EAW WW1 Theatre

[Moggy]

Great set Ray

What did you do about FMs?

Is there a package for diwnload yet?

[rotton50]

I haven't done much with the FM's yet. I tried a couple of FM's that came with some of the models but most cause immediate CTD's when trying to play or else the numbers are far off. For example, I has the thrilling experiences of a 280 MPH Sopwith Camel......unfortunately the modder has also edited the damage data so after about 15 seconds the wings tore off.

I have some pretty good WW 2 biplane FM's that I can use to fashion new FM's for the WW 1 planes. The big issue was the slow speeds that the planes run at but I was able to manipulate some of the data points to get some good results. The only one I'm not sure about is the Zepplin but I'll probably be able to make it work as a target, not as a flyable choice. I mean, who wants to cruise around with a giant bag of Hydrogen directly over your head anyway.

I will package up the Allied models and send them up to the server later today so you can take a look at what I've done.

[Moggy]

This is great work Ray, and I'm sure there are a few others who will appreciate.

What are you thinking about for distribution?

[rotton50]

Haven't thought that far ahead.

However, since I have a lifetime ban at SimHQ I was hoping you could really hype it for me.

[EdLaz]

Thank you very much for your work rotton50

[Moggy]

Haven't thought that far ahead.

However, since I have a lifetime ban at SimHQ I was hoping you could really hype it for me.

I'm sure we can do that. Could put the downloads on a new page on my website.

[rotton50]

Thank you very much for your work rotton50

[Moggy]

Okay I finally got around to making a planeset with Ray's new WW1 allied skins, this first one is a French/Belgian/US set.

Here are the first screenies:









Breguet 14(Fr) & Morane Saulnier N(Fr).

The planes look great.

More screenies asap.

[Moggy]

I see that this thread, for some reason, has had over eight, now nearly nine million views!

[rotton50]

Yeah, sorry, After all the R/S bodging I've had to do my hand was a little shaky so I must have hit the mouse button a few extra times.

Actually, the German planes are going faster than the Allied planes. I took a different approach.

The big problem is getting the undercarriage to render properly since the original model makers put the wheels on the fuselage yet they stick out under the wings. That just doesn't work.

On the Allied planes I deleted the wheels from the fuselage and added them under the wings with a couple of hardpoints. This worked to cure about 80% of the problem but I had to do some real fancy footwork to fix the other 20%.

The other R/S issues involve the gunner and pilot on the two seaters showing through the top of the upper wing, the wing mounted radiators showing through the bottom of the upper wing and the inside of the cockpit showing through the fuselage. I solved those too but it wasn't easy.

For the German planes I went back to square one. I realized I had a whole bunch of WWII biplanes that render perfectly so I took couple of sets wings with landing gear in place and simply bent and twisted them to match the ones on the WWI models. Worked like a charm.

So far in a week I've done the Albatross C3, D2 and D5 and they are about 97% perfect with just a couple of obscure R/S issues in unnoticeable spots.

The only thing the slows me down with these models is that they are multi-skinned, so after I fix the wireframe I have to add 15 more skins to each one. I will say, the graphics abilities of the originators is excellent, far outstripping their 3dz skills and sadly, there's little in the way of accolades for the wireframe guys. Just not very sexy I suppose.

[Moggy]

It's a bunch of good work. Do you want me to post any pix at simhq? I could describe it as a 1.6 side project.

As to FMs. Some I can match up with some which were created for the original Western Front setup, other I'm essentially matching with stand-ins at the moment just to show the models flying.

[rotton50]

Sure, post away. Maybe we can pull a few curious members over here where I'm not banned.

The problem I find with the FM's is that some of them cause CTD's. I think they were written before we upgraded some of the flight parameters in 1.6.

I'm just going to start with known good FM's from some of the WWII biplanes and see how that goes. Fro example, the Swordfish FM would make a good base for the two man observation planes like the RE8 and Albatross C3 and the Bulldog would work as a start for the fighters.

[Moggy]

I'm just going to start with known good FM's from some of the WWII biplanes and see how that goes. Fro example, the Swordfish FM would make a good base for the two man observation planes like the RE8 and Albatross C3 and the Bulldog would work as a start for the fighters.

Good plan.

[rotton50]

BTW, I have no problem if you want to fiddle around with the FM's yourself. What would need adjusting to begin with would be be:

1 - gun positions and type
2 - top speed
3 - max altitude
4 - damage
5 - range
6 - bomb loads, if applicable

Later on things like turn rate, engine torque, propeller rotation direction, ground stance and some others that slip my mind right now can be fine tuned.

[Moggy]

I have very little fiddling with FMs proper. Luckily there was always someone else to do the difficult bit

Loadouts and weapons now, I have done extensively, but prior to that we need a proper WW1 weapons list. Can't be too difficult, can it? Fairly simple range of fairly small bombs. Did they have primitive rockets?

Apoarently there were primitive rockets, the French developed one to use for balloon busting. Rockets must have been around - Wellington's army had rockets at Waterloo in 1815!