The website and forum will be intermittently unavailable while we're making some security updates.
File uploads to the download hangar are also disabled until further notice.

B-36 Peacemaker

Previews, discussions and support for projects by John Young.
User avatar
John Young
MAIW Developer
MAIW Developer
Posts: 4206
Joined: 12 Jul 2008, 15:15

B-36 Peacemaker

Post by John Young »

Sorry this post is a little longer than usual, but I hope it will be of interest.

I know Martin (MAIW admin and Owls Nest) has long wanted an AI Boeing B-36. Unfortunately, I've stubbornly resisted it long enough. 3 reasons for that really:

-The ability to restrain the polygon count to realistic levels given the complexity of the nose and cockpit glass frameworks and the number of engines.

- The risk of having to use two texture sheets because of the sheer size of the airframe and the consequential risk of blurring.

- The tedium of having to apply 347 animation/visibility tags in the FSX version, each application requiring a high degree of concentration, a few dozen key strokes and scrolling to select from long menus for each tag.

You can see in the following Gmax screen shot the sheer size of the B-36 compared to a B-25 Mirchell at the same scale:

Image

As the above screen shot suggests, I finally gave it a go. As it transpired, I managed to contain the polygon count to 10,000 in the first LOD and to fit the main texture to one sheet by splitting the fuselage into two large sections in order to retain the definition. The tagging in FSX was indeed a real pain. However, it all seems to have worked OK.

I was able to produce 4 base models and 4 squadron paint schemes, including reflective textures, for FS9 and FSX native. Here's a sample from my test airfield:

Image

I built the “H” model first with the two pods of 2 jet engines. This model was then split into two variations:

- with animated retracting forward, aft and belly gun turrets.

–without the turrets visible.

The two variations can be seen in the foreground and background aircraft in the following screen shot:

Image

For the aircraft with the animation, the covers slide down and the turrets raise when the aircraft is parked, simulating a maintenance scenario. They turrets retract and the covers close at departure and remain that way for flight. Because this model has a slightly higher polygon count, I have only allocated a sprinkling to the numbered aircraft in the aircraft.cfg file, but users can vary the number as they wish. Both the “H” models will also serve as “D” and “F” models. The “H” model without turrets will also serve as a “J” model that had the turrets removed to reduce weight and increase flight altitude.

Image

This is the "B" model painted in the Arctic red scheme:

Image

John Strinstrom's 1970's scenery of Loring AFB has provided a home for 30 Peacemakers of the 42nd Bombardment Wing. I had to thin the parking in the AFCAD a bit to accommodate the wing span, but I hope John would not have objecedt to that had I managed to contact him for permission:

Image

This screen shot of the alert B-36's scrambling is an interesting feature, I found a nice sound pack in a flyable B-36 at Avsim and set it up as soundai in FSX. The walls were shaking as these 4 went out:

Image

The cherry on the cake though, is a new version of Carswell AFB set in the 1950's that Brent Newman has kindly produced. The scenery houses 10 B-36's of the 11th Bombardment Wing:

Image

Plus 10 B-36's of the 7th Bombardment Wing in Arctic livery:

Image

and finally 24 brand new unallocated B-36's, fresh out of the Convair factory that is situated on the airfield:

Image

The packaging and documentation is all done and Brent just needs a short while to finish off Carswell. Martin will then have his wish fulfilled - "6 turning and 4 burning" as they say.

Image

John
TheFoufure
Colonel
Colonel
Posts: 2162
Joined: 06 Mar 2011, 16:48
Version: FS9
Location: Belgium

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by TheFoufure »

Wow !!!

Congratulations John !!! A great model... one more time.

You never stop !!!

Many thanks ;-)
User avatar
MIKE JG
MAIW Developer
MAIW Developer
Posts: 10976
Joined: 12 Aug 2006, 02:25
Version: MSFS

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by MIKE JG »

So is it a jet or a prop airplane......I can't tell! :smt003

Nice work, that thing is massive.
-Mike G.

Recovering flight sim addict, constant lurker.

Check out my real life RV-8 build here: RV-8 Builder Log
User avatar
petebramley
MAIW Developer
MAIW Developer
Posts: 1529
Joined: 17 Jun 2007, 16:05
Version: P3D
Location: EGBG

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by petebramley »

That thing is bloody Huge !!

Looks really nice John :D
Pete B
Retired and busier than ever !!
User avatar
VulcanDriver
MAIW Staff
MAIW Staff
Posts: 4501
Joined: 11 Aug 2006, 20:58
Version: FSX
Location: EGHH

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by VulcanDriver »

JY does it again. I may have to dust off my retro set up for this beast. I used to know a RAF pilot when 21 B-36s of the 11th Bomb Wing was on TDY at Brize in June 1952. He was told to go there to check them out. He was only allowed to fly it when airborne as it was b1tch to take off and land apparently.

Now for a B-58 pretty please. :)
John

"That is the biggest fool thing we have ever done. The A-bomb will never go off, and I speak as an expert in explosives." - Admiral William Leahy
User avatar
Firebird
MAIW Admin
MAIW Admin
Posts: 12111
Joined: 11 Aug 2006, 21:04
Version: FS9
Location: EGLL

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by Firebird »

MIKE JG wrote: 18 Jan 2017, 11:56 So is it a jet or a prop airplane......I can't tell! :smt003

Nice work, that thing is massive.
I think that with 6 screws and 4 blow jobs it kinda makes it a p0rn video, doesn't it?
Steve
_______________________________________________________
Image
Quid Si Coelum Ruat
_______________________________________________________
User avatar
jimrodger
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 1489
Joined: 22 Apr 2008, 13:34
Version: FS9
Location: EGQK (RIP)

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by jimrodger »

Froma a little while back as well...
eight_screws.jpg
Jim
"When all else fails, and your AI doesn't show up...... check the AI slider.......DOH!!!!"
User avatar
Joecoastie
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 860
Joined: 30 Jan 2007, 17:46
Version: P3D
Location: 8.2mi/077 radial of GVE

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by Joecoastie »

Living in El Paso 1950 and 1951, next to Biggs AFB, I can still remember the sound the B-36 made. Very distinctive.
My dad was an Army pilot stationed at Fort Bliss. He would take me out to the airfield to see the big planes.
That's where I saw my first jet ! A B-45 !
Image
Service to my Country 9/61 - 2/03
US Navy - HS-3, VX-1, HS-7 (USS Intrepid, USS Wasp, USS Yorktown)
Va National Guard - 229th Cbt Avn Co
US Coast Guard - E City CGAS, CGC Morro Bay, RTC Yorktown
NOAA - Co-op Observer 1983 - present
User avatar
MIKE JG
MAIW Developer
MAIW Developer
Posts: 10976
Joined: 12 Aug 2006, 02:25
Version: MSFS

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by MIKE JG »

Is that a Ryan Navion in the foreground, cropped out of the picture slightly??
-Mike G.

Recovering flight sim addict, constant lurker.

Check out my real life RV-8 build here: RV-8 Builder Log
User avatar
SeanG
Captain
Captain
Posts: 360
Joined: 11 May 2008, 05:22
Version: P3D
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Contact:

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by SeanG »

I think Martin's head just exploded... and I heard it from NZ!

I see there were 186 votes for the B-36 on the "Most Wanted" Poll... wonder how many were from Martin? :)

Fantastic work as usual John,
SeanG
Image
User avatar
bismarck
MAIW Developer
MAIW Developer
Posts: 2370
Joined: 04 Jan 2007, 14:35
Version: FS9
Location: Milan,Italy

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by bismarck »

John Young wrote: 18 Jan 2017, 10:18 Sorry this post is a little longer than usual, but I hope it will be of interest.
FORGIVEN!!!
8) :smt023

Feel free to write as many long post as you want, if the result is something like this. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Giorgio
Image
Joseph29
Colonel
Colonel
Posts: 2189
Joined: 20 Sep 2006, 20:35
Version: P3D
Location: Long Island New York

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by Joseph29 »

Looks like you did a good job on these models. Although I will be skipping this one, I am not into the retro stuff at all.
mins
Captain
Captain
Posts: 244
Joined: 21 Mar 2008, 04:54
Version: FS9

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by mins »

That's truly incredible.
John is always building a wonderful dream in the sky.
User avatar
Joecoastie
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 860
Joined: 30 Jan 2007, 17:46
Version: P3D
Location: 8.2mi/077 radial of GVE

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by Joecoastie »

MIKE JG wrote: 18 Jan 2017, 17:41 Is that a Ryan Navion in the foreground, cropped out of the picture slightly??
Yep. One of my dad's planes.

Image
Service to my Country 9/61 - 2/03
US Navy - HS-3, VX-1, HS-7 (USS Intrepid, USS Wasp, USS Yorktown)
Va National Guard - 229th Cbt Avn Co
US Coast Guard - E City CGAS, CGC Morro Bay, RTC Yorktown
NOAA - Co-op Observer 1983 - present
maiden757
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 82
Joined: 23 Apr 2011, 11:52
Version: FS9

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by maiden757 »

It's random but fantastic anyway. Sterling work as usual john.
jorab82
Cadet
Cadet
Posts: 7
Joined: 26 Dec 2013, 21:42
Version: FSX

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by jorab82 »

John you have make one of my dreams come true. THANK's for all your hard work. I'm from the island of Puerto Rico and we used to have the B-36 station here on Ramey AFB long time ago, always love the plane.
User avatar
MIKE JG
MAIW Developer
MAIW Developer
Posts: 10976
Joined: 12 Aug 2006, 02:25
Version: MSFS

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by MIKE JG »

Joe, that's pretty cool, those are neat airplanes.
-Mike G.

Recovering flight sim addict, constant lurker.

Check out my real life RV-8 build here: RV-8 Builder Log
stovepipe707
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 30
Joined: 01 Sep 2014, 23:39
Version: P3D

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by stovepipe707 »

Joecoastie wrote: 19 Jan 2017, 03:00
MIKE JG wrote: 18 Jan 2017, 17:41 Is that a Ryan Navion in the foreground, cropped out of the picture slightly??
Yep. One of my dad's planes.

Image
Nice wing. We used to call those flying VW"s
User avatar
Manschy
Major
Major
Posts: 573
Joined: 21 May 2009, 07:50
Version: P3D
Location: Gutersloh, Germany

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by Manschy »

Another gem in the sim - John, you have proved a recipe for the variety of aircraft again.
Regards, Manfred.
navychief8

Re: B-36 Peacemaker

Post by navychief8 »

Time to breakout my "Strategic Air Command" DVD. Can't beat Jimmy Stewart and this beast together.
Post Reply