Project Mercedes SL600

[Katahu]

Have you people visited the Aircraft design forum lately?

If so, take a look at these pics I made on my progress with the mercedes.

If you never did visit the other forum, then I'll tell you this.

Project Mercedes is the GMAX construction of the German car formally known as the Mercedes SL600. It took me a hell of a long time to get this far.

But before that, I was at the point of sending this project to the scrapyard. But a change of heart has forced me to send it to the recycle yard instead.

What will this model have when finished?

It will have literally everything.

1. Movable steering wheel, Accelerator, clutch pedal and brake pedal.
2. Steerable front wheels
3. Active suspension on all four wheels
4. reflective textures on the surface, windows, and side and rear view mirrors.
5. Highly detailed interior
6. Animated doors, trunk, hood, and EVEN the side windows as well. You heard me right.
7. And lots more.

This project will be the first big undertaking of all time for me. I will be real busy on this model, especially the interior.

But this will not be the only car project I have in store for you people. I am also planning on make a '79 Corvette Stingray II when I'm done.

Ok, now for the pics.









It's not yet finished as you can see. When done, I'll start on the Corvette.

What other cars do you people want me to make?

I'm getting rather good at it.

Note: My first model will be somewhat of a Frame-rate eater.

[Wing Nut]

Some 60's muscle cars would be nice.  I'm particularly partial to a 65 Mustang myself.
Failing that:

1962 Ferrari 250GTO
1965 Shelby Cobra
Delorean Time Machine from Back to the Future
The orginal Batmobile
A blue 1999 Buick Riviera (my car!)
Plymouth Prowler
Aston Martin DB7
and on and on and on...

The Mercedes is looking great!  Keep up the good work  ;D

[Oz]

nice pics and model. My little list:

BMW Z8
BMW X-5
Mustang - any year is fine
Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, or military Jeep
Explorer Sport Trac (can get some photo-real textures, sounds, pics etc of this.... )

[Katahu]

Slow down, cowboy.

Don't expect this project to fly fast. This model took me months to build (prior to Project Have Blue). And it will take a month or so to finish it (considering the amount of detail the interior will have).

Oh, I forgot to mention that in the panel AND DVC, there will be a CD player as well.

In the DVC, the CD-player will be animated and then linked to the Water Rudder.

The model that you here is constructed by using the Spline feature of GMAX (mainly the car surface).

I have mastered the Spline feature by learning from the tutorials found in www.onnovanbraam.com

The model that you see is also a great example of how far one can go with GMAX when mastering the art of the Splines.

[Wing Nut]

You know, it would be kind of neat if you could link the CD player to Windows Media Player, that way you could listen to music while driving...

[ATI_7500]

what's the sense of cars in the FS 2002? following some bitmap-roads on some ugly bitmap-textures? and watching some bitmap-trees and low-polygon-houses?
so you should better convert this really nice looking car to GTA3 or GTA:VC.

[Katahu]

what's the sense of cars in the FS 2002? following some bitmap-roads on some ugly bitmap-textures? and watching some bitmap-trees and low-polygon-houses?

I don't like that tone.

Many flight sim users who have cars (the controlable kind) don't really use them a lot on roads. The roads are bumpy anyways.

Instead, a lot of flight sim users drive these cars around on the tarmac or along the runways (where the surface is concrete and smooth). Besides, most of the details are in the airports themselves, and all aircraft start in an airport.

I have been putting forth a lot of work on this model. I have spent months trying to prepare this model and to get it to be how it is now.

I am already planning on making 2 versions of this car.

1. A clean model that will not have a DVC and will only have a few animated parts. This will reduce the strain on Low-end PCs.

2. A full model that will have litterally everything on it. This is for High-end PCs only, due to its high poly count for its outer surface and detailed interior.

so you should better convert this really nice looking car to GTA3 or GTA:VC.

What in the world does GTA3 and GTA:VC mean?

[Tequila Sunrise]

I'll second the Mustang and put forward the Ferarri 308

[Rifleman]

How many of you are even aware of the Bricklin SV-1 ?

.......now that would be a nice addition to anything......and it was out before John DeLoreans 88 mph wonder.........

[Crumbso]

he means Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

I think it would be a great car for GTA.

[Iroquois]

Is this for FS? Cars in flight simulater tend not to handle well due to the way they set up the terrain, they crash easily over bumps. I do love to take that Mercades that was posted a week ago and do doughnuts at down the Vegas strip or launch it off the ArrCab carriers.  ;D Actually, that's how they test the steam catapults in real life, by launching old cars off them.

[Katahu]

Don't worry much about the damage it make have to withstand.

Remember, this model will come with active suspension on all 4 wheels. The damage threshold that the suspension will take will be increased a bit more so that it won't crash as easily on a flight sim.

And to prevent the model from tipping over, I'll lower the center of gravity to just over the chassie (can't spell it right I think). I don't think it even has one. Hehe.

As for the bumps in the scenery, why drive a luxury vehicle (don't know much about cars) over it? After I'm through with this model and the Corvette, I'll start working on a 1999 Jeep Cherokee (My parents have that car) or probably the Izuzu.

That way, you'll soon get a car that's built for OFF-ROAD fun.

I'm starting to read the tutorials on how to make scenery with hard surfaces.

It's kinda confusing with this tutorial (the one that uses Middleman program as an example).

When I'm done learning, I'll see if I can make raceway with a pitstop as a parking area.

Or, if you like, I might try making a highway long enough for a drag race.

That way, you'll be able to race against your buddies on-line while other players are flying by enjoying the show.

[Wing Nut]

That would be awesome!  You could have a 1971 Hemi-Cuda vs. a 69 Chevelle SS!  Or even better, a Boss 429 vs. an F/A-18 Hornet!

[AnGeL_MaKeR]

What would really be cool is to see some add-on scenery for the Nascar race tracks.  I live about 30 minutes from Daytona and after I got back from the Pepsi400, I looked for the Daytona International Speedway flying out of Daytona International on FS2002.  Couldn't find it.... :-/  If St. Louis has buildings galore and even a stadium 100 's of yards away from the Arch, then I want to see some Nascar add-on scenery!  That's what helped make Daytona - Daytona!

[Katahu]

Hmm, a souped-up car vs. an F-18 Hornet.

Now that will be a sight to see.