Discussion Mesh making with Blender

[llarian]

Feel like putting together a couple of training tutorials for those new to trying Blender for Orbiter modelling?

 

[misha.physics]

Honestly I don't know what textures could add more details to the model. I used these pictures as reference:

 

[misha.physics]

Feel like putting together a couple of training tutorials for those new to trying Blender for Orbiter modelling?

I didn't consider my posts in this thread as such the "tutorials", since I'm new in Blender myself, but nevertheless it could be useful for someone.

Or if you mean whether I'm going to make some structured tutorials on Blender, then I haven't thought about it. I think there're a lot of professional free video lessons on Blender on YouTube.

 

[llarian]

I didn't consider my posts in this thread as such the "tutorials", since I'm new in Blender myself, but nevertheless it could be useful for someone.

Or if you mean whether I'm going to make some structured tutorials on Blender, then I haven't thought about it. I think there're a lot of professional free video lessons on Blender on YouTube.

Perhaps, but not enough specifically on how to make Blender work with Orbiter.

 

[misha.physics]

I'm using the Blender Orbiter Mesh Tools, it includes a basic tutorial.

By the way, questions regarding mesh making (including texturing) with Blender can be asked in the current thread.

 

[Buck Rogers]

Honestly I don't know what textures could add more details to the model. I used these pictures as reference:

For modding in Orbiter (especially low poly) textures are as important as the meshes.
At first glance one would say it's just white, but that's not true:
It's an off white, it's dirty, the inside is dark, there are lots of structural details, bumps, windows, insignia, all these belong in the texture. One should also add subtle shadows, together with norm, emis, etc. maps it can look almost photo realistic (even though it's low poly). Check aircraft skinning tuts to learn the arcane art.

Feel like putting together a couple of training tutorials for those new to trying Blender for Orbiter modelling?

I've thought about this but it's very difficult, where to begin, how to put it together. And Orbiter specific problems are few compared to the bulk of general 3D knowledge needed. A very simple starting walkthrough specific for Blender with the Orbiter plugin might be good for absolute beginners (simple export to Orbiter).

A good place to start would be to make a UACS cargo (slight momentary bias), but start by reskinning a box, then add norm maps, then start in Blender with a simple box, make changes, export and go from there. And if you get stuck ask questions, slowly a small Orbiter Blender community is growing.

 

[misha.physics]

A new airship is almost done:

 

[Urwumpe]

The gondola looks like the Graf Zeppelin, but the rounded hull shape looks more like a Hindenburg.

Just for comparison:

 

[misha.physics]

I used the blueprint as a reference:

 

[misha.physics]

I finished the mesh:

 

[Urwumpe]

BTW, if you want to get the flight behavior right, there is a treasure trove of information and scientific research on the LZ-126/ZR-3 U.S.S Los Angeles, a smaller, but similar build Zeppelin built in Germany for the USA.

For example:

Full-Scale Turning Characteristics of the U.S.S. Los Angeles - NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

This paper present a description of the method employed and results obtained in full-scale turning trials on the rigid airship U. S. S. "Los Angeles". The results of this investigation are not sufficiently comprehensive to permit definite conclusions as to the variation of turning...

ntrs.nasa.gov

It looks really much much like the LZ-127 constructed right afterwards, especially the gondola and its passenger spaces. The flight experience of Los Angeles also contributed to the later passenger operations of the DELAG.

 

[misha.physics]

Thanks. Honestly, I didn't think to make an aerodynamic model, since I don't understand this subject well yet. So, you or anyone else could do that if you want. I agree to share my mesh for it.

 

[Urwumpe]

Thanks. Honestly, I didn't think to make an aerodynamic model, since I don't understand this subject well yet. So, you or anyone else could do that if you want. I agree to share my mesh for it.

I will think about it. I had made some researching for it before, but always (like now) had something else in mind.

 

[misha.physics]

Fixed some inscription background issue:

 

[Urwumpe]

Well, it looks great, but isn't really accurate, the modern font is too rounded and the middle lines of E and F to long, also the words have more separation between them.

(Source: https://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/history/ )

If you want to see more of it, here is a great video in sadly rather poor quality (for modern standards).

(Could you maybe make the old small construction shed at Friedrichshafen? Most flights of it started there.)

 

[Urwumpe]

Sadly a quick search can't find a suitable font that you can use for the letters. Its a special simpler version of a Grotesk Font, but the (likely-train inspired) "PreussischeI V44 Ausgabe 3" gets pretty close. But there, G, R and Z are far off.

100+ Free 1920s Fonts · 1001 Fonts

Download beautiful, vintage-inspired 1920s fonts for free! Give your web designs a unique and stylish look with these fonts, perfect for all creative projects.

www.1001fonts.com

 

[misha.physics]

Thanks. Oh, I noticed that I made the inscription only on one left side.

Could you maybe make the old small construction shed at Friedrichshafen?

Maybe I could search for it later.

By the way, I saw this:

 

[Urwumpe]

Thanks. Oh, I noticed that I made the inscription only on one left side.

You must pay attention there, the paint scheme is asymmetric, especially at the rudders. If you want to do the Nazi era paint scheme, remember that the swastika is only on the port side, while the starboard side shows the tri-color of the naval ensign.

Thats the Zeppelins always flew with their starboard side facing cities outside Germany, so nobody saw the swastika.... Hugo Eckener really despised the Nazis, for example, he flew clockwise around Chicago on their trip there.

The pre-1933 paint scheme seems mostly silver with minimal black text, for example, the lower rudder only had "D." on it, likely for telling its a German airship.

Maybe I could search for it later.

There are many pictures for it, should be easy. I also have a map of the era. AFAIR there is also a NACA report about airship ground handling that has some gritty pictures.

Flugplatz Friedrichshafen Löwental

www.mil-airfields.de

By the way, I saw this:

Thanks I didn't see this yet.

 

[misha.physics]

I think I should use one of these fonts:



I prefer the second one.

 

[Urwumpe]

Yes, the second is closer to the goal. The curves are just a bit too round, but I am sure, thats the special Zeppelinwerft flavor. Maybe you can find a good reference to use as texture instead of using a windows font. And maybe use two whitespaces.