posted 05-22- 02:09 AM               

OPS VRML Plugin
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After much dicking around this is almost finished. I don’t know what is about standardised file formats that compels the creators to make them as convoluted as possible. Probably the fact that the creator is a committee rather than an individual.

Just some things to tidy up with multi-textures and the positioning stuff and then a bit of testing. From what I have seen so far the shading looks good. There are some good plus’s to changing to VRML

a) VRML Supports LODs, so in theory you could setup some LOD’s using MAX’s LOD tools, and then import these seamlessly into OPS. Have to check this out.

b) The material and matrix stuff is all inbuilt so no more scripts and stuff required to export

c) It will support a hierarchy of objects so the model hierarchy could be setup and exported from MAX

d) It supports non-mesh primitives, like boxes and cones, points etc etc so it may be possible to setup the inertia boxes, bodypoints, etc by using named non-mesh primitives (ala creator) in Max.

The only downer I have found so far is that there may be some prep work required on the MAX model to get the matrix stuff exported properly, its not much, and a small price to pay.

He111
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The basic mesh (including fuse, wings, engines, tail, gear and doors) has been done and mostly texture mapped. The hold up is mainly a bit of experimentation with transparent textures to see if it is better than creating the glass nose from polygons. It’s in SDOE anyway, barely. The thing drops straight to the ground like a brick when it starts in the air. Doesn’t even glide. Oh well, maybe if I can get it to look good maybe no one will notice

Sorry no picture, perhaps I’ll add one when I get home.

DEM2SM
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I thought I might actually finish something I started for a change, so this is going to wait until the above is done.

Hurricane
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Haven’t done much with the MK-I except some DM experiments. I made a MK-IIB/C/D a little while ago (yeh I know someone did this recently but these things happen ) but its been waiting for the shading stuff to get sorted since it had a night fighter scheme that really showed up the shading problems. BTW if anyone knows how the 12 .303’s were layed out on the Mk-II B can you let me know?

That’s about it.

posted 05-22- 12:56 PM               

Still, 12 mg's is fun. I made a P38L, which carried 12 .50 calibres. Loadsa bullets....

posted 05-22- 01:48 PM               

I know you know that I'm your favorite "whiner" ...

"MY" list o' fixes/implementations are:

1.) Allow program settings to be saved. I personally HATE maximizing the program.. move and align the windows.. etc. (bitch bitch bitch)

2.) YES, please "un-break" the ability to import LODS in your next build. I can't tell you how many times I forgot what version I was in and CDT'd in the middle of something because I require "2" versions!

3.) WTF is up with the over-rotation/DOF bug?

I realize this is purely "alpha" stuff ... but quite screwing with "new" projects and PAY ATTENTION TO US!!!!!

Eeek ... sorry my emotions got the best o' me!

BTW ... I to use Ac3D exclusively!

posted 05-22- 08:02 PM               

Re the LODs. I changed a couple of small things to do the VRML so while I'm at it I'll spruce up the LOD import just to shut you all up. its acutally the easiest of the lot but I don't use it so...

There is a little problem with LOD's in that you can't really import textures unless it is assumed that the texture id's are consistant with the textures already in the SM file importing the LODs. Is this a problem to anyone?

The Whiner: the DOF thing is a real pain in the arse but I really can't figure out what it is. I was lazy and used all of the DirectX 3D/vector math routines so I might write my own and see what happens.

tailgunner: I didn't really finish the D loadout properly but I think I did a half decent job of the hispanos on the 'C'. Maybe we can merge the best bits of both?