Converting .mdl files back to 3ds etc

[GunnerMan]

What I want to do is extract the airplane model and textures to a more common format such as .obj, 3ds etc etc for usze in other programs.  I want to keep the textures mapped though. is that possible?

[pepper_airborne]

I doubt it is possible, i have never come across a decompiler for flightsimulator.

[AuMaV]

not really what your after but it will show you whats involved
http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8427
cheers
Wozza

[microlight]

I don't know if it's possible either, but I'll bet that there are many freeware (and payware) plane designers out there that really don't want to see this kind of program becoming available, for the obvious reasons. If designers' model files could be reverse-engineered, we'd probably see a rapid decline in the willingness of people to design aeroplane models in the first place, if their design was no longer safely locked away in the .mdl file. This could be an enormous blow to the flight sim community as the supply of new models might then dry up.

The only current way to get access to the source code for models is to contact the designer and ask them if they'll give it to you. My suspicion is though, that the answer you get would reflect the level of contentment they would feel at seeing a .mdl-cracking program in the public domain.

GunnerMan, I'm certainly not casting aspersions on your intentions here, believe me - but there are those 'out there' on the WWW whose intentions may not be so honourable. A quote from the forum reference that Wozza gave says it all, really:
"In short, anything much more complex that a box is not at serious risk of being "stolen" using this method... 8-)"

[Felix/FFDS]

It is a modeller's greatest fear that one's creation will be (sarcastically speaking) "improved"  in an unauthorized manner.  The MDL converters that I've seen basically extract the mesh with no animations, texture assignments, etc., so "adding a drop tank"  becomes a major remodelling, as all textures have to be remapped, all animations redone, etc etc.... to the point where it practically becomes easier to just remodel the damn thing.

[AuMaV]

Hi
There is another one out there called MDLC,this is limited to cfs2 or older mdls.I think it dumps the mdl to raw scasm or SCA code so you will need a good grasp of the code to work with it.I only posted this info to show that in 99% of cases the work involved is pretty much on par with starting from scratch.Also the answer to the question is can it  be done? is yes.Im sure there are decompilers out there,a number of authors have come up from time to time with them and have been emailed and screamed at till they saw the light and the error of their ways
Cheers
Wozza
 

[Wing Nut]

Respectfully,

You need to leave it alone.  If you want a particular plane, the way to go is to do the work and make it yourself; not hijack someone else's, then call it your own.  The person whose plane you are messing with has spent countless hours on it and it's his property and it is an insult to him for you to use it.

I realize people today don't care about little things like the author's wishes, but you might consider it.  What you're doing is called piracy and is not only illegal, it is immoral.  Had you even planned on asking him if you could use his model?

Kevin

[Alejandro Rhodes]

That CAN NOT be Done, Microsoft create a well encripted code that neither their own people can REVERSE it to For example a
gmax ,  the mdl File can be view only in the games , and Its ilegal BTW  ..

[Groundbound1]

I was wondering about this same thing a while ago. Not to revamp anyones work to call it my own, but to remove the glowing blobs some modelers call nav lights on some aircraft in my own hanger. Anyway, the former might be illegal (or unethical at the very least). Even if it were possible, as Felix pointed out, it would be far easier to simply make the model from scratch.