Hard Light Productions Forums

Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The Modding Workshop => Topic started by: Jadehawk on May 15, 2016, 09:30:55 pm

Title: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on May 15, 2016, 09:30:55 pm
Somehow, I was able to finally access my old external backup drive from my older PC in my garage. I was able to retrieve many old templates, POF models and such. One was the GTF Hercules Mk III POF model. I converted it and worked it up to what you see here. Maybe I should call this the Mk IV :)

https://p3d.in/f4K9e

All the best,
Jadehawk
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: tnathan475 on May 16, 2016, 01:38:39 pm
Great work!
Always did want to see an update on this model.
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on May 16, 2016, 06:01:12 pm
Thank you :) I have always liked the basic shape and wanted to give it some love.
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Dragon on May 16, 2016, 07:04:20 pm
Looks like it could use more polies in some areas (guns and cockpit, especially), but it's a pretty good start.
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on May 16, 2016, 10:55:41 pm
Here is further work. Note, I called this the Mk IV as I still have the same one above. This one is wider and more polies added plus I have a Terran cockpit in this now too but still working on that. Once I get that cockpit situated, I'll add more definition to the cockpit area.

https://p3d.in/adU7H

Jadehawk
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Dragon on May 17, 2016, 05:51:23 am
Any chance of smoothing out the guns? With 8 sides per gun, they're noticeably angular. The wider design looks good, looking forward to see more work on it.
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on May 17, 2016, 08:01:52 am
The guns are easy to do as they are separate objects.  I'll re-do them with a more refined example later today.

All the best,
Jadehawk
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Dragon on May 17, 2016, 09:36:10 am
Hmm, if they are separate objects, how about making your fighter models use external weapon models? :) Not FS-y, I know, but it's a nifty feature that doesn't really get used to its full potential.
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on May 17, 2016, 01:22:25 pm
you know...when you're in the Weapons Tech in game, you see all these different weapons you can use. Yet, your ship has the same looking gun no matter what you selected. Would be nice that your weapons on your ship also changed based on what you selected. I dunno if FS2 can handle such a feature?

All the best,
Jadehawk
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: niffiwan on May 17, 2016, 04:22:39 pm
It can, that's what Dragon was referring to.  Have a look at this table setting: http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Ships.tbl#.24Show_Primary_Models:
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on May 17, 2016, 06:12:05 pm
That's.....totally awesome! But, that means I need to create several models of the given gun type yes? I looked at that link and just got lost in all that! Anyhow, off to model some more. Stay tuned!

Jadehawk
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on May 17, 2016, 10:55:00 pm
Ok, had some quality time with this model. Again, I saved multi copies in case I need to back track. So this is Mk IVa.  Yes I know about the minor issue just behind the canopy. That has been fixed.

Comments?

https://p3d.in/Tohx5

All the best,
Jadehawk
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Dragon on May 18, 2016, 01:47:04 pm
That looks amazing. :) I wonder if Inferno is still using the MkIII... This model probably much better than whatever's in the SVN right now.
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on May 18, 2016, 07:56:03 pm
Thanks! :) Did some tweaking and small details added. I re-did the twin seeker domes between the missiles. After all is said and done and if you all approve, I'll call this design FROZEN.

https://p3d.in/fJabF

Please everyone comment now so I can move forward to the next phase!

All the best,
Jadehawk
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: InsaneOne on May 18, 2016, 11:12:10 pm
Looks very nice. Also I think the models for primary weapons basically attach to primary hardpoints, so it'd more come down to having a version with room to attach models and one without?
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: jr2 on May 19, 2016, 06:26:01 am
I love that design.  It looks more modern, but also still heavy-duty, like the Herc I was.  :yes:
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Nyctaeus on May 19, 2016, 08:59:38 am
The best of your models so far :yes:. Great work!

Inferno uses it's own 6k polys model with 2x2 primary gunpoints setup. Some sections looks rather underdetailed compared to Jadehawk's model but it's still pretty decent HTL.
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Dragon on May 19, 2016, 09:03:23 am
Maybe it'd be a better idea to switch to that one, then, once it's finished. It'd require some alterations to the gun setup, but Jadehawk's model is the best approach to the Herc III that I've seen so far.
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Black Wolf on May 19, 2016, 09:31:54 am
I think you could save some polies on those guns fairly easily by reducing or removing those fin things, but overall, this is a really cool take on the Herc 3. Get it ingame! :D :yes:
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on May 19, 2016, 01:34:41 pm
Thanks fallas! :)
OK, baring no further attention to some concerns, I'll go ahead and complete the cockpit integration and start the UV Mapping.

Humm, I've been thinking of adding some non working doors for the landing gear. You know, just detail that gives you the idea it's got some.  Cool?

All the best,
Jadehawk
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Dragon on May 19, 2016, 09:17:22 pm
How about adding working ones (and the gear inside)? :) They could be operated with a script. That could be a nice feature, especially if you were to make more ships like that.
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on May 19, 2016, 09:40:10 pm
Humm...I DO like that idea! I know the bottom sail would have to be retractable as well which is not much to begin with and it would require some changes to the bottom fin too.
I'll make a run and see what happens.

All the best,
Jadehawk
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on May 20, 2016, 07:25:48 pm
Ok, modified the bottom sail as a separate object that can now rotate backward during landing. I have found it needs to rotate backward -47.10 degrees from pivot point. I believe that part is easy to do script wise. As far as the landing gear is concerned, that's gonna be a dozy to do as the lower fins must be cleared  and that's quite a drop. Of course this will hover and not land like today's jets. So that's not really a problem, just a headache! I'll post model update soon.

All the best,
Jadehawk



And here it is:
https://p3d.in/BMpTB
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on May 22, 2016, 12:17:59 pm
ok, here is the Herc with the landing gear. Note, this is just the gear, no recess for the gear yet. Yes it's landing skids as this thing hovers like the X-wing. Not easy to see, but this sits with a nose down altitude as the nose gear would be way too long as it's long enough as it is.

https://p3d.in/k6aCi

Jadehawk
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Dragon on May 22, 2016, 04:17:47 pm
I think it'd be better off with wheels instead. FSO's landing physics work better for wheels and plane-like landing.
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on May 22, 2016, 04:44:17 pm
I was not aware the game physics was that way. Humm. Well I had the notion I could add wheels later on for something else. It's easy to do, but I like skids better. Could go either way! :)

Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Phantom Hoover on May 23, 2016, 09:39:39 am
From the mainhall we know that Freespace fighters don't incorporate landing gear, instead attaching to moving clamps inside the hangar.
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on May 23, 2016, 01:37:28 pm
Yes very true. My reasoning for just landing skids was due to the fact these fighters just might need landing gears for, well landing on a planet or a ship not equipped with ship transport clamps. I'd love to know what others think before I move ahead with this landing gear setup.

In the mean time, I'll go ahead with a version WITHOUT landing gears and just the ship.

All the best,
Jadehawk
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: StarSlayer on May 23, 2016, 02:56:04 pm
Not sure if you are taking C&C but I personally might try the following:
-drooping the nose section slightly
-sharpening the nose cone just a tad
-moving the cockpit forward a bit
-converting to a fifth gen bubble style canopy

I think the those changes would give the forward fuselage more of a Herc II vibe and show a more natural progression from her predecessor. However, that's just my personal opinion so feel free to disregard.

Cheers,

JB 
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: LaineyBugsDaddy on June 09, 2016, 01:21:17 pm
TO me, this looks like something I would expect from the Wing Commander universe. It's cool, to be sure. Not saying anything bad about it. Just reminds me of some stuff from Wing Commander: Prophecy, of which I once owned a second-hand copy.
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Erebus Alpha on June 10, 2016, 09:20:34 pm
It seems a little bit long for a Herc III. The Herc I and II were fairly stubby designs. Seems like it could use a tiny bit of un-sleekening.
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Nohiki on June 13, 2016, 01:19:58 pm
IIRC the gun placement on this was a complete hell, worse than the Shu or even the Amun xD If anything could be done with that that would be splendid.
Title: Re: An Old Friend, the GTF Hercules Mk III
Post by: Jadehawk on June 13, 2016, 01:47:05 pm
in my experience, the gun placements don't matter as long as the gun convergence is set correctly. Again, this is from my own experience. You can adjust the convergence of the guns to what you prefer. In my case, I set the GVF Shu to 400 or 600 meters, I forget which. You would think all are set accordingly the same, but they are not and they should not to begin with due to the different gun placements on a given fighter.

I have no idea what the convergent is set for the GTF Hercules Mk III, but once I ever get to that stage to adjust them, I'll have them tested.

Jadehawk.