Diamond Twin Star DA42 - Progress!

[n4gix]

I have just this evening finished up mapping ALL of the exterior parts. Every vertex now has "paint" on it... ;)

Sporting new glass and fuel filler caps and warning decal in place, along with the other decals (reduced by 50% from the original size).

Pilot is in place already, but I still need to add the copilot and perform sex-change surgery to make female... :)


http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/2993/da42spotview01kt2.jpg

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7697/da42spotview02kp5.jpg

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/4796/da42spotview03ob1.jpg


It's hard to notice, but the "mounting plate" for the pitot tube assembly is also visible.

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/5356/da42spotview04zo9.jpg

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/503/da42spotview05ii1.jpg

[fredneck]

That is awesome! not a big fan of the GA aircraft but I will be looking for this one!

This is freeware, right? ;)

[n4gix]

That is awesome! not a big fan of the GA aircraft but I will be looking for this one!

This is freeware, right? ;)

Um, nope. This is a joint project between Eaglesoft Development Group and Mindstar Aviation (G1000).

[fredneck]

Ah...:( In any case, I think it'll do well. Good looking aircraft!

[Brother23]

When selecting my first aircraft to do, this plane was in the inner circle.

I find her elegant and she has a panorama screen to look at the outer
cosmos.

The wings are thin and long, that smells after optimized speed and
long range economics inside this class.

There is surely a lots of fun discovering the world in her.

Greetings

[Alex Barrett]

Lovely aircraft!

I plan on doing my Twin ticket on this hopefully sometime next summer so I'll be looking forward to this release!

You've done an excellent job with the details.

Alex

[hinch]

awesome,

I followed this project for so long on FFS, I can;t wait for it!

[=Hollywood=]

Is Mindstar Aviation related to the same guys as Mindstar Productions who make the screenwriting software I use?

I have a feeling it's the same guys as I remember finding out about Mindstar Productions during the FSX beta.

[MichaelD]

Very, very nice. Great detail. I particularly like the golf clubs! :)

[n4gix]

Is Mindstar Aviation related to the same guys as Mindstar Productions who make the screenwriting software I use?

I have a feeling it's the same guys as I remember finding out about Mindstar Productions during the FSX beta.

Yep! Stasi Poulous owns Mindstar, and he is indeed the chief programmer for the G1000 units sold through his company, Mindstar Productions... :D

Here's an updated picture showing the lovely "Peggy Poly" pax in the current build. Check out the 'bling' on her left hand! :cool:

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/3310/17677832vt3.jpg

[=Hollywood=]

Thanks Bill, yeah he's a great guy. Met him on the FSX beta and have been using his screenwriting software ever since.

I'm amazed how many film and tv people are avid simmers. Matt Ford has a whole 737 sim built in Los Angeles.

[Waugh]

Very nice Bill. Was wondering where my golf clubs had gone. :D

Patrick

[fligurl]

are there any new updates on this plane? I see it on the eaglesoft website now so we gotta be getting close. I have a few hours in the single engine version so I'm pretty excited to see this one.

[n4gix]

I've been working on the DA42 between higher priority tasks as time allows. Right now, there's a lot of small interior parts to be modeled, mapped and textured.

The DA42 is third in line for release at the moment, but no "target date" has been set as of yet. "Sometime this summer" is about as firm as jello, but it's the best we can provide at this time.

1. Citation X v2.0 for FSX
2. CJ1+ v2.0 for FS9 and FSX
3. DA42 v1.0 for FS9 and FSX

[spotlope]

I have a confession to make. What was my first thought when I saw your lovely in-progress shot above? Was it "oh wow, look at that gorgeous mesh" (it is), or "nice paint job" (oh, yeah!), even "geez, Bill's a really good people modeler" (you are!)... was it any of those things?

No sir, my first thought was "damn, that's some good looking tarmac texturing. Wonder what add-on he's using?" Scenery design; it's a sickness I tell ya.

Seriously though, beautiful work, Bill. I'm really looking forward to this release.

[Southwest]

Good work Bill - i have one or two images of a Twin Star if you want me to send them over for reference ?

[n4gix]

I have a confession to make. What was my first thought when I saw your lovely in-progress shot above? Was it "oh wow, look at that gorgeous mesh" (it is), or "nice paint job" (oh, yeah!), even "geez, Bill's a really good people modeler" (you are!)... was it any of those things?

No sir, my first thought was "damn, that's some good looking tarmac texturing. Wonder what add-on he's using?" Scenery design; it's a sickness I tell ya.

Seriously though, beautiful work, Bill. I'm really looking forward to this release.

Thanks! Honestly, I don't remember where I had the a/c in the last screenshot. It was shot in FS9 of course, since I haven't begun the FSX model yet...

...there's little point in doing so until the FS9 model is completely nailed down!

As for the people, I'm particularly pleased with pretty Ms. Polly Perfect... :D

[n4gix]

Good work Bill - i have one or two images of a Twin Star if you want me to send them over for reference ?

Send 'em along then: n4gix@comcast.net

After all, one can never have too many source photos! :cool:

[Southwest]

All send Bill.

[VAEjonp]

Nice work Bill, that is a pretty plane and it looks fun to fly. :) Look forward to seeing the FSX version.

JonP

[Jeffrey Stähli]

No sir, my first thought was "damn, that's some good looking tarmac texturing. Wonder what add-on he's using?" Scenery design; it's a sickness I tell ya.


I'm that sick, that I even can name you the scenery just by looking at the ground texture (which I tried to recreate) ;) Flightzone Portland! There you have it :D

And Bill, thanks for the update on the DA42!

[Skydvdan1]

I have a confession to make. What was my first thought when I saw your lovely in-progress shot above? Was it "oh wow, look at that gorgeous mesh" (it is), or "nice paint job" (oh, yeah!), even "geez, Bill's a really good people modeler" (you are!)... was it any of those things?

No sir, my first thought was "damn, that's some good looking tarmac texturing. Wonder what add-on he's using?" Scenery design; it's a sickness I tell ya.

Seriously though, beautiful work, Bill. I'm really looking forward to this release.

LMAO!!! I guess that's the difference between aircraft guys and scenery guys. I thought the same thing as you. The asphalt and taxiline paint got my attention.

[n4gix]

I'm that sick, that I even can name you the scenery just by looking at the ground texture (which I tried to recreate) ;) Flightzone Portland! There you have it :D

And Bill, thanks for the update on the DA42!

Good guess, but nope... that can't be FZP since I don't have it installed (actually, I don't own a copy at all)... ;)

[ctcav8r]

Being in little ol' NZ, means our seasons are a bit out of whack lol.
So when you say by the end of your summer for release... would that be about September?
Looking forward to flying this model, as this is our primary Multi-engine trainer at the flying school I go to. We own about 6 of them.
In regards to paint schemes, would you be willing to take any requests for alternative ones?
Loving the screenshots thus far... :)

[ctcav8r]

I've been working on the DA42 between higher priority tasks as time allows. Right now, there's a lot of small interior parts to be modeled, mapped and textured.

The DA42 is third in line for release at the moment, but no "target date" has been set as of yet. "Sometime this summer" is about as firm as jello, but it's the best we can provide at this time.

1. Citation X v2.0 for FSX
2. CJ1+ v2.0 for FS9 and FSX
3. DA42 v1.0 for FS9 and FSX


Hi there any updates on this project?
Haven't heard much lately
Looking forward to buying the finished product!! :)

[n4gix]

Unfortunately, everything in the pipeline has been pushed forward by several months. We are still hopeful to get the CJ1+ released in time for the Holidays, but the DA42 is now pushed forward to the first quarter of 2010. :(

[Demon]

Hey Jim,

thumbs up, great work. Professional work should be payed :) Will there be a FSX version ?!

cheers,

Demon

[n4gix]

Hey Jim,

thumbs up, great work. Professional work should be payed :) Will there be a FSX version ?!


Separate packages for FS9 and FSX will be available. That's part of the reason for the delay. Creating two complete packages takes approximately twice as long... :eek:

[liamr685]

I love eaglesoft, and my favorite GA aircraft is the DA42, i have previously owned the abacus da42, *sigh*

im just wondering, is there a date for the release of this DA42 yet?

regards

liam

[FelixFFDS]

"In two weeks from an unspecified date...." of course, that's my speculation.


I love eaglesoft, and my favorite GA aircraft is the DA42, i have previously owned the abacus da42, *sigh*

im just wondering, is there a date for the release of this DA42 yet?

regards

liam

[n4gix]

Honestly, no. As a general rule-of-thumb, it's rather pointless to ask any developer for a "projected release date," as very few of us are silly enough to paint ourselves into a corner...

...and then have to explain the inevitable delays! :duck:

[liamr685]

So we are still clinging on the "first quarter of 2010" estimation?

fair play

i was just wondering cos i co-run a flightsim and teamspeak server and were starting a flying club that meet every week and we decide on an event to do, hops etc etc and my aircraft of choice are the DA20-A1 and DA42, but the server is up 24/7 so any1 is free to join and fly anything, anywhere and join are planned events.

Regards

Liam

Ps if you want the IP just message me, as public advertising aint allowed haha

[n4gix]

So we are still clinging on the "first quarter of 2010" estimation?

It's still within the realm of possibility. The main problem is that a large majority of my productive time is spent waiting on someone else to get off the pot...

Fortunately, I have so many projects in-process at simultaneously that I'm still getting stuff done, but my biggest nightmare is the possibility that two or more WIPs will get "unstuck" at the same time, and I'll wind up buried in the deluge of incoming "stuff."

[liamr685]

just a quick question...

are we allowed to see any preview shots of the 2D panel please, fi there are any?

ive re downloaded the abacus DA42 to keep me happy-ish untill the eaglesoft one is released, and the only accurate and good thing about the abacus da42 is the 2d panel, everything else is just, well, ill leave it to the imagination ;)

regards

Liam

[n4gix]

just a quick question...

are we allowed to see any preview shots of the 2D panel please, fi there are any?


Here is one at 33MO - Leaming Field. Note that this is still a WIP (see the red R icon?)...

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/461/33mo000002.jpg

Here is a shot of the 3D panel as I fly an ILS approach to Rwy 27 at 33MO:

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/3582/33mo000003.jpg

[liamr685]

sweet, its better than the abacus 2d aswell, oh my wallet is ready for this when it comes out :D

[liamr685]

ok now ive had a full glance at it, i cant see a nav>Gps button, there might be 1, i may not be spotting it haha, will there be 1 so it follows a default fs made flightplan?, this if you know of course....

regards

Liam

[n4gix]

ok now ive had a full glance at it, i cant see a nav>Gps button, there might be 1, i may not be spotting it haha, will there be 1 so it follows a default fs made flightplan?, this if you know of course....

The CDI softkey on the PFD cycles between NAV1, NAV2 and GPS navigation.

[liamr685]

Ok, cheers, i really cant wait for this to be released, and if it hasnt already, id be more than happy to help beta test it :D

regards

Liam

[liamr685]

May i ask...

any news on this addon at all? since i last bugged you ;)

anything like news about it

estimated release date

more screenshots etc etc....

im really looking forward to this addon :D

Liam

[n4gix]

So are we. I'm tired of having to keep dusting it off and polishing the chrome...

Honestly, I've given up even speculating to myself about when it will be ready. Right now it's buried in the "to do" pile of stuff on the texture artist's desk...

[liamr685]

oooo ok =)

so you have your own texture artists at eaglesoft? or do you use a 3rd party company like McPhat studios to do your repaints or do you open them to the public to add some, because i know a good repainter who does a few paints for CLS.



Liam

[n4gix]

oooo ok =)

so you have your own texture artists at eaglesoft? or do you use a 3rd party company like McPhat studios to do your repaints or do you open them to the public to add some, because i know a good repainter who does a few paints for CLS.

Yes, although the artwork that is being done is for the virtual cockpit and cabin area. The exterior has long ago been completed.

[liamr685]

ahh ok

im really looking forward to this addon, alot of time has gone into it, its going to be a good one for the hangar




Liam

[liamr685]

Hey Bill

i see the eaglesoft website has changed and is now showing the DA42 info page

any news? any clues to a release period yet, as in, this month or next month sorta thing?



Regards

Liam

[n4gix]

Hey Bill

i see the eaglesoft website has changed and is now showing the DA42 info page

any news? any clues to a release period yet, as in, this month or next month sorta thing?

Well, that means that it's (finally) at the head of the que, which means "all hands on deck" until it's ready for beta testing and final release...

...however long that might take... ;)

My best advice, don't try holding your breath, as it is likely to be another few months at least. :wizard:

[liamr685]

Few months :eek: aha

ok

im just going through the screenshots on the website about it.

cheers


Liam

[n4gix]

Few months :eek: aha

ok

im just going through the screenshots on the website about it.


As you probably have guessed, I'm unwilling to "paint myself into a corner" over a possible time frame. However, it is also quite possible to take less time... :cool:

[liamr685]

now your messing with my mind lmao

ahh i really cant wait for this one :D


Liam