AH64A

[Serclaes 0]

I played around with the lighting a bit  

I did the PNVS, the TADS, the tail, reworked some points here and there.

Airframe wire

TADS wire

PNVS wire

I guess i am ready for (mirrored) detail and the engines 

I am still considering how to do the thing where the PNVS sits on best, as for now it is pretty simple.  

[orson 0]

looks great Serclaes ... i look forward to crashing it into a tree on release

self admitted crap pilot

[xnodunitx 0]

I'll have another tip update for you soon, the shape is quite simple really but its difficult to find a good angle on it anywhere to say the least.

The shape mostly resembles ____

/ _ \

/ / \ \

But wider and far more even.

I don't have an example to show you at the moment but study these pics and see what you can get.

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/1817/airah64doverwaterfrontawh3.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9021/99031762nulyxrfsmv4.jpg

You're PNVs looks a bit small by the way..it could be the sensor which needs to have the back moved up a bit, remember the slope down is only slight. The night side of on your TADS need to be pointed down some, their not even remember.

Also I would recommend thickening the winds juuust a bit, right now they look a bit too thin.

I'll see if I can get that example done soon of that nose area so it can be more clear.

[xnodunitx 0]

Any progress?

[Serclaes 0]

Quote[/b] ]You're PNVs looks a bit small by the way

You have an excellent eye, it was indeed a bit small.

After long time no news, and re-re-re-re working the mesh ( i found out how to use poles) i went crazy on the ledge loops.

Right now i am working on the engine

[DaSquade 0]

I don't know much about the shape of the AH64(A), but you might want to watch out with the edge tool. It is a nice powerfull tool, but:

-Imho you're overdoing yourself and the model (like said, don't know its real shape). Looks like a lot of edges are pointless or just not that important.

-Edge loops can mess up your 'clean' model.

Anyway, just saying .

[Serclaes 0]

There are probably a lot of unneeded edge loops. Like i said i went a bit crazy on them to remove all the tris i had in the mesh and to build some nice poles instead (around the cockpit for example, or around the EFABS). It is still a learning process so i apreciate any given critics and comments

[Blackhawk 0]

Nice one Serclaes!

Its about time we get a Apache which isn't a import from OPF.

Keep it up!

[Serclaes 0]

Hello, it's me again with an update.

I've been reducing the face count which was very easy thanks to my edge loops. Next on my list is the top of the fuselage. The first time i tried to do it i lacked a picture of it, luckily i found one and can now complete that. The tail is still in the works as i can't complete it as long as the mirror modifier is active. I want to finally get done with the hull to start making normal maps etc

[jasono 0]

That's really coming together nicely.

Good job mate, and good luck with it!

[soul_assassin 1750]

excellent effort! I must commend you for stomaching blender's interface

[xnodunitx 0]

You have an excellent eye, it was indeed a bit small.

This helicopter is my life

Okay you're looking good so far but I have a few things to comment on.  Firstly that you'll have to pardon me if I get too overbearing, you said you wanted accurate so I'm going to point out everything you can do to make it more accurate, what is done is up to you of course.

Now thus far you're doing a great job for your first time, but let us adress some issues. (I'll avoid technical terms as best I can)

First we'll start with the more seperate parts, your stablizator (the part that moves on the tail) is too wide, the shape is ALMOST as long as the wingpspan but not quite

http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?....pg]http

You can see here and the blueprints from Airwar.ru show that the horizontal piece is about HALF the wingspans width.

It could be the angle but your EFABs look too wide, making the proportion seem out of place..but again it could be that angle..*tilts head a bit*

To make things easier I straightened the picture and made some modifications of things you can do to make it more accurate on ONE side, leaving the other as orignal (though the stabilizator might not be in its original position since I had them both moved previously).

http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=topeditmy3.jpg

the nose piece was rounded, the red line indicates where a section of your pieces are that needs to be moved up and to resemble the shape of the green lines.  From the top you should see only ALITTLE of the frame, shown here.

The yellow lines are at the middle of the wings to be a marker for the stabilizator.  

The EFAB is smoother at the top at more of an angle with the bump pushing out.  It is also a bit less wide though due to the bump its a bit harder to notce.  And one last thing, the EFAB's shape aside from the front and the lump should be completely straight until the slant, and even that should be straight as well.  Changing these will make a HUGE difference I garuntee.

The reason the EFABS look bigger on the bottom is because the frame begins to have a small curve in on the underside, hence it looking bigger from the bottom.

http://img235.imageshack.us/my.php?image=efabadjustvw2.jpg same color rules here, just keep in mind that this slant occurs just under the start of the wing, which is why its just a hard thing to see in 90% of the pictures and video's, the correct shape is only noticeable on the blueprints.

Now lets move to the engines.  Right now it's hard to say on the size since I don't have any up/down and left/right images so we'll go on shape for now.  This is one of the trickiest things to model, many rarely seem to get the shape correct.

A common misconception is that the shape is square, or most that notice its round and square get it in the wrong places, having the top round and the bottom square when it is infact the other way around.

Let's review.

http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enginenj6.jpg

This image is important not because of the engine but because of the shape and location of the door, use this as a marker and it will help you model a more accurate engine.  Also note the curve at the door, this especially important for later when you attach the engine to the airframe, otherwise the piece just won't fit. (Sidenote, I used 2 screen layers in photoshop to brighten this to make things easier to see, so don't go by this on terms of refraction.)

http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=engine2vt1.jpg Another important image, the Orange line shows the bottom hinges of the door, use it as a marker.  But what is more important that this image shows is just above the green line, where the round connecting piece of the engine to the body ends and the engine continues.  Also take note of how the engines shape connects to the frame from the bottom.

http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=engine3gs0.jpg

shape of bottm end of the engine, nearly the same on the top except for a slanted piece which will be seen soon.

http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=engineshapeod6.jpg

This image has helped me out alot because there is very little shadowing thus showing every curve. Just keep in mind that the connecting armor piece covering most of the nosebox (the bit inside the circular piece infront of the intake) is seperate.

From this image you can also see how as the engine goes further back it begins to "pull up", note the shape of the vents.

The bottom edges of your current engine will need to be pushed in some to make it appear more circular, also the front should end in a circle and not a square..this particular part is a pain and my engine is still WIP..not to mention I can't provide the steps I took for you because they were done via Max's Connect feature.

Note I'm using several lights to get rid of shadowing as much as I can.

http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enginewire1ab2.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enginewire2vy8.jpg

http://img230.imageshack.us/my.php?image=enginewire3oq2.jpg

http://img236.imageshack.us/my.php?image=seperatecx9.jpg

This shape matches exactly with the blueprints front view, so thats a shape you want to shoot for, rounded sqaurey at the top and circular on the bottom. You want to use that shape and then end the intake with a circle.

And that concludes lesson.

[manzilla 1]

Christ, that's some serious schoolin'. Thanks for posting that. I learned a ton. Admittedly I'm not working on anything that would require this knowledge but it's nice to know anyway. Interesting stuff.

[xnodunitx 0]

Oh just wait till we get to the rotor I better make sure my blueprints are all assembled from that guide..hoo boy.

[Serclaes 0]

xnodunitx i can't thank you enough for what you are doing. I indeed said i want an accurate model and i plan on keeping that. These pictures and your advise are worth money and a lot of it too.  

I've reduced the size of the stabilizator.

But i have problems with the top as the picture is quite low res (my apologies).

Would you mind re-drawing the shape on this?

[max power 21]

It would perhaps be easier for onlookers (and yourself) to judge volumes if the screens were taken in a faceted shading mode.

[ZeroG_181 0]

From what I can see, you're making good progress. I can't wait for this to be made into an addon!

[1in1class 0]

Yes this chopper is vary well needed in ArmA its the main US chopper, vary nice job keep it up cant wait.

[xnodunitx 0]

Sure, not a problem, I'd also like some angles of your stablizator, those bends at the end don't quite look right and I'll show you why in a minute but for now I'll tweak that picture.

http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=top1ky5.jpg

the green line is the shape, if it gets a bit hard to remember just think of the yellow area, a small uneven triagnel left open, starts just being the pilots glass and cuves out like a door stopper.

nevermind the cyan lines.

Now back to the stablizator.  I didn't think of it at the time but the stabilizator needs more tweaking, it should follow this frame setup.

You'll want a shape like this ]http://img228.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stabli1vo2.jpg] don't worry if the front doesn't line up with the top, for some reason atleast from the top and side the stabilizator is off by just abit, as long as it matches the sideview you'll be fine.

You'll also of course want more segments but those lines are mandatory as they follow the cutoffs, I learned from the previous AH-64 with Franze that if you sacrifice the straight line for a angled connection the lighting will be off.  Just don't forgot to cut out the center boxes at the front and back to simulate the notches.

Just don't forget to add the rounded ends http://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stablizsidens5.jpg just follow resizing it on the blueprints.

Also here is something you may find interesting to help you with the nose areas shape and more of the frame for accuracy, problem is if you want to follow all of it then it would be best to start the frame over, won't be as difficult since you have knowledge now if do.  http://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=framefrontyu5.gif

Also with all due respect don't let this soley become part of ACE, if they ask you then a seperate version is alright but the public obviously needs something that isn't a BIS remake and since right now I'm too busy with other things to work on my own I need someone to fill the gap, I know they will appreciate it as well.

[Serclaes 0]

Heya again,

i've been working on the Apache when time allowed (controversially very rarely). And do not worry, i will not let this become part of any mod which delays my schedule. The apache will be released when it is ready. Not sooner, nor later. Though it could be included in some mods.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....le2.jpg

Ok, so i've modeled the intakes on top:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....ire.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....kes.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....top.jpg

I know the intake itself is a little bit too big, it will be adjusted later. I'm more worried about the location and the junction with the main fuselage.

Thanks to your reference pics xnodunitx i could correct my stabilizer:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....tab.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....top.jpg

Its still a bit edgy but i will detail that a bit more.

The engine:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....ont.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....ide.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....top.jpg

A problem zone:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....one.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....ire.jpg

I can't exactly say what i forgot or what is wrong, because on the blueprint (from the side) it looks good :/

[xnodunitx 0]

Looking good so far, the changes you made to the top main rotor intakes (haven't yet found the correct name for those in the manual..) made a big difference, lets take it a step further.

While it is more accurate it still needs just a bit more tweaking, for on the gap extends all the way to the rounded extrustion, there is no bridge beforehand and the intake connects directly to the frame of the helicopter without anything comming into the gap, allowing airflow to smoothly pass over the the rounded piece behind the cockpit and to the bottom of the rotor.

Anything within the red line needs to be cut out, the green part needs to be pushed back, I made a simple model example for you.

I'd like more views of the stabilator, it seems a bit off..too thick or something, maybe not wide enough..I'm not sure but a marked improvement.

The engine looks good so far though it needs to be straight, the only curve it has is at the end of the underside but it is completely straight on the frame.

The engine nar..eh..something, the round piece infront of the intake fan's opening needs to be a bit wider and the shape less round, refer to previous posts.

I believe I see what happened at the problem zone, for one the slant at the top is not moved down and the curve that forms the upper piece of the frame tailboom up needs to be riased.

Basicly you have the engines overlapping it whereas it should be- http://img81.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imageyv9.jpg the blueish purple represents the path of the curve, the pink represents the lining of the engine, note how they blend in together.

You're doing well so far, keep up the good work tempting me to work on a longbow block 3 so if you plan on adding an AH-64D to your collection I may have an example to help you out with that.

[Serclaes 0]

Well, from a AH64A to AH64D there isnt soooo much more work, or am i mistaken

I've read about the Block III update. It "restores" the flight capabilities the AH64A had.

I found out what was wrong with the top fuselage intake. for some reason i curved the whole fuselage. I think i corrected that but the junction still needs some work.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....nt2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....int.jpg

Here are some close up shots of the stabilizator

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....ide.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....tor.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....der.jpg

I also reworked the ball at the engine intake:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....ide.jpg

And the back end of the engine:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....ack.jpg

I also begun to model the interior:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....pit.jpg

Right now its pathetic  

[xnodunitx 0]

Almost got the intake but you need to remove the bottom faces facing up, the "floor" of the upper intake is actually the top of the frame for smooth airflow.

The engine nacelle (or something like that)  it looking but, just needs to be opened up a bit more (the circle at the entrance needs to be wider.)

I'm not sure about the stabilator..it still seems wide..I'd like to see a wing beside and infront of it from a top down perspective.

The cockpit is where it gets fun and since you're starting off with the co pilot we'll start there.

http://www.tpub.com/content....050.htm

This is the real shape, of the entire instrument pannelling, the rest of the station is rounded evenly, note the images.  

Beyond this are the controls at the sides of the co pilot/gunner (from now on mentioned at CPG)

http://www.tpub.com/content....052.htm

Some images of the CPG cockpit.  

http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=13709649101740b2b2b3ocs4.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ah6411zh1.jpg

http://img390.imageshack.us/my.php?image=6750893450514dcf23biu9.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ah64a43of52eg6.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vegQfy....333.JPG

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/27/57857305_16e5a1b339_o.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23871548@N04/2901561488/sizes/o/

About the AH-64D that depends on what block really.

True the change isn't that vast but covering all of the little details is missed by most, Block III looking to be currently the most changed, if you are interested in some imagery of it here is some on the side.  

Needless to say, I read about some of her newest systems and I'm alittle giddy, it looks like the birds still got a bright future in the army and is becomming even more lethal.

[Serclaes 0]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....ide.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums....jpg.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/RealKendrick/ah64_15_front.jpg

Did some work on the cockpit. Got a problem with the seats. I don't have a clue how the upper part looks like because i couldnt find any close up fotos. Then i believe the pilots seat is moved a bit to the right to make place for the collective but the seat could also be smaller.

Also, i think the fuselage/cockpit relation is not good, gonna owrk on that.

[xnodunitx 0]

You are working with the floorplan shown from the interior cutout on the blueprints right? If not I highly suggest you do.

Still need to tweak the top intakes, it doesn't have to be directly connected to the helicopter, just more "open". (NOTE: If images are shown as broken links, right click the broken link icon and then select "View image", for some reason it will show correctly then.)

I'll post some info on the seats later (My hard drive decided to die so I lost my reference model and all of my military information and imagery, plans for universal domination, trying to recoop.)    But for now I would finish up on the exterior if I were you, there is still a good amount to be done.    

The first (bottom) set of vertices forming the bridge at the pilots station on the top of airframe needs to be moved back alittle, right now the line going from the nose to the back of the pilots door isn't as straight as it should be and is a glaring issue.

From the side the middle vertices at the back of the window at the pilots door should be moved forward just a bit, there should be no seam in the straightness at that point.  

There is a face at the top as well, not sure what it is part of but it looks like it intersects the window, if so then that should be deleted.

It should be straight at the door then rounded a bit, from there it diagnolly moves straight up and boxes off, right now it looks like a bit of a triangle at the top.

I noticed your CPG window wasn't correctly lined up with the airframe, at the top it pushes past the exterior of the doorframe and connects to the inside, this is another glaring issue you will want to correct as it is very noticeable.

After I get some more good images of the seat I'll get them posted for you, though this isn't something you often find high res images of so you may have to work off of some of the smaller.

You're doing very well so far, keep it up and don't get discouraged by my nitpicking.  

Okay about the seats, their not colored images exactly but since you're not there just yet we'll worry about that later, this page http://www.tpub.com/content....055.htm

And search for "seat", you'll find several references here. http://www.tpub.com/content/ahapache/TM-1-1520-238-23-2/index.htm

From there on are more references to the cushions, armor plates and so on..you should find all you need to know.