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FS2004 D328eco (PAUSED)

fs10inator

fs10inator

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unitedarabemirates
When did you last feel the thrill of taking flight? What was your destination? What was your purpose? Where do you want to go next?

I took interest in the upcoming D328eco from Deutsche Aircraft and decided to start work on a model for FS9, which is currently my main sim albeit also having FSX.
It is essentially a stretched Dornier 328 that is designed with sustainability in mind (i.e. SAF compatibility, cleaner engines), hence the -eco suffix, but still regains (and potentially improves upon) the performance benefits of its predecessor.
The aircraft is expected to fly 2 years from now, and is slated for service in 2025.
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This project is going to need me a bit of patience, as I'm in a bit of a learning process, plus, the real plane is also a WIP. And so far, I'm following DRA on social media for any new updates on the aircraft.

3-view I made using gmax screenshots (click to view in 4K):
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Behind-the scenes look at my workflow, which itself deserves a little explanation:
I first model the aircraft's parts, UV map, and texture them in Blender first (because I'm more familiar with it), then I export each part as an .obj file so that I can import them into Gmax, where I will give the parts their materials and animate certain parts, such as the landing gear, gear doors, and flaps.
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And finally, some early screenies at Leipzig-Halle, where production will eventually take place. Back then, I used official DRA renders. Sadly, they didn't help much in the nose section when I eventually looked back at my D328 source images a little further.
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oh yeah... finally she got an own tread about her development... as she becomes a real beauty! 🤩😍🥰 love her shaping as well as her realistic looking nose section.
I think this is the most realistic shaping of a Dornier 328 i've ever seen in Flight Simulator. Even better than the VirtualCol... but that's just my taste. All in all a tremendous work of Art!

Just one little question: did you allready shape the interior Door part (as well as the stairs)?
 
Airbasil said:
oh yeah... finally she got an own tread about her development... as she becomes a real beauty! 🤩😍🥰 love her shaping as well as her realistic looking nose section.
I think this is the most realistic shaping of a Dornier 328 i've ever seen in Flight Simulator. Even better than the VirtualCol... but that's just my taste. All in all a tremendous work of Art!
Click to expand...
Thanks! I tried to make the front part of the hump as round as I could, but without impacting much on the existing UV map.
Also of note, the Virtualcol model is based on the prototype 328, which had a different dorsal fin than most other 328s, something I'm no fan of, but that's just me. No disrespect to them or anything. I just prefer the look of the current 328 fin.

IMHO it turned out better than when I first worked on it. The "hump" (wingbox) on which the wing sits was lowered so that it's level with the trailing edge, like in the real 328, as well as other 328 models I've seen in FS.
For some reason, in one of the official renders in the 328eco page, the hump relative to the trailing edge is like this:
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But in other renders, it's like this:
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Airbasil said:
Just one little question: did you allready shape the interior Door part (as well as the stairs)?
Click to expand...
No, not yet. I thought I was confident with the exterior model, until I realized that I should do major work on, and remap the fuselage. The result of that is on post #1. Now I'm looking at how I can put the landing lights, which will top off the exterior lights for this plane.
 
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Now that I've got the prop blur issue out of the way, and worked further on the fuselage hump (especially by rounding the front end)...
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how's about a few photo ops in honour of Earth Day?
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just beautiful... I really hope it comes together quite nicely... love the prop animation... probably the best prop animation I've ever seen on a turboprop in FS2004. Smooth like a snorring cat...

Keep on working on this... can't wait to see more... have fun developing that beauty.
 
While I figure out how I can better tune the FDE of this thing, especially using the aircraft.cfg file, I'll leave here this 3-view (updated) I made of the airplane using screenshots from gmax.
This will also be attached to the first post.
More FS9 screenshots, as well as a video clip, to come.

Click to view in 4K
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I am looking forward for this excellent model.
I am a friend of Do328 since ever...
The older Do328 had only ground spoilers or none as far as I know.
Your spoilers look a little larger. Is this a change of the D328eco?
 
hgschnell said:
I am looking forward for this excellent model.
I am a friend of Do328 since ever...
The older Do328 had only ground spoilers or none as far as I know.
Your spoilers look a little larger. Is this a change of the D328eco?
Click to expand...
Models from devs such as AIG, Robert Versluys, and Bjoern "Heretic" Kesten's dead project have the ground spoilers, so I adopted from them.
As for the spoiler size, I looked at BK's model and approximated their location. Unfortunately, I do not have real data regarding spoilers and their extension angle, so I gave it 60 deg. Maybe this may make it look a little bigger.
Also, none of the 3-view sources I have highlight spoilers, so what you see will do for the time being.
 
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Did some MAJOR rework on the nose section; now it's pointier than before! Unfortunately, this meant remapping the whole fuselage for the 3rd time, but at least it's as pointy as the real 328's nose can get.

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hgschnell said:
But why are the pics so slim? Only clicking them shows them correct.
Click to expand...
I have no idea. I selected the width to be auto for each picture, and the heights to be 500px, yet the pictures stretched.
It looked fine when I go to the post editor, but looks weird when I finish editing.
So I had to input the widths, in addition to the heights, for each picture for it to work.
Now it should look fine.

This must be some forum software/engine bug I don't know of before or something because the auto width feature worked for me previously, as I thought it only affected me.
But no matter what, only today did I get this issue....
 
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fs10inator said:
Models from devs such as AIG, Robert Versluys, and Bjoern "Heretic" Kesten's dead project have the ground spoilers, so I adopted from them.
As for the spoiler size, I looked at BK's model and approximated their location. Unfortunately, I do not have real data regarding spoilers and their extension angle, so I gave it 60 deg. Maybe this may make it look a little bigger.
Also, none of the 3-view sources I have highlight spoilers, so what you see will do for the time being.
Click to expand...
IIRC, the spoilers on my model were mostly guesstimations as well. I think they were introduced with the -120 version to improve STOL capabilities.

Feel free to use any assets (meshes, textures) from my model if you need them.

I long wanted to convert my model to X-Plane, but I just don't have the time anymore.
 
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