N2056

While it's fairly easy to take an existing FS9 model and 'fix' any gauges that don't work, it's a totally different story to convert it to a true FSX model. There were a lot of changes made to how various tasks are accomplished...the big changes being how animations are done along with how the new materials (textures) are made. I've been converting my project over to FSX (pics here: http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...d=251337&page=). All of my textures and about half of my animations had to be redone. So far I've put a month of my spare time into rework. The end result is worth the effort, and if a developer has indeed totally converted a model using the FSX tools, and has included all of the possible texture effects (such as bump mapping) I can see why the cost of the end product is higher than it's FS9 counterpart. Robert

Here's a link to some good info on the subject, courtesy of Milton Shupe.http://www.aerodynamika.com/cgi-bin/yabb/Y...?num=1162517377Robert

It's too bad you take a one day 'snaphot' of the uploads to make a statement. Unless you have been on the development side of the house you really have no idea what the shift to FSX entails. A lot of things have changed, and while the change is for the better it takes time to upgrade yourself on the new tools. I agree with 67C VJPL. Be patient...there will be some really good stuff coming out soon!Robert

After I pushed back from the gate and was ready to taxi I noted a pickup truck off to the left backing up...and the brake lights came on when it stopped! They went out, and the truck drove off.Pretty cool, but frankly I'll mostly be flying FS9 for awhile. Too many scenery steps backward for me. At least I got in on the Circuit City deal and payed 50 bucks for the deluxe version. At $70 I think I'd be kinda irritated! Robert

On the Maule the Right Aileron animation is reversed when seen from the VC. Looks correct from the outside.Robert

I'm working on a project that I plan to upload along with my Thorp T-18 before the end of the year. My Dad & I built the real one 25 years ago. See some pics of it here...http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=147&topic_id=243650&mesg_id=243650&page=Robert

Try this...Use the tag for the exit with the numerical extension (01, 02, etc) as the name for the knob. Link the knob to the door. Then break up the keyframe sequences something like this...0-25: Knob opens25-75: Door opens75_100: Knob returns to original positionThis is basically how I did my canopy latch, except the latch is attached to the rollbar & not linked to the canopy.Good Luck!Robert

It sounds a lot like my canopy latch animation on my Thorp T-18...In the VC I click the latch handle, which begins the animation sequence. First the latch unhooks from the canopy frame, then the canopy slides back. You might look through the FreeFight Design forums, that's where I figured out mine.Robert

I had the same problem. I discovered that the brake message would go away if I applied full brakes, so I fixed it by going into the calibration program and reversing the x & y axis.Robert

The T-18 is a high-performance homebuilt design that first flew in 1963. My version is pretty close right now to typical Thorp numbers. It cruises around 160mph and has an initial rate-of-climb of around 2000ft/min. It is also very tricky to get a good smooth landing due to the stiffness of the landing gear. One of the advantages I have to modeling my Dad's plane is the ability to fly it...which means I really have no excuse to not get it right!Robert

I just tried to look at this link using Internet Explorer and only got a list of what's on the site, not the actual page. It works good using Firefox. Anyway, in case the first link was in fact a dud try this:http://www.members.cox.net/kerr14/t-18.htmRobert

Today I've been working on the interior...the canopy frame and the side panels.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/152005.jpg

I've done a lot of remodeling on my T-18 project. As I learn more about using Gmax and PSP I end up going back and improving things...Flight Instruments have been modelled in Gmax for smooth animation, the plane has been painted accurate to the first T-18 built by my Dad, and the interior has been reworked. I'm trying to get it done by the end of Summer.I've updated my website:http://www.members.cox.net/kerr14/t-18Robert

Googled...http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr16narrowsbridge/Robert

Here's a pic of some gauges I've re-worked by modeling them in Gmax. I'm getting good clarity and great smoothness. This plane is intended to be flown from the VC, since the panel is basic VFR. It will use a pop-up GPS for navigation.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/147737.jpgSee the project here:http://home.nethere.com/kerr/t-18.htmRobert

Look for a "sharpness" setting in your monitor's controls. When I got mine I was disappointed at the jagged lines I was getting...found the sharpness set at 3. I ran it up to 5 and it made a difference. Also, have you set the resolution properly? My 19" LCD runs at 1280 x 1024.Robert

I've been working on KSEE as it is the airport I fly out of with my Dad. We have two planes based there. I have FS2004 with the Megascenery Socal V2 installed, and it really is amazing to fly around the area and pick out my house! You might try that as a start...here's a pichttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/144195.jpgRobertThorp T-18 N2056KSEE El Cajon, CA

As a Gmax kind of guy I read this with interest, and did a quick experiment to see if this was workable. I made a rim for a gauge, added some lighting, and then made a screen capture(shift+print screen), which I pasted into PSP and edited into an existing gauge I created a while back. Did it work?I have some gauges to update...:-) Robert

I thrashed thru this thread. I'm grinding thru this problem myself. Here's why. I've worked on recreating the Thorp T-18 that took my father 10 years to build. I have worked on this project since 1995. Longer than it took to build the real plane. The educated person must ask why so long?First and foremost. It's a labor of love. I watched my father build this plane from day one. I have bought and learned how to use assorted programs trying to duplicate the real thing only to end up in a holding pattern becuase the end product just wasn't good enough for me. Now I'm getting close to a release of the final product.I have taught myself Gmax, PaintShop Pro, a fair amount of xml gauge programming, afcad, scenery creation, and a huge amount of perserverence. All while doing all of the Family Stuff, and changing careers. Why? Easy-I want to recreate an experience which is enjoyable to me. The end product is targeted to the individual who created the real thing. If others enjoy it then I will be pleased. I will upload all this stuff because I believe in the spirit of freeware, and I deeply appreciate all of the people who have responded to my forum posts over the years.A few years ago I created a scenery item for FS9 that Microsoft omitted. I just checked the file-2148 downloads. That does not include the downloads from sites that "somehow" aquired the file. At just 1$ a download that would be good money.Bottom line-I'm planning on putting out some good quality items shortly for free. I'm not too sure stuff I do in the future will be given away.Here's my Inspiration...http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/142133.jpgRobertThorp T-18 N2056KSEE

This is very cool...I've been working on a local airport and one of the things that I have struggled with is accurate building dimensions. I found a measuring tool in Google Earth which is fairly accurate. All you do is click between two points on the screen and it gives you the distance between the two points. Now I can GMAX my buildings with better accuracy. This will be most helpful...Thanks for the info!Robert

I put distance at 0 in EZ Scenery, and I set up my spot view distance from the plane such that as I pan around my plane I can see the end of the fence...putting the distance at 0 in EZ allows the spot view to pan straight over the end of the fence.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/139936.jpgRobert

Did a search, and found that if you set the opacity of the texture in Gmax to 99% the shadow goes away!Back to the fun!Robert

Well, I discovered if you have 'ground scenery cast shadows' enabled the signs cast shadows (due to the very slight elevation). Is there a way to modify the file such that it will not ever cast a shadow?Robert

I tried this idea last night, and discussed it in the scenery design forum. In this picture the Airport Name, Compass Rose, and TAXI label are individual library objects I created in Gmax and placed with EZ-Scenery. http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/138288.jpgIt's easy to do, and doesn't take long!Robert

All I do is create a planer surface in Gmax which is the size of the desired label. I have found that if the plane is created in Gmax with a slight elevation then your sign won't flicker through the surface.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/138244.jpgThen I texture the object and add an alpha channel to the texture such that parts of the label that should not be seen (in this case the white areas)are transparent.I then export the item as a scenery .mdl, add it to my ez-scenery library, start up fs9 & ez-scenery and place away! A sign like this is about a 10 minute job if you're familiar with the tools. Give it a try! RobertNote: The ground textures are Megascenery Socal V2