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Old 28th September 2010, 10:28 AM   #1
Simon_Lister
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Default Aircraft prop blades

Hello all,

I have started my new model in ac3d for a free flight sim called Flightgear. I am getting on well but seem to be a bit stuck on how to make a propeller blade for the aircraft. I have tried to create this by using a cube, cutting it then dragging it into the right shape and using a sub divide to get it smooth but I just cant seem to get it right, also I am trying to keep the polycount down on the model. As an added extra, the blade has a twist to it

If you need details on the model itself it is a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and here is a link of the plane itself

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur...w=1420&bih=731

Many thanks for any help

Simon
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Old 30th September 2010, 07:10 PM   #2
captainpeter
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Default Re: Aircraft prop blades

I would start with the airfoil shape. I could only find airfoil specs for the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk wing (NACA 2215 at root, NACA 2209 at the tip) but Clark Y is used quite often for props.

Here's a cross section: http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/a...ots/clarky.gif
Extrude and slightly modify it with every section. Remember that at the root the cross section would be a circle.

peter
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Old 30th September 2010, 07:13 PM   #3
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Default Re: Aircraft prop blades

I just found a source which may help you getting the shape into AC3D: http://isoar.ca/~andrewm/rc/airfoils/13.html

It has a DXF file of Clark Y.
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Old 1st October 2010, 03:48 AM   #4
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Default Re: Aircraft prop blades

Many thanks for the info captain peter, Ill start on the props asap.

Here is a screen shot of what I have so far



I have redone the main gear and landing gear strut pods, the spinner on the front is not correctly done it's just there for cosmetic reasons till I can do it low poly.

Simon
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Old 7th October 2010, 06:22 AM   #5
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Default Re: Aircraft prop blades

I have now updated the model to be less poly in some areas, now I have run into a new problem I have areas like rudders/ailerons/flaps ready to cut out but once i do cut them out I need to have a curved area as shown in the picture, see the horizontal stab on the left how it is curved and how the vert stab is curved before it attaches to the rest of the tail.

Could any one offer any advice how to go about doing this
Many thanks
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Old 7th October 2010, 06:24 AM   #6
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Default Re: Aircraft prop blades

forgot to add picture link http://www.militaryfactory.com/image...yhawk;%20color
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Old 7th October 2010, 12:58 PM   #7
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Default Re: Aircraft prop blades

Simple, really. You have to insert some vertices in your mesh, reposition them and cut new edges to follow the contour of the seam between the rudder and the vertical stabilizer. And, you'll also need to cap both of the resulting parts, so as not to leave open edges.

Actually, you should have set this up as you were "describing" the initial shape, so as to save yourself time. If you need more detail than this, and have Skype, PM me and I can show you how to fix this. Rest easy, it's not that hard to get what you want!
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Old 11th October 2010, 05:36 PM   #8
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Default Re: Aircraft prop blades

Hi, this is how I make propellor blades:
start with a cylinder and extrude the walls a bit, shape these vertexes in the blade shape extrude and rotate in the desired shape untill you have 1 propellor
than use the replicator:

This is the result:
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Old 14th October 2010, 05:13 AM   #9
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Default Re: Aircraft prop blades

Many thanks for your help and tips guys much appreciated. I have now removed the wings as I wasn't really happy with them, they seemed to thick where the flaps and ailerons should be, to do the wings I used a cube, did a couple of cuts, shaped it then did 2 subdivides but cant really get it how I want, any tips on that?

Many thanks
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Old 14th October 2010, 11:59 AM   #10
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Default Re: Aircraft prop blades

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon_Lister View Post
Many thanks for your help and tips guys much appreciated. I have now removed the wings as I wasn't really happy with them, they seemed to thick where the flaps and ailerons should be, to do the wings I used a cube, did a couple of cuts, shaped it then did 2 subdivides but cant really get it how I want, any tips on that?

Many thanks
Why do you start with a cube?
I would use a cylinder you can drag it in a perfect wing form and extruse it to lenght desired. just make 1 and mirror it. (but I expect you to know that )
The way you work sound like you have 3d canvas also...
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