Project Vandenberg Air Force Base development thread

[Kyle]

Hello all! I've had a few updates so far with the development of Vandenberg Air Force base and I wanted to extend it.

First, I want to be able to add meshes to Vandenberg AFB for mountains, that is what I will be working on first. I'd like to know how would one begin to do that? I'm thinking about using google sketchup as it seems to have the best user interface for me and my computer.

After that, I'd like to include SLC-3 and SLC-4 for Atlas and Falcon usage respectively.

Here's Version 2.5, updated to OH just today.

I'd appreciate as much help as possible or contribution to my project, as due to college schedule I won't have an infinite amount of time to work on it.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Hello all! I've had a few updates so far with the development of Vandenberg Air Force base and I wanted to extend it.

First, I want to be able to add meshes to Vandenberg AFB for mountains, that is what I will be working on first. I'd like to know how would one begin to do that? I'm thinking about using google sketchup as it seems to have the best user interface for me and my computer.

After that, I'd like to include SLC-3 and SLC-4 for Atlas and Falcon usage respectively.

Here's Version 2.5, updated to OH just today.

I'd appreciate as much help as possible or contribution to my project, as due to college schedule I won't have an infinite amount of time to work on it.

You can try this method for making 3D terrain meshes: [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3526"]http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3526[/ame]

And I would also like to suggest making SLC-2W for Delta II launches :

 

[Kyle]

Thanks! Very, very helpful.

 

[fort]

Kyle: "Here's Version 2.5, updated to OH just today".

This is a link to the topic talking about the release itself ( on wich one we cand find... the link to the addon on OH ). Actually ( 27/08 ), on Orbit Hangar, there is nothing concerning the version 2.5 in the "newest files" and nothing, by the fact, i suppose, on the forum in the "new releases from OrbitHangar" about it.

http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=28512

 

[Kyle]

http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=28512

That is my addon..?

 

[Kyle]

First pictures, WIP. SLC-3E for the Atlas V. Sketchup is good for making buildings (not the best at animations though)

If anyone could post some up to date images of SLC-3E that would be great, make sure they are of highest resolution, having trouble finding many.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

First pictures, WIP. SLC-3E for the Atlas V. Sketchup is good for making buildings (not the best at animations though)

If anyone could post some up to date images of SLC-3E that would be great, make sure they are of highest resolution, having trouble finding many.

Woohoo! I have been waiting for this pad for ages! :woohoo:

For photos...... you can search the Atlas V launch photos at ULA:

Also have you checked out the Atlas V user guide yet?

 

[Kyle]

Thanks for the links! If anyone is interested in helping by building the SpaceX launch pad at VAFB that would be a huge help! Making good progress on SLC-3E so far.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Thanks for the links! If anyone is interested in helping by building the SpaceX launch pad at VAFB that would be a huge help! Making good progress on SLC-3E so far.

Do we even have a good layout plan of what will the SpaceX pad look like? We probably won't have the details until the first launch out there next year.

I would suggest doing the Delta II pad and the pre-SpaceX version of SLC-4E( which was used for Titan IV launches) first, as photos should be easy to find.

 

[Kyle]

Do we even have a good layout plan of what will the SpaceX pad look like? We probably won't have the details until the first launch out there next year.

I would suggest doing the Delta II pad and the pre-SpaceX version of SLC-4E( which was used for Titan IV launches) first, as photos should be easy to find.

We've got some images. Pause at 29 seconds. I'm sure I could find a better image.

 

[Kyle]

Continued development of the FSS for SLC-3E. Not *exactly* 100% perfect, but it's way better than nothing.

 

[Kyle]

I'd say about 60% done with the FSS. I have to add the last few levels then add the swing arms. I'm going to have to figure out how to convert .dae files to .3ds then into a mesh file. What I've been doing is using a .dae import addon for blender to convert to .3ds, then using 3ds2msh to convert into a mesh file - however it's coming out very so-so at this point. Will have to try a few more times to get it right. Scale comes out too large, not a problem because I can use OBM to scale the mesh to a much more appropriate size.

 

[DaveS]

I'd say about 60% done with the FSS. I have to add the last few levels then add the swing arms. I'm going to have to figure out how to convert .dae files to .3ds then into a mesh file. What I've been doing is using a .dae import addon for blender to convert to .3ds, then using 3ds2msh to convert into a mesh file - however it's coming out very so-so at this point. Will have to try a few more times to get it right. Scale comes out too large, not a problem because I can use OBM to scale the mesh to a much more appropriate size.

For the diagonal struts on the FSS, are you using cylinders? Based on my analysis of the various posted photos, the struts should be flat boxes, not cylinders.

 

[Kyle]

For the diagonal struts on the FSS, are you using cylinders? Based on my analysis of the various posted photos, the struts should be flat boxes, not cylinders.

I'm having trouble using flat boxes, because that particular issue is my number one pet peeve. That and not having too many I figured that everyone wouldn't really be too bothered if it was otherwise.

 

[DaveS]

I'm having trouble using flat boxes, because that particular issue is my number one pet peeve. That and not having too many I figured that everyone wouldn't really be too bothered if it was otherwise.

Well, you could get away with using a texture with an alpha map on those sections, similarly to what virii2k and BrianJ used on their SLC-37B and SLC-17 add-ons respectively.

 

[Kyle]

Well, you could get away with using a texture with an alpha map on those sections, similarly to what virii2k and BrianJ used on their SLC-37B and SLC-17 add-ons respectively.

Why didn't I think of that? Thanks for the help!!:tiphat:

 

[Kyle]

Expectation:

Reality:

Basically, I'm having trouble exporting textures with my 3D mountains that I made using Sketchup. What I have been doing is converting the .dae files to a .msh file using Blender to good effect as the scale is coming out great, but then when I convert the JPEG textures to a DDS then extract them into my orbiter file, the launch pad comes out fine - the mountains do not. Any suggestions?

 

[Kyle]

For Ky to convert.

Huge thanks for the help!

 

[DaveS]

If you're interested, here's my little contribution to this project:

MESH
	FILE VandenbergAFB\VAFBtaxiway
	POS 397.291 0 -647.276
	SCALE 1 1 1
	ROT 43.1979
	PRELOAD
	UNDERSHADOWS
	OWNMATERIAL
END
MESH
	FILE VandenbergAFB\VAFBterminal
	POS 398.478 0 -647.722
	SCALE 1 1 1
	ROT 43.1979
	PRELOAD
	UNDERSHADOWS
	OWNMATERIAL
END
MESH
	FILE VandenbergAFB\VAFBasphalt
	POS 400.758 0.1 -646.321
	SCALE 1 1 1
	ROT 43.1979
	PRELOAD
	UNDERSHADOWS
	OWNMATERIAL
END
RUNWAY
	END1 1563 0.1 418
	END2 -2205 0.1 -3144
	WIDTH 61
	ILS1 110.1
	ILS2 110.1
	NRWSEG 15
	RWSEG1 1 	0.0294 	0.5 	0.75 	1 	0.852
	RWSEG2 1 	0.0294 	0.5 	0.75 	1 	0.852
	RWSEG3 1 	0.007 	0.5 	0.75 	0.852 	0.7305
	RWSEG4 1 	0.06 	0.5 	0.75 	0.5 	0.03125
	RWSEG5 1 	0.007 	0.5 	0.75 	0.7305 	0.6133
	RWSEG6 1 	0.1 	0.5 	0.75 	0.5 	0.03125
	RWSEG7 1 	0.007 	0.5 	0.75 	0.6133 	0.5
	RWSEG8 6 	0.5204 	0.5 	0.75 	0.5 	0.03125
	RWSEG9 1 	0.007 	0.5 	0.75 	0.5 	0.6133
	RWSEG10 1 	0.1 	0.5 	0.75 	0.03125 	0.5
	RWSEG11 1 	0.007 	0.5 	0.75 	0.6133 	0.7305
	RWSEG12 1 	0.06 	0.5 	0.75 	0.03125 	0.5
	RWSEG13 1 	0.007 	0.5 	0.75 	0.7305 	0.852
	RWSEG14 1 	0.0294 	0.5 	0.75 	0.852 	1
	RWSEG15 1 	0.0294 	0.5 	0.75 	0.852 	1
	RWTEX Runway2
END
RUNWAYLIGHTS
	END1 1563 0.1 418
	END2 -2205 0.1 -3144
    	WIDTH 61
    	COUNT1 40
    	PAPI 20 3 -1711.11 0
    	VASI 1.5 116.24 803
	TD_DISP 300.48
END

It places the runway/lights and Usonian20's VAFB airfield meshes in their correct locations on the surface tiles. The PAPI/VASI lights are also located in the correct locations.

 

[ky]

For Ky to convert.

Huge thanks for the help!

Here ya go! http://www.mediafire.com/?n2a7gmvxqjc81n8