SOH Team Project - Grumman Tracker, Trader, Tracer

**simkid22** · September 12th, 2011, 15:08

lol that's good news as I'm not as fast as Matt with my brushes but I'm slowly plugging away at these lines.

**Javis** · September 12th, 2011, 17:42

Originally Posted by Milton Shupe

Jan,What a great hobby and model. Your attention to detail there was not lost on your digital migration, thankfully. Beautifully done.

We would all be honored to have you contribute on the S2F-1 variant. The -1 was so very prevalent around the world and there are so many uses and liveries to be done. It is certainly a project unto itself. I urge you to do this with our blessings.

You are correct; there is no pilot yet. Thank you for offering.

Ah, yes; great links, pictures, history, and stories. I picked up a few things, and got clarification on the length of the MAD boom extension at 9'.

Thank you very much Jan.

Thank you, Milton and thanks very much for letting me participate !

It will be a great pleasure for me to work on the S2F-1 variant and deliver the pilot figures. I have new, higher poly figures for FSX to offer or low poly for FS9 if needed.

Waiting in anticipation to get started ! :salute:

Cheers,
Jan

**Milton Shupe** · September 12th, 2011, 18:09

Originally Posted by simkid22

lol that's good news as I'm not as fast as Matt with my brushes but I'm slowly plugging away at these lines.

Hey Nick

Thanks for jumping in and lending a hand. We appreciate that a bunch!

**Milton Shupe** · September 12th, 2011, 18:37

Originally Posted by Javis

Thank you, Milton and thanks very much for letting me participate !

It will be a great pleasure for me to work on the S2F-1 variant and deliver the pilot figures. I have new, higher poly figures for FSX to offer or low poly for FS9 if needed.

Waiting in anticipation to get started ! :salute:

Cheers,
Jan

Jan,

Thanks. I'll need a low poly version for the FS9 side but I'm sure the hi-poly version would be perfect for the FSX side.

The E1B VC is coming along slowly and I am just doing the basics there.
That will be transferred over to the S2F-3 when done.

After that, I can hopefully convert the S2F to a C1A fairly quickly. From there, you will have a short fuselage starting point for the S2F-1.

**simkid22** · September 12th, 2011, 18:39

No problem Milton! I love that there is a Stoof on the way, last one I had was the Perfect Flight one from way back when and that was showing its age when I bought it. I'm just glad to help

oh and all thats left to add panel lines to is the radome so Matt can get back to weathering it soon!

**Milton Shupe** · September 12th, 2011, 19:00

Pictorial update ...

Focus has been on the lower rear folding console and the overhead console and ECU. Just getting the basic controls in place and animated.

Seats are temporary.

**Milton Shupe** · September 12th, 2011, 19:05

Originally Posted by simkid22

No problem Milton! I love that there is a Stoof on the way, last one I had was the Perfect Flight one from way back when and that was showing its age when I bought it. I'm just glad to help

oh and all thats left to add panel lines to is the radome so Matt can get back to weathering it soon!

Did I send the new radome mapping? I think so.

**simkid22** · September 12th, 2011, 19:11

Yes, I got it from Matt, I was actually the one who brought it up with him since at least VAW-111 had those large bats painted on the back and the old mapping would have been a challenge to say the least to try and do those schemes.

**gaucho_59** · September 13th, 2011, 14:21

Originally Posted by gaucho_59

I am presently on a 2-week tour of Israel and the Holy land... upon my return I will post an extremely simple tutorial on USAF and USN lettering... whereby you can paint letters on the fly... 100% correct and very easy to do... with your PSP or Photoshop shape tools (rectangle and airbrush)
Sorry I have no access to a paint program and my own computer during this trip...

Here is a brief introduction to what could be a tutorial in creating one's own lettering...
very simple, very quick... If there is any interest... I will supply more or answer specific questions...

Attachment 48250

**Javis** · September 14th, 2011, 02:18

Originally Posted by Milton Shupe

Jan,Thanks. I'll need a low poly version for the FS9 side but I'm sure the hi-poly version would be perfect for the FSX side..

Would the boys from the A-26 be a good start for a FS9 Tracker,Tracer,Trader crew, Milton ? FSX versions get completely new figures.

The E1B VC is coming along slowly and I am just doing the basics there.
That will be transferred over to the S2F-3 when done.After that, I can hopefully convert the S2F to a C1A fairly quickly. From there, you will have a short fuselage starting point for the S2F-1.

Sounds great, Milton, looking forward to it ! :salute:

Cheers,
Jan

**Maarten -** · September 14th, 2011, 02:35

Wow guys! This is such an exiting project!

Hats off for what you've done so far.

Cheers,
Maarten

**Milton Shupe** · September 14th, 2011, 04:27

Originally Posted by Javis

Would the boys from the A-26 be a good start for a FS9 Tracker,Tracer,Trader crew, Milton ? FSX versions get completely new figures.

Sounds great, Milton, looking forward to it ! :salute:

Cheers,
Jan

Jan,

I think so ... may have to add a helmet for the Navy boys though. I'll have a look.

**Milton Shupe** · September 14th, 2011, 04:31

Originally Posted by Maarten

Wow guys! This is such an exiting project!

Hats off for what you've done so far.

Cheers,
Maarten

Thank you Maarten. The guys behind the scenes are doing yeoman's work and at some point, all of it will come together. Fun indeed! Thanks for your continued interest.

**Milton Shupe** · September 14th, 2011, 13:50

Finally got those heavy seats modeled to a likeness. Trying to finish out the basics in the VC.

**patful** · September 14th, 2011, 14:41

Originally Posted by Milton Shupe

Finally got those heavy seats modeled to a likeness. Trying to finish out the basics in the VC.

Wow!

**Milton Shupe** · September 14th, 2011, 16:42

Got some smaller items taken care of, and a few minor things to add the the overhead, and then on to mapping the interior ...

Diegox is working on the panel and gauges so enough of the blue template stuff here.

***Ferry_vO*** · September 15th, 2011, 06:39

Looks great Milton!

**Milton Shupe** · September 15th, 2011, 06:44

Well, now on to the sometimes tedious process of mapping the interior.

The front part of the inner fuselage (the cockpit) shown here has 680 polys. Every poly must be included and hand selected for texturing. I have taken the first pass here at assigning the object to 13 different mapping channels. I can see 8 errors in overlooked polys and also inconsistencies on how the left and right walls are mapped. Once I correct the 8 assignment errors, I can then correct the inconsistencies.

Once done, I can then create and assign maps to each of the 13 map channels for the texture artists.

These processes can get intricate at times or be very simple. This one will require about 4 more hours to complete I suspect.

**pfflyers** · September 15th, 2011, 08:59

It's really fun to watch a model develope like we can here. I have no knowledge of the process so I find this facinating.

I'm sure it must get a little tedius when you have to get down to these niggly little details, all the more impressive that you are able to maintain such high standards.

I am so looking forward to the finished model.

You are truly blessing us Milton and all the rest of your team.

**HorusJ** · September 15th, 2011, 09:00

Wow.A masterpiece in the making!

**Milton Shupe** · September 15th, 2011, 12:32

Originally Posted by pfflyers

It's really fun to watch a model develope like we can here. I have no knowledge of the process so I find this facinating.

I'm sure it must get a little tedius when you have to get down to these niggly little details, all the more impressive that you are able to maintain such high standards.

I am so looking forward to the finished model.

You are truly blessing us Milton and all the rest of your team.

"'Tis better to give than receive"

Originally Posted by HorusJ

Wow.A masterpiece in the making!

Not sure about that but we will have a few new things to fly.

Attached final appearance of the corrections made, a template created, and mapping done for this part.

**johndetrick** · September 15th, 2011, 12:36

Good website for reference photos:

http://www.s2ftracker.com/

I just gt a hold of the USN S2F-1 and -2 flight manual. Could you guys use it?

**johndetrick** · September 15th, 2011, 12:40

MAD boom extended

**Milton Shupe** · September 15th, 2011, 17:53

John,

Great shot!

I do have the Pilot's Handbooks in pdf format which is fine for my work.

Fliger who is doing the flight models has the E1B and S2F handbooks as well.

Others here may be interested.

Thanks for you help and interest.

**tankerguy72** · September 15th, 2011, 23:53

Pretty cool I was talking with my uncle today and he told me he was a fire fighter on the USS Ticonderoga which had Tracers operating off it. He called them Willie Fudds. Makes this project even more special to me.