting for confirmation. The V1.11 update includes a minor texture mapping correction and a fresnel map for exterior texture 3 and 4.

David.

[Mach3DS]

Thanks David!!! Can't wait to update my textures with these new features!

[centuryseries]

Thanks David!!! Can't wait to update my textures with these new features!

I'm certainly looking forward to it :ernaehrung004:

[Mach3DS]

New Speculars for the Prototype, and now using custom fresnels, which give a off a nice variation in metallic coloring dynamically while moving around the aircraft. The photos don't realy convey this well, but move around the airplane to see the effects. Personally like the effect. Thanks David! See below for alternate Envmap vs. Dynamic Reflections using P3D (in that order). Yes, I realize this is the FSX forum, but there's more foot traffic here!


https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4503/36863909244_ac5d727d0d_o.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4483/37574173991_793b87a92e_o.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4480/36863909134_8157fb1d9e_o.jpg

[Mach3DS]

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4478/37574174861_b6c6979521_o.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4488/37574175591_1fdf47bd10_o.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4464/36863908854_057fbc822d_o.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4495/36863909584_6f8b34a569_o.jpg

[Mach3DS]

I'll add the effects to the early paint scheme and adapt it to the M-21 #09640. Will release it all as one package.

[flaviossa]

Very nice! Thanks Rick!

[strykerpsg]

Rick,

Simply stunning and beautiful to boot.

[Mach3DS]

Thanks guys. should have these out this week. Tonight, hopefully!

[Mach3DS]

Enjoy! 3 Pack released here:

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=3&id=23088

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4464/36863908854_057fbc822d_o.jpg

[Daube]

Speechless :dizzy:

[flaviossa]

Thanks Rick! :encouragement:

[Mach3DS]

Thanks guys. I've updated the alpha channel as well to these paints. So be sure to install ALL the textures not just the FRESNELs. Thanks!

[Sundog]

Thanks Rick, it looks amazing. :)

[Mach3DS]

I keep forgetting to update my resume fikes, but if you are planning on using this with FSX or with P3Dv3+ with DR turn OFF, then please use bananabob's alternate envmap for best results.

Thanks Sundog!

[gman5250]

Hey Rick...you finding that conventional alphas are having over lighting issues with DR enabled? My stuff is washed out and extremely glaring with DR on.

[Mach3DS]

Hey Rick...you finding that conventional alphas are having over lighting issues with DR enabled? My stuff is washed out and extremely glaring with DR on.

First let me say: we REALLY need to step up our tactful and charismatic petitioning of LM to convert the GFX engine to PBR. It's a totally different work flow and texture setup but looks well...real! For those used to FS painting, it's a COMPLETE paradigm shift in painting technique as far as bumps and specular and alpha channel go. These are not used the same way in PBR. Anyway....until then my take on DR in P3D:

I get the same thing GOrdon, Dynamic reflections are washed out and unless you take the time to make custom speculars and fresnels it makes it very difficult to get a realistic metallic look with DR turned ON. In most cases I find that DR ON is a step backward in realism on my personal textures. I've posted side by side images above with DR ON and OFF I would say that with DR ON > the dynamic cube map needs to render the images 2-3x more contrasted than they currently are - IMHO. Because they reflect the terrain textures, and not actual LIGHT they can in certain circumstances create stange coloring and lighting on the aircraft. For example. Flying over water. Creates an aqua teal tone on the surface. WHile blue sky is shifted to a more violet color. You can see this in the images above. v4 does render with a little more light I've found which is good, but does reneder lighting difficult to even out over 3 sims> FSX v3 & v4.

I personally fly with DR turned OFF. I find that it doesn't really offer better realism in most cases. Though in certain situations does look nice, it's usually the exception to teh rule. Just my $.02.

[Sundog]

A tour of the cockpit by a former Blackbird pilot. It's a great video and shows you how to really use everything in the cockpit. ;)

Flying the Blackbird/The Panel (http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/16243/this-sr-71-blackbird-cockpit-tour-is-the-most-fascinating-thing-youll-see-all-week)

[dvj]

A tour of the cockpit by a former Blackbird pilot. It's a great video and shows you how to really use everything in the cockpit. ;)

Flying the Blackbird/The Panel (http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/16243/this-sr-71-blackbird-cockpit-tour-is-the-most-fascinating-thing-youll-see-all-week)

That was an enlightening set of videos, especially the one segment where he discusses his Air Force career and the pilot application process. He totally debunked the stories that the SR71 leaked so much fuel on the ground that it needed refueling immediately after take off. I found the child constantly speaking in the background of the hanger a total annoyance.
-d