North American Aviation X-15 - Update: Pilot, Third Skid and Wing Pods

In the North American Aviation X-15 Cockpit, the pilot has had an update to the texture. I'm not the best when it comes to creating a 3D model & texture of the human body, but this one is just a functional 3D model for the external X-15 3D model.

The Third Skid is now textured. However, I'll be altering the 'Aircraft green primer' as I'm not happy about it. Also, from the pictures I have, the animation doesn't 'work'. So,  I'll be altering parts of the third skid to make it 'work'.

I've added the the wing pods for experiments on the X-15, both wing pods are different. The wing pod on the Starboard side (near) has cameras pointing forward and aft of the X-15. The port wing pod (far) has an experiment mounted in the forward section of the wing pod.

North American Aviation X-15 - Third Skid Gear

I've now added the third skid gear to the North American Aviation X-15 3D Model. It was flown on X-15-1 for it's last 12 flights and on X-15-3 for it's last 14 flights. This is a very approximate 3D model.

There is a reason why it's a very approximate 3D model, I've only got two images to work with. One image is from a book titled "Hypersonic: The Story of the North American X-15" by Dennis R. Jenkins & Tony R. Landis. The other image is from an accompanying book called  "X-15 Photo Scrapbook" by the same authors. However I don't have the second book, but luckily found an image from the book.

I've asked Santa/Father Christmas for this book, but the elves haven't reprinted this book in years. If you have this book and have no requirement for it, I would be happy to purchase it from you.

[Edit]
This is one of the images:

North American Aviation X-15A-2 - Canopy

The 3D model of the North American Aviation X-15A-2 now has the oval windows for the canopy, complete with port side eye-lid. Tomorrow I'll add the hinges and opening mechanism for the eye-lid.

North American Aviation X-15A-2 - Rear Textured

Long day re-creating the UV map for the North American Aviation X-15A-2 3D model. When I added the rear fuselage extensions to be flush the the nozzle, it screwed up the UV map for the rear section. I've repositioned the UV map manually, because if I did it automatically, it would completely reset the UV map for the fuselage and re-positioning all of the fuselage parts would of taken longer. Guess it's a limitation of Wings 3D, but I can live with it. I've also added 'improved' vents and jettison pipe on the rear too.

Defiantly next, I'll do the canopy. :)

North American Aviation X-15A-2 - Rear Details

The rear of the North American Aviation X-15A-2 is now modelled. I've omitted the the texture as when I added the new parts around the XLR-99 engine, as the UV map lost some of it's mapping around the rear and look very distorted and psychedelic. I'll look at this when I've re-modelled the two trailing vents pipes

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The Canopy I'll deal with later,

North American Aviation X-15A-2 - X-15 to X-15A-2 Modification (Pimp up my Rocket plane!)

I've stretched limo'ed the North American Aviation X-15 into the X15A-2. Noticeable modifications are:

• Add 29 inches to the fuselage. Done, see picture below :).
• Add 6.75 inches to the Skid Gear. Not to sure where it is added to. It appears to be on the main section. If this is the case, it's an easy modification.
• Canopy to have the oval windows and 'Eye-lid' on the Port side. 
• Finally some modifications to the rear section of the fuselage for the additional H2O2 / Helium tanks.

The hardest part will be to modify the cramped texture file for the extensiosn, but there *should* be enough room. Fingers crossed...

I know I've got the wrong texture file, this is just for illustration purposes.

North American Aviation X-15 - 3D model of X-15 Pilot

I can create planes, spacecraft and cars and other object, however I'm crap at creating 3D models of 'natural' objects such as humans, animals, trees. It just something that I've struggled with, even drawing them. Guess I don't have the 'natural' draw gene.

However, I've created a *very* basic 3D model of a pilot for the X-15 project. Details such as harness and hands need to be added. Hands could be important ;)

I've also managed to model the Vertical Stabliser pedals in the cockpit, based upon two photos. They are very crude, however it's better than nothing and I'll refine the shape at a later date.

North American Aviation X-15A-2 -Texture space (part 3)

My next problem is I would like to use the existing texture file of the X-15 for the X-15A-2. However I have to add a extra section to the main fuselage. I don't want to re-create or make a new texture file, I just need to alter it.

Draft Texture file

It's a bit like a jigsaw, without the finished picture. I think, for now, I'll move the Wings over to the left and move the landing gear and small details over the the right. However I can take out the other Aircraft number out

North American Aviation X-15A-2 - External Tanks (part 2)

The riveting process on the X-15 is taking a lot longer then I expected. Meanwhile in the paint booth (Texturing), I've completed the first texture graphic for the 3D Models of the external tanks for the North American Aviation X-15A-2.

I've identified a possible two other 'paint schemes' for the external tanks. Please can anyone else confirm that there are 3 paint schemes or more: The paint schemes I know of are the 'test tanks' (above), the external tanks without the 'colourful' markings (plain metal)  and the one below.

Thanks in advance for any help you provide. :)

North American Aviation X-15 - Riveting

I've now got to a stage were I'm happy with the 3D model and texture of the X-15. Now for the 'Devil in the detail' part, adding the rivets and other surface details. When I've added all these on the texture file, as a separate layer, I'll create the Bump/Normal Map to give an added effect to the 3D model.

I've been looking for a way I can easily add the rivets and surface details on to the texture file. The best way I have found so far, is to use Inkscape to add lines where the rivets are, then change the style of the line to dotted. Then import the texture file in Wings3D, check it, and then return to Inkscape to make any changes and re import if required. So I've been swapping between Inkscape and Wings3D all morning. Multi Monitors are very useful. think I get two large widescreens monitor after this is done!

North American Aviation X-15A-2 - External Tanks

I've created the external fuel tanks for the X-15A-2. The actual 3D Model for the X-15A-2 itself is still 'Work-in-progress'.

The cramped texture file needs to be altered so the it incorpates the extra 29inches of the X-15A-2. What I'll probably end up doing is shrinking minor elements of the texture file.

North American Aviation X-15 - Hangar Render

I've been working a rendered scene using 3D Models of the North American Aviation X-15. Here are two X-15 one with the Boom Nose and XLR-11 engines and the other with the Ball Nose and XLR-99 Engine.

North American Aviation X-15 - More Cockpit Texturing done(Part 5)

More work done on the North American Aviation X-15 (XLR-11 Version) 3D Model of the cockpit. If I can get 10 hours of work done in the next week, I think I might have it done.

North American Aviation X-15 - Leaked Photograph (Part 4)

Is this a leaked photograph taken from a F-104 over Edwards Airforce Base? Or an early release of a simulator on a series of popular mobile devices. You decide :)

North American Aviation X-15 - Cockpit Objects (Part 3)

I've now started to add more objects tothe cockpit of the  North American Aviation X-15 3D model. The camera location and angle is 'bodged' and the seat removed, so that you can see more of this cramped cockpit.

North American Aviation X-15 - External View of the Cockpit (part 2)

I've been working on the North American Aviation X-15 cockpit (XLR-11 version) and this is a very small space for a pilot to work in. Thankfully it was a quick flight for the Test Pilots :)

As you can see most of the cockpit objects have been removed for clarity. When viewing the cockpit from an external viewpoint 3D, it will be a low polygon cockpit (has above). However, when sitting in the cockpit, it will be a high polygon 3D model (See Part 1). The aim is to have most of the instruments, dials and controls animated, but this is not confirmed. ;)