Section 8's Sabre

**dharris** · January 31st, 2011, 07:28

Have not heard anything on Section 8"s Sabre for fsx in a while, any news? Still one of the best in my opion, even using the fs9 in fsx.

**mmann** · January 31st, 2011, 08:11

Unfortunately if you look at the Section F8 FSX forum it states: "The SectionF8 Sabre project is something on the side".

So I wouldn't think it is going to be released anytime soon, which is a pity for us Sabre lovers.

Regards, Mike Mann

**Bjoern** · January 31st, 2011, 11:20

Turning the Convair into a native model without any bells and whistles was a six hour job, hence I'd do it if someone gets me the source files.

***Ferry_vO*** · January 31st, 2011, 12:03

I don't think Jan Visser does anything "without any bells and whistles" and he's currently busy with the Maam-Sim N3N so we'll just have to be patient!

**stiz** · January 31st, 2011, 14:22

didnt they say they where useing the n3n as a breaking in/familiarty plane so they could get to gribs with FSX, then depending on how that went do some others?

**mmann** · January 31st, 2011, 14:27

Originally Posted by stiz

didnt they say they where useing the n3n as a breaking in/familiarty plane so they could get to gribs with FSX, then depending on how that went do some others?

Yes they certainly did refer to the fact that what they learn now will help them make a better FSX native Sabre. The downside being that we are going to have to wait awhile to get it.

Regards, Mike Mann

**Javis** · January 31st, 2011, 17:43

We have quite a lot going on at Maam-Sim for a while now (certainly not only the N3N...

) so i'm afraid the Sabre is on the backburner for still some time to come. There's an almost finished F-86 upgrade package in the works with the hardwing model, external model and VC upgrades plus completely new handpainted textures for camo or other colored Sabres sporting super detailed panellining, rivets, legends, etc., by graphics artist Don Feeley. PSD layered repaint kit included too.

Uncertain still when i will be able to find the time to finish it all up and release the upgrade package. Good news is that there's a fair chance of a native FSX version coming to your hangar this year.

@Bjoern : that's a great offer, thanks mate ! :salute:

But like Ferry mentioned, it would be a pity to loose all FSX dedicated bells & whistles during the conversion process. Maybe we could still do with the internal textures as they are now, but we certainly don't want to miss out on the higher resolution textures for the external model. Then again, since we have a handpainted, layered texture set for the external model now that might turn out not to be such a hard job to accomplish.

We'd probabely have to loose the photoreal bare-metal textures and go with the possibilities FSX can provide regarding bare-metal texturing. As some of the recently released models have proven to be a big step forward compared to FS9.

But, hey, i'll talk your offer over with my mates, we could sure do with your help !

Thanks again, Bjoern, much appreciated ! I'll be in touch with you shortly.

Cheers,
Jan

**heywooood** · January 31st, 2011, 18:33

and so...just like the renowned North American F-86...Jan shows up and clears the air with a flourish

Cant wait for that N3N my friend - among all the other pokers ya got in the fire...

**dharris** · February 1st, 2011, 06:35

Great news Javis, thanks for the update, will be looking forward to the update. Don

**skyblazer3** · February 1st, 2011, 11:11

All the Luck Jan; still loving the Sabre.

**Bjoern** · February 2nd, 2011, 01:57

Originally Posted by Ferry_vO

I don't think Jan Visser does anything "without any bells and whistles" and he's currently busy with the Maam-Sim N3N so we'll just have to be patient!

By "bells and whistles" I mean unkeyframed special XML animations.

Originally Posted by Javis

...

Just to be clear, a FSX conversion from FS9 just involves adding a keyframes to a few parts (ailerons, rudder, elevator), doing some XML editing as FSX's formatting differs from FS9's, tagging animations, FSX compilant materials and extensive use of the attachpoint tool as well as cooking basic spec and bump maps.

Mesh and texture mapping will stay untouched, so you can go 2048 on the main textures whenever you want.

Remember, repaint compatibility is a key element of conversions.

**robcap** · February 2nd, 2011, 08:28

Originally Posted by Bjoern

a FSX conversion from FS9 just involves adding a keyframes to a few parts (ailerons, rudder, elevator), doing some XML editing as FSX's formatting differs from FS9's, tagging animations, FSX compilant materials and extensive use of the attachpoint tool as well as cooking basic spec and bump maps.

And that's a whole lot of work ;-)
You must apply the new FSX materials to all textured parts, and to make all swithces work in FSX will be quite a job as well. To have at least the FS9 functionality in FSX as well (which would be a requirenment), the XML code must be converted (and applied) to the applicable parts and animations.
Anyway, sounds like a lot of fun TBH!

Mesh and texture mapping will stay untouched, so you can go 2048 on the main textures whenever you want. Remember, repaint compatibility is a key element of conversions.

very true.

Cheers Rob

**Bjoern** · February 2nd, 2011, 08:50

Originally Posted by robcap

And that's a whole lot of work ;-)
You must apply the new FSX materials to all textured parts, and to make all swithces work in FSX will be quite a job as well. To have at least the FS9 functionality in FSX as well (which would be a requirenment), the XML code must be converted (and applied) to the applicable parts and animations.
Anyway, sounds like a lot of fun TBH!

I had the Convair FSX native in six hours and that included a lot of cursing at GMax because it misses some very convenient functions that are included in 3DS Max ("Unhide By Name" for example).

**ZsoltB** · December 4th, 2011, 04:38

Originally Posted by Javis

We have quite a lot going on at Maam-Sim for a while now (certainly not only the N3N...

) so i'm afraid the Sabre is on the backburner for still some time to come. There's an almost finished F-86 upgrade package in the works with the hardwing model, external model and VC upgrades plus completely new handpainted textures for camo or other colored Sabres sporting super detailed panellining, rivets, legends, etc., by graphics artist Don Feeley. PSD layered repaint kit included too.

Uncertain still when i will be able to find the time to finish it all up and release the upgrade package. Good news is that there's a fair chance of a native FSX version coming to your hangar this year.

@Bjoern : that's a great offer, thanks mate ! :salute:

But like Ferry mentioned, it would be a pity to loose all FSX dedicated bells & whistles during the conversion process. Maybe we could still do with the internal textures as they are now, but we certainly don't want to miss out on the higher resolution textures for the external model. Then again, since we have a handpainted, layered texture set for the external model now that might turn out not to be such a hard job to accomplish.

We'd probabely have to loose the photoreal bare-metal textures and go with the possibilities FSX can provide regarding bare-metal texturing. As some of the recently released models have proven to be a big step forward compared to FS9.

But, hey, i'll talk your offer over with my mates, we could sure do with your help !

Thanks again, Bjoern, much appreciated ! I'll be in touch with you shortly.

Cheers,
Jan

Hello,

Available in this repaint?

Thank you!
Zsolt

***falcon409*** · December 4th, 2011, 05:07

Originally Posted by Bjoern

. . . . .as well as cooking basic spec and bump maps. . . . . .

I see this mentioned sometimes by other painters, what exactly is "cooking"??

**OleBoy** · December 4th, 2011, 06:50

I believe "cooking" is a term for creating the bump maps onto the model, within the modeling program?

**skyhawka4m** · December 4th, 2011, 10:04

Was the layered paint kit ever released?

**Bjoern** · December 4th, 2011, 14:48

Originally Posted by falcon409

I see this mentioned sometimes by other painters, what exactly is "cooking"??

Originally Posted by OleBoy

I believe "cooking" is a term for creating the bump maps onto the model, within the modeling program?

No.

"Cooking":
- Spec maps: Taking the diffuse texture, desaturating it, adding a color inverted greyscale alpha channel, exporting it.
- Bump maps: Taking the diffuse texture, deactivating any decal or paint elements, desaturating its colors, maybe enhancing its contrast or screwing around with color levels, running it through the bump map generator, running it through ImageTool.

All within GIMP.

The procedure is easily adaptable to every fuselage and paint configuration (talking airliners here), but usually doesn't overexcite the audience. It's okay for my taste though and that's what counts.

**skyblazer3** · December 4th, 2011, 15:43

Jan,

Any updates concerning SF8 and/or MAAM-SIM's work? We all love the things you do. Hope life is treating you well, and you are still enjoying the hobby. I saw some nice screenshots of you with the Milviz F-15 recently -- that is a fun bird.

Chris

**Javis** · December 5th, 2011, 01:48

Thanks Chris,

Got a fair bit of life's turmoil to digest lately but don't we all sometimes... F-86 update got seriously delayed because of our Maam-Sim FSX close encounter. She's waiting patiently in a corner for her chance but i might be able to atleast finalize the FS9 update and package it up for release within the coming weeks. Better late than never, éh ?...

Yes, i allow myself to take a ride in some of the latest FSX aircraft offerings. The bar is raised over and over again, the quality is astounding and so is the Milviz F-15.( I bet you know about their F-86 in the pipeline. I accidently pulled my ejection seat trigger levers when i first saw these renders! :isadizzy: )

Thanks for your ongoing interest in our Sabre puppy, Chris. Much appreciated !

Originally Posted by zsoltquack

Available in this repaint?Thank you! Zsolt

See above, Zsolt

Cheers,
Jan

**skyhawka4m** · December 5th, 2011, 04:04

Javis is there anyway to get the new layer paintkit that was mentioned before in this thread?

**OleBoy** · December 5th, 2011, 04:30

Originally Posted by Bjoern

No.

"Cooking":
- Spec maps: Taking the diffuse texture, desaturating it, adding a color inverted greyscale alpha channel, exporting it.
- Bump maps: Taking the diffuse texture, deactivating any decal or paint elements, desaturating its colors, maybe enhancing its contrast or screwing around with color levels, running it through the bump map generator, running it through ImageTool.

All within GIMP.

The procedure is easily adaptable to every fuselage and paint configuration (talking airliners here), but usually doesn't overexcite the audience. It's okay for my taste though and that's what counts.

What he said!

I appreciate the clarity in the explanation. The process I am familiar with. Many times I don't know the correct words, so I'm, at times, better off not even typing a response because of it.

**ZsoltB** · December 5th, 2011, 04:32

Originally Posted by Javis

Thanks Chris,

Got a fair bit of life's turmoil to digest lately but don't we all sometimes... F-86 update got seriously delayed because of our Maam-Sim FSX close encounter. She's waiting patiently in a corner for her chance but i might be able to atleast finalize the FS9 update and package it up for release within the coming weeks. Better late than never, éh ?...

Yes, i allow myself to take a ride in some of the latest FSX aircraft offerings. The bar is raised over and over again, the quality is astounding and so is the Milviz F-15.( I bet you know about their F-86 in the pipeline. I accidently pulled my ejection seat trigger levers when i first saw these renders! :isadizzy: )

Thanks for your ongoing interest in our Sabre puppy, Chris. Much appreciated !

See above, Zsolt

Cheers,
Jan

"See above" More precisely? I do not understand