Some more thoughts:
- Faster machine definitely improved the response on the stick inputs on the Tx.
- This is a bit of a pig on system resources. I put it on my i7 2.4ghz 8GB Ram laptop and it does run much smoother than my initial test machine (i3 in the living room hooked up to the project screen). Even on this one, though, it runs best if I bump the graphics back to 1280x768. In that resolution it will run with full detail and anti-aliasing settings without missing a beat. Response on the sticks is snappy. All good. At 1920x1080 (Full HD res) even with details and anti-aliasing turned all the way back, it was skipping and lurching at times.
- Choosing models is unnecessarily complicated. You basically need to select a model from it's library, add it to your hangar (by giving it a name), and then you have to switch screens and select the model from the hangar. Then you edit as you wish. Seems overly complex and took a little while to figure out. Becuase models in the workshop automatically save all your edits to them as you do them the adding to the hangar step is necessary. Otherwise you'd be editing a default model that hasn't been differentiated from your other saved models, perhaps of the same base type. Seems there should have been a more fluid and natural way to do all this though. As it is now it is non-intuitive.
- So far I've played with the default model type (Synergy 700), a TRex 700E, a TRex 500E, and a Goblin 700. Have made some tweaks on the FBL system to get roll rates I'm used, to, etc. Played around a bit with editing blade selection and whatnot. The potential is interesting with what you can do with this in terms of mixing and match parts and getting actual modeled parts. Blades, servos, ESCs, batteries, etc. You could potentially build a model you want to own in the sim and try it out. Not sure how many companies will be interested in getting their stuff in the sim, though. And modeling this stuff requires either detailed specs from the manufacturers or the AccuRC team has to do a lot of empirical data collection and measuring, etc. to be able to model it in the sim accurately. I have my doubts as to if there will be much more going into the sim as result.
- The flight modeling is pretty good on that default synergy model, also the Goblin 700. There are noticable differences in control behavior and flight behavior between the two. Even differences in the noise each makes (aggressiveness of the blade farts, etc.). The synergy seems to be sturdier on ground contacts, the goblin falls apart at even minor contacts. Goblin a bit more nimble and precise feeling. The TRex models... I don't know what's going on there. They seem to be underpowered compared to real life. Under load the motor sounds bog a lot more than expected, and the power sag is so much the tail starts to spin rather easily. On steep dives or high power tight flips the TRex models seem to go out of control for a second, continuing the flip or flipping of their own volition. I know that such things can happen in real life due to blade stalls and other high speed issues, but it only appears to happen on the TRex models so far. The Synergy and Goblin models appear to be much more stable at high speed maneuvers and high load maneuvers. I don't know why this is.
- The flight modeling, particularly for 3D type maneuvers, is amazingly good. It really is something the AccuRC team can be proud of. And if you find that a model isn't quite right, you can tweak the FBL settings to more closely match what you're used to (more or less locked in, higher/lower gain settings, slight mismatch on min and max pitch, mismatched zeroing on swash at low, mid, and high stick, etc.). Unlike with other sims where you are tweaking parameters that are about impersonating real life behavior and physics, this sim does it's level best to model the real world accurately in a way the other majors sims do not even attempt. Because of this, AccuRC "parameters" are exactly what you're used to tweaking in order to get a model working right. FBL settings, Rx settings, mechanical setup, etc. Different blades will produce different damping on roll rates and high speed effects, etc. It is really amazing.
- As a piece of user software, it isn't quite ready for prime time, in my opinion. I've had a few crashes. I've been able to get it into a situation where a resolution change that my monitor didn't support would leave the app running in the background but unable to bring it to the foreground. There is a lack of popups or in app help on much of the application system settings which leaves you guessing what their effect might be. The flight environment vs the workshop is an interesting concept, but there are certain things you can only do in the workshop (such as app settings) which really shouldn't be restricted to that area of the app. Camera settings for flight mode can only be tweaked from workshop. There's more but you get the idea. Hopefully they'll be working on updates to get the spit and polish on it.
I'm going to work on a flight behavior comparison between phoenix and accurc at this point. Probably using the TRex line of helis as a comparison. Maybe goblin, if they're in Pheonix (can't remember).
- Faster machine definitely improved the response on the stick inputs on the Tx.
- This is a bit of a pig on system resources. I put it on my i7 2.4ghz 8GB Ram laptop and it does run much smoother than my initial test machine (i3 in the living room hooked up to the project screen). Even on this one, though, it runs best if I bump the graphics back to 1280x768. In that resolution it will run with full detail and anti-aliasing settings without missing a beat. Response on the sticks is snappy. All good. At 1920x1080 (Full HD res) even with details and anti-aliasing turned all the way back, it was skipping and lurching at times.
- Choosing models is unnecessarily complicated. You basically need to select a model from it's library, add it to your hangar (by giving it a name), and then you have to switch screens and select the model from the hangar. Then you edit as you wish. Seems overly complex and took a little while to figure out. Becuase models in the workshop automatically save all your edits to them as you do them the adding to the hangar step is necessary. Otherwise you'd be editing a default model that hasn't been differentiated from your other saved models, perhaps of the same base type. Seems there should have been a more fluid and natural way to do all this though. As it is now it is non-intuitive.
- So far I've played with the default model type (Synergy 700), a TRex 700E, a TRex 500E, and a Goblin 700. Have made some tweaks on the FBL system to get roll rates I'm used, to, etc. Played around a bit with editing blade selection and whatnot. The potential is interesting with what you can do with this in terms of mixing and match parts and getting actual modeled parts. Blades, servos, ESCs, batteries, etc. You could potentially build a model you want to own in the sim and try it out. Not sure how many companies will be interested in getting their stuff in the sim, though. And modeling this stuff requires either detailed specs from the manufacturers or the AccuRC team has to do a lot of empirical data collection and measuring, etc. to be able to model it in the sim accurately. I have my doubts as to if there will be much more going into the sim as result.
- The flight modeling is pretty good on that default synergy model, also the Goblin 700. There are noticable differences in control behavior and flight behavior between the two. Even differences in the noise each makes (aggressiveness of the blade farts, etc.). The synergy seems to be sturdier on ground contacts, the goblin falls apart at even minor contacts. Goblin a bit more nimble and precise feeling. The TRex models... I don't know what's going on there. They seem to be underpowered compared to real life. Under load the motor sounds bog a lot more than expected, and the power sag is so much the tail starts to spin rather easily. On steep dives or high power tight flips the TRex models seem to go out of control for a second, continuing the flip or flipping of their own volition. I know that such things can happen in real life due to blade stalls and other high speed issues, but it only appears to happen on the TRex models so far. The Synergy and Goblin models appear to be much more stable at high speed maneuvers and high load maneuvers. I don't know why this is.
- The flight modeling, particularly for 3D type maneuvers, is amazingly good. It really is something the AccuRC team can be proud of. And if you find that a model isn't quite right, you can tweak the FBL settings to more closely match what you're used to (more or less locked in, higher/lower gain settings, slight mismatch on min and max pitch, mismatched zeroing on swash at low, mid, and high stick, etc.). Unlike with other sims where you are tweaking parameters that are about impersonating real life behavior and physics, this sim does it's level best to model the real world accurately in a way the other majors sims do not even attempt. Because of this, AccuRC "parameters" are exactly what you're used to tweaking in order to get a model working right. FBL settings, Rx settings, mechanical setup, etc. Different blades will produce different damping on roll rates and high speed effects, etc. It is really amazing.
- As a piece of user software, it isn't quite ready for prime time, in my opinion. I've had a few crashes. I've been able to get it into a situation where a resolution change that my monitor didn't support would leave the app running in the background but unable to bring it to the foreground. There is a lack of popups or in app help on much of the application system settings which leaves you guessing what their effect might be. The flight environment vs the workshop is an interesting concept, but there are certain things you can only do in the workshop (such as app settings) which really shouldn't be restricted to that area of the app. Camera settings for flight mode can only be tweaked from workshop. There's more but you get the idea. Hopefully they'll be working on updates to get the spit and polish on it.
I'm going to work on a flight behavior comparison between phoenix and accurc at this point. Probably using the TRex line of helis as a comparison. Maybe goblin, if they're in Pheonix (can't remember).
