Upgrades for Manfred Jahn Boeing C-97 and B-50

[gman5250]

I posted this over in the P3D forum, but I will be releasing a major skins upgrade for FSX as well.

Manfred Jahn and I have talked and we agree that an upgrade to the Boeing B-50 Stratofortress and C-97 Stratofreighter will be released.
The PBR models will be released for P3Dv4+, but the entire skins library has been also upgraded for FSX including comprehensive normal maps and HD textures. The video shows the models in PBR, but the skins translate perfectly to FSX.
As the project will now cover P3D and FSX, it seemed appropriate to share the video on this blog too.



This will be our small contribution to those sequestered during the plandemic.

Screen shot: B-50 and C-97 HD skins.

[jungle_balloo]

A pure wonder, thank you :sauter::sauter:
a pure wonder, thank you

[jungle_balloo]

[glh]

Those look really sharp, Gman. When you post the skins, please include a link to the original models that apply. Thank You and Manfred.

[MZee1960]

Hopefully will be available also for MSFS2020 in due time, ... but I understand an application will need to be made first by the AC developers.

Definitely an eye catcher !

[hairyspin]

That update looks magnificent!

[jamminjames]

Stunning!!!

[RjSchreiber63]

Very much appreciated!!

[Taco]

hey guys, thanks! really like them

[gman5250]

Update:

OK, so I had a go at P3Dv5 and it appears that for the time being, the new shaders break my metallic skins. LM said they fixed the night time metallics from rendering black, but in V5 my daytime skins rendered wayyyyyy too dark. I spent a few days trying to resolve the anomally, but it looks like an issue with shaders.

So....for the time being.
My re-mastered PBR B-50 and C-97 models will be good for P3Dv4 and v4.5.
The updated skins/normal maps etc. will also be good for FSX.

As of this posting, all of the models are converted and currently being tested in P3Dv4.5. Everything is working as Manfred originally built into the models, so I'm working on triple checking all of the functions, mouse activated click spots, texturing details and other bits that are associated with a re-mastering of a sophisticated model.

I'm down to the very tiny details at this stage, mostly texture related bits, so I'll be sending the beta to Manfred for his perusal. If we agree that the model is airworthy, I think we will be able to release the entire set very shortly.

Expect some video shortly...I'll post those links up here.

[Priller]

Update:

OK, so I had a go at P3Dv5 and it appears that for the time being, the new shaders break my metallic skins. LM said they fixed the night time metalics from rendering black, but in V5 my daytime skins rendered wayyyyyy too dark. I spent a few days trying to resolve the anomally, but it looks like an issue with shaders.

So....for the time being.
My re-mastered PBR B-50 and C-97 models will be good for P3Dv4 and v4.5.
The updated skins/normal maps etc. will also be good for FSX.

As of this posting, all of the models are converted and currently being tested in P3Dv4.5. Everything is working as Manfred originally built into the models, so I'm working on triple checking all of the functions, mouse activated click spots, texturing details and other bits that are associated with a re-mastering of a sophisticated model.

I'm down to the very tiny details at this stage, mostly texture related bits, so I'll be sending the beta to Manfred for his perusal. If we agree that the model is airworthy, I think we will be able to release the entire set very shortly.

Expect some video shortly...I'll post those links up here.

I agree! But who am I?

Even the metallic skins made by several artists of SOH on the MJ C-47 look too dark.

Not only that, but terrain wise, I think that LM has quite a bit of work to do on this thing (the sim).

I think that we're looking at a hotfix here.

Priller

[gman5250]

Not only that, but terrain wise, I think that LM has quite a bit of work to do on this thing (the sim).

I think that we're looking at a hotfix here.

Priller

The dev team were probably working from home. So much for social distancing.
Agree on the hotfix.

[Priller]

Maybe they're just proving to the world that this is not for entertainment...

Or they're applying the same business model as used with the F-35: release a piece of crap full of bugs after years of development, then have the customer pay for an upgrade.

Sorry if I sound just a wee bit pee'd off. It's because I am.

Sooooo looking forward to what M$ will release with MSFS! If it is anything close to what they promise, I'm forgetting about P3D altogether.

Priller

[Josh Patterson]

I didn't have a problem with the textures of either the B-50 or the C-97 as they were in FSX. Gordon, you've taken what was already really nice and knocked it out of the park! The B-50 in the video looks primed and ready for a tour on the warbird circuit! Did you alias the Virtavia B-29 interior to the B-50. (And is that then only available to those of us who bought the Superfortress?)

[gman5250]

I didn't have a problem with the textures of either the B-50 or the C-97 as they were in FSX. Gordon, you've taken what was already really nice and knocked it out of the park! The B-50 in the video looks primed and ready for a tour on the warbird circuit! Did you alias the Virtavia B-29 interior to the B-50. (And is that then only available to those of us who bought the Superfortress?)

Thanks Josh,

I did alias to the Virtavia B-29 and you are correct, anyone who owns a licensed Virtavia Superfortress will be able to do the same. The model I release will have Manfreds original VC.

[gman5250]

OK...so the new skins and bump maps for the Manfred Jahn Boeing B-50 and C-97 will be released for use in FSX, so this tutorial vid should be of interest to the FSX community as well as the P3D folks.

Here's the pre-flight primer...more coming daily...seeing as we're all sitting home watching oil futures.

Enjoy...it's kind of relaxing and pretty. lol

[Josh Patterson]

Thanks Josh,

I did alias to the Virtavia B-29 and you are correct, anyone who owns a licensed Virtavia Superfortress will be able to do the same. The model I release will have Manfreds original VC.

Cool! Will we also be able to alias A2A's B337 for the KC-97? If you didn't, I think I understand how to do it myself, but will the model support it?

[gman5250]

Update:

This is the P3Dv5 revision I am completing at the moment. As far as I'm concerned, this is a quantum step forward for sim enthusiasts. The FSX version of my new Manfred Jahn B-50 and C-97 skins will be identical to these, but with traditional FSX texture formats. Thus, I've posted this update here.

I put together this very brief "beauty" video of the B-50 to bring everyone up to date. There will be a C-97 video shortly.

Enjoy the video, these models absolutely rock in P3Dv5 for those thinking about taking the plunge. IMHO, V5 is one to actually commit to. I'm going to hang my hat on it, but then I'm going to dive into the new MS sim too. No such thing as havin' too much fun.

[gray eagle]

[QUOTE=********;1218731]OK...so the new skins and bump maps for the Manfred Jahn Boeing B-50 and C-97 will be released for use in FSX, so this tutorial vid should be of interest to the FSX community as well as the P3D folks.

Here's the pre-flight primer...more coming daily...seeing as we're all sitting home watching oil futures.


Hi ya "G"
Looks like another home run with this one

Just so I know.....did ya ever read my recent email/pm re:C-47? Any comments? Appreciate a PM/email come back if you have time.
I didn't realize your involvement and devotion to this tremendous project.

Take care
Butch

[FlyingsCool]

I agree! But who am I?

Even the metallic skins made by several artists of SOH on the MJ C-47 look too dark.

Not only that, but terrain wise, I think that LM has quite a bit of work to do on this thing (the sim).

I think that we're looking at a hotfix here.

Priller

Perhaps they were just working along the lines that these are dark times.....






Sorry.... couldn't resist

[FlyingsCool]

Awesome work, G, thanks for sharing so much of your effort, I appreciate it very much.

[wombat666]

"Maybe they're just proving to the world that this is not for entertainment..."
Quite probable Jan, all of us 'Senior College Students' are unconvinced, however I can wait for whatever fixes are need.

[Priller]

Well, I was voicing frustration Wombat. I also think that there was quite a bit of frustration going on after the initial release of v5.

I'm waiting for the new rig that I just ordered (i7 9700K, 1TB M.2 SSD, 32 GB RAM, RTX 2080 Super)

Maybe with the hotfixes, P3Dv5 will be better now. Performance will be better thanks to the new rig, that's for sure!

And normally this new rig will be OK for the upcoming MSFS.

Priller

[gman5250]

Initially I installed, then uninstalled V5. Mainly because I was committed to finishing the B-50 and C-97 in a format that I understood very well. After thinking it through, I decided to take the plunge into V5.

It's only my opinion, but I think the current revision with hotfixes is a viable platform. The raw video captures I used for the new vid were created at extremely high settings and the machine ran well within tolerances with no VAS issues. In fact, the actual rendering/production of the video takes my CPU/GPU right to the red line...much, much more demanding than two hours in the sim running relatively cool and right in the sweet spot.

Personally, I'm extremely pleased with the sim as it sits now. Of course, there is a long way to go with atmospherics and other bits, and it won't compare to the new MS platform, but it is a very enjoyable platform. Additionally, the new ORBX True Earth sceneries are absolutely magnificent. As they release I will begin to dump my Mega Scenery Earth. I installed the new Northern California and it is absolute magic...very easy on the equipment too.

I'll be happy to share my setup tweaks. Tiny adjustments do make a big difference in V5.

BTW...I've mastered the new metallic skins with the blue channel "reflectance", as illustrated in the video. That third level of rendering takes the artistic rendering capabilities of the sim to multiples of what we could do before. It is absolutely magnificent...once you learn the alchemy. And...the night rendering of shiny skins is mind blowing.

BTW...I'm upgrading all of my models to V5, and negotiating some other tasty bits that might make ya'll very happy. I've recovered or rebuilt all of my "lost" aircraft models, so the rest is just doing the leg work. Now that I know the gig in V5 it should progress very quickly.

And, seeing as things are the way they are...there is time to do the work.

[Priller]

in a couple of days, my new rig should be here and I'll install the latest iteration of v5 and will report back.

But I am very interested in your small tweaks Gordon!!

Priller