Hawker Typhoon model WIP [Archive]

Alex Voicu

09-15-2006, 10:33 AM

I made this just for fun using CAD software from work, which means it's made of curved surfaces, not polygons

http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon3.jpg

I started converting this model a few days ago using polygons, but's not easy and it's going to take another week or two.
WIP pictures of the conversion process:
http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon1.jpg

http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon2.jpg

kevjon

09-15-2006, 10:46 AM

Looks pretty cool....what CAD software are you using ?

Alex Voicu

09-15-2006, 10:55 AM

I used Euclid 3, which is pretty old, but still good if you know it well enough.

Skyraider3D

09-15-2006, 11:37 AM

Looks good Alex! Nice one!

pete.cook

09-15-2006, 12:11 PM

Certainly does look impressive. How difficult are you finding the conversion to Max? It seems to lose some of the details in the conversion, but I guess it's still early in the conversion.

Skyraider3D

09-15-2006, 1:35 PM

Check the obstacle course for the NURBS thread. Some tips there about model conversion.

Buelliful

09-16-2006, 12:26 AM

I started converting this model a few days ago using polygons, but's not easy and it's going to take another week or two.
WIP pictures of the conversion process:

Congratulations on an excellent choice of aeroplane to model Alex, I look forward
to seeing how this turns out!

If you should require any photo's,drawings etc I'd be glad to know if I could help.
I have quite alot of resource material for the Tiffie/Tempest.

Keep up the good work,

Alan.:)

Alex Voicu

09-16-2006, 12:42 AM

I really need all the info i can get about the Typhoon, especially the early car-door cockpit version. Tempest is another favourite of mine and i built it for the Pacific Fighters flight sim, but i'm still looking for new info about it. If you have images, drawings or anything about the Typhoon/ Tempest please send it to a_voiku at yahoo dot com.
Thanks a lot.

Buelliful

09-16-2006, 4:15 PM

Hello Alex,

I have sent you 3 emails with the ref I have. If you let me know if they arrive ok
as I think there may be a problem with the 3rd email. If so, I will try to re-send it.

Regards,

Alan.

Zorin

09-16-2006, 4:34 PM

Got 32 pics of the Typhoon, different canopy versions, overall shots and details. Shall I scan them and send to you or do you have enough ref material?

Alex Voicu

09-17-2006, 8:09 AM

Hello Alex,

I have sent you 3 emails with the ref I have. If you let me know if they arrive ok
as I think there may be a problem with the 3rd email. If so, I will try to re-send it.

Regards,

Alan.

I got all 3 e-mails Alan, no problem with the 3rd. Thank you, there's a lot of good reference material there.

Zorin, if it's not too much trouble, sure i'd like to see those pictures, especially the details. Thanks.

Alex Voicu

09-17-2006, 5:34 PM

Update:
http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon5.jpg

http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon6.jpg

Zorin

09-17-2006, 6:19 PM

I'm checking back with Buelliful and after that I send you all I have he did not send you already.

Alex Voicu

09-20-2006, 8:23 PM

Added the elevators, ailerons, flaps, cannons, spinner, windscreen and a few other details:

http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon7.jpg

http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon8.jpg

Alex Voicu

09-27-2006, 2:37 PM

Small update:
http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon9.jpg

Skyraider3D

09-27-2006, 4:05 PM

Good going Alex.
Only crits are the shape of the sliding canopy (not sure but it looks too small somehow), the wingtips (too sharp) and landing light (shouldn't the corners be rounded?).

giant551

09-27-2006, 11:59 PM

coming together nicely now :) i agree about the canopy:D

Alex Voicu

09-28-2006, 10:03 AM

I agree about the wingtips; i'll see what i can do about it. The corners of the landing lights are rounded (in real life the radius should be about 15 mm) but i think you can't see that in the screenshots. Sometimes i have to sacrifice some details because it's a game model and i'm working with a limited polycount.

I'm not sure about the size of the canopy; i built it using Bentley's drawings, but obviously the windscreen and canopy were both too big. I found a side view of a real Typhoon and adjusted the size of the cockpit to match the image. I moved the model a little lower so you can see the lines of the canopy in the background image:
http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon_comp.jpg

Alex Voicu

09-29-2006, 9:22 AM

http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon10.jpg

Skyraider3D

09-29-2006, 9:55 AM

Photographs don't lie :)
Our impression of the Typhoon's canopy size must've come from drawings then. Nice one!
I often use photo comparissons as well. Very useful to spot these kind of problems.

PS. I am quite surprised you use NURBS to build a low-poly model. Can't be the fast way of doing it! But at least you can build a high-poly model for renders parallel to it perhaps?

Alex Voicu

09-30-2006, 9:29 AM

Photographs don't lie :)
I am quite surprised you use NURBS to build a low-poly model. Can't be the fast way of doing it! But at least you can build a high-poly model for renders parallel to it perhaps?

Yes, it's probably the most difficult and time consuming way of building a model, but it's the only way i know. I made the wireframe in Euclid3, imported it in Autocad, where i built the mesh triangle by triangle. All i do in Max is assign the smoothing groups, weld some vertices and add the UVW mapping.

Skyraider3D

09-30-2006, 12:59 PM

Ouch. I could send you a good MAX boxmodelling tutorial if you wish? It's very basic but covers everything you need to know to get started. MAX is great for building low-poly game models. I do this every day at work.

kevjon

09-30-2006, 9:55 PM

Certainly sounds like a hard way to model, the end result if very good though.

Alex Voicu

09-30-2006, 10:24 PM

Alex Voicu

10-03-2006, 3:19 PM

Started detailing the wheel wells:
http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon11.jpg

giant551

10-03-2006, 11:31 PM

details are really starting to take shape now. I like the ribs in the wheel wells

kevjon

10-04-2006, 12:00 AM

Nice details and looking really good, the only evidence of low polyness in your model is the wheels.

Alex Voicu

10-13-2006, 11:01 AM

Added the gear retracting mechanism. It took a lot of time to undestand how it works and animate all the parts.
http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon12.jpg

:FI:Exec

10-13-2006, 2:39 PM

krazycolin

10-13-2006, 3:35 PM

whoa!!!!! that some really nice detailing you've got going on.... are you sure that's for a game? it's looking REALLY good....

Alex Voicu

10-13-2006, 3:59 PM

Alex, Splendid looking tiffy there!

I love your Tempest in PF.. Its my prefered steed allot of the time:D

Anyway. You mentioned this was a game model. Is there any chance you could tell us what game we will be able to see this in?

It's for Battle of Britain: Storm of War, which will probably be released next year. I'm also thinking about FSX, but i don't know yet. I just hope i'll have time to finish it...

:FI:Exec

10-13-2006, 4:27 PM

Excellent!:D.. At least your getting it started early!:D

Have you been given info from 1C about what you need to model to get it as a viable BoB aircraft? like all the internal structures and stuff?

Alex Voicu

10-13-2006, 4:39 PM

So far i'm just trying to finish the basic 3D shape, without internal structure. I'll contact 1C when i'm done with it and try to find out more about BoB models.

Vex

10-14-2006, 2:48 AM

Alex

I hope you give the P-40's a go for the SOW series :)

they need some loving from someone... I would but i suck at this stuff.

Skyraider3D

10-16-2006, 4:08 PM

Some of the detail may be a tad excessive for a real-time model, such as the landing gear "plumbing", but it does look very nice indeed :)

Alex Voicu

11-26-2006, 4:10 PM

I added a few more details and started the internal structure:
http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon14.jpg

http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon15.jpg

http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon16.jpg

http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon17.jpg

roshent

11-26-2006, 6:01 PM

A few more details he says :eek: It's looking great !!

pccdtk

11-28-2006, 5:09 AM

Great details !!! Few more pls. ....and more ...!!!

Zorin

11-30-2006, 7:44 PM

This could be worth a look:

http://www.aeroplanemonthly.com/current/

In this issue they have: A detailed look into the cockpit of Hawker's Typhoon Mk IB.

kevjon

12-01-2006, 1:35 AM

This is a terrific looking typhoon ....keep going !
Hope your texturing skills are of equal standard.

Posted by Alex Voicu
Yes, it's probably the most difficult and time consuming way of building a model, but it's the only way i know. I made the wireframe in Euclid3, imported it in Autocad, where i built the mesh triangle by triangle. All i do in Max is assign the smoothing groups, weld some vertices and add the UVW mapping.
Alex, what do you mean by this modelling technique. Do you create nurbs surfaces in Euclid3, then bring those surfaces into autocad and create a mesh face by face ? Can you explain further ? Always interested in modelling techniques that achieve great results such as yours.

Alex Voicu

12-01-2006, 9:31 AM

First i created the model using curved surfaces in Euclid 3. It doesn't have to be fully detailed, i just need it as a starting point for the final model in Max. It looks like this (i removed a few parts for clarity):
http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon20.jpg

Next i created a set of curves on the surface and converted them to polylines. It's not an automatic process and i need to do this manually, by following a small principle. When i approximate a curve with a polyline, i try to keep the error constant on all segments. In the end it will make the mesh look better and the polycount will be minimal. More polygons will be used in the more curved areas, and much less where the the surface is almost flat. I hope this image explains it better:
http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon22.jpg

The wireframe looks like this:
http://alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon21.jpg
I exported it to autocad, built the mesh triangle by triangle and finally in Max i'm taking care of the smoothing groups, materials, mapping, etc.

kevjon

12-01-2006, 11:27 AM

Thanks alex for the explanation/mini tutorial, I understand it now !

It looks like drawing the wireframe on your nurbs model is probably the most time consuming step....very clever idea though and your getting great results with this technique. Unfortunately not easy to get high poly model if you wished from your surfaces with this technique.

Lukem

12-01-2006, 12:28 PM

Great looking Typhoon!

Did I read right - this model is for a computer game? Looks incredibly detailed for in-game graphics.

Alex Voicu

12-01-2006, 12:42 PM

It has 19000 triangles now, including the internal components i built so far. I can go up to 35000, so i think i have enough polys left for the rest of the internal components. I think the models from new flight sims like LOMAC and FSX already have even bigger polycounts.

dflion

01-07-2007, 9:52 AM

:D Hi Alex, You are doing a great job so far. This aircraft was very sadly missing from IL2 Sturmovik and Oleg should be very happy to get it for the forthcoming 'Storm of War'
DFLion

Zorin

08-16-2007, 7:34 PM

Any news about this project you're allowed to give us?

Deetz

08-17-2007, 12:51 AM

Detailing looks excellent! Very nice model!

Deetz

Alex Voicu

08-19-2007, 5:58 PM

I've been working on the car door version lately and corrected a few errors on the bubble canopy model. I have to focus on other things now, so progress is VERY slow.
http://www.alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon40.jpg

http://www.alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon41.jpg

http://www.alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon33.jpg

Zorin

08-19-2007, 9:30 PM

Thanks a lot for the update Alex, much appreciated :)

Alex Voicu

10-07-2007, 11:10 AM

The model is 90% mapped and I started painting the textures. I attached a few screenshots showing the layout of panel and rivet lines and early work on the rudder fabric bump map.

http://www.alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon43.jpg
http://www.alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon44.jpg
http://www.alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon45.jpg
http://www.alexvoicu.domeniuweb.ro/typhoon46.jpg

kiwi123

10-07-2007, 11:12 AM

AWESOME work ! Keep going like that mate :)

Xizor

10-07-2007, 12:56 PM

WOW!!! , that would have taken some patience uv mapping, Im looking forward to seeing this textured up

peter

10-07-2007, 1:51 PM

Superb model mate!!! Can't wait to see the finished image
BTW: Are You planing to make some specific scene?

Mirko

10-07-2007, 1:53 PM

:eek: .....Great modeling Alex!

:salute:

roshent

10-07-2007, 2:00 PM

great stuff ! geez, how many rivets are there... and how did you make them ??

Deetz

10-07-2007, 2:53 PM

Awesome work!

Deetz

macmullin

10-07-2007, 3:12 PM

Oh my God! My skin is turning green! OH OK… it’s just my ENVY levels getting really high! I will have to go create a few great models like yours and I might be fine. Fantastic stuff!

krazycolin

10-07-2007, 4:15 PM

excellent work!

denders

10-07-2007, 6:12 PM

Very Niiiiiice!!! It looks great!

robby88

10-08-2007, 4:40 AM

Excellent!! Amazing detail for such low poly model.

Alex Voicu

10-08-2007, 4:52 PM

Thanks, i'm glad you like it. I'll think about a scene later; right now I would be happy just to see the model finished.
For the rivets i used the pencil tool in PS, with 400% spacing. It's easy to do rivet lines this way, but you still have to move some pixels around, especially at the intersection of rivet lines.

Zorin

08-15-2009, 1:57 AM

BUMP

Any news on this one Alex?

Btw, could you give a rough estimate on the Polycount of the Tempest you made for IL-2?

Alex Voicu

08-24-2009, 11:45 AM

Hi Zorin,

Sorry, nothing new about the Typhoon. Haven't worked on the model in more than a year.
IIRC the Tempest for Il2 was about 3800 triangular faces.

Zorin

08-24-2009, 4:15 PM

Hi Zorin,

Sorry, nothing new about the Typhoon. Haven't worked on the model in more than a year.
IIRC the Tempest for Il2 was about 3800 triangular faces.

Thanks Alex.

I do hope they will take you up on her for SOW. Would be a real loss if they didn't.

~4000 then, good to know. :)