homepage Forums Air Combat & Civil Aviation Rise of Flight - The First Great Air War WWI sim, based on the IL-2 engine announced

Also realize that the Bristol at Duxford may use a more modern fabric...

FlyXwire has a poimt.

When looking at moving aircraft at range ingame subtle colour shifts are usually not seen at all.

So for the best dramatic impression this might actually look best, maybe a bit toned down.

For the view on your own wings from the cockpit however you may prefer something slightly more subtle.

As a scale figure molder I do the same as other scale modelers. I paint lights and shadows onto the surface to get something transported to the viewer. Sometimes with more, sometimes with less success. My sample is 54mm high.



It's kind of like theather makeup which has to work over a distance and looks overdone close up.
Some young women are guilty of this too

Yes, those are very good points. I think it is what is called texture baking, isn't it?

sure they will

Think of it like stage makeup.

Excellent work Heini!!!

As a wargaming figure painter for around thirty years (before I got into computer skinning), I had to learn that exacting attention to "scale" detail didn't always get the best results.

As an example, when painting wargaming figurines in 15mm and 25mm scale, more dramatic use of colors and shading can/should be used to demonstrate perceived depth in the model's detail (like Heini has done nicely with his 54mm Pouli above, but to a larger extent, because the surfaces are even smaller to work with in order convey dimension and depth on the little miniatures). Even though I won awards for my painting, on the miniature table-top, where the wargames figures were actually used (rather than at finger-length viewing range), the fine details were lost to the naked eye. More dramatic affect was achieved by exaggerating the use of colors and shading to give a greater impression of depth in the folds of a figurine's molded uniforms for example, or to highlight layers of accoutrements that were cast in the sculpted figures.

I've also learned that this technique (exaggeration of detail, shading, or adding texture), also works well in a simulated environment too! Here's two versions of the same basic skin.....this first version of James McCudden's SE5a for OFF, is without "canvas" texturing enhancement:



The second version has an exaggerated "weave" look to the canvas:



Which works better for you?

I actually like the second version, even though the detail is way out of scale....as you couldn't really see the canvas "weave" at the viewing range the screenshot reflects, but it conveys the property of the 3D model's skin, giving the impression of fabric, and speaking to the viewers mind (through his eyes) that he's looking at a canvas-covered surface. It's actually a totally out of scale and exaggerated effect, but the desired affect works (in my mind.....and most of your's too).

Now wing ribs that look too "detailed" at a distance (as perhaps some feel is the case with GT's Bristol F2b skin), will look great at close viewing range (from the cockpit), where we would expect to see the detailed lacing of wing-tape attached to rib in all its glory. The real solution to some of these skinning anomalies would be to have "virtual skins" of great detail for when viewing a plane's wings and fuselage decking from the cockpit, and then to have another "distance skin" kick in for viewing at longer ranges (for rendering effect with depth exaggeration with colors and shadowing)......kinda like what virtual cockpits and "2D" cockpits do, but for an aircraft's skin too. But this kind of graphic refinement is probably years from implementation in our simulations.

At this time, our simulated skins will have to reflect compromises in claritity of detail at close range, as opposed to desired immersive effects seen at longer viewing distances in-game.

Thanks - and of course they will - as it would be nothing short of a tradegy to not be able to include all those user skins that will be made for air warfare's most colorful era.

Barkhorn.

These planes are just so beautiful. The waiting is killing me!

Copterdrvr

Ok guys, try not to wet yourselves!

Check out these latest developement shots from GT:

(Sopwith Snipe snout)



(Nieuport 17 perfection)



Look here for this week's goodies:

http://www.gennadich.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1500

Btw, is it just me, or do these previews look as if directional lighting is now enabled?

Oh my, that is a nice looking Nieuport!

Nah, its the camel without the death wish tendencies that gets my vote

"and we hope post "in game"screens already at March , with the the new landscape and FX engine."

WOOOOT!!!!


Regarding the cartoonish, somewhat exaggerated skin effects. Yup, I agree they have a place in a sim such as this, based on the il-2 engine, which is not as realistic as Lock-On, for instance.

The il-2 world calls for skins like these (I think I already wrote that back in the early pages of this thread). Still, the ribbing on those wings seems a bit overdone to me, even when going along with the slightly cartoonish look.

They'll probably seem really nice when you look upwards from your cockpit.



(or when you catch an enemy in your sights....***screenshot modification above***)

We'll have to wait till the lighting effects are fully impemented too.

When is this masterwork going to be in my sweaty little palms, that's my question?

And so the quality continues.

S!

Mahogany prop?

Was Burma delivering?

Ming
CEO
Covert Bumpage Inc

Is it just me or is this absolutely beautiful?
Someone photoshop in background scenery
You'll all be flying this one in 1600x1200

Agreed, apart from the Spad the textures/skins in the screens from GT have been fantastic.

When's this out again?

Heh, the Snipe - I can hear a certain Vampire muttering "experimental" to himself now...

Please may this one get to release. Looks absolutely wonderful. I will start simming again for the first time in a couple of years.

The Nieuport 17 looks fantastic, lets hope this detail extends to the all pilots and the rear observer/gunner's that we will be seeing a lot of.

CAF

Are we finally seeing above the true heir to our beloved, but still-born Birds of Prey!!!



(remember this one guys)