Would like to start designing

[mudduk]

Some quick questions

What design software should I purchase,  or is that a matter of preference?

Also, where do I find the reference info on aircraft I want to design?  

The aircraft I would like to build are rare warbirds circa pre and post WWII.  These are two time frames in my opinion where the technology blossomed.  

And of course what else would I need to animate, make sound files and panels?

Thank You, Kenn

[Brett_Henderson]

There are no quick answers here, but I'll try to point you in the right direction.

[quote]What design software should I purchase,

[Katahu]

If anyone were to write down all of the knowledge we have gathered here over the years onto books, we would most likely have a library of our own.

The Library of Alexandria SimViation

[mudduk]

thank you Brett for the input.  Time is something have much of patience and an open mind, I have those too.  I have seen the design links and they look helpful.  as well as this whole community.   I was just looking for someone ot do as you have, point me in the right direction.  I am aware that there is a wealth of knowledge in the sim world as well as he web itself. It was just a matter of getting direction on where to start.  So again  thank you.  

[Fr. Bill]

Without breaking any NDAs that may or may not be in force, allow me to go in record as recommending strongly that - especially those who're just getting started - build strictly to the FSX SDK specifications...  

As has already be mentioned, it may take a year or more before one's project is ready for general release, and by that time... 8-)

[Felix/FFDS]

Translation -

It has already been posted that the next iteration of FS (hereby identified as FS-11) will most probably (as in 99.9999%) have no backward compatibility with models made to FS9 SDK standards.  THe only backward compatibility will be to models made to the FS-X SDKs.  Even then, FS-X models will have to be re-processed to FSX SP2 (which hasn't been released yet)..

So folks, read up on the FS-X SDKs and if you're still building for FS9, "think"  FS-X to make the transition easier.

[mudduk]

Ok have fs10 delux and with all the goodies, Now It is time to learn, by trial, and error, and of course lots of questions.  Wish me luck

[LeFeaoux]

There are some design links here at SimV.. and you'll find lots of help a references at the FreeFlightDesign forums. But it's really aircraft dependent. You'll have to do a LOT of Googling, searching and reading, and the first, tangible thing you'll have to get ahold of, is a good 3-view (top front side diagram) of the airplane.

Ok ... I have a question: Exactly WHERE might one find these (top front side diagram) of aircraft? I noticed in the tutorial for GMAX that I downloaded, they use a P-38 obtained from aircraft recognition cards. Where might I find diagrams like that?

[LeFeaoux]

Oh, never mind. I found a site in the resources area of the design section. I couldn't access them with Firefox so I had to switch over to IE and finally got in. Carry-on gentlemen.  ::)