Dear captains,

 

With the recent release of exterior model previews of the 777, I have decided to ask this long-delayed question:  What do you look for in an exterior model?  More so, what makes you feel that x,y,z is an outstanding exterior model, vs a,b,c, is only a "good" one?

 

The reason I ask is, I know what a good model is when I compare that with a not-so-good one.  However, I can't really tell the difference between a good and a better one.

 

I trust that PMDG only produces above-good quality products, and many people get excited over the exterior model (surely as well as interior and systems etc.).  Thus I put-forward this question, what makes you "owh"?

 

Thanks

If we're talking about the untextured exterior model only:

1) Proportions
2) Animations (including pilot animations and wing flex)
3) Landing gear and flap/slat track details
4) Lighting effects hard-coded into the model (can include all exterior lights + reflections from these lights on the ground and on the aircraft)
5) Cockpit windows shading/reflection/effects
6) Passenger cabin detail (when viewed from outside, through the cabin windows)
7) All doors and escape/maintenance hatches can be opened
8) Ground equipment like GPU, chocks, cones, even giant cargo loaders for main deck cargo. (I wish PMDG can include the Combi in the 747v2 reboot)
9) Extras like openable engine cowlings, escape slides, WX radar, 3D cargo ULDs which appear or disappear with payload editing.
10) More configurations e.g. Satcomm antenna, front/rear integral airstairs, different engine choices (especially with aircraft which has a lot of engine choices, like the 707)

The textures do create a lot of impact with regards to the quality of the exterior model. e.g. Captainsim

EDIT: Two more criterias: FPS and VAS usage.

For me the external model doesn't matter much at all since I rarely take screen shots and fly from the VC. Honestly I wouldn't really care if there was even an external model at all or even just a box if an external structure was required.

 

In a way I feel kind of bad that devs like PMDG go thru all the trouble of making the external model and animations since I rarely even take the time to look at it. Actually I wish they could just make the VC and "brains" so it could fly, release it as a base for those happy with just that and later release the external model for those that require it. Probably would cut down on developement time as well if they didnt have to model the outside and everything that goes with it.

 

Jim Burke

Jim, I do the same as you, I spent 95% time if not more in the VC during any flights.  However, some people like us pays for the excellent modeling of the aircraft systems and the VC, while others probably are paying for the exterior in combination with the system and all PMDG has to offer.  Just different sides of things.

 

That's why I asked this question, is to try to understand what the "others" are thinking and seeing PMDG products.

 

And this is for my own amusement and information

Absolutely everything in this photo... :-P

 

 

99% of the time I'm on the flight deck (or in the crew rest, galley, or lavatory if you want to know what I do during cruise).

 

If I look at the exterior model, I just want my bird to look like the bird I'm flying and a clear livery of the airline I'm flying (Delta and partners).

 

Other than that, I don't really care about how many grooves the tires have, the dirtyness around the lavatory service panel, or how long it takes for the spoilers to deploy after rejecting vs landing.

+1 

Outside model is not needed 

It's got to have engines and a wing.

Professional simulators have engines and wings ?

+1 

Outside model is not needed

+1

Accuracy.

I'm with Jim and Kenny. I rarely look at the exterior of the ship.

Since I don't do the external walk-around or make videos, I'm in the camp of detailed VC with a generally acceptable external model. Important only that it generally "looks" like the variant I've selected to fly. That is, it has wings, engines, and fuselage in a shape closely approximating the real deal. Only external items of import to me are the lights and their effects on runways/taxiways/ramps. Understand that others have an opposing view, so maybe it would be possible to have a "dumbed-down" exterior model as an installation option for those of us devoted to flying the aircraft and willing to forego external eye candy.

PMDGs superiority and reputation would be intact even if every single release they've done in didn't come with an external model.

I like them both. Not only the VC has to be highly realistic and very detailed, I also want to have a highly realistic exterior.

Even if I spend most of the time in the VC. If I'm in an exterior view it must be nearly perfect.

As PMDG pictures are showing these days.

So I'm glad PMDG makes this decision for both.

 

Eric