AI F-16C/D Block 52+ - At least I have to try it..

[Chris]

Hello everyone and Happy New Year,

Well, the concept is simple. A Block 52+ with CFTs with the specific details of Hellenic and Polish Air Forces. Some of you may remember me for my attempt in the past to do a repaint for every single Serial No serving Hellenic AF based on excellent Henry's model, which has not been released, as I wanned desperately a model with CFTs. So, I decided to give it a try.

Basically It is an FSDS V3 project, So far for LOD1 I have 5500 polygones which I understand is very high. I'll try to minimize the poly count after the final shape is ready. I't is my first model and I'm not an experienced designer so every comment and help would be appreciated.

As we all have off course limited time, I cannot promise a release date from now. I'm still learning..

Thank you for your time

Chris

[Chris]

I ll try to post another two photos if there is no problem with the size.

[Chris]

..and the last one. The intake needs shape correction..this plane is a monster..

[Makadocias]

Looks great!!

[aerogator]

Keep it going Chris!!!

[delbydoo]

Whoa!! Nice model....looks like Greece and middle east will get a better look of things with this....keep going!!

[Chris]

You are very kind

Thank you for your comments, it is encouraging!

Well, currenlty I'm working the fuselage fwd section, which to me seems to the most difficult section. The cross sections for both the single seat and the two seat models are the same and the CFT is common, so the only thing that is different are the polygones which they cover the canopies. The CFTs could also be a problem when I will be ready to apply the textures. The same applies to the dorsal fin in the two seat version. We 'll see.

The second difficulty is where the lerx meets the fuselage and I'm trying to design it by designing the panels in this area exactly as they are in the real thing. Reason for that is that I want to avoid bad shadows or parts that will make the model looks like a plastic model..

Then off course is the landing gear...

[BadPvtDan]

Well, you have come to the right place for any help you might need

[Chris]

Thank you Danny, I will need it for sure.

[Chris]

..Well I hope everybody to be ok. It is a nice thing to see that the community here is growing and very good things are coming.

Unfortunately, I had to stop for over 4 months any design as I had to spent to much time on the "real thing" and the worse thing is that it seems that this will continue that way so I really need to believe that I will have something to offer before FS11..

To the point, last weekend I' ve started trying to improve the nose section and the intake. Take a look of the attached photo. Without the CFTs for the time being but I need to believe that it beginns to look like a PW intake this time.. Poly count increased again as many thing had to be re-designed from zero, but considering quality versus fps I found that this detail for LOD 1 does not looking so bad and certainly does not kill the fps. It depends off course but we will see..

P.S. One of the good things I've discovered is the well known to everyone but me "snap to scale" ...

Cheers

Chris

[RipPipPip]

A smooth, good looking shape here, Chris.
Some like to have it less poly and some like it smoothly shaped, so you may choose a way of AI how you like it and I'm sure many others will like it as well (I like it).

[Chris]

Thank you Rysiek,

Yeah, you are right, is just that I probably prefer to have a better shape than just high fps, on the other hand there are some other parameters, like how many aircraft are at every moment standing outside the shelters which the majority of western air forces are using. Probably apart from the US in the most of the bases I have visited in the past in Germany, Holland, Belgium, and off course Greece which is my country, in a busy day you could only see a max of 10 to 15 aircraft at any moment in various phases - taxing, takeoff, landing etc. All the others were covered by Shelters or other facilities.

So my concept is that if you have a good set of aircraft let say no more than 6 in action and another 10 parked shared in various shelters and you give some care to the rest (shelters, hangars etc) the result could be more realistic and with no significant fps problems. My target for this project is to have if possible at least 30 aircraft visible with no significant losses in fps.

Off course this is what I have in mind. If the target for example was to build an airport which is used for basic training and it was full of T-2s or T-6s like LGKL we have here, then with the need of over 80 aircraft standing in the apron you have certainly to consider fps hit caused by the aircraft model..

Thanks again
Chris

[flyerkg]

Chris,

How are your F-16s coming? I was on http://www.f-16.net/ and noticed that UAE has a bunch of these at Tucson Intl Airport along with the Arizona ANG. There variants are F-16E and F with CFTs. It looks like you are off to a great start.

Keith

[Chris]

Thanks for your interest Keith,

Well, as I have described above the progress is very slow at this momment because my available time is very limited and since I'm not experienced I still have many things to learn. So, when I have some spare time I'm eating 80 percent of it with trials which are going to help me do the next step.

The block 60 E and F models are in to my list of course. keep in mind that from the momment that I will be able to finish the model and is let say acceptable taking as a main consideration the performance what I'm having in mind is certainly not to stop there. The reason is simple. It's the F-16 and it has a big big family - even if for somebody is just an AI model.

Last week, I think, I have finally resolved the problem with the lerx connecting to the fuselage so as to be in a position to look like the real thing and not as a plastic model. Ok, primary target is to have an AI model but devil is always behind the details.. I will try to post if able some photos at the end of this message here to show what I'm having in mind.

As for the rest, I'm still working with the fuselage and I'm spending my time on two things. First, how to reduce the polygones without destroying the shape and second the LOD models. This is a pain in the... Currently I have reached the 6500 polygones for LOD 1 according to ACM - with the CFTs. The funny think is that when I've tried the model by replacing some 32 aircrafts in an airport - not detailed - with just the LOD 1 model the fps dropped ofcourse but I had still not less than 31 fps - With a 6600 Quad core, a 2900XT, res at 1600 x 1200 and everything set to the right side of the bar within FS as also on the catalyst.

I'l try to get back soon with real news as also to ask for help and guidance from the gurus here . This way seems to be the only realistic so as to speed up some processes.

Chris

[flyerkg]

This is fantastic work. I can understand about being busy. I am not an aircraft designer at all. I poked around with a few things in FSDS a few years ago. I commend everyone who puts any sort of effort into this thing. I do my best to never prompt anyone to hurry up and finish what they are working on. I will simply ask if any particular modifications have been considered. And as you have provided a lot of detail on some of the systematic considerations you have to take to ensure you complete a satisfying product. Good luck with your future efforts!

Keith

[davidbernard]

Just wondering if this project is terminated. Would be very nice to have the newest Vipers for some Polish, Isreali or UAE flightplans.

David

[foufure]

Very great project !!!

Congratulation !

More and more users air force have this F-16 versions.

It will be great when is it ready for your flight sim.

[BadPvtDan]

I hate to tell you this but the guy hasn't been on in almost a year. Beware old posts!!!

[f4nutter]

i rekon this project is long dead