Development overview

Hi all!

 

I'd like to give you all a brief overview of the development of the Fokker D.21 fighter for FSX. In Februari 2013 I decided to start this up, mainly inspired by the Fokker G.1 by Michel Migaud for FS2004. Since I didn't have the SDK knowledge and D.21 specific data, I lauched an intermediate project to get myself feeling comfortable with FSX development. In the meanwhile, I studied a lot of photographs and data of the original Fokker D.21. One day, I decided to start with the Bristol Mercury VIII radial engine, with which the D.21 was equipped.

 

 

After modelling this nine-cylinder radial proved satisfactory, I went on modelling the main parts of the D.21. I lacked all neccessary data and drawings to create this, but since I studied a lot of photographs, it yet was possible to achieve the model as shown in the picture below.

 

 

A premier milestone for me, I guess. After a few weeks, the external model was finally for 95% ready and I moved on to the cockpit, the VC in FSX terms. The only references I had at that time were the photographs of the D.21 replica in the former Militaire Luchtvaart Museum at Soesterberg, and pictures of the only remaining D.21 wreck in Crash Museum at Aalsmeerderbrug. The replica is not entirely correct, but proved to be a confident basis.

 

 

Still following the replica's interior, I ended up with a cockpit as shown in the next picture. Not close to history, but yet a fair basis.

 

 

At that time, summer was to start and I came into a new phase: texturing. I had some experience in modelling already, but not in texturing, so it took me the entire summer to manage it. Finally, the first start of texturing yielded a beautiful Mercury VIII.

 

 

After some time, I had the main job finished: external texturing. It now was time for getting my baby into FSX. This was done using a rather interesting workflow, but I'll explain that later. Anyway, I got something into FSX and it looked, well, reasonable...

 

 

After a long time of programming, revising, modelling, texturing, anything, I was able to get a final version of my VC there. I even needed a visit to the Crash Museum to optimize model. Think of it: I had this visit in April 2014, but started the entire project actually in April 2013. Never expected that, but I'm satisfied!

 

 

Now, I finally arrived at a substantial beta testing phase. The picture below has been posted today at the various forums I'm active at.

 

I should state here that this wouldn't have been possible without the help of the magnificent fellows at nederlandseluchtvaart.nl and fsdeveloper.com.