BubbleheadNuke: I also derived some formulas for full auto TMA.
Choke: For me, Orbiter is demonstration what one man can do. Challenge too.
As for dynamics based on 3d model, that would be very possible for subs too. But parametric model is easier to tune.
On the other hand I plan physics model based on parts. It is not so at the moment, this is something like first prove of concept.
Ship will be divided into parts. Part will be anything which can fall of, which can malfunction independently, and in same cases large parts will be divided into smaller parts so they can break apart. Sail or planes is the best example of such parts.
Dynamics will be computed for each part alone, then their connection will be used to affect the whole. Then you just loose the part, and everything works as it should.
The ship body is pretty large. For correct hydrostatic I should compute hydrostatic lift for all volume. If I divide the body into lets say 5 parts, each part will be easy to approximate by sphere for this.
3D model should reflect this too. This can thus be used for damage modeling too. You all have seen those pictures of frigate broken apart by mk48, right ?. Well it would not be 'exact' damage modeling, but this will allow pretty good damage model.
Also all sensors and crucial machinery would be parts, with 3d position and collision box. Missile hits frigate and blows sail part, but oops ! Antennas was mounted on it ! So no antennas any more. You manage to do lucky hit of submarine sail with 70mm shell. Now did it hit periscope tube hidden inside ? Did that maverick which hit frigate damage anything important ? Engine ? Tanks ? Missile stock ?
This in essence is what IL2 has. It's easy to do and it works great, for dynamics, damage control, it's also easy to create such model by non-programmer people (on DW we call them modders).
My goal is to make the configuration of the sim so strong, that no programming is needed. Possible, sure. But not needed. There will be parametric models of every sensor. Definitions of graphic interface, connection between the interface and sensor parts, I'm designing state-machine simulator which will be used on weapons (like you have to meet such and such conditions to do such and such action, which takes that time, moves that part, makes that sound and is visible here on the controls screen). Then there will be scripting language for extending this where needed, but only few expressions would suffice. No DLL (as in orbiter, for example), no need of compiler or anything.