Planeset [version 1.5.3 released 2006-10-24]

[Purno]

Hey I just 'tested' some planes from the planeset, it really looks good. Great job all. Only I wish there were more planes in 'the future'.

[krtaylor]

459, I take it that the lower Comet is the new one?

[krtaylor]

I updated the Comet and the Embraer, from the PCX file in your most recently posted ZIP. Is there anything else that needs updating? Maybe you can take a look at the table and check?

[459]

Well... the ones that need updating for your list. Surprise, surprise: the ones I mentioned I had updated in my last release post (CCs only, I haven't even looked at the liveries thus far)

[SquireJames]

Quick question, what version of the Comet is portrayed in the planeset? I doubt it would be the Comet I, but there were several other variants.

Also might i suggest upping the DC-6 to the DC-7. Its very similar, except stretched. I think it would be better as it would show a stronger DC/MD line (you'd have DC-7, DC-8, DC-9 and so forth). Also i find anything that ups passenger capacity in those early days quite useful. I always end up with 10+ DC-3s circling trying to land and pick up huge numbers of passengers and mail. A larger plane, bigger than the "Coleman Count" (which i've altered to 92 passengers and named the "Lockheed Super Constellation, a stretch variant of the Connie)

Also i have an old "Observers Book of Aircraft" from 1952, and it gives quite a lot of info on those early airliners of yours.

Example

Lockheed 749A Constellation
Country of Origin: USA
Type: Forty-Four/Sixty-Four-Seat Commercial Transport
Power Plant: Four Wright Cyclone GR-3350-C18-BD1 Engines Rated at 2,500 HP each.
Performance: Maximum Speed 347 m.p.h ; Cruising Speed 298 m.p.h at 20,000 ft ; initial clime rate 1,620 ft./min ; service ceiling 27,300 ft ; normal range 3,000 mls ; maximum range 5,500 mls
Weights : Empty, 56,590-57,160 lbs (depending on interior arrangments) ; maximum take-off 107,000 lbs
Development The first Constellation to fly, on January 9, 1943, was a C-69 transport for the U.S.A.F . 20 of the C-69 version were delivered to the U.S.A.F during the war, and the first commercial version, built from C-69 components, was known as the Model 49. The Model 149 is similar but has the long-range wing of the later model 749. The first Constellation to be built throughout as a commercial transport was the Model 649A. Nine military cargo versions of the Model 749 are in service with the U.S.A.F as the C-121A, and two modified machines are used by the U.S Navy for testing advanced electronic systems under the designation WV-1

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[krtaylor]

The final version of the set will have a very large air transport: the Hindenburg. It can carry 100 passengers and probably 30 bags of mail. It only goes at 60mph, but that's not bad given that it can move as the crow flies.

[459]

With planespeed off, I've noticed that I ditch the props as soon as DH Comet gets introduced. And with 1959 B707, it's totally Game Over for props.

The Comet is some sort of "compromise" model Comet 1 with more seats than they originally had. Comet 1's had up to 44 seats but from what I've read the configuration was space-wasting with three classes. I decided to use the same kind of seating scheme I used for all other planes while I was assigning those values.

SquireJames, I'd like you to dig following information about Connie: We are using the specs of first model that entered commercial service. I'm pretty unfamiliar with Connies in general so if you have the values for the first Connie type that entered commercial service (exact model name, entry year, seating capacity, economical cruise speed) I'll investigate whether they're better for the game.

We have chosen the DC-6B over DC-7 because the only advantage DC-7 has is it's slightly higher top speed. Even the pax capacities would be around the same. It's intro date would be 1953 which is five years later than DC-6 and at that time you have the Comet.

What comes to the big planes in pre-1940's... I don't believe there were any in wide use. I think there were some German flying monstrosities but they opter for luxury instead of pax capacity. And I think that air transportation was actually quite inefficient those days as a form of mass transit.

I've tried to balance all those stats so that everything would be playable but with historical accuracy in mind. It's a business of making compromises people might not like but I'm always ready to hear your comments.

[459]

Someone who's able: Please change the topic of this thread to Planeset [Developing, public beta available]

[mnorman]

I have just started my first plane, a Shorts SD330.

[Singaporekid]

Mnorman!! where have u been?
Nice plane, but the shading is too dark for the <-- view

[krtaylor]

Looks very nice for a first pass!

[mnorman]

Singaporekid: On holiday, celebrating having finished my degree (after 5 years)
krtaylor: The other veiws are rather more difficult (due to the small size and square fuselage) so they may be some time.

[Singaporekid]

Now that you're back, will u finish the shay?
Anyway that plane's wings are too squarish, try modifing one of ttd original ones

[CyberBoy]

Sorry I was gone so long, but I've been busy, and for the past two days, I couldn't access the forums (it kept saying: could not find wwwDOTtt-forumsDOTnet )

I'll see if I can do anything for the planeset.

[RPharazon]

Me too.
I got that problem also, maybe the site was down?

[krtaylor]

Yes, the site was down. Owen had to reboot the server, reason not known.

[mnorman]

Singaporekid: Have you ever seen a Shorsts 330, not only are the wings square, but the tailplane, endplate fins, and even the fuselage cross-section are square. (The corners of the earlier Skyvan were even squarer though).
as for the Shay, I thought that someone else had said that they were doing that.

[459]

http://members.fortunecity.com/inedesca/ - for artists attempting to draw the remaining airplanes, this page will prove useful. It has three-views for numerous planetypes, incl. An-124 and SD-330.

[krtaylor]

Can we have status reports on all the planes that people are working on?

459, have you updated the tails, etc. of the real-life livery versions of the planes? If so, please post 'em so I can update the table. Maybe it's time to start on the other version of the planeset, the one with the real-life liveries.

[459]

I can see only 7 (out of 33) planes having liveries ready so I haven't been straining myself too much with the idea of wasting 5 minutes of my life updating the liveries' tails yet since the liveries are still mostly undone . Any artists who'd like to do the liveries should draw some liveries. I'm leaving to Germany early tomorrow morning and I don't have any idea yet when I'll be fixing them.