Military AI Works

WOW! That is looking fantastic John!

I could probably do a standard Black Hawk for about 7000 polygons (FS9 and FSX) if that would be useful.

A standard JYAI Blackhawk would also be much used and appreciated.

Gary, yes both the FS9 and FSX versions will have the xml animation that Kevin has developed. I know the lift code works in FSX, but I might need some further help with the door code (AI_canopy) to use a variable or timer other than the Nav light, which doesn't behave in FSX like the FS9 Nav light timing-wise. I'll raise that in the Staff/Contributor section if I need to, after I have the FS9 version textured and the full set of LODs made.

Lewis and Mike, I'll gladly make the Black Hawk as well.

Now to design the texture sheet and do the mapping.......

John

I'm suddenly contemplating trying to repaint all the JFAI blackhawks out there.. Users may have to put up with having 2 AI UH-60 models in the sim for a while until that gets straightened out.

Perhaps I'll cycle that next 100 blackhawk project behind some more AH-64s and CH-47s...

As John Y has said, it's not the polys that kill the models, it's the draw calls. When you see complex scenery or aircraft in game, the un-colored model/s are always there already drawn by the game, especially with scenery. If you have a lower end system like I've always had you get to sit there and watch the models eventually get their colors added to them. That's the hardest part for the hardware to crunch.

One advantage I can think of for FSX is that you could use a 2048x2048 sheet correct, or is that only for scenery?? Might be able to squeeze more onto that size sheet than you could a 1024x1024 sheet.

Either way an AI UH-60 is going to make a lot of people very happy around here, especially being a FS9/FSX native model.

John Y. you realize these guys are going to want EVERY H-60 version now right??

Gotta have those Coast Guard JayHawks!

Great work John.

That looks impressive. Great skill.

John

I'll give it a go Mike. Fiddling with sticky out bits and textures in the different models is OK, but I'd rather avoid having to change the fuselage shape significantly, particularly after the Pave Hawk LODs are done. I haven't really researched Black Hawks yet, so I'm not yet clear what's involved.

I've been tempted to use a 2048 x 2048 texture sheet in an AI aircraft. We use them a lot over at ACG for high definition scenery, especially ground. I do make my 24 bit master texture in 2048 size for AI aircraft and then reduce it to 1024 before converting to .dds. That gives a better result for things like small text and badging, rather than working from the outset with a 1024 sheet. I'm not sure 2048 dxt is really necessary though for AI aircraft. The graphics quality in FSX is better than in FS9 because there are so many additional variables that can be tweaked, particularly with reflection and transparency and the availability of Dxt5.

Just out of interest, here's something I did last week for the memorial aircraft in Ian's FSX Lakenheath:



The textures are on each aircraft are 1024 x 1024 and really don't need anything bigger. I wouldn't be able to achieve quite that standard in FS9. There are only 2 parts in each aircraft model - the airframe and the glass transparency/reflection - so the opportunity to reduce draw calls with a single 2048 x 2048 sheet is very limited too. Same with AI aircraft - it's not the texture that reduces the draw calls because there is generally only one sheet, it's the number of unattached parts.

John

The Pave Hawks are done for both sim versions. Here they are operating from Ian McCartney's in progress FSX RAF Lakenheath in the UK (6 aircraft):











The FS9 aircraft will also work with the current MAIW Lakenheath scenery with a supplementary AFCAD I've produced.

With the Paves done, I can now make a start to convert the models to various examples in the Black Hawk family. Because the subject is quite huge, I'd rather like to know before hand what users here might like, rather than second guess that and have to make changes when everything is done.

I can't obviously do everything, but I'll try and do 6 or 7 models in addition to the Paves. Bear in mind 5 of the 7 LODs are individual to each model and that's x 2 for FS9 and FSX. So that's 70 model changes for 7 models. My brain will go into overload with much more than that. Fortunately, I have some help in the Paint Department, so scheme varieties are a bit more flexible.

I've done a bit of research and my short list at the moment is:

UH60A (oval exhaust)
UH60L (slotted exhaust)
UH60M (top vented exhaust)
UH60J with upswept stub wings and tanks
SH60R Strike Hawk (Navy)
MH60T (Coastguard)
VH60 (Presidential)

I'll try and give priority to those here who have an affinity with the Black Hawk family and would like to see a particular model or paint scheme - perhaps of a unit the user has served in. I may have to ask you for a few reference photos I can work from.

In the meantime, I'll press on with some preparatory work......

John

Requesting permission to say a loud hurrah ( and maybe just a wee swear word in awe!!)

Jim

So is this real...or I am dreaming...great and fantastic work mate ...as always

Pretty amazing after all this time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

WOW!

Great !!!! Amazing !!!

Very impatient !!

Good work. and many thanks for your work for the fs anthousiast community !!!

I hope you will include a similar XML code like the one in Nick Black AH-64, for pseudo vertical take-off, and elevated taxi.

Screen shot 2 is the vertical take-off and nose down tilt triggered in the model by xml code, similar to Nick's. Elevated taxi is good for skid configured helicopters. It's not really needed for those with wheels. I don't think we've cracked xml for skids in any case.

John

I will be happy to take anything your kind hand offers !!!!


They look great

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Heart. CAN'T. TAKE. IT!!!!

WAITED. SO. LONG. FOR. BLACKHAWK!!!!

Simply Beautiful.

Simply amazing news!!!!

THANK YOU!!!!