A message from Vitus

[Bjoern]

He tried to post this himself but somehow can't get his account unlocked. He also tried e-mailing Henry but to no avail so far.

So I'll just act as a relay here.


"
Good morning gentlemen,

I took the Bleriot XI for a check flight this morning and took some photographs to document the latest developments.

The aircraft had a serious makeover resulting in a more detailed model (~200,000 polygones so far).

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/3817/bleriot01s.jpg

The original wings were a little bit too massive so I re-designed them as well.

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/9002/bleriot08s.jpg

Looking backwards along the "fuselage", you can see the detailed bracing wires. The long sausage is a floating device that Louis Bleriot added to his channel flyer airplane for the case that he ditched into the sea.

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/4696/bleriot10s.jpg

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/2200/bleriot03s.jpg

It's time to start that engine...

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8638/bleriot05s.jpg

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/2549/bleriot04s.jpg

Checking the controls before take-off

http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/279/bleriot07s.jpg

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/8098/bleriot02s.jpg
"
...

[Bjoern]

... "

Alexander Metzger did a wonderful job designing the flight dynamics for this airplane.

http://img541.imageshack.us/img541/7382/bleriot12s.jpg

As long as the airspeed is alive (~40 knots) it flies like a kite...

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/7167/bleriot15s.jpg

...however, if the airspeed drops below 35 knots, the plane falls down like a rock.

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/4946/bleriot13s.jpg

Don't fly this folding table in gusty wind!

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/3122/bleriot06s.jpg

The aircraft is usually flown with a fully open throttle. Even for the landing you barely reduce MAP.

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/8024/bleriot16s.jpg

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/976/bleriot17s.jpg

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/815/bleriot18s.jpg

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/3364/bleriot11s.jpg

Touchdown and the (still invisible) pilot is relieved to be back on the ground!

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/2361/bleriot09s.jpg

At last I want to list some cool features that have been implemented so far.

- ultra-realistic flight dynamics by the master of aerodynamics Alexander Metzger
- fully functional payload system
- realistic full-loss oil system
- the pilot can lean left and right to amplify the roll rate
- accurate engine start procedure
- a small maintenance module:

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/1662/bleriot14s.jpg

"
...

[Bjoern]

..."
- And this is really cool: Open the cap of the oil tank and insert the dipstick to check the oil quantity. Fill up Castor oil if necessary.

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/8422/bleriotoils.jpg

- If your engine runs out of oil during the flight it will stall, resulting in a sudden momentum on the airframe.

That's all for now.

Cheers,
Vitus
"

[Bjoern]

Looks very cool, I say.

[N2056]

Most Impressive!
I think it would look even better with a pilot. Is that in the works?

[Naki]

Looks very nice..is this a freeware or payware project?

BTW ..what scenery is that?

[warchild]

nothing like a little world class museum quality work with a smile thrown in to make a good day :) :) .. beautiful work. When i saw the shape of the prop, my jaw dropped.. Exquisite..
Thank you :) :)

[spotlope]

That looks like incredible craftsmanship. I'm not normally keen on birth of flight era aircraft, but this will be an exception.

[bkeske]

Amazing stuff. I cannot get over that translucent fabric.....along with all the detail.

[Scratch]

Outstanding!!!!! The Bleriot is one of my favorites:ernae:

[Lionheart]

My goodness. Vitus knows no end to incredible details. I remember he was having issues on drawing layers from the control wires and wing cloth. Speaking of which, incredible job on the cloth textures and wood realism. Love that oil can with pouring oil, lol.. Nice detail!

Salute! :salute:
:ernae: :applause: :ernae:

[Slund]

Wow, beautiful work. I can't wait for an attempt on the English Channel, only I'll be bringing beer...

[Bjoern]

Is that in the works?

Si senor!




Looks very nice..is this a freeware or payware project?

Vitus is still undecided. I recommended making it freeware to him ages ago, as kind of an advertisement for his skill so that it's gonna push sales of his eventual L-10E.

But it's his decision.


BTW ..what scenery is that?He says it's Tongass Fjords X.



- Edit: According to him the pilot is done, albeit not animated yet.

[OleBoy]

Amazing detail in both modeling and texture. Very fine piece of work as your persistence in realism shines :salute:

[gajit]

What incredible detail!

[SADT]

If this is what his Bleriot is like, I cant wait for his L-10E!!!

[stiz]

hubba hubba!!!!

wing warping? :engel016:

[jmig]

The detail on that thing looks like of one John Reid's diomatic (sp?) models.

[Lionheart]

Makes me wonder what his Lockheed Electra will be like when its nearing completion. With all that he put into the simple Bleriot, the Electra will probably be a storm of effects and eye candy.

[italoc]

Very interesting and attractive :salute:
Excellent work on every detail and texture.http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/images/icons/icon14.gif
Sure download when ready :jump:
Italo

[Oelwanne]

That Model looks fantastic!
Would like to fly it in stormy Conditions :icon_lol:

[Roger]

Exeptional detail!

[Helldiver]

Beautiful workmanship. Almost too good to be true. I look forward to flying her.

[Bjoern]

wing warping? :engel016:

I don't know, gotta ask him.

I know Vitus tried bones to achieve that but it didn't yield the desired success.




With all that he put into the simple Bleriot, the Electra will probably be a storm of effects and eye candy.

...and systems.

From what he told me, his Electra has to be flown by the book or it will punish the pilot.




That Model looks fantastic!
Would like to fly it in stormy Conditions :icon_lol:

Your avatar made me laugh. (I know the full size version of that pic.) :d

[Oelwanne]

Your avatar made me laugh. (I know the full size version of that pic.) :d
lol yeah.... pretty Painful!:isadizzy:

[huub vink]

Trully a work of art! :applause: :applause: :applause:

I'm speechless,
Huub

[Bjoern]

Stiz, proper wing warping is in the process of being implemented, there's still some bugs though.

[Pips]

Outstanding detail. I'm really, REALLY looking forward to it's release.

[ryanbatc]

Well done - just no way I would buy something like that... hehe

[Vitus]

Hello guys,

good news everyone - Henry allowed me to post in the forums again! Thanks Henry and thanks to my typist Bjoern for doing my correspondence. :salute:

On Topic: thanks for your kind comments on my unworthy pictures of my woeful attempt of FS design.

I know that this project is a little bit awkward for most of you. The reason I chose this aircraft basically was the frustration over the little progress I made with the Electra. I wanted to design something easy and quick to be released. "Unfortunately" this small side-project grew bigger and bigger and the more I read about this aircraft, the more features I want to add to it...

The cool thing about a "simple" aircraft like the Bleriot XI is, that you don't have to worry much about the performance. There are literally no instruments that need computing time, so one can really go into detail with the model/textures. It's fun!

The downside to this is that the Electra doesn't get any attention at the moment, hence no progress there. On the other hand I learned a lot of new techniques (modeling & painting) with the Bleriot which will help to improve the look of the Electra as well (that again further extends the timeline).
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/2249/electras.jpg


Hi N2056,

I think it would look even better with a pilot. Is that in the works? to answer your question, this is how Louis looks at the moment:
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1343/bleriot.jpg


Moin Oelwanne,

Would like to fly it in stormy Conditions no, you don't! Believe me!
1. crosswinds are a big nono - the airplane tips over so easily
2. strong winds just blow you away
3. gusty winds however make you crash - the Bleriot has a margin of about 12 knots between stallspeed and overspeed. If you fly in gusty wind and all of a sudden the wind speed drops by 10 knots your airplane will drop from the sky like a folding table.


Hello ryanbatc,

Well done - just no way I would buy something like that... hehe yeah, I know what you mean... Basically, I'd love to make some money with this bird (to be able to buy myself a fridge). Unfortunately I don't think there is a market for slow, cumbersome, vintage airplanes. At least I wouldn't buy such a product, because it is one of these aircraft you fly once or twice over the channel and never look at it again afterwards. So chances are it will be freeware ;)


Cheers,
Vitus

[Pips]

Looks like Louis is so eager to get airborne he's decided not to wait for the aeroplane to be finished. :)

[CodyValkyrie]

Curious to hear how this project is going. This is an aircraft I have been keeping an eye on.

[Vitus]

Hi Cody,

everything is going very slow. At the moment I am traveling around the world (family & job related). I will continue to work on the Bleriot (and report back) when I am back home in a couple of weeks.
You'll love our flying folding table! :wavey:

Cheers,
Vitus

[CodyValkyrie]

Vitus, I must say that this project has piqued my interest from the beginning. I have a soft spot for anything vintage, and the work you have put into this, at least what I have seen thus far, is exemplary. I for one will be purchasing this product, whatever the cost. Even if it only covers your water bill, I know the money I spent on it is going to a developer whom deserves it.

Keep up the good work.

[Pips]

Vitus, just wondering if there has been any more progress on the Bleriot. Am so keen to get to grips with this marvel. 1900's aeroplanes are my passion. :)

[peter12213]

There not really mine but for this wonderful model I'll make an exception and really cany wait to get across the channel now!

[Bjoern]

I haven't talked to Vitus in a while, so I don't know if there's any progress. He might be busy with real life stuff, like his PhD.

I'll ask him when I catch him online the next time.

[Bjoern]

Managed to catch him on ICQ on saturday. He's in China (I think he has been for a while now) and busy and apparently doesn't have time for anything FSX related. He'll fly back to NZ next week or so.

[Pips]

Thanks for the update Bjoern. Appreciate it. :)

[Vitus]

Hi guys,

I'm back from China and couldn't wait to get my hands dirty again. Well.. virtually! So for the last week I was busy with three rather small jobs...

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3267/bleriot21.jpg

One is very obvious: I added Louis again! He's still a bit stiff though, but he is dead for quite a while so we should give him some time ;)

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/6393/bleriot15.jpg

The second change is the engine. I changed some parts (valve springs fully modeled now!), added some parts (spark plugs) and adjusted some textures (crankcase, tubes). The cam lobes (is that the right word?) are animated now as well. Looks pretty cool when the engine is running :jump:

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/7535/bleriot18.jpg

You remember the story about the oil system, do you? To make it more fun now you can also drain the oil from the crank box. The animation looks really cool but I think I have to adjust the transparency a little bit.

Stay tuned,
Vitus

[stiz]

need a beta tester? :d :applause: :applause:

[robcap]

Nice!

[Pips]

Brilliant!! :)

[FAC257]

The attention to detail is incredible! :applause:

FAC

[peter12213]

Fab!! :salute:

[MM]

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
:cool:

[CodyValkyrie]

Man... I don't think an aircraft like this has ever been modeled to such high detail. Amazing work.

[italoc]

Hi Vitus
let China alone and carry on with your main job !!!! http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/images/icons/icon23.gif
Just joking, of course, but we are all waiting your Bleriot ... and patiently look forward to it !!!
Ciao
Italo

[Vitus]

Hi guys,

I'm glad you like my flying wardrobe. :wiggle:

The version presented here is close from being finished (I think/hope/pray). But don't get too excited, because once finished there will be at least one second version being built before the release.

The user interface (load manager/maintenance) needs to be updated. But at the moment I am working on the skinned mesh animations for Louis and the wings.
The wings are actually very difficult to animate, because of the complex geometry. It takes aaaaaaages to warp the wing without the framework popping out like this:
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1461/wingwarping.jpg

And then there is Louis who seems to be frozen in fear. For some reason I can't motivate him to move around...

Cheers,
Vitus

[stiz]

And then there is Louis who seems to be frozen in fear. For some reason I can't motivate him to move around...


hehe not suprised with his wing looking like that :icon_lol: But seriosly if you can crack the wing warping it would be seriosly cool, first for the MS FS series .. and pretty much all over flight sims ... Rise of flight is the only one with it so far!

:wiggle:

[Vitus]

oh come on, that's not fair - many others implemented wing warping already. I might be the first using this technique as means for steering :jump:

What makes it complicated for this model is the underlying wooden framework. It keeps popping out at some places and setting the weights of the bones right is quite a task...

[James]

*pulls drool pan out of closet*

uhhhhhh...uhhhhhh...words cannot express the awesome.

[Bjoern]

And then there is Louis who seems to be frozen in fear. For some reason I can't motivate him to move around...

Skinned mesh as well?

You didn't use any IK handles for Louis, did you?

[Vitus]

just bones and a skinned mesh. Material is ok, Animation is tagged (to the bones and the mesh) and it works fine in Gmax...

[Bjoern]

Whack. Never had this before, except with direct export from Max 9 or the use of dummies or IK handles.

[stiz]

oh come on, that's not fair - many others implemented wing warping already. I might be the first using this technique as means for steering :jump:

well wing warping in the true sense of the word, ie - warping the outer wing with pulleys in order to "steer", not just the wings bending under the weight of the bus! :)

[Vitus]

Well... you might be disappointed but in the original airplane you barely notice the displacement of the trailing edge. The range of movement is just about one inch in total. Because of that it is very difficult to turn in this aircraft and most pilots shifted their weight left or right to increase the bank angle.
You can do this in our Bleriot as well using the "aileron trim" the pilot can lean left or right. SimConnect is a great tool ;)

Vitus

[Pips]

Just wondering Vitus, are we likely to see the Bleroit before Christmas? Would make a wonderful chrissy present!! :)

[Bjoern]

Just wondering Vitus, are we likely to see the Bleroit before Christmas? Would make a wonderful chrissy present!! :)

On Vitus' behalf....I doubt it.

[Vitus]

yeah, and on Bjoerns behalf - I doubt it, too. :jump:,

[Pips]

Ahh well, there's always 2011! :)

[stiz]

yea there is ... 1st January! :icon_lol:

seriosly, take ya time and release it when its done, i'll wait ... kinda paintently! :jump:

[Pips]

Well ........ time to ask the question again. After all, it has been three months. :)

Has there been any progress on the development front?

[Bjoern]

None at all that I know of.

If there's news about thjis rustbucket, they *will* be announced by someone. :rolleyes:

[stiz]

my offer of a tester is still open by the way! :bump:

[CodyValkyrie]

my offer of a tester is still open by the way! :bump:

As is mine ;)

[Bjoern]

Vitus hasn't laid hand on this thing in months.

Can't blame him; his Electra is getting along nicely - and is a way better ride.

[OleBoy]

The Lockheed is looking very nice.

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16226&page=3

[stiz]

and is a way better ride.

bah! whats the point of flying in a plane thats near quarenteed to not fall apart in mid-air! :bump:

[Vitus]

Hey guys,

first of: thanks for your support! It makes the development worthwhile. :salute:

Some words about the status quo:
The Lockheed L 10 'Electra' is in the works for almost three years now. In the middle of that I got very frustrated and started with something that was meant to be a quick side project. But apparently there was more to the Bleriot XI than I originally thought...

For the last months I went back to my beloved Electra to implement some new design techniques I learnt with the Bleriot. That basically led to start all over again and the result so far is this:
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/4489/vcpeak10.jpg


At the moment I am focused on the Electra, but occasionally go back to the Bleriot to do some smaller jobs (user interface, some programming,...). My plan at present is to finish both planes at about the same time (we are talking years here ;)), but that might change. Unfortunately, I also have some real-life job I have to attend from time to time :kilroy:

Kind Regards,
Vitus

[OBIO]

The Lockheed L10 Electra is my all time number 1 favorite aircraft. And Vitus, when your Electra is done.....I will have it for FSX...even if it is payware...I will have it. It may be the only reason that I keep FSX installed permanently...and will be the plane that I fly 95% of the time in FSX.

OBIO

[N2056]

It's looking very good! :applause:

I know what you are talking about. I'm on the verge of releasing a project that I have been working on for many years that has seen the same fate as yours. I keep learning something new and end up going back into it to re-work things! :icon_lol:

[sim-paticissimo]

The Lockheed L10 Electra is my all time number 1 favorite aircraft. And Vitus, when your Electra is done.....I will have it for FSX...even if it is payware...I will have it. It may be the only reason that I keep FSX installed permanently...and will be the plane that I fly 95% of the time in FSX.

OBIO
Please OBIO, can I quote all that about the Vitu's Electra? I'm waiting for it from the first time I saw that in another forum. The Electra L10 is a sculpture, and Vitus is an artist that can bring it to light again. Thank you Vitus.:applause:

[dvj]

Hey guys,

first of: thanks for your support! It makes the development worthwhile. :salute:

Some words about the status quo:
The Lockheed L 10 'Electra' is in the works for almost three years now. In the middle of that I got very frustrated and started with something that was meant to be a quick side project. But apparently there was more to the Bleriot XI than I originally thought...

For the last months I went back to my beloved Electra to implement some new design techniques I learnt with the Bleriot. That basically led to start all over again and the result so far is this:
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/4489/vcpeak10.jpg


At the moment I am focused on the Electra, but occasionally go back to the Bleriot to do some smaller jobs (user interface, some programming,...). My plan at present is to finish both planes at about the same time (we are talking years here ;)), but that might change. Unfortunately, I also have some real-life job I have to attend from time to time :kilroy:

Kind Regards,
Vitus

ELECTRA! My credit card is waiting with large sums of money headed your way. :salute::applause::salute:

[Vitus]

Maybe you like this:
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4817/extpeak07.jpg

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/7362/extpeak11.jpg

[Hurricane91]

Maybe you like this:...

Vitus, that is...breathtaking.

[stiz]

Maybe you like this:


whilst it looks stunning, i'd rather see the other one personaly :icon_lol:

[OleBoy]

I keep waiting to see the model you're working on, Vitus. Not a real damn plane!! Quit teasing!!

:ernae:

[warchild]

Vitus.. Dont take too long on it. I'm getting old and have emphysema and i really want to fly that plane before i kick the bucket... :).. Its definately one of my all time favorite planes..

Oh yeah.. I'll add my name to that list of people who volunteer to test fly this thing. Just hope you wouldnt mind if i'm not really good at anything beyond the flight model...

Pam

[Vitus]

Thanks for your comments folks :)
Even though the model reaches a stage where I can say it's aaaaaaaaalmost finished, there are still a looooot of things to do. In fact the whole cockpit is dead at the moment. You can move all levers and operate every switch, however they don't operate anything yet....
And as long as there is nothing to operate, there is nothing to test :icon_lol:

[PRB]

That's one fine looking Lockheed. Can't wait!

[Ian Warren]

Long time coming and no see , last time Tauranga , just like a good wine :icon_lol: takes time .. I still hope you have bits and pieces falling off the dashboard .. course ya do :salute:

[Vitus]

Long time coming and no see , last time Tauranga , just like a good wine :icon_lol: takes time ..

Hey Ian,

yeah, Tauranga was fun! It's nice to get out of the office every now and then! When's the next airshow nearby? :jump:


I still hope you have bits and pieces falling off the dashboard .. course ya do :salute:
As I wrote over at nzff, it's a completely new plane and I haven't included the clipboard yet. But there are already other parts that can move around. The cockpit door, headsets and the manual gear crank swing with the movement of the plane... :kilroy:

[Mathias]

WOW, completely missed this thread.
Excellent work by any standard!
If anything I would look over the verticals again, they don't quite do the rest of the modelling justice. They look a bit fat and flat, lacking some "airfoil", it seems.
Should be easy to adress for you, seeing that everything else is first class.

[Vitus]

WOW, completely missed this thread.
Excellent work by any standard!
If anything I would look over the verticals again, they don't quite do the rest of the modelling justice. They look a bit fat and flat, lacking some "airfoil", it seems.
Should be easy to adress for you, seeing that everything else is first class.

Hi Mathias,

yeeeees I know... I didn't pay a lot attention to the empennage yet. It's actually one of the parts I am unhappy for quite a while now. Thanks for reminding me :applause:
And by the way: I LOOOOVE your work! The Taifun looks beautiful!

Some more teasers of the Kuaka:
http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/6213/extpeak14.jpg

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/9339/extpeak15.jpg

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3826/extpeak16.jpg

[Meshman]

Some more teasers of the Kuaka:


I'm not much of a plane person, but seeing the lovely work of the Lockheed nudges me closer to becoming one.

Hope to see it ... when it's ready! :applause:

[Naki]

Wow...looks great, Vitus.


Hey Ian,

yeah, Tauranga was fun! It's nice to get out of the office every now and then! When's the next airshow nearby? :jump:


As for next Tauranga Air Show, the next one is in January 2012...see you there!...don't know of any big air shows in Auckland in the coming year or so.

http://www.taurangaairshow.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1:tauranga-airshow-announced&catid=1:airshow

[Pips]

Just wondering how things are progressing Vitus. Wouldn't want you to think that we're not interested! :icon_lol:

[Bjoern]

Geez...

Vitus is 100% dedicated to his Electra at the moment.

[Vitus]

Just wondering how things are progressing Vitus. Wouldn't want you to think that we're not interested! :icon_lol:

I've got a lot of things on my plate at the moment. But as Bjoern pointed out, every free minute I got is dedicate to the Electra. It's programming time at the moment and that means that there isn't anything new to show.

Thanks for your interest! :salute:

Vitus

[LonelyplanetXO]

Keep it up Vitus! You have a big local (and global) fan club. I'll be heading to Tauranga in 2012 myself!

LPXO

[Pips]

Geez...

Vitus is 100% dedicated to his Electra at the moment.

Am I missing something here? Has Vitus released his Electra?

[Meshman]

Am I missing something here? Has Vitus released his Electra?

Yes, and No.

Still a WIP.

[Vitus]

If I can make it to Tauranga next year I'll bring my Electra again (if the nice guys from nzff let me)


Still a WIP.

...and will be for a while :kilroy:

[YoYo]

Welcome back, any news about this Electra? Subject is a little frozen. :salute:

[Bjoern]

From what I know, no.