3-color Hellcat

[iart7]

I'm working on Alex Vraciu's famous Hellcat 19 (http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/VF10REF%20photos/hellcat.jpg). He is one of the leading Navy aces of the Pacific, with 19 kills.

Do a search on PHOTOBUCKET (http://www.photobucket.com)for hellcat (http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g195/spitfire4ever/La%20ferte-Alais%202006/?action=view&current=GrummanF6FHellcat.jpg)and you'll find this 'cat.
http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/gallery photos/HC19_85poster.jpg

I'll have a website with photos (http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/gallery5a.html) of my submission. Just putting feelers out to see if this plane has been attempted before... I know there's the MINSI III. Does anyone object to my submitting this one? and what are the chances of a YES vote from all?

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REMINDER TO ALL NAVY PILOTS:
2:00-3:00pm (central) History Channel, Cactus Air Force Wildcat battles on DOGFIGHTS! Be there or Be square.
http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/images/smiley3.gif -- I pity the fool who don't listen to iArt7!
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Samart, (if you read this post) any word on when the 2 new (http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/gallery6c.html) Wildcats (http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/gallery6f.html) might be VFC'd? Santa is hoping to trade in his sleigh for an F4F, but time's running out!

[wilz]

Love those cats. Nice work again Arthur, you are me hero.

[iart7]

Just reminding all Navy pilots to be ready to TIVO: Dec. 8th -- Set your station to The History Channel: Dogfights THE ZERO KILLERS, 10PM/9C

And to all PDC members: vote YES for Alex Vraciu's Hellcat (http://www.furball.warbirdsiii.com/forum/showthread.php?t=471)! http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/images/smiley2.gif

COMMENTS WELCOME!
http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/gallery%20photos/WarbirdsAd5.jpg

Oh, and that's the same Intrepid that was stuck in the mud near the Statue of Liberty today!
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/06/ussintrepid.ap/index.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,227724,00.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11125865/

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2006-11/07/xin_3511030708595112799481.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2006-11/07/content_726404.htm&h=234&w=379&sz=68&hl=en&start=24&tbnid=6Cs0ZG7Zw1hw3M:&tbnh=73&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3DUSS%2Bintrepid%2Bstuck%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN

[wilz]

Lucky for the real Cat pilots they didn't have the current ien flight model.

After watching the Dogfight with the F4F's it's obvious that ien needs to look at the damage model. US pilots would take the HO because of the armour and strenght of the Kitty, while the zeke didn't have armour and self sealing fuel tanks and burst into flames easily. Also the 50's were easier to hit with at a long range. I believe that some pilots referred to the zeke as a "zipo" They could fly circles around the F4F, but just a 50 cal or two would cause it to flame. Ien's damage model for the F4F and F6F doesn't even come close to the reputation of "Gruman Iornworks", it's more like ping and loose the rear end no matter what the angle.

Great looking skin Arthur. Hopefully we'll get it in the game sooner than later.

[iart7]

I've asked this question before about a year ago, but perhaps someone has a better answer now...

When I use Warbirds (offline) without a joystick, (or when I press Option-M to toggle mouse control) there is a disgusting red square outlined in the middle of the view. My mouse movements are limited to the inside of this 1.5 inch square. Is there any way to disable or remove this red square?

Sometimes I'm installing Warbirds on a friend's computer and he has no joystick. The red square and difficulty in using this small area discourages him from the game.

ANYONE?

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New Alex Vraciu F6F pics here. (http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/gallery5b.html)

[Kossu]

Nice one again Art.

Here are some pickies of another 3-color residing in the NMNA, Pensacola :D

http://www.bucket.pp.fi/Pensacola_20061202_061s.JPG


http://www.bucket.pp.fi/Pensacola_20061202_063s.JPG


http://www.bucket.pp.fi/Pensacola_20061202_075s.JPG


http://www.bucket.pp.fi/Pensacola_20061202_079s.JPG


http://www.bucket.pp.fi/Pensacola_20061202_081s.JPG


http://www.bucket.pp.fi/Pensacola_20061202_083s.JPG


http://www.bucket.pp.fi/Pensacola_20061202_149s.JPG


Keep up the good work!

Kossu

[iart7]

Those are great pics, Kossu. Great closeups. I'm gonna change the interior of my #19 to that cockpit green!
And I've always wanted to see exactly what the warning said about not standing on the wing!

Awesome!

BTW, do you think it is possible for someone to make physical changes to the 3d model of the F6F?
There are some changes that really should be made. OmarS could do it for the tanks as I worked on
painting the A7V, so it must be possible for the planes too. Maybe for the next update?

Here's what I'd like changed, (just 4 things):
1. location of the tail wing is quite noticibly LOW, I'd say 10% or more off
2. there is an annoying flair (up) at the trailing corner of the wingtips
3. the front "mouth" of the cowl needs to be reworked
4. the side view of the cowl is too square-ish, like a barrel: it should
taper down towards the front about 5 degrees with a slight curve

Plus 3 minor annoyances most people won't notice unless they do skins...
1. there is a dip in the curvature of the top wing, near the fuselage
2. there is a LINE shadow that often appears on the lower rear part of the fuselage
3. the angle of the main antenna rod is too low, needs more to 90 degrees
(I've seen some that go that much forward, but others do not and it just bugs me)
4. please, please add the propeller to the model so it can be painted!!! the monocolor (black)
propeller is a throwback to WB 2.7 and really looks ugly

Here are 2 photos that might help show what I mean, and look at my other pics and references HERE
and compare with your reference photos ...

http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/gallery%20photos/errors.jpg
http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/gallery%20photos/errors2.jpg
http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/VF10REF%20photos/pn_w3997.jpg

[Kossu]

Hey Art, I could send you the hi-res versions if you'd like. About 2-3 Megs each.

Drop me a PM.

Cheers,

Kossu

P.S. About 3D changes. I've lost all hope about those ages ago. There are so many errors in so many planes that have gone unfixed for years, and even in the new ones...

[iart7]

Can't lose hope Timo, there's a war to win!

If we want accurate-looking planes... something has to be done.

On the other hand, if we are waiting for accurate planes in the next version (Warbirds IV): then we do nothing for 2 or 3 years and fly with what we have. How many of us really want model fixes?

1. How many planes need model fixes? Every one? Fifteen?
2. Are ANY current models being fixed at this time (as we speak)?
3. Are they major or minor fixes?
4. Who is doing the work? who can do the work? who can help? who can learn?
5. What program(s) are required for others (like me, OmarsR, etc) to learn? MAYA?
6. Does this mean that Samart has to redo the VFC process? When a model is changed, most of the fuse and wing targa files might need to be redone, but not all.
7. Are skinners willing to make the paint changes?

My solution/suggestion?

Fix one plane every 6 weeks
2 weeks to fix 3D model
2 weeks to fix paint changes that occur
1 week to review
1 week to VFC the skin
model and skin go to Downloads Page and every 3 months as "non-mandatory update"

If enough people want the planes to look more accurate, it can and should be done.
I'm quite inexperienced in these matters, but in my feeble mind, i get the impression that it's just a matter of pulling or pushing a few vertexes here and there to lengthen or shorten a facet. Kids at high school do it all the time.

I.M.O.

art
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PS: is your name really Timo? my grandfather's name was Eutimio, we called him "Papa Timo"

[speijk]

It is not about fixing the 3D models. Enough modellers in the PDC to do that. Keep in mind that the skins will need to be redone too.
It is about getting the new models into the game. That is all up to our poor overworked Target ;)

[kidcan]

Oh wow Hey! I didn't get expelled;) Ok cool, howdy everyone and happy holidays!<S>

WOW this skin has to be ingame now! you did ol 19 WTG! I love this skin and you beat me too it, it was #4 of my plane choice of skins after The Hurricane, SBD, and Wildcat..... AMAZING JOB!!

As for yourgripes about the 3D models The F4F work by far was amazing and and to achieve that alone was a daunting task...I am just going to end you my choices for Royal Navy skins and you can do em...don't want to touch the F4F.....beyond my reasonable tolerances of insanity

I after numerous attempts can honestly say my Hurricane should be done right by the 25......it too has serous issues....I thought you were in the PDC?

I of course start out by scanning line drawings and trying to true them up to the templates, I am lucky enough to have Arthur Bently drawings of the Hurricane( considered the best of the best for drawings), when it came to the fueslage the Hurricane physically is not even close fuselage or even worse wing wise...i could somewhat use the line drawings to lay things out....but numeorus detials could not be added....

The wings are completey off and the landing gear area is wrong....I have complained about this before....

I justwanted you to know yer not the only one who is dissapointed with the 3Dmodels and innacuracies....but the thing is for you or me or the Kossu's in the world...100 people wouldn't notice those innacuracies....which is sad...but that's how it is....


BUT PLEASE PUT THIS SKIN IN GAME! NOW NOW NOW! YES I VOTE YAY!

[iart7]

This is a truly great post... I just wanted to do a lambada BUMP!

Those F6F pics from Kossu are so awesome...

Plus, BTW, in the time since any posted replies to this, I tried a skin fix to the very front cowl error (I call it the "smile with teeth". I'm proud to say it is not half bad. See it on my website.

anyway, for the RUSSIAN speaking folks, check these out...


Russian War-a (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ftzffJyVHM)

Russian War-b (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TrBr6aat1U)

[iart7]

Just bumping this up again.

UPDATE: the PDC website (http://www.pdc.warbirdsiii.com) has this plane now as well as 2 more Wildcats, or click here to get it now: http://www.pdc.warbirdsiii.com/downloads/skins/f6f5_4_iart7_ver1hr.zip

Hopefully coming soon from PDC (un-official):
.......an awesome Hurricane from Kidcan
.......another great fighter, P47D by Wilz
.......new plane model, Ki27 by Speijk
.......Poliparkov I16
.......and I'M HOPING AFTER THAT: Fokker DXXI by Speijk !!!!!!!!!! (gotta have it)

Stay tuned!

.........iArt7------=
/Tanks in DOA \ (http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/gallery%20photos/Toten_Green.jpg)
\.O.o.o.o.o.o.O./ (http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/gallery%20photos/Toten%20July28a.jpg)

http://www.iart7.com/WARBIRDS/HGB/images/bg2.gif