FSDS V3 noob Questions

[msalcido]

I am trying to edit an existing aircraft and have not the slightist clue how to do so. I bought FSDS V3 and got completly lost.  ??? All im trying to go is add alirons to an existing aircraft.

[Felix/FFDS]

If you're trying to modify an existing compiled aircraft (*.mdl file) you can't.

You can only modify source files (*fsc) with FSDS3 (or correspondingly, *.gmax source files with gmax).

You can import *.dxf meshes (unless they're overly complex), but in most cases it's easier to build from scratch.

[msalcido]

>:( Crap!  >:(

ok so how do i edit a mdl file???
i have a couple planes i want to make better.

[Felix/FFDS]

[quote] Crap!

[msalcido]

 Well can i convert a mdl file to something i can mod? i cannot get the original files from the creator as he has passed away. R.I.P Rey Lopez again i am a nubie and what are these .dxf meshes?

[wji]

Thanks for this post and reply.

I too bought FSDSv.3 and was thinking it would be cool to remove the two outboard engines from the Ford Trimotor and call it a Hamilton All-Metal Aircraft (ca. 1924)  ;D

"What part of: 'If you're trying to modify an existing compiled aircraft (*.mdl file) you can't' is not clear?"

Thnx, Felix, sounds clear enough to me; I won't even go there . . .

[Felix/FFDS]

To reiterate - there are no programs (that I know of) that read and decompile an existing mdl file, especially MDL files created to the FS2002 and later model (MDL) formats.

In addition, decompiling and modifying existing models is almost as, if not more so, difficult as creating the model in the first place.  NO part names are brought over, NO texture assignments are converted, and NO animations.

Therefore, you have to know what your're doing in the first place, and then rebuild everything.

You're better off building the model from scratch rather than trying to "modify" someone else's work.

Now, CAN a program be built to decompile an MDL?  Of course, and relatively "easily".  After all, any program that can "read" and render an mdl file already has the basis from which to "save" into another format.

*I* will not be the person developing that program or promoting it.