19 May 2012

Steampunk Goes To War

Between working on my aircraft carrier I also fiddle with some other projects. One of them is expanding my range of airplanes.

So these days my store sees the release of a new series: Fast and nimble single-seat fighter planes, equipped with the Terra Combat System (TCS) for thrilling dogfight experiences!

It all started with my steampunk monoplane. Originally intended as small airplane to equip the aircraft carrier with, I quickly felt there is much more potential in that design then just this one type. It almost begged for being played with.

Since the monoplane is inspired by early WW1 designs, I just took the next step, took some more fighter planes of that era as inspiration:


Steampunk Monoplane



After the monoplane came...


Steampunk Biplane


...a biplane. The classical WW1 Fighter configuration with rotary engine. Just like classics like the Sopwith Camel or the Nieuport-series. After this one I felt logically tempted to...



Steampunk Triplane

...add another wing and make a triplane!

After this one though I thought I should reduce the number of wings again:


Steampunk Parasol Monoplane




The Parasol Monoplane is a direct relative to the German Fokker D.VIII, a fighter used late in the war using a thick wing-profile which was far ahead of its time.

I also went for a more aggressive design with the Biplane Mk2. Heavily inspired by the Albatros fighter and the Roland 2-seater its really a pretty mean, Teutonic looking machine.


Steampunk Airplane Mk2



My latest creation goes back again to my beginnings in steampunk aviation. Again a pusher design, this time closely oriented at its real-life inspiration, the Airco DH.2, the first british single-seat fighter plane!



Steampunk Fighter Prototype



All aircrafts have a completely overhauled flight script (with automatic taxi-mode at low throttle-settings), creating literally only a fracture of lag other flight scripts do.


Of course all planes (and of course very decorative miniatures) are available at my Marketplace-Store. Blue Skies!

9 May 2012

Some-times You Just Get Carried Away...

In my last product update I promised its getting big. And indeed: a 45 meters long Steampunk Aircraft-Carrier isn't the smallest thing in SL.



The aircraft carrier with monoplane ready for takeoff.




View at the rear of the aircraft carrier.



The carrier is designed for aviators who like to combine having a stylish airship as place for living, without denying the opportunity of having landing strip  nearby.  It is the ideal platform for starting aeronautical excursions!



The aircraft carrier in its full length.




The lower pod seen from front.



A steam-engine installed in the rear provides the power supply. The engine is belt-driven, fully animated and uses a geared transmission to drive the propeller.
It is comfortable to operate via menu. has 3 forward speeds, and one backwards. As usual the scripts are designed for low lag and high usability.



The steam-engine with its power transmission in the foreground




The steam-engine is fully animated and has authentic sounds!




The way up to the landing deck is provided by an elevator which unfolds and retracts itself automatically for not disturbing the sleek and elegant shape of the ship when not in use.








 Clicking the door unfolds the automatic elevator to the flight deck.



A special carrier-version of the Steampunk Monoplane is included too. It has the ability to fold its wings when on the ground to take less space on the landing deck.



The landing deck with Drow pilot (not included) and monoplane in parking position (included).



As all my creations the carrier shows my distinctive handwriting: Functionality combined with style without wasting prims. The prim-count for the fully equipped version (including steam-engine, chandelier and carpet) is only 107!

Final flight-trials, tweaks and constructing work are still in progress, but the carrier will arrive the marketplace very soon - stay tuned!


Features:

  • 45-meter landing strip
  • Comfortable lower living pod
  • Fully animated steam-engine
  • Automatically retracting elevator
  • Bonus: Steampunk Monoplane with folding wings!

Drow Science @SL Marketplace