Back in September, I took my first stab at producing a “proper” piece of machinima. by that, I mean actually filming in-world and then editing the thing together, rather than just editing images and adding a soundtrack.
The results were mixed; while the PC had the omph to do things, I encountered issues with video formats and conversion which resulted in the first attempt suffering from degraded video quality.
Since then, I’ve not really had the time to focus on things as fully as I would like, but I have been tinkering as and when I can, and getting some guidance – I’d particularly like to thank Ormand Lionheart for her invaluable assistance and suggestions, and also (while he isn’t actually a Second Life user), JN, who also came to my aid when I encountered issues with my updated editing software.
For my second test, I took the liberty of filming on Jordan Giant’s evocative The Colder Water, about which I blogged back in August. The selection was based both on the fact that I love the environment and setting on the region, and the music I wanted to use, Doulogue by Javolenus seemed to fit the region.
The video is by no means perfect – had some issues with the actual recording when in-world, which has resulted in a slight jerkiness in the video. I also need a lot more practice with the Space Navigator (and get it set to my liking); but hopefully the improvements in overall quality can be seen, now I (sort-of) know what I’m doing.
I entered the world of casual SL sailing via the Premium Gift sailboat. I know, I know, there are better offerings around! Well, those of you who have been nudging me to “upgrade” to something more will likely be likely be pleased to read that I have 🙂 .
September saw me hopping around looking at various boats and options, as I wasn’t sure what I wanted. I did know I didn’t want a racing yacht or racing sail boat; not that I have anything against racing, I just wanted something that offered comfort and a degree of style to sailing around SL. Two boats went fairly immediately to the top of my list, the MLCC Oceanic, and the MLCC Loonetta 31, both of which are created by Motor Loon, who has a well-deserved good reputation for his custom bikes and other vehicles (he’s also a regular at SL User Group meetings, which are where I first met him).
The Oceanic is the older of the two designs, and is a sleek sailing cruiser, a little over 25 metres in length which features a very comfortable& furnished cabin – seriously, you have to see the boat for yourself to appreciate the level of detail. The Loonetta 31 is the more recent of the two builds and 100% mesh. Around 9.5 metres in length, it might be thought of as the Oceanic’s chubby little sister.
Both come packed with features and capabilities, making them each very excellent value – I’m not going to spill the beans on everything included, as part of the pleasure with these boats is in the discovery. Suffice it to say check hatches and steps carefully 🙂 . Initially, I was swayed towards getting the Oceanic, but in the end opted for the Loonetta 31. This was for two reasons; firstly, Motor’s excellent video tutorial on customising it via a very smart scripted system and set of texture maps convinced me this would be something even I could manage, and secondly – and more directly – the Oceanic is a tad on the long side when manoeuvring alongside at the jetty in front of my house, and is too long to fit the dock alongside the house whereas the Loonetta 31 sits easily alongside either one.
Loonetta 31: closer look at the default finish
Which is not to say I’ve taken second best – far from it; the Loonetta 31 is an incredible little vessel, featuring a fully fitted cabin, like the Oceanic, and has plenty of room for friends to enjoy a trip out with you. As I siad, the customising system is quite awesome, and it is packed with some really nice touches.
The boat is delivered unboxed and ready to go – simply move the folder from your Received Items to your inventory, then drag the boat into the water. The default colour is a white finish, but there are six more pre-set finishes you can pick from simply by clicking on the boat (not the wheel or the seats – you’ll end-up sitting! Top of the cabin is the best) then selecting SETUP from the displayed menu, and using the DESIGN + and DESIGN - buttons to page through the different finishes, which will render on the boat as they are selected.
The Loonetta’s Cabin – where you can use the radio to listen to an SL Coastguard weather report for Blake Sea
However, that’s not the end of the customisation options – you can select just about any part of the boat and change its colour / hue using the RGB buttons, you can change the degree of shine applied to various parts of the boat, both via the COLOR/SHINE button, and by following Motor’s very excellent video linked-to above, you can learn how to download the texture maps for the boat and use them to create your own texture finishes – which is pretty much what I did.
The menu is also used to control other options as well – lower / raise the anchor or sails, set the spinnaker, adjust the camera position, deploy / hide the fenders for docking, sound the bell or horn, set the boat to a moored status, adjust each of the 40 poses individually, and more. For those who prefer, text commands can also be used with the boat.
My customised Loonetta 31, “Exotix 2”
Customising the Loonetta 31 took me a couple of hours – a fair part of which was me trying to do a half-decent job with a graphics programme; I’m pretty sure that anyone with any reasonable graphics abilities could have done the same as I’ve achieved in half the time or less. Essentially, I used the hull map to create a red hull with a white stripe set on it, did the same with the stern plate, and re-coloured the cabin roof in a matching white. I also added a couple of graphics to the main sail and spinnaker, and created a custom name. I have to say I’m quite pleased with the results.
A point to make here is that the Loonetta 31 and Oceanic are both No Modify, so if you’re going to be engaging in some extensive customisation and are concerned about upload costs, you might want to re-sync your Aditi beta grid inventory with a password change, wait 24 hours, and then work on your boat there; once you’re satisfied with the results, you can then upload your modified textures to the main grid and apply them to the boat.
Sailing-wise, these boats are a real treat; Motor has spent a lot of time optimising them for sailing and region crossings. While it is still early days for me, a trip around the United Sailing Sims presented no problems with multiple region crossings under sail or motor. A nice touch is the smoothness of motion when turning; the boat turns gently and easily in a continuous motion, rather than the more step-by-step turns some vehicles exhibit (love the animation uses when turning the boat as well!). And if you don’t wish to leave the boat moored, you can pull out a stand from its contents and rest it safely on land.
My customised Loonetta 31, “Exotix 2”, under sail
To say I’m pleased with the Loonetta 31 would be an understatement. It may not be the sleekest boat available (I can’t help but call it chubby!) nor the fastest, but it has won my affections. Motor has done a magnificent job with it, and despite my clunky flapping around with GIMP, I really enjoyed putting together a personalised look for it, one which keeps to my preferences for red-and-white :).
For anyone interested in seriously trying-out sailing in SL, I have no hesitation in recommending the Loonetta 31 or its big sister.
Same Cat, new colours (click any image for full size)
It’s only been a week since I last blogged about my new obsession, my PBY-6A Catalina, but I make no apologies for doing so again and so soon. No apologies, because I want to say two words again: Josh Noonan.
Last time around, I covered Josh’s paint kits for the Shana Carpool PBY-6A, and specifically the Cousteau Society scheme he supplies, and his willingness to provide two RAF Coastal Command paint sets. While I’ve been happy flying my Cat in all of them, particularly the Cousteau colours, I wanted something slightly more personal, and started hunting around for ideas.
When I came across some photos of the Peter Stuyvesant PBY-5A from the 1990s, I felt I had something to work on. I did consider going for a red-and-white scheme rather than blue, this being something of a preferred colour scheme for me, but I decided to go with blue to match the spirit of the Stuyvesent PBY, and contacted Josh. Within a couple of days, he’d delivered precisely what I’d asked for – and it was (and is) a delight, as can be seen in the photo above; a beautifully distinctive paint scheme.
There are just one small problem; and it wasn’t Josh’s, it was mine: I like red and white a little too much. So, I dropped Josh a line to say I might be requesting a red scheme (I was actually dithering over it and didn’t want to sound ungrateful for his work in producing the blue) – and when I next logged-in to SL, there were two boxes waiting for me from him: two new paint sets offering red schemes – not only that, but one was personalised in a lovely way!
Red Cat
The red finish is simply lovely, and complements the colour schemes of my EC-135 and Sparrow 2 beautifully – and the little touch under the cockpit canopy really has me bowled over.
Oh.. what’s that, you can’t see what it says? Let me give you a closer look 🙂 .
A girl and her Cat …
To say I’m bowled over by the new paint scheme would be an understatement; I haven’t stopped smiling since applying it, and not even getting twice bumped to the bottom of the ocean passing over Blake Sea Half Hitch (again) could wipe the smile from my face.
Now all I need is a suitable jumpsuit to wear when flying it!
If you are looking for a paint scheme for you plane or helicopter, don’t forget to check Josh’s hanger at Hollywood airport. Depending on the make of your aircraft, he may well be able to help you out.
My PBY-6A sitting on the ramp in Cousteau Society colours
I have a new obsession in Second Life. It’s my PBY-6A Catalina flying boat – although the admission of the obsession probably comes as no surprise to regulars on my SL feed of late *coughs*.
I reviewed the Cat toward the end of August, commented that I hoped someone would produce a paint kit with RAF colours, because although the Catalina comes with UV maps, etc., so you can paint it yourself, I’m not sure I’m up for the cut.
Fortunately, fellow SL aviator and friend, Terag Ershtan, alerted me via Twitter to Josh Noonan, who produces a range of paint kits for various customisable aircraft, including the Shana Carpool Catalina. Josh is based on Hollywood Airport, one of my regular spots for starting / ending flights, so I hopped over to see him. And indeed, there on the wall of his hanger was a vendor which included a range of paint kits for the Catalina – although none in RAF colours.
Even so, there was one in the Cousteau Society’s markings, which I simply had to have. Purchasing it, I mentioned RAF colours to Josh, and he said “got any examples?” Well, I didn’t, but it was one of those times I knew Google was my friend, and so passing him a couple of links, I went on my way to paint my Cat in Cousteau colours.
Josh Noonan’s Cousteau Society finish for the Catalina
Dropping back to Josh’s hanger at the start of September, I was thrilled to see that he’d added not one, but two RAF Coastal Command paint kits for the Catalina to his range, both of which quickly went into my inventory.
I should point out here that not only are Josh’s kits exceedingly good, they are also based upon actual aircraft – such as the Cousteau’s PBY (tragically lost in an accident), and the RAF kits are no exception.
My PBY-6A in the colours of FP225 from 240 Squadron, RAF, sitting on the slip at Honah Lee Field and about to lower its floats ready to enter the water
First up is FP225 (above). This aeroplane flew with No. 240 Squadron RAF Coastal Command, and was originally a PBY-5A Catalina. This squadron saw service in the Battle of the Atlantic before transferring to India, with FP225 serving in the squadron’s “special duties” flight – although I have no idea what that entailed.
The second RAF paint kit converts the Catalina into AH545 / WQ-Z of 209 Squadron (below). This is the aeroplane, originally a PBY-5A as well, which located the battleship Bismarck in 1941, and has the more familiar RAF markings.
My PBY-6A in the marking of AH545 from No 209 Squadron, sitting outside Josh Noonan’s hanger at Hollywood Airport
If I’m totally honest, I have no idea how often I’ll fly The Catalina in RAF colours, I’m far too enamoured with the Cousteau Society paint work. But if you do see an RAF Catalina passing overhead, give a wave – it might be me (well, same goes should you see one in the white, black and yellow of the Cousteau Society!). In the meantime, Josh has done a lovely job with both kits, and with the Cousteau kit, and I have no hesitation in recommending his work. If you happen to own an aeroplane which has customisable paint options, you might want to check his hanger and see what he has on offer.
Next up: getting a group of Catalina pilots together for some formation flying; that should be fun!
I’ve been a tad quiet on the blogging front as I’ve been in the process of moving house. This wasn’t actually something I’d planned, having been more than happy living on a corner parcel of a region in the United Sailing Sims; but there’s this Catalina flying boat I recently came across, and have, quite frankly, fallen in love with.
I had been content to simply pull the Cat out of inventory when wanting to fly it, but then Terag Ershtan pointed me towards Josh Noonan, who produces paint kits for a number of aircraft, including the Catalina, one of which represents the aircraft in Cousteau Society colours, which I had to have. And the plane looks so good in the colours, I wanted a place I could leave it parked out and visible … and the house move grew from that … !
I’m still within the United Sailing Sims and not far from Blake Sea, but I now have my own little island. This came to me by chance; I had actually looked at it prior to it becoming available, and thought it might be perfect; however it was at that time already rented. Then Nber informed me it was about to become available, so talk about serendipity!
Living on the island: aerial view showing the overall layout
The move hasn’t seen me change the house very much – I’ve kept to the same design I re-worked recently, and simply added a few more trees and plants around the garden and the land. The layout of the island leads itself perfectly to my having a parking area for the Catalina, and also provided the ideal spot to re-position the main mooring area for a boat. Admittedly, the Lady of Calas 2 was too big for the latter, but the land was perfect for cutting to make a space for Lady Of Calas, my E-Tech Sparrow, and without really altering the shape of the island too much in the process.
Alex Bader’s rustic wall came in handy for creating retaining walls around parts of the island, helping to give additional form (I think) to the place, their aged look hopefully suggesting the house has been situated on an island once given over to an older stone build of some description, the foundations now having been put to new use.
Living on the island: the garden has some new plants and shrubs
The south side of the island is given over to the parking area and ramp for the Catalina. This has footpaths and flower beds (Kayle Matzerath’s brilliant Lumenaria mesh flowers again) running around it, and a large sort-of terrace area which might come in handy for something at some point. I’ve just no idea what… The Catalina handles the ramp very well, and I’m getting used to the relatively small area in which to turn it around following a flight.
The total LI for the house, grounds and wildlife is 501, with the boat, Catalina and helicopter accounting for another 233 and my cat & his accoutrements claiming for a further 35. All of which, if I say so myself, isn’t bad, and leaves me with a comfortable buffer of additional land capacity should I need it.
I just hope the neighbours don’t object to the noise from the Catalina when I’m coming and going by air!
One of the things that has always fascinated me in SL is machinima. I’ve tried my hand at a few sort-of videos, but due to hardware constraints, have always restricted myself to putting together things using still images. However, in 2013, I finally got a PC with sufficient omph to produce videos, and in August, I picked up a Space Navigator, and have been slowly getting used to it.
This being the case, I decided to see how I’d manage with a short video piece to see how I’d get on with capture and managing the Space Navigator, and while visiting Giovanna Cerise’s wonderful Il Folle Volo (The Mad Flight) at La Città Perduta, I tried capturing some footage and took a little time to see what I could stitch together.
Now I’ll be the first to admit, the final version is var from perfect and is a little grainy in places; I captured in .AVI HD (720p) but my editing software had issues with importing, so rather than reshoot everything, I opted to convert to .MP4 HD (720p), which may have cost some quality.
The recording software I used was Bandicam; next time around I’ll be trying FRAPS. The editing software used was Pinnacle – which I know isn’t the best. I have Corel VideoStudio, but have yet to really get my head around it (It also wasn’t very keen on Bandicam’s .AVI format).
Anyway, my technique and the quality will hopefully improve as I have more practice / improve my set-up. In the meantime, here’s the first experiment (and my apologies to Giovanna for using her work as a guinea-pig!).
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 