[Answered] Engine Gimbal Woes

[Randazzo]

I'm not sure where I've gone wrong here. When my engine gimbals, the nozzle (which is the parent of the thrustTransform and the gimbal object) and the effects seem to be moving from different origin points. I have them set to the same place in Blender, though I do notice in unity the Z transform location is different. They still visually appear to be in the same location.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Edited July 2, 2015 by Randazzo

[InsaneDruid]

This structure will work:

empty "gimbalTransform" -> is parent of -> Mesh Nozzle & Empty "thrusttransform"

like this

gimbalTransform

->nozzle

->thrustTransform

set the engine thrust and FX to thrusttransform, and the gimbal to gimbalTransform.

Also note that "exhaustFlames_blue" fx for enginefx has a built in offset. So avoid it.

Edited June 30, 2015 by InsaneDruid
hit enter to fast^^

[Randazzo]

This structure will work:

empty "gimbalTransform" -> is parent of -> Mesh Nozzle & Empty "thrusttransform"

like this

gimbalTransform

->nozzle

->thrustTransform

set the engine thrust and FX to thrusttransform, and the gimbal to gimbalTransform.

Also note that "exhaustFlames_blue" fx for enginefx has a built in offset. So avoid it.

Unforunately, this didn't fix it (not on it's own anyway), but you did inspire me to switch over to ModuleEnginesFX and the engine is now many times more BADS than it was before. On a whim, I unparented the whole gimbal assembly (the empty gimbal object, the nozzle, thrustTransform, and smokepoint) from the engine body and instead parented it only to the part tools object, and that seems to have it working correctly. Somehow, that doesn't seem like the right solution though.

This works:

This doesn't:

[NecroBones]

There's really no harm in parenting the transforms however you want, as long as the one that is referenced in the gimbal module is parent to anything you want to have actually steering. You can also make position the thrustTransform at the top of your engine bell (nozzle), and simultaneously use it as the gimbal transform, and use a separate fxTransform at the bottom of the bell for both the exhaust emitter and the smoke emitter.

I've found engines to be very tolerant of organizing the transforms in a variety of ways.

The "thrust" transform is just where the thrust force is applied, so it doesn't matter if it's at the top or bottom of your nozzle. The "gimbal" transform just determines the pivot point, and what turns with it. It's OK for them to be the same, or not, as you prefer.

[SmashingKirby148]

Off topic, but that is a BEAUTIFUL looking engine! And the design is badass too! You have the Terrier base, the size of a LVT-45/30, and it has what looks very similar to struts connecting to a toroidal tank! (even if it isn't a fuel tank)

[Randazzo]

Off topic, but that is a BEAUTIFUL looking engine! And the design is badass too! You have the Terrier base, the size of a LVT-45/30, and it has what looks very similar to struts connecting to a toroidal tank! (even if it isn't a fuel tank)

It is indeed a toroid, though not a tank. I believe it's official scientific function is "thoughtitlookedneat", which sometimes produces oooo-on's and aaaah-on's. It's all from scratch (models and textures), save the caution tape texture. I did steal that from squad since I couldn't find or create one that I liked.

There's really no harm in parenting the transforms however you want, as long as the one that is referenced in the gimbal module is parent to anything you want to have actually steering. You can also make position the thrustTransform at the top of your engine bell (nozzle), and simultaneously use it as the gimbal transform, and use a separate fxTransform at the bottom of the bell for both the exhaust emitter and the smoke emitter.

I've found engines to be very tolerant of organizing the transforms in a variety of ways.

The "thrust" transform is just where the thrust force is applied, so it doesn't matter if it's at the top or bottom of your nozzle. The "gimbal" transform just determines the pivot point, and what turns with it. It's OK for them to be the same, or not, as you prefer.

So as long as it works, I shouldn't worry. Got it.

Edited July 1, 2015 by Randazzo