F6f3_hellcat released by Captain Kurt!

**Captain Kurt** · May 16th, 2022, 21:02

I've been working on the F6F-3 Hellcat for the last couple of months now. I'm getting more and more OJT (on the job training) about FSDS modeling as I go. It's a complicated aircraft to model, what with the many detailed parts in the exposed wing structures, getting complex animations working well and still keeping the parts in alignment, etc, etc. I've had to redo it many times - mostly correcting my mistakes or adjusting /aligning parts, HA. I'm finally getting it beaten into submission I think. I'm still contemplating detailing the rear engine compartment that would be seen when the cowl flaps are opened. Not much visual documentation from those angles, but otherwise it's ready for texture mapping and later, painting. It may be finished in a month or so.

***UncleTgt*** · May 17th, 2022, 00:04

Kurt

Excellent looking Hellcat

Although OJT can be frustrating at times, you certainly do learn from your mistakes

***Shessi*** · May 17th, 2022, 00:21

Blimey CK!

You've certainly moved up several gears, that looks superb.

Regarding cowl flap engine detail, could be done for a no-poly cost with a tex.

Cheers

Shessi

***Cody Coyote*** · May 17th, 2022, 05:05

What you've done looks terrific! Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

**Captain Kurt** · May 17th, 2022, 05:47

Shessi, I actually made a stab at making a tex substitute for the engine compartment but I wasn't very impressed with the result. Perhaps if I can find a suitable photo somewhere it would be more realistic looking.

**kdriver** · May 17th, 2022, 07:40

Beautiful work Kurt - looking forward to the Hellcat.

Kevin

**mav** · May 17th, 2022, 08:40

Nice one ,Kurt.... looks like we finally get a an official cfs2 version after all!!!!

Cheers mav

**Sarg Willy** · May 17th, 2022, 08:56

That looks pretty fine Captain

**skylane** · May 17th, 2022, 10:20

Wow, very nice looking plane, Kurt!

**Shadow Wolf 07** · May 17th, 2022, 12:56

Wonderful work, Captain> I can hardly wait to get my hands on it.

***Worthless*** · May 18th, 2022, 09:29

Lovely work!

**Ravenna** · May 19th, 2022, 19:54

Lovely work Kurt. Very impressive!

**Captain Kurt** · May 22nd, 2022, 10:55

Final model tweaks completed and it's now fully texture mapped. Working on the VC now; the basic painting done but not completely detailed yet.

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***Shessi*** · May 22nd, 2022, 12:42

Hi CK,
Would you consider putting a different/better pilot in, rather than that one?...

If you need anything just shout.

Cheers

Shessi

**Captain Kurt** · May 22nd, 2022, 18:26

Hi Shessi,

I'm always interested in improvement options. What do you have in mind?

***Shessi*** · May 23rd, 2022, 05:44

Here ya go, a couple of options......

Cheers

Shessi

**Captain Kurt** · May 23rd, 2022, 06:40

Hi Shessi

The khaki figure is much more Navy. Are these guys done in Gmax? I'm working in FSDS2.4. I'd need to be able to get them into that format to get him into the cockpit and tweak him to proportion and position him right. Very nice detail on the head and helmet BTW. The current pilot is modeled after Wolfi's US pilot figure.

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***Shessi*** · May 23rd, 2022, 08:28

No, good ol' FSDS.

These are low poly count, with separate masks etc. PM me.

Cheers

Shessi

**Captain Kurt** · May 29th, 2022, 23:07

Some progress. I got my hands on the official Navy AN 01-85FB-4 F6F parts publication which made it necessary to make some redesigns for the landing gear mounting, the cowl, the area inside the small rear windows and some other details. Opening the cowl flaps up turned out to be fairly simple because the exhaust piping and firewall took up most of the visible space. Shessi sent me a couple a pilot figure which I added a chute harness, lap belt and a few other refinements while I was positioning him into the cockpit. Thanks Mark. I can start the painting now

***UncleTgt*** · May 30th, 2022, 02:34

Lovely details there

***Shessi*** · May 30th, 2022, 02:48

Lookin' very good there Kurt.

Great engine detail, and the engine rear cooling gill view is good.

Cheers

Shessi

***Worthless*** · May 30th, 2022, 05:31

Originally Posted by Shessi

Here ya go, a couple of options......

Cheers

Shessi

Superb detail Shessi. Will these new additions be applicable to the OBJECT and SCENEDB files and thereby usable as payloads in any Airplane's DP?

***Shessi*** · May 30th, 2022, 13:31

Hi W,
If I get the time etc...the other issue is that these are still fairly poly heavy compared to other simpler/lighter ones available, and could affect FR's as detailed weapons can do.

Cheers

Shessi

**Captain Kurt** · June 14th, 2022, 23:41

This is what the direct CFS2 stock Hellcat replacement livery looks like. It will also have a VF unit markings version. I still have much to finish: the VC, the LODs, the belly drop tank, the wing bomb racks, add the instruments, the dp, cfg, and a few tweaks here and there.