Simviation Forums

I am new to the community and modding for fs2004 and would like to change the prop on my cherokee and comanche from 2 blades to 3 blades.  I understand I will probably have to do this through the MDL file.  My question is two fold:  how do I do this and what programs are best to use?

I think you are corect that you would have to make changes in the MDL file.
The only problem is in order to do that you need the orignal source file that was used to make the MDL file to start with and some designers do not like handing there files to just anyone.
And there are several programs out there that one can use to design qircraft with GMAX is one but there are others as well and not all are compatable with each other. BY that I mean you might have the same program that was used to make the plane with. GMAX is able to import some files but I am not sure if it will import all of them.
It would be easier to start from scratch and redesign it on your own. ALTHOUGH THE WORD EASIER does not imply that it would be a easy task by no means

Thanks for the quick reply and info.  I cannot speak for the comanche but the cherokee uses the MDL (among other things) from the cherokee 180 AI built into fs2004.

Still - the point of th ematter is that you cannot decompile an existing MDL file to change anything.

At most, you can tune the *.air and aircraft.cfg files to have the *effect* of a 3 bladed prop, but visually, you'd have a two bladed prop.

You could however change the transparent prop disc texture to one from a 3-bladed type.

garymbuska is correct.

Locke - I took the liberty of editing your post.

[quote]Locke - I took the liberty of editing your post.

Thanks to everyone for all the great info.  Unfortunately I guess this will be like everything else in life and have no easy way out.

An easy learn for a design program is to get something (FSDS or Gmax) and then go to either SimV's Adopt a Design Page or Flight Simulator Design Shop's Gmax Projects or FSDS Projects pages.  You can download any of these aircraft, take a look at them and figure out how a fully developed aircraft is created.

But that's just the modelling process.  There's sooooooo much more . . .

Funny you should say that Locke after I read to your last post I did just that and found the source file for a cherokee 180 that Ole Egholm(?) was nice enough to upload for study and (with permission) use.  Have added the three bladed prop and textures to the wings but I am having a little trouble adding textures to the fuselage.