F-35 Beta 2 applications

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UPDATE - JUST BEFORE PACKING THE BETA, I SPOTTED A BIG VISUAL BUG IN THE F-35A MODEL... NOW IT IS FIXED, BUT BETA RELEASE IS DELAYED.
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I am completing the Beta 2 version of the F-35 project. It will include F-35A, B and C versions.
While the three variants are at different stages of development, I believe they are all good enough for testing.

Once ready, Beta 2 will be automatically sent to all contributors, Beta 1 testers and additional recipients I have added in the meantime.

 
Should you want to apply for the Beta testing, please drop me an email at indiafoxtecho (gmail) com. Please add a F-35ABC Beta in the subject (or anything that will help me sorting them out) and a brief description of your systems and main add-ons...and which kind of simmer you are, if you wish so - keep it short - I just want to better understand your perspective and -in case- suggestions.
Also, let me know if there is a specific version you are interested to test (A, B or C).

Due to my time constraints, I will not accept many testers - it will be impossible for me to collect a large amount of information.
There will not be a particular rule to chose the testers - I will mainly pick different systems/simmer "types" combination...just to have varied feedback. Should you not be picked - well, I am sorry - I just cannot accept more than few testers.
Last, to report bugs, please use ONLY the methods described in the email. Thank you all in advance!

F-35A, -B and -Cs at Eglin AFB (screenshots)

Above are some images of the F-35A, -B and -C flying nearby Eglin AFB... Unfortunately I do not have much time to work on this project, nor I will for few days... but as you can see, Beta 2 is not far away. Maybe it will take a couple of weeks.

F-35C shots

In the past few days I did some significant progress with the F-35C... at the moment the external model is 75% done... so I started making some carrier trials - which were OK (although the gear dynamics need some tweaking).

As the real F-35C development is somewhat late compared to the F-35A and B (some of which have already been delivered to Eglin AFB), I have decided to depict the F-35C in the CF-02 (second system development aircraft) livery - specifically with some parts with the typical the greenish primer color showing here and there. Some may not like it... but I think it gives a nice "flight testing" vibe to it. BTW afaik, real F-35C has not been flown with external loads yet... But, as you know, this whole F-35 project has a lot of simplification and a tiny bit of fiction...


A-B-C nearby Fort Worth

Just some pictures while I was preparing the thumbnails for the aircraft selection menu - F-35A, B and C flying over Fort Worth.

There is still some work before Beta 2 is ready - it will only feature -A and -B models.
The -C you see is the results of some "Frankenstein" modeling I am doing. Looks promising - but there is a lot of work to be done (much more than what it may seem judging by the photo).

By the way, I am seriously considering a freeware release. This project, like the previous F-35A, started as payware in order to mitigate the expenses of the professional 3D meshes I acquired to have a better visual fidelity. Now, the size of this project grew way too much for a hobby - and the amount of money involved is now surely relevant for the taxes - so I'd be required by law to face some relatively obscure (to me) burocracy and accounting... which I am not sure I have the time to follow without impacting my "regular" job and spare time. I will have to think about it carefully. The main thing is I do this for fun. And I want to continue doing this for fun. If I will be able to do this without loosing too much money (or even earning some), fine. Otherwise, it's fine all the same. But that is another story - the focus at the moment is deliver a good plane to FSX. 

Hovering in the F-35B

Approaching LHA-4 in a stable hover thanks to Rob! 

 F-35B USMC livery - with CBUs and gun pod.

...and AIM-9X also for the F-35A!

A very rainy labor day brought some major advancements in my F-35 project... actually I've been working almost non-stop for 12 hours on it today... Not sure if it is a good thing.

Anyway, the integration with Rob Barenrdregt's STOVL functionality is done and...works like a dream! I spent a lot of the weekend hovering here and there and it is a lot of fun.

Also, the F-35B is almost ready for Beta testing - I added a lot of missing details and completed the texturing and I have to confess I am quite happy with it.

And I've also modeled the AIM-9X and rebuilt the F-35A models with it. And I've also figured out a way to model the F-35C in a reasonable amount of time (with a little artistic licence on a couple of details... which I am sure someone will notice in seconds, but it may be a fair copromise...it is worth a try IMHO).

First images of the F-35B Pre-Alpha and of the F-35A Release Candidate

VERY PRELIMINARY image of the F-35B model - textures are WIP



...and this is the F-35A "Release Candidate" model

Despite of what I wrote in the previous post, I made some other modifications (hopefully enhancements) to the F-35A model, the most important being that I switched to a "modeled" afterburner effect. Some people may not like it, but its rendering is more consistent through different video cards and drivers - the major drawback is that it increases the virtual "size" of the visual model, so that default views are slightly farther away. I also refined some aspects of the main textures and I am quite happy with it.

...so I've finally switched to the F-35B. Above is the very first image, texturing needs a lot of work but looks promising, and the many areas of the model need some work. But, so far, I think it does not look bad IMHO.



F-35A - Modifications after Beta 1

I've finally found the time to complete (most of) the changes and improvements in response to the Beta 1 feedback. I will now move to the F-35B.

VISUAL MODEL:

- Added missing details to diffuse texture

- Redone specular texture, to achieve a "smooth" look
- Tail area redesigned (should be closer to real LRIP planes)
- Auxiliary air exhaust redesigned
- Fixed "disappearing pilot" glitch
- Added main gear doors actuators
- Added radar reflectors (or, at least, what I think are radar reflectors)
- Added some minor 3D details
- Redone UVW in canopy area
- Modified pilot helmet transparency level
- Modeled A/B effect, instead of .fx based one
VIRTUAL COCKPIT:
- Fixed light leakage from left console
- Fixed switches positions and animations
- Fixed several minor modeling issues, functionality not changed

FLIGHT MODEL:
- Reduced acceleration in various flight conditions
- Reduced effectiveness of speed brakes
- Provided alternate wheel contact points to get rid of "micro-oscillations" which happen when the plane is still (same issue as previous release)