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Post by Col7777 on Aug 21, 2008 2:06:43 GMT -5
On a recent thread about the C-130, Mike Stone's name was mentioned, I started to think about him afterward and thought what a shame he stopped making models. I used to be on his forum a while back and it was a nice place to be, I liked him a lot and he was alway very helpful just like our Tom. When he retired from the model making he said something like: He was fed up with all the back biting and aggro he got. I just can't imagine how people could be like that to someone who has done so much for the FS community. I just hope he is still carrying on perhaps under another name, I hope he is.
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Post by Adrian Wainer on Aug 21, 2008 8:04:30 GMT -5
It is kind of difficult to comment in the sense of I was not party to what was said between Mike and other people, but I would say in general that if somebody creates something for free, you have an obligation to take it as it is and not start complaining about it. Okay e.g. if somebody was to produce a freeware Connie and said it was better than other freeware and payware Connies and it wasn't, well that would be a legitimate cause for criticism but the point Mike was making in the thread that he was a party to [ if I remember right ], was people were complaining that his aircraft were shaped inaccurately, well if they weren't happy why didn't they build their own. What makes this whole story a disgrace, if Mike gave a fair telling of why he decided to do what he did [ and I have no reason to doubt him ] is that even if Mike's models were less than perfect? and they certainly look fine to me, nobody is going to be killed if a sim model is not absolutely perfect and one is not paying for it either. Whilst on the other hand, I know of plenty of instances from the 4real world where people have paid for goods and services and if they had been more lucky, the only thing that would have been murdered would had been their Wallets.
Best and Warm Regards Adrian Wainer
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Aug 21, 2008 9:41:31 GMT -5
Agreed, he got a lot of flack for his models. He was rather sensitive to criticism too, which didn't help. My approach to dealing with people criticizing my (and Greg's) models is that of Adrian - OK, they aren't perfect but can you do better?
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Post by emfrat on Aug 21, 2008 16:54:30 GMT -5
There are a few repaints around which include Mike's models. A quick search of Flightsim for mike stone model included produced a Britannia, a C-130, a Cat and a Connie. You can even read Mike's very clear policy statement in one of the ReadMes. No-one was ever compelled to use his models. MikeW EDIT: I meant to say, the size of the download gives a good clue. If it looks big for a repaint, there is a good chance the model is there too. MJW
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Post by Col7777 on Aug 22, 2008 1:31:43 GMT -5
Hi Mike, Funny you said that I couldn't find my copy of his C-130, I have it somewhere, but I downloaded a paint and the model was included, I tried it last night by the way, it was fine.
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Post by qxtoolman on Aug 25, 2008 23:52:00 GMT -5
His models were easy to use, and he filled voids in a lot aircrafts, besides you can use them as AI very easily. I have many planes of his, but he did seem to get more than his share of flack. Barry & the folks over @ Premier Aircraft too have been the butt of jokes & criticism , but he has gotten help, and rolled with the punches. Erick Cantu is another one who's visual models are always top notched, now is in hiding, In fact Hiroshi from POSKY holds Erick in great stead, and that is quite a compliment. Many good people have been driven out this hobby. Talent like that should be cherished, not harmed.
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Post by sunny9850 on Aug 26, 2008 12:43:32 GMT -5
Amazing how Mike Stone keeps coming back by virtue of threads like this....that alone shows how much impact on our "hobby" he has had.
I did not like everything he created and I downloaded for free...so I deleted the airplane and tried to find a better one. And quite often there simply wasn't a better one...for some airplanes there still isn't a better or for that matter another freeware model out there.
I do repaints for my friends and myself in our Virtual airline scheme...and lucky for me 99% of the comments are positve. But I do not put my work out on the major sites...and only deliver via e-mail. So I know who get's them.
But to be honest one thing that Mike did not handle well at all was any kind of request or feedback. Depending on how that is written or put forward that can make the difference between a good and a great piece of work.
In the end though he did have a very clearly written policy...take it or leave it this is what I have created. Period.
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Post by capflyer on Aug 27, 2008 8:21:03 GMT -5
My issue was that I actually TRIED to improve one of his models because I didn't like the way he'd mapped one of them because it caused me to be unable to repaint it. So, I ASKED via e-mail if he'd send me the original files so I could remap it. Not only did I get a no, it was more like a flaming h*ll f-ing no. I asked nicely, I used all the right words, but at the same time, I got the impression more than once that his issue wasn't whether or not he could handle criticism, but it was that he felt that anyone daring to ask to "improve" his models was somehow insulting him and saying he didn't do a good enough job.
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Post by Col7777 on Aug 27, 2008 10:58:54 GMT -5
Forgive my ignorance but I thought he supplied a blank for anyone to repaint, did that not work is that what you mean?
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Aug 27, 2008 11:41:48 GMT -5
Hi,
What he meant was he asked Mike for one of the model's source file so he could change the *way* it was textured. Mike often used a single texture for more than one part or side of a part (much like the default DC-3 vertical tail) and that can cause problems with certain liveries.
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Post by Col7777 on Aug 27, 2008 16:22:38 GMT -5
I understand now, thanks Tom.
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