Board index FlightGear Development Aircraft

GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Questions and discussion about creating aircraft. Flight dynamics, 3d models, cockpits, systems, animation, textures.

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby Thorsten » Sun Mar 19, 2017 5:02 pm

Is there an easy way around it something like animating all the parts in blender and exporting the animation code somehow?


No - FG doesn't know blender, it only knows the mesh as exported and its own animation system.

Also does Flightgear recognize parts that are marked as parent and child parts in blender or does animation of the child parts needs to be defined anyway?


Yes, you can chain animations (see the RMS arm of the Space Shuttle for an example of a chained six joint animation).
Thorsten
 
Posts: 12490
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:33 am

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby Skydive » Sun Mar 19, 2017 8:35 pm

Thank you everyone for the replies. I found out what the problem was. The solution was actually much simpler - I had a typo, instead of defining z1-m and z2-m coordinates I had z2 tags twice. That's the price of copy paste :)

As for easier way of recording animation values. There must be one as it clearly works for this guy who is using a script to fix gear animation, by importing it to blender, adjusting and writing it back into xml file:



And this guy who creates gear animation in blender and then exports it to an xml file. Unfortunately there's no sound or any comments whatsoever and you need to keep rewinding the video to spot what he is doing. I only partially figured it out.

User avatar
Skydive
 
Posts: 42
Joined: Thu Mar 02, 2017 2:45 am
Location: Ireland
Version: 2020.3.11
OS: Linux (Pop!_OS)

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby Thorsten » Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:51 am

My best advice is to develop animations inside FG. You can make all origins, axes and angles property-configurable, so you can fully test everything runtime, and you'll get immediate feedback on how it will actually look in-sim.

Otherwise you're at the mercy of an import/export script, you might use features of blender which FG simply doesn't provide,... you might end up very unhappy.

I've developed complex parachute deformation/flapping/folding/waving animations using vertex shader mesh deformations (which blender can't even do) just inside FG, this works perfectly fine.
Thorsten
 
Posts: 12490
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:33 am

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby PINTO » Wed May 31, 2017 6:34 pm

I had taken a break from the bis to help out with the Viggen, but things are back in full swing again. New cockpit progress can be followed and downloaded in this branch: https://github.com/l0k1/MiG-21bis/tree/cockpit-redux - note that it's based on an older master that hasn't been merged in a while, so there are some nasal errors. Also, its a heavy WIP so there will be some ugliness until I'm able to address it all.

The master branch https://github.com/l0k1/MiG-21bis/tree/master has seen a bunch of updates as well.
- Thanks to swamp, crash-and-stress nasal has been implemented, and contact points are greatly refined - the plane will no longer bounce wildly when it crashes
- The engine thrust curves have been tweaked
- S-24 rocket is now available (still untextured), and the FAB-100 will be included soon as well
- Some small sound updates
- Radar and guided missile nasal files have been updated to the latest and greatest, with various other radar tweaks
- Radar signal return strength via RCS is implemented (still stronger than the real RP-22 for now, but weaker than 90% of radars in FG still)
- The YASim version has been officially depreciated
- The MiG-21MF-75 variant was added. It's a low-hanging fruit change to lay the framework for future variants to be added. The MF-75 is a MiG-21MF that was exported to several countries in 1975, and had a nearly identical cockpit to the bis.
- Bunch of console errors squashed
- Dumb bombs added
- Main model is now normal mapped.
- Couple new liveries

Work will continue on the new cockpit at a steady pace. I'm hoping to have the dash panel done by the end of this coming weekend (which might be a tad ambitious). After this, autopilot functions and navigation are the next priority, then finishing out the rest of the cockpit.
Actively developing the MiG-21bis (github repo) (forum thread) (dev discord) (fg wiki)

http://opredflag.com is an active flightgear dogfighting community (using a system that isn’t bombable)
User avatar
PINTO
 
Posts: 966
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:28 pm
Callsign: pinto
Version: stable
OS: Win10

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby abassign » Thu Jun 01, 2017 9:12 pm

The plane (version end of May 2017) does not work in linux, you need to edit the file:

MiG-21MF-75.xml

edit the 667 line:

from: "<aerodynamics file="/mig-21-aero.xml"/>"
to: "<aerodynamics file="mig-21-aero.xml"/>"
Developer of the program https://wiki.flightgear.org/Julia_photoscenery_generator
FDM developer of the G91R1B aircraft https://wiki.flightgear.org/FIAT_G91R1B
JSBSim collaborator
abassign
 
Posts: 947
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2012 6:09 pm
Location: Italy (living 5 Km from airport LIME)
Callsign: I-BASSY
Version: 2020.4
OS: Ubuntu 20.10

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby PINTO » Thu Jun 01, 2017 9:35 pm

Fixed thanks.
Actively developing the MiG-21bis (github repo) (forum thread) (dev discord) (fg wiki)

http://opredflag.com is an active flightgear dogfighting community (using a system that isn’t bombable)
User avatar
PINTO
 
Posts: 966
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:28 pm
Callsign: pinto
Version: stable
OS: Win10

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby PINTO » Mon Jun 05, 2017 3:45 pm

No new cockpit as of yet. Due to some new information, a shiny new FDM has moved up higher on the priority list (higher than everything else on my project list) so that's currently what is being worked on. I hope to have that in a usable state end of this week, then cockpit work will resume.

Sorry!

On another note, Kokos34 added the FAB-100 and supplied a very nice Kh-66 model. The Kh-66 needs some more guidance code so that has not yet been added, but the FAB-100 is available for use.
Actively developing the MiG-21bis (github repo) (forum thread) (dev discord) (fg wiki)

http://opredflag.com is an active flightgear dogfighting community (using a system that isn’t bombable)
User avatar
PINTO
 
Posts: 966
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:28 pm
Callsign: pinto
Version: stable
OS: Win10

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby PINTO » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:15 pm

After a brief sabbatical, this is back underway. The new front panel will be hopefully done by the end of August (that's my personal deadline). Everything on the front panel has been redone from scratch. New models, textures, everything.

The FDM is in a decent state. I have a Russian technical manual that's a hundred pages or so that I'm slowly translating, and that should increase the fidelity even more. The FDM is also currently tuneable at runtime, so feel free to tweak away in mid-flight.
Actively developing the MiG-21bis (github repo) (forum thread) (dev discord) (fg wiki)

http://opredflag.com is an active flightgear dogfighting community (using a system that isn’t bombable)
User avatar
PINTO
 
Posts: 966
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:28 pm
Callsign: pinto
Version: stable
OS: Win10

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby PINTO » Fri Sep 01, 2017 10:06 am

Brief update:
I've missed the deadline, but the work will be done on what I'm calling version 0.1 this weekend. Here's how the front panel looks currently.
Image
All but one of the gauges are complete. I have yet to fix animations, which is why some of the needles seem wonky. And several non-guage items are missing textures still (such as the RWR, the radar panel, and the bank of 4 warning lights).
Actively developing the MiG-21bis (github repo) (forum thread) (dev discord) (fg wiki)

http://opredflag.com is an active flightgear dogfighting community (using a system that isn’t bombable)
User avatar
PINTO
 
Posts: 966
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:28 pm
Callsign: pinto
Version: stable
OS: Win10

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby PINTO » Thu Sep 07, 2017 7:48 am

Another quick update -> the front panel is 95% complete. Warning lights and switch covers are left to do, which will probably get done tonight.
So as not to spam with images, the current panel is here: https://i.imgur.com/aOW2nYo.png
Other updates:
- All new gauges are reanimated
- Roll has been improved a tad, it should no longer be crazy brutal with mis-balanced armament.
- Magnetic compass now reports magnetic heading instead of true heading
- Splash screen now uses the new format for people running newer versions of flightgear
- In-sim help dialog is now correct, some hotkeys have been remapped.
- Braking chute is now repackable
- R25 and R13 engine response times have been improved
- The aircraft no longer bounces wildly when crashing, it will explode properly (thank you swamp). Tail strikes on landing/takeoff also damage the aircraft.
- Chute animation fixed, it's no longer invisible.
Last edited by PINTO on Thu Sep 07, 2017 8:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
Actively developing the MiG-21bis (github repo) (forum thread) (dev discord) (fg wiki)

http://opredflag.com is an active flightgear dogfighting community (using a system that isn’t bombable)
User avatar
PINTO
 
Posts: 966
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:28 pm
Callsign: pinto
Version: stable
OS: Win10

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby sp-lcz » Thu Sep 07, 2017 8:10 am

Thank you PINTO for you update. Can't wait to try your Mig-21 version:)
User avatar
sp-lcz
 
Posts: 128
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2017 1:42 pm
Location: EPWA
Callsign: SP-LCZ
Version: 17.3.1
OS: Windows 8.1

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby PINTO » Thu Sep 21, 2017 12:59 am

Development news:

I'm now in the "autopilot and navigation" phase of development, which will seek to accurately implement navigation and the autopilot as realistically as possible.

I'm officially modeling the MiG-21Bis with the Polyot-OI and SAU autopilot (product 75B).

Ive finished almost all related 3D work with the exception being the panel for NDBs.

The canopy had to be reworked again to accommodate the side panels. It now looks much better as well.

The interior panel backings are now all textured and finalized.

Autopilot panel has been modeled.

The in-sim help file has recieved a much needed update.

Hotkeys updated.

New livery.

Some FDM work related to roll and roll inertia.

The near future work includes autopilot + associated logic, gyro-compass implementation, radio panel switches and lights all working as intended, etc etc.

Following this will be implementing the electric/pneumatic/hydraulic systems.

Image

Download at https://github.com/l0k1/MiG-21bis
Actively developing the MiG-21bis (github repo) (forum thread) (dev discord) (fg wiki)

http://opredflag.com is an active flightgear dogfighting community (using a system that isn’t bombable)
User avatar
PINTO
 
Posts: 966
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:28 pm
Callsign: pinto
Version: stable
OS: Win10

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby pjedvaj » Sat Sep 23, 2017 3:38 pm

Nice work PINTO, old MiG-21bis model now really shows it's age. It would be too much work to update it with a recent 3D model.
All liveries would have to be repainted. Hope Skydive will impress us soon with the updated MiG-21-93/UPG variant.

Image
Retired
User avatar
pjedvaj
 
Posts: 682
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:32 pm

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby PINTO » Sat Sep 23, 2017 4:59 pm

At sometime in the future I'd like to replace the 3D model entireley, but systems, FDM, and in-cockpit stuff is more important. But yes, hoping we see a nice -21-93 here soon.
Actively developing the MiG-21bis (github repo) (forum thread) (dev discord) (fg wiki)

http://opredflag.com is an active flightgear dogfighting community (using a system that isn’t bombable)
User avatar
PINTO
 
Posts: 966
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:28 pm
Callsign: pinto
Version: stable
OS: Win10

Re: GNU/GPL MiG-21 development

Postby PINTO » Thu Oct 05, 2017 9:07 am

Brief update:

Autopilot is now correctly implemented, other than letdown mode and cmd ILS modes (which will be coming soon, but these don't actually control flight surfaces, they just tell you what to do).

Ctrl+A activates auto-leveller, shift+w turns off autopilot. The rest of the functions are mapped to the appropriate buttons and knobs in the cockpit.

Radio navigation with VOR's is now possible as well. ADF is coming soon.

A gyro compass has been installed, the compass now needs to be slaved via the FDS button.

Shader improvements, and an AO map for the cockpit front panel:

Image
Actively developing the MiG-21bis (github repo) (forum thread) (dev discord) (fg wiki)

http://opredflag.com is an active flightgear dogfighting community (using a system that isn’t bombable)
User avatar
PINTO
 
Posts: 966
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:28 pm
Callsign: pinto
Version: stable
OS: Win10

PreviousNext

Return to Aircraft

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests