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AA-1 American Yankee; revisited!
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These pages are a copy of the official truespace forums prior to their removal somewhere around 2011.
They are retained here for archive purposes only.
AA-1 American Yankee; revisited! // Image Gallery
Post by 3dpdk // Jan 2, 2007, 1:45am
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3dpdk
Total Posts: 212
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Hi all!
Been off the boat for three weeks sitting (and playing the ponies) in Reno, but I head back for the Gulf on Wed. I transferred some personal files from my old system on the boat to my new computer and I found this one.
Some of you might recognize it from a few years ago and recall that I had a lot of help from John Logan and Glen (aka: NightFlight) on the instrument panel. (Look for "AA1 American Yankee" in the old Caligari forums)
http://forums.caligari.com/discus/messages/1583/18205.html?1111268292
and
http://forums.caligari.com/discus/messages/1583/18391.html?1118995417
Anyway, I thought I'd finish this and submit for Jan. I re-modeled the show room, a different lighting set up and corrected a few problems with the aircraft itself.
3573
What do you think! Any comments before I submit?
Paul |
Post by ProfessorKhaos // Jan 2, 2007, 4:05am
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ProfessorKhaos
Total Posts: 622
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Hey there Paul! It's me 'a.k.a. NightFlight' albiet with a different user name.
Looks really good! Don't remember specifically what I did to help (still have to re-read the old threads) but the end result is all you!
Only a few minor crits...
It could be my monitor calibration but the lighting looks just a tad bit low. Prop almost disappears into the picture behind it silouette wise as does the tip of the tail. I prefer a slightly wider view or narrower view of the aircraft (either getting the whole thing in with a bit of margin or concentrating on close-in detail). Given all the cockpit work that would make a cool detail shot.
Awesome work though! Don't know if John Logan is out there lurking or not but I'm sure he would be pleased! |
Post by JPSofCA // Jan 2, 2007, 7:23am
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JPSofCA
Total Posts: 300
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Hey Paul. It looks decent, but if you've got a while before you head out again, you might want to put a rudder on the tail...that one additional change could make quite a difference. Overall the model is very nice.
Maybe a sky-based image light for the final render (if you have access to one) might add a nice touch too.
Have a safe trip back and be careful out there! |
Post by W!ZARD // Jan 2, 2007, 8:53am
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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Lookin' good Paul! You asked for comments - the rudder's been mentioned and I'd like to see a bit more detailing on the fuselage. Even brand new planes tend to have some slight rippling in the panel-work and visible joins and rivets etc - you model looks a little too smooth, especially where the highlights shine on the bodywork behind the cockpit.
I'm a big fan of 'scenes' rather than illustrations so I'd love to see this baby in a scene where it's actually flying - a plane's not really a plane unless it's in the air!!
Just my thoughts, HTH.
Hope you enjoyed your break from the sea - be careful when you go back out there! |
Post by 3dpdk // Jan 2, 2007, 10:24am
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3dpdk
Total Posts: 212
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ProfessorKhaos:
Mostly words of encouragement Glen! Glad to know your new screen name, I think that I have a handle on who everybody is now.
The lighting (or darkness) is an interesting comment. I seemed to get the same thing with my animation. I'm using a 27" flat LCD screen. The image as I view it seems almost too bright and color saturated. If the darkness seems to be the case with everyone, I'll adjust my screens brightness to match your comments and adjust my lighting.
Does anyone else see the image as too dark?
JPSofCA:
Right you are!!! I was so wrapped up in the lighting and test rendering. I knew it had to be done but when I got the background and runway lights the way I wanted them ... I got impatient and uploaded the image. I've already added the rudder and am working on the elevator.
Images of the AA-1 in flight! I like it!
Maybe I'll wait for Feb submissions and flood Mr Ormandy with both static and dynamic airplane pictures.
W!ZARD:
Your comment echoes one of Mr Logan's when I first started the model. This was the plane I took lessons in when I was 16 (Y 5669 L, at Byrd Airport - now Richmond International Airport - in Richmond, Va) I remember being impressed with the smooth surfaces, but not wanting to leave it up to a kid's memories I researched the AA-1.
When the AA-1 was built by American Aircraft (before sold to Gruman) it was constructed entirely with welded, sandwiched corrugated aluminum panels. There are no rivets and it would take a long time and a lot of flying before showing the underlying frame members. They have the same look as fiberglass construction.
Probably why a lot of Yankee owners proudly wax their planes!
Seems like the flight shot is a necessity so it looks like I'll wait for Feb to submit for the image contest.
Must - learn - patience!
Any other comments on the darkness issue?
Thanks all for the help!
Paul
Edit:
Just took a look at the image on a CRT screen, adjusted my screen's gama to match; This may be a little closer to the brightness I'm seeing on LCD for those of you on CRTs. Question is; WHICH should I adjust for?
3583
Not a LOT of difference, but I saved the screen profile to work in if the darkness is noticed by anyone other than ProfessorKhaos. |
Post by jamesmc // Jan 2, 2007, 10:48am
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jamesmc
Total Posts: 2566
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I like the style of the two seater aircraft. I would like to see a well-lighted view looking tail to nose and down into the cockpit. This would be a hard shot to line up and render and may require several renders with each lighting change on successive renders.
A multipass render may give the aircraft a more realistic look and heat up your cpu. :) |
Post by W!ZARD // Jan 2, 2007, 11:04am
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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Chuckle! I knew as I was typing that this would inevitably be the one plane that actually really is that smooth!
Interestingly I find the smoothness to be quite convincing on the wing and rear aileron (sp?) but not on the fuselage. The wing texture looks a little reflective and glossy but the fuselage seems to be more dull and flat - non-reflective.
Re the brightness - I have a dual monitor (17inch CRTs) one of which is set brighter than the other (it's my preference) - I thought your picture looked fine on both monitors as far as brightness goes.
HTH |
Post by TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb // Jan 2, 2007, 12:15pm
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TheWickedWitchOfTheWeb
Total Posts: 858
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I love planes, I grew up around them so will enjoy watching this progress. My main 'gripe' with the pic is not of the model itself but the reversed reg number on the front 'wall picture' - it's the first thing that jumped out at me as not right. |
Post by 3dpdk // Jan 2, 2007, 12:54pm
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3dpdk
Total Posts: 212
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background photos:
Well ... that's the way the photo was published. I've tried to figure out why but see no reason for it. I could flip it around if it bothers too many folks, but then the water mark will be reversed.
I don't think it will make a big difference aesthetically ... I'll try it.
Reflectivity:
I think its a combination of my lighting and the specular setting and color for the blue "paint". The surface of the body is the same procedural texture as the wings.
I'll make adjustments and maybe include an environment behind the camera. Right now there is nothing for that side of the plane to reflect! Thanks for pointing that out. I forgot!!!!!! |
Post by 3dpdk // Jan 5, 2007, 1:50am
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3dpdk
Total Posts: 212
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I guess I should have posted this in WIP.
I flipped the photo around. I didn't remember until I took a good look at it but I reversed it originally to use it as reference while constructing the model. You were right! It looks better.
I adjusted the reflectivity of the fuselage and built something for it to reflect. A little lighting change, too.
... added a rudder and elevator, beacon on the tail, and fixed the last of some bad geometry.
I'll try some different shots next, some aerial images and maybe a short animation.
Paul
3639 |
Post by ProfessorKhaos // Jan 6, 2007, 9:18pm
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ProfessorKhaos
Total Posts: 622
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Nice!!! Great job on the rudder and elevators. Noticed you did some subtle changes to the lighting too. The stripes on the tail show up well and brings it out of silouette without dominating the scene. Very good!!! :) |
Post by W!ZARD // Jan 8, 2007, 5:14pm
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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Ah yes! Those reflections in the fuselage make a huge difference to me - I hadn't even noticed the reversed photo! Now it looks like a 'real' plane rather than a model. Good work! |
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