Specular Highlights (Dynamic Shine)

[SeanTK]

Hello,

I'm wondering if there is an easy to use program out there to modify the dynamic shine of aircraft models. I have heard of third parties doing it in the past with a few repaints, but I am stumped as to what it involves.

I have a series of Sikorsky flying boats for FS2004 by a Mr. George Diemer, and overall they are very fun and good looking aircraft. However, his rendering techniques make the aircraft appear as if they have no windows, and all the holes in the aircraft are simply open air. On very close examination however, such as examining the model when the sunlight hits it at certain angles, one can see a thin transparent film over the area indicating that he did indeed model the windows in 3d, but the lack of shine makes them appear completely absent in all but very specific angles and weather conditions.

I am under the impression that a modification of the dynamic shine properties of these models could help resolve this issue.

Thanks,
-Sean

[LeeC]

As far as I am aware (but don't quote me on this, I'm an FSX noob), the shininess is controlled by the alpha channel of the diffuse texture, unless it has been designed to actually control the transparency level... I believe.

Are any of the aircraft here on Simviation? If so, post a link (to the Members version if poss) and I'll have a look at the texture set.

Cheers
Lee

[SeanTK]

Thanks for the reply. I am aware of the effects of Alpha on a model, but I wasn't sure it it applied in this case. A few of his aircraft are here at SimV.

Sikorsky S-39C (note difference from file mentioned later):
http://www.simviation.com/members/fs2004vintage46.htm

Sikorsky VS-44:
http://www.simviation.com/members/fs2004vintage34.htm

S-42:
http://www.simviation.com/simviation/?I ... &mark=4610

A few more aircraft are on flightsim.com:

Sikorsky S-39B:
s39bcap4.zip

Sikorsky S-38:
s38molo4.zip

Sikorsky S-42:
s43iia.zip

As you can see, he has created an extensive collection of Sikorsky flying boats! There are also a few more VS-44 and S-42 variants that I did not mention here.

My focus right now is on the S-39B s39bcap4.zip on flightsim.com. (I think the one here is a different model incompatible with a repaint that I desire.)

Thanks!

[LeeC]

Looks like the alpha channel is assigned to tranparency unfortunately. I don't believe you can change this, as far as I know, it is assigned at modelling time.

As I say though, I'm a newcomer to the FS repaint world, so someone who has been doing this for a while might know a way to solve it.

Oh, I had to save that texture as a DX3, as it was originally a DXT1, with no alpha at all... So maybe that is part of the problem, the original texture simply didn't use the alpha channel.

Cheers
Lee

P.s. I'll have a look at the flightsim one