gmax animation error

[5thranger]

hello guys,

so the last thing I need to do with my Pillan model was the landing gear animations.

I completed them, nothing but simple landing gear rotations, and gear doors rotations.

When exporting the plane to MDL, GMAX kept giving me this error for every component of the landing gear.

"Node l_gear has a scale applied. Remove before exporting"

I DID NOT scale any part, nothing but rotations....what si the problem and how to fix it?

I can't believe I've work in my plane and now the final step is messed up?

Thanks in Advance.

hector

[Katahu]

I see this one all the time with my projects. This happens in two ways:

1. You didn't reset the scale for the animated object. To do so, go to the Hierarchy tab and scroll down to where you see a Scale button at the bottom. Select the object in question and click on the Scale button. There you have it. However, you will have to do this to every animated object in Gmax and you have to do it everytime before you export anything.

2. Let's say that you did what was mentioned on #1, but you still see the error. The hierarchy structure of the linked objects might have something to do with it. For example: Let's say that you have three objects and two of them are animated and linked to the third object at the same time [objects A and B share links with object C]. What will happen is that Gmax will get confused as to which way to go to render the animations. To avoid that, simple link object A to object B and object B to object C. Basically, don't branch off your links. Keep them in a single line. You save aspirin that way.

[5thranger]

ok, im about ready to give up and throw my copy of gmax to the trash bin.

II selected every component of all 3 landing gear assemblies and clicked on the reset scale button, individually.

This time I managed to export my model with animations...but this time, when I select my plane in FS...the landing gear is deformed, squeezed, stretched, etc.

Sure, the thing is animated now...but they are completely deformed....what gives now?

thanks in advance

hector

[Katahu]

Hmm... now that's strange.

The way I said for exporting animations should work on that as well. However, that worked when I exported a visual model in two groups [the old group-export method]. I'm not sure how to fix that if you are exporting with the nodes and all [the new hierarchy-export method].

But don't give up. The mere fact that successfully exported the animations shows that you're getting there. Don't give up now.

[Milton]

For each part in that hierarchy, select, and using the Hierarchy mode, and Local Coordinate System, select

Affect Pivot Only
Reset Transform

[5thranger]

For each part in that hierarchy, select, and using the Hierarchy mode, and Local Coordinate System, select

Affect Pivot Only
Reset Transform

Milton,

I tried that and now the results are even more deformed and distorted.

I guess I'm going to have to redo the landing gear and start from scratch.

I REALLY wish GMAX had more useful help files.

Thanks for all the help though.

Hector

[Milton]

If you would like to send me a copy of the landing gear, I will take a look at for you.