rec.autos.simulators

There are a wide variety of customised .BMP files available for
conversion to .JAM files on a number of WWW pages.  Notable amongst
the artists is one P K Arnall, however he or she is not alone.  I note
that in his/her latest efforts the stone-guard (is that what it is?
.. the vertical metal plate held away from the main body and between
the front wheels and the cooling system air intake) has been included
... beautifully done, but I wonder if they should be there?  They add
to the authenticity, but break up the line of the car somewhat when
displayed in GP2 which has no provision in its graphics engine to
manipulate them.

Now that there is a***pit colour changing utility, changing the
colour of the "patches" on the .BMPs that are translated into the
suspension components is a practicality.  People creating their own
cars should remember that with the cooling system side pods, there is
also the need for representing the cooling system air exhaust (as well
as the air intake) towards the rear of the side pod ... however, you
need to take care in the last 25% of the side pod representation, as
the graphics engine "wraps around" this portion in a rather peculiar
way and you can end up with the exhaust/outlet representation on the
top of the rear of the car!

Of course I have created a number of my own personalised cars and
would like an answer to a couple of questions.  Firstly, what is the
intent of the elongated oval "patch" on the "top" of the air scoop
behind the drivers head.  Secondly, just below the "top" of the air
scoop, is a round object in a number of fairly neutral greys ... it
doesn't seem to be picked and used anywhere by the graphics engine,
any idea as to what it is intended (perhaps the fuel valve, which
seems to be "missing").

Finally, wouldn't it be nice to have a little utility that read a .BMP
file and displayed it in 3D a la gp2 ... I wonder if there is a little
guru out there just waiting for something to fill up his/her creative
programming time.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tony Sanders
Wellington
New Zealand             ... absolutely, positively nuclear-free,
                                and absolutely OS/2 Warped.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Derek

He. His name is Paul and he may as well be alone, his cars are the best of
the hundreds I've seen - An excellent artist.

What are you talking about. It's ONLY a texture map. It's not like he's
created a new 3D model with extra objects. It makes absolutely NO
difference to the games performance.

Hmmm, very interesting. *yawn*
I have not seen any evidence of weird wrapping around of textures yet. I
must be doing something wrong. :-)

Ever seen the large camera mount  on top of the cars??? Well that's what
Paul Arnall is trying to simulate. (You can't change the shape of the car
(yet) so he's trying to represent the camera pod with the black oval)

Yep. That's exactly what it is. It is a little weird having it as a
separate object in the JAM file when you think about it or is it? Should
just be placed on one side of the car (the right side). Ah, but what about
when the pit lane is to their left?? That's probably why it IS a separate
object but unfortunately they forgot about it or just couldn't be bothered
with the extra code.

Yes it would. One can only hope. I must admit I have better things to do
with my life then to wait for that.

Paul
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   ////    ((|     \\\\\                  Paul Martin
  //        \\         \\           University of Queensland
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I've not tried any of these alternative car schemes. Has anyone
done Jackie Stewart in an original Tyrrell blue ?? Point me at
it please !

Yes. I know he didn't race in the '94 season. I just want the
joy of being a driver I considered one of the best **ever** in
any motorsport category.

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