Messerschmitt P.1106 R - Part 13

OKAY, now I'm a little pissed off at Metaseq.  I'm not sure if it's a bug or just plain user error.
So here it goes.

If you recall in my last post, I didn't want to use Metaseq's auto-layout for UV mapping plainly because it sometimes distorts the alignment of my roundels (Balkenkreuz).
So what I did was to use use Pepakura to unfold my model.
Then, after a bit of layout arrangements, I export Pepakura to a raster image.  I then use the raster image in Metaseq's UV editor by aligning the UV map to match the pattern in Pepakura.

So far, it worked perfectly!    Here's a sample image of the fuselage:



Notice how the Balkenkreuz as well as the camo pattern on the UV map perfectly matches the one on the 3d model.

But lo and behold the results on the WING!



Holy wavy lines, Batman!  What happened here?
Not only are the patterns misaligned, they're DISPROPORTIONATELY misaligned!
Notice the Balkenkreuz... small misalignment there.  But look at the edges of the camo pattern and how they're wayyyyy out of alignment compared to the Balkenkreuz!  Worse, tweaking the UV map coordinates may fix part of the camo, but it most likely mess up other parts.

I'll dump the texture for the wing and start over, maybe using the default auto-layout of the UV map. (Blech.)  If it still does not work well, I'll have to post edit the Pepakura output by printing to PDF and editing the PDF via Inkscape.

In any case, here's how the camo job is going so far:



Now back to the drawing board... :(

Heinkel HE P.1078B - part 10

I got a response from Tamasoft (Pepakura).  It turned out that there's an option that automatically joins 'nearly' adjacent edges.  Sometimes that function causes those edges to shorten a bit.  I was told that I had to disable that option and repeat the unfold process.  I'm really amazed that they replied to my email on a SUNDAY!  Anyway, I'm really grateful for the support.  Thanks Tamasoft! :)

Now back to business.

I got to complete the left pod (weapons pod).  I chose to build that first because I know I'll have a helluva hard time given the fact that it has to accomodate two wheel wells. 

I assembled this tail first, working my way up to the nose. 

Installing the rear wheel well was pretty straightforward. 

Installing the front wheel well... well...heheheh.  I must have cussed and cursed so much it started to rain.

In the previous blog entries, you'll notice that there are two holes under the wings.  Those holes are meant to accomodate the bulge on the wheel well as shown in the picture above.

Dry fitting.  I gently ease in the pod to the wing...

Voila!  Fits perfectly! :)

Here's how it looks like with the center fuselage dry fitted as well.  Everything snaps into place.  And I've yet to apply glue!  Hehehe.  I'll finish the other pod first to make sure everything fits well before I glue them into place.

Heinkel HE P.1078B - part 9 : Pepakura Bug?

Awww cripes!

In my previous blog entry, I mentioned that the exhaust tube was a bit small and I had to pad it with a roll of paper to make it fit properly.

I re-opened my Pepakura file and saw this:

Just by looking at the image above, it doesn't take much effort to see the circumference of the rolled tube above will not match that of the rolled cone below.

This is a real bummer!  I already emailed Pepakura support about this.  They've already replied but their suggestions did not work.  I sent them my PDO file for them to check out.  I hope this gets ironed out soon.