SOH Team Project - Grumman Tracker, Trader, Tracer

***JDTinballs*** · August 8th, 2011, 12:58

Gaucho,

The Embryo above is a GMax render, shading in sim will be quite different. I'm wondering if what your talking about is to do with smoothing groups, it's common to apply smoothing to objects, such as wings, control surfaces, etc. This is fine until you apply the same smoothing to a sharp edge on the item, ie. the end plate of a flying surface. Now this should be a sharp edge as in reality it isa smooth surface with the wing. If you apply smoothing to the whole elevator, let's say, in Gmax, it will attempt to round off those edges, hence you get odd shadows round the edges that should be flat.

hope that makes sense, it is a hard thing to get right. Examples with smoothing groups normal and fixed.

Attachment 45445 Attachment 45446

Jamie

**Milton Shupe** · August 8th, 2011, 16:11

Originally Posted by gaucho_59

I noticed that in your initial postings your "embrionic" model has some built in shadings on the fuselage...
Now... My question (which I somehow muffed not including it in my posting above) is:
in many models the flying surfaces (especially Ito's) fins, empennages, etc. appear too bulky and out of context with perspective... but being "built in" they cannot be changed... CAN THE SHADINGS IN THE MODEL BE RENDERED SO VERY LIGHTLY AS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO "ACCURIZE" THEM IN THE PAINTING AND/OR REPAINTING OF THE ACTUAL TEXTURES?

There are no gmax applied materials or textures here. What you see is a gmax rendering of sorts with only colors used to help along the design effort. An aircraft model surface mapping will eventually occur to provide a starting point for a paint kit to be done by "Smoothie". After the paint kit is completed, it will be available to all repainters.
I do not "colorize" objects in gmax; all parts will be textured externally.

Thanks Jamie for your explanation as well.

I have worked all day on revamping the nose and windscreen, side window and eyebrow trying to get some satisfaction from among the 5-6 different 3-views and real world pictures and get the "face" right.

***Matt Wynn*** · August 8th, 2011, 16:17

She's looking great already Milton, looking forwards to getting that Paintkit started and then sent out to the other painters

as always, "Smoothie Standing By!"

**gaucho_59** · August 8th, 2011, 18:23

Originally Posted by JDTinballs

Gaucho,

The Embryo above is a GMax render, shading in sim will be quite different. I'm wondering if what your talking about is to do with smoothing groups, it's common to apply smoothing to objects, such as wings, control surfaces, etc. This is fine until you apply the same smoothing to a sharp edge on the item, ie. the end plate of a flying surface. Now this should be a sharp edge as in reality it isa smooth surface with the wing. If you apply smoothing to the whole elevator, let's say, in Gmax, it will attempt to round off those edges, hence you get odd shadows round the edges that should be flat.

hope that makes sense, it is a hard thing to get right. Examples with smoothing groups normal and fixed.

Attachment 45445 Attachment 45446

Jamie

Yes indeed... the second one look ok and can be shaped by texturing... whereas the first example... has an undesirable shadowing close to the edge of the flap... that no matter what you do.. still shows through the texturing...
Thanks a lot... I am a graphics artist foremostly... and never have attempted doing a wire model... Just noticed though... that many a fine model's appearance is ruined by those odd, blunting shades...
Thanks a lot for the know-how...
I can see though, that it can be done as in the second picture and that is quite acceptable...
Can't hardly wait to see this model "in the flesh"... the old one I am reworking the textures is quite a nice model were it not for this problem... excellent wing-folding operation, lndg gear retraction, etc. and lends itself to a nice refinishing... as you can see by the wheel covers I redid, and the access door...(unfortunately it does not open)...
Another problem I have noticed is the shadow of the aircraft (not on this model) sometimes shows the glasswork where it should be just a dark shadow... what is that due to? (I guess I am overtaxing you experts with questions... but if you care to clear this thing too.. I'd appreciate it... I think I am gettting brave enough to attempt doing some model... completely... but not rightaway... need to get some experience first with a construction program)

**Milton Shupe** · August 9th, 2011, 20:43

First cut at the Natops radome ...Attachment 45531

**Cag40Navy** · August 9th, 2011, 22:34

yay!!! The star is now on top of the Christmas Tree with the present under it!!!

***stansdds*** · August 10th, 2011, 02:57

Weird. And the real ones looked just as weird! She's looking good!

**fliger747** · August 10th, 2011, 14:53

Captured by aliens? It' will never fly!

T

**HorusJ** · August 10th, 2011, 15:16

That's going to be a nice "Stoof with a roof".

**Milton Shupe** · August 10th, 2011, 18:16

LOL Still grinding on the major parts ...Attachment 45639

**Cag40Navy** · August 10th, 2011, 19:06

*shakes box*
"Does it have wings?!?!"
"Not yet..."

Shes looking better and better each and every day. I dont how you do it Uncle Milton but she a beauty!

**Milton Shupe** · August 10th, 2011, 19:14

Originally Posted by Cag40Navy

*shakes box*
"Does it have wings?!?!"
"Not yet..."

Shes looking better and better each and every day. I dont how you do it Uncle Milton but she a beauty!

LOL I hope to working on the wings Thursday followed by the nacelles, engines, and gear over the weekend.

**Cag40Navy** · August 10th, 2011, 19:29

Uncle Milton, this is one airplane that will make up a lot of flight time in my book! Thanks for doing the E-1 first! Look forward to it!

**Milton Shupe** · August 10th, 2011, 19:39

The E-1B is why I originally decided to do this project. It came first because it is the toughest to do. The radome has been a real bear to get right, but the biggest challenge is always the fuselage. You must get the fuselage "face" looking right before going further or it will destroy the whole look. I do spend a lot of time trying to get all the mesh as realistic as possible using the 3-views and RW pictures. I do not have teh gmax skills many have but I am persistent.

**Cag40Navy** · August 10th, 2011, 21:04

Originally Posted by Milton Shupe

The E-1B is why I originally decided to do this project. It came first because it is the toughest to do. The radome has been a real bear to get right, but the biggest challenge is always the fuselage. You must get the fuselage "face" looking right before going further or it will destroy the whole look. I do spend a lot of time trying to get all the mesh as realistic as possible using the 3-views and RW pictures. I do not have teh gmax skills many have but I am persistent.

And be because you are persistent, we get these beautiful aircraft! So Thank you!!

That Radome makes me drooool! So beautiful on that aircraft.