Having resisted FSx for so long, for all the usual reasons, too lazy to re learn all the new tools, too comfortable with FS9 and its modeling techniques, annoyed at having to reinvent the wheel yet again etc etc, I decided to push the Jetstream into FSx SP2/Accel.

 

Although the model is a port over and still retains full FS9 compatability I was frankly quite suprised at the increase in game play, I have no idea where it came from, nothing has changed since the last time I test flew the Blackhawk in FSx, but it was an enjoyable test flight non the less.

 

I'm still not sure FSx will be half the success that FS9 ever was, but that one single flight may well be the trigger I need to explore some more and see 'what all the fuss is about'.

Well with Xmas finally over, its time to get back to some projects, the Essex project is gathering pace and is joined by a Cruiser and some planes, hopefully in a few days I will have some renders of the planes and some better progress shots of the Cruiser but for now this image added to the ship folder will have to suffice.

 

I've been longing to make something that floats and debated on several types of vessel I see at work, however I dragged out the old Gmax model of and Essex carrier I had started years ago, after much work converting to Max8 its finally begining to look like an aircraft carrier should. The objective is to make a carrier for WWII, one for Korea and one for Vietnam, Essex carriers served in all these conflicts but over there life time were considerably upgraded and rebuilt, there final form looking nothing like there built form.

 

 

Some new pictures added in the library and hopefully more as time goes by.

Its been a long and strange week in Flight sim land and whilst looking for something new to do, l trawled back through some old Gmax models l had built and converted to Max, the Fw-190 and Ju-88 were both converted across from Gmax to Max, all the mapping and animation was lost but the mesh retained its shape so the hardest work was saved. Some mapping could have been saved as I found out later when converting the Seaking models, l suppose l could go back and redo the Fw-190 and Ju-88 but to be honest not much was lost so its no great shakes to carry on from here.

 

Anyway, heres a view of the Fw-190 now fully integrated into Max8, the previous image was from Gmax and rendered via Yafray and Yagmax

 

 

Having finally got around to begin scaning in hundreds of 35mm negative's I thought l'd post a few up here, check the Real Trains photo folder, these few are from the period when Felixstowe Freighliners were entrusted to class 56 on a regular basis. Its hard to believe this was ten years ago.

Like it or not, its a daily occurrence and something we have little control over, so I thought I'd share some of the more extreme weather we have seen at work this year.

 

First up is the fog, this is actually quite common for us at Felixstowe, however here is a view that many do not see whilst they are blundering around at ground level

 

Next up is rain, yes we get lots of it around here and yes we get hose pipe bans too ?, go figure. Our terminal is so large that it can have different weather patterns along its length and this photo shows that quite clearly.

 

Finally we have Thunderstorms, certainly the most impressive and this one did not disappoint, giving a fantastic light display before hand and an even better lightning display later.

 

The big images are in the Shipping folder, download to your PC for the big picture.

 

 

Well l've worked out how to add photo folders, so enjoy the images in there, if you want to see them in large size then use the download button to your PC, my spaces does a very good job of compressing them for the page, but saving them will get you the big picture.

Well, l've finally plucked up the courage to open a blog.

 

I suppose l'd better start with a little resume, my name is Michael, l work for the Port of Felixstowe as a crane engineer, l have a long standing interest in merchant and naval shipping so its a rather nice place to work, hopefully l'll post some images as time goes by.

 

For hobbies l model in 3DStudio Max8 and make models for Microsoft flightsims and trainsims so hopefully some images and renders of work and works in progress will find there way here as well.

 

Anyway, heres a rare public image of me at work, having some fun for a change with a visit on board the Hanjin Budapest