The Heliograph: Deviant Art: Skyships II

From Rafael Fabre...

The Heliograph: Deviant Art: Skyships II



"Flyby" by Avatar Z Brown, coloured by Amarynceus

"....One of the favorite entires, statistically speaking, tend to be those with large amounts of graphics, and especially those with airships and Steampunk technology. Be it for inspiration or admiration, returning to the purest form the genre (and turning away from other unsavory political issues in the SL Steampunk world), I am displaying some of the more recent entries in Deviant art, a hotbed for new and emerging artists.

"On Patrol", by Zenzen

I have listed the title of their work and their "nom de plume" below each picture, so if you desire to see more of any individual's work, simply turn to Deviant art, and search on the artist in question, at: http://www.deviantart.com/...."

For more click The Heliograph: Deviant Art: Skyships II

Aether Chronicles: A Guide To Caledon's Airfields Part 4

Aether Inglewood recently wrote part 4 in her Guide to Caledon Airfields series....

Aether Chronicles: A Guide To Caledon's Airfields Part 4

"....Caledon Downs Airfield

Caledon Downs might very well be Caledon's prettiest airfield. Located as the name would suggest in Caledon Downs it's set in a rual, park like atmosphere, surrounded by trees and beautifully landscaped. Owned and operated by Bubba Daniels this is a lovely little landing spot. (as always be sure to click the photos for a better view)

Airfield Layout and Approach

Caledon Downs Airfield sits on the Northeastern edge of Caledon Downs and can be located by a revolving green and white beacon set on a hill just to the north of the runway. The Southern end of the landing strip is located at Caledon Downs 145,131,44, with a North/South layout...."

Aether Chronicles: A Guide To Caledon's Airfields Part 4

Maximize Second Life Settings for Flight

This video illustrates the Second Life Client Graphics settings I use for better flight across sims. These settings lower graphics detail and increase draw-distance. I also recommend using the heads-up mini-map.

As in RL flying, you need as much visual information as possible while navigating in 3 dimensions.

Please note: Depending on your computer and graphics card, your mileage may vary.

The AH-64D Apache Longbow :: April Heaney enters the SL Aviation community with a bang

April Heaney's enterprise The Omega Concern released their Second Life® version of the AH-64D Apache Longbow early Monday morning September 29th. It's the most advanced and detailed item ever made by April, and it is really amazing. I first gasped at it's 6000 Linden price-tag, but eventually caved. It's like buying two finely scripted sex poseball beds and for my money, has equal thrills, so to each their own ;)











The AH-64 Apache

Tumansky Heavy Industries Blog: How to Texture in SL Like a Pro: Part 1

Karl Reisman of Tumansky Heavy Industries, wrote a blog post about texturing in SL. The object is a WW2 Era British Spitfire, but the post should be of interest to builders across the grid and not just those of us in the aviation community.

Tumansky Heavy Industries Blog: How to Texture in SL Like a Pro: Part 1

Karl wrote: "Well in truth you can't, because professional 3D tools allow you to edit UV maps, and assign texture coordinates to individual frames.. However that issue aside, you can come to a professional level if you approach your link sets as a single object, and the maps in a consistent layers based method. First build the object as you see fit.


This is an example of a 3 view plan. This one was found on the web, not only is it useful for building, but it's also useful for placing details on the textures after you build the object in prims.

I would suggest highly that you build to a plan, Even if it's a fictional draw the front side and top views of the item to keep control of the project. There are plenty of sites that have quality blueprints of cars, tanks, aircraft, and buildings that you could use for your project. But sometimes it's fun to roll your own. Just make sure the design is solid and consistent between the front side and top views, or you will go crazy. once the prims are arraigned.


Collecting reference is necessary for a successful historical replica. (This is "Blue Peter" , from the battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the "model for this project.) For a fictional or fantasy project, making or collecting a lot of concept art serves the same function.

If you are building a historical object its very important to find as much reference as you can and duplicate the look from the reference without copying it exactly. Exact coying is considered plagiarism, and is frowned on, as well as being a reason for having the item deleted and your SL account locked. The quality Aircraft makers on SL make their own textures...."

Click the link to view the entire post....

Tumansky Heavy Industries Blog: How to Texture in SL Like a Pro: Part 1

Bancos Milestone's de Havilland Mosquito

Here are a few photographs of the de Havilland Mosquito, built in SL and under flight tests by Bancos Milestone. It was just released for public purchase at this SLurl.

EDF/RCAF Dogfight photographs from Saturday 09 August

Phin here, filling-in for Zoe who was away most of the weekend. I organized the EDF/RCAF Dogfight on Saturday and took a few photos. These 5 pics are representative of the day.



Note the WW2 Aircraft in flames





Now take a look at Cornelius Fanshaw's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flying car



He was shotdown the least within our group of dogfighters



I managed to stay in the air longer than usual, concentrating on defensive maneuvers rather than attacks, when Cornelius flying his "Fine Four-Fendered Friend" took several shots at me and down I went, almost landing on Vidal Tripsa. Conveniently, I was 2 meters from the Tiki-Bar and decided to stay.

The B-24 Liberator from Milestone Aircraft (part 1)

Penzance Flight --Test Machinima

Exploring The Vernian Sea of New Babbage

Connolly Aerodrome and Royal Caledon Air Force News

News of Promotions and assorted RCAF decisions...

Promotions....

Drake Moyer to rank of Wing Commander in recognition of his flights and recruiting efforts.

Phineas Messmer to rank of Wing Commander in recognition of his flights and efforts in rocketry.

Sin Trenton to rank of Air Vice Marshall in recognition of his flights, innovations, and exemplary leadership.

The RCAF will be using callsigns to aid communication over the wireless...

Here are the Callsigns amongst the group so far...

Air Marshal Zoe Connolly....."Foxy"
Air Vice Marshal Sin Trenton...."Biggles"
Wing Commander Drake Moyer...."Ginger"
Flying Officer Noddeh Slade...."Creaky"

Sin Trenton has developed a floating text device for the RCAF that will display our callsigns while flying and otherwise socializing at the Connolly Aerodrome.

Also, per the Air Vice Marshal's excellent suggestion, and approved by me several days ago, our unofficial RCAF group name will be "Connolly's Crazies" or "The Connolly Crazies."

Uniforms will be ordered as soon as I find a suitable designer with the time to work on the project.

Test Flying my BSG Viper Mark II

Protecting Caledon and Antiquity from the Cylon Threat....

I hope I didn't disturb too many of my neighbors with my antics, but a few hours ago I was practice flying my Mark II Viper around my home areas of Caledon Regency and Antiquity Cove. I'm preparing for any pilot opening slots in the Battlestar Galactica roleplay sim known as Battlestar Pacifica BSG47.

Please note the Starbuck-esque cigar for added effect...

Aviatrix Zoe Connolly :: Girls with Guns on Planes

Jetpacks!

From numerous visits to New Babbage I've observed many roaming about...or rather flying about the sim dressed in something no steampunk man or woman should be without...Jetpacks!

This one is my first! And here documents my very first flight from the yard of my home in Antiquity Cove, and thus a new obsession is born!

Detroit...with Trucks!

I very briefly visited the Detroit Life sim. There were no events scheduled during the time of my visit, but I was impressed with a few Detroit details and also noticed a few trucks. You gotta love a company with the motto "Keepin' it surreal since 2006."

The empty streets in the evening hours very closely resembles what happens in RL Detroit.

;)

Memorial Day Weekend - Part 1

Zoe becomes a Biker Chick...

I decided to buy another toy.

I've been collecting guns, aircraft, steampunk items, clothing, hair, furniture, xcite bits, dance pose balls, sine wave dance animations, cars, pianos (even though I can barely hear them) and now it was time....

I had to get a motorcycle. What better place to find one than the sim known as Lil Slurgis. For those not familiar, Slurgis is the SL version of Sturgis, site of the biggest biker rally in America.





I bought 3.

Before I test drove one of my new bikes, I changed into my "Fight The Lag" T-shirt. Thanks to Alex for sending me a copy, and thanks to Codie for creating this great shirt. I think I look okay wearing it.

Oh by the way, for my Bloggers with Blades friends, I bought the Bitter Thorns mask!

Coming up:

More posts about my weekend, including my day in New Babbage and my big decision about a land purchase in the Babbage Canal District. I have another in mind regards my evening at the "Pirates of the Caledonian" Second Life Relay for Life Charity Rave, where I made some connections with a few Steampunk bloggers, and also took a few snapshots of some scantily clad Victorian Ladies. Scandalous!