Project XR3 Phoenix (WIP)

[teslax]

No - they were triangles from start however some edges were turned invisible to appear as quads or n-gons. In #dsMax when you work in "edit mesh" mode you work on "polygons" (3,4 or more sides) but they're still triangles.

Take a look at picture below - it's quad poly however 3ds max already divided it to triangles since I'm working in "mesh edit" mode.

Actually, you can represent ANY surface by multiple triangles (and in extension, any volume by multiple tetrahedra).

Thats why even if you work with them as other geometry entities, it is easier to render and process them as triangles anyway.

I see the point, thanks for explaining it to me! I see another reason why you don't want to have too much tris.

Usually I'll just try my best to avoid tris and n-gons in model because there might be some problem with the mesh smoothing later on in the 3d program.

 

[Loru]

...Usually I'll just try my best to avoid tris and n-gons in model because there might be some problem with the mesh smoothing later on in the 3d program.

Yet msh format native to orbiter uses only triangles (AFAIK that's also true for 99% of directX games) so you have to optimize it for triangles anyway.

 

[teslax]

Yet msh format native to orbiter uses only triangles (AFAIK that's also true for 99% of directX games) so you have to optimize it for triangles anyway.

Oh this reminds me, your polygon count figure counts the triangle then instead of the quad? So if my model would have 4 quads, then Orbiter will actually see it as having 8 triangles to draw?

 

[Loru]

Exactly. In gaming triangle is base unit since triangles are native for most GPUs/render engines.

 

[N_Molson]

And triangles are the base of planar geometry anyway. They are the simplest possible shapes, so it makes sense to use them as the basic "construction material".

 

[Loru]

Working on texture / panels (Bump maps)

---------- Post added 11-02-13 at 04:39 PM ---------- Previous post was 11-01-13 at 06:29 PM ----------

Got few mins to spare today so I textured leading edges and fiddled with bumpmaps a bit.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Hmmm...
Doug, how hard would it be to code in elevon droop when the APU is offline and the XR3 is landed on a planet? Those big elevons would probably start to slide down without hydraulic pressure. I know that the Airbus A320 did that on the elevators after only a few minutes...

 

[dbeachy1]

It's not a matter of "hard", the issue is fielding the ensuing bug reports from users complaining "why aren't the elevons straight???" I may add it as a config setting with default=OFF, however.

 

[worir1]

Working on texture / panels (Bump maps)

---------- Post added 11-02-13 at 04:39 PM ---------- Previous post was 11-01-13 at 06:29 PM ----------

Got few mins to spare today so I textured leading edges and fiddled with bumpmaps a bit.

Looking good.

May I ask, how do you balance the RCS system? Does it take constant testing or do you use a tool?

 

[Loru]

It's hard to call it tool but [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lever"]lever equation[/ame] are pretty handy.

 

[Matias Saibene]

XR3... with the approval of Carl Sagan

Loru, your work with the XR3 is excellent. It looks very good, congratulations.
If Altea Aerospace need financing, feel free to use Orbiter Money Maker:thumbup:.

My XR3 poster (See the image)

 

[worir1]

It's hard to call it tool but lever equation are pretty handy.

Nice. If i could memorise those formulae they would come in handy for Kerbal Space Program. :thumbup:

 

[Loru]

Exterior fully modelled & UVW mapped . Materials determined and consulted with dbeachy1.

To do on my side:
- Textures
- Interior + VC
- Crew
- Animations and thruster placements

And 2 dev shots:

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Can't wait to take this baby aloft.

 

[Loru]

overhead panel meshed:

 

[Loru]

I just realized I should have made VC before meshing nose section of the craft. There is no way I can't fit ovehead panel and provide visibility for crew at the same time.

Since I want it released anyway I'm splitting instruments from overhead panel to "side consoles"

 

[BruceJohnJennerLawso]

I just realized I should have made VC before meshing nose section of the craft. There is no way I can't fit ovehead panel and provide visibility for crew at the same time.

Since I want it released anyway I'm splitting instruments from overhead panel to "side consoles"

Bit of an odd request, but why not move the hud to the visor of the pilot? Not sure how the rest of the VC would look through it, but it can always be switched off.

 

[Loru]

Because final crew won't be wearing helmets inflight. This is just mesh from my VTOL used as reference before I model my crew.

 

[BruceJohnJennerLawso]

Because final crew won't be wearing helmets inflight. This is just mesh from my VTOL used as reference before I model my crew.

Shouldn't they be wearing some sort of protective headgear? Not that you absolutely have to, but I would imagine it would be considered good practice during the ascent phase.

 

[Loru]

Well - I'm matching XR series and in XR2 they're not wearing helmets when inside.