A-7D Corsair II Work-In-Progress

[Tweek]

Looks great, as ever!

It'll be interesting to compare this with the IRIS model, now that it's freeware. Going by these development pics, it's heading to be just as good, if not better.

[djackson]

I'll check that IRIS model out, thanks!   We plan on making this A-7D freeware because it's our first design, and a learning process for me - being my first, serious aircraft model for FS2004/FSX.  I designed a KC-135T for FS98 way back when, and another guy helped me in designing a 2d panel for it.  I designed that KC-135 with the old Aircraft Factory program.  You can find that old plane here on simviation just do a search for Dale Jackson, or look here:

http://www.simviation.com/fs98military26.htm

I also did a repaint for a Helio Courier - http://www.simviation.com/fs2004props72.htm

But other than these two, I hadn't done any serious modeling until now.

But I'm pretty jazzed with the direction this plane is going and I will be making other variations, like the rare afterburing version, and the two seater.

[Tweek]

Nice to hear there'll be a TA-7 in the works, too!

[panais]

The Corsair looks perfect. I'm glad to see a A-7 for FS2004/FSX because I am Greek and Greece has these Corsairs. Greece had bougth in 1974 60 A-7H and later 5 TA-7H. The H means "Hellenic" and they based in A-7E. The mainly difference with the E model is that they haven;t refueling prode. After the Gulf War USA gave to Greece the A-7E and TA-7C from the last two USN sqdr witch used the type.

Now in our subject. Is it in your plans to make these models?
You can chek also this site. It's the site of one of the two Greek sqdr witch use the Corsair.
http://www.335sq.gr/

[djackson]

Yep, absolutely, the Greek A-7's will be modeled  

[swordfish1227]

Looking awesome, better than any a-7 i have seen freeware or payware!

The afterburning version will use the true afterburner in fs9 along with an effect, not just an effect? only a few freeware planes actually use this function.

[djackson]

Looking awesome, better than any a-7 i have seen freeware or payware!

The afterburning version will use the true afterburner in fs9 along with an effect, not just an effect? only a few freeware planes actually use this function.

Yes, I'm fairly certain this will be the case.  I won't be the one scripting this, but I know the guy who will, and he will do it to perfection as needed to be ultimately realistic as possible!  

MEANWHILE, on with the show!!

Here are some updates on the A-7D Heads Up Display and the ring or rim around the cockpit tub (painted red temporarily). I modeled the brackets and I have just a few more details here and there above the glare shield. The instrument Panel is actually all black, but I have it as a default grey so you can see some basic instrument layout. I also have the HUD being grey so you can see it better. The cockpit is very basic right now, but the HUD model is almost completed. I'll apply decals later. You'll see some faceting here and there but that's because I need to keep the polygon count budgeted so it can be flyable in a flight simulator (too many polygons and it will kill frame rates).

Enjoy

~DJ  :D

[Tweek]

Brilliant! This certainly looks like it'll top the IRIS model.

[flymo]

awesome stuff. cnt wait for this to be finished...can i beta test

[djackson]

awesome stuff. cnt wait for this to be finished...can i beta test

If you'd like to beta test, go to www.a7dpit.com and register there, it's not a big site, but it does have information about this project.   This A-7D will of course be free to the flight sim community once it's done.   The trick will be getting it converted over into 3ds Max (I build in Cinema 4D), and then into Flight Simulator, so we've got a long way to go.

~DJ

[Prom0]

Damm thats nice 8-)
Really want to make my alpha jet just ike that.

Really nice work djackson

[pepper_airborne]

Export it to a .3ds or a .obj format(wavefront). Almost any 3d APP can import those, and if i were you then i would cut up all the parts in max, it should be easier to avoid errors that way.

[djackson]

Export it to a .3ds or a .obj format(wavefront). Almost any 3d APP can import those, and if i were you then i would cut up all the parts in max, it should be easier to avoid errors that way.

Yeah .3DS would be the way to export, I can do that.  And I would have everything in sub assemblies.  Thanks!

[pepper_airborne]

Anytime, though you probably were already thinking along those lines. C4d is a great program, it provided me with a lot of insight into 3d modeling, so i can completely understand your choice. And this looks like one that definately will be finishd, so you got my hopes up high!

[djackson]

Anytime, though you probably were already thinking along those lines. C4d is a great program, it provided me with a lot of insight into 3d modeling, so i can completely understand your choice. And this looks like one that definately will be finishd, so you got my hopes up high!

Well good, yeah, I'm really loving working on this model.  It's really my first "professional grade" aircraft.  I've modeled lots of things in Cinema, but not something as complex as an aircraft, but since aviation is one of my "loves" I really wanted to nail down the technique and I'm sure my projects will be easier after this one because this is a huge learning process for me.  But I figure the best way to dive in, is to...well...dive in  

I chose Cinema 4D because of my job, and I had to learn something super fast and I needed an app. that I could learn rapidly and was intuitive but also very powerful.  I had my eye on three 3d apps, Softimage, Lightwave, and Cinema 4D.  And I had another artist already using C4D, so I went with it, and that was back with C4D 8.  Cinema 4D is tons more powerful now.  So, honestly, people ask all the time, which 3D app. is the best?  And I say, it depends on you, on your capabilities.  A good saying goes "A great pilot in an old plane is better than a bad pilot in a new plane", and that applies to 3D apps. too.  So, whatever you use, just get really good at it, and you'll turn out good results.

I'll keep a' postin' my progress!

~DJ