Re: [Flightgear-devel] 3D Model for the X15

[Curtis L. O. <cu...@fl...>]

Wolfram Kuss writes:
> Lots of random thoughts about the X15 3D model.
> 
> 
> 1) When I say 
> 
> runfgfs "--file=x15.cfg"
> 
> I get the error message 
> 
> Unknown option '--file=x15.cfg'
> 
> Has the parameter name been changed?
> Sorry for asking so many stupid questions, but I am really short 
> on time (I am looking for a new flat) and know there are people 
> who know this from the top of their head and fgfs help output
> says "--file" is correct.

Looks like the help message wasn't updated, but the actual option is

    --config=file.name

I'll fix this ...

> 2) I would suggest we have two X-15s, one with extended gear
> and one without. This will only increase the size of the base 
> package by 11 kB or less.

Would be nice to get the gear / flaps / control surface animation
going at some point, although we don't really have support for
retractable gear yet since our fixed gear c172 has been the default
aircraft.

> 3) Do I understand correctly that 0.7.7 is supposed to build with
> PLIB 1.2.0? That would mean I have to go on using the .ac format.
> This isn't too bad. The .ac format may handle normals badly 
> and many planes look badly faceted, but not the black X-15 :-).

0.7.7 will still officially support plib-1.2.0, but after this release
we will start adding in code that will require 1.3.x / 1.4.0.

> 4) The *.ac 3D model file is far from optimal. The conversion 
> process has introduced unnecessary points etc. This affects frames 
> per second in the simulator, loading time and size.
> I will look into this if no one else volunteers. I would suggest
> that I send a first version to John now so that people can test. 
> Textures etc are final anyway. I don't know Curts time plan.

This week we are working on packaging the release, and sneaking in a
few last "minor" bug fixes.  If their is anything show stopping that
surfaces at this late stage, I think we will just have to call it a
feature and live with it until the next release.

> 5) If I do a basic "load and correctly position the X15"
> config-file, are there others to make situations?
> I know Jon has done situation files like "just left the B52" etc.
> We would put these configfiles into the base packeage and tell people
> just to do
> runfgfs --file=x15ground.cfg,
> runfgfs --file=x15final.cfg,
> runfgfs --file=x15afterdrop.cfg,
> correct?

Yes, and probably in the future have a GUI interface for loading and
running these.

> 6) I am also reworking Mike Hills Doc (removing MSFS specific 
> stuff).
> 
> 7) Curt and or John and Michael, credit him in all our 
> credit files :-). Please include his home page
> http://www.flightsimnetwork.com/mikehill/home.htm

Will do ... thanks,

Curt.
-- 
Curtis Olson   Human Factors Research Lab       FlightGear Project
Twin Cities    cu...@hf...                cu...@fl...
Minnesota      http://www.menet.umn.edu/~curt   http://www.flightgear.org