Draw aircraft models in their own mesh colours

Every aircraft model (Flights, Military Flights, Local ADS-B) mixed 94% of a
flat class colour over its mesh, so airliners drew as white silhouettes and
military ones as amber. Models now use HIGHLIGHT: white leaves the mesh's own
colours as built, and the tracked and emergency colours tint the mesh without
hiding its paint. The IR boost still draws them flat white.

src/data/aircraftEmergencyAnalyst.test.mjs

@@ -458,7 +458,8 @@ test('tint priorities cover normal, priority, emergency, tracking and Cockpit do
     );
     flightState._trackedIcao = null;
     flightState.records.data.set('civil', { emergency: null });
-    assert.equal(rendering._modelColor('civil'), normal);
+    // An ordinary model draws its mesh's own colours, whatever the billboard's.
+    assert.equal(rendering._modelColor('civil'), Cesium.Color.WHITE);
   }
 });
 

src/data/aircraftModelLighting.js

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import * as Cesium from 'cesium';
+
 /**
  * Lighting options shared by every aircraft 3D model (Flights, Military
  * Flights, Local ADS-B).
@@ -6,12 +8,24 @@
  * the model and reads the result back from the GPU (`readPixels`) to light it,
  * when the model is first placed and again when it moves more than 1 km, when
  * the scene's atmosphere settings change, or every scene hour under sunlight
- * lighting. Aircraft models take 94% of their surface from the class colour
- * (`colorBlendAmount`), so that lighting contributes little; without it they
- * are lit from Cesium's default spherical harmonics. Measured 2026-10-24
- * (Intel Arc, Google 3D, ~150 models in the scene): GPU per frame at rest
- * 14.3-14.8 -> 12.1-12.5 ms.
+ * lighting. Without it they are lit from Cesium's default spherical
+ * harmonics. Measured 2026-10-24 (Intel Arc, Google 3D, ~150 models in the
+ * scene): GPU per frame at rest 14.3-14.8 -> 12.1-12.5 ms.
  */
 export const AIRCRAFT_ENVIRONMENT_MAP_OPTIONS = Object.freeze({
   enabled: false,
 });
+
+/**
+ * How an aircraft model's colour meets its mesh. HIGHLIGHT multiplies, so
+ * white draws the mesh's own colours as built, and the tracked or emergency
+ * colour tints the mesh without hiding its paint. The IR boost draws the
+ * model flat white instead (MIX at 1, with its unlit shader).
+ * @param {boolean} irBoost
+ * @returns {{colorBlendMode: Cesium.ColorBlendMode, colorBlendAmount: number}}
+ */
+export function aircraftModelBlend(irBoost) {
+  return irBoost
+    ? { colorBlendMode: Cesium.ColorBlendMode.MIX, colorBlendAmount: 1 }
+    : { colorBlendMode: Cesium.ColorBlendMode.HIGHLIGHT, colorBlendAmount: 0 };
+}

src/data/trackedReadout.test.mjs

@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ test('tracking layers write gevLabelModel and expose only their cached display p
   assert.equal(sources['satellites.js'].includes('_trackedEntity.label.text'), false);
 });
 
-test('civilian and military trail heads use the lower-centre model anchor and weak-texture tint', async () => {
+test('civilian and military trail heads use the lower-centre model anchor', async () => {
   const files = await Promise.all(['flights.js', 'militaryFlights.js'].map(async (name) => (
     [name, readLayerSource(new URL(`./${name}`, import.meta.url))]
   )));
@@ -300,7 +300,5 @@ test('civilian and military trail heads use the lower-centre model anchor and we
       (/const\s*head\s*=\s*(?:parts\.motion\.)?_trackedTrailCached\(\s*,?\s*\)\s*\|\|\s*(?:parts\.motion\.)?_trackedDisplayPosition\(\s*(?:flightState\.)?_trackedIcao,?\s*\);/).test(source),
       `${name} trail head uses the dedicated lower-centre model anchor`,
     );
-    assert.ok(source.includes('const MODEL_COLOR_BLEND_AMOUNT = 0.94;'),
-      `${name} keeps diffuse texture contribution weak through code-side MIX`);
   }
 });

src/layers/flights/modelSpec.js

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import {
   aircraftModelSpec,
   fleetModelSet,
 } from '../../data/fleetModels.js';
-import { MODEL_COLOR_BLEND_AMOUNT } from './policy.js';
 
 /**
  * What an aircraft draws with before the fleet model set has loaded: no
@@ -22,7 +21,6 @@ export const UNLOADED_AIRCRAFT_MODEL_SPEC = Object.freeze({
   bellyM: 0,
   elevationM: 0,
   tinted: false,
-  blendAmount: MODEL_COLOR_BLEND_AMOUNT,
   visualCenterNative: Object.freeze([0, 0, 0]),
   trailAnchorNative: Object.freeze([0, 0, 0]),
   key: 'unloaded',
@@ -58,7 +56,6 @@ export function aircraftLayerModelSpec(aircraft, set = fleetModelSet()) {
     layerSpec = Object.freeze({
       ...spec,
       bellyM: spec.clearanceM,
-      blendAmount: MODEL_COLOR_BLEND_AMOUNT,
     });
     cache.set(key, layerSpec);
   }

src/layers/flights/policy.js

@@ -85,10 +85,6 @@ export const MODEL_ALL_KEEP_M = 450000;
 
 export const MODEL_HEADING_OFFSET_DEG = 180;
 // every fleet model is nose -X: opposite Cesium heading 0
-// Owner launch-polish direction: models should read as clean light silhouettes,
-// with only a weak diffuse contribution from the models' own colours.
-
-export const MODEL_COLOR_BLEND_AMOUNT = 0.94;
 
 export const CYAN_TRANSPARENT = Cesium.Color.CYAN.withAlpha(0);
 

src/layers/flights/rendering.js

@@ -45,7 +45,10 @@ import {
   STALE_ALPHA,
   displayDelayMs,
 } from './policy.js';
-import { AIRCRAFT_ENVIRONMENT_MAP_OPTIONS } from '../../data/aircraftModelLighting.js';
+import {
+  AIRCRAFT_ENVIRONMENT_MAP_OPTIONS,
+  aircraftModelBlend,
+} from '../../data/aircraftModelLighting.js';
 
 export function createRendering({
   flightState,
@@ -192,11 +195,12 @@ export function createRendering({
    * @returns {void}
    */
 
-  /** Model tint, mirroring the billboard color rules. */
+  /** Model colour: the mesh's own (white), tinted cyan while tracked and red
+   *  while broadcasting an emergency. */
 
   function _modelColor(icao24) {
     if (icao24 === flightState._trackedIcao) return Cesium.Color.CYAN;
-    return _fleetBillboardColor(icao24);
+    return _isEmergency(icao24) ? EMERGENCY_TINT : Cesium.Color.WHITE;
   }
 
   /** The FLEET's 3D-model regime: models3d enabled AND the camera zoomed in past the altitude
@@ -526,10 +530,7 @@ export function createRendering({
         minimumPixelSize: MODEL_MIN_PX,
         scale: spec.scale,
         color: flightState._irBoost ? Cesium.Color.WHITE : _modelColor(icao24),
-        colorBlendMode: Cesium.ColorBlendMode.MIX,
-        // Launch presentation keeps the code-side tint dominant for every approved
-        // model; IR boost removes the remaining diffuse hint with flat UNLIT white.
-        colorBlendAmount: flightState._irBoost ? 1.0 : spec.blendAmount,
+        ...aircraftModelBlend(flightState._irBoost),
         customShader: flightState._irBoost
           ? flightState._IR_UNLIT_SHADER
           : undefined,
@@ -748,10 +749,7 @@ export function createRendering({
         minimumPixelSize: TRACKED_MODEL_MIN_PX,
         scale: trackedSpec.scale,
         color: flightState._irBoost ? Cesium.Color.WHITE : Cesium.Color.CYAN,
-        colorBlendMode: Cesium.ColorBlendMode.MIX,
-        // The tracked aircraft uses the same dominant light tint as the fleet;
-        // IR boost removes the remaining diffuse hint with flat UNLIT white.
-        colorBlendAmount: flightState._irBoost ? 1.0 : trackedSpec.blendAmount,
+        ...aircraftModelBlend(flightState._irBoost),
         customShader: flightState._irBoost
           ? flightState._IR_UNLIT_SHADER
           : undefined,

src/layers/localAdsb/index.js

@@ -700,7 +700,6 @@ export function createLocalAdsbLayer({
       if (viewer.scene?.primitives) {
         models = createLocalAdsbModels({
           viewer,
-          color,
           resolveAsset,
           groundSnap: services.groundSnap?.createGroundSnap?.() || null,
           ...(loadModel ? { loadModel } : {}),

src/layers/localAdsb/index.test.mjs

@@ -548,13 +548,10 @@ test('the DISPLAY 3D toggle gives local aircraft magenta class models', async (t
   assert.equal(model.scale, spec.scale, 'drawn life size');
   assert.equal(model.id, 'local-adsb:a0b702');
   assert.ok(
-    Cesium.Color.equals(
-      model.color,
-      Cesium.Color.fromCssColorString('#ff4fd8'),
-    ),
+    Cesium.Color.equals(model.color, Cesium.Color.WHITE),
+    'the mesh draws its own colours',
   );
-  assert.equal(model.colorBlendMode, Cesium.ColorBlendMode.MIX);
-  assert.equal(model.colorBlendAmount, 0.94);
+  assert.equal(model.colorBlendMode, Cesium.ColorBlendMode.HIGHLIGHT);
   assert.equal(model.show, true);
   const heli = sources[0].entities.getById('local-adsb:a0b702');
   assert.equal(

src/layers/localAdsb/models.js

@@ -16,7 +16,10 @@ import {
   MODEL_PROX_ADD_M,
   MODEL_PROX_KEEP_M,
 } from '../flights/policy.js';
-import { AIRCRAFT_ENVIRONMENT_MAP_OPTIONS } from '../../data/aircraftModelLighting.js';
+import {
+  AIRCRAFT_ENVIRONMENT_MAP_OPTIONS,
+  aircraftModelBlend,
+} from '../../data/aircraftModelLighting.js';
 
 const specOf = (marker) =>
   aircraftLayerModelSpec({
@@ -31,15 +34,14 @@ const specOf = (marker) =>
  * Mirrors the public Flights fleet: models only below the altitude ceiling,
  * the same proximity/all caps and add/keep radii, the same visible-first
  * eligibility (`selectModelEligible`), the same fleet model per type, life
- * size (`aircraftLayerModelSpec`) and the same tint path (a MIX colour blend, here
- * magenta, as Flights tints military amber). Each model owns its matrix. A
+ * size (`aircraftLayerModelSpec`) and the same colours: the mesh's own
+ * (`aircraftModelBlend`). Each model owns its matrix. A
  * billboard stays the visual until its model is loaded AND placed; a grounded
  * aircraft's model rides the one-shot ground snap plus the class belly
  * offset, and without a resolved ground it stays a billboard. Every fleet
  * model loads once, up front, when the layer starts (`loadFleetModelSet`).
  * @param {object} options
  * @param {object} options.viewer Cesium viewer.
- * @param {Cesium.Color} options.color Model tint.
  * @param {(url: string) => string} options.resolveAsset
  * @param {object|null} [options.groundSnap] `createGroundSnap()` instance.
  * @param {(options: object) => Promise<object>} [options.loadModel]
@@ -47,7 +49,6 @@ const specOf = (marker) =>
  */
 export function createLocalAdsbModels({
   viewer,
-  color,
   resolveAsset,
   groundSnap = null,
   loadModel = (options) => Cesium.Model.fromGltfAsync(options),
@@ -104,9 +105,8 @@ export function createLocalAdsbModels({
           environmentMapOptions: AIRCRAFT_ENVIRONMENT_MAP_OPTIONS,
           minimumPixelSize: MODEL_MIN_PX,
           scale: spec.scale,
-          color,
-          colorBlendMode: Cesium.ColorBlendMode.MIX,
-          colorBlendAmount: spec.blendAmount,
+          color: Cesium.Color.WHITE,
+          ...aircraftModelBlend(false),
           id,
         },
         { resolveAsset, load: loadModel },

src/layers/military/policy.js

@@ -107,10 +107,6 @@ export const MODEL_ALL_KEEP_M = 450000;
 
 export const MODEL_HEADING_OFFSET_DEG = 180;
 // every fleet model is nose -X: opposite Cesium heading 0
-// Preserve the layer's amber identity while reducing the models' own colours
-// to a weak diffuse hint, matching civilian launch presentation.
-
-export const MODEL_COLOR_BLEND_AMOUNT = 0.94;
 
 /** Amber fade target for the tracked billboard once the model takes over (mirrors flights.js CYAN_TRANSPARENT). */
 

src/layers/military/rendering.js

@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ import {
   MODEL_PROX_KEEP_M,
   IR_RELOAD_BATCH,
   MODEL_MIN_PX,
-  MODEL_COLOR_BLEND_AMOUNT,
   TRACKED_MODEL_MIN_PX,
   TRACKED_MODEL_MAX_PX,
   FLEET_DR_INTERVAL_MS,
@@ -43,7 +42,10 @@ import {
   COURSE_MAX_DPS,
   STALE_ALPHA,
 } from './policy.js';
-import { AIRCRAFT_ENVIRONMENT_MAP_OPTIONS } from '../../data/aircraftModelLighting.js';
+import {
+  AIRCRAFT_ENVIRONMENT_MAP_OPTIONS,
+  aircraftModelBlend,
+} from '../../data/aircraftModelLighting.js';
 
 export function createRendering({
   flightState,
@@ -81,7 +83,6 @@ export function createRendering({
     const base = aircraftLayerModelSpec(meta);
     spec = Object.freeze({
       ...base,
-      blendAmount: MODEL_COLOR_BLEND_AMOUNT,
       headingOffsetDeg: MODEL_HEADING_OFFSET_DEG,
     });
     // Not cached before the model set loads: the answer changes once it has.
@@ -152,11 +153,15 @@ export function createRendering({
   const _iconKind = (icao24, klass) =>
     tr3bIconKind(icao24, klass, { hot: flightState._irBoost });
 
-  /** Model tint, mirroring the billboard color rules (amber instead of cyan/white). */
+  /** Model colour: the mesh's own (white), tinted amber while tracked and red
+   *  while broadcasting an emergency. */
 
   function _modelColor(icao24) {
     if (icao24 === flightState._trackedIcao) return TRACKED_ICON_COLOR;
-    return _fleetBillboardColor(icao24);
+    const info = flightState.records.data.get(icao24);
+    return isEmergency(info?.emergency)
+      ? EMERGENCY_ICON_COLOR
+      : Cesium.Color.WHITE;
   }
 
   /** Fleet (untracked) tint: red while the latest poll broadcast an emergency,
@@ -443,9 +448,7 @@ export function createRendering({
         minimumPixelSize: MODEL_MIN_PX,
         scale: spec.scale,
         color: flightState._irBoost ? Cesium.Color.WHITE : _modelColor(icao24),
-        colorBlendMode: Cesium.ColorBlendMode.MIX,
-        // near self-illuminated tint so planes read uniform near AND far; IR boost → flat UNLIT white (hot)
-        colorBlendAmount: flightState._irBoost ? 1.0 : MODEL_COLOR_BLEND_AMOUNT,
+        ...aircraftModelBlend(flightState._irBoost),
         customShader: flightState._irBoost
           ? flightState._IR_UNLIT_SHADER
           : undefined,
@@ -662,9 +665,7 @@ export function createRendering({
         minimumPixelSize: TRACKED_MODEL_MIN_PX,
         scale: trackedSpec.scale,
         color: flightState._irBoost ? Cesium.Color.WHITE : TRACKED_ICON_COLOR,
-        colorBlendMode: Cesium.ColorBlendMode.MIX,
-        // near self-illuminated tint so planes read uniform near AND far; IR boost → flat UNLIT white (hot)
-        colorBlendAmount: flightState._irBoost ? 1.0 : MODEL_COLOR_BLEND_AMOUNT,
+        ...aircraftModelBlend(flightState._irBoost),
         customShader: flightState._irBoost
           ? flightState._IR_UNLIT_SHADER
           : undefined,