Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => Arts & Talents => Topic started by: Unknown Target on May 19, 2004, 05:38:57 pm
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Tech info:
The Beagle is a stealth recon/light fighter craft, designed for situations where the pilot is at maximum risk, and the mission is absolutley necessary. Made of a top-secret, radar-absorbing composite, the outer shell of the craft is virtually undetectable to radar, unless in the presence of an advanced AWACS craft, where the much more sensor equipment will detect the faint engine emissions, producing a limited EEM signature, allowing all friendly aircraft in the area to attack with their primary weapons. In this situation, the pilot of the Beagle had better get out of the combat zone as soon as he or she possibly can, as the vessel is very lightly armored and armed. Nevertheless, the Beagle can be used for light strikes at targets deep within enemy territory.
This is for my game/mod, Nova: The End of Peace. I think I'm gonna do some massive greebling on this. Think I should? Total polycount is pretty low at 2484, but that's only because I smoothed it lightly.
Deviantart link: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/7406918/
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It doesn't look stealthy to me. Streamlined, yes, but not stealthy. More like an atmospheric fighter.
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what he said ^^
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Agreed.
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Any ideas on how to make it more "stealthy"? :)
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I think it looks fine as a stealth fighter, but what it really needs is to be shown with textures. Textures make all the difference when it comes to stealthiness... toned grey does not look stealthy. ;)
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Several comments on stealthiness:
1) The 'air intake' may be too big for a stealthy design. Is this an atmopsheric or space fighter? On the F-16, the single biggest problem with the RCS (radar cross section) is the air intake.
2) That ridge along the top of the fuselage from the cockpit back needs to be either smoothed or removed. It could provide radar returns.
3) The little bumps off of the fuselage just forward of the 'air intake' may not be a good idea. Unless they're there for a reason (in the 'game world') get rid of them for stealthiness, to present a minimum cross-section. While not strictly necessary, it might look a little better, and anything that minimizes radar returns is useful in a stealthy design.
This is not a technical or artistic judgment, just my own opinions. As for a real opinion of the model as opposed to answering your questions, that's a great model. Keep at it, I'd like to see the end result.
Query: What was your inspiration? The design seems to have shades of the F-4 Phantom, not that this is a problem. That was, once they fixed some of the problems, a great warbird for it's time and intended role.
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Originally posted by Moonsword
Several comments on stealthiness:
1) The 'air intake' may be too big for a stealthy design. Is this an atmopsheric or space fighter? On the F-16, the single biggest problem with the RCS (radar cross section) is the air intake.
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That's actually a very large, shielded sensor array, including atmospheric samplers, a down-scanning and highly powerful radar, telementry, mapping equipment, photography, etc.
2) That ridge along the top of the fuselage from the cockpit back needs to be either smoothed or removed. It could provide radar returns.
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I don't believe so. If you've seen the B-2 bomber, you'll see that it's made almost completely of flat surfaces. It's really the paint and the material that hides it (and the Beagle) from radar.
3) The little bumps off of the fuselage just forward of the 'air intake' may not be a good idea. Unless they're there for a reason (in the 'game world') get rid of them for stealthiness, to present a minimum cross-section. While not strictly necessary, it might look a little better, and anything that minimizes radar returns is useful in a stealthy design.
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Good point. I waas just planning them as sensor bumps or something, but they can be removed.
This is not a technical or artistic judgment, just my own opinions. As for a real opinion of the model as opposed to answering your questions, that's a great model. Keep at it, I'd like to see the end result.
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Thank you much :)
Query: What was your inspiration? The design seems to have shades of the F-4 Phantom, not that this is a problem. That was, once they fixed some of the problems, a great warbird for it's time and intended role.
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Actually, there was no inspiration. I just started doodling one day, and this came out :)
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*shrugs* I'm still not sure about that ridge. Other than that, no problem. With a stealthy design (heck, a modern atmospheric design) you don't put in anything you don't need to on the surface of the craft. That ridge will probably look better when I can see the actual textures, but I don't see that much use for it at this stage.
Still, great design. Wish I could do things like that. Most I can do is passable pencil sketches with computer coloring.