Request Need help to make design concept into an Orbiter vessel

[Trent]

well im still fairly new but i was wondering if i could call on a few people to put a design in my head into the Sim i have no experience modding but i would like to see this happen pm me if your interested please.

 

[mc_]

First, you should tell us more about the "design", right? ;-)

What does it looks like, performance, purpose, etc, etc? Drawings and calculations are welcome.

 

[marooder86]

Same question as up. You need to tell us more. How complex it is, is it gonna be simple mesh with config file or you'd like to have custom dll? How realistic you're planning it to be, cause the more realistic vessel the more fancy callculation you'll have to run. With sci-fi craft you can do some cheating and simplification. Is it gonna heve VC(virtual 3D cockpit) or 2D panels?

 

[Trent]

First, you should tell us more about the "design", right? ;-)

What does it looks like, performance, purpose, etc, etc? Drawings and calculations are welcome.

your right and im sorry for the lack of description.
im fairly new to the forum thing. and my common sense went the way of my spelling (yay for spellchecker)

i was thinking of a futuristic space plane type. i see it as about the size of the firefly jumbo with a lower profile, a more "sleek" design with the cockpit in the center top of the craft, wings to the back with engines on them along with the center back of the craft. maybe a pair come out above the wings off of the main body for ftl or something like the firefly drive (just an idea at this point). cargo bay in front of the cockpit, docking port between that and the cockpit. the cockpit design itself is a 4 seater, with a pilot seat in the front the commander's seat behind and above that and two seats, one on each side, of that (purpose unknown still). three mfds for the pilots panel and 4 for the commander. i was originally going to ask for rotating engines but the design would probably be better with hover engines, im thinking 2 in the front and four in the back angled out 15 degrees for a more stable flight.(I don't know if orbiter actually supports this). i was toying with the idea of manipulating hover engine power for turning and not trying to muscle threw with rcs. but if it cant be done or is to complicated i wont be disappointed. im just grateful that this post will even be looked at. as far as flight mechanics im thinking the delta glider is closest but im looking for more power. um as far as power supply and fuel, i was thinking it didn't have to be realistic to the "t" but i would like to be able to get to the moon and back and still have fuel to do it again and still be able to land the thing with minimal worries (i left my wallet there lol). im drawing what i can out, but im not all that good at drawing so it will be rudimentary, sorry. im really crappy at math so as far as giving calculations i dont know. i am sure that i would like mmu support and maybe cars and cargo, but again isn't necessary. its purpose would be a futuristic way to explore, or a scientific research vessel . i would just like to get this thing out of my head and into something but i just don't know how to do it myself. i appreciate looking at this and if it cant be done or if no one wants to take the time for it that's ok to. like i said its an idea, and because i have no modding capability i figured id ask the community. thank you guys/girls for at least looking into this.

 

[marooder86]

The basic idea you've presented here is what people unfamiliar with law of large numbers would call coincidence. I'm currently trying to design a very similar vessel and what I can tell you for sure, it's real PITA. It's like 4th or 5th week now of planning, thinking, shaping, trying to figure out how to make this thing work and I'm still at the drawing board:lol:. I've redisign the whole project from scratch like five times and finally I decided to leave it for awhile. So even what I'm designing is also Sci-fi vessel it's still quite hard work.
You didn't mentioned what are your programming skills, because what you are thinking about will requre custom dll I guess. Also would be good for you if you knew how to make 3D models, unless you're going to pay for one or find someone who's gonna make it for free.
If you don't know how to code or make 3D models then the first step on your learning curve should be mastering those even on a basic level. Your project isn't so trivial to manage so good starting point could also be much simpler one based on Vinka's Spacecraft SDK for example.
Anyway that's my glimpse look at your project and since I haven't developed any Orbiter's vessel yet I might not be quite right. Maybe more advenced developers will give their two cents to the discussion but I think they would also tell you it's not easy and requires some knowlege.
And now despite what I've said I wish you best luck with it and dont give up on it.

---------- Post added at 08:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:46 PM ----------

Argh:/ my internet connection is having some bad days.

 

[Trent]

The basic idea you've presented here is what people unfamiliar with law of large numbers would call coincidence. I'm currently trying to design a very similar vessel and what I can tell you for sure, it's real PITA. It's like 4th or 5th week now of planning, thinking, shaping, trying to figure out how to make this thing work and I'm still at the drawing board:lol:. I've redisign the whole project from scratch like five times and finally I decided to leave it for awhile. So even what I'm designing is also Sci-fi vessel it's still quite hard work.
You didn't mentioned what are your programming skills, because what you are thinking about will requre custom dll I guess. Also would be good for you if you knew how to make 3D models, unless you're going to pay for one or find someone who's gonna make it for free.
If you don't know how to code or make 3D models then the first step on your learning curve should be mastering those even on a basic level. Your project isn't so trivial to manage so good starting point could also be much simpler one based on Vinka's Spacecraft SDK for example.
Anyway that's my glimpse look at your project and since I haven't developed any Orbiter's vessel yet I might not be quite right. Maybe more advenced developers will give their two cents to the discussion but I think they would also tell you it's not easy and requires some knowlege.
And now despite what I've said I wish you best luck with it and dont give up on it.

---------- Post added at 08:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:46 PM ----------

Argh:/ my internet connection is having some bad days.

well on that note i haven't any experience in code ether, im an average user, i am however not expecting anyone to do this for free ether nothing in this world is free and i am willing to compensate people for there time if needs be. it basicly boils down to i would like to see this happen and since i cannot contribute to the development of this vessel directly beyond a basic layout, i am willing to contribute to the people who are willing to make it happen.

 

[marooder86]

...nothing in this world is free...

Are you sure? What about Orbiter itself . And as I've said before don't give up on your project. Take a small steps at a time, make a simple mesh and try to make it to appear in orbiter using config file. Or look at the 3DModel and API_Guide documents located in Orbiter/orbitersdk/doc folder. Those will give you some clues where to start and what is need to be done to have your own vessel. I think I should tell you that at first place. There's also a lot of tutorials in orbit hangar.

 

[Trent]

Are you sure? What about Orbiter itself . And as I've said before don't give up on your project. Take a small steps at a time, make a simple mesh and try to make it to appear in orbiter using config file. Or look at the 3DModel and API_Guide documents located in Orbiter/orbitersdk/doc folder. Those will give you some clues where to start and what is need to be done to have your own vessel. I think I should tell you that at first place. There's also a lot of tutorials in orbit hangar.

lol true true and im thankfull it is.
however if i dont have the time to do it. i cannot expect someone to take there time on it and not get some sort of compensation. if thay say theyll do it for free cool if they want something for it to hey that works for me. i would do some of it but this is not my computer to bog down with programs, that my wife would not use. once i get my computer going then i can learn to mesh and even texture but as of right now i cant.
which is why im asking for help. here is my sketch of the idea in my head. sorry it couldn't be any better that's all im relay capable of.

http://s947.photobucket.com/albums/ad315/trentendegreth/?action=view&current=shipscetchloki.png

 

[marooder86]

From the side it looks little bit like BSG Viper, at least that was my first impression and it seems to be rather small when you compare cockpit to the rest of the ship. What size have you think it would be?
Oh, and I didn't mean that you should pay someone for making add-on, that would be against the whole open source idea I think, which Orbiter is part of. What I had in mind is that in case you'd decided to make this vessel on your own and cannot make 3D model by yourself, you have always an option to buy one if no one wouldn't make one for you for free.

Heh, I need to state that I'm either getting dumber or I'm doing to much things at once:facepalm:. I don't know how but I've entirely misunderstood your post:facepalm:. I can only hope mighty will have mercy on me stupid.
Any way I think i can declare my help to you. But you'll need to present more details like the dimentions of that vessel and at least top view sketch and I'll see what I can do. But don't get to excited, don't expect miracles and don't expect it's gonna be rapid development.

 

[Trent]

From the side it looks little bit like BSG Viper, at least that was my first impression and it seems to be rather small when you compare cockpit to the rest of the ship. What size have you think it would be?
Oh, and I didn't mean that you should pay someone for making add-on, that would be against the whole open source idea I think, which Orbiter is part of. What I had in mind is that in case you'd decided to make this vessel on your own and cannot make 3D model by yourself, you have always an option to buy one if no one wouldn't make one for you for free.

Heh, I need to state that I'm either getting dumber or I'm doing to much things at once:facepalm:. I don't know how but I've entirely misunderstood your post:facepalm:. I can only hope mighty will have mercy on me stupid.
Any way I think i can declare my help to you. But you'll need to present more details like the dimentions of that vessel and at least top view sketch and I'll see what I can do. But don't get to excited, don't expect miracles and don't expect it's gonna be rapid development.

ill get working on a top sketch as soon as i have more than a few minutes size i was thinking roughly the mass of the xr2. im thinking xr2 and a quarter in length and just as wide... its a thought. im still going to draw it out.

thank you much for any assistance you may provide in the future and for all you have done now.


well i got sompthing better a bit of time and here ya go its a model in google sketch. i got the original there and tweeked it to fit what i wanted. here is the link
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=3fb3784a637c18feec66560edf80cc5f&prevstart=0

 

[marooder86]

well i got sompthing better a bit of time and here ya go its a model in google sketch. i got the original there and tweeked it to fit what i wanted. here is the link...

Please export your model to COLLADA format(.dae), cause I work with Blender and .skp files are not much helpfull to work with for me.

 

[Trent]

done and done how do i get it to you?:lol:

 

[marooder86]

I'll send you PM with my e-mail adress so you can send it there. Unfortunately I won't be able to work on it for some time, cause two days ago my laptop died and I'll be cut off of the computer for I don't know how long.