[Wanderer]

You can make the number of firing points in that VLS a bit smaller if you remember that some (some of the currently used VLS systems) use revolver type setup instead just having every missile ready to launch (and that maximum number of firing points per turret is 10).

You can also notice that the freeboard in the aft section (under the flight deck is rather small.. there probably wouldnt be open doors in the side especially if the ship was designed to operate heavier seas than on Baltic, Black or Mediterranean.

Pics of older equivalents:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moskva_class_helicopter_carrier
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_cruiser_Jeanne_d%27Arc_%28R97%29

[Thaeris]

Well, all I've got to work off of is a few bits of concept art I've seen. Even then, those pieces don't necessarily match up with each other. Then, as my ship is basically using Daniel's old vessel as a template, it's still further off. However, in my defense, I'll cite that this thing won't enter service until 2020, if it does at all.

Actually, I was thinking that the VLS would be divided into seven different "turrets," allowing you to use all twenty-one firing ports. Thus, you could have anti-ship missiles, anti-fighter missiles, and interceptor-type weapons at the ready with no real targeting delay. As I haven't put any Phalanx or RAM batteries on her (and I don't know where I'd put them, either), this makes for a still formidable ship with eight turrets. That would take care of that issue.

Next, there's just over 12 meters of space between the top of the deck and the bottom of the hull where the VLS is mounted. That's more than enough space to accomodate any common ship-based missile. The only issue then is rationalizing the reloading mechanism. Perhaps below decks you'd have a loader that would raise a missile into allignment and then push and lock it into the firing battery? That wouldn't be a problem for a system like the Harpoon SSM and most imaginable SAMs, but it starts getting dicey with a system like the Tomahawk. I could reduce the number of launchers if necessary, but I'd like to keep the general configuration as it fits the hull well. Keep in mind that all of the concept art I've seen has fairly tight groupings in the launcher positions.

As a general idea for the forward portion of the ship, this is where you'd have magazines (for the cannon, the loading system for the VLS, missile stowage, etc. The UXV is supposed to be able to run with minimal crew, so this doesn't impose too much upon the ship, either.

Lastly, the cuts in the side are again based off of concept art. The UXV is part cruiser, part "whatever." It can be used as an assault ship, a carrier, etc. In the assualt roles, the opening on the sides are quite valuable. If the ship was employed as a mine hunter using unmanned mine hunting drones, the ports would again be very welcome. The ports would also be closeable, thus aiding in rough sea operations. Strangely, the elevators to the flight deck would have to be mounted on deck, making hangar management a little hairy. So you don't have to go fishing for concept art, I'll show you what I've found on the web:

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[Scooby_Doo]

Almost looks like half battleship half cruise liner LOL

[Thaeris]

Still tweaking... and they're rather small but notable tweaks...

The rear hull originally had an angled cross-section all the way down. This was a little odd to view from the rear of the ship, so I decided to swing the ramp/deck a few degrees inward to bring the flight deck over this section properly. This also is a little more accurate to the available concept artwork. I suppose I'm fairly confident of this change, but I wanted to get some feedback before shelving the old rear hull design entirely... Criticism is welcome. 

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[Dragon]

The new aft looks good.

[Thaeris]

Right. Good stuff. 

...Once the bridge is done, the flight deck details should really be next to nothing. I'll make a completion estimate for some time next week. 

[Nuke]

By the way, what sort of flight model are you using for this? I know Nuke was working on what seemed to be a fairly sophisticated flight model...

my flight model is pretty badass. but its nowhere near stable. it has very good atmospherics so far, with atmospheric layers (the earth profile uses the inernational atmospherics model, i also integrated a mars profile that nasa uses) and variable density at different altitudes. weapons are now supported (missiles are buggy and innaccurate right now), ballistic and missile type weapons are effected by drag and gravity, missiles can have thust so they can accelerate after being launched. fully newtonian physics in space (and atmosphere) with both planar and spherical gravity sources (spherical atmosphere will come later) and now preliminary angular physics. physics info is stored in a parsed table file (physics.tbl) so each ship can have its own physics variables. you can also do away with wings and set a vtol thrust so you can simulate helicopters, harrier jets, and other vtol craft.

of course all this cool stuff has a few issues, ai has no clue on how to fly with the physics, freespace physics get in the way and cause some degree of error and likes to throw up asserts all the time, and i havent coded support control surfaces yet (current angular physics make things difficult in the atmo). i also want to simulate engine performance at various altitudes with various engine types. theres also some control issues (freespace doesnt support enough axes to control everything). like i said nowhere near done.

[Thaeris]

[borat]
Very niceee... 
[/borat]

Quite cool. Who knew the FS2 engine could be made to do that sort of thing? 

[Droid803]

Nice boat!

That flight model sounds pretty epic once it gets bugfixed

[Spoon]

Oh lol'd
'nice boat' 

[Nuke]

i wonder if i can expand my atmospheric script to include water and buoyancy physics. then you could have boats (and blimps).

[starlord]

And what about hydrodynamics (underwater physics), like this you could include subs...

Seriously, I'm amazed at what the SCP engine can handle today... Is there something it can't do?

Also, in the case of freespace AI not being cut out for the job in atmospheric or newtonian conditions, do you propose the creation of a custom AI? that might take a huge amont of time, but I think diaspora opted for a similar process for their craft...

[General Battuta]

What Diaspora did involved the addition of behaviors to the existing AI.

Adding atmospheric or newtonian AI would be a whole different kind of task.

[Nuke]

And what about hydrodynamics (underwater physics), like this you could include subs...

Seriously, I'm amazed at what the SCP engine can handle today... Is there something it can't do?

Also, in the case of freespace AI not being cut out for the job in atmospheric or newtonian conditions, do you propose the creation of a custom AI? that might take a huge amont of time, but I think diaspora opted for a similar process for their craft...

the difference between aerodynamics and hydrodynamics is mere density.

as for the ai, ive given that some though. what is needed is some kind of middle ware control algorithm sitting between the ai control commands with fs physics, and my physics model. when the ai wants to chase a target, it usually points its nose at it and throttles up. i know if its trying to turn in my direction, and has its engines on full, then its most likely trying to get close to me, likely to attack. so by looking at the desired velocity, and the desired rotational velocity, i can actually get an idea of what the ai is trying to do. right now these are read, put into a -1 to 1 format (desired/max), and is used as a control factor in firing thrusters. the amount of thrust is proportional to the -1 to 1 number. instead of interpreting this value as 'how much torque do i want to apply', it reads it as 'how fast do i want to turn' and thrusters fire until that turn rate is at the desired amount. same goes for linear thrust, the throttle is read as 'speed relative to target' and the thrusters and engines fire to attain that. i do intend to code a virtual fly by wire system, where the script tries to determine your intentions, and then operate the thrusters, thrust gimbals, and control surfaces based on what your trying to do. this is kinda how things worked in frontier.

[Thaeris]

Nothin' but Net...

 

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[Thaeris]

This project is long overdue for the LOD 0 to be done, but it is close. Unfortunately, it will be greater than 4k triangles, but oh well. Here's a look at the current model (top) and the original (below) as of this point:

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[ShadowGorrath]

Not bad

[Dragon]

Excellent.

[Thaeris]

AARRRGGHHHH!!!

THE PRIMARY MODELING PHASE FOR THE UXV LOD 0 IS COMPLETE!!!  

There are a few things to note for those of you interested in this model:

(1.) Exporting to wavefront object format has REMOVED smooth/flat shaded qualities from the mesh. You'll need to correct this. Otherwise, if you can upload AC3D's .ac format and would prefer to use that, just ask and I'll be happy to upload the source file.

(2.) Sub-objects like "deck markings" were implemented to give an idea for what a finished texture should look like - these were only done for the forward hull. Though markings like this may be permissable for X-Plane, I have a feeling that these will not be liked for FS purposes.

(3.) There is a single "line object" in the turret which was added to give an idea of how the turret should move. Whoever actually models the turret functionality may be concerned with this, though by logic it should move within the parameters suggested by the "deck markings" in the gun pit. Also, the barrel is at a... is it about 10 degree angle? If that's a problem, let me know and I'll upload a fresh file.

(4.) Don't complain about the UV mapping or the texture - it's understood that it's not great. I used what I had to give an idea of what the ship should look like. If you'd like to volunteer to make a new txture for the ship, please do so! Heck, I may not be the best mapper, but I'll even map the ship if you can give me a good texture to work with. Also, I'll see if I can get Daniel to make a new map for the model.

(5.) Otherwise, please comment on, test, and see if any particular region of the model should be improved upon. I've included the original for wahtever purpose you might have for it... What that is is beyond me.  

*Oh, edited for picture...

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Thaeris]

I'd like to again ask for reviews of the mesh (which has conveniantly been posted for your downloading pleasure). Also, I'm considering doing either the new British aicraft carriers or the HMS Daring next - I'm open for suggestions.