Welcome to the Prop Shop !

[Hueyman]

Hi fellow pilots !

 

I'm an Aviation enthusiast since my youngest, and probably like most of you guys I fell in love with IL-2 series back in 2001 ( well 2004 for me with Pacific Fighters ! )

 

Today I'm working in real world aviation but loves more than ever flying on the PC, switching from different platforms ( X-Plane, DCS, IL-2 ... ) and also doing a bit of 3D modelling ( http://Hueyman.overblog.com/ ). One of the thing I particularly LOVE modelling is Propellers !

 

Of all kind, from the simplest fixed pitch, two bladed wooden prop up to the mot complex modern scimitar profile, dual acting, fully featherable and revering prop !

 

So I'm having fun modelling those then give them for free for whoever wants a Top Notch quality airscrew on their aircrafts.

 

To be honest I was away from the BoS story since the beginning cause I was too busy with the real world flying job, and when I had free time it was to work procedures with X-Plane ... But today I stumbled accross a YT Video of Battle of Moscow and realized how good this sim was ( and will buy it next weekend ;-) ). After a bit of research, it was announced that the Douglas A-20 Bravo is going to be released in the next Kuban extension... excellent !

 

Why ? Because it's one of the MANY US A/C that used the ubiquitous Hamilton Standard Hydromatic propellers during WWII and I particularly love how they look. So I wanted to propose the Studio to let me model the A-20B Props, and any other Hamilton Std props that they are going to use ( a lot assuming Midway and PTO are on their way ! ), as well as any props of various future aircrafts !

 

I was looking for a more private way to contact them to make my proposition but didn't find any, so exposing this publicly is also interesting ( I hope ^^ ) for any WWII enthusiast who loves Aviation Golden Age era ;-)

 

'Nuff said, here is some of my work so far :

 

 

Basic ultra light prop : 

 

 

Piaggio Avanti P180 Pusher Airscrew :

 

 

Hartzell HC-B3TN-3D Twin Otter Prop with the whole Steel Spider Hub assy :

 

 

How I actually build my blades :

 

 

A B-25 Prop in the Workshop :

 

 

This Dornier DO-228 for X-Plane just received it's latest upgrade from the factory !

 

 

A set of Hamilton Standard props and their associated spinning ( Hub only ) and damaged props, for a IL-2 1946 HSFX new props and cowlings mod package :

 

 

PBM Mariner Airscrew for a dude making this A/C in War Thunder :

 

 

I particularly love this piece of machinery : the 24E60 Hub ( P-47, F4U-4 ... )

 

 

F4U-4/P-47 Prop hanging on my virtual living room wall... :

 

 

Hamilton Standard 23E50/6477A-0 " Paddle Bladed " Prop assembly ( C-47/B-17/B-24/Catalina... )

 

http://i.imgur.com/AtyUAcy.jpg

 

 

And many more in the works !

 

As you can see, lot of fine tuning and shape editing is required to accurately reproduce each airfoil, each blade shape and contour as real as it gets, but the end result can be really pleasant, especially when mounted in the front of an already awesome aircraft !

 

I work in Blender and can provide any common formats. Just tell me a max polycount, a deadline date and I'm good to go !

 

Only provide the 3D Model, not textured nor UV Unwrapped.

 

Happy Dogfights ;-P

 

Hueyman

[Pontov]

This is beautiful work! These props are works of art.

 

I model aircraft in Blender but i cannot understand what your Blender screenshot has to do with the finished prop! Can you explain a little what your process is for making a blade. Perhaps more screenshots of the rendered prop in stages?

 

Again, I applaud you. Very impressive!

[Hueyman]

Hey thanks Pontov !

 

Actually what you saw on this Blender Edit screen is the actual shaping of the prop, via cross sections editing. What makes the smoothness you see on the end result is just one or two subsurface passes.

 

If you are interested take a look at this thread here : http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,46632.12.html

[Pontov]

Gracias Hueyman!

[Gambit21]

Nice work!

I do props as well - but always render them attached to an airplane. 

[Hueyman]

Wow excellent !

 

I always wondered how such designs were made : is it a whole 3D model or it is Photoshop 2D stuff ?

[Gambit21]

Modeled and UV mapped in 3D in Modo, exported to Cinema 4D for texture painting, lighting and rendering. Photoshop is also used heavily for the textures. I import textures back and forth between PS and Cinema 4D as they work very well together.

[Hueyman]

Wow ! Tremendous job, impressive !

 

Could you share some of your 3D modeling stuff plz ?

[Gambit21]

Here's a few shots of the Mustang mesh...a shot of the mid-section render.

(I don't post high res shots of the whole render on the net for obvious reasons)

Hellcat prop, and in-progress Zero

 

The Zeke started life as a game mesh, and I'm now converting it into a higher res mesh for rendering purposes.

 

Also a low res raptor/egg mesh that I won a low poly modeling contest with just for grins.

I've done all sorts of figurative and whimsical things that don't apply to this forum, and I'm concentrating my 3D efforts on WWII aircraft

at this point anyways.

 

Looks like you're getting along well in Blender.

[Hueyman]

Wow ! I'm speechless, really fine modeling here !

 

So you're one of the guy making spot on 2D and 3D illustrations for dedicated WWII magazines that we see nowadays in kiosks, with many illustrations and different squadrons markings etc ?

[Gambit21]

Well so far my clients have been a few local aviation museums. I haven't marketed myself in other areas yet - where the aircraft are concerned anyway.