F7U-3 Cutlass

[Aircraftprofiles]

A estimate of how long it took to get the Cutlass made top to bottom was about 50-75 hours...give or take.

Simcoe: I use Modo...its a really great software, where yo both can model and render. Some modellers prefer 3dmax, but i think that software requires a stand-alone render engine.
I found the learning curve very steep...once the first model was completed, i discovered that all aircrafts are pretty much modeled in the same way, so it was just a matter of trying new models out. Also the forum on luxology.com was very useful (luxology is the company that makes Modo 401).

[Aircraftprofiles]

I have to admit that i agree with those of you that have said the metal finish was too dark...after not having looked at the profile for a few days, I found it way too dark too, so i lighted up the surface and here´s the result.

[Vacajun]

AP, this lightened version is one of your best!! Congratulations!

My only nitpick is that the bottom of the vertical tail needs a dark shadow behing it to set it off--it gets lost right jow.

Superb!!

[GiantFlyingRobots]

Very much improved.

I wonder who the genius was that gave you such sage advice.

Shows the full extent of the advantage that working in 3D has.

[Aircraftprofiles]

Here´s a update of the Cutlass. Turned out to be abit more difficult that i thought, to convert it from NM to Gull grey. also it was kind of hard to get the semi-gloss gull grey color right...but this is as close as i´m getting right now.

After doing this render i noticed a bunch of errors in the mesh , which i need to correct in order to avoid getting warped and distorted maps...The cockpit area on the Gull grey bird is an example of what can happen when the mesh is not kept clean.

Comments and suggestions is always welcome !

[Supah]

I'd prefer the shadows to be a bit darker and perhaps some more work on the effects on the glass.

[Aircraftprofiles]

I think you are right about that Supah.

Here´s some new updates...Hope you like em.

IN some strange way i prefer the -1 model to the -3...I wouldn´t call it prettier but perhaps less ugly is more suiting

[javo]

what a great job you realize texture.
Congratulations!

[Supah]

Dramatic improvement on the first image! It looks like it fits into the picture a lot better. Second looks awesome though the paintscheme is a bit boring, did the Blues really fly this machine? Wouldn't it have more yellow area's in it like their hornets?

Edit: When enlarged the stressing on the skin near the rivets under the cockpit area looks rather extreme especially on a relatively small aircraft like this. No pilot would sign off on a plane like that in pre-flight. You get warping this bad on B-52's but those are much larger airframes with more space between structural frames that are designed to have this happen.

[Aircraftprofiles]

Javo: Thanks

Supah: Thanks ! I have put a whole lot more time in this 3d print, which might be the reason it fits better. The bumps is a bit too much i agree, i just have to take another render of it and ease off the bumps abit...easy fix !
The Blues did fly two Cutlasses at one point. just as demo aircrafts. The Cutlass was notorious for it poor rate of climb, which didn´t make it very suitable for the Blues. That was despite the Cutlass was the first navy fighter with afterburner. The afterburner wasn´t much use, though: The fuels supply to the thirsty Westinghouse engines couldn´t keep up when the afterburners where on, so the aircraft was prone to engine stops when fuelsupply couldn´t keep up with the demand.