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)

F-35 2.0 Beta 1 - WIP testing and open discussion post - CLOSED

BETA TEST CLOSED

SORRY FOR THE LACK OF UPDATES - DUE MY PERSONAL TIME CONSTRAINTS, BETA 1 HAS NOT BEEN AS EXTENSIVE AS I WISHED IT TO BE, NOR DID I HAVE TIME TO UPDATE THE BLOG PROPERLY.
I WILL MAKE A NEW POST WITH ALL THE CHANGES DONE IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

FEATURES OF THE BETA 1
***************************
This Beta 1 build includes only the F-35A, and only in USAF markings, actually depicting AF-9, one of the Low Rate Initial Production and one very first aicraft delivered to Eglin AFB.
External model is much more accurate than the previous release and should be significantly closer to the real thing. Due to a much higher polycount, I've decided to remove some eye-candies such as "Remove before flight" ribbons and wheelchocks. It is possible, however, that the new visual model may impact the fps.
The VC has been optimized in several areas, and sports minor functional improvements, texture refinements and details.
No changes to the flight model - which has been extensively tested though in the previous releases - and IMHo mimics the behaviour of a fly-by-wire quite well in many areas of the envelope.

SEE NEXT POST FOR THE LIST OF CHANGES

F-35A Beta - Stop to applications

Thanks a lot for you interest in the F-35 Beta - I've already received dozens of applications, much more than the ones I need and definitely more than what I can handle.
I am closing the selection today - download links to the selected testers will be sent most probably during the weekend.