My most ambitious personal project has been the creation from scratch of a Ford Trimotor airplane for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

I had always wanted to create a plane for Flight Simulator and fly the aircraft from "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom". With the release and the level of realism achieved by MSFS 2020, I decided to make the plane myself. I used this project as a way of learning new tools and pipelines.

Some of the work and challenges involved in the creation and integration included:

• Research material and create a single version based on multiple models.

• Accurate modelling of engines, fuselage, support structures and cables.

• Optimized unwrapping to maximize texture use and enhance corrugated metal normal map.

• Symmetrical mapping with decals for accurate texturing of more than 18 liveries.

• PBR materials.

• Perfect placement of rivet decal strips to match the corrugated metal channels.

• Instruments, control surfaces and moving parts animations.

• Skinned rigging and animation of cables to maintain cohesion with moving controls and surfaces.

• 2 Full Interiors modelled. Real passenger version and Indiana Jones movie version.

• Weather supporting UV mapping.

• Learning Flight simulator pipeline.

• Code in XML engine, electrical and physics systems.

• Link all animations to the game with XML code.

• Multiple lighting conditions support.

  
  

From all my personal projects, this aircraft has been the hardest to complete but it has also been the most rewarding one. It proved me that I have the tenacity and skill to complete a project of any magnitude.

From blueprint to the skies